Page 14 of Strictly Yours

“Told you,” she says with a big grin. “There’s more to life than just your condo, commute, and office. You gotta get out more, Mr. Cranky Pants.”

I kind of like that name now. I’d like anything she calls me.

After the pizza, we wander around and end up in some underground salsa club.

Normally, I’d hate a place like this, but I get to dance nice and close with my girl. This time, I can’t stop myself from getting rock hard as she grinds against me, the music blaring in our ears. She must feel it on her hips, but she doesn’t stop or hesitate. She keeps that sexy little body gliding up and down mine as she shakes her hips in the most mesmerizing way.

We’re surrounded by sweaty, half-naked people on the dance floor doing some of the dirtiest dancing I’ve ever seen, but I only have eyes for her. Her hair is sticking to her glistening temples and when she comes in close, I tuck her hair behind her ear.

She looks up at me with the most breathtaking shy smile and I know in my heart, soul, and every damn cell in my body that this is the girl for me.

She’s the one I want. Theonlyone I want.

Now, tonight, forever. She’s it. She’s my soulmate.

I just hope it doesn’t take her too long to realize it.

A slow song comes on and the wild dancers come together in pairs all around us, tangling limps and getting in close.

I take Amber’s hand and pull her against my body where she belongs. She moans as she looks up at me, those beautiful eyes lingering on my mouth before rising to my heated gaze.

“What did you wish for?” she whispers as we start to sway to the nice song.

It’s hard to focus on words with her breasts pressed into my chest and her hips so close to mine.

“No, wait,” she says, shaking her head. “Then it won’t come true.”

I look down at this perfect girl in my arms and let out a low breath. “Don’t worry. It already has.”

She smiles shyly and then rests her head on my chest. I can’t believe I’m here right now, experiencing this. A few hours ago, I was at my desk saying goodnight to Cassandra, and my entire world has changed since then. It feels like a lifetime ago.

I believe there are rare moments that happen in life that completely change you. Moments so intense, they crack your lifeline in half, so there is only the time before the moment and the time after.

This here, tonight, with Amber, is one of those moments. I could be one hundred years old on my deathbed, thinking back over all the long years I’ve lived, and I know that my first thought will be this night. The unexpected encounter in the office, the birthday singing over pizza, the dance, the switch in my mind when I realized it can’t all be about work. A life has to have some fun in it too otherwise what’s the point?

“Am I going to see you again?” she whispers.

“I sure as fuck hope so,” I say with a laugh. “Otherwise, I might not know how to go on.”

“I’m only here for two weeks,” she says. “Until Willow and Greg—Shit!”

I lean back as she goes rigid in my arms. “What is it?”

“Munchies!” she says with panic in her eyes. “I need to get him his medication!”

“Okay,” I say, trying to calm her down.

But she’s too wound up to listen.

“I gotta go!” she says, pulling away. Every instinct in my body is urging me to stay with her and keep her in sight, but she’s as slippery as she is fun. “I’m not flighty. I’m responsible.”

It’s the last thing I hear her say before she dissolves into the packed crowd, moving with impressive speed.

I’m much larger, so it’s harder for me to follow and get around everyone.

“Amber!” I shout over the music. “Amber, wait up!”

My heart is pounding when I finally get to the door, and I feel like I might be sick when I see her slip into a taxi and disappear from my life as quickly as she crashed into it.

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