I assume it’s because of the loud music, but I can tell he’s enjoying the reaction he’s getting out of me.
“I’ll grind with you.”
“I’ve seen what those hips can do, I’m more interested in seeing the moves that landed you in videos.”
“Can you even keep up?”
“No, but you can use me like a pole.”
Climbing up him and sliding down seems way too enticing. So does running my tongue down his chest as I do it.
“Come on.” No longer giving me the choice, he brings me out into the middle of the floor, where all the furniture has been pushed out of the way. Blocking off enough space for me, he waits for me to do my thing.
Shutting down my mind, I let the music take control. Every beat drop and kick back has me popping out and hitting hard. The soft vibe of the undertone has me transforming from hip hop to ballet in half a turn. I do use him a little bit. Guiding him into a partner dance that has me making most of the effort. He follows my lead, keeping up in a way that is damn sexy.
When the song changes, so do I, moving into a different rhythm entirely. The gin has me playing with my clothes like this is a burlesque show, while being near him has me pulling on my hair in a way I wish he would. It’s enough to get people clapping like I’m on a stage. For the first time in a while, dancing feels effortless.
The unrestricted, carefree nature of just being in someone’s living room reminds me of how it all started. It reminds me that I loved dancing before there was an audience to watch me. Their applause is nice, but just the low music in the background is even better. It’s me, him, and the beat, and nothing else matters.
I don’t know how much time passes this way, but when someone grabs my arm, I feel like I’m being brought back down to earth.
Frustrated that I was stolen from my heaven, I turn to see who had the nerve to clip my wings just as I was remembering how to fly.
Instead of looking at me, Charlie is staring at Callahan, his lips twisted.
I turn to see that Callahan is just smirking, still dancing in his place, while Charlie waits for him to acknowledge that he is upset.
“Hi,” I say, popping up onto my tiptoes.
Just as my lips are about to touch Charlie’s, this wave of guilt hits me, causing me to stop. Looking back at Callahan, I see him still moving, his eyes more pulled than they were before.
Charlie, seeing what is going on, grabs my face and kisses me without my permission. I fight the urge to push him back, not wanting to cause a further scene, but I do step out of both of their reach.
“Unless this is going in a different direction, I don’t need you both surrounding me.” Thinking over what I just said, the idea sounds more appealing. “I mean, we could take this in another direction.” I run a finger down both their chests. Callahan grabs it and brings it to his lips, while Charlie pushes it away.
Turning and storming off, he makes his feelings known. I watch him go out the door, slamming it loudly enough that it draws everyone’s attention. I can’t care to go after him right now, already fed up with his attitude, so instead I choose to go in search of Farrah.
“Girl! This is why I don’t drink gin. I just asked Callahan and Charlie to have a threesome.”
“What did they say?”
“Does that matter?”
“Sort of.” She twirls around, her tiny skirt moving with her. With her hands thrown up in the air like she is trying to cast a spell on the sky, she really gets into her drunk dancing.
Seeing that she is going to be of no help, I decide to go downstairs and get some fresh air. Maybe then I won’t go searching forsomething else that is a bad idea. I wonder if Charlie is still out here, and I prepare myself for the confrontation.
“Oh, hey,” I say when I reach the porch and see just Rowan and a beautiful, curvy Black woman sitting with their hands almost touching. When they see me, they pull them back.
“Hey, Monty, this is my friend Sahara. She is actually publishing a book with Charlie, and he is letting me work on it with her.”
“That’s great! What about your book?”
“What book?” Sahara asks, causing Rowan to blush.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Sahara stands up and dusts off her pants. That’s when I notice the giant ring on her hand.
