Page 59 of View With Your Heart

Calum Scott and Leona Lewis break into song, and Gavin approaches me before I can leave the dance floor. Without asking, he circles my waist and pulls me back to the center of the floor, tucking me into his chest. He moves me in a slow tempo, matching the desperate lyrics from “You Are The Reason.” There’s a saying about a man who dances and his ability in the bedroom. I already know Gavin can perform, but I can’t remember ever dancing with him. His breathy whispers in my ear send shivers down my spine.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he tells me, his voice quiet as if he’s been waiting all day—to see me again. It’s such a powerful feeling, and my head buzzes from the combination of alcohol, dancing, and Gavin’s body this close to mine. I pull back to look up at him, and he lowers to kiss me, quick and sweet.

“Promise me I can take you home again tonight.” His eyes search my face.

“I have Gee at home,” I remind him. He bites his lip.

“I’d suggest the condo, but I don’t want you to run off once we’re done. Just let me hold you again.” His voice begs while his sight dips to my mouth.

“I’m undecided,” I tease, and Gavin chuckles, leaning forward for another quick kiss. The song ends, and we rejoin the doubled group. Tom and Karyn are there with Jess and Emily. Ella and Ethan stand near the pregnant brigade of Leon and Tricia with Pam and Jacob. For the first time, I feel part of a large, loving family. It’s everything I could have ever wanted and nothing I’ll have once they all know the truth.

“You okay?” Gavin asks.

“I’m good,” I say, trying to disguise the lie and momentary sadness.

Another song hits the sound system. “I love this song.” I reach for Jenna and drag her out to the floor, moving with the choppy, clapping rhythm. Hozier has the most soulful voice, and his song “Movement” reminds me of the dance company. Moving in ways the dance floor doesn’t fully allow, I modify the slithering of my body to match the sultry sound. I’m sweating as I twirl. My hips sway, and my feet sashay. It’s invigorating, and I lose myself in the song, letting go of all the concerns, all the secrets, all the sorrow for the beat of a three-minute song.

When the song ends, I find Gavin’s eyes heated and pinned to me. When I near the standing table, he sets his beer bottle down, reaches out for me, and doesn’t allow me to stop walking. Instead, he tugs me toward the exit of the bar.

“Gavin.” I laugh. “We’re being rude.” He doesn’t respond, just continues pulling me forward, moving us through the back door and down to the dock behind the restaurant. As soon as we hit the wood planks, he spins to me and crashes his lips to mine, holding my head in place to devour my lips. If we were in a movie, this is when the cameras would circle the couple, twirling around and around them in this magical moment of kissing under starlight near a quiet lake. Gavin is relentless, shifting my head to the other side and continuing to savor me, memorize me. I’m breathless when we finally break, foreheads resting on each other’s.

“What was that?” I tease.

“The way you move. You can still dance, Brit. Your body. It’s crazy.” He stammers through his explanation as his hands skim down the length of me, outlining my form. His condo is only a hundred yards from us, and although he said he only wants to hold me, I need him again.

Just one more time. The proverbial clock is ticking, counting down until he’ll never want to spend time with me again.

Taking his hand, I step away from him, leading him to the end of the dock, but then I turn us to the short beach, guiding him to his building.

“Candy, we don’t have to do this,” he says, but everything in him says he wants me, especially when he takes over my lead and drags me toward the building.

We quickly climb the three flights of stairs and fall into his rented condo, laughing with nerves and eagerness. Once inside, we remain standing in the living room, returning to a make-out session reminiscent of every kiss we’ve ever shared. Hands roam. Mouths hunger. Gavin didn’t bother turning on the lights, and he strips me of my clothing, falling to his knees and spreading my thighs.

“Gavin,” I hiss as his face comes between my legs and his tongue finds me in that delicious way he did last night. His tongue slides through me. His thumb finds the sweet spot, and I dance over him until I break. My body tingles everywhere, and Gavin quickly stands, removing his own clothes. I watch the striptease, eager to touch his bare skin. When he stills before me, my hands coast over his broad shoulders, along the flat of his upper chest and the ripples of his lower belly. My fingers slip through the trail leading lower before curling around his stiff shaft, long, firm, and ready for me.

“I want you, Brit.” His fingers tuck my hair behind an ear, and he kisses me. Lifting me, he carries me to the lounger on his balcony.

“Everyone will see us,” I warn him, looking over my shoulder to the bar no more than a football field length away. The lights inside reflect out the windows. The thump of country bass echoes out the open back doors.

“No one’s watching us,” he whispers, cupping my chin and turning me back to him. He guides me over him, and I grind against him as I did last night, coating him with my wet heat.

“Condom,” I whisper again, awkward in asking.

“Do you trust me?” Gavin asks. “Let me be without.” It’s the same thing he’d said to me that weekend.

Just once without anything.

“Gavin, that’s risky.”

“Take a risk with me, Brit,” he teases, and my heart breaks. I want to do anything he asks, but he and I are a chemistry experiment I can’t repeat. Sensing my unease, he slips me off him and disappears into the condo. Returning seconds later, he has a bedspread and a small square packet in hand. He wraps the large spread over my shoulders before sheathing himself. It’s warm with the covering, but we return to our previous position, and I feel a bit better, less inhibited. Gavin sits back, and I rub up and down him again until we’re both panting.

“Now, Brit,” he demands, and I tip him to my entrance, taking him into me. We sigh in relief as he fills me. Stilling, we kiss as I hold him inside me, just soaking in the moment. There’s no other way to connect with another, and I feel Gavin on a level so deep it frightens me. Slowly, I roll, moving my hips over him to a rhythm set in my head.

“The way you move.” Gavin grins, hands skimming my sides before resting on my hips. He lets me rock forward. He forces me to roll back. Together, we set the pace until I need to move on my own, finding that spot where my clit rubs against him in a certain way, and my breath catches.

“That’s it.” Gavin’s smug voice hints to reading my body, and I continue to move, increasing the tempo, taking what I need from him. My hands clutch at his shoulders. My hair is wild as my head turns side to side. It’s too much and not enough, and then I break, clenching over him, pinning him in place.

“Fuck yeah,” Gavin growls before cupping my backside. He shifts our position, moving us off the lounger and slipping out of me. Picking up the blanket wrapped around me, he flips it around his shoulders, turns me so my back presses against his chest, and walks us forward to the balcony railing.