Page 37 of Forbidden Bratva Virgin

I could count the number of things Nate and I said to each other the whole night. Whatever was going on with that phone was obviously more important than having a decent thirty-minute conversation with me, and his lack of zeal affected me greatly.

It took a moment for him to raise his head, and when he finally did, the damn phone buzzed in his hand.

Hastily scrambling to his feet, Nathan flashed an apologetic smile and kissed my cheeks. “Cupcake, I’ll make it up to you, I promise. I just…I really have to take this. Work-related stuff.”

The hurt that sliced through my chest wrapped me like a vise, constricting the airflow in my lungs. I sputtered, blinked back tears, and watched his back disappear in the throng of people before two shadows fell over me.

“Was that Nathan?” Amelia craned her neck to follow his movement. “Is he leaving?”

Conveniently ignoring the god-like human by her side, I rose to my feet, literally fighting the tears back while leaning in for a hug. “No, he’s not. It was an important call he had to take. Happy Birthday, Dr. Greystone.”

“Amelia,Hazel. We’ve talked about this. And thank you.” She offered a warm smile. If she noticed the shimmer of tears in my eyes, she didn’t mention it. “Doesn’t matter, though. I’m taking you to that dancefloor.”

“Oh, Amelia. Please, I don’t really feel like it.”

She caught my hand before I could slip away. “Oh, come on, it’s my birthday. You’ve worked so hard at the Clinic, and you have been seated here all night. I’m not allowing you to sit this one out.”

“I don’t have a partner.”

“We’ll find you one.”

“No need. I’ll take her.”

Miron had his long arm extended and his wide palm stretched, with those unreadable stormy eyes on me.

Amelia threw a cautionary stare at her cousin before I did. “Youwant to dance with her?”

“Did I have water in my mouth?”

“And Alina? Are you sure she wouldn’t mind?”

“Coincidentally, she’s on a call with her father. It could take a while.”

I glanced between both of them. “Do I have a choice?”

“No,” they answered at the same time.

“Great.” It turned out that being attractive wasn’t the only similarity they shared.

“Okay, then.” Amelia moved me closer to Miron, practically shoving me into his chest. “His willingness to stand in for your boyfriend is unusual, but I assure you, he isn’t a terrible dancer. You are in good hands. Move along now. I have to go say hi to some guests.”

Good hands.

I remembered the burning sensation his hands left on my wrist when he’d dragged me out of The Tavern and tried to ignore the warm fuzzies that erupted in my stomach when his fingers covered mine as I followed him to the dancefloor. His grip was firm but not unkind.

And as he led me into the first sweeping turn, my heart leaped, and the world narrowed to just us, keeping him in focus.

I should have been focused on my steps and the pattern of the dance. Instead, I was keenly aware of the way his hand rested against my back, the way his sturdy frame kept me grounded. I wasn’t sure if to hold on tighter or step away.

Our movement flowed in smooth sync with the music, and he moved with certainty, guiding me effortlessly. Amelia was understating when she said he wasn’t a terrible dancer. Miron was anexcellentdancer.

His eyes shifted from gazing at the distance to scorching my face. “I like your dress. You look good in it.”

“That’s a shocker.” Not sure how to react to that, I chewed on my lips and fought the blush rising to my cheeks. “I didn’t know you gave compliments.”

The music swelled, and we flowed together seamlessly. His gaze drifted again to the crowd with a crease between his brows, and I thought I felt his fingers twitch behind me. “Years ago, I learned how to. I didn’t know you don’t take compliments well.”

I ducked, burying my face a few inches from his chest and overpowering fresh scent. “I’m sorry. Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

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