The second the massive doors yawned open, we walked slowly into the darkness, a guard in front of us and one behind. Once we were inside what felt like a small room, the doors were slammed shut, and only once they were secured did the ones in front of us open.
Benoit squeezed my hand at the ear-piercing techno remix that filtered out, along with the blinding beams of multicolored lights flashing in every direction.
All I could see were multitudes of writhing bodies, sweat-soaked and heads lolled back in ecstasy as they danced to what the DJ played.
Instantly, my stomach clenched, this scene not at all what I was comfortable with. But then I glanced down at Benoit to see his reaction, and the surprise on his face made it all worth it.
“Thisis what you got me out of bed for?”
I glanced around at the gyrating bodies then back to him. “You don’t like it?”
Benoit laughed and then stretched up to put his lips by my ear. “Like it? Iloveit. But if you’d told me where we were going, I would’ve dressed more appropriately.”
I leaned back and ran my eyes down over his black cowl-neck sweater and pants. “What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?”
“For this place? Everything. But mainly the fact there’s too much of it. Why didn’t you just tell me where we were going?”
I grinned at his put-out expression and drew him into my arms. “I wanted to surprise you. Are you?”
“Surprised?” Benoit looped his arms around the back of my neck and shifted in close. “Oui, very. But can I give you a tiny pointer?”
“You may.”
“Maybe smile a little next time. You know, when you’re ordering me out of bed after midnight. It might help ease the sheer panic that something terrible is about to happen.”
A frown pulled between my brows. “What did you think was going to happen?”
Benoit patted my chest and let out a trilling laugh. “My mind was full of wild scenarios. But I have to admit that this was not one of them. Do you frequent dance clubs often,mon monstre?”
“Never.”
“Oh…” Benoit slid his hand down my shirt to the hem. “So this is all for me?”
I took his wandering hand, brought it to my lips, and kissed his palm. “For the most part, but selfishly, I want to watch you dance for me.”
“Oh no you don’t. You brought me here,” he said, and interlaced his fingers with mine. “So you’re going to dancewithme.”
“I don’t dance.”
My words were clear, so I wasn’t sure why he kept on pulling me toward the crowd of people.
“Benoit,” I growled, looking over my shoulder to my guards, who had their eyes glued on the two of us.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. You dragged me out of bed and ordered me here, soyouare going to dance with me.” He stopped on the edge of the other dancers and turned, then started to slink his way back into my arms. “Don’t act like you don’t want to.”
Fuck, he wasn’t wrong. The idea of him moving in my arms was tempting. But I was well aware how unsecured the area wasand just how easy it would be for someone to get to me if they wanted to.
“Dimitri…” Benoit purred as he swayed away from me, his fingers going to the edge of his sweater. Then he slipped them under the wool and the material was gone, leaving him in nothing but his black pants. “Don’t walk away from me. Not yet.”
Andthatwas the fucking problem. I wasn’t sure I could walk away from him, ever.
“Idon’tdance,” I reiterated with a lot less determination.
“Fine,” he teased with a sexy smirk, then slinked up to me again, looping his sweater around the back of my neck and pulling my face in close to his. “Then how about you just stand there and I’ll grind all over you.”
How in the hell was I supposed to say no to that? Instead, I sent up a prayer that my guards had eyes in the frontandback of their heads, because there was no way I was walking away from this man.Not tonight.
I reached for Benoit’s hips, and the second I got a hold and pulled him in, he flashed a triumphant smile and tipped his head back.
