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I lifted my arms and squeezed between bodies on the dance floor, pulsing to the beat. Michael and his new flock of women had taken seats in the balcony so he’d definitely see me if he looked down. Which he was. I could feel the heat of his ire follow us as we moved across the floor.
But screw him. I pushed him out of my mind and danced with my unexpected partner with abandon.
The song changed to one of my favorites and I shimmied my hips. Mr. bartender—I should really ask for names—looked into my eyes and then dropped his gaze to my curves. His brown-eyed stare lingered on my breasts.
I’ve never played coy a day in my life, but I gave it my best try. I spun away from him, presenting him with my backside, which was just as much of an asset. Even Michael had said—
No, I wasn’t letting that jerk creep into my thoughts. I was here for my own reason—to have fun. And what was more fun than finally having a good time for me? Maddy had a point. I never did anything for myself, and tonight that changed.
Mr. Bartender wrapped an arm around me and pulled me into him. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
“Oh? Okay.” Now what? I had half a second to decide if I followed to keep from being alone on the dance floor or stay put and live a little. So what if I danced alone?
A tingling up my spine had me stiffening when I felt the body heat of someone come up behind me. I don’t know how, but I knew it wasn’t a fellow dancer.
“What the hell are you doing here, Elle?”
A tight grip on my arm spun me around, and I instantly flamed red with embarrassment and anger. Lots of anger. My heart pounded from the dancing, sure, but also from the rush of fury filling my veins.
My eyes found Michael breathing down on me, anger plastered on his face.
I tried to jerk my arm away without making more of a scene, but eyes were already on us and the crowd started to part.
“Get your dirty hands off me,” I yelled over the music, but Michael paid no attention. With his brutish grip, it was impossible to break free of his hold.
Michael peered down at me, lips peeled back. Thick fingers flexed into flesh. “Trying to ruin my birthday?” he snarled. “You knew I had this place marked for my party and you had to show up and ruin it for me.”
“Isn’t it obvious what I’m doing? I’m dancing. And you really are stupid, aren’t you? I’m the one who put our names on the list. But how did you get in when I have both the tickets? You know what, I don’t care. Get lost.”
Holy shit! Yay me!
The look of utter shock on his face would forever stay with me.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to get back to.”
A cruel expression contorted his face. “Where’s your dance buddy? I was right. You were whoring out while we were together, huh? Good thing I didn’t put my dick anywhere near your cunt. I knew I was right to dump such a pathetic loser.”
I don’t know how it happened. I just reacted. I’m not a violent person by nature, but the second the W word left his mouth, my hand came up and landed across his perfectly shaved baby face. And then the claws extended. I raked them across his cheek and didn’t hold back. I took flesh and blood with me.
“You can say a lot of shit to me, but that? Not ever.”
I was proud of my smooth, even tone and I took even more pride in the shock reflected back at me from Michael’s expression. People had their limits, and he just found mine. I might be jelly inside but right now, right here, I found my steel backbone. The second I left this place I might turn back into a Cinderella without her godmother, so I better get all I can out of the moment.
“Fuck off, Michael. You’re not worth my time.”
Michael’s face turned red, and rage washed over his expression. He raised a hand, and in a crowd this tight, I could only brace for impact. But it didn’t come.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, and I was hoisted up a mountain of a man. Pinned against a barrel chest, I don’t have a chance to react—I simply hold on for dear life.
Brown eyes met mine, and then firm lips captured my mouth in a toe-curling kiss.
Holy smokes. It all happened so fast but instant recognition hit the second I saw those one-of-a-kind eyes. Brown and gold with pretty thick lashes women would kill to have. I know I would.
JacefreakingHamilton.
With my arms wrapped around his thick neck, I might have kissed him back a little out of sheer relief of not being alone with Michael another second and happiness to see an old friend.
When my feet touched the ground, albeit swaying in my spiked heels, my hero held me to him and nodded a chin toward Michael. “Baby, this man bothering you? Need me to take care of him?”
