Taming Alec(8)

“How in the world does he own a place like this if he’s a few years older than us?” I asked, baffled.

“He probably inherited it or some shit like that,” Arie said as she looked around. “I need a drink.”

“Then, go get one.”

“And get lost in that crowd? No, thanks. I’ll wait for the rush to slow down. Once they start playing a better song, I’m sure the bar will clear.”

“Maybe.” Somehow, I doubted that.

There were too many people in here for the bar to ever slow down.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, both of us watching the crowd.

Arie stood up. “I’m bored. Let’s go dance.”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. You go ahead.”

“You’re not going to just sit here and hide. Now, get your ass up, and let’s go dance!” Arie grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.

I nearly tripped and fell in her high heels as Arie pushed through the crowd. I tried to apologize to the people she had elbowed on her way. I didn’t want them to think I was lacking in manners as she was.

When she found a spot on the dance floor that was close to the bar, she stopped. “This is perfect. If your boy toy is behind the bar, he’s bound to see us once that crowd clears a little.”

I sincerely hoped that crowd never cleared. My mother had put me in dance classes from the time I could walk, but that didn’t mean I was comfortable with dancing the way everyone else was. It wasn’t even dancing. They were humping each other to the beats of the song.

I looked at Arie. There was no way I would hump her. I loved her, but no.

Arie started dancing around me, obviously trying to pull me out of my shell. As she began grinding against me, several guys started paying attention to us. I was just wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. I stood there awkwardly, praying this would be over soon.

“Damn it, Rebecca, dance. I know you can!” she shouted at me.

“This isn’t dancing! I don’t know how to do this!” I shouted back.

“Just move your body. Throw in some ballet moves if you have to. I don’t care what you do. Just move!”

I groaned before finally giving in. With the looks we were getting, I knew I was bringing more attention to myself by not dancing. I started swaying my hips, hoping that would make Arie happy, but she frowned at me and shook her head in defeat. Obviously, it wasn’t good enough.

I sighed as I closed my eyes. Letting my body move on its own, I ignored the fact that I was making a fool of myself in a room with over a hundred people. I focused on the beats of the song, and years of dance recitals kicked in. My mind shut down, and my body did all the work.

“Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!” Arie yelled in my ear.

I opened my eyes to see her dancing in front of me. I grinned as I continued to move. Now that I wasn’t actually thinking about what I was doing, dancing wasn’t so hard.

Arie’s eyes widened as she looked behind me. My whole body tensed when I felt someone pressing against me from behind. I turned my head, and I almost stopped moving when I saw Alec.

He smiled as he lowered his head. He whispered in my ear, “I didn’t think you’d show. Imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw you dancing over here.”

I shivered as his breath tickled my ear. “I almost didn’t.”

“I’m glad you did.” He paused. “Dance with me?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I felt his lips turn up into a smile before he pulled away. I shuddered as his hands found my waist and pulled me tight against him. His fingers slipped under the bottom of my shirt, and with his skin on mine, he grasped my hips. Just like the first time when he’d touched me, a shock wave ran through me. It was like my body exploded with electricity every time his skin brushed mine.

A new song came on, “3” by Britney Spears, and I laughed out loud. I hadn’t listened to that song in forever. I moved robotically at first, my mind focused on feeling Alec’s body tight against mine. Finally, I found my rhythm and settled into it. It helped that Alec actually knew how to dance. I couldn’t help but grin when I realized just how perfectly we moved together.

As we danced, I lost myself in the music and the heat radiating off of Alec’s body. I glanced up and noticed Arie dancing a few feet away with a stupid grin on her face as she looked back and forth between Alec and me. When she saw me watching her, she winked. It seemed that I was doing something right for once.

Maybe it was the song or maybe it was the atmosphere in the bar, but whatever it was, I suddenly felt daring. I closed my eyes as I reached down and grabbed Alec’s hands. I lifted our joined hands above my head so that I had something to hold on to because I didn’t want to end up on my ass. Once I was sure he wouldn’t let me fall, I slowly started grinding my way down his body toward the floor, like I’d watched that girl do earlier.

I felt Alec tense for a second before he finally relaxed again. I stopped once I was almost completely on the floor before slowly grinding my way back up his body. I peeked at Arie to see her watching me with her mouth hanging open. Then, she threw her head back and laughed.

Alec released our fingers and slowly slid his hands down my arms and body. When they were resting on my hips again, I covered his hands with my own. I didn’t dare look back at Alec as I continued to dance. I was terrified of what I’d see in his eyes. This was supposed to be a game and a simple one at that. I just needed to make Alec want me and then laugh as I walked away from him. But with his body pressed up against mine like this, it didn’t feel like a game anymore. It felt too real, too good.