I lead her onto the dance floor, through the crowd and the press of bodies that part around us.
My hand finds her waist, and I pull her closer.
I lower my head to her neck and breathe her in, her scent as intoxicating as ever.
We move with the music, time slips by as everything else fades away.
It’s just her.
Just this.
Some drunk fucker bumps into us, breaking the moment.
I feel her go still and start moving away from me, brick by brick rebuilding the walls I’d only just managed to break through.
Fuck.
She looks around.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, even though I already know.
I take a step towards her, she takes one back.
I clench my jaw.
“We shouldn’t... in public... anyone could see.”
She looks around like a deer caught in headlights, and with every passing second the colour drains further from her face.
“I can’t believe it didn’t even cross my mind that we’re in public. That we’re supposed to keep our distance...”
Of course.
This again.
I exhale slowly.
“We’re in a different country. No one knows you. No one knows me. I’ll keep you safe.”
“What if someone followed me?”
Every muscle in my body tenses.
What is really going on with her that the idea of someone following her is the first place her mind goes?
Is this a normal occurrence for her?
My thoughts immediately turn to Julian.
Considering the way he appeared at the academy, there’s no reason he couldn’t do the same here.
“I promise you, if someone has followed you, they won’t be leaving Switzerland breathing.”
I close the distance between us and place a hand at the small of her back as I guide her towards the bar and onto a stool.
“I’ll be a moment.”
I press a brief kiss to the side of her head before stepping away.
