Page 152 of The Addict

“M’kay…” My lips trembled as the words came out. We practiced the steps a few times off to the side of the dance floor.

“That’s it…okay, now here, try it one more time,” he encouraged me with a smile.

Right, left, left. Right, left, left. I sang in my head.

I hadn’t realized I was staring at my feet until Noah eased my chin upwards. “You’ll trip doing that. Look right here—at me, okay?”

I nodded, speechless.

“Ready?” Noah grinned.

Without waiting for my response, Noah led me to the center of the ballroom. At first, I thought I might collapse from the pressure of being amidst all of the party guests. But before I knew it, I was moving with him, elegantly gliding along with the music, trying my best to follow his lead. I stayed close to his body, letting him whisk me around. My nerves started to dissipate, and he lightly pressed my hand, pushing me back from him and then spun me back into his arms. He did the motion again, creating space between us, and then twirled me, once, twice—until I was laughing aloud, falling back into his grasp clumsily.

“I did it!” I cried out with joy as the song ended. Although I was a little dizzy, I had never enjoyed myself so much.

“Yes, you did.” He stroked my arm. “You dance beautifully. A natural.”

Our eyes locked and I was blinded from anything else instantly. I felt like I could drown there, in his eyes. And I wouldn’t mind it at all.

“Your eyes are gorgeous,” I blurted out.

His lips curved into a smile. My pulse quickened.

“Funny. I was thinking the exact same thing about your eyes.”

I beamed, taking hold of his arms again. “Yeah?”

He took a deep breath. “Yeah. You amaze me.”

I was at a loss for words. This was it, I could feel it.

“Whenever I’m around you,” he exhaled. “I’m happy.”

“I make you happy?”

“Yes. You do.”

I tilted upwards. I thought maybe another song had begun to play, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t care, to be honest. Our lips were mere inches apart and I wanted to kiss him, so badly.

I knew that tradition dictated that men should make the first move. But fuck tradition, I was about to take what I wanted, for the first time in my life. I slid my hands around his neck.

“Delane…” My name eased so gracefully out of his mouth.

“Yes?”

Yes, whatever you are about to ask me. Yes, to it all.

“Can I—?”

My concentration was broken by another voice.

“Can I cut in?”

NOAH

Hands slipped behind my neck and Delane placed her head on my shoulder. I pressed my face into her red locks, breathing in deeply. She smelled like flowers.

“Delane…” I opened my eyes to meet hers.