Page 36 of Deuce

“You mean there’s naked people running around having sex on the kitchen table?”

“Like I said, parties can get pretty wild.”

Sophia just looked at me.“And you have a mom who’s okay with that?”

“She’s notmymom.We just call her that.And she and Jake usually make themselves scarce when the parties get out of hand.”

“Oh.”She lifted the beer to her mouth and took a long swig.

I watched her lips as they formed a circle around the top of the bottle.Fuck, I envied that bottle.

She cocked her head.“You want to dance?”

“Sure.”I’d never pass up an opportunity to hold her in my arms.I put my beer down and stood, extending a hand to her.

She grasped it and bounced to her feet.

I led her onto the dance floor and turned to face her.

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she clasped her hands together and melted against me.Someone was crooning a slow song, and I couldn’t quite make the words out over the noise in the bar, but I didn’t care.My world was complete.

We swayed in time to the music, and I closed my eyes, resting my chin on her head.She fit me perfectly, and the subtle smell of our earlier activities teased my nostrils.If I had any persuasive skills at all, there would be a repeat performance when I took her home.

The song ended, and someone started a lively jazz tune.That was the risk of karaoke.No continuity.One song jazz, the next one pop, and then you find yourself trying to dance to a country ballad.

Sophia was up to the challenge, her face flushed as she sashayed her way around the floor.I grinned as the other dancers cleared the way for Sophia and me to show off our moves.Considering this was the first time we’d danced together, we put on a stellar show.When the song ended, the spectators gave us a rousing round of applause.

I pulled Sophia into my arms and blazed a sensuous kiss across her lips.Raising herself on her toes, she kissed me right back, earning raucous hoots and cheers from my Riptide brothers.She was going to fit into our self-made family just fine.

I led her back to the booth, both of us out of breath from our exertions.Waving my hand in the air, I signaled Sherry for another round of beers.

We both slid into the same side, and I laid my hand on her thigh, needing to feel the physical connection.Yeah, I was that far gone.“Where did you learn to dance?”

A slight smile ghosted across her face.“Dad has some old movies we’d watch on a VHS player at night.Fred Astaire.Ginger Rogers.Elvis Presley.He loved musicals and I’d watch them and imitate the dancers.”

“You had a good childhood, didn’t you?”

She nodded.“I did.Even though my mother deserted us, I always felt loved and wanted.Dad made sure of that.”She paused.“I think that might be why I’ve never had much luck with dating.Subconsciously, I compare the guy to my dad, and they always come up short.”

“Do I come up short?”I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.

She shook her head.“A knight on a shining motorcycle who rides up to rescue me from kidnappers in the nick of time?I think you managed to wow my subconscious into silence.”

I puffed out my chest in a pretense of victory.“I applaud your subconscious.Very observant.”

Sophia laughed, her eyes sparkling.“So, when do I get to see you ride the mechanical bull?”

I snorted.“Not gonna happen.”

Chapter Eight

Sophia

I woke up feeling sleepy and deliciously sore between my legs.When we got home from the bar, we’d made love.

Then we’d done it again.And again.We’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms, and when we woke up, we did it again.

The sun was starting to come up, soft rays peeking over the horizon.

---