Page 39 of Falling for the Beast

She tugged him through the house to the ballroom and turned on the lights. He wondered why she looked like a kid on Christmas. She turned a full circle, her dress flowing out. “It’s so beautiful in here. I can imagine the music and the dancing. The dresses…” She closed her eyes and held her hands to her chin. “I can see why your mother loved to hold parties here.”

Thaddeus pulled her into his arms, surprising even himself. “Will you dance with me?”

Chapter 17

It was a completely selfishthing to do. Thaddeus simply wanted to touch Aribelle. To hold her. And in the ballroom, with them dressed up, it was perfectly logical to suggest they share a dance. But guilt flooded through him the second the proposal came from his lips.

Aribelle looked up at him, surprise written on her face. She quickly recovered. “We have no music.”

“I’ll get my iPod.”

A shy smile flashed across her face. “Okay.”

“I’ll be right back.” He left the room, and part of him fully expected her to change her mind once he was gone, but when he came back in, she was standing in the same place under the chandelier, a look on her face he couldn’t quite decipher.

He plugged in the speakers and turned on the first slow song he came to, which happened to be Careless Whisper by George Michael. Then he took her hand and put his other on her upper back beneath her shoulder blade.

“You know how to dance,” she said, once again surprise showing on her features.

“My father insisted I take lessons. I never appreciated them much, though.” He started moving to the music, and for the first time in his life, was grateful for the dance lessons.

Aribelle wrinkled her nose and glanced at the iPod. “You do know this song is about a man who cheated on his girlfriend.”

“No good?” He stopped the dance and changed the song before picking up her hand again. The first strains of Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is came through the speakers.

“Much better,” she said, her hand on his shoulder.

He began moving once again, and he had to admit he was showing off a little as they danced across the floor. Her cheeks flushed pink and she smiled at him. “You’re a good dancer.”

“So are you.”

“I didn’t peg you to be a fan of 80’s power ballads.”

“Are you making fun of my choice in music?” He couldn’t quite stop his lips from curling up into a grin.

“No.” She laughed as he spun her around. “Sounds good to me.”

“What kind of music do you listen to?”

“My father brought me up on the old country greats, but I listen to a lot of different music now.”

“What was your car radio tuned to?”

She laughed. “Country.”

“I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“Guess not.”

They didn’t speak for the rest of the song, and as the notes faded, he stopped. His gaze fell to her lips. Was she wearing lipstick? They looked fuller and more inviting than he remembered them being. He let go of her hand.

She stood there, staring up into his eyes. He wondered what she was thinking. Was her throat constricting like his? Did she feel breathless, too?

He cupped his hand over her cheek, unable to resist touching her skin any longer. She closed her eyes, snuggling into his touch. Her skin felt like satin against his rough palm. He was powerless. He could not move away from her.

She looked up at him. On impulse, he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. It was so light, it almost wasn’t a kiss, but the sensations that washed over him were overpowering. The smell of her and the feel of her lips were too much, and he kissed her again, this time with more determination.

He grew dizzy from the kiss, as if the room was spinning. He pulled her closer, wanting to never let her go. All the feelings he’d been pushing aside, brushing off, and burying came rushing at him at once. How could he live without her? He no longer wished to breathe. He only wanted to stay there, wrapped up in her arms. Her fingers threaded through his hair, and he felt his control slipping.

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