Page 83 of Blackwood

One of the freshman dancers rushes forward, dragging a single black chair and places it dead center like it’s a throne. The room hums with anticipation.

Knox grins like the devil himself. “Alright, gentlemen… who wants the first chair today?”

Shouts, whistles, and half the football team practically is jumping out of their sneakers. It’s chaos, competitive, testosterone-fueled chaos.

Knox laughs. “Damn. Y’all are thirsty.”

Then he turns toward the front row. “Callum Whitmore,” he calls out like it’s already decided.

Cal throws an arm around my shoulder and leans in. “Maybe next time, bro,” he says with that cocky quarterback grin I loathe so much.

He struts to the chair like its game day and he’s already won. He drops into the seat, legs spread wide, and grins at Bella like he’s waiting for dessert.

“Cal,” she says, voice sugary-sweet. “You know the rules. Shirts off. Now.”

Cal stands, turns to face the crowd, and rips his shirt off in one dramatic motion. He tosses it back toward the bleachers where three girls nearly get into a fistfight catching it.

August leans in, voice dripping with mock sympathy. “So much for your throuple. Maybe next time, Whit.”

I’m still trying to decide whether I’m going to murder August or just let Lex do it for me when Knox glances my way and winks.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is your whole family here, bro?” He points at me. “Let’s get the other Whitmore out here!”

I stand up.

“And Augie? What the hell, man. Come on down.”

August jumps up, strips his shirt off, and whoops like he just won the damn lottery. Two freshmen sprint out with more chairs. They set them up beside Cal’s.

Knox claps his hands and points like he’s a game show host. “Whit twin, you sit in the middle here. Shirt off man, it’s the rules.” He pats the other chair, “August, you’re here.”

Bella starts walking. Slow. Lethal. Perky breasts practically spilling out of that purple sports bra. Head tilted, eyes locked on me, smile playing at the corner of her mouth like she already knows how this ends.

She’s not just teasing. She’s hunting. And I know, without a doubt, she did this on purpose. Beside me Cal looks like he’s about to rupture a blood vessel. The King of The Row, dethroned in real time. August leans back like he’s watching the world’s hottest soap opera, smirking like the chaos is his personal gift.

“Okay, boys. You know the rules.” Bella paces in front of us like a general before war. “Hands behind your back. No touching. Just enjoy the ride.”

She catches my eye and gives a small nod to Knox.

“Let’s give them a show.”

I don’t even register the song. Something Latin, maybe. Fast. Hypnotic. Seductive as hell. But the truth is, I’m not listening to the music. I’m watching her.

They move together, Legacy and Trifecta in perfect sync. A masterpiece of motion, hips, legs, and torsos folding and unfolding like silk. Like someone painted lust and power into human form and hit play.

Then she turns and her eyes lock on mine. Bella walks up, sets her hands on my shoulders, and lowers herself onto my lap like it’s her home.

I’m gone.

Utterly, completely done for. The weight of her, the heat of her, the curve of her spine as she arches her back. This isn’t a dance. It’s a spell.

That smile. God, that smile. All fire and mischief and something deeper, something meant just for me. I could paint it a million times and never catch it as beautiful as the real thing.

And in this moment, I believe she can ruin me. Hell, maybe I want her to.

When the music cuts and she rises, it feels like being yanked from a dream I never want to wake from. I drag in a breath and can’t help but think that Lex would fucking love this.

Knox’s voice cuts through the haze. “Alright! How about that first chair, huh?”