“If you don’t learn to waltz, I’ll be forced to dance with LJ.”
Without a word, he steps in close to me.
My heart flutters. “That was quick.”
He puts his hands on my waist. “That guy’s not laying a hand on you.”
I pluck his hands off my waist. “Well, right now, your hands are wrong.” I reposition his hand under my shoulder blade, and lift his left hand to hold mine. “That’s better.”
“This feels awkward.”
“Do your ribs hurt?”
“No. It’s just holding you like this feels wrong.”
“It’s not wrong. It’s elegant.”
He rolls his eyes, which makes me laugh. I then instruct him on the correct steps. The fact he gets to lead entices him, but the monotony of the box step has him tensing up.
When his feet fail to come together, I whisper, “Relax your body.”
“This doesn’t exactly feel natural.”
“But if you have these basic moves down, you’ll fit in on the dancefloor.”
Before I can instruct him on the steps again, I squeal as he lifts me into the air. Wrapping his arms around my middle, he hugs me close and spins me around.
I squeal again as we stop spinning, and he lowers me to the ground.
As our chests heave, he smooths back my hair. “Maybe I don’t want to fit in on the dance floor,” he whispers.
Tingles electrify my body, and I grin at him. “Oh boy, I can’t wait to take you to the gala.”
His arms unravel from me, and I instantly clutch his hand. The burst of happiness has me skipping as I tug him out of the room.
He laughs, following behind. “Where are we going now?”
“I want to show you the view from the parlor.” My cheeks hurt from the stretch of my smile. “It’s one of my favorite places in the manor. That is, when we’re not hosting society meetings there.”
“Okay, if it’s got you this giddy, I gotta see it.”
At that, I halt, and Dax bumps into me from the abruptness. I send my hands up to the sides of his face and lock onto his eyes. “It’s you. You make me giddy. I just want to share everything with you.”
Dax’s hands caress mine, and I lower my intensity. “I love how excited you are, but you can slow down. I’m planning on sticking around.”
It’s like my limbs are filled with helium. I’m so weightless and ballooned with joy.
I sigh, lowering my hands. “How’d I get so lucky? I truly believed I’d never find my person.”
Dax smirks. “I never expected to fall for someone like you.”
I bite my lip. “You’re falling for me?”
He brushes back my hair. “Isn’t it obvious?”
I sigh again and lift onto my toes. As I toss my arms around his neck, his arms pull around my lower back. Our lips connect as our chests collide. His kiss sends fireworks of ecstasy over my lips. I almost lose balance as my toes curl. Feeling me wobble against him, Dax holds me tighter.
I kiss him back harder, sending my hands down between his shoulder blades. As I let my hands explore, my ears prick to movement behind me.
