Page 51 of The Jellybean Dilemma

I groaned.

“I’ve got more. I’ll keep going until you say yes.”

It was my own fault—I hesitated.

“Did you hear the latest health report? You need to increase your daily intake of vitamin ME, and just one dance will do that.” He tugged again, then we were out in the middle of everyone.

A song I knew started up, Dua Lipa, one of my favorites. Mandy and Erin wiggled and writhed with Peter and Dale. Greg kept his hand latched onto mine as if he were afraid I might bolt at the first chance I got. He frowned, then spun me around so my back was to his front.

Placing both hands on my hips, he said in my ear, “I know you’ve got moves, Jellybean.”

It was the first time I’d let him use the name since our fight, and it felt right. His body found the rhythm of the song, moving behind me. One of his hands slid over my abdomen, the other down my thigh as I began swaying with him to the beat. My stomach flipped, and I pressed against him.

The song changed and the tempo slowed way down. I thought he’d turn me around to face him, but he just held me there. His thumb slid up and down my hip bone while his other hand sprawled across my stomach. I leaned languidly into him, tilting my head to rest my cheek against his chin. The alcohol combined with how I always reacted to his presence had me melting in his arms. Could I trust this? Trust him not to hurt me again?

When the song ended, his lips pressed a featherlight kiss to the bare skin where my neck and collarbone met, sending delicious shivers throughout me. “Thank you for the dance.”

As one, our group headed back up to the bar for more drinks. It didn’t take me long to finish my Jack and Coke, then I sucked down my water. Mandy and Erin were ready to move on.

“Guess we’re heading to the next place.” I didn’t know what else to say to Greg. Goodbye? Thanks? Kiss me?

Wait, scratch that last one.

He raised his glass as I awkwardly stood there waiting for I didn’t know what. Mandy giggled as Peter nibbled on her ear while Erin rolled her eyes, pulling on Mandy’s hand. I told myself I wouldn’t look back, but just before I walked out of the door, I turned. And Greg smiled big enough for that damned dimple to appear.

The next place was halfway across town, called The Wagon Wheel. Mandy warned us that we’d be overdressed but would be forced to participate in line dancing, at least once. I’d need more shots before that happened.

We bee-lined to the bar but before we could order, Greg’s deep voice said, “My friends bet me I couldn’t talk to the prettiest girl in the room. How about we use their money to buy us a drink?”

I gasped. “How’d you get here already?”

“We paid extra for the NASCAR limo, complete with nitro.” He winked. “What are you ladies drinking?”

A terrible idea popped into my head and out of my mouth. “I think a Blow Job sounds great.”

He froze, and Mandy’s head whipped toward me. I stared at him, the challenge clearly written in my jutting chin.

Greg’s jaw worked a few times, but he turned to the bartender. “I’ll take six Blow Jobs please.” His face turned red as the words came out, and the three of us girls erupted in a fit of giggles. Greg glared at me, but amusement lay beneath it.

We lined up to do the no hands shot. Mandy, Peter and Dale tossed theirs back, laughing at each other before darting right out to the dance floor, hopping in on the song like pros. Erin took her shot, but didn’t join the others on the floor. She hovered to one side, chatting with a guy in tight jeans and a belt buckle the size of a dinner plate.

Greg still stood next to me, with his hands behind his back. A muscle ticked in his cheek as his gaze lingered on me. “I remember the last time I watched you do one of these.”

The words were for my ears only, and he wasn’t referencing a shot. The image of his dick disappearing into my mouth popped into my head, my lips parting as I stared at him.

He just smirked. “Good. Now it’s not just me.”

Unnerved he’d gotten even more under my skin, I decided to exact my revenge. I tossed my hair over the shoulder away from him, so it fell in a cascading backdrop behind me then I glanced up, licking my lips and letting my desire show. I lowered my mouth to the glass ever so slowly.

His jaw worked back and forth, letting me know I had him. I wrapped my lips around the glass, tossing it back, nice and smooth with no hands. It dropped to the counter with a mere tang. It was my turn to smirk. “Your turn.”

He swallowed hard then gamely bent, lifting the glass with his mouth, and tossing it back. When he leaned down, the glass slipped, skittering across the bar. He hurried to grab it, a sheepish look appearing on his face.

But I wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “So, all out of pick-up lines?” I quirked an eyebrow at Greg. “Or did I throw you off your game with that shot?”

He stared at me long enough that I began to wonder what was going on. Then he blinked and said, “There must be something wrong with my eyes. I can’t seem to take them off you.”

“Boo.” I gave him a thumbs down as I leaned against the bar.

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