Despite being graceful on skates, I trip over my feet every other step while trying to follow along. There’s a reason I skate solo instead of in a pair. Jack laughs every time I mess up,or squeal, forcing me to hold tight to him when he dips me dramatically out of nowhere. It doesn’t feel like Jack’s laughing at me, but more like he’s laughing with me.
I laugh as he spins me out and back into him, his arms closing around me, swaying us back and forth to the pop song playing through the speakers after his ended.
“Al, you have to let me lead,” he says, and I like the feeling of being in his arms a little too much.
“I’m trying.”
“Do you trust me?” Jack’s voice drops an octave, and the question is an easy one to answer.
“Yes,” I say, and I catch a glimpse of his radiant smile when he spins me out, and I’m slowly starting to recognize the steps in a pattern as I let go of my need to control everything by letting Jack twirl and move me in whatever direction he desires.
It feels incredible to let loose, even in the middle of a crowded bar, because I know Jack won’t let anything happen to me. He makes every reason why I shouldn’t feel this way for him slip away as we dance together.
At one point I rest my head on his chest, feeling it shake with laughter. It’s so easy to be with him. “What’s my number?” I ask, trying to catch my breath.
“Solid six.”
I look up at him, beaming. “A shining endorsement coming from you.”
“I have no problem giving you the rating you deserve, despite you continuing to lower the rating you gave our first kiss,” Jack teases and I roll my eyes. At least he didn’t ask me to rate Halloween, because it would have broken the scale, and I couldn’t have pretended otherwise.
“I’m telling you, it just wasn’t very memorable, pretty boy.”
Lies lies lies.
“Is that a challenge?”
I shrug, trying to seem indifferent until Jack tilts my chin up, his crystal eyes scanning over my face as if trying to see inside my mind. “What are you doing?” I ask after they land on my mouth, his pupils dilating with visible desire.
His fingers move under my chin to cup my jaw, and my breathing catches when Jack leans down, skimming his soft lips over mine to test the waters.
I lift myself up on my toes at the same time my fingers curl around the front of his shirt, pulling his mouth flush to mine. Jack’s hand slides into my curls, demanding more from me as our kiss turns desperate.
It feels like I’ve been struck by lightning, every fiber of my being electrified by his touch. I want to bottle the feeling to savor it forever.
Holy fucking shit, I’m kissing Jack again, and I’m content to take whatever I can get of him.
He nips at my lower lip, not even bothering to ask nicely for me to open for him. I moan when his tongue caresses mine, leading this completely. I tug at his shirt again, impatient for his hands to be on me, forgetting where we are.
Jack pulls away, the pad of his thumb stroking my cheek with the softest touch I’ve ever been held with. He rests his forehead against mine, and I feel less self-conscious about how lightheaded I am when his chest is rising and falling underneath my hand as dramatically as mine is.
I’m afraid to move, hoping he’ll kiss me again, but why did he kiss me?
Do I even care to know why, or should I just be glad it happened?
“What’s my number?” he asks a few moments later, still breathless, and the question sobers me from the intoxicating moment.
This was just for a number. I guess it’s better to know the truth now.
It’s laughable he even has to ask, though. Ten. Fucking ten out of ten. “Five,” I answer, wondering if this is what it’s like to be caught in a riptide. Would it be better to let myself drown in Jack, or should I try to keep my heart from suffering any further blows?
Despite every part of me wanting to stay in his arms, I pull away to look at him, immediately wishing I hadn’t. Jack’s lips are swollen from kissing me, and there’s a glint in his eyes I’d need a code to decipher.
“Really?” Jack raises his eyebrows, seeming doubtful, and his thumb drags over my bottom lip, pulling it down.What is he doing? What am I doing?
“I’m gonna go . . . um, freshen up,” I stammer, stepping out of reach because I need space, but I regret it once I see his face fall.
“Al—”
