Page 30 of Poisoned Promise
“You were like a puppy,” she mutters good-naturedly.
“You loved it. And I’ve grown. I’m not a puppy anymore.”
Dove eyes me over the edge of her glass. “What are you then?”
“I’m not going to say a wolf,” I reply with a grin. “But signs are there.”
“A wolf?” Dove finally cracks and a real, soft laugh escapes her. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You know it’s true.”
“Do I know that?” She blinks slowly and sighs. “Look, Felix?—.”
“Dance with me.” I cut in before she dares bring this night to an end.
“Excuse me?” Wide, beautiful eyes gaze at me across the table.
“Dance with me. One last time. For old times' sake. Dance with me like we used to. And then… then I promise I’ll leave you to your new life.”
9
DOVE
I should say no.
I said what I came here to say, giving Felix the bare bones of an explanation while insisting that I’ve left that life, our old life, far behind.
His question about the Rossis should be enough of a warning.
Felix stands and quickly shrugs off his black dinner jacket, leaving him in just a white shirt that clings to every curve and ripple of muscle hidden beneath.
Shadows cling to the fabric as the black ink from his tattoos taunts me with further hints of what could lie underneath, and when he holds his hand out to me, my resistance crumbles.
One dance can’t hurt, right?
For old times’ sake.
“Fine.” Setting my wine glass down, I push back from the table and accept his hand.
The moment we make contact, something changes.
Warmth blooms against my palm and tingles rush up my arm to my shoulders, where another shiver steals down my spine.
I can’t take my eyes off him as he gently pulls me to my feet and walks backward to a small cleared area just behind our table.
“It’s been years since I’ve danced,” I warn him.
“Me too.”
“I mean it. I’ll be terrible.”
“Me too.” His charming smile makes my heart flip in my chest and my stomach tightens into a fist as his other arm slides around my waist.
With his hand spread flat against my lower back, he draws me in against his body and suddenly we’re chest to chest.
He raises our joined hands and slides his other hand up to my mid-back, then we very slowly start swaying back and forth to the soft jazz drifting through the air.
This is almost too much.
