Page 14 of How to Deal

And that stare he gives me is doing nothing for it either. Keep this up, and I’m going to stumble in my resolve.

Like he’s going in for the kill, he raises his hand to touch the side of my face. “Don’t take those beautiful eyes off mine,” he orders me, and then he begins to move to the music, a gentle sway to his body.

Hell, imagine what he could do in bed.

Naturally, a rap song had to come on to make matters worse. “Shake” by Ying Yang Twins.

His eyes pause on me, visually measuring the distance between us. Leaning down, he pulls me flush against his body—wrapping my arms around his neck. I sink, right into his warm embrace.

It’s been so long since I’ve felt a man’s arms around me and, oh, is it nice. Like Christmas morning nice, exciting and comforting all at the same time. There’s just something about him that draws me in. Maybe it’s his unnervingly warm gaze and the somewhat ruggedness the beard gives him.

Briefly—as I try to stay composed—I forget what’s happening and enjoy myself, feel his warmth and the way his body moves with mine. He smells so good, strong arms, breath panting on my neck as I grind into him, and I never let my eyes leave his.

His body is strong everywhere my hands have the pleasure of roaming. I’m lost in his features, and those gorgeous eyes capture me.

Caught up in the moment, I decide then to show him I did in fact lie a little. Icandance. In another life, I think I was a professional dancer. Even Jade agrees I’ve got talent and she’s seen the best of the best in her game.

“Stop thinking so much,” Tathan whispers in my ear, sensing my mind is elsewhere. “Dancing is supposed to make you feel sexy.”

Oh, I’ll show you just how sexy I can be, buddy.

Turning, I shove my ass into him.

When my backside comes in contact with his crotch, he lets out a very audible gasp and clutches me tighter to him without an inch of space between us.

It’s apparent right then what I do to him. It’s pressing into my ass. Part of me wants to grin, the other part wants to cringe because I can’t for the life of me understand why I’m doing this. We continue to dance like this for the rest of the five-minute song.

When it’s over, he roughly turns me around and whispers a throaty “Thanks” in my ear and lets go of me.

I don’t look at him. Hello, I was just grinding my ass on his erection for a few minutes, and I’m kind of embarrassed to say my panties are a tad damp. I decide it’s time to get away from him before I do something I’m going to regret. Coming here was a bad idea, and I need a more thought-out plan with actual steps or a checklist for Christ’s sake before I’m around Tathan again.

Only, before I can get away from him, his hands are on mine, and he’s pulling me back toward him. “Don’t leave.” When I pull away, he shakes his head, seeming disappointed. “Have a beer with me.”

“N-no,” I stutter out, not sure how to deal with someone like him. Especially since I’m beginning to see he’s nothing like I thought he was. “Ineedto go home.”

He’s frowning at my denial and doesn’t say anything. I automatically shift my eyes to his, wanting to see his reaction to my words.

He tips his head, eyes on the bar and then back to mine. “Why? Needing to get home isn’t an excuse. Either you don’t want to, or you’re just avoiding me.”

When I stare at him, I understand there’s more to this guy than him being a manwhore, but I don’t want to see that.

There are certain types of guys out there. The ones you know are just looking for a good time and will take it when it’s there, no matter what the repercussions might be.

Then there are the ones who want to have a good time, but have morals. From what I can tell, Tathan is the latter, the one with morals. He has honest eyes, ones that can’t hold lies within them.

“I don’t. . . want to.” I start to walk away when a hand reaches out for me.

“Why not?”

“Because. You’re not the kind of guy I need to get wrapped up with.” I stare at the floor, anywhere but his eyes, because the idea of being wrapped up with him physically is exactly where I want to be.

As our hands part, my body denied his warmth, I don’t look back. I can’t. If I do, I’ll run back into his arms and beg him to find the nearest bathroom stall with me.

Completely oblivious to anyone around them, Zane and Casey are dancing. They won’t even notice me leaving.

I sneak one last look at Tathan. He’s standing by the bar with Aldon, confusion plastered on his face, but there’s something more. Let down. Damn it. He’s too pretty for that face, but I’m too flawed to change it.

Once inside my car, the same song we just danced to is playing on my car radio.

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