Chapter 18
IF YOU’RE TRYING TO GASLIGHT ME, AT LEAST BUY ME A DRINK FIRST
The air rushed from him in a shocked huff when I crashed nose-first into his front. For one terrified moment, I thought I was going to bowl us both over.
But he moved fast. His arm snaked around me, pressing us together hip to chest. Catching my weight.
I froze.
Sky did, too.
Slowly, like I was surfacing from deep underwater, I lifted my face from his shirt. Whatever apology I might’ve offered zipped away into the atmosphere, taking my stomach with it.
His lips had parted and his eyes had widened with surprise, but he didn’t let go.
One hand splayed low across my back, the other tightened on my waist. Mine had flattened against his stomach.
Right over a set of hard abs that felt like they’d been designed by some sculptor.
They flexed when he sucked in another deep breath.
I’d thought we were close before, but this? This was kissing-close. This was I’m-groping-Sky’s-abdominals close.
He gave one slow blink, and like he’d just realized the same thing, awareness slid in, darkening his midnight-blue eyes.
But he didn’t look away.
Neither did I.
It happened in a single heartbeat and…
We fit.
The thought stamped itself across my brain like a brand.
Which was clearly the vodka talking. The months of infatuation. Maybe stress forming illogical conclusions. It’d also been a while since I’d been this close to someone. And certainly not someone like Sky.
He smelled like mint and him, like cool night and sandalwood and spice. I should pull away. Now. Before he pushed me off him. Because surely he would.
Any second now.
…any second.
He didn’t move.
Neither did I.
Another heartbeat passed before he did, and it wasn’t to draw away or put distance between our bodies. Instead, he used the palm on my back to press in, situating me against him.
Not pulling away. Pulling me closer.
Laser lights flashed across the floor, slicing beams of rainbow color. His features flickered in and out of focus, but I could see enough. The shock had dissipated from his face, and that calm mask was back in place. His gaze was warm, dark, infinite.
My heart tried to punch its way out through my ribs.
“Okay,” he murmured, and it was huskier than he’d sounded a second ago. His mouth curved ever so slightly, crinkling his eyes. “This works, too.”
And he started swaying again. Autopilot kicked in. My hips found the beat, syncing with the music’s slow, pulsing rhythm.
You know, just…dancing. Casually. With Sky.
I could do this. I just had to keep it together. Act natural.
Natural, as in like it was a totally normal thing to be wrapped around him. Of all people. Of all nights. On this dance floor.
To make it easier on myself, I moved my hands off his abs (dear God) and laced them behind his neck instead.
Sky glanced away to scan the crowd and the edges of the dance floor. Like he was looking for something. I started to follow his gaze, but then his attention drifted back to me. His teasing smile deepened at whatever he saw. Disbelief and awe, most likely.
“You sure this is okay?” he asked, the question rumbling from his chest and into mine. His voice was barely audible over the music.
This was not a fantasy anymore. This was real. Somehow. I’d entered an alternate reality where I’d run into him at the club and now we were plastered together like this.
Our chests brushed. His hips pressed against mine, which threatened to drag my mind in all kinds of inappropriate places—
No, I couldn’t do that. Not now. Not if I wanted to maintain my composure.
But…kind of impossible not to. After all, this was Sky.
How many times had I watched him at the bar? Admired the way his sleeves strained against his arms? Watched that dimple. Melted over that laugh I rarely got to hear. That smile.
There was a chance I hadn’t realized how truly far gone I was until now. The world threatened to narrow to only us.
But there was a small, annoying voice at the back of my mind. A nagging reminder that made it impossible to completely surrender to this moment.
“You never did answer my question,” I said, way more breathlessly than I’d intended.
Sky tilted his head down, brows slanting in inquiry. “What question?”
He traced his eyes over me—over my mouth. Just the briefest glance before he blinked rapidly and looked away. Almost like he hadn’t meant to. His teeth sank into his bottom lip, and his fingers tightened a little on my side.
I was suddenly grateful I’d slung my arms around his neck. I wasn’t quite sure I could stand on my own.
Focus, Rae. Be logical.
Because if I didn’t know better, I’d think he looked flustered, too.
But he was also dodging my question.
Somehow, I made myself form words. “I asked what you were doing here tonight.”
“Ah.” He dipped his head a little, looking at me through thick lashes. “Dancing with you. Is that okay?”
“Is that—?” My brain stuttered. “But…why?”
“Why are we dancing?” His grin flashed, bright and lethal.
“Yes,” I croaked. “No. Uh, kind of?”
He gave a short laugh before sobering. “Honestly?”
“Preferably,” I breathed, trying not to notice the brush of his jeans against my lower belly.
My answer drew a faint smile from him, a flicker of one that slipped away just as quickly.
“At first, it was because that asshole wouldn’t leave you alone and no one else was stepping in.
” He glanced around us, like he was reassuring himself Whiskey Breath had indeed vanished, and then his attention was on me again.
His expression softened a little. “And now we’re dancing because…
well, I really like your dress. I probably shouldn’t say this, but you look really nice, Rae. And I…”
His Adam’s apple bobbed with his heavy swallow. Stunned, I could only stare. I desperately needed him to finish that sentence.
He’d just told me he liked my dress. That I looked great.
What was happening right now?
“What do you mean you probably shouldn’t say it?” I asked. A bead of sweat traced down my spine. I couldn’t look away from Sky’s face.
Because I was watching him, I noticed the way he bit the inside of his cheek and looked everywhere but at me.
Was that redness tinting his high cheekbones or a trick of the light? Holy crap. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Sky was blushing.
That couldn’t be right. Was he drunk, too? He didn’t seem drunk. I didn’t smell any alcohol on him, and his gaze wasn’t blurry. There had to be an explanation for this.
I was at a loss for one. And words.
After about a million years, he finally looked at me again, running those dark eyes over my face before sighing. “It’s complicated. But I also…” He exhaled a soft, self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. “I don’t know. I like the way you’re looking at me right now. Like you see me.”
“Like I see you?” How the hell could someone miss him?
Also, why did I get the feeling he was holding something back? What was complicated? Dancing? Because he seemed to be doing just fine. I was the one who’d nearly knocked us over. What was I missing?
What was going on?
I stopped moving. It hadn’t escaped my notice, either, that he’d said my name for a second time. The right name.
This had to be a dream. I felt kind of like the clouds had parted and a sunbeam had chosen me. Like winning the lottery if the lottery was a long-legged, too-sexy bartender.
I narrowed my eyes. It was my turn to wonder if there was a prank show host lurking in this crowd of sweaty, gyrating dancers. Because that seemed more probable.
I went with honesty. “I, ah, don’t know what to say to that.”
“Yeah.” Sky’s mouth twisted ruefully, and he sighed. “I get that.”
Since he was still lightly gripping my waist, it took only a nudge of his leg to get me moving again.
Because I was a sucker, I let him guide me until we rotated gently in place.
My view shifted. Nearby, a pair of girls barely twenty-one shouted the song’s lyrics at one another.
The lights pulsed in time with the bass’s sultry thump.
Another rotation, and his thigh slipped between mine.
It was as hard and muscular as the rest of him, which really wasn’t helping me find my bearings.
I took a deep breath to quell the fire kindling low in my belly and tightened my grip on his shoulders.
Also unhelpfully muscular, for the record. I forgot what I was saying.
Sky chose that moment to speak up, his expression torn between curiosity and amusement. “You don’t know what to say to which part, though?”
I didn’t know what to say to any of it. I shook my head. My blood leapt against my skin. The room blurred. I was definitely tipsy. That last shot had tipped me over the edge.
My next exhale was unsteady. Sky must’ve caught it because his grip loosened instantly, and he bent to get a better look at me. “Do you need some water? Have you had a lot to drink?”
Not nearly enough. My hysterical laugh nearly burst free. I could use some water. Possibly more vodka. Maybe a prescription. I didn’t know anymore.
“I’m fine,” I said, trying for a smile instead.
God, I sounded like a broken record. I disengaged from the object of my fantasies enough to fan myself.
It was about a thousand degrees in the center of all these bodies.
I made myself keep swaying, if only so I didn’t look silly, standing still in the middle of the dance floor.
“I’ve had a couple drinks. It’s been a long week,” I added, maybe a little more defensively than necessary.
“Sounds like it.” He watched me, more serious now. “I heard you called off work because of that explosion at the university.”
I stiffened at the reminder. Explosion. Right.
“Yeah,” I muttered, fanning myself harder. I eyed a girl in a pink sequined dress nearby, the play of lights over all those sparkles. “That didn’t help anything.”
Sky didn’t answer right away. A quick glance up showed his eyes had narrowed a little.