Ten
Annabeth
Idon’t know what comes over me as I slip my hand into Dallas’s and pull him to me on the dance floor.
It must be the bourbon, surely. He’s the father of one of my students.
There’s not a single part of me dancing with him, covered in fucking glitter, and drunk out of my mind that is appropriate. So why does it feel so right?
His calloused palms feel comforting against my skin. His free hand quietly finds my waist, gliding me closer to him. His body presses against mine as we move together in perfect synchronisation, like we instinctively know each other’s bodies.
“Oh, of course,” I say with a dramatic eyeroll. “I just love being dragged out to a bar just so I can watch my best friend stick her tongue down some cowboy’s throat.”
“That cowboy so happens to be my little brother, and I don’t think you have anything to worry about there. Those two have been friends for years,” he retorts, his smirk doubling in size as he lets out a low chuckle.
Way to go, Annabeth. Just stick your entire boot in your mouth and fucking insult the man and his brother. Great job.
Before I can redeem myself, the music changes from the mid-tempo country song that was playing, and the familiar intro of ‘Up All Night’ by Kip Moore radiates from the speakers.
I release myself from his hold, but he catches my hand and twirls me around until I’m flush against him.
His free hand finds its way back to my waist as he murmurs, “Stay.”
My cheeks flush crimson again, and our eyes lock onto each other’s with a polarising stare.
Even in the shitty light of the bar, I notice the subtle lines etched in his skin.
Smile lines crease his cheeks, drawing my attention back to his lips.
The grey hairs nestled beneath the brim of his hat meet the thick beard that laces his jawline, and my god this man is sexy.
“Okay,” I breathe. My heart is thumping so hard in my chest the words barely come out. “I love this song,” I confess.
His face softens and the corners of his mouth creep into a smile. “Me too.”
Without thinking, I lean forward and rest my head against his chest. Our bodies mould together as we quietly sway to the song. What the hell am I doing? Half the town is here and I’m wrapped in the arms of one of my students’ parents.
I feel vibrations ripple through him as he starts singing the lyrics – his voice deep and velvety.
As if my lips are in control of themselves, I find myself singing along with him.
Despite the music being obnoxiously loud, we find our harmony.
Our voices rise together, our bodies move in time to the music, our hearts beat together in a steady rhythm.
“You look beautiful tonight, Annabeth,” he purrs in my ear as the song comes to an end.
My lips barely part as I choke out a soft, “Thank you,” before we lose ourselves in each other again.
I feel his hands press against the small of my back, like he’s scared to let go, scared to break the connection.
His hold tells me he wants me to stay here, in his arms. Slowly, one hand snakes up my back until it reaches the nape of my neck, and he applies the smallest amount of pressure as if he’s silently asking for permission.
The next song begins – it’s slower, sexier.
My eyes trail up from his chest until they lock onto his, and I go weak at the knees as his gaze locks onto my soul.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, unable to focus on anything but the man before me and the pooling wetness between my thighs.
Heat radiates through every surface of skin he touches, his huge hands roam my body slowly, hitting every beat of the song.
I know we’re just dancing, but it feels like so much more than that.
Every moment I’m next to him – so close I can almost taste the whiskey on his tongue – I feel like I’m being pulled into a vortex with no way to break free. And I fucking love it.
“So. Fucking. Beautiful,” he growls.
Blood rushes to the sensitive bundle of nerves between my legs. It’s agonising to be this close to him and do nothing. If I’m not careful, this goddamn cowboy is going to have me in a chokehold before daybreak.
I murmur another quiet thank you as my body instinctively grinds with his, the music and intensity radiating through me. An uncontrollable pulse vibrates through my pussy with each brush of his skin on mine.
His lips graze my earlobe as he motions to release me, twirling me in a circle before returning me to my place in his arms. The gentle hum of his heartbeat against me is a quiet comfort I didn’t know I needed.
The song ends, and neither of us move. We just stay there, swaying slowly as we re-centre and come back to reality.
Dallas pulls away from me, his hand finding mine as he says, “Come on, let me walk you home.”
We stumble into the car park, the booming base echoing from inside as the heavy, wooden door slams behind us.
Beats thump through the soles of my boots, setting alight a fire that’s been dormant inside me for far too long.
Dallas still has my hand held in his, and he wastes no time using that to his advantage as he twirls me through the gravel beneath us.
By the time I land back to face him, his expression has softened and feels almost… sombre.
“So, Firefly, which way’s home?”
“Second star to the right,” I say with a wink.
I know he gets the reference, because a hint of childlike glee washes over his face, hidden beneath all the ‘hot cowboy.’ Hiding what appears to be a smile, I can’t help but wonder what other ways I can make him smile.
“Billie loves Peter Pan,” he tells me, shaking his head.
“When she was five, she begged Colt and me to let her dress us up like pirates. Little did we know, she’d ripped the curtains off the window in her room and tried to stitch the lace together with bailing twine.
” The laugh that escapes his lips is deep and hearty, and I’m completely lost in him as we stroll along, hand-in-hand.
“But wait, there’s more. She didn’t tell us any of this.
And honestly, I don’t know where we thought our delightful costumes had come from, we just went along with it.
So, after the tea party, musical performance, and general bullying we copped, we put her to bed just to find the path of chaotic destruction she’d left in her wake. ”
“She’s lucky to have you, both of you.”
He nods, accepting the compliment. “So, you and Ella? Interesting pairing.”
“You make us sound like pigeons.”
“What? Why?” Clearly taken by surprise at my analogy, he shoots me a puzzled stare.
“Like a pigeon pair, you know?”
Dallas nods emphatically. “I do know, but that’s not where my mind goes when people are trying to get me to open up to them.”
I smile up at him. “Oh, so you have people trying to open you up often, do you?”
“Fucks sake woman, that’s also not what I meant.” He runs a palm down his face, the other still not letting go of my hand.
“No, no, please elaborate on your long line of potential suitors, Mr. Northlane. The people are dying to know.” My voice comes out half laugh, half snort.
I’m gathering myself when I realise that somewhere in the middle of my sentence Dallas’s confident expression falters for a fraction of a second before the mask is realigned and it’s like it never happened. But it did.
“Do you plan on driving me crazy forever or just for tonight?” His composure is regathered and his voice comes out smooth and deep. I’d be lying if I told you it wasn’t the sexiest sound I have ever heard.
“Hmm… forever or just tonight? Not a fan of either of those options. How about we just say I’ll drive you crazy until I get bored?”
He stops walking, the hand holding mine becoming an anchor point as he gently pulls me back to a standstill. My teeth sink into my lower lip as the words drip from my mouth. I know where his gaze is lingering without having to check.
“And what if you never get bored, Annabeth?”
“Then I… I, uh—”
My lips part. My breath hitches as he steps closer to me, pulling me in.
Our noses are inches from each other, the scent of a single-malt lingering on his breath.
His chest is flush with mine, well it would be if he wasn’t half a foot taller.
Our fingers are still intertwined as he lifts my hand to his mouth.
His full lips graze my delicate skin as he presses a kiss against the underside of my palm.
A shiver creeps up the base of my spine as arousal pools between my thighs.
I’m frozen in place as blood rushes through my ears.
The steady thump of my pulse is the only thing keeping me grounded.
The blood flows into my cheeks, and I’m certain they’ve turned a shade of beetroot that could have been seen from the gates of both heaven and hell.
“You what, Annabeth?” His thumb brushes across the plump flesh of my lip, lingering for longer than it should.
“I, uh… I think I see my house,” I murmur.
“Well, we better make sure you get inside safely then.”
“Maybe we should.”
Dallas slowly backs away, not letting go of my hand, instead, using it as leverage to twirl me around until we’re face to face again.
“Thank you for your company, and for allowing me to walk you home, Annabeth.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, on the edge of my seat in anticipation, well, on the tiptoes of my boots, but you know what I mean. My eyes close, and I’m so sure it’s happening. My lips part slightly, allowing my tongue to peek through and wet them.
“Sweet dreams.” His voice is deep, and bolder than a tawny port at sunset.
He leans forward, placing a soft, but affectionate kiss on my cheek.
His rough skin sends ripples of primal desire through me.
I’m literally going to climb this man like a tree.
My brain, my heart, and my vagina have rendered me completely useless.
They have all betrayed me in this moment.
“I’ll see you soon.” Much like the other day at the farm, the way he says those four words sound more like a promise than parting words.
And once again, this damn cowboy has left me confused, and hornier than a room full of rams.