Page 53 of Axton

“I do have to work tomorrow. I hope you’ll be alright while I’m gone?” I needed to change the subject before she went into feelings and all that, which was something I struggled with my entire life.

“I do, I think. Heidi was very kind, and she really helped us a lot. I have some materials to study, and I think that will occupy some of my time, but it sounds like we have a busy day tomorrow. Koty and I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning, then Heidi is taking me to the salon. She and I feel I should try to acclimate to this modern world, and she wants to teach me about the latest fashion. I feel as if the more plain I look, the more I’ll stand out.”

Belle could never look plain and could wear a garbage bag and still be the most stunning person in the room.

“After that I’ll work on all the bags of clothing Morgan gave me. That will probably take most of the day.”

I noticed she kept glancing at the air hockey game.

Chapter Twenty-One

Belle

Iwas laughing as we played air hockey. It wasn’t a complicated game to learn, and I thought I was better at it than he expected. I whaled out in laughter when I saw his face as my puck disappeared into the machine. I couldn’t ever remember having so much fun.

“If you think that’s funny, then watch this!” He tried to make a move and missed, which had me doubling over in laughter.

We ended the game, and he asked about music. I didn’t know much about it, so he turned on his stereo and it came in through speakers located around the room. “It’s called surround sound.” He said.

I liked what I heard, it was upbeat, and nice. All I knew was hymns, but the song I was hearing spoke about friends and sharing laughs with drinks. I was never around alcohol because papa said it would defile my body and soul, and would lead to sin, that it may have even been a sin itself. It didn’t bother me that Michael was getting himself a beer as I listened closely to the music playing around me. He offered me a drink, but I declined.

“Do you like it? Its country music. It’s really all they played back home.” He asked as he set his beer on the bar.

“Yeah, it’s nice. The singer is speaking of friends and making memories.” I did like it, actually I liked it a lot.

“You’ll have fun at the first annual New Years Eve party. It’s being thrown by Creed and Morgan and there will be dancing.” He was looking down at his beer.

“I’ve never danced, not the way I saw in those movies.” It felt awkward, although it shouldn’t have, since I already did awkward things around him, and he didn’t seem to judge.

He shrugged. “There’s different kinds people do. I’m not much for it myself, but you might like it.”

I nodded. “I know, there’s formal dance, tap dancing, and some sort of free dance it seems.”

A new song came on and I smiled when I heard the man’s voice. “This sounds nice.” I was still standing at the air hockey table and spinned it.

“Yeah, he’s a new guy, pretty young I think. This is a newer kind of country music, and I like it better than what was coming out a few years ago. It’s kind of raspy like you may have heard in some more alternative music of the nineties.”

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t know what that is, I don’t think.”

He stepped closer. “It’s not the kind that you would free dance or maybe fast dance, but you could have a slow dance.” He stopped in front of me and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?

“I don’t know how to dance.” I wasn’t so sure about it.

He gave me the most adorable smile and wink, which sped up my heart and I knew I blushed. “Let me show you.” He took my hand then drew me in closer. “Put this hand on my shoulder andI’ll place mine on the small of your back.” He did and it gave me a chill up my spine. He took my other hand and pulled it up as he held on to it. “Follow my lead.”

He moved to the right, and I stepped with him, then took a step forward and I took a step back. We moved in a triangle as he looked down at me. “See, it’s simple, and it’s not unusual for more than one man to ask for a dance. Women can dance with any man they choose to accept one from. It’s not a sin, it's not normally sexual unless that’s the relationship you share with a man, and with the right person it’s kind of nice.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off his as he spoke. I had never felt as safe as being with him, but at the same time I felt that strange desire I always used to hide from.

“Sometimes, a man who wants to be romantic will spin you, like this.” He took both my hands in his and stepped back before he let go of one and lifted our hands so I could turn, but he had me spin into his arms and he was suddenly behind me. His front was behind me, so very close, and we once again took steps together. I felt his lips against my ear and shivered. “I like you, Belle.” He whispered.

My lips parted as he continued to move our bodies in sync together. “I like you, too.” I breathed out. I had some fears that he would think I was acting on my papa’s prophecies, but that wasn’t the reason I felt so drawn to Michael. It was the automatic trust, the pull I felt toward him, his smile, his soft voice, the way he could make my heart race and make me feel so alive, but at the same time his arms gave me comfort. All our matching birthmarks were to me was confirmation that told me it was okay to trust him, to accept his guidance and understand that he felt it too. It was a prophecy, and I may not have believed it if the way I felt when he was near didn’t exist. I was questioning too many things about papa for me to base anything on whathe said, but I struggled not to believe his prophecy. Not because of his birthmark, but definitely because of the way I felt around him. The longer he held me that way, the more I felt that desire. I was aware of every inch of my body when he was holding me. I counted my more rapid breaths, noticed my chest rise and fall, my heart felt a rush of adrenaline and I was aware of every heartbeat. My skin reacted to his touch, it was like an electric charge that left behind a fire like heat. There was an almost uncontrollable need that I couldn’t satisfy between my legs. It pulsated as it screamed at me to get closer to Michael. I needed him to stimulate me, and make the unbearable need go away. It was screaming and fighting for me to beg Michael to touch every inch of me.

He let go of one hand then pulled the other away with mine in it, which spun me out and pulled me in so we could once again face one another. He kissed my forehead just before I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes. I wanted to memorize everything about that dance. From the song, his touch, his scent, and the small kisses he would press to my head every now and again. I imagined how it would feel for those hands to cup my face and those lips to give me the softest kiss that ever existed. I remembered his voice praying over me, the first time I saw him in my room with that towel around his waist, laughing with him while watching the television, and the concern in his eyes when I was scared. I could see it in his eyes, he wanted to take all of my fears and rip them away from me. He had a huge influence over me, the man could tell me all pigs could fly, and I would believe him.

I pulled my head back and looked up at him. He flashed the cutest half smile down at me as we continued to dance, and I realized dancing with Michael was my new favorite thing. He rested his forehead against mine and I shut my eyes, onceagain taking all of him in and melting into his arms. My papa’s prophecies all came true, but I always wondered if he made them come true. He twisted things to make it seem like he was having a prophecy, but with Michael. No, he couldn’t have arranged that big of a coincidence. One song after another played, and I could have stayed in his arms that way for an eternity.

Axton

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