Clap, clap.
I spun back to my left while he twisted to his right. Closer, we drew together until we stopped directly in front of each other.
King Athon looked down at my left hand and softly lifted it between us with his right hand. Our fingertips touched and stopped, pressed together gently.
The melody softened, and I peered up into his solid black eyes as I slid the pads of my fingers down his palm, making soft circles against his warm skin.
His fingers curled down around mine, and he pulled me smoothly toward him…flush against his hard muscles.
Oh Fae. We should not be doing this.
Uncle Marlon should have said no.
I exhaled a shaky breath and peered back up at his face.
King Athon’s white hair cascaded down on either side of his face as he watched me. His nostrils flared, and his long eyelashes hid his eyes from onlookers. King Athon let go of my hand to touch my neck delicately, the softest touch. He slid his palm to my nape, holding me soundly to keep my eyes on his—all part of the damned dance. His thumb brushed back and forth against my skin, again and again, hidden under my red hair, in a soothing touch—notpart of the dance.
The beat struck, increasing in tempo, and the shifter king used his free arm to wrap around my waist and lift me straight off my feet.
I curled my arms around his neck, our eyes level while he hugged me close, and I held on tight—it was time to spin.
I sucked in a sharp breath as he moved.
His eyes never left mine as the dance floor became a frenzy of movement, protecting me in his strong arms, the group converging in a tight circle of whirling dancers in the center of the space. My hair flew out behind me as my head tipped back on the hard note, his hand releasing my neck to grasp my right thigh and pull it over his hip, my back arching in the air without inhibition. We twirled in the middle of the other spinning couples, a wonderment of colors from their clothes zooming in front of my eyes, so close…but not touching me.
I slowly curled back up and held onto his shoulders the best I could, as the song started to change pace again, boldly curving into a provocative tone.
Carefully, he lowered me, unhurriedly releasing his hold.
My chest rubbed down his until my feet landed on the floor.
The King of Shifters’ warm hands landed on my hips.
Mine on his biceps.
Together, our hips started moving to the sensual beat.
He moved like a predator in the night.
A tiger after his tigress. A seductiveshifterprowling.
Carnal sparks took over my body as he placed one of his legs between mine, gradually leading me backward with slow steps and with every sway of our hips rolling together. His thigh pressed against my intimate heat with every motion, and the tips of his fingers curled against my hips, clutching me harder.
A mighty blush heated my cheeks. This was so improper.
The King of Shifters leaned his head down and rested his forehead against mine—the gold of his crown warm and soft—the other dancers deliberately getting closer. Our hips never stopped gyrating as one. We stared into each other’s eyes, our gazes not straying as we breathed each other’s air, as bodies closed in, skin touching skin all around, but solely linked to the one person with whom we danced. His hands roamed up to my back, bare from the outfit I wore, his massive body keeping me sheltered from others, perfectly performing the dance moves to the salacious beat.
Holy Fae above and below, I was damp between my legs.
My soul mate kept his forehead pressed to mine, not looking away for even a Fae blink. He didn’t falter one step—though raw, bodily hunger clawed sharply inside my Fae-spark from him.
I licked over my bottom lip and lowered my eyes.
I couldn’t hold his gaze as I should have.
I was in front of my people—albeit most probably couldn’t see me crushed in the center of this fervid group as I was. But it sent a dreadful shiver up my spine, knowing some were watching from above. What King Athon and I did illegally in private should stay fucking private. I did not enjoy an audience watching us, and this was too Fae damned close to the truth.
He wasmine.
