Page 14 of Survival

I dropped back to my heels in disappointment. “You’re right, but they want to see you, too.”

“Not as much as you, I hope.” He tightened his hold, nuzzling his nose behind my ear, and I gasped as his breath ran across my skin.

“Not even close.” I smiled, turning to slow peck his lips.

“Come on.” He pulled me out onto the dance floor with a sexy as hell smirk. “Just try not to trip.”

ISABEL

I laughed as Tucker twirled me and pulled me back even tighter against him than before, the thrill of dancing running through me. How free it could make me feel. Especially tonight, when this was just for me, forus, without the threat of an audition and my regression hanging overme. Tucker’s hand slid around my waist, and I looked up into those warm whiskey eyes, my heart swelling in my chest. He’d known just what I’d needed, my unwanted thoughts cast away once I was here in his arms.

He twirled me skillfully around the dance floor, our movements perfectly in sync as the song was coming to a close, and he led me through the last steps before spinning me around and pulling me close in his arms. My thumb brushed along the line of his jaw, my eyes lost in his. This was everything. He’d done so much for me. For months,yearsreally, he’d been the rock by my side. Sometimes, I felt bad about not being able to…

His brow dipped as my expression must have shifted, and I quickly doused the idea from my thoughts. Tonight, right now, was special. That was all that mattered. All that I should let in.

The faster beat of a pop song started to play, and I turned in Tucker’s arms, his hand still splayed across my waist as I leaned against him to dance. My arms stretched up to touch his neck, and he had to adjust quite a bit for us to line up, but as soon as we did, it was like fire, my hips moving and grinding in sync with his.

There was electricity between us. A spark that flared to life, and Tucker was all in, his lips and teeth grazing along the back of my neck and my shoulder while I rolled my ass against his straining cock. A part of me flared to life, one that I still wasn’t sure I was ready to trust, but I’d allow it for now. Here, like this. Except the tension between us had grown absolutely combustible by the end of the song, and I had to step away, placing a hand to Tucker’s chest for space.

“I think we should take a break,” I gasped. Fire stared back at me in those whiskey depths, longing swirling with temptation and desire, but it only took Tucker a beat before he nodded and blinked, the flames simmering back under control.

“Sure. Do you want a drink?”

“I’m okay for now. Oh, look, there’s Emma and Mateo. Didn’t you say we would help run interference for them tonight? Let’s go say hi. I wonder who they’re talking to,” I mused aloud as I pulled Tucker over to our friends. “Hey, guys. Having fun?”

“Not as much as y’all just were.” Mateo smirked, and Emma elbowed him in the side. “Oomph, uh, I mean—”

I held up a hand to cut him off. “Don’t worry about it, Mateo.”

“So, have y’all met Nic yet?” Emma asked.

“Who? Whoa.” I gaped as I glanced over to what looked like an older preppy Jet. Like almost carbon freaking copy. It was so weird.

A dark brow raised as the guy extended a hand first to me, then Tucker. “Hi, I’m Nic. Jet’s cousin,” he greeted.

“I’m Isabel…Izzy.” I corrected myself.

“Tucker.” We took turns shaking his hand.

“Hey, guys. Miss me?”

“Jet!” I cried, spinning around to throw my arms around my friend. He squeezed me in a playful bear hug, my feet lifting from the floor. “Ow, ow sunburn!”

He laughed and let me go as I turned to greet Annie. “Oh, your top! I’m so proud!” I pointed to my matching yellow dress, and she beamed as I laughed, loving our accidental twin moment.

Jet reached over and clapped Tucker on the back. “Hey, how’s it going? Everything okay?”

Tucker clapped him back. “Doin’ alright. How was Greece?”

“Oh! Yes, please tell,” I gushed, spinning back around to face them.

“Interesting.” He grinned. “But I’ll tell y’all about it later. You’ve met Nic?”

“Yeah, I don’t remember you mentioning him coming, though?” Tucker gave him a curious look.

“It was really more of a spontaneous decision,” Nic cut in, and I shook my head a little at hearing the accent again.

“Alright.” Tucker nodded. “So, how long are you here for? Sticking around for a while? You’re here just in time for the heat to start picking up.”

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