“The best drink ever,” Maddie quickly says. “It’s a Shirley Temple with Vodka. Nina got me hooked on them.”
“I think I want to try one of those,” she says, looking up at me. Then she looks at Nina, “You’re not having one?”
Nina laughs when Vasily picks her up before she can answer.
“My baby won’t be drinking for a while,” he says with a proud smile on his face.
Evie looks down at Nina’s stomach, noticing the small bump that the darkness of the club had hidden from her just a few minutes ago.
“Congratulations,” she says with a laugh, giving Nina a hug when he puts her down and then taking the Dirty Shirley from me. “I forgot that Valeri mentioned you were pregnant.”
Nina smiles and pats her baby bump. “Thanks, we’re really excited about it.”
When a slow song starts, the deep, throbbing tune vibrating along the floor, Vasily picks Nina back up and says, “I’m going to go dance with my beautiful, pregnant wife.”
Volodya grabs Maddie’s hands and starts to pull her to the dance floor. She laughs and chugs the rest of her drink. “You know I have two left feet, Volodya.”
He laughs and pulls her closer. “I know, and it’s so fucking sexy to watch you try and dance.”
She tries to look pissed but fails horribly. He drags her out onto the dance floor as I step closer to Evie. I raise a brow at her. “What do you think? Want to go and dance with my insane family?”
“I like them,” she says with a laugh. “I feel like I should warn you that I also have two left feet.” She downs the last of her drink and then fishes out the cherry with her straw so she can eat it.
I smile and lean down so our lips are almost touching. “I bet we can find a rhythm together.” I lick her bottom lip, tasting the sweet cherry, groaning at how badly I want her. Grabbing her hand, I pull her to the crowded dance floor because I know if I start kissing her, I’ll never stop. I force a path for us, ignoring all the grinding bodies around us, and when I’ve found us a small patch of dance floor, I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her, moving my hips to the music while she blushes and darts her eyes around.
“Eyes on me,lapochka,” I tell her. “No one else but me.”
She nods, and I feel her body relax. When I slide a thigh between her legs, she wraps her arms around my neck, smiling when I bring one hand down to cup her ass. My other hand slides up her thigh, my fingers grazing along her bare skin.
“You look fucking amazing in this skirt. I love seeing your legs.”
She shakes her head at me like I’m nuts, but I just squeeze her ass harder and keep her pussy pressed firmly against my thigh while we dance and lose ourselves to the music and each other. The songs change, but I barely notice. All my focus is on the woman in front of me who captures all my attention so damn effortlessly. I’m so lost to her that it takes me a second to realize someone’s tapping on my arm. I turn and see a smiling redhead that I have a vague memory of picking up a few months ago.
“Mind if I cut in?” she asks, barely sparing Evie a glance. Her eyes are on me, and I recognize the predatory glint in them.
I feel Evie’s body tense, and when she tries to pull away, I tighten my grip on her, refusing to let her go.
“Yeah, I mind. I’m dancing with my girlfriend. Go find somebody else,” I yell at her above the music, and then turn back to Evie, hoping the woman will just take the hint and leave. I should’ve known better. They never just take the fucking hint.
“Don’t you remember me?” she says. “Because I sure remember you.”
The tone of her voice makes it obvious that something happened between us, and I hate the look of pain that flashes across Evie’s face. I don’t have to worry about the redhead anymore because I hear Volodya yelling, “Get the fuck away from them or get out of the fucking club!” He pats my back on his way past us as he shepherds her along, but the damage is already done. Evie watches her walk off, and when she turns back to me, she keeps her eyes everywhere but on mine.
“I’m sorry,” I say, not knowing what else to do.
“It’s okay. I mean, I know you have a past, Valeri. Thanks for not dancing with her or anything.”
“God, Evie, I would never do that to you.” I cup her face and force her to look at me. “I would never do that to you,” I repeat, “and I have no desire to dance with anyone else. You’re the only woman I want.”
She nods and looks around. “I need to use the bathroom. Where are they?”
I pull her back the way we came and lead her to the end of the bar where there’s a long hallway behind it. “The employee bathrooms are down here. It’ll be way faster than using the others. Are you okay?”
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
“I’ll be right here.”
I watch her walk away, feeling like absolute shit. I turn back to the bar, and that’s where Volodya finds me a few minutes later, downing another vodka because I sure as fuck need it.
