“Uh huh, because as pissed off as you looked, I could tell you’re looking for a reason to smile.”
I chuckle, impressed, charmed and very intrigued. “What else can you tell just from looking at me?”
Her expression mellows and she looks down at the drawing again. “I think…you’re trying to figure out where you belong.”
The truth in those words unnerves me and cuts through my defenses like a scythe through overgrown grass. “How’d could you possibly know that?” I ask when I finally find my voice.
“I pay attention, it’s kind of my superpower,” Her eyes hold mine like an azure lasso of truth, and for a brief, mad moment I want to tell her how adrift I’ve been. But there’s nothing better at ruining good chemistry than honesty, so I squash that impulse.
“Well, right now, I feel like I’m exactly where and with who I’m supposed to be.” I’m trying to be charming, but as it leaves my lips, I realize it’s also the honest-to-God truth.
She cocks her head, her expression confused. “Are you…flirting with me?”
I laugh, amused by the look of surprise on her face. “If you have to ask, I’m clearly doing it wrong.” I grin deprecatingly.
She doesn’t smile back. “You’re not from around here.”
It’s not a question, so I don’t answer it. “Do you want to dance?”
“I was dancing,”
“I know…I mean…with me…”
She gives me an assessing once-over. “Why?” She folds her arms across her chest, her bright blue eyes are full of wariness.
It’s my turn to look confused. “Is there more than one reason a guy asks a girl to dance? You’ve got a hot body and an epically pretty face.” I take a step closer “And, I want to see if your skin is as soft as it looks.”
Her pink lips part in surprise. Her eyes are wide and gleaming in the firelight and the hostility that was in them when I first approached is gone. All I see is invitation, but there’s a glint of innocence in them. I can’t tell if it’s real or feigned, but I want to hear her say yes.
I take a step toward her. “Can I?”
She swallows audibly and licks her lips and nods. “Okay.”
I reach out and trail a finger down her bare shoulder and draw my hand away.
“So? Is it as soft as you imagined?” She runs her fingers over her throat before they come to rest with a nervous flutter over the exposed skin of her chest.
Oh yeah, I can smell the inexperience on her. I should stop and say goodnight. But, I can’t remember the last time I was this attracted to anyone…and it’s not like I can deflower her out here in the open. Just a little longer…
“Do you want me to touch you there, too?” I nod at her hand resting at the base of her throat.
She swallows and nods her head.
“Come here, sexy” I order gruffly and hold out my hand.
“Sexy?” She looks up at me again. Her face is flushed and reach for her.
“Yes. Now, come here.” I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her body flush against mine. Her free arm loops around my neck, and I take advantage of her slightly arched neck to press my nose to the soft skin of her throat and inhale.
She smells like a perfect summer day--sugary lemonade, sunshine, and wildflowers. She pulls away from me just enough that she can see my face. “What’s your name?” she asks in a soft voice full of wonder.
A crack of thunder rumbles loud enough it startles shrieks, screams, and bellows from the revelers around the lake.
We look at each other wide-eyed. She looks like she’s about to say something when a deafening strike of lightning turns the night sky as bright as it was before the sun set.
“Shit.” I swivel to look at my backpack. “My keyboard is in here, I should put it away before it starts to rain.” I glance in the direction of the parking lot. “Let me run to my car, please wait for me.”
She glances at the sky and shakes her head. “I don’t think you’ll have time.”
“It’ll only take five minutes.”
She shakes her head “My house is closer.”
I glance around, confused. There are no houses by this lake. But before I can ask, it starts to rain. There’s no build up; It falls in torrential sheets formed by fat droplets that sting when they hit us and hit the ground with the force of thundering hooves.