Page 12 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan***

Checking my watch, I note I’ve been sitting here watching

her for about two hours. She’s a master at what she does, making it seem easy. What

hasn’t been easy is watching her flirt and get hit on constantly. Charlie has

been keeping me in check, or I probably would have killed all the men in here

already. She’s been busy, hasn’t even looked my way the entire time. Now, she’s

walking toward me.

“Sheriff, why aren’t you on the dance floor along with your

deputies?”

I glance over at Brick and Charlie, who both have women

fighting for their attention. Even Mary’s out there. Whatever was in those

drinks surely took her insecurity away. I turn back to Casey.

“Because you’re busy.”

She doesn’t even look surprised. She smiles then looks down

the bar.

“I think I can spare a few minutes right now.”

She hops up on the bar and swings her legs over. Before she

can jump off, I grab her waist and lift her down. She giggles, grabs my hand

and pulls me to the dance floor. Her touch burns my skin. God, I hope I’ll

be able to control myself. By the time we get there, Darius Rucker is

singing the chorus of “Wagon Wheel.” She releases my hand and turns to face me,

swinging her hips and rolling her chest. She mouths the lyrics of the song,

changing “Mama” to “Daddy.” I watch her body as she moves, imagining her doing

the same thing on top of me… naked. With her bottom lip between her teeth, she gives

me some serious bedroom eyes, beckoning me with her index finger. She’s so

fucking hot. Grabbing her hand, I tug her to me. She giggles and turns around,

pressing her delectable ass to my crotch. I place my hands on her hips, praying

for the strength to keep my composure when her fingers stroke the back of my

neck. The roll of her hips calls to my dick, and it answers swiftly and

willingly.

I can’t afford to scare her off with a massive boner right

now. I reach into my brain for what I call the “boner killer”—walking in on my

parents having sex on the kitchen counter. It works like a charm every time. With

that taken care of, I concentrate on her movements, moving in sync with her. Inclining

her head to the right, she lays it on my shoulder. I lower mine, trail my nose

along her neck, and take a healthy whiff of her blood-boiling scent. She draws

in a shaky breath and places her hands on top of mine. Oh, shit—all the boner

killers in the world can’t help me now. My dick begins to harden, and she

presses harder into me. She bends at the waist and the image of fucking her

just like this takes over my brain. Fuck! I feel like my erection just might

rip through my jeans. As she slowly straightens, she rolls her hips.

She turns to face me, moving her hands to my shoulders. I wrap

an arm around her waist and stare into her exquisite green eyes.

“For such a big man, you move well.”

“It’s all about my partner,” I reply.

“Is it now? Are you saying if you were dancing with, say,

Mary, you’d be stepping all over her toes?”

“Without a doubt.”

I twirl her around, pull her back into my arms, and then

hold her hand against my chest. Thank God she’s chosen not to comment on the

prodding her stomach is currently receiving.

“You’re funny, Sheriff.”

“I’m not trying to be.”

“I know. That makes it even better.”

Leaning in, she lays her cheek on my chest. It’s cliché, I

know, but she fits perfectly against me. With her head resting comfortably

under my chin, I take a deep breath. Beneath all the alcohol and smoke from the

bar, her hair smells like fresh peaches. The beast in me is fighting for

control. Down! He retreats, but I don’t know how long I can keep him at

bay. I close my eyes and try to concentrate on the feeling of her swaying

against me. Way too soon, the song ends and she pulls away.

“I gotta get back to work, Sheriff. Thanks for the dance.”

“No. Thank you.”

I hope she doesn’t see my disappointment. Before she walks

off, she stands on her toes and whispers in my ear.

“I get off at twelve.”