Page 41 of Shiver

“Secondhand?” Kat asks.

“Yes, because there’s not a chance in hell that I’d be participating in that shit,” Aiyana says, rolling her eyes.

“You’re an asshole,” Kat tells her before turning her attention back to me. I’m listening to Kat speak, catching bits and pieces as she explains what kind of dance lessons these are, mentioning something about ballroom, but I can’t seem to focus with the chill of awareness traveling down my spine. I feel like I’m being watched, and their eyes are burning a hole in my back. “Alright, so are you ready?” she finally asks.

“Yeah, of course.” I smile at her just as the instructors enter from the side entrance.

“Hello, everyone. It’s exciting to get to work with you all and make Kat and Ale’s special day a beautiful night filled with lots of love and dancing,” the dark-haired woman says, bringing both of her arms up and flicking her wrists for dramatic flair.

I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched. I look over my shoulder, and sure enough, Luca is leaning against the wall behind me, his arms crossed over his chest and his feet crossed in front of him. He looks like a model on the cover ofGQmagazine.

He quirks a brow at me, tipping his chin in the direction of the instructors speaking as if to tell me to pay attention to them. He’s not wrong. I probably should be, but it’s so damn hard to turn my attention away from him when I know he’ll be watching me from behind the moment I do.

Reluctantly, I drag my attention back to them and listen as they explain the styles of ballroom dance we’ll be learning over the next couple of months.Well, it isn’t a choreographed dance, but ballroom isn’t exactly my style either.

“Okay, everyone, split off into pairs, and we’ll get started,” the male instructor, Christian, tells us with a clap of his hands.

My eyes dart around the room, realization sinking in that I’ll have to dance with Luca. And when he moves to join me, I feel the electricity from his touch pour into me as he trails his fingertips down my forearm, drawing my body into his.

“Have you ever done the slow waltz before, Samara?” he asks me; his slightly woody and bright citrus scent wraps around me, and my core clenches.

I shake my head. “No, I haven’t. I dance, but this isn’t my usual style.”

“Follow my lead, and you’ll be fine,” he assures me, but his words do nothing but annoy me.

“Why doyouthink you’ll be the one leading?” I ask, tilting my head. “You think because you’ve got a dick swinging between your legs that makes you the leader?” I roll my eyes at him.

He shakes his head, no humor in his eyes as he speaks. “Samara, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but I’ve been surrounded by the most incredible women my entire life.” His eyes swing around the room as if to prove his point. “There’s not a single ounce of me that lives under the guise that I’m somehow superior to any of them. I think you’ll see soon enoughwhyI’ll be the one leading,” he says, leaning into my space, his warm breath coasting over my ear. “And it’ll have nothing to do with my massive cock.” He chuckles deeply.

Another chill skates down my spine, but I stiffen, scoffing at him, not letting on to the way his words affect me. “Massive.” I laugh. “Men whoactuallyhave it, don’t flaunt it,” I tell him, unconvinced by my own words. He’s huge, and I have no doubt his dick is too.

Music starts to flood through the speakers around the room, bouncing off the slick wooden floors beneath our feet. “Alright, everyone, follow Cassandra and me. The lead will place their hands like this,” Christian says, demonstrating.

“And the follower will place theirs like this.” She shows us.

They nod their heads at us to give it a shot. I see Kat put her hands in the completely wrong place, and it’s actually kind of adorable. Alessandro gently sets them where they belong before pulling her closer to his body.They look so damn cute,and it’s hard not to long for something like that for myself.

Luca stands before me, clearing his throat to grab my attention back. “You ready?” he asks.

“Sure,” I say, winding one hand around his back in the leader’s position and the other in the air for him to grab hold of. His eyes glitter with mischief as he takes my hand in his, yanking my hand free of his back and depositing it onto his shoulder before snaking his arm around me and tugging me impossibly close to his chest. All the air is sucked out of my lungs as I’m forced to look up into his pretty eyes.

“I really don’t think we need to be this close,” I tell him, frustrated that he managed to make me the follower just as Christian makes his rounds over to us to check our stance.

“Perfect form, you two, brava.” He claps before heading over to the rest of the group.

Luca says nothing, but he doesn’t have to. His expression tells me just how goddamn smug he feels right now.

Once everyone is in position, they restart the music, showing us a few basic steps and telling us to practice on our own for a few beats as we get the hang of it. Luca and I fight for dominance the entire time, with me stepping on his toes,mostly on purpose.

I have to admit, it’s fun to push his buttons as much as he does mine. This little game of cat and mouse we have going is starting toalmostfeel enjoyable.

He tsks at me when I stomp my foot down on his as he continues to try to take the lead. “What you seem to not realize,” he says, pulling me abruptly into his chest before whispering, “is that I like it rough.”

My skin heats at his words, but I refuse to show that I’m affected in the slightest despite the wetness that’s pooling in my core. “Cocky little boys like you always do,” I tell him with a wink.

He laughs darkly, dragging me across the dance floor to the center of the room. Cassandra and Christian go into greater detail, and before I know it, we’re on our own. “Okay, everyone, put those moves together, and let’s see what you’ve got!” Cassandra tells us excitedly.

The De Laurentiis men and Charlie look around the room at one another, each giving the other a curious head nod that makes me apprehensive.Nothing good can come of all these men being in silent agreement about anything.

---