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“She accepts,” came Jaden’s dangerous voice behind her.
Claudia spun around to him. “What?!”
Jaden’s eyes swept over her. “Tell him you accept his proposal.” He reached out to touch her chin. “You trust me don’t you, chérie?”
Claudia turned back to Angelo. “I accept,” she said quickly.
Excitement bubbled over in Angelo’s face. “Magnifico! Would you like to go first, or shall we?” He pulled Cassie closer, and Claudia took in a deep breath.
“You go first.”
“As you wish.” Angelo strolled off heading straight for the music center.
Claudia turned back to Jaden. “Oh my God,” was all she said.
Jaden pulled his hands from behind his back and grabbed Claudia’s hand linking their fingers. “You are an extension of me, remember?”
Claudia swallowed and nodded her head. They turned to watch Angelo and Cassie dance to an upbeat tune. They moved around the floor like they practiced the dance on several occasions and the crowd was engaged; clapping and tapping their feet. Claudia’s nerves were a mess, and her stomach curled into knots.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered to Jaden.
He held a steady smile on his lips. “You can do anything you want, chérie. You and I together will show them what it’s like to move.”
Claudia’s pulse spiked. Jaden was so sure they could beat the two in a dance off, and his words did shower her with reassurance. Suddenly, she felt like she could do anything with Jaden, and her heart swelled as she watched him watch her.
The dance went on for a full three and a half minutes before it ended. The crowd cheered and clapped. Angelo and Cassie dipped into a bow before strolling in Claudia’s direction.
“That was exhilarating!” Angelo said. “It’s your turn, are you still in?”
Jaden tightened the hold on Claudia’s hand.
“We’re in,” she said.
A sexy smile fell across Jaden’s lips, and they moved to the music center to change the tune. Claudia’s heart was racing, and she was trying to keep her wits about herself.
They moved from the music center to the dance floor where Jaden pulled her close. The music began, and a shiver ran through Claudia. It was the same jazz melody he’d played when they danced in the studio months ago. Memories of that time flashed through Claudia’s mind, and a smile cruised across her lips.
“Wherever you go, I go,” Jaden said repeating what he’d told her previously. “When we touch, our connection should be…”
Claudia finished his sentence, “As if we are one.”
A broad smile spread across his lips, and they danced. Their bodies fused together as their hips moved slow and sensual.
“To execute this dance perfectly…”
“Confidence must ooze from your body language,” Claudia said again, repeating his instructions from their dance lesson. A sexy rumble bellowed from Jaden as the heat from their magnetism settled between them.
You wouldn’t have known Claudia learned to tango this year by the way she shifted in Jaden’s arms. Graceful, seductive, and effortless, their chemistry no doubt supercharging her evolution. Claudia imitated Jaden’s movements stirring the crowd up as their carnal wine dance began to ruffle the feathers of their attendees. Dipping and swaying, their harmony was so potent their tango was like making love on the dance floor.
Jaden twirled Claudia out, releasing her at once. Claudia back pedaled in her three-inch heels sliding away from him bit by bit. Slowly, she inched her dress up her legs in a tease, as her hips rotated from side to side. Jaden went to reclaim her pulling her flank against his broad chest with ferocity, and Claudia's leg lifted sliding up to his hip in a sensual lock.
Jaden dipped her, and Claudia's head flung back, leaving her neck fully exposed. Jaden’s lips trailed from her chin down her throat before he whipped them both back to a stand where they wined and turned in the same order. The cat calls and whistles shouted from the crowd as their tango heated up. When Jaden twirled Claudia again and pulled her back in with rigor, Claudia did something unexpected. Her hand ran down his chest as she slid down his leg into a graceful split. The crowds’ cat calls and applause magnified, and Jaden’s debonair smile returned as he pulled her effortlessly to stand. They twirled; their limbs coiled around each other so magnificently you would’ve thought they were one person. Grinding into each other, they soared across the floor in unison like they were born for this. Taking a leap of faith, Claudia held closely to Jaden’s ear.
“I miss you,” she confessed.
Jaden’s eyes twinkled. “Not more than I have missed you, chérie.”
“I was thinking,” Claudia said as her hands roamed around his chest. “If you were interested in giving us another chance.”