Page 20 of Burly and Obsessed

My feet carry me toward the dance floor before I fully decide what to say. Each step feels heavier, yet more certain than the last. This isn’t just about Andrea. It’s about who I want to be. The man who follows the rules or the man who fights for what matters.

The music pulses in rhythm with my heartbeat as I weave through dancing couples. Halfway across the floor, Jax’s eyes find mine. His expression shifts from confusion to wariness as he tracks my trajectory. I don’t look away.

For once, I don’t change course.

Andrea spots me approaching. Her smile falters, uncertainty replacing the easy laughter she shared with Ryan. The hardness that entered her eyes after the greenhouse incident returns.

“Excuse me.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “Mind if I cut in?”

Ryan looks to Andrea, clearly waiting for her cue. For a moment, I think she’ll refuse. The rejection hovers in the air between us, a very real possibility after how I hurt her.

“Sure.” Her voice gives nothing away.

Ryan steps back with surprising grace. “Thanks for the dance, Andrea. I’ll find you later.”

The moment he’s gone, the atmosphere shifts. We stand in a bubble of tension as couples dance around us.

“What do you want, Ace?” Andrea stares me in the eyes, her arms folded over her chest. The carefree look she had just a minute ago is replaced by tension.

I reach for her hand and she gives it to me, allowing me to pull her into a dancing embrace.

“I’m done hiding how I feel about you.” The words rush out, my heart pounding in my throat. “I was wrong in the greenhouse. Wrong to suggest keeping us secret.”

Her eyes widen slightly, the only indication she’s affected by my words.

“You deserve someone who stands beside you openly.” I pull her closer, acutely aware of the heat rolling off her body. “I want to be that man.”

“And my brother?” Her question cuts to the heart of everything.

“Your brother doesn’t get to decide who you love.” I take her other hand. “And he doesn’t get to decide who I love, either.”

The word hangs between us. Love. I hold her eyes to let her know this isn’t a joke and I’m more serious than I’ve ever been.

“I don’t need permission to pursue the woman I want to spend my life with.” My voice drops, but the intensity increases. “I’m done playing it safe.”

I’m vaguely aware of people watching us, but I don’t care. All that matters is the gorgeous woman standing in front of me.

“How do I know you won’t back down the moment he confronts you?” Her voice wavers slightly. “How do I know this isn’t just another moment that won’t last? You don’t have a great track record when it comes to my brother.”

Instead of answering with words, I pull her flush against my body. I reach up with one hand and cup her face, thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. The other slides to her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric.

“Because I’m doing this in front of everyone.”

I kiss her.

This isn’t like the kiss we shared in the greenhouse. Her lips part under mine with a soft sound that sends fire racing through my veins. She tastes like champagne and promise, her body melting against mine as her initial surprise melts away.

My hand slides from her waist to the small of her back, drawing her closer. The feel of her sexy curves pressed against me nearly shorts out my brain. Every fantasy I’ve had about her pales compared to the reality of her in my arms.

When we break apart, her eyes are wide, lips slightly swollen. Something fierce and protective roars to life inside me. This is what I want. Who I want. For as long as she’ll have me.

“Still think I’ll back down?” I murmur against her lips.

Her laugh is soft, breathless. “You’re insane.”

“About you? Absolutely. The only insane thing is how long I spent scared of telling you how much I care for you and need you in my life. I’m done denying my heart. I’m never letting you go.”

She shakes her head, but her hands remain on my chest. The intensity of her smile burns into my soul, and I vow to make her smile with such joy every day for the rest of our lives.

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