His eyes shine with amusement. “I thought I was losing it for feeling like this. But you feel it too, don’t you?”
I nod and give him a watery smile.
He hops off his chair and holds his hand out toward me. “Let’s dance.”
I don’t hesitate and let Ryan lead me to the dance area, where he immediately draws me close so our bodies touch from top to bottom. We move to the music, complete with twirls and spins during faster songs and gentle sways during slower ones.
Sometimes I want to cling to Ryan because I never want this to end.
Despite our less-than-ideal situation, this time with him is everything I could have dreamed of. It’s absolutely perfect. The dancing. This slow song.
My heart longs for this connection with him.
He bends down to kiss me, his eyes filled with emotion. The moment his lips touch mine, everything fades to the background. A little bit like my whole life has faded into the background since I’ve met him. But that change hasn’t necessarily been bad, quite the opposite actually. It has helped me see things clearer, shown me what I want. And Ryan is at the top of that list.
We part, and I whisper, “Are you ready to leave?”
The same words he asked me that first night, and now they feel even more right. Like everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen, and now we’ve come full circle. Ready to start this next phase of our lives.
The smile he gives me is wicked and so full of dirty promises, my clit throbs with need.
Ryan grabs my butt firmly with both hands and pulls me against his rock-hard erection. “I’m always ready for you, baby.”
I moan quietly at the contact, hoping like hell no one heard me. “Let me just go to the restroom quickly, and then we can leave.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Instead of letting me go, he holds on to me and gives me a kiss that sucks all the oxygen out of my lungs. His lips explore mine with a fierce thoroughness like this is our last kiss, and he’s trying to memorize every single detail.
We both breathe harshly when we part, and I blink a few times to come back to earth.
Ryan pats my butt. “Hurry up. I’ll wait by our table.”
Grateful the dim lighting hides my flaming cheeks, I make my way through the throngs of people and into the ladies’ restroom. After peeing, I wash my hands and stare at my still flushed reflection in the mirror. The lighting is definitely not as forgiving here, that’s for sure. I run cold water over my wrists for several seconds, hoping that might cool my body down some.
When I exit the restroom, I run straight into someone. “Oh, I’m so—”
The rest of the words die on my tongue because I stare straight into Ben’s green eyes. With my heels on, we’re about the same height, which feels strange after gazing up at Ryan this whole time.
“Hey, I thought it was you.” Ben grins and steps forward as if to hug me, and I take a step backward on instinct.
Thankfully, he stops as well and gives me some room. Since the hallway is rather narrow, I’d have to squeeze past him to make it back to the bar. While I really don’t want to talk to him, I somehow want to touch him even less, even if it’s just in passing. The possibility alone sends a shiver running down my back.
Ben’s gaze roams over me from head to toe. “Wow, Harper, look at you. Maybe a little bit revealing but still absolutely breathtaking.”
Ah yes, I forgot I bought this dress sometime after my divorce. It was one of the shopping trips where Tara was convinced she could solve all of my problems with shopping therapy as she called it. I’d have never bought something like this when I was together with Ben. He prefers classy and preppy over anything even slightly edgy or sexy.
And to think this dress makes me feel like a million bucks, something I haven’t felt in years. Now that I have a job again, maybe I should talk to a therapist about the poor life choices I’ve made over the years. Starting with why on earth I ever agreed to marry this man.
It’s because he was safe and you thought he wouldn’t leave you.
Ah great. That was the last thing I needed.
Ben still seems happy to see me which only adds to my irritation. I also really want to karate chop him in the throat.
I press my lips into a grimace. “Well, Ben. This was fun. Have a good life.”
Since he’s standing more on the right side of the hallway, I try to pass him on the left, but he steps into my way.