32. JOEY
JOEY
T he room was alive, brimming with energy as the Jailhouse Rock brass blared. Adriana’s laughter rang clear, the sweetest melody cutting through the place. I still felt the softness of her hand in mine, the lingering warmth from the slow dance we had just shared. Her eyes bright as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She tilted her head at me, mischief sparking in her eyes, and before I could object, she grabbed my hand again, pulling me toward the middle of the floor. “C’mon, Joey,” she said, her voice teasing over the music. “This is one of my favorites!”
She was already moving, her dress swirling as her hips rocked with effortless rhythm. I wasn’t much for dancing—never had been before her—but I'd become a dancer to see that smile on her face. She lit up under those amber lights, her smile brighter than the whole goddamn room. I had daydreamed of gripping her hips as she swayed after watching her do it as she stood at the stove. But now, I didn’t have to imagine. It had come true. She twirled around me, the two of us laughing like we didn’t have a care in the world.
She threw her arms up, spinning with wild abandon, and I grabbed her by the waist and dipped her low. Her gasp turned into laughter, her hands gripping my arms for balance as her face tilted to meet mine. Her lips parted, breathless, and I forgot about everything. Everyone.
The song ended, and I set her back on her feet. She stumbled a little, still laughing, her hand clutching at my chest as she steadied herself. My body was on fire from her touch.
I didn’t expect her to grab my hand. She started walking off the dance floor, weaving through the crowd like she’d just made a decision she wasn’t about to question. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to question her, either. Whatever was about to happen, she’d made her move, and there wasn’t a damn thing in the world that could drag me away from her now.
“Hey, we’re heading out,” Adriana announced to Lucy and Angela.
Lucy raised an eyebrow. “ Wait —you two are leaving together?”
“Yeah. He’s giving me a ride home.” She paused before adding, “I’ll swing by in the morning to pick up Antonio, if that’s okay.”
Angela chimed in, “No problem at all!” Lucy glanced at Adriana with a look that said she’d have questions later, but she let it go for now.
I gave Marco and Paul a quick nod as Adriana slid her arm around mine, her touch sending an electric current straight to my chest. They both smirked. I couldn’t even pretend to care. I pushed the door open and motioned for Adriana to step through first.
“Ladies first,” I said, my voice smooth despite the pounding in my chest. She turned her head, her lips curving into a soft smile before she slipped past me. Once again, her arm found mine as if it belonged there. I opened the passenger door for her, holding out a hand as she eased into the seat.
I rounded to the driver’s side, got in, and started the engine. Her actions inside The Wise Guy—the way she’d danced with me, the way she’d touched my arm, the way she’d decided, without a word, that I was hers tonight—they were still messing with me. I wasn’t used to feeling like this, completely thrown off my axis because of a woman. But here I was. I could barely focus or breathe right with her this close. I reached over and grabbed her hand, my fingers closing around hers like it was instinct. Her hand was so small, so warm, wrapped tightly in mine.
I backed out of the parking lot and started down the quiet street toward her house. The city lights produced soft glows through the windows. I could see her soft smile playing across her lips from the corner of my eye. Her perfume lingered in my car like a ghost I didn’t want to let go of.
My grip on her hand tightened, and I stole quick glances at her instead of keeping my eyes on the road. I wasn’t usually this guy. I knew how to play it cool and keep my emotions in check, but with her? All of that was thrown out the window. She was making me lose my goddamn mind. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to pull the car over, reach for her, and do everything I’d imagined since she stepped into my arms tonight. This woman had me wrapped around her finger. And I didn’t care. I also didn’t give a damn who knew anymore.
I pulled into her carport, putting the car in park. It was quiet except for the soft tick of the cooling engine. She walked ahead, her silhouette flashing against the porch light. I hung back on the steps, unsure if I was supposed to follow her in or wait like some fool with my heart already on a platter. She turned around, a smirk tugging at her lips, making my gut clench.
“Well, are you coming inside?” she teased, one eyebrow arching like she knew exactly what I was thinking.
I lunged forward, bolting into the house after her, slamming the door behind me. We stood in the cramped living room, not even a foot apart now, just breathing each other in. Her eyes were dark—sinful.
“Are you going to kiss me? Or do I have to kiss you?” she asked with another smirk, her confidence quickening my pulse.
My instincts kicked in before my mind could. “Who are you tonight?” But she didn’t shy away. She just stood there, staring at me like I was already hers. And funny enough, I was. All hers.
I took a step closer, my hands cupping her face, tilting it toward me. And then I leaned in, slow at first, trying to savor it. My lips brushed against hers, intending to keep it soft, tender, controlled. But the second I felt her tongue dance against mine, all my self-control unraveled like a loose thread.
It wasn’t a kiss; it was a collision. Needy, hungry, desperate. Her hands gripped the sides of my coat, tugging me closer, urging me on. Every sharp tug, every soft sound she made against my mouth—it pushed me further, set every nerve on fire. I wanted her. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.
Every second that urged on began to blur the lines between restraint and pure desire. Her fingers slipped beneath my coat, pulling it off my shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. My heart was pounding in my chest. Her body pressed against mine, as if closing the distance would burn away whatever hesitation we had left.
I backed her up until the back of her legs hit the edge of the couch. She pulled away just enough to let us breathe, her lips swollen from the kiss. A satisfied smirk danced at the corners of her mouth. My body was thrumming. I moved in closer, not willing to let go of her lips, tilting my head to kiss her again—but then she stopped me.
Her hand pressed against my chest, and my mind short-circuited. I had one thought, and one thought only: to strip us both of every layer until we were bare and tangled up together on the couch. I wanted to lose myself in her, to forget everything else. Because nothing mattered other than her.
“Wait,” she said.
“What is it?”
“I can’t go any further than this, Joey,” she said. “We’ve gone too far already.”
I stood there for a moment, stunned, the heat between us still burning as my body begged for more. But her words hit me like a splash of cold water, and the haze of desire started to clear, leaving me with nothing but the reality of the situation. The silence between us stretched long, every beat of my heart echoing in my chest as I forced myself to step back.
“Okay,” I muttered, running a hand through my slicked-back hair, trying to regain some semblance of control. My desire was raw, every nerve frayed, but I respected her words—she wasn’t ready. We’d gone too far. I grabbed my coat off the floor and slid it back on.
I could have argued and tried to convince her to cross that line with me, but I knew she was a puzzle, and if I tried to force the pieces together too fast, I’d miss the beauty of figuring us out. She could do almost anything to me, push every limit we set, and I’d let her. Because even if it drove me wild, I didn’t mind being in her control.