Without another word, I move in closer to him, moving my hips to the beat. At first, I keep my distance, dancing with my arms up on his shoulder and room between us, but as each song plays, I move closer and closer to him.
Spinning, I press my back into his front and start grinding on him. I can feel the evidence that he is enjoying this pressing into my back, but I keep going. My body is warm from both the dancing and the hormones rushing through it.
I’m intoxicated by this man. I’m not even drinking, and yet I feel dizzy. I feel weak in the knees.
I want him.
Pulling him off the dance floor, I find a wall and lean against it. I try to catch my breath as he leans his forehead against mine, his arm above my head holding his weight.
“You’re a hell of a dancer.”
“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.” I let my hands linger at the nape of his head.
He looks over his shoulder before looking back at me. Then it sounds like he says something like, “Fuck it.”
The next second, his lips are on mine. My body melts into him at the first touch.
The butterflies are raging inside my stomach as I pull him closer. I feel like the hussy Peyton called me with the way my leg itches to wrap around him. I’ve never been this hot for someone before in my life. Not even when I’ve had sex before.
I wonder if it’s the forbidden factor or maybe the anticipation that led up to it.
Either way, this is one hell of a kiss.
He pulls away, looking down at me. Then he looks over his shoulder again and stiffens.
Peeking out behind him, all the blood drains from my face. Clay and Grace are standing at the bar looking around.
I know why they are here. Peyton said she wouldn’t come, but she never said she wouldn’t tell Grace.
Kellan stiffened as soon as he saw them. In fact, he looked around before he kissed me. What if he only kissed me because she was watching?
My stomach sours. This amazing first kiss has turned to ash in my mouth.
“Wow,” I murmur. I can’t believe I let myself get here.
He looks back at me. “Yeah. Words fail me.”
I shake my head. “Look, Kellan, I really like you. You are funny and down to earth. You’ve been honest, but I’m no one’s pawn. I deserve to be first. I won’t be anyone’s rebound.”
I go to step away, but he grabs my arm. “Wait, what? I’m confused. What just happened?”
I turn, tears threatening my eyes. “What happened is that the girl you were in love with last year? She’s over there at the bar along with my brother. You saw them and thought you’d show them you moved on by kissing me. It’s a shame, really. It was an amazing first kiss. I would have loved it if it was the last first kiss I ever had. Instead, it’s tainted now. I wish you the best, but this isn’t going to work.”
“That’s not what this is.”
He tries to convince me, but I’m numb now.
“It doesn’t matter. Take your hand off of me. I’m going home.”
He doesn’t stop me this time as I break his hold and stalk out of the club. It doesn’t take me long to pull up the rideshare app, ordering a ride.
The entire ride, I let the tears fall. Sadness for the lost relationship I thought I found.
Why did I believe he would be different? It was stupid really. You can really only count on yourself.
When I get back to the room, Peyton isn’t there, I’m grateful for it. I’m angry at her too. She helped ruin this night for me. I would have snapped at her.
Instead, I make myself a hot chocolate from our single pod coffee maker before cuddling into my bed with my comfort TV show,One Tree Hill.
