‘We had fun. We talked and then we shopped.’
Her eyes sparkled and there was an excitement in her expression he’d ever seen them. It was as if someone had switched on a lightbulb inside her. She had a new confidence. She carried herself differently. He wondered what had brought about the change.
Was it just the dress?
‘You look stunning.’
‘She told you to say that. I heard her. But thank you, anyway.’
‘I said it because it’s true. And I would have done so without prompting.’ He looked into her eyes and then reached out and drew her against him, his hand resting on the dip of her narrow waist.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Anything.’
‘You mentioned dancing—’ Her gaze slid to the dance floor, which shimmered and sparkled under clever lighting. ‘I’d really like to try it.’
Hiding his surprise, Raz took her hand. ‘Then let’s try it.’
Intrigued by the change in her, he led her towards the dance floor, exchanging only the briefest of greetings with people as they moved through the crowd, all his attention focused on her.
He noticed Avery in the centre of the dance floor with a man Raz recognised as the French ambassador while Mal was deep in conversation with the man’s wife.
When she spotted them Avery immediately escorted the dazzled ambassador back to his wife before grabbing Layla by the hands.
‘Don’t you love this song?’ She swirled and shimmied, arms above her head, and Layla watched her curiously for a moment and then joined her, following Avery’s lead as she danced, her movements more subtle, more discreet as she learned to match the flow of her body with the beat of the music.
It was a skill that seemed to come naturally too her. Raz felt tension throb through him as he watched her move with sensual grace, her long hair flowing like liquid silk around her shoulders as she discovered a love of dancing. Her happiness at that discovery was evident from the smile on her lips and the unselfconscious way she twirled with Avery, her enjoyment as infectious as the rhythmic beat of the music.
Raz watched her, hypnotised by the change in her, knowing he was witnessing the transformation from unsure girl to sexually aware woman.
Avery caught his eye and gave him a knowing look before twirling Layla into his arms.
She landed against his chest with a gentle thud, off-balance from the dancing and laughing in a way he hadn’t heard her laugh before. And he found himself smiling too, because it was impossible not to smile with her eyes sparkling into his and her arms wrapped around his neck as she tried to balance herself.
‘I’m dizzy.’ Her fingers closed over his biceps. ‘Did I embarrass you?’
Was this the first time in her life she’d done something for herself without thought to others? ‘No.’ His mouth was close to hers, his gaze locked on hers. ‘You could never embarrass me.’
By chance, or more likely because the ever-observant Avery had organised it, the rhythm of the music changed from loud and throbbing to soft and smooth and Raz drew her against him, his hand pressed low on her back.
He felt her body relax against his, knew people were watching curiously and tightened his grip on her protectively, hoping she didn’t notice the interest and lose that sudden burst of unselfconscious enjoyment that he was finding as addictive as a drug.
Her enchantment with dancing reminded him of that magical moment when a newborn foal staggered to its feet for the first time, balancing on shaky legs as it realised there was a whole new world to explore.
His grip on her must have tightened, because those exotic, beautiful eyes lifted to his in silent question.
Raz felt as if someone had kicked his legs out from under him.
Sexual energy crackled between them, scorching hot and intense. His hand was on her back and he felt the change in her, felt her response to the chemistry as her eyes dropped to his mouth and lingered there.
This time there was no shyness in her gaze, just curiosity, and something far, far more dangerous that came from the knowledge she’d acquired over the past week. Her eyes darkened like the sky before a storm, those eyelashes a silky veil of temptation. And then her lips curved into a happy smile and she leaned her head against his chest, the softness of her hair brushing against his jaw, the scent of it yet another drugging assault on his senses.
Fighting the impulse to drag her from the dance floor, Raz closed his eyes and gathered her close, blocking out everyone around them.
Time passed unobserved until the pace of the music increased and she tilted her head back and looked up at him.