Page 115 of The Outsider
My smile broadened. “You can hold me close now all you like. And, if you’re lucky, maybe more.”
John turned my face towards his and kissed me full on the lips—hungry, needy, wanting more. It’d been over a week since we’dlast had sex. Between school, work, and the farm, we’d both been exhausted every night.
Tonight was our first leisurely evening together since our date, and my body ached to make love to him, especially when he thrust his tongue into my mouth. I let out a muffled gasp, and he seized my face in his hands, forcing his mouth harder against mine. We kissed frantically for another moment before resurfacing for breath, and he moved his lips to my throat, making me gasp again.
“Forget the dance,” John murmured against my skin. “We’ll say you’re sick. Let’s stay in for the night. Alone.”
I groaned. “I can’t no-show on Jenna. And you said we’d be there. It won’t look good if it seems like I’m avoiding seeing people.”
The tip of his tongue caressed my earlobe, and I shuddered.
“Then go get your coat,” he whispered in my ear. “Or I’ll be on my knees with my tongue inside you in the next sixty seconds.”
Pleasure shot straight to my groin at that image, but I took a deep breath and stood. I tore myself away from his hungry gaze and went downstairs to fetch my coat.
The hall inside the Lodge was already bustling with people by the time we arrived. Chairs lined the walls, and two tables at the head of the room held food and drink. Sarah and her husband, Bruce, were in the corner, chatting with Danny and their oldest son, Matthew. Nearby, Isla and Noah sat with Ely, who was nursing quietly in Isla’s arms. As soon as he finished, Noah scooped him up in his arms and started walking with him, patting his back.
Kimmy and Asha went to sit with Isla, who looked pleased with their company. They’d both dressed up. It felt nice to see Asha looking more the way I remembered her—wearing nice clothes, her hair braided and shiny, her warm brown skin clear and bright. She also stuck close to Kimmy, linking arms with her, which warmed my heart, especially because Kimmy looked so happyabout it.
Jenna and Liam had already started playing on the small platform where the council chairs normally sat, and there were a few people dancing. Jenna smiled and nodded at me to come over.
When the song finished, I went up on the platform, nervously surveying the room. People looked over at me with curiosity, and I recognized many of the parents of my students. My heart leapt into my throat, however, when I realized that Zach Jameson was standing near the back of the hall, drink in hand, with what I assumed were his brothers. He pretended to ignore me, but I caught his occasional, razor-sharp glances.
I tried to forget about him as Jenna signaled the start of the next song. Instead, I focused my gaze on John. He’d gone to stand beside Danny, but he was watching me, a small smile on his face and a drink in his hand.
I took a deep breath and started to sing. It was the same song I’d once performed for John and Kimmy by the campfire, the first time they’d heard me sing, over a year ago.It was the first time I knew I wanted you, John told me later.When I couldn’t get your voice out of my head.
I kept my eyes on him, avoiding the stares of everyone else, and my voice grew stronger. When the song ended, the sudden burst of applause almost startled me. Most everyone looked pleased by my performance, other than those I already knew didn’t like me, and I sagged a little with relief. Danny whistled, which made me flush, and John’s smile widened. He raised his glass to me as I started into the next song.
Altogether, I played three songs with Jenna and Liam, and each seemed to be a hit. When I finally joined the party again, Kimmy and Asha were there to meet me.
“Your voice is beautiful as always,” Kimmy said fondly. “It made me nostalgic, hearing you again. Feels like so much longer than a year that you’ve been with us.”
“She’s always had it,” Asha added, far more warmly than usual. “I always tried to get her to sing at bars back home, but she never would. Glad that you finally did it.”
“Guess I just needed to feel like I belonged,” I answered, and something dark flitted across Asha’s face. A half-second later, however,she’d assumed a pleasant expression again, making me question if I’d imagined it.
“I’d like to borrow my girl,” John’s voice said behind me, and then he turned me toward him. “If that’s alright with you two.”
Kimmy smiled and nodded, pulling Asha toward the dance floor. To my surprise, John did the same with me.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I thought you wanted a dance.”
“You said you wouldn’t,” I replied as he placed a hand on my back. Jenna and Liam had started playing a slow ballad.
He drew me closer, lacing his fingers with mine. “I changed my mind.”
A lot of couples were on the dance floor now. John oscillated us slowly, but his movements were still unnatural and out of rhythm, which made me giggle.
“You’re still a hopeless dancer, I see,” I teased.
John grinned. “Did you really expect anything else?”
I recalled again the night we’d danced—or more like swayed together, really—by the campfire. At the time, we hadn’t even kissed yet, and every touch between us felt electric. Although I was used to his touch now, feeling his hand shift lower on my back still sent a small spark of pleasure through me.
“I suppose not. But I like you anyway.”