Page 14 of Choosing Skyler

Wait! I trust Brady!And he called mehis girl. Devon calls me his girl all the time, but never with a flame in his eyes like I saw in Brady’s. I really am playing with fire here, and that scares the hell out of me.

Just when I start to pull away Brady wraps his hand around the back of my neck like he did earlier. I lean back into it and look up at him. There’s still heat in his eyes, but the flames are dampened with concern.

“What’s wrong, Beautiful? You scared I’ve got two left feet?” he jokes, trying to get me out of my head no doubt.

I think he can read me almost as well as Devon. Which is insane because we just met yesterday.

“I’m scared…” I start. Then, I jump when the next song starts and it’s like all the fear just disappears as the first beat ofThat’s My Girlby Fifth Harmony filters out around us.

I laugh and turn around so I can dance without looking at Brady. He doesn’t touch me, but I can feel him behind me. So, I don’t stop. I glance over to our table and spot Devon watching us with that same look of pride his face held earlier. He winks and with his approval I close my eyes and justdance.

Brady

As much as I want to dance with Skyler, I won’t push if she’s not ready. The music startles her when it starts, but she just laughs and turns around. I think she's going to walk away, but she doesn’t take a step. Instead, she starts to sway her hips with the beat of the song, and I’m stuck, watching those sexy hips bounce back and forth with the beat. You couldn’t drive me away from this spot with a Mack truck.

I glance up at Devon and he has this look of contentment on his face. She must be looking at him too because he winks and looks up at me just as shereallystarts to dance. He gives me a chin nod and grins before getting up and heading toward the bar. I still don’t dance. I don’t move. I just watch her for the entire song. I’m close enough that she knows I’m there, but I don’t touch her. I’m afraid if I do, I won’t be able to stop.

When the song ends, she goes to turn around, but I stop her with a hand on her hip. I wait. I hold my breath.Will she stay or will she run? At the sound of the next song starting, she takes a step back. When I hearParty Monsterby The Weeknd start playing, I look toward the bar and see Devon at the jukebox.Figures. Point taken, asshole, I think and chuckle a little.

Skyler starts to dance again and this time I dance with her. She’s backed up against my torso. Which means her ass is right against my jeans. Surprisingly, she doesn’t flinch at my growing erection. She puts her hand on top of the one I have resting on her hip and laces our fingers together. Then, she drags my hand around until my arm is wrapped around her waist. I tighten my hold when she starts to grind against me. She leans back and brings her other hand up around the back of my neck, turning her head so that her ear is just below my mouth. I act before thinking. I run my tongue along the shell of her ear, and she shivers, tightening her hold on my neck.

When she doesn’t pull away, I put my other hand on her hip and squeeze. She releases my hand and turns, wrapping both hands around my neck pulling me down. My hands go to her hips, and I bend down so that my left knee slots between her thighs. Leaning down, I put my mouth against her ear again and this time I nip at her earlobe. When she moans that same sinful sound I heard from the bathroom door earlier today, I straighten slightly to look at her face. There is no fear or embarrassment. Just pure lust and…trust?

Attempting to control myself before I push too far, I start to stand back upright, but she doesn’t let me go. She tightens her arms behind my neck and pulls my face to hers before aligning her mouth with mine. It’s an invitation and one I’ll be damned if I refuse. I run my tongue along her top lip, not pushing, just tasting her sweet mouth. She opens up and moans again when her tongue meets mine. It’s sexy and sweet and the best kiss I’ve ever experienced. My arms go around her waist as she cinches down on my neck, both of us wanting to be closer. She moans again just as the song ends.

She tenses slightly and starts to look around. I know what she’s doing. She’s looking to see if others are watching and what they think. So, I run a hand along her back and grip the back of her neck waiting for her gaze to come back to me. Her eyes find mine just asNothing Else Mattersby Metallica starts playing.Well played, Devon,I think when she grins and starts to move with me again. I straighten so we can dance more appropriately for the song and although it's much less heated now than it was before, we still just fit. We don’t talk or kiss again. We just hold each other and dance.

When the song ends, she looks up at me and smiles, then raises on her toes and pulls me down to kiss her again. It’s just a closed mouth layering of our lips, but it’s enough to let me know that we’re on the same page. I smile back at her and nip at her bottom lip.

Then, out of nowhere she goes flying backwards as she’s snatched away from me. I tense, ready to throw down with whoever just grabbed her. Her squealing laugh stops me, and I realize it’s Devon when he shout-sings, “That’s My Girl,” while bouncing her up and down.

“Damn it, Devon. Stop! I’m wearing a dress!” she yells through her laughter.

When we make it back to our booth, he sets her down and turns to wrap me in a bear hug. We sit back down, and I take the seat next to Skyler instead of the one next to Devon where I sat earlier. As soon as I sit, her hand goes to my thigh and squeezes lightly. I take her hand and lace our fingers together bringing them up to place a kiss on the back of her hand. She blushes and leans into me, laying her head on my shoulder.

I kiss the top of her head and ask, “You tired? It’s been a day.”

She looks up at me and tries to hide her yawn. “I am, but I’m okay. I’m having fun. We don’t have to leave yet if you guys want to stay.”

I look at Devon and he already has his phone out, ordering an Uber to get us home.Home.I haven’t even spent a night there yet and it’s already home to me. It’s where my family is and now it’s where my girl is too.My girl.

Chapter 7

Skyler

I must have dozed off on the short ride home because I’m woken with a thumb grazing my cheek and warm breath fanning my ear when Brady says, “We’re home, Beautiful. I would have carried you, but you’re wearing a dress.”

I lift my head from his shoulder and look up at him sleepily. “Thank you,” I say, my voice a little horse from sleep.

He gets out and reaches his hand back in to help me out, but he doesn’t release my hand once I’m out. So, I lace my fingers through his as we walk up to our apartment building. As we get into the elevator, my mind wakes up a little more. I remember the bar, the flirting, him calling mehis girl, the dancing—thekissing. I have NEVER had a kiss make me feel the things I felt when he kissed me. I wantedmore… So much more. I tighten my grip on his hand as we walk through the apartment door. Now, I’m wide awake.

Devon is already in the kitchen, pouring drinks with a ridiculous smile on his face. He hands me a wine glass with my favorite coconut rum and pineapple juice. He pours himself a vodka and cranberry juice.

“What’s your poison, man?” he asks, looking up at Brady. “Nuh uh,” he says when Brady starts to shake his head. “You’re having a drink with us and we’re gonna talk about this,” Devon states, pointing between Brady and me.

“Oh, yeah?” Brady replies. “I’ll just have whatever my girl’s drinking, then.” He winks at me, and I melt a little.

“Are you sure you want to drink what I’m having?” I ask. “It’s really sweet. Almost like a pina colada.”

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