Ceaseless (Existence Trilogy #3)(7)

He led me onto the crowded dance floor. Bodies were moving everywhere. Most of them were just as intense as Jay and his girlfriend had been. I really hoped Kent wasn’t expecting me to rub all over him. That wasn’t the kind of dancing I’d signed up for.

“I saw you talking to Potts earlier. You know him?”

He knew Jay? The University of Tennessee was a big place. How odd. “Uh, yeah. Jay and I went to high school together.”

Kent pulled us into the thick of things and slipped a hand around my waist. I wasn’t sure I liked that. “Really? That’s cool. Jay and I are ATO brothers.”

Ah. A frat boy. Great.

“Are you at UT?” he asked with interest.

“Nope. I’m at Boone.”

Kent slid his hand down my hip and pulled me against him as the music slowed to a sexy beat. I did not like this. I searched the crowd until I found Miranda to see how she and Nathan were doing. She was wrapped in Nathan’s arms and looking at him like he was the most beautiful guy she’d ever seen. I wanted her to have this time. She needed to have some fun and begin to go out with other boys. But could I deal with Kent rubbing all over me to give her that time?

Just then two larger hands slid around my waist and held me firmly. Warm breath tickled my neck and instead of being startled by it, it excited me. “Times up,” a deep sexy drawl said from behind me. Kent’s eyes went wide.

“Are you… are you … holy shit!. You’re Dank Walker. Cold Soul’s Dank Walker.” Kent’s arms immediately let go of me as he stepped back. His eyes were focused on the guy behind me. Why Dank Walker was standing behind me making some big claim on me I wasn’t sure, but at the moment I was just glad tat he was no longer pressing his pelvis against me.

“Yeah. Now go,” Dank replied. Kent nodded his head and backed away into the moving bodies.

Turning around I frown at him. The relieved look on his face surprised me. “What was that about?” I asked.

Dank’s eyes changed from a simmering whirlpool as he watched Kent walk away to a soft glow as he looked at me. “He was making you uncomfortable.”

How had he known that? “Maybe. But why do you care?”

Dank let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head, “I don’t know. But I do.”

Okay…. That was unexpected.

“Will you dance with me, Pagan?”

I studied Dank as he watched me carefully, waiting on my answer. I didn’t trust guys like him. No female should. But I couldn’t turn him down. I slipped a hand over his arm. His hands were still on my waist.

The music instantly slowed. The sexual beat of the music had changed to something easy and smooth. I eased into his arms and trust came easily. Dank’s hands didn’t wander. He didn’t make vulgar moves with his body. Instead, he held me closely as we moved to the music.

The smell of his shirt was something dark and exotic. I wanted to bury my nose in it and breathe in the scent. This guy could be dangerous. Every part of him was irresistible. Turning my head slightly so I could smell him better I was startled when a soft growl vibrated against his chest. What was that?

I looked at him and saw his eyes were now cold and hard, and they were focused on something behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jay standing there. His hands were jammed in his pockets and his girlfriend was missing from his arm. He was looking at me. I turned from Dank’s arms and faced Jay. Did he need something?

“Hey, Jay,” I said trying to ease the sudden tension. Did they know each other?

“Pagan. I wanted to see if you would dance with me for old times sake. I didn’t realize you were uh, with Dank Walker. Wow, you moved up in the world.”

I laughed. These boys were really into Dank’s band. “I’m not with Dank. We just met today. I’d love to dance with you as long as your girlfriend doesn’t mind. Let me finish this dance first though.”

Jay shifted his eyes from me to Dank then back to me again quickly. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be waiting.”

I gave him a reassuring smile because he suddenly seemed really nervous. Odd, Jay wasn’t the nervous type. I turned around and put my hands back on Dank’s arms. The muscles flexed under my touch and my imagination took off. He would be incredible without a shirt on. I didn’t have to see it to know it.

“You know him,” Dank said in a slow even tone.

“Yes. We went to high school together,” I explained, purposely leaving out that he’d been my one and only boyfriend. Dank seemed annoyed with Jay. I was probably imagining it but I was going to protect Jay just in case. For a musician Dank Walker was really built.

“Do you like him?” Dank asked.

Well, that was very blunt. I stopped dancing and stared up at him. “I don’t think that is really your business. We just met today.”

Dank bit his bottom lip and dad-gum, if that wasn’t hot-as-hell. I really wanted to pull that bottom lip out and suck on it. I was just as bad as any other groupie. I’d just met the guy and I was thinking bad thoughts.

“Okay. You’re right. I’m sorry.” He replied.

The sad expression in his eyes made my heart hurt. I squelched the desire to reach up and touch his face. I didn’t want him to be sad. Had I sounded mean? I hadn’t meant to.

“Let’s just dance,” I said as the music began another sexy beat.