Page 96 of Dancing with the Devil

“Oh, right,” I chuckled. “Yes. It is Jordan.”

“Put him on the phone.”

“Jordan,” I sang, handing him my cell phone. He took it from me and the girls and I danced together.

I completely forgot about Jordan and whoever he was talking to and walked away from them to find a place to sit down. Iplopped down onto a chair and sighed. A man fell beside me, grinning ear to ear.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he smirked and I looked over at him with half-open eyes.

“I have a… fiancé,” I slurred out. “Look,” I said, showing him my hand.

“I don’t see a ring on that finger, baby girl.”

I looked at my hand.Empty. Frantically, I looked at my other hand.Empty. Oh no…“So what do you say?” he asked, moving closer to me. “Why don’t I take you to my apartment to continue the fun?” he asked, sliding his hand onto my thigh.

“I don’t think so,” I grimaced. “Don’t touch me or my fiancé will kick your ass,” I slurred out as I tried to stand. His hand wrapped around my waist and he pulled me onto his lap making goosebumps spread across my skin.

“I guess I’ll just have to fight him for you,” he smirked, pressing his face in my hair and I thrilled in disgust.

“Let me go,” I said but he started moving my hips against him. I turned around, striking a quick punch to his nose, hearing a crack. He let go of me and I hurriedly got up.

“Are you fucking crazy?” he snapped, getting up but I pushed him back down. I lifted the heel of my foot, pressing it down onto his crotch. “Ah!” he growled and I twisted my foot before pulling it back.

“Asshole!” I said, stumbling back into someone’s arms. I turned back and smiled.

“Oh?” I giggled. “You’re handsome,” I said, cupping his familiar face. The strobe lights flickered, and I narrowed my eyes in an attempt to see the man holding me. “But you can’t hold me like that or my fiancé…” I slowly trailed off. “Why am I always thinking about my fiancé?” I mumbled to myself.

“I’m going to kill you when you’re sober,” he said, and I scoffed.

“My fiancé would say something like that too,” I rolled my eyes, pulling away from him as I turned to face him.

“Baby, Iamyour fiancé,” he said, holding my face with both hands, and I smiled, seeing him clearer.

“Oh. Well, then—” I cut myself off. “Would you be mad at me if I told you that I lost the ring?” I sadly asked, feeling my heart racing in my chest. “I really didn’t mean to,” I genuinely added and he shook his head.

“I don’t care about some stupid ring right now, Nirah.”

My legs felt weak as I sighed, nodding my head in guilt.

“Hey man!” A male voice barked. “Get your own chick,” he said, pushing Antonio’s shoulder back. I whipped around, seeing the man from earlier.

“Nope,” I shook my head at the man, making sure to pop the ‘p’. “Thisis my fiancé. You said you’d fight him for me… remember?” I asked, and Antonio picked me up so that my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck.

I heard a single punch before my eyes slowly fluttered closed. Being in his arms brought a sense of warmth and comfort over me.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the passenger seat of his car as he fastened my seat belt.

“You’re taking me home with you?”

He sighed, hovering over me, and I threw my head back against the headrest. He examined my face for a little while before moving back to close the door. I closed my eyes for a second—obviously, it wasn’t a second—and when I opened them, he was carrying me into my bedroom.

He gently laid me down on my bed, and something in me shifted. I didn’t want to feel the absence of his body against mine.

“Why are we back so soon?” I groaned as he took my shoe off. “I was having fun.”

“You’re drunk, Nirah,” he deadpanned, taking off my other shoe as well.

“Yes. And you can thank a really shitty guy for that,” I smiled, and he looked down at me with a facial expression I couldn’t decipher. “What?” I irritably asked, rolling my eyes.