Chapter 8
EIGHT
Brock
“Dance lessons? You can’t be serious,” I groan, running my hand through my hair.
“It’s supposed to be fun. Plus, you’ll be able to have your hands all over Willow like you obviously love doing,” Hartford says.
We’re having breakfast and Paxton just announced we’ll be attending dance lessons this afternoon. I’d rather stick needles into my eyes than spend the afternoon twirling around the dance floor with Willow.
At dinner last night when she was rubbing my thigh under the table, it was the first time I even considered pulling her back to our room and making her take care of what she started.
After I told her to stop or I couldn’t be held responsible for what happened, she bolted from the table.
Everyone was staring at me and I grinned as I shrugged, telling them she needed to go cool down.
They all laughed, except for Lake. He looked like he wanted to leap over the table and grab me by the throat.
I enjoyed the reaction and I winked at him before turning my attention to Callum.
After Willow and I got back to the room, that’s when things slipped right back to the way they always are with us. I’ve been sleeping on the couch, allowing her to take the bed. I’m a gentleman after all, but last night I made the suggestion we share the bed because my back was hurting.
Apparently, asking her to share the bed was equivalent to kicking a puppy. She started yelling asking if I was crazy. I thought she was joking at first, so I made another mistake and laughed.
Needless to say, I slept on the couch again and today my back is worse. Now, I need to spend the afternoon spinning Willow—the cause of said back pain—while acting like the happy couple we aren’t.
“I love dancing,” Willow says with a quick clap of her hands.
“At least you can move without pain,” I say under my breath.
“What?” she asks, dipping her eyebrows.
“So, you and Willow?” Callum whispers, raising an eyebrow.
I shrug and shove a fork full of scrambled eggs into my mouth. “Can’t fight what the heart wants,” I say after swallowing.
“Your heart?” he asks, shaking his head with a grin.
Yeah, they’re all convinced that Willow and I are having epic sex. I even heard Anya and Hartford whispering the reason my back hurt is due to a sex injury.
I wish that was the truth. It would make this tolerable knowing it happened because of some wild, crazy sex. Unfortunately, it’s been far too long since I had sex like that. Hell, I didn’t even have sex with Millie when we briefly dated.
It’s probably why my dick took such notice to Willow last night. He was so excited it wasn’t my hand for once.
“After breakfast, the girls are coming with me and we’re going dress shopping. I thought it would be fun to have a new dress for our dance lessons,” Hartford announces.
“Yes! I love this idea,” Anya says.
“It’s like you read my mind. I have nothing fun for dancing,” Willow replies.
“Count me in,” my mom says, sipping her mimosa with a grin.
All the girls start talking loudly and I lean back in my chair, groaning as my back protests the move.
“Are you all right?” Willow asks, concern shining in her eyes as her hand rests on my shoulder.
I can feel Lake’s eyes burning into the side of my head, so I smile as I place my hand on Willow’s cheek. “It’s your fault I’m in pain,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows as I laugh.
I’m not lying, it is her fault.
“You’re terrible,” she says as her cheeks redden.
“Maybe before you go shopping, you help me give it a workout.” I move closer to her, pressing my mouth against her ear. “Or maybe I’ll lay in the bed and try to remember what it feels like to be comfortable.”
She jerks back with wide eyes and I laugh, trying to make it appear like I just said something real naughty to her.
“I have to make a call,” Lake announces, standing up and slamming his chair against the table.
I grin at Willow and a small smile creeps onto her full lips.
After breakfast, the girls all went shopping and the guys were all going to the casino for a little gambling. I decided I would in fact lay in the bed and remember what it felt like. It felt so good, I ended up passing out.
Now, I’m rushing to get to the ballroom where the dance lessons are happening. My back still hurts, but after my nap in a real bed and a shower I feel a little better.
I push into the ballroom and laugh when everyone turns to look at me.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Just in time,” the tall blonde older lady in the front of the room says.
I look around for Willow and see Lake standing next to her.
Oh hell no.
My long strides get me next to him in no time and I chuckle, causing both of them to look at me. The relief on Willow’s face is immediate, but quickly replaced with anger. Lake on the other hand, the smug face he was wearing vanishes as his eyes widen.
“You can go now,” I say, staring straight ahead.
“Keeping your girl waiting is messed up,” he replies.
He must’ve dug deep down to find those balls and he’s a lucky son of a bitch that I have self control because the urge to punch him in the mouth is overwhelming.
I reach around him and pull Willow to me, kissing the top of her head. “Sorry I’m late, baby, but I fell asleep. It’s not like I was out cheating on you like a fucking scumbag.”
Lake snaps his head to her before stepping to the back of the room.
Victory, asshole.
“What the hell, Brock?” Willow hisses, quietly.
“Now, turn and face each other,” the woman, who is clearly the dance instructor, says.
Willow and I face each other and if looks could kill, I’d be dead. “That was so uncalled for,” she whispers.
“Now ladies place one hand on your partner's shoulder and gentlemen place one hand on your partner's side. The other hands come together on your other side.”
“Uncalled for is you allowing him to slide into my place because I’m a few minutes late,” I whisper-shout.
“Now start moving to the music,” the dance instructor says with a clap.
We begin to move, both of us staring at each other with narrow eyes.
“I didn’t allow anything. He stepped up to me as the instructor started talking. Was I supposed to push him away? Make a scene?”
“Yes, you absolutely should’ve pushed him away. You should’ve stepped away from him instead of giving him the slightest thought that he could have another chance,” I say, stepping on her foot.
“Ouch,” she says, pulling away.
“Brock, you’re a wonderful dancer, why are you stepping on Willow’s feet?” my mother asks, shaking her head. “His head is in the clouds.” She smiles at me as my father spins her around.
I pull Willow back to me and we start dancing around the room. My back suddenly feels better. I don’t know if it’s adrenaline or if I’m just so pissed right now I don’t notice it.
“Did you purposely step on my foot?” Willow asks, shaking her head.
The movement of her hair catches my attention and I take her in for the first time.
Her hair is bouncing as we move, which causes my eyes to trail down her body.
The red dress she has on is tight on the top, showing off an ample amount of cleavage.
Once the dress hits her waist, it flares out and moves flawlessly with her body.
Damn, she looks fucking hot.
Too bad the red of the dress matches the anger rolling off her. This time she steps on my foot, but I grab her, tugging her closer to me.
“You’re sexy when you're angry with me,” I whisper, pushing her away so I can spin her around only to pull her back, and we move in sync across the dance floor.
“Are you serious?”
I smile as I dip her, before bringing her in close. “They’re all watching,” I whisper, kissing right below her ear.
She gives the slightest nod and returns my smile.
“You’re all doing amazing. What a fantastic group,” the dance instructor says.
“I was late because I fell asleep in the bed, which did help my back. I won’t apologize to Lake for what I said, he deserved it, but I’ll apologize to you for making you wait.”
She lets out a deep breath and nods. “I appreciate that.”
I don’t know if that means she accepts my apology or not, but we start dancing around the room like it’s just the two of us. The faster we move, the more she laughs, and I like the attention it’s drawing to us.
We both smile as we move and right as the song ends, I lift her and she wraps her legs around me. I smile at her, seeking permission to kiss her and she gives her answer by sinking her fingers into my hair.
My lips touch hers and instinctively my fingers sink into her ass. It’s a quick kiss, but it did what it was supposed to do.
Lake is glaring at us and my mother is beaming with excitement.
Willow slides down my body and I flinch as my back reminds me it was a stupid idea.
“Your back?” Willow asks, resting her hands on my shoulders.
“Yeah, I guess it’s not totally better.”
“I’m sorry, Brock.”
“Don’t be, just let me sleep in the bed tonight.”
She smiles and I feel victorious.
“Nope.”
Fuck.