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I looked over my shoulder at the dance floor. My flowers were arranged perfectly between the pillars. As good as it looked now, tomorrow would make it a thousand times better once finalized.
“You want to check out the dance floor?” asked Draven.
“After this next drink.” I downed my cocktail smoothly as Draven grimaced at his.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be a party animal tomorrow.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whenever you’re done making fun of me, let’s head down.”
Draven took my hand, leading me to the middle of the empty dance floor. He wrapped an arm around my waist as I gripped his chest, subtly squeezing his firm pectorals.
“Can you dance?” he asked.
“Only one way to find out.” I smirked.
“Just match my movements.”
He stepped back with his left foot as I went forward with my right, repeating opposite motions fluidly.
“You’re doing great,” he encouraged.
We swayed gently. After a few minutes, I laid my head on his chest, faintly hearing his heartbeat. For the rest of the evening, I never once thought about the flower ordeal.
No one had ever made me feel this way before. I never imagined falling into a romantic swoon with a criminal. Suddenly, though, I felt nothing could take me from the way he made me feel. His background, what he truly did… none of that mattered to me now. I was falling, and I wasn’t about to be caught.
DRAVEN
“Are you sure you’ve never taken lessons?” I asked as we swayed gently in the center of the dance floor.
Elara’s head rested right on my chest. Her hands were not so subtly feeling the muscles across my body. Her mere contact meant my mind could be nowhere else. At any given moment, my attention was often split among all my responsibilities. But at that moment, all I could think about was her.
“Oh.” Elara laughed, it was an enchanting sound. “You flatter me. I’m terrible. I’m sure you’ve danced with much better dancers than me in this very room.”
Maybe. But none of that mattered. Those memories were long gone. Right now, my mind was only on her. I’d give up all those past dances just to sway lazily with her.
“Maybe, let’s see how you handle this!” I grabbed Elara by the hand and spun her away from me. Her gorgeous hair flowed through the air as she moved and her smile shined brightly. I then tugged her back to me. Somehow, her body held even closer to mine. We returned to our easy swaying.
It became impossible to ignore. My feelings towards Elara had not only grown, but I couldn’t imagine them being able to get any stronger.
This had become something more than protecting Elara for the sake of duty or obligation. Dancing with Elara didn’t protect her, but selfishly, it did get me closer to her.
The longer her head rested on my chest. The longer my hands rested on her hips. The longer the love song echoing across the dance floor played. The more worried I became that I wouldn’t be able to control myself.
She’s my mate. The thought popped into my head as we danced, and I couldn’t shake it, even if I wanted to. She’s my mate, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
Though, as we danced, as her head rested on my chest, and as I entertained thoughts of her being my mate, another thought reared its ugly head. What does Elara think? How does she feel about me?
Would Elara even be here with me if her life wasn’t in danger? Maybe that is all this has been for her, protection. She needed it and I have provided it.
The worry and doubt surfaced briefly in my mind. It fought against the clear instinct that Elara was my mate. But I allowed it to affect me for only a fleeting moment and nothing more.
If she was not ready to be my mate, I would pursue her until she was. It was simple.
I grew tired of not knowing. We kissed before. I figured I should just kiss her again.
Slowly, I lifted both hands up Elara’s hips. The tips of my fingers traveled up her sides, just grazing the outline of her tantalizing body. I felt the rate of her breathing grow against my body.
Both hands reached her face at the same time. I gently held her face and moved her to look up. Her enthralling eyes looked into mine, her lips parted slightly as if to invite me back to them.
