Free I Want To Be Yours by D.M. Mortier Page B

cool.
    He watched her moodily for almost an hour, impatiently imbibing the vodka in his never-ending glass. She loved to dance and was unreservedly enjoying her four male teammates partnering her through various fast-paced songs. Nico held out for as long as he could, until he’d had enough of seeing her in the arms of other men.
    As soon as she finished her set with Richard and returned to the table, he held out his hand to her. Mari stared at him for an endless minute, seemingly uncertain whether to chance the contact.
    Nico smiled in triumph when she reluctantly capitulated. He felt her immediate tremor as their fingers made contact and his big, coarse hand engulfed her smaller, softer one.
     
    Mari was acutely aware of the strength in his hold on her.
    They moved slowly toward the dance floor. The lights were suddenly dimmed even more, and the dance music switched to a slow ballad. She looked toward the DJ, wanting to admonish him for wrecking her hard-fought, cool façade. Richard, the sneaky bastard, was standing next to the DJ with a shit-ass grin on his face.
    She was mortified.
    One of her favorite songs by Jesse Powell began. Whenever she felt particularly lonely or unable to hide how she felt about Nico, she’d played this song. She’d listened to this song so much over the past few years. Richard must have heard her play it on her computer.
    This was dangerous. She was in no way ready to confess the depth of her feelings for Nico. The song reflected everything she was feeling and every word she wanted to say to Nico. How could she fight this?
    Racked with involuntary shivers, she melted into solid planes of his warm body. His embrace represented everything she’d longed for: comfort, strength and love.
    Oh God, he smells simply divine and feels incredible against me!
    Her breathing became choppy with panic as violent need clawed at her. She felt tearful, acutely emotional from the poignancy of the moment as Jesse Powell’s “You” crooned throughout the room.
    He held her low at the waist and pulled her flush against him. His arms tightened almost brutally as the lyrics swirled around them. He didn’t speak, but his body spoke volumes.
    Mari couldn’t ignore his pulsing hardness buried against her stomach. The air was thick with their mutual arousal. She couldn’t stop shaking. Closing her eyes tightly, she made an effort to quell the aching need to confess her love. Wanting to shout out “I just want to be yours,” she bit sharply down on her lower lip to prevent such an outburst.
    The enforced restraint made her dizzy and unsteady on her legs. She placed her head on his shoulder and barely swayed to the music, sensually rolling her hips in involuntary rhythm with his.
    “Do you really?” Nico whispered close to her ear as the song came to an end and another came on, his warm breath on her skin reigniting an already inflamed passion.
    “What?” Mari spoke into his chest, not wanting to meet his eyes, already regretting the brazenness of her dancing. He had to know, had to have felt, how much she loved him. She was terrified he would take advantage of it.
    “The song? Do you want to be mine?”
    “Nico…” she protested, not willing to answer his question.
    With her breathy response, she felt him harden even further. He held her so tight, it was impossible to move, or continue dancing, if you could have called what they were doing dancing.
    “I must tell you I’m not doing too well here. It has become a major issue.”
    Mari stiffened in his arms at his husky admission. She was almost afraid to breathe.
    “Why is that?” She could barely move her lips. Her mouth was dry and coherent thought was proving challenging. Bees buzzed in her stomach. Her skin tingled, and her core wept with merciless need.
    Lord, please help me!
    Nico’s hands gently stroked her, and roving up and down her lower back, finally settling in a possessive grip on the swell of her bottom. “I want you. It is probably