“Aly, dance with me?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. It seemed as if he was reaching out to her in a way he hadn’t before. Today had marked a turning point for both of them. They’d started to let their own guard down. For the first time since she’d woken up alone all those years ago, Alysse felt a tingling near her heart.
“Thank you for today,” he said.
“What did I do?” she asked. Not sure where he was headed with this.
“You made me realize how good life can be when you share it with the right woman.”
She blushed, knowing her happiness was broadcast on her face.
“You’re welcome.”
THE LAST OF HIS UNEASINESSfrom Afghanistan faded away as he pulled Alysse into his arms on the dance floor. The music was upbeat and many couples danced with distance between them, but Jay didn’t pay anyattention to them. He needed to hold Alysse and to feel that she was still his.
He put his hands on her waist as they swayed together to the music. Lucien had complimented him on being lucky enough to have a woman like Alysse in his life and Jay had been quiet. He had never believed in luck.
No unseen force had ever been looking out for him. He’d managed to get to where he was today by determination and sheer force of will. And as he held this sweet, sexy woman in his arms, he knew that he had to change. It was why he’d thanked her and he could see by her reaction that he’d said the right thing. He had to let her in. Had to enjoy these moments together because he didn’t know how long they would last.
He had been searching for some kind of sign. He shook his head and leaned down to kiss her as she glanced up at him. He didn’t care that they were in the middle of a crowded dance floor, he only knew that he needed her. He was tired of playing silly games that neither of them could win.
“What was that for?” she asked, leaning up on her tiptoes to speak into his ear.
“Because you make me happy,” he said. “No one else ever has.”
She hugged him close. “Good. I’m glad.”
She pulled back as the rhythm of the music changed and they danced close together, bodies bumping and grinding until Jay thought he was going to explode. He enjoyed the teasing anticipation and could tell that Alysse did as well, because she kept brushing her hands intimately over him.
When it got close to midnight, they said goodbye to Lucien and India and walked hand in hand back to her car. He unlocked her door and then pulled her into his arms, kissing her slowly and seductively.
She held on to him as he tipped her head back andlanguidly moved his mouth over hers. It was intoxicating. He couldn’t get enough of her.
The honking horn of someone driving by pulled them apart; for the first time that he could remember, Jay hadn’t been aware of his surroundings.
“Take me home,” she said.
He nodded and opened her door for her and helped her get seated. By the time he walked around to the driver’s side she had her head tipped back against the seat rest and was staring at him with dreamy eyes.
“You okay?” he asked in his kindest voice.
“Yes. Everything felt right tonight, didn’t it?”
He reached over and took her hand, kissing it then putting it on his thigh before he started the car. “Everything was very good tonight.”
Her fingers stroked up and down his leg, teasingly dipping to brush against his cock, which was becoming more and more hard with each of her touches.
“India said that I can’t hide...”
“What are you hiding from?” he asked, realizing that the fun evening with relaxed company had loosened her tongue.
“You,” she admitted. “I don’t want to love you again.”
His heart stopped. He’d been hoping that she would love him again. That he’d be able to have that sweet attention from her and find somehow that he was worthy of it.
That was what he’d been searching for, he now understood. There was a reason why she didn’t want to love him and that was that he’d ruined that emotion for her a long time ago.
No amount of pretending could change his life or rectify the past. He had to face the fact that he needed to leave. That the only solution was to walk away from her.
