Page 45 of Rio

He doesn’t even attempt to dance and stands there, arms still crossed, like he’s immune to the music thumping through the crowd.

“You just going to stand there like a statue?”I shout in his ear again, the beat thudding in my chest.I accidentally bump into him, and his arm wraps around me like a reflex as if he’s scared I was going to fall.

“Steady there,” he murmurs, his voice low, his breath grazing my cheek as he loosens his hold on me.

But the touch has already left an imprint during those few seconds that our bodies brushed.A current rips through me and my heart somersaults inside my ribcage.Heat curls low in my belly, fanning out slowly, electrifying every cell in my body.

My body remembers.

It misses him.

I play devil’s advocate.“You got rid of my dancing partner.Why did you go and do that?”

This time he leans down, and into my ear.“Why do you think?”

Fire flashes through his eyes.In this moment, the music and surroundings blur into the background.In this moment, it’s just me, and him.My heart beats furiously, and a trail of heat licks my skin, warming my body as it moves south.A throbbing begins between my legs.

He likes me.

He wants me.

Every ounce of resolve I had, to keep this man at a distance, has vanished.

The music pauses for a bit.Edwin and Vilma tell me that they’re going to get more food and ask if I want to come along.I shake my head.The crowd breaks up and Rio and I stand there, facing one another, unsure, and hungry for something, but it’s not for food.

“Walk with me,” he says.I can’t read his expression.I can’t tell if’s he annoyed, or calm, or bored.We slip away from the crowd, and along the shoreline, moving further away from the crowd, leaving the colorful array of vendors and DJs and lights behind us.It’s quieter here.The sand cooler, slightly damp beneath our feet.The sun dips low, almost sinking into the ocean, its hues of gold and orange looking resplendent as it touches the horizon.The balmy air is a mix of salt, and rum, and the aroma of grilled food.

We walk side by side, not speaking, yet it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.It feels … normal.There are no barbs, no digs, no sarcasm.Only me and him, and the sound of waves lapping against the shore as we leave footprints in the sand.

He seems pensive, and the adrenaline rushing through me is finally calming down.

“He came onto you.I didn’t like that,” he says, finally.

It takes me a moment to figure out what he’s talking about.

“Why?”I ask.A hundred thoughts run through my head.Who are we?What are we?We’re not seeing one another.We’re not even friends.We’re just two people who keep running into each other.Two people who are attracted to one another.

“I just didn’t.”

No explanation.But I understand it.I’d feel the same if some young beautiful woman made a move on him.I wouldn’t like to stand by and watch that.

“I came here to get away from you,” he says.“But everywhere I go, I see you.”

“I came here to get away from you,” I say.“And everywhereIgo, I seeyou.”

“And yet, here we are.”

“Here we are.”

He stops.“Are you drunk?You’re repeating everything I say.”

“I’m a little tipsy.I’m mostly having fun, though.You don’t though.You don’t look like you’re having fun.”I don’t recall him eating any food, or having any punch.He didn’t dance.He stood by me.“What were you doing here?”

“I saw some fliers at the hotel.Thought I’d check it out.”

“And there’s me thinking you came out here looking for me.”I look up at him, feeling flirty.

“That was the real reason I came out here.”His expression is so deadpan, I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.