Page 8 of Daniel
Prairie’s eyes lit up. “Oh my goodness, that’s so romantic.”
Leading her over to a quiet corner, I leaned against the wall, facing her forward so that I could pull her back to my chest and wind my arms around her stomach.
The band leader announced Mom and Dad’s special anniversary dance, then they began to sail around the floor to Mom’s favorite old Christmas carol. It was heartwarming watching them dance, and seeing Mom making the most of her new knee.
“I like that you’re so snuggly,” Prairie murmured. “I didn’t know that big tough guys were such adorable kittens at heart.”
Leaning down, I nuzzled her ear. “If you want me to be your kitten, that’s what I’ll be. I’ll be anything you need me to be, Prairie.”
She turned to look up at me, wrapping her hands around the back of my neck as if we were dancing. “Why does it feel like we were supposed to be together?” she whispered. “It’s the strangest feeling I’ve ever had.”
“I know. I have massive feelings for you already, and I know it’s not logical, since we barely know each other. But I can’t help it.”
She nodded then I leaned down to give her a quick kiss. Even the simple peck sent tingles through me. I cherished every single touch from her.
Looking up to make sure we weren’t being a spectacle, I saw Mom point at me, then crook her finger.
“Mom wants my brothers and I to come dance with them,” I said. “Okay?”
“Sure.”
As we moved to the center of the room and began to spin around, I loved that Prairie seemed up for anything. Going on a date with a total stranger? Sure. Dinner with someone she just met? Sure. Dancing in front of the entire town? Sure. That energy was extremely attractive to me.
I caught the eyes of my brothers, who were grinning and nodding in my direction. The three of us had never had dates to the ball, so for us all to have dates on my parents’ anniversary was special.
“I like that you smile so much,” Prairie said, as I grabbed her by the waist and did a little spin.
“That’s only because you’re with me,” I said. “Usually I’m a bit…well, grumpy most of the time.”
“I choose to not believe that,” she said with a light laugh.
As we danced by a group of people on the west side of the room, I could see Prairie’s cousin Lila giving her an odd look. It was almost a catty glare, but that didn’t make sense to me. “Do you not get along with your cousin?” I asked curiously.
“She’s fine. She just tries to act like a big sister sometimes, and gives a lot of unwanted advice.”
When my parents’ special dance was over, the entire town moved onto the dance floor, which meant I could hold Prairie much more closely since we weren’t being watched.
“You have no idea what it does to me to be here with the most incredible woman in town,” I said, dipping my head to brush my lips across her forehead.
“Oh, I have some idea,” she said, quirking up an eyebrow. She took a quick glance around, then did a tiny hip shimmy to brush herself against my erection.
I couldn’t believe how sassy she was. Gripping her by the hips, I ground against her for a couple of beats, feeling those incredible breasts against me before shifting back to dance more politely.
“Sorry,” she giggled. “I couldn’t resist.”
“I never want you to hold back. Be as open as you want with me, baby.”
Those beautiful hazel eyes shone as she stretched up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. “Nobody has ever called me baby before. I had no idea It would feel so…intense.”
My pulse surged at the simple statement. If she probably hadn’t dated very much, she had probably never been with a man.
Which meant that my gorgeous, sexy Prairie was going to be mine, and mine alone.
6
PRAIRIE
Once I relaxed a bit, the ball was a lot of fun. Daniel was an incredibly attentive date, and we alternated dancing and mingling. People seemed very interested to meet me. Was it because I was new in town, or because I was with Daniel? Maybe people were just extra friendly here. I wasn’t sure.
