I turn around and step back, pressing myself against his firm body, and his fingers dig into my hip bones in response. Bringing one arm up, I reach over my shoulder and slip my hand around the back of Dex’s neck, enjoying the tickle of his long hair across my fingertips. He pulls me closer, curls around me, his hands drifting from my hips to my thighs. I try not to gasp when his fingertips tease the hem of my minidress, lightly touching my bare skin.
The music builds, the bass thumping through my body. The flashing lights and writhing bodies make me feel like I’m floating untethered through deep space. I press myself more firmly into Dex’s body, wanting to feel his heat.
He hardens against me.
And I feel like a winner, a conqueror. I made Dex Reid hard, for me.
Smile pulling on my mouth, I grind against him, relish the sigh that slips from his lips and across my cheek.
“What are you doing?” he growls into my ear, and a shiver goes down my spine at the sensation of his mouth so near my neck.
“Dancing with you,” I respond innocently, echoing his words, letting my hips sway with his as if we’re of one body.
Overhead, the singer’s voice is breathy, the music deep and sexy. Dex’s hands tighten on my hips again, and then he spins me around. Now I’m face-to-face with him, so near I could lick his lip ring if I wanted to.
Oh, I want to.
His eyes search mine for a breath. Once again, time slows down. The neon lights hit his eyes, and the vivid blue makes me think of the winter sky, of a glimmering nebula. Then his hands come up to grab my head, and he’s pulling me in, pressing his lips against mine, stealing my everything away.
I can’t think, can barely breathe.
This can’t be happening.
How is this happening?
His hands are in my hair, his mouth against mine. I soften, melting into his touch. He smells like pot and cold air, and his lips taste like whiskey.
As the surprise leaves my body, it’s replaced with hunger, with the need to touch him, to pull him closer, to drink him in until I drown. I don’t ever want to come up for air.
Now my hands are tightening around the back of his neck, and he’s pulling my body against his until all I feel is him. The rest of the world disappears; all I know is Dex Reid. His lip ring is cool against my mouth, and when my tongue darts out to touch it, his hard length throbs against my bare thigh. Subtly, I move my leg, brushing against him. In response, he growls against my lips. And between my legs, I get wet.
I want him to take off my dress, to trail his tattooed fingers across my skin, to press his mouth to each of my ribs. I want him so bad it hurts.
The song fades out, and Dex pulls away, leaving me gasping for air as I stare up into his blue eyes. His brow is furrowed, and the expression on his face looks like a mixture of hunger and surprise. His hands are still in my hair. One of his thumbs trails across my neck, making goose bumps dance across my skin.
What just happened?
“Nora! There you are!”
The voice startles me, startles both of us, and we turn suddenly to see Alisha and Jordan staring at us, eyes wide and mouths open in shock. The guys stand behind them, wearing an array of surprised and delighted expressions.
Dex lowers his hands from my head, and I reluctantly untangle my fingers from around his neck.
“Sebastian drank too much,” Alisha says, tearing her eyes away from me to look at Dex. “He needs a ride home. Jordan already said no.”
“Remember what happened last time?” Jordan says, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
“I said I was—” Sebastian hiccups and looks a bit sick. “Sorry.”
Jordan crosses her arms and shoots him a scathing look. “I had to have the Benz detailed twice after that.”
“Don’t wanna know,” I say, trying not to imagine what could’ve possibly caused the need.
“It’s your turn, Dex.” Jordan gives him an innocent smile, and he sighs.
“Fine.” His gaze shifts to me. “You wanna . . . ?”
The question hangs in the air between us.
Go home with him? Go anywhere with him?
Yes. That’s the only answer there is. Yes.
“Yeah,” I say, prompting Jordan and Alisha to exchange a look. I smile at them. “Thanks for tonight. It was fun.” Then I remember I’m wearing Jordan’s dress. “I’ll bring your dress back tomorrow.”
She waves a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. It looks better on you anyway. Keep it.” She pulls me in for a hug, followed by Alisha. “Message us later?” Her gaze flicks subtly to Dex, then back to me, and I nod.
“Sure.”
The guys exchange handshakes and fist bumps, and then Dex, Sebastian, and I head toward the exit.
chapter 11
WE DESCEND THE STAIRS TO the back entrance, Sebastian wobbling a bit as he goes, and after we receive our coats and my bag from the coat check, we step out the door and into the cool January night.
All at once, the darkness explodes with light.
The flashes are blinding, and I stumble down the step and onto the sidewalk, holding up a hand to shield my eyes.
