Overture (Rain Dance, Book 1) (Rain Dance Series) (29 page)

     
And then all
too soon, I could feel the song drawing to an end. I held onto him, not wanting
it to ever stop. It did, though, and was soon replaced by the colorful rapping
of Iggy Azalea, effectively putting an end to any sexual tension.

     
"We need
to do that again."

     
"Agreed." His voice was rough and breathy, causing yet another
shiver to erupt within me.

     
"...I
think I need a drink." I looked around for Dale and Samantha. "Are
your friends waiting for you?"

     
"No."
He took my hand and led me off the dance floor and straight towards my table.
Ah,
the perks of being tall enough to see through crowds.

     
"Hey," Dale called, nodding politely at Ethan.

     
"Dale.
Samantha," Ethan greeted them.

     
Samantha shot
up and bowed her head slightly. "Mr. Desmond."

     
"We aren't
at work. It's alright, Samantha."

     
"Yes, sir.
I mean Eth…Y-Yes." She laughed somewhat nervously, looking anywhere but at
the man beside me.
Poor girl…She's terrified of him.

     
"I'm done
for now, so if you guys wanted to get out there…" I suggested, motioning
towards the dance floor. "I'll keep an eye on our stuff." As I went
to sit down, I noticed Samantha smiling shyly at Dale.

     
"What do
you say?" he asked her.

     
"Sure." She headed off, obviously eager to get away, and he
stood to follow her, taking a second to turn and wink at me.

     
Ethan took a
seat beside me. "I didn't peg you for a club goer."

     
"I'm not.
Samantha asked me to come along so she wouldn't be left alone. Apparently her roommate
has a habit of abandoning her."

     
When the
waitress came around to ask if we wanted anything else to drink, I asked for
water, having already had my little bit of alcohol for the night.

     
"You don't
drink much, do you?" Ethan asked, and I began to wonder just how long he'd
been watching me.

     
I shook my
head. "I don't like getting drunk."

     
"You're a
lightweight?" He sounded amused.

     
I hoped he
hadn't caught the way I tensed up at his question. Taking a small breath, I
relaxed into my seat and smiled up at him. "That's me."

     
He noticed
anyway, of course. As he peered down at me with inquisitive eyes, I silently
prayed that he wouldn't ask. After a few seconds, he looked away. As always, he
seemed content enough to leave things alone.

     
For the next
few minutes, we sat in comfortable silence while taking small sips of our
drinks. Coops and Samantha danced well together, all while managing to keep a
friendly distance. I couldn't see Connie anywhere, but her bag was still here
so she probably hadn't left yet. I continued watching my friend carefully. Was
it possible that things would actually happen for him and Samantha? Something
about it just seemed too easy.
Hah - look who's talking. But maybe my
working at the Luxadigm happened for a reason.
Or was it a few years too
early to start thinking like that?

     
"Hey, are
you scary?" I asked suddenly, remembering Samantha's funny reaction to
Ethan.

     
He paused
mid-sip and glanced at me. "You tell me."

     
"Coops
called you The Scary Luxadigm Owner once before, as though it was just word
around the street, you know? Samantha seemed really nervous by just the mere
mention of you. Then again, you are her…um…
The Bosses of all Bosses
or
whatever. And I noticed that sometimes, like during the interview or in other
small instances, you're very…y'know. Direct. Authoritative."
Unrelenting.
"And I wondered if you're just especially nice to me, or if you're always
like that and I'm just immune to it now and only notice when you're
pissed," I finished, hoping I made sense.

     
"I never
set out to be
scary
," he answered as he set his glass down.
"But if I give off an air of all those things you mentioned, then good. It
makes my job a hell of a lot easier. As for when it comes to you…I can't say. A
little of both, maybe. I feel calmer with you near, and of course I want to be
nice to you. But then there are moments, such as the interview, when I'd like
to see you squirming. Sometimes I just want to get a reaction out of you - any
reaction. But you don't budge. You don't even blink. It's rather frustrating
not knowing what's going through your mind when I know that something is
off."

     
Well, then…
"You
can always ask. Usually it has to do with food, though."

    
 
His smile was faint. "Like right
now. I wish you would offer me your mind like you do your body."

     
We became
silent again for a few moments.

     
"...I've
offered you my body?" I was pretty sure I hadn't done
that
yet.

     
"All the
time. Or haven't you noticed?" When I remained quiet, he began observing
me. "Your body submits to me, no questions asked. Like the day before in
my office. Think about all the times I've made you come - you were hesitant at
first, but you couldn't resist. I could see how scared you were, but you gave
me your trust. I've touched you before you were even completely awake, yet you
didn't complain. And the same could be said for our first kiss, as well. Hell,
the first time we met, even. As if all that weren't enough, last night's call
confirmed it when you told me exactly how you felt."

     
I felt my
cheeks heating up by the second. I hadn't even noticed how easy I was.

     
"What was
it you said? Oh...
I wanted you to use me…
Look at me," he ordered
suddenly.

     
I instantly
complied and felt my eyes widen slightly. I didn't understand.

     
He smiled.

     
"That's
normal, though. I mean…it
is
normal, right?"

     
"For a lot
of people, yes. But in your case, it's a bit different. Or at least that's what
I've been trying to figure out. Like I said, your body is one thing, but your
mind is another. It makes me wonder if I was wrong."

     
"Wrong
about what?"

     
"You being
submissive." He tapped his finger to my nose, much like he had in the
past. Quickly, I moved to snatch it between my teeth, taking him by surprise.
Then, slowly, I began to circle it with my tongue.

     
"Keep
doing that, Kitten. See what happens," he dared me with narrowed eyes.

     
I removed my
tongue and sucked on his finger for a brief second before releasing it. Not
even a moment later and his lips were hard on mine. Grabbing a fistful of my
hair, he pulled and I cried out into his mouth, leaning back into his hold so
he could deepen the kiss. The next thing I knew, it was over just as fast as it
had begun.

     
"I don't
like being teased."

     
"I think
you like it quite a bit, actually," I breathed, ready for a fight.
I
liked...no, I needed him to be in charge - to an extent. But did that
automatically make me submissive?

     
He looked at me
and exhaled. "At least wait until I've had you in my bed before you start
doing things like that. Then we'll find out where we really stand."

     
I was tempted
to tell him to have his way with me tonight, but I knew that I wasn't ready for
that yet. He knew it, too. Smiling, I leaned up and kissed the corner of his
mouth. "I look forward to it," I said, taking his hand between mine
and resting my head against his shoulder.

     
A couple
minutes later, Connie came over with Tyler to pick up her stuff.

     
"Oh my
God." She stared at Ethan, shock written all over her face. Then, with
some effort, she finally pulled her eyes away from him to look at me
skeptically.

     
"Right?" I grinned back at her.
Ah, Ginger Spice! That's
who she reminds me of!

     
She broke out
into laughter, shaking her head as she reached for her purse. Ethan looked up
at Tyler, bemused. His friend smiled and shrugged in return.

     
"Monday,
Desmond," he said before giving me a friendly nod. I returned the gesture.

     
"Alright,
we're out of here," Connie said once she had her things. "We should
totally do this again."

     
"Sure." Doubtful, but there was no use in saying no.

     
She spared one
last glance at Ethan and I and then waved goodbye, shaking her head on the way
out.

     
"What was
that about?" Ethan asked.

     
"
That
is what everyone is thinking when they see us together."

     
"...Which
is?"

     
I finished
drinking the last of my water and set it down. "
What the hell is he
doing with her?
"

     
"Tyler
wasn't laughing," he frowned.

     
"Tyler
works for you. His ass would probably be fired if he had been."

     
Ethan went
quiet. "Is that what you really think?"

     
"That you
would fire your employees that easily?"

     
"That
people are laughing."

     
"I think
it was just proven." I smiled at him, but the crease between his brows
only deepened. "Look…I'm not fishing for compliments or anything, but even
you have to admit - it's a little odd that someone like you would choose
someone like me."

 
    
He regarded me questioningly then, his gaze
turning hard. "Someone
like me
?"
Oh, shit. He's angry.
"What does that mean?"

     
I averted my
eyes and began to shift uneasily.
You and your damn mouth.

     
"Go
on," he demanded.

     
Biting my lip,
I tried to find the words to explain. "…You're a business man. Successful,
from what I gather. You're professional. You're an adult. You have a life and
you know stuff. "

     
"Yes,
and?"

     
Don't make
me say it out loud.
"And it's just a little odd, is all…that a man of
your position would even bother with someone like me."

     
"Pray
tell, then, what kind of person would I normally choose?"

     
I shifted
again, having difficulty ignoring his harsh stare. "Don't be angry."

     
"But I am.
Very
angry. Now tell me - what kind of person?"

     
I exhaled
loudly.
Fine.
"Someone who has their shit together. Someone who
doesn't spend most of their time daydreaming and twirling around like an idiot.
Someone who actually went to college, who's smart and sociable and can be
helpful to you in all aspects of your life. Someone who can walk into a club
without having to have their best friend hold their hand like a fucking child
just so they don't have a panic attack. Someone who can express their thoughts without
turning into an emotional wreck." I wiped at my eye before a tear could
spill over.
Shit.
My insecurities weren't just showing anymore, they
were fucking screaming. Years of keeping it all under lock, I guess.

     
I scooted away
from Ethan, needing distance. When he reached for me, I turned away.
Make
this better, Daphne.

     
"…I'm
sorry," I said.

     
Breathe.

     
Those two
little words had the power to trigger a whole other shitload of locked
emotions. Using them was a dangerous game. Would they open up the dam this
time? I wasn't sure yet, but I knew I wasn't safe. I needed to get out.
Fix
this - without embarrassing yourself, this time.

     
How?

     
Don't feel.
Just breathe.

     
It's starting to hurt, though. Inside.

     
It's okay,
Doll. It only hurts because you want it to. Let it go.