Page 111 of Fair Catch

“I had to make this night a little fun for us,” he whispers with a laugh, nuzzling the side of my throat. “We don’t have to stay long. I just need to make an appearance, see my parents, play the doting son. Maybe ninety-minutes, max?”

I turn to face him. “It’s fine, Hayes. We’ll stay as long as you want.”

He smirks a little. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be here at all. Love my parents and the family business, but there’s no part of me that enjoysthispart of being a Lancaster.”

“I’m sure it was incredibly difficult to grow up with a silver spoon in your mouth,” I say dryly, lacing my tone with sarcasm. “How ever did you survive it?”

A dark chuckle leaves him and he presses his lips to mine.

“You’re so paying for that later,” he whispers against my mouth before pulling away.

God,I can’t wait.

Ever since I saw him in that tux, I’ve been fantasizing about ripping it off him once the night was over. Stripping him out of it, piece by piece, until there was nothing but bare, naked skin greeting me.

That filthy promise only ups the ante on the anticipation.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

True to his word, Hayes finds his parents pretty soon after we get our drinks—a great forethought on his part to take the edge off. And while neither of them look thrilled to see me, it doesn’t feel any more uncomfortable than it did last time. Whether or not that’s progress, it’s too soon to tell.

Regardless, getting his obligations out of the way early gives us freedom to enjoy the rest of the time we’re here, and with a drink in me, I’m feeling a little animated.

“Dance with me.”

His brows arch, equally playful and curious. “Do you know how?”

“Only one way to find out,” I coerce with a wink.

Wrapping my fingers around his wrist, I drag him to the center of the room and spin him into my arms. We settle into the rhythm of the classical music playing, and though I haven’t done this inyears,it’s no different than riding a bike after a few moments.

“You planning on telling me how you learned to waltz, there, Fuller?” Hayes murmurs, a little grin on his lips that almost has me missing a step.

“That’d be thanks to Mal. She taught me when we were kids. Pestered me night and day until I agreed to let her. Guess it’s one thing that really stuck from my childhood.”

He grins, his sapphire eyes brimming with amusement. “I guess I’m not the only one full of surprises.”

“Gotta keep you on your toes somehow.”

“Any more hidden talents I should know about?” he asks, sex and innuendo dripping from the words.

“Now, why would I tell you?” Cocking my head, I aim an equally filthy smirk at him. “That’d just spoil the surprise.”

Even though the song ends and another begins, neither of us make a move to leave the dancefloor. Instead, we stay right where we are, in each other’s arms. And even though I’m in an opulent home that’s far outside the realms of reality, surrounded by a group of people who I’ll never fit in with, I’ve never felt more at home.

Because I’m with him.

Hayes shifts to wrap his hands over my shoulders, allowing them to hang loosely near the nape of my neck. We move into more of a sway than a dance, the two of us rocking gently to the classical music like we’re the only ones in the room.

And for the first time, I truly feel at peace.

Like Ibelonghere.

Our gazes stay locked together as we move, and more than anything, I wish I could read his mind. See what thoughts lurk past their ocean depths.

Know if he happens to feel the same way.

He wets his lips, drawing my attention to them briefly, before whispering, “Thank you for coming with me to this.”

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