Nate’s voice was gravel and honey. “Don’t drop her.” He flashed that cocky grin, and the reporter giggled like a groupie.
Holly rolled her eyes, but the heat crept back up her neck. “He thinks it’s all about the pose,” she said, dry. “Meanwhile I’m doing emotional calculus and praying he remembers the difference between a sliding door and a banana split.”
Another mic shoved toward them.
“Seriously, that routine wasrude. You two looked like you were seconds from tearing each other’s clothes off.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that,” Nate said smoothly, andfuck himfor being good at this. For letting charm drip from his mouth like it didn’t cost him a damn thing.
Holly held her smile, trying to look as effortless as he did and feeling like she came up way short. “Well,” she said, playinginto it the way production wanted them to. “We rehearse every beat.”
A beat passed. Nate glanced sideways at her. “Sure.Rehearsal.”
She didn’t look at him. Didn’tdare. Not with her body still high off the way his arms felt beneath her hands.
“Stan called it ‘rough but filthy,’” the next reporter added, laughing. “How do you feel about that?”
“Honestly?” Holly said, tipping her head. “If we’ve already got the audience thinking about sex after one dance? I’m calling that a win.”
Nate made a noise under his breath, almost a groan. She ignored it.
More cameras. More fake banter. They posed together, his hand low on her back. Holly tried to arch away from the heat of his hand without it being obvious to anyone but him, and he smirked at her. The press ate it up like porn-star style foreplay in a fucking Disney movie.
By the time they made it back to the main studio floor, her cheek muscles hurt and her head was spinning. They stood off to the side, watching the monitors as the final couples danced.Applause. Flash. Glitter.Holly folded her arms and counted her heartbeats. One, two,don’t look at him, three,don’t remember how his hands felt on your ribsfour…
“Scores incoming!” someone called. “All couples to their marks!”
Everyone gathered. The stage screen behind them lit up in gold and white, flickering with names. Holly and Nate were in theupper end of the pack according to the judges’ scores, but the difference would come down to the viewers. Holly held her breath.
“The couple with the lowest number of audience votes will be leaving us tonight,” Indie announced, suddenly serious. “And that couple is… Yvonne and Jeremy!”
Two sweet kids with zero chemistry and even less rhythm. They looked gutted, clung to each other, and whispered something about second chances. The audience clapped politely. Holly felt a pang, but it was distant. She’d been too close to elimination before to waste tears on strangers.
“And this week’s winners…” Indie declared all drama and pause, “with the highest combined score and audience vote…Nate and Holly!”
The crowderupted. Holly blinked, disbelief flooding her. She knew they’d worked hard. Had seen a massive improvement in Nate, even though she hadn’t wanted to tell him that and inflate his ego any further. Nate whooped behind her, hands shooting into the air like he’d scored a game-winning goal. He spun her on instinct, and she almost resisted before she gave in and laughed despite herself as the cameras zoomed in.
“Didn’t drop you,” he said, eyes glittering.
“No,” she breathed, too aware of every inch of contact. “You didn’t.”
After the show wrapped, Martin had approached her about her episode bonus and asked for ‘more ofthat, please’. She felt Nate’s arm slide around her waist like he belonged there, as they chatted briefly with other couples. She didn’t shove it off.
Not yet.
Because the truth? The part that chilled her blood and thrilled her gut in equal measure? She wanted more ofthat, too. And that was going to be an issue.
@EntertainmentBuzz on Instagram:
Nate Eriksson and Holly Martinez arenotmessing around.
After that filthy-perfect Rumba, they justwonWeek One by audience vote.
Is this a comeback arc or a public HR violation?
#takethefloor #nateandholly
@ruintgirl23 on TikTok:
