Page 15

I shake my head as I point towards my ear, and the man grins. He leans in even closer, only stopping when his lips are brushing against my skin as he speaks.
“You’re beautiful.”
He tells me, his voice warm and smooth.
I feel my cheeks heating up at his words.
“Thank you.”
I say, lifting my eyes to his.
We both dance together for a little longer, the stranger finding the confidence to move his hands to my backside, squeezing me firmly there. I can feel the electricity between us, and something wild stirs inside me, an urge to tease, an urge to push a boundary.
Both for his sake, and for mine.
I roll my hips against his, swaying in beat with the music, catching his gaze as I offer him a little smile. Placing my hands above his, I remove them from my body as I take a slow step backward, enjoying the way his eyes seem to follow me, almost desperately.
I throw my hair backward, stepping closer to him again, pressing my body to his. He shifts, rubbing his crotch against my front, and I gasp. I find myself grinding against him, feeling the rush of heat flood between my legs as he responds.
At first, it’s only playful; the music, the alcohol, the flirtation.
But when I lean in, tiptoeing although I already have heels on, I brush my lips against the side of his lips, feeling how he slides his hands up either side of my body, squeezing my flesh between his palms once again. I breathe out a soft laugh, barely giving him a chance to adjust before I throw my hands around the back of his head, pulling him down close until our lips are touching, our kiss fast and hungry. I deepen the kiss as my arms wrap tighter around him, the heat of his body matching mine.
Before this can lead to something else, I pull away, my breathing short and choppy. His eyes are darker now, his chest rising and falling as he tips his head down even lower.
“Careful.” He murmurs breathlessly. “Or you’ll get me hooked.”
I laugh as I drop my hands from around him, taking one step backward, and then another.
“Maybe that’s the plan.”
I tease with a wink, flashing him one last smile before I turn on my heels, scanning the ground to find Tamana.
I find her almost immediately, talking away to someone who looks just as interested in her as she does in him. When she spots me making my way towards her, she walks away from the guy, meeting me in the middle with a small wave.
“Having fun, Chiara?”
She asks me, her grin wide, and her eyes all too knowing.
I nod, brushing a strand of hair out of my face.
“You know I am!”
Laughing, she throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me back into the dance floor.
As the night continues, Tamana and I dance away, losing ourselves in the music. We move, we drink, and we laugh until we can’t bear it any more, our sides aching, and our feet hurting. It’s only after that we’ve noticed the crowd beginning to thin out that we both decide to call it a night.
“Weneedto do this again.”
Tamana says immediately as we both step out from Club 67, the streets of London a little quieter now, but still alive with the hum of the city.
I nod my head at her, wrapping my arms around myself as we both begin walking back to my place.
“Thank you for convincing me to come here tonight.”
I say to Tamana, bumping my shoulder against hers.
“Anytime, Chiara.”