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“What kind of Londoner doesn’t carry an umbrella?”

She stops to look over her shoulder with a smile that I decide is my favorite one of hers so far. “An optimistic one. Thank you for being worth the effort.” And with a wave of her fingers, she’s gone.

“Fuck me.” I lean against the closed door and chuckle. She’s worried about falling in love with me, but I’ve been falling for weeks. It’s been a month of blue balls, cold showers, and marathon masturbation sessions when I get back from her place. But tonight, it feels worth it.

Over the last month, the beauty that first caught my notice has become the secondary driver of my attraction and respect for her. My dick gets hard for her work ethic and her empathy, too. If I’m completely honest, part of the reason I’ve been taking my time is because being with her feels so good, and I wantto savor it. But my dad’s call tonight did more than widen the rift between us. It’s killed any fantasy I might have had about staying here indefinitely. I was worried about hurting her when the time came for me to leave. Now I’m more worried about how much it’s going to hurt me to say goodbye.

At ten o’clock,I head down the stairs showered, groomed, and ready for whatever the night brings. I stop at the mirror hanging at the foot of them and do a doubletake at the goofy smile on my face. Life may give me a lot of shit, but the last month has been one of the most contented in recent memory. I grab my keys and my wallet and whistle the whole way.

CHAPTER 12

MELTING

Jules

I’ve always lovedto dance. I wasn’t kidding when I told Omar if I could, that’s what I’d be doing with my life. The closest I got to having lessons was dancing in the mirror with my childhood best friend until we were sweaty and exhausted. But give me a crowded dance floor with a good DJ, and I’ll give you my best impression of the dancing queen I’ve always wanted to be.

Tonight, the Calypso music has been just right. Jodi and I haven’t been dancing long when Omar walks in. But my T-shirt is already sticking to my sweat-slicked back.

I wave at him, and he nods in response and heads to the bar where Dom is sitting. I’m about to go say hello when “Dolla Wine” by Colin Lucas comes on. It’s one of those songs that, no matter how tired you are, will bring you to the dance floor. Jodi grabs my hands and draws me back to the center of the throng of people.

Nights like this draw in a crowd that’s made up of first-timers and occasional patrons. And it’s obvious who they are becausethey surround Jodi and me, grinding and touching in a way that no one who comes here regularly would.

Dominic appears behind her suddenly and whispers something in her ear. She waggles a finger at me to say goodbye and lets him pull her into one of the dark corners. As soon as she’s gone, a hand slides across my abdomen and pulls me back into a hard chest. “Hey,” I cry and push him away. He starts to come back for more, but something over my shoulder makes his eyes go wide. He doesn’t look at me again as he dances away and sways his hips into the woman directly behind him.

I turn around to see what caused his retreat and throw my head back and laugh when I see Omar leaning against a table watching me with a terrible scowl on his face. I motion for him to join me, and he shakes his head.

If the mountain won’t come to me…I’ll make sure he knows what he’s missing.

Winding my waist and moving my body to the music, I turn around and swing my hips even faster.

“You’re playing with fire.” His voice floats into my ear, his lips touching the skin behind it. “And you smell so good.” His hands encircle me and pull me back until there’s no space between our bodies. He moves his hips with mine. I drape my hands around the back of his neck, and he drops his head until his warm, soft lips are nibbling at the side of my throat.

Heat races over my entire body. “You taste even better,” he whispers.

“I’m melting, Omar.”

“Well, you’ve been dancing like crazy. I’m not surprised.”

“I mean on the inside…when you touch me like this, everything turns to liquid.”

He groans softly and grabs me by the hand and spins me out. I gasp with unadulterated delight and he twirls me back, dips me low, and holds me there.

His face is just inches from mine, and his eyes are so dark they reflect the lights over the dance floor like the sky does the stars. I’m breathless when he lifts me back up and pulls me into his chest.

“I thought you didn’t dance,” I tease.

“I guess I found the right beat, because here I am.”

“You like the beat of Calypso?”

“I like the beat ofyou.”

My heart is beating so hard I think it might explode. His lips aresoclose, but not close enough. “Kiss me.”

I’ve barely finished speaking and his lips are on mine, coaxing but unrelenting and so soft that mine meld themselves to them. His cold tongue tickles them, and they part for him. Then, I’m completely lost.

He tastes like Guinness and salt and achance. He’s kissing me so hard, his tongue is so deep, it’s like he’s trying to steal the breath from my lungs. His hands slide down my waist, cupping my ass through my skirt, and he squeezes at the same time his body grinds into mine.