Page 79 of Lovers' Dance

“Are you okay, poppet?” he asked, twisting sideways to peer at my face.

“No,” I murmured, short of breath, and wringing my hands together. “I think I’m going to have a panic attack.”

Matt’s expression turned to one of worry as he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over. “Let’s sit here for a while, Madi. Try to breathe calmly.”

He held my cold hands between his warm ones and inhaled deeply before letting the air out slowly through his lips.

I stared into the mesmerizing grey orbs of his eyes and inhaled, deeply as he’d done, willing myself to keep it together. This was not the time to freak out.

Exhale.

A few more of those and I felt marginally better. Matt pressed a tender kiss over my trembling lips.

“It’s only dinner with my family, poppet. I promise it will be fine.”

I nodded slowly and slipped my hands out of his in order to unbuckle the seatbelt. “You won’t leave me alone, not for a minute. Okay?”

“I’ll stay by your side all night,” he pledged.

I nodded and we got out his car. A quick glance around caused my nervousness to return. The place was immense, and there was a shitload of cars out front.

Matt frowned as he too noticed the amount of cars lining the drive. He came over to take my hand and we walked up to the imposing double doors. Matt didn’t press the bell. He opened one side and ushered me in. I blinked in awe at the marble floors and shiny surfaces. This was a grand entrance, opulent. I could hear music and laughter coming from further inside and fidgeted in my heels. Matt tugged me forward, and I squeezed his hand tightly as he led me inside his parents’ monster-sized home.

“Wait here, poppet,” he said when we came to a stop next to a room which boasted an indoor pool. “It seems tonight isn’t just a family dinner.”

“Matt,” I hissed nervously. “You’re not supposed to leave me.”

He smiled chidingly and stroked my cheek. “I’ll be five minutes. Let me find my parents. That way I can introduce you without a crowd of people and, it seems from the noise, that there is one.”

“Five minutes,” I warned, clutching the purse tightly while letting go of his hand.

“Five minutes,” he agreed, then walked off leaving me alone next to the poolroom. After two minutes I slipped into the room, not wanting anyone to come upon me standing there like a lone gate-crasher. The pool was huge and lit. The tiny ripples across the surface calmed me as I stared at the water. There were numerous lounges spread around the space, and I could see a flat screen mounted over a bar area. Fancy.

I walked closer to the pool, heels clicking sharply over the ground, and groaned with pent up anxiety.Would I be judged by them all?

A low, menacing growl had my back stiffening in terror. I turned around and gasped as my gaze rested on what could only be described as a hellhound. A beast of a dog—oh God—there were two of them! My legs were frozen as the dogs growled low in their throats, shoulders hunched while they peered at me from canine eyes. Rabid. They looked rabid.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

One took a few steps forward, and I freaked.

You should never run, everyone knows that, but the size of those dogs, their threatening growls—I ran.

“Matt!” I shrieked in fright when the dogs gave chase. God. I would never make the door. They would eat my black ass and Matt would be in the papers again.

“Matt!” I yelled, darting back towards the pool. “Oh fuck. Matt!”

The sound of the dogs’ fierce barking as I legged it down the side of the pool made it clear they saw me as a threat and were going to deal with my ass. I didn’t want to die. Not here, not mauled to death.

“Matt...” I turned, checking the distance between those beasts and me—there wasn’t much. Then I slipped, and into the pool I went.

The water closed over my head as I sank. Struggling to breathe, I swam back to the top, kicking ferociously in my heels and spewing out curses with chlorine-treated water. One of the dogs jumped in.

I screamed, thrashing about wildly in an attempt to ward off the hound of Satan.

“Bloody hell! Wizard. Stop.”

A sharp, piercing whistle penetrated my screams and, spluttering out water, I turned to see Matt yelling commands at the dogs. My relief was so great tears welled up in my eyes.

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