Page 3 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

He turns and heads for a narrow hallway. Once again, my feet are stuck.What the hell was that?Did I say something wrong? He was flirting with me, right? Or did I imagine it all?

He looks over his shoulder to find I haven’t moved, and waves to me. “Come on, Izzy. I’ll show you the way.”

Izzy. Some nostalgic feeling pulls at my heart. I haven’t heard that name in so long. Moving to a completely new state to go to school meant leaving all my family and friends behind. And while at first I was excited to start this fresh chapter of my life, I soon realized making friends as an adult is a lot harder than it was in kindergarten. The familiar childhood nickname fills me up, as if confirming that coming here tonight was a good idea after all. Like maybe it was meant to be.

“You okay?”

Dave is in front of me again, a line creased into his brow as his eyes flick over my face. Taking a deep breath, I nod. “Yes, sorry. I’m fine.”

I pull a smile onto my face, which seems to ease Dave’s tension. He jerks his chin back down the hall and miraculously, my feet unstick, following him.

“So,” Dave asks once I’m behind him, “how’d you and Becks meet?”

I shake my head. Come on, girl, don’t blow this. Did he justask me a question? My god, he has a great ass, and those jeans look like they’ve been painted on.Jesus.

“Still with me, sweetheart?”

I collide into Dave’s chest, too zoned out to realize he stopped and turned around. His hands tighten on my upper arms to steady me before I topple backward. I need to seriously get a grip. What is happening to me?

“I’m so sorry. I swear I’m not normally this much of a klutz.”

A soft smile pulls at his lips. The heat of his hands on my skin is electrifying, and that dark hunger in his eyes from a few minutes ago is back. Maybe I had just imagined the shift, maybe he’s flirting with me after all.

His thumbs rub against my scorching skin and I take a deep breath, realizing for the first time that my hands are on his chest, the rhythm of his pounding heart just beneath my palms. His tongue wets his lips again and I can’t help but mirror him—the desire to simply rise onto my toes and kiss this stranger is an overwhelming urge I’ve never felt so desperately before. His face tilts just a touch closer to mine, and I can feel his warm breath on my lips as his eyes drop to my mouth.

“Isabella?”

In a flash, Dave’s touch is gone, and I wobble on weak knees trying to keep myself upright as he backs away. I’m disoriented and confused and so unbelievably horny I can’t think straight. Then I see Becks’s blonde hair and green eyes appear next to me, and I’m being wrapped up in a hug.

“I’m so glad you could make it!” she cries. “You didn’t have any trouble getting in, did you?”

My mouth bobs open and closed for a few moments, eyes flicking back over to Dave, who is looking down at the floor and rubbing the back of his neck a bit awkwardly. I turn to Becks with a smile. “Yes, sorry. I was held up at the door, but thankfully . . . umm, Dave helped me out.”

“Oh, gosh, I should’ve told the bouncer to keep an eye out for you. I’m so sorry.”

I shrug. “It’s okay, I’m here now.”

“Well, if you ladies are all set, I’ve got to make sure we can all actually play tonight.”

“What’s wrong?” Becks asks.

But Dave is already disappearing down the long hallway toward the stage, leaving me completely flustered.

“Sorry about him,” she says, waving her hand.

I can’t help but stare after him. “Is that true?” I ask, turning back to my friend. “They might not be able to play?”

Becks grabs my arm and pulls me farther into the back. “I’m sure Dave will figure something out. Come on.”

Maybe I should mention that he had tried to find another cable without success. Before I can though, she’s pulling me toward a door covered in faded green paint.

Becks sighs. “I love these guys but sometimes it can get a little lonely all by myself. I’m glad to finally have someone to hang out with.”

I try to push down the raw and exposed feeling that Dave left me simmering in and smile at my friend. “I get that,” I say. I can understand loneliness more than she knows. “Dave seems,” I pause, swallow hard, then finish with a lame “Nice.”

She smiles. “Yeah, he’s great. All the guys are. I’m so lucky to have them.”

“And you live with all four of them?”

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