Love, Lies, and Deception(26)

I glared at him. “I am not, and usually, it’s the opposite way around. Alcohol is supposed to make you clumsier.”

Kristian slid my filled shot glass over to me and tapped it with his, making it clink together. “Not to you it doesn’t. Now bottoms up, baby.” He downed his quickly and motioned for the bartender to pour him another. Tequila wasn’t my favorite liquor but it’d do the trick. Taking a deep breath, I tossed back the liquid and hissed as the burn slid down my throat.

With a twinkle in his eye, Kristian asked, “Do you want another one?”

“Uh,” I groaned, and reluctantly held up one finger. “One more and that’s it. I haven’t eaten anything tonight so they’re going to hit me hard.”

The bartender poured me another one, and I immediately tossed it back. Kristian thrummed his fingers on the bar to the beat of the music while I searched the crowd, letting the tequila warm its way through my body. Emily and Justin were dancing already, grinding on each other like they were having sex on the dance floor.

I guess that’s how we all looked when we were out there dancing. After a few minutes, I could feel the effects of the tequila starting to take hold, making me feel warm and light as I swayed to the music. I was ready to dance.

Kristian grabbed my hand and started for the dance floor. “I believe you might be ready, Mare. Let’s see if you’ve improved since last time.”

“Hey,” I shouted over the music, “I can’t help it! Your feet got in the way.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he teased.

Laughing, I followed eagerly behind him, ready to show him I could dance no matter what he believed. The last time we went dancing, I stepped on his feet a gazillion times. I knew how to move my hips and grind, but my feet were a different story.

When we reached the dance floor, Kristian twirled me around so fast it made me dizzy, and grabbed me by the hips so my back was to his front. The song playing was called “Too Close” by Next, and it fit the scene perfectly. I was a little too close to Kristian.

To the beat of the music, I began moving my hips and following along with Kristian’s pace. Closing my eyes, I let the flow of the music take me. It was an old song that was popular when I was in middle school, but it sure was a good song to dance to. It felt good to be carefree and do what I wanted.

I was interested in Alec, but I didn’t know where the relationship was going to lead. He had too many secrets, and it made me nervous. Yes, I’d had sex with him, but that was strictly physical. I needed the release just as much as he did, and I was prepared to walk away if need be. Except, if I was honest with myself, I didn’t want to.

“Yep, you’ve improved,” Kristian said loudly to be heard above the music.

Leaning my head back, I laughed. “I told you I could move.”

I picked up my pace and moved my hips even more to the music. Sweat glistened across my skin as I worked my muscles to the beat.

Kristian was an excellent dancer, and thankfully, he was my date for the night so the creeps that usually prowled these places would hopefully stay away. I felt comfortable with him, even when we would dance all up on each other like we were doing at the moment. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my mind off of Alec.

Kristian’s hands flexed on my hips, and I could feel his breath on my neck as he moved closer. He groaned in my ear, “Holy f*ck, Mare, you’re gonna give me a hard on if you keep moving like that.”

When he shifted against me I could already feel his erection pressing against my ass. Awkwardly, I turned to face him, trying to hide my smile. “Um … I think you already have one.”

He chuckled and grabbed me around the waist, dancing like nothing was going on. “Well, it’s kind of hard not to when you have a good-looking girl gyrating against your dick. If I didn’t value your friendship, I would’ve already tried to f*ck you.”

I gasped, clearly not expecting to hear that. I never knew he felt that way. Loudly, I said, “Alec thinks you have feelings for me. You don’t, do you? Because I told him you didn’t.”

Since we were on the subject, I might as well find out as much as I could. Kristian’s gray eyes bored into mine, all serious and no play, as he moved his hips against me, holding me tight.

“Why does he care?” he asked dryly. “You’re not getting serious with him, are you?”

I shrugged noncommittally. “We’re not exclusive or anything, but he seems to think you want more.”

Luckily, Kristian sighed and pulled me off the dance floor to a remote corner of the bar where we didn’t have to yell to be heard. Dancing with his erection between us was getting to be a little distracting. I leaned my back against the wall while Kristian towered over me with his serious gaze. I was a tall girl, but he was taller by several inches so I had to tilt back my head from him being so close.

“Look, Marissa, I’m not going to lie to you. As you can see I’m physically attracted to you, and yes I’ve thought about what it would’ve been like to be more than friends, but I would never overstep those boundaries unless you wanted me to.”

“What about Natalie? I thought you loved her?” I asked, surprised by his confession.

He nodded. “I did, and I still do, but you of all people know what it’s like to be several states away from the one you’re with.”