"Alright."She grins, walking to the back door."Let's go out there."
I put my hand on the small of her back, and direct her through the doorway.I expect her to wait with me, but not this girl I want to call mine.She takes off at a run, and turns around in a circle, holding her hands up to the sky.
I groan deep in my throat as I watch her.The rain is coming down in sheets, and it's plastered her clothing against her body, leaving very little to the imagination.
I'm standing in the alcove that houses the back door, pulling my hat further down over my eyes.The only light is coming from the string lights along the roof of the porch, and the flood light on the edge of the property.It's enough though, to see her as she dances to a song only she hears.
"C'mon eight pack.Dance with me."
There's one thing that the two of us know well from seeing each other at The Lean To, and that's dancing.
"We don't have music," I yell over the sound of the rain.
"We don't need it," she argues.
Shaking my head, I kick off the edge of my house, and walk out into the rainstorm.Once I get to her, she reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me to her.With my free hand, I palm her neck, and run my thumb along her jawline, tilting her face back."You look beautiful here in the rain."
"Kiss me, D?"
Leaning in, I tilt my head to the side, but the bill of the hat I'm wearing gets in the way.Pulling back, I turn it around, before placing it on my head.
"Look at you doing all that sexy shit," she smirks, licking some of the rainwater from her lips.
Our eyes meet, and this time I lean down, stopping just before our lips meet."Only the sexy shit for you."
She giggles, before I steal it with my lips.
Her lips are soft against mine despite the rain hammering down around us, and I keep my hand cupped along her jaw, holding her steady while I kiss her slow, taking my time even though the storm's doing everything it can to rush us.She tastes like rainwater and the sweetness of the dessert we had.I could stand out here all night just like this if she let me.
She pulls back first, laughing, water dripping off the ends of her hair."Okay, now dance with me.For real this time."
"There's no music, Mace."
"So?Make some up."She starts swaying again, hips moving to a beat that exists only in her head, and I watch her for a second before I give in, pulling her back against me, one hand at the small of her back, the other still holding hers.
We don't have a song, but we don't need one.I hum something low, something that doesn't really have a melody so much as a rhythm, and she laughs against my chest, following it anyway, both of us swaying in circles across the wet grass while the rain keeps coming down around us.Her shirt is soaked through, clinging to every curve, and I keep my eyes on her face instead of anywhere else, because if I look anywhere else I'm not going to be able to keep dancing.
"This is ridiculous," she says, tipping her head back to look at me, water running down her cheeks."We're gonna catch pneumonia."
"Worth it."And I mean every word of it.
"You're insane."She laughs, hooking her fingers in the waistband of my shorts.
"You love it."
She doesn't argue that, just smiles instead, the kind of smile that hits me somewhere deep in my chest every single time she gives it to me.I spin her out, and she twirls, arms extended, laughing loud enough that I'm sure my neighbors can hear it over the thunder, then I pull her back in, catching her against me before she can stumble on the slick grass.
"Careful."I steady her with both hands on her hips.
"I've got you."She loops her arms around my neck instead, rain still coming down between us."Or you've got me.I don't really know which one anymore."
That’s about the truest words I’ve ever spoken.I don’t know how this woman knew I needed her in my life, but she did, and I’m extremely grateful that she’s here.I don’t know what I would do without her.
"Both, probably."I brush a strand of wet hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear."Been thinking about something, and I want to say it before I lose my nerve."
"That sounds ominous."
"Not ominous.It’s just important."I take a breath, feeling my heart pick up in a way that's got nothing to do with the dancing."When they find Gerald, and this whole thing with him is finally over, I don't want you to leave."
