She’s taken off her specially made Monarchs jersey, and I fully take in the silver dress and black thigh-high heels she’s wearing.
She was definitelynotwearing that under her jersey earlier.
I’m about to make my way to her when a hand lands on my chest.
“If the look on your face matches your intentions, then you should consider grabbing a drink before you maul her on the dance floor right in front of the cameras, my friend.” Nick Stonehaven hands me an amber drink with a gray stone in it. “It’s the good stuff from my office.” He winks as he takes a sip of his own drink.
I join him, and damn, this shit is smooth. “You make it a habit to walk around with two drinks at all times?” I raise a questioning brow.
He shakes his head. “No. Just figured you were the safer target to receive a drink from me than the person I initially intended it for.”
It’s fast, but I see the moment his eyes flicker to the group of women dancing with Isabella. By a simple process of elimination, I figured out who he has his eye on. I pat him on the shoulder as I let out a low whistle. “Good luck with her. She’s a tough cookie.”
He looks at me, slightly perplexed, as I say, “Let’s just say I might not be the only one with my intentions written all over my face.” I tip my glass in his direction.
He sighs and clinks his glass against my own. “Fucking hell.” He downs the rest of his drink and turns to leave without another comment.
I, on the other hand, laser in on Isabella again, only to see her sight already settled on me and a smirk on her face.
She’s dancing sensually, running her hands down her sides until they land on her hips. She then starts to slowly spin as she grinds her ass in the air. The desire to dance behind her is causing me to white knuckle my glass so tightly that I have to put it on a passing waiter’s tray in fear that I might break it.
She’s teasing me. Testing my resolve.
Knowing that I will respect her wishes for us to remain under the radar until she explicitly tells me otherwise.
But the way she’s dancing to this damn Sean Paul song from years ago is making me question it all. She’s a siren, pulling me in. And after she slowly raises her arms and traces one hand down the other, I’m done for.
Let’s see how bold her dancing gets while I’m standing only a few feet away from her.
Evan and Tony are close by, so I hope I’m not raising any alarms by joining this dancing crew.
Isabella’s smirk morphs into a full-on smile by the time she’s within arm’s reach. And to my surprise, she gets even closer.
“Careful, tesoro,” I warn lowly.
“Of what? Because I’m pretty sure I heard you say three little words loud and clear down there.” She inches even closer.
“And if I’m not mistaken, you may have even said them first…” My face does nothing to hide my hopeful expression.
She simply bites down on her lip and nods, stepping right up to me along with the beat of the music.
My body vibrates with the need to get my hands on her. Feel the sway of her hips, the heat between her legs. All of it.
“Isa, a lot of people are watching,” I warn gently.
“I know.”
“And people will talk.” I parrot her concerns from earlier.
“I know.” She slips her hands around my neck, and I instinctively wrap her in my arms.
“And I’m going to kiss you anyway.”
She pulls me down slightly, and my body melts the rest of the way to meet her. Our lips meet in a delicious dance, familiarity leading us to this point as she opens up for me without me asking, and I pull her impossibly closer.
I’m faintly aware of flashing lights and hollering around us, but honestly, a freight train could pass through this room, and I wouldn’t be able to tear myself away from this woman.
The woman who is kissing me publicly, announcing to the world that she is mine.
