Damn, I’ve really got to stop thinking about her.
The crowd on the dancefloor parts, and as if I conjured her into the club with my mind, I see her. She’s dressed in a tight, black spangled dress with a daring plunging neckline. Her eyes are closed and she moves sinuously to the music, expressing the beat as if she’s making it herself.
A moment later she opens her eyes and looks at me, still dancing. She seems surprised to see me.
Then she smiles, and it arrows right into my heart.
I put my beer down and I’m impelled toward her by an unseen force. She watches my every step as if she’s as transfixed as I am. The next thing I know, I’m standing in front of her, and I draw her into my arms. It’s the magic of the music or the flashing lights or the intoxicating atmosphere, but it just feels right. She must think so, too, because she wraps her arms around my neck. We move together to the music, just gazing at each other.
She’s making my body sing even louder than the dance music. I lean down and say into her ear, “You’re so gorgeous.”
She smiles shyly, and her fingers thread through the short hair at the nape of my neck. Damn, that feels good. I want to talk to her, but it’s insanely loud on the dancefloor.
“Want to get some fresh air?” I ask her, and she nods.
Taking her by the hand, I lead her through the crowd and out onto the club’s balcony, decorated with AstroTurf and fairy lights. I find us a table with a bench seat among the milling bodies and we sit down.
Livia scoops all of her hair off her neck and fans it. “That’s so much better. I love dancing but I was getting so hot.”
I can’t take my eyes off the curve of her neck and softness of her skin. “I can tell. You looked so amazing moving to the music that I had to come join you. I’m not usually much of a dancer.”
She gazes at me, and there’s none of the misgiving that was in her face this afternoon. Only curiosity. “It’s so funny seeing you here. I somehow don’t expect to see the guy who works at my local gym to be in a dark and dirty club.”
I can’t stop looking at her lips, which are glossy in the soft lights. Sometimes I like things dark and dirty. “We gym guys like to have fun, too. What’s your name?”
“Livia.” She smiles at me again. “You don’t seem so scary anymore.”
We’re sitting close together on the bench seat. Is it my imagination, or does she shift a little closer? “I’m not scary at all.”
Her eyes drop to my mouth. Oh, fuck yes. She’s going to kiss me. I wait, breathing softly, for her to lean in closer and press that lush mouth against mine. Come on, baby.
Livia takes a deep breath. “I don’t normally do this, but I’ve been single for six months now and I’m…I’m starting to go a little…Oh, god, now I’m babbling.” She takes a deep breath. “My apartment is just two blocks away.”
It takes me a moment to realize that she’s asking me to go home with her. I want to fist pump. I want to scoop her up in my arms. I want to leave with her right now, but she’s nervous and probably tipsy, and I want her relaxed and sober. “I’d love to, but just sitting with you is perfect. How about you and I get to know each other better?”
I want to know what makes her tick and what gets her excited before I touch her. I want to know all of her, inside and out.
Livia swears under her breath and scrambles to get to her feet. “Sorry, that was really presumptuous of me. I’ll go.”
I take her hand. “Please don’t go. What I mean is I don’t want this to be a one-night thing. I’m looking for more, and you’re cute as hell.”
Livia gazes at me in surprise and sits down again. “Thank you. And wow. There aren’t many men who would just come out and say that.”
If other men in her life have made her feel like crap or scared her, then I’m definitely not like other men. I’ll show her the sort of man I am, not tell her, and she can see for herself.
I reach out and brush my knuckles over her cheek. I can’t help myself. Her skin is beautiful and I want to touch her in so many ways. “I prefer to just come out and say most things. Have you ever called a man daddy before? Or maybe sir?”
Livia’s mouth drops open. That happens sometimes. Women think it’s gross or funny to call a man daddy. They don’t usually look terrified, though. I drop my hand because I’ve never terrified a woman in my life. “Livia? Are you okay?”