“Love is a very powerful thing, indeed.” He looks at me briefly, before he glances back at my date, once more offering his hand. Jacob takes it and shakes it once more.
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Riley. I do hope you enjoy yourself tonight.” He looks at me. I feel frozen, my blood moving like ice in my veins.
“Likewise, sir,” Jacob says, pulling me closer to him. His body is warm. Solid. Comforting.
“Come on, Johnson. We have much to discuss,” my father grunts as he and his friend leave us with my mother. She smiles at Jacob.
“I’m going to head to the little girls room. I’ll catch up with you two later?”
Jacob nods. “Of course.”
When she disappears into the crowd, only then do I breathe.
“That went well, I think,” he says, turning to look at me.
“It did.” Though I’m not entirely sure my dad bought it, but he addressed him, so…
That’s a good thing, right?
“Come on,” Jacob says, tugging my hand. “Let’s dance.”
I blink, shaking off the strange tension.
“Would you like some champagne?” A waitress thrusts her tray at us.
“Absolutely,” Jacob says with a grin, handing me one flute while he takes the other one.
“Besides, we’re celebrating,” he says.
“Oh, are we now?” I follow him to the dance floor, warmth spreading in my body with every step. The lights flash red and blue and pink and purple in tandem as the dj plays a song I recognize if only because of Lola, because Chris sent me the dance video.
Ready For It.
The thumping bass echoes over the room as Jacob and I make our way through the crowd.
“We are,” he says sliding one arm around my neck while he takes a sip of his drink. He grins, holding up his glass.
“To perfect dates,” he says. “And romance.”
His crystalline eyes glitter underneath the neon lights, imploring me to fall into him. Into the gravity of him I can’t ignore. I settle my free hand on his hip and toast my flute against his, keeping my gaze on him.
“I’ll toast to that,” I say before shooting my whole flute. He smirks, then does the same, wrapping his other arm around my neck while I settle my free hand on the opposite side of his hip.
I pull him to me, rolling my hips as I feel the beat of the music.
“Are you ready for it, baby?” I ask, giving him a cocky grin. Jacob’s lips part just the slightest as he nods, leaning in as he looks up at me.
“Let the games begin.”
I don’t think twice about crushing my lips to his as the world fades away.
My lips crash against Jacob’s, his body solid and warm against mine as I pin him to the wall. Though I’m not sure if I’m keeping him from stumbling or if I’m trying to keep myself upright…
It’s well past midnight, and Jacob hasn’t turned into a pumpkin yet. What he has turned into, I’m not sure. His mouth moves quickly from mine to my jaw and down my neck again as his hands settle on my hips. He tugs at my shirt, pulling the bottom out of my pants, and I groan the moment I feel his palm on my flushed skin.
The room is spinning. Or is that me?
I fumble to get my keycard out of my pocket and into the door, but on the third try I get it. Usually, I’m much more controlled than this, even drunk. And I know I am most certainly drunk and I’m pretty sure he is, too.
