Page 53 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“You are the best dancer at the party, you know that?” I tell Joseph, who laughs in my arms as I spin with him in the middle of the dance floor.

In my peripheral vision, I feel the eyes of the entire Kostanidis family, and also the Lykaioses, on both of us, but at the moment, my attention is completely on my party partner.

“Moooooore, Shishi.”

“Do you want to spin again? My God in heaven, you are tireless!”

I feel little hands pulling my legs, and when I look down, I see Madison’s twin niece and nephew apparently wanting to join in on the fun too.

I put Joseph on the floor, and at the same time, he gives Soraya his hand. I hold Silas’s hand with my free hand, and we form a circle. The kids dance, imitating my antics, and I feel my chest loosen from the intensity of meeting my boss earlier.

We stay on the dance floor for several songs, until Lisa and the twins’ foster grandmother approach, perhaps to give me a break.

As soon as they leave, however, I hear Cage ask, “My turn again?”

We’ve already danced to a few songs, and so far, he’s behaved.

Before I can respond, the man whose presence makes my skin crawl says, “No, it’s my turn.”

I know it’s totally inappropriate to agree to dance with him, and I also know that we’ll probably be the target of gossip tomorrow, but if the Greek isn’t worried, I’m not going to say no.

A dance is a safe way to be in his arms, to satisfy my hunger for his skin without doing anything I might regret later.

I realize that Cage leaves the decision in my hands, but Dionysus wasn’t born to wait, so putting his arm around my hip, he pulls me toward an empty corner of the dance floor.

“You’re giving people reason to talk about us.”

He doesn’t respond, his jaw clenched and his entire posture showing tension.

I don’t want to fight, however, but rather enjoy every second of this opportunity, so when we stand facing each other, I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing our bodies closer together.

He turns his face away from me. “Why did you come with him?”

“We didn’t come as a couple. Cage offered to pick me up before you arrived. I am free. I can go out with whomever I want.”

Both hands were around my waist, but after I say it, one of them slips to my hip, squeezing it. I hold on to the lapel of his blazer because even a simple touch from him makes me burn all over.

I think Dionysus notices, because he takes us farther and farther away from the curious eyes of the guests. “Talk about your dream again.”

It doesn’t take me long to understand that he’s resuming the conversation we had at Elina’s house.

“No. I’m embarrassed.”

“I want to hear it. I’m obsessed, imagining your body burning with lust as you sleep. Feeling hungry for what I can give you,” he whispers in my ear.

“We shouldn’t have this kind of conversation.”

“We agreed that talking was neutral territory.”

“As long as we weren’t touching.”

“I’m not touching you. It’s just a dance.”

“You play with words and agreements according to your preference, Dionysus.”

“I’m a ruthless negotiator, Cecily. I want to hear about your dream.”

I hide my face in his muscular chest, breathing in the manly smell, excited and embarrassed in equal measure. “That day, at Elina’s house, you told me to touch myself, imagining that it was you who was doing it. I obeyed you, but in my dreams, you wantedto seewhile I caressed myself,” I say, not believing I’m actually doing this.

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