She looks like… I dunno. Is it part of her costume? I thought it was a masked ball, not a circus.
“Mr. Silver fox,” she slurs, her glassy eyes rolling back in her head slightly as she stumbles forward and then back a few steps, somehow balancing on six-inch heels.
“I think you owe me a dance,” she finally manages to say before quietly belching into the back of her hand.
I can feel Krystal tensing up next to me and I give her a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
The woman’s all hair and chest, with a waist that looks like her belt could cut in two if she did it up another notch.
I feel myself making a face, my head shaking from side to side out of reflex, but Boozed-up Barbie isn’t taking no for an answer and she lunges for me once more.
It’s at that moment I spot Mayor Newland coming down the stairs, and quickly point him out to the woman who I can’t get away from fast enough.
“I heard Mayor Newland say you were his date. I don’t want to get in any trouble,” I lie to her, spinning her on her heel and gently pushing her towards Mayor Newland while Krystal and I slip into the ballroom.
I fish in my own pocket for my mask, which I slip over my eyes, challenging Krystal to not lose sight of me in such a heavy disguise.
“Don’t even joke about it,” she says, clutching me tighter but relaxing once I lead us both out onto the dance floor, a slow number striking up from the MC to start with.
I don’t take notice of anyone else except Krystal. And, I hate to say it, her terrible dancing.
I’m no expert, but it only takes a few moments for us both to realize that ballroom dancing isn’t and probably never has been a thing in Woods End.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, and then again. And again.
Each step of her feet on mine makes me smile though, and by way of compromise, and given the length of her gown, I suggest in her ear that she just rest her feet on top of mine.
It takes her a minute to get used to balancing on the balls of her feet on top of mine, but not long after we look like the best dancers in the building.
Not surprisingly, once the song finishes, there’s a fair bit of applause and I feel Krystal tensing up all over again as we become the focal point of the whole ballroom.
“Well, well. A man of many surprises,” Mayor Newland drawls, clapping a firm hand on my shoulder and trying to turn me around but failing.
I turn my head, only long enough to glance at his hand which he quickly removes.
“You dance very well too, Miss?” he asks, taking Krystal’s gloved hand before kissing it.
I wait for her to say something, but her eyes are wide with a mixture of fear and astonishment.
“Karla’s from out of town,” I finally suggest, inventing a new persona for her on the spot.
“Doesn’t really speak English,” I continue, watching Krystal nod slightly, smiling nervously and pretending to not understand anything perfectly.
“Well, that’s alright,” her dad says, moving to put his arm around her waist.
“We can have plenty to not talk about while we both have the next dance-”
But it’s my turn to have a hand on his shoulder.
“Uh, Mayor Newland. Karla’s with me. Tonight, the next dance and every dance after that, understand?”
His eyes widen in surprise and he raises both hands in cheerful surrender, “Okay, okay. Sorry James. Just trying to be a friendly local,” he says, finally shrugging to Krystal and moving away from us, being latched onto straight away by the blond drunk we just got rid of.
“You okay?” I ask Krystal once we move away from the dance floor, nearer the exit where it’s quiet.
She gives a nod but I can tell she’s upset and not just from being a terrible dancer.
“Can we go?” she whimpers, her lower lip starting to tremble and a silver streak of a tear forming in one of her clear blue eyes under her mask.
“I thought you’d never ask,” I tell her, relieved and gripping her by the waist, I lead us both outside as I hear the next song startup inside. Louder than before and making us both feel the instant relief of the cool night air.
I take off her mask and then my own and kiss her again. Hearing her whimpers become soft moans as her hand finds the front of my pants, I know it’s definitely time to go.
Time to claim what’s mine, and to show Krystal just how much pleasure she deserves at my hands.
Chapter Fifteen
Krystal
“My car,” I exclaim, only remembering as James holds his car door open for me.
“If he sees it here, he’ll know,” I tell him, still sounding scared and paranoid about my dad for some reason, even though he didn’t recognize me. Hell, he even complimented me on my dancing.