His head jerks toward me, and a surprised grin forms on his face. “Are you into blood and pus?”
“Okay, you two are gross.” Vivian wrinkles her nose.
“I’m a fan of the pus more than the blood. The blood is predictable. The pus isn’t.”
“You just crossed the disgusting line, Charlotte,” Quinn mutters.
Xander’s face lights up. “Are you a doctor?”
I laugh. “No, I’m an orthopedic medical device rep, and I’m in a lot of surgeries, assisting the doctors.
“Really?” he asks.
I nod.
“So, you dig surgery and all its gore?”
I laugh. “Can’t get enough of it.”
Xander licks his lips. “That’s pretty hot.”
My face heats up.
Quinn clears her throat. “Excuse me. I need to go to the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll go with you,” Vivian says.
Xander stands up but doesn’t take his eyes off me. Quinn and Vivian leave, and I realize Noah and Piper are on the dance floor. Xander sits down right next to me. The deliciously clean, raw smell of his skin makes my pulse throb.
“Before I go any further and make an ass of myself, are you single?” Xander asks.
I flush deeper. “As of last week, yes.”
His eyes don’t leave mine. “Who broke up with whom?”
“I broke up with him.”
“Why?”
“There wasn’t any heat.” It comes out of my mouth without even thinking, and my face is scorching.
Xander licks his lips again. “You want to dance?”
I smirk at him. “I don’t know. Do you know how to dance?”
He laughs and stands up, clasps my hand, and rubs his thumb on it again. “There’s only one way for you to find out.” He pulls me up, right against him. I gaze up at his face. “By the way, you’re gorgeous.”
I’m not sure how many shades of red my face can burn, but I’m pretty sure it’s full-on maroon.
He strokes my cheek. “Let’s go.” He leads me out to the crowded dance floor, and we quickly fall into a perfect rhythm based on whatever song the DJ plays.
Several songs in, a random guy tries to cut in, but Xander pulls me so close to him, I can feel his heartbeat. He leans down and brings his mouth to my ear. “I’m claiming you as mine tonight unless you have any objections?”
An excited flutter rolls through me. Nope, no objections.I will beyours, I think.
Xander presses his forehead to mine, waiting for me to answer him, staring at me intensely with his beautiful, brown eyes. I lace my fingers around the back of his head. “No objections.”
He smiles then brushes his lips against mine. His tongue parts my lips, gently at first, then with more urgency and passion, stoking a fire so hot, I’m left breathless and craving more.
