Page 38 of A Little Bit Reckless
“Come on.” Sometime in my thoughts Bru had stood. The regency scene continued to play in the background on the TV, but it was suddenly white noise with Bru standing in front of me. Bru with his big hands and large frame. Bru with his handsome grin. He put his hands out. “I’m going to help you fix that right now.”
What was he talking about? I didn’t move, and he laughed.
He waved me forward with his fingers. “Dance with me, Bow.”
Shocked, I still didn’t do anything, so Bru decided to take initiative. His large hand slid into mine, and it was a wonder he could be so gentle when he tucked me into him. He was so big.
His hugeness enveloped me once I was against his broad chest. Did people normally dance this close?
I didn’t care about my question once engulfed in Bru’s heat. His scent surrounded me, and I closed my eyes until he dipped me back.
I laughed when he brought me up. “You’re going to make me lightheaded.”
I was already lightheaded.
“Not my intention, but I’m happy to make you smile,” he said before spinning me around. He extended my arm before bringing me back. He placed a hand on my waist. “And every girl should be able to slow dance at least once in her life.”
There was no mistake this time when he pressed his cheek to the top of my head. He held me close. “I’m happy I get to be this first for you, Bow.”
My eyes closed again, my stomach tight. Ilovedthis.
I loved it too much.
This boy wasn’t mine and could never be. I knew that, but I was delusional enough to hold him closer. I brought my arms around his waist but let go when a throat cleared.
“What’s going on?” Wells had a plate in his hand. It held a huge omelet, and beneath the plate were three empty plates. I assumed he was going to divvy up what he made, and he placed the plates down when Bru finally let go of me.
“Bow had never danced with a partner before,” he said, then pointed at the TV. The people on the screen had stopped dancing, but they were still in their regency attire. It was a rather tense scene where several characters were talking but the orchestra’s music still played in the background. Bru pocketed his hands. “I was just showing her how.”
Wells’s eyes narrowed. He glanced between Bru and me, and, for some reason, Bru crossed his arms. In fact, Bru got visually bigger, standing up taller, and Wells did the same. Wells crossed his arms too, and what was happening reminded me of something in the wild. Like two male lions challenging each other, and I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“Not like that you aren’t,” Wells said, then stepped behind me. I didn’t know what he was doing, and, judging by the look of Bru, he didn’t either. Wells waved Bru over. “Put your hands on Squeak’s waist.”
My mouth parted, and Bru’s eyebrows shot up.
Wells shrugged. “I’m the one who’s actually had etiquette classes thanks to my mother, and you aren’t showing Squeak how to dance right,” he said, and I almost laughed. He was right. Actually, my brother and the majority of his friends had etiquette classes when we were younger. I think our parents wanted the guys to have good foundations when it came to girls.
I think it kind of fell on deaf ears considering how they treated girls in high school, but I never said anything about that.
Still behind me, Wells waved his hands. “Come on. I’ll show you both how.”
Bru had his head cocked, his expression curious, and I didn’t blame him. Not a second ago, Wells looked like he’d been about to challenge Bru for whatever reason.
Bru released the tension in his arms when he dropped them to his sides. He studied me. “That okay with you, Bow?” Bru asked me, but he had his eyes on Wells. The guys still kind of seemed like they were in some kind of standoff, and I’d somehow gotten between them.
“Okay,” I said, not knowing what else to say. It was all kind of weird. Especially when Wells reached around me. He didn’t touch me or anything but grabbed Bru’s hands. I watched as Wells gripped them, bringing them closer to me.
“Now put this hand on her waist,” Wells said and physically guided Bru to do that. I thought Wells would let go after that, but he didn’t. He kept one hand there at the position of my waist while he directed Bru to fold his other hand with mine. Wells nodded. “And hold this one.”
Hold this one.
Like the hand at my waist, Wells kept hold of Bru’s other hand, the one folded with mine. Wells then began to sway both Bruand me.Wells wasn’t touching me at all, but it almost felt like he was.
It felt like they both were.
They were, in a way, and though there was no music playing, it was like we were kind of making our own.
“Don’t let go of her. Guide her,” Wells said from behind me. His heat moved in closer. “Make her feel secure. You’re the one directing this ship. Remember that.”
