Free Love Thy Neighbor by Sophie Wintner Page B

sip, and another. The band started playing, and when she saw Matthew and Blondie head out to the dance floor, she polished off the rest of her drink. This was turning into a nightmare.
    When that number was finished, the band struck up an old Sinatra classic, “The Best Is Yet To Come.”
    That’s when Dallas lifted the empty glass from her hand and said, “It’s Frank. They’re playing our song. Come. Dance with me.”
    “Oh, no thanks.” Nikki shook her head. “I’m a terrible dancer. I always lead.”
    “Maybe that’s because you’ve never had the right partner.” He gave her a look that was impossible to say no to.
    As soon as Dallas placed his arm on the small of her back, a spark rippled down her body. She rested her hand in his as another current rushed through her. Her other hand made its way along his strong, broad shoulders, and as she looked up into his eyes, everything inside her fluttered. God, he was sexy. He could make her forget about Matthew—at least for the moment. And for the first time, Dallas almost made her feel like she fit with him as easily as her hand had fit in his.
    The next song, “The Way You Look Tonight,” started up and he held her closer still. The heat coming off his body made her melt as they swayed back and forth, hips touching, his legs pressed to hers. He ran his fingers through her hair, and it made her scalp tingle before the rest of her joined in. His thumb gently caressed her bare back where the dress dipped down below her shoulders. It sent a shiver of something she’d never felt before surging through her body.
    She happened to catch a glimpse of Matthew. He stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching her, his mouth gaping open. Nikki looked away and gazed up into Dallas’s eyes, intense and all-encompassing. She knew this was just pretend, that they were only putting on an act for Matthew, but in that moment, it felt real to her.
    “Someone’s watching us,” she said.
    He leaned into her ear and whispered, “Then let’s give him something to really see.”
    He leaned in and brushed his mouth to hers. It was the softest, sweetest, most unexpected wonder she’d ever experienced. She looked at him and he kissed her again, this time letting his lips part ever so slightly, enough to let the tip of his tongue stroke hers. She moaned softly, letting herself relax as her tongue danced with his.
    Never had a kiss been so perfect. Delicious in every way. He wrapped his arms around her even tighter, and she felt something else, too. Dallas was definitely turned on. She was getting wet and he was getting hard. What is happening here?
    When the dance was over, he looked at her and grinned. “I think that oughta get a reaction out of him, don’t you?” He glanced down at himself and said, “It certainly got a reaction out of me.”
    Nikki blushed. She hadn’t expected that and told herself it was male biology. He was kissing a woman—could have been any woman, and that would have happened. It had nothing to do with her.
    She couldn’t say the same was true for her. Whatever was going on inside her body was definitely Dallas-induced. She craved him, wanting him deep inside. Forget her dignity, her pride. Hell, forget Matthew. Even if Dallas rejected her outright, she wanted to throw herself at him. She wanted that hardness she’d felt on the dance floor to slide into her, to pound away this aching feeling. Here she was, getting more aroused by the minute.
    Nikki tried to get a hold of herself. On the ride home her heart still raced from their dance. And from their kiss. God, was he an amazing kisser, and the way he held her, well, it took her breath away. But she had to remind herself for the millionth time that it was just pretend.
    As they rode up in the elevator, she glanced at him. “I hope this wasn’t too much torture for you tonight.”
    “Nah, I managed.” He smiled, his eyes holding hers.
    “Thanks for being my pretend date tonight. You’re a