Page 118 of Ignition

The more I led her into pirouettes, slides, and spins, the more pliant she grew in my arms, until a nudge or a squeeze to her waist had her body answering like I was hot-wired to her nerves.

Our skin grew slick with sweat, and her scent warmed with the exertion, hooking me somewhere deep in my gut. Our chests heaved against each other, and my mind went places it definitely shouldn’t, especially on a crowded dance floor. The slow, wolfish tug to my mouth rewarded me with another eye-roll.

“Stop smirking, you prick.”

“I can’t help it, you bring out this side in me.”

I winked and spun her once more.

“I’m pretty sure the prick side was programmed into you at birth.”

She scrunched up her nose at me again, making me want to bite it. I compromised by leaning in and stealing a kiss and a startled little squeal that only deepened my smirk.

“Careful. You keep being mean to me, I might think you… like me or something.”

Another spin, faster, which brought her crashing into my chest and stealing both our breaths.

“And then what are we going to do?” I taunted, forehead resting against hers as I fought to pull in air and only managed to drag in her intoxicating smell—citrus and spice—now layered over a hint of flushed skin.

“I’ll say you’re delusional, and all will be right again.”

But by the frantic thumping of my heart I couldn’t attribute to dancing, nothing would ever be the same again.

The music crawled to a stop, and my fingers whispered off her as I stepped back, allowing a sliver of space between us. I meant to suggest a much-needed break by the drinks table, but a voice sliced through my thoughts.

“Can I borrow her for a sec?”

Liam’s tone was pleasant, but the smile was a little tight at the corners, stiffening my jaw before my brain even registered it.

Apprehension kicked down my spine, drawing up my shoulders, though I couldn’t put my finger on why.

I glanced sideways at Mia, fingers brushing against hers in a silent double-check, breath withheld, as if waiting for the answer as much as I was.

Chapter thirty-six

Mia

Josh’s warmth whispered off my side, and cold air rushed in where his palm had been.

The music thumped a little too hard in my ears as I trailed after a quiet Liam—or maybe that was my pulse, warning me.

The click-clacks of my heels echoed in the deserted hallway, a sound that curled between my ribs. Though I still couldn’t put my finger on why, the back of my neck prickled as the buzz of the party faded behind us, as if someone had dimmed the volume.

He came to a halt in a shadowed alcove, one where Josh and I had met in secret once or twice. The coincidence only kicked up more apprehension down my spine.

Loosening a slow breath, he turned towards me, brows knitted together, mouth twisted in an agonised line.

What’s wrong?

I wasn’t sure I’d said it aloud, but he pressed his palms to his temples and paced, shaking his head as if fighting something.

“Liam,” I whispered, wringing my hands at the agitated circle he wore into the chequered floor. His white shirt was open at the collar and a little wrinkled, as if he’d torn the tie off at some point.

He skidded to a halt, and the light from the sconce poured over half his face, leaving the other in shadows.

“I tried to warn you,” he whispered back, voice cracking. “Why won’t you listen, Mia?”

The eye I could see was swimming with conflict—or maybe anguish.