Page 156 of Midnights
Rachel sucks in a sharp breath coming up beside me, her jaw practically on the floor. She looks between us, pointing a finger at me, then the dance floor. Her wide-eyed expression screams one thing.Go.
I glance back to where I saw him and nearly choke on my own breath. He's right in front of me.
The scent of pine wraps around me, and it's both familiar and foreign. My lips part, but before I can summon a breath, let alone a reply, his hand takes mine in a single fluid motion.
He pulls me into a spin and the world blurs as my dress flares around us. Before I can steady myself, we’re swept into the rhythm of the music like we belong there.
One hand presses against the small of my back, and the other is keeping mine locked in his. He draws me so close that if I lifted my head, the space between us would vanish entirely. His breath is warm against my ear, sending a sharp, traitorous shiver down my spine.
“Has anyone told you tonight just how stunning you look?” His voice is like dark velvet wrapping around me, weaving through my ribs, and pullingtight. “Because if any of those other gentlemen failed to mention it while they were touching you, I'll make sure they choke on their mistake."
A slick rush of need coils inside me. “Thank you,” I manage, but my voice betrays me, coming out breathless and unsteady. Compliments have never been my strong suit, especially not from men. Men wield words like weapons, cutting through resolve with nothing but a glance.
My instinct is to look away and pretend that his presence doesn’t unearth something I don’t want to acknowledge. I try to look away, but of course his hand finds my chin, tilting my face up until I'm staring straight into the danger.
His eyes hold me captive, pulling me under. For a minute, I think he's about to keep talking, but then his attention slides over my shoulder. And suddenly, it clicks.
The way he moves, the sharpness in his eyes, the sheer arrogance radiating off him like a damn beacon.
I narrow my eyes as the realization slams into me like a freight train.
“Wait, Kane?”
My tone comes out flat with disbelief and annoyance. His smirk widens, while his eyes unapologetically sweep over me before returning to my face. The heat in his eyes is impossible to ignore, and damn it, my treacherous heart stumbles like an idiot.
“This—” his voice dips low, threaded with warning, "—my darling, will have to wait.”
His words send a jolt through me, igniting the ever-growing problem that is Kane.
He finally releases my chin, but his eyes refuse to let me go. For a heartbeat, there's something unguarded in his smile. Dangerous in its own way.
“I’m afraid duty calls.” His voice slides over me, like a whisper. “Don't make me regret leaving you unsupervised.”
Did he seriously just say unsupervised? My brain wants to be offended, but my body's already betraying me like he just handed me rules I have no intention of following. Which, apparently, is my kink now.
“Wait, what?” The words slip out before I can stop them, the surprise impossible to hide.
For a heartbeat, hesitation flashes across his face, so fast I almost wonder if I imagined it. Which, knowing me, I probably did.
He looks past me, and his whole expression darkens.
I'm about to turn around to see what he's looking at, but when I start to turn, his gaze snaps back to mine. He smirks, and then he's gone.
I inhale sharply, trying to shake off whatever's still humming under my skin.
I want to follow him and see what could possibly be so urgent that he’d leave like that. I take a step and Rachel is rushing toward me, practically running with excitement.
“You won't belie—”
We both stop short, breaking into a grin.
She laughs. “You first.”
“I swear I just danced with Kane.”
Rachel bursts out laughing, and nods. “You did! I just talked to Cam, and the idiot really thought I wouldn't recognize him.”
Of course she did. Rachel could charm the truth out of a brick wall. Meanwhile, I can't even breathe around him without forgetting how to use words.
