CHAPTER 7 DARLING #2
The music was loud, as were all the voices talking over each other.
I could barely see over anyone, and I was thankful TJ was a giant.
He peered over the crowd before carefully leading me over to the rest of the team.
As we approached, I saw nearly all the guys were still in their suits.
Why were athletes always so fucking handsome?
Davis handed me a lemon drop, knowing I needed something sweet if I was going to drink. I hated the taste of alcohol. Nodding at my friend, I chugged the drink before motioning for another. Davis chuckled before getting me one.
As he handed me the glass, he leaned in and yelled.
“I invited Nat and Dre too.”
A sly smile crept on my face. “Of course, you did.”
“Shut up, Aife.” He pushed my shoulder before turning to engage in conversation with Zeke.
“You must be special if Walker brought you here,”
a voice said near my ear. “I’m Chris, by the way.” He held a large hand out to me.
I grasped it firmly. “Aife, nice to meet you. We’re just friends.”
“If you say so.” He brought his beer bottle to his mouth.
“AIFE!” Dre’s loud shout nearly drowned out the music. “You have a lot to catch us up on, girly.” She raised an eyebrow.
The woman always knew more than she should.
Quickly, she placed a kiss on my cheek before racing to the bar. Natalie laughed, hugging me and following after our friend.
TJ appeared next to me holding another lemon drop.
He was holding a beer in his other hand. He looked so relaxed and put together. Any woman would be lucky to have him in their life. Again, I had no idea why I was thinking like that. I decided to blame it on the alcohol, even if I had been feeling like this prior to drinking.
Grabbing the glass, I took my time with this one before moving to be near Nat and Dre.
Both were wearing wide smiles. Nat’s cheeks were pink as she talked to Davis.
Was she crushing on him too? I turned to Dre and saw her animatedly talking to Zeke, presumably about hockey.
He seemed mesmerized by my little ball of energy friend.
Dre loved hockey; she could talk about it for hours.
“Looks like they’ve found others to talk to.” TJ whispered into my ear. “Do you wanna dance?”
My eyes met his blue ones. “Sure,” I said, downing the rest of my drink. Liquid courage would have to get me through.
TJ smiled and held my hand, leading me onto the crowded dance floor.
His large hands gripped my waist as we swayed to the beat.
I let my hands rest on his chest as I started to shake my hips, allowing the music to flow through me.
My eyes closed as I turned to place my back to his front.
I felt him stiffen for a moment before his hands were back on my hips.
Without thinking, I ground my hips against him.
The feel of his muscular thighs against mine rewired my brain, short-circuiting my ability to think.
They 113 were much stronger than I realized, and I found I was pressing myself harder against him.
TJ moaned softly and pulled me closer, pulling my hair to the side.
“What are you doing, Aife?” His voice was rough,
hoarse.
“Dancing with a friend.” Slowly, I dropped down before popping back up and placing my hands around his neck. My back was still pressed firmly to his front. I knew if I saw his face I’d lose all courage the alcohol had given me.
“Fuck.” His hands tightened on my hips. “Stop or we are going to have a problem.” TJ’s voice was so deep and sexy now. It echoed in my head like a challenge.
I wanted to tease him more. I wanted to feel those thighs pressed against me again. I don’t know what had gotten into me, probably the alcohol. But I also wasn’t ready to push this man too far. I was tempted to, especially feeling him against me.
“Okay, sorry.” I licked my lips before dropping my hands. Had I done something wrong with my dancing? Or was he as affected by me as I was him?
“Shit, Aife.” TJ grabbed my hands carefully, pulling me slowly off the floor. “Darling, I’m trying to respect that you want to be friends. You dancing like that is a major turn on. I’m fairly sure friends don’t put their hard-ons on each other.”
“Oh.” My cheeks flamed red. He was so blunt.
“Sorry, TJ.”
He growled low in his throat. “Don’t apologize. I liked it… probably too much.”
My vision started to blur as the alcohol pulsed through my body.
Nat, Dre, and I were all dancing on each other, not caring how we looked.
I hadn’t had this much fun in a while… or this much to drink.
I couldn’t help the grin on my face either as I knew TJ was watching me.
After our dance, he chose to keep his distance.
He said he’d be too tempted if we kept at it. Whatever that meant.
“So, Mr. Tall and Broody keeps staring at you,” Dre said as she grinded against me. We worked our hips together, completely in sync from years of practice. “What’s that about?”
“Mmm… I may have given him an erection when we were dancing.” I wrapped my arms around Dre’s front and pressed into Nat. It was sensual dancing but not awkward, our hips constantly in sync.
Nat cocked an eyebrow at me. “Thought you just wanted to be friends?”
“Me too.” I sighed. “Seeing him play just got to me,
I guess.” My hips slowed as the desire to dance waned.