Page 55 of Follow the Rhythm
“Time to dance!” Grace grabbed Austin and me by our wrists and pulled us out on the dancefloor, following Jess.
I’d had no intention of dancing, but then I saw Jess. She danced with Grace and Austin like they were the only three people in the room, her hands floating above her head, her hips moving in time with the beat. She was one with the pulsing music, and I couldn’t look away.
My heart thundered as I watched her, basking in the glow of her pure joy. I knew then that I was fully lost. She had me, whether she wanted me or not.
And for the first time, I was terrified that she wouldn’t change her mind about us after all.
I stayed close, not quite dancing, but moving enough to sway with the crowd. Grace went to get another round of shots. The press of bodies around us was hot, and pushed me closer to Jess. As I’d hoped, my presence kept the Alphas who watched Jess with predatory interest away.
As the night wore on, the three of them got progressively unsteadier. Jess’s dancing got more enthusiastic and erratic. Grace and Austin kept cracking up watching her.
“Yes, get it!” they screamed over the music.
Jess whooped, then pulled the mass of her hair off her neck and fanned her face.
“Let’s get you some water,” I shouted.
Jess glared at me. “Booooo.”
Grace laughed. “Go drink some water, drunky. I’ll follow you right after I convince Austin to dance with the girl who keeps staring at them.”
“Fine,” she yelled back and tried to push her way out of the crowd.
I pulled her in front of me, my hands on her shoulders, and guided her out to the bar. Once I’d bought four water bottles and found an empty corner with a ledge for people to lean against, I lifted Jess by her waist so she could sit on it.
“Quit manhandling me,” she grumbled, but accepted the water bottle I passed her without protest. She downed half in one gulp.
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” I said.
Jess sighed. “I am. And I know you’re keeping all the creeps away. So thanks for that, I guess.”
“Anytime,” I replied, pleasantly surprised she wasn’t yelling at me.
Jess rested her head back on the wall. “Fuck. Why am I sodrunk?”
I huffed a laugh. “Because you’re pocket-sized.”
“Ugh.” She closed one eye, then the other, trying to focus. “I think that last shot was a mistake.”
“Here.” I pressed one of the cold water bottles to the nape of her neck and moved so she could rest her head on my chest.
“Mmm, thanks, that feels good,” she said. After a moment, she turned to press her ear to my chest, right above my heart. “Your heart is pounding.”
“It tends to do that around you, love.”
She grabbed my hand and placed it over her heart. It beat fiercely under my palm, the rhythm almost perfectly synced with my own.
I was in so much trouble.
“Jesssss,” Grace slurred from behind me. “Austin is hooking up with that girl!”
“What?” Jess crowed, poking her head over my shoulder. “Yes!”
“I’m so proud,” Grace said and seemed to be on the verge of tears. She was just as drunk as Jess.
“I think it’s probably time to go,” I said.
“We can’t leave now! Austin needs to get their freak on!” Grace protested.
