Page 31 of The Second Chance in the Mediterranean
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We’d soberedRoy and a few of the others up with food and water before picking up the water taxi at the wharf at the Riva. Our group wedged into the small boat, and I sat delicately on the corner of a seat. The speedboat shot off into the darkness, and Seb’s arm wrapped around me, bracing me and preventing me from falling off the edge of the seat as the boat rocked in the bay. His fingers pressed into my stomach, tracing small little circles through the fabric.
Bacvice was a small, shallow beach a few bays over from Split’s main harbor. Our little taxi made the turn into the bay and we could see the party going in the corner, lights strobing and the thump of the bass carrying over the water.
We disembarked and followed one another through the front door. It was loud and packed, people wall to wall, and Toby, walking in front of me, quickly disappeared. Just when I thought I’d lost our whole group, I felt a tug on my arm from behind. I looked back to see Seb and he pulled me in close. His mouth to my ear, he said, “Want to dance?”
I gazed into the next room, where a DJ stand was set up and bodies writhed. I looked back at Seb and he took my hand and pulled me with him.
The Europop music faded as Seb pressed me into his body. It had been years since I’d been to a dance club, and I didn’t do shots often, and I definitely knew it was a bad idea to let Seb look at me that way. But the club was crowded, our friends lost in the scene, and so we danced.
There was no pretense. We were in each other’s space right away, one of my arms wrapped under Seb’s, my palm spread on his back, the other hand at the back of his neck, mussing up his hair. Seb guided my body, a hand on my hip, fingers gripping and kneading while we moved to the beat. My stomach fluttered, my eyelids dipped, and I focused all my attention on Seb.
Before long we were sweaty and rumpled. My forehead was pressed to his neck, and all I could see was the glimmer of the dance lights reflecting off the sheen of sweat on Seb’s throat. I wanted to lick it.
My body was loose and pliant, Seb easily moving us with the beat. One of his legs had migrated between mine, his thigh pressing into my center. The friction was building tension already, and I ached.
I could feel the tension building in Seb, too. His hands roamed, fingers dragging up and down my thigh, big hands spreading over my ass, a thumb stroking the side of my breast just under my arm.
And a glorious weight rested against my hip.
I closed my eyes and called up my memories: Seb raising my leg up onto his shoulder, the way he had stared down at us as he thrusted inside me, the curve and roiling of his muscles. I could feel those same muscles under my hand right now, and I just had to touch his bare skin.
The moment I slipped under the hem and onto the bare skin of his stomach, Seb pulled back. Bereft, I opened my eyes and locked them onto Seb’s.
“Let’s go home.”
I nodded.
Seb grabbed my hand, tugging me off the dance floor. When I realized we weren’t headed for the door, I pulled back on Seb’s arm. “Where are we going?”
“We need to tell the crew we’re leaving.”
My face fell and I pulled my hand out of Seb’s. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Seb studied me and then nodded. “Let’s at least go check in. We’ll make up an excuse. Come on.” He pushed me ahead of him in the crowd but didn’t pick up my hand again.
We wound our way through the people, occasionally spotting one of our crew members here or there, dancing with each other or with a stranger. The bulk of the group we found out on the patio. The night air was refreshing on my skin, and a breeze helped lift some of the sweat-dampened wisps off my face.
Cheers went up. “Marcella! Seb!”
“You disappeared!” Harper shouted.
“Dancing,” I called back. I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to the shadows of the patio. Roy was pushed up against the wall, a tall, muscular guy doing the aggressive pressing, their mouths fused.
I eyed the situation warily. “Is he sober enough for that?”
Will tossed a glance to the couple, brow furrowed. “Yes, he hasn’t had a drink since we got here.”
Twisting my lips, I debated.
“Don’t worry, Marce. I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
Picking his glass up, Will gave me a little smile before taking a sip. His eyes returned to Roy.
“I’m going to head back toThemis,” Seb announced, plucking up his shirt and fanning himself. “Anyone else want to go grab the water taxi with me?”
“Yeah, I’m off.” Xavier downed the last of his drink.
