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The beat changes to something funkier and closer to hip-hop. My body moves seamlessly to the music, and Mav steps to the side. King’s doing the exact same viral dance a few feet away, and I catch his eye. Music is a language we both understand, and soon there’s a wide circle surrounding us.
Mav’s hazel eyes track my every move, and there’s unmistakable lust in his expression. My body flushes in response, and all I can think about is his hands on me.
This is a solo dance that we’re doing alongside each other, but the ending can be done with a partner. King tilts his head, asking if I’m game. Totally in for this. He sways into position behind me and, on the final notes, flips me backward over his arm, and I land in a split. Fortunately, the seams of my pants hold together.
The crowd claps and wolf-whistles in approval. I stand to take a bow, but O’Keefe is charging at us with clenched fists. Not in the mood for a jealous boyfriend, I disappear between bodies, but I’ve lost sight of Mav.
He’s tall, but so is everyone else except me. Okay, I’m not the only short guy here, but one of the few.
An arm wraps around my waist, tugging at me, and it’s all wrong. Practicing self-defense to get out of his hold is second nature. He lets me go but doesn’t move away.
“Your dance was outstanding. Thanks for performing it for me,” a stranger says with a sincerity that sets me on edge.
I’d love to punch him in the balls, but diplomacy is the safer option. My fear subsides, and annoyance takes its place.
“Sorry, I’m here with someone.” I step sideways, but he moves with me.
“But you were mine first, angeldancer4,” he says with total confusion.
“You have the wrong person,” I reply in a bright tone, as if I’m not afraid of him identifying me by my website name in such a public place.
“But I finally found you after such a long time.” His temper flares, trapping me in place.
“Please excuse me. I need to find my date.” I add steel to my voice.
“Sky?” Mav’s sharp voice provides an instant calming effect. “Who is this?” he demands, and the man steps back.
“He thought I was someone else.” I shrug, keeping my composure, since Mav’s furious.
Mav stares at him and gives him a slow once-over. I don’t look because I’ll lose it if I recognize one of my clients. “Keep your hands to yourself, buddy,” he spits out.
“Let’s go.” I link my arm in his and walk a half lap around the ballroom. “Are you okay?”
“He had his grimy hands on you.” His tone is murderous.
“He did, but I had it handled,” I say with a certainty I don’t feel. “Do you know who he is?” I worry he works with or for the Enforcers.
“An entitled prick, that’s who.”
I reach up, and my hands smooth over his shoulders. “Agreed. But Mav, you need to chill out. This is something that I live with, and it’s a small price to pay for a life I love. If it’s too much for you, I get it.” I tried to warn him. It seems harmless until you watch it happen.
He draws me to his chest and rests his cheek on the top of my head. “O’Keefe was jealous, and I thought it was funny until that guy looked ready to grope you.”
“But he didn’t, and I’m good at getting myself out of sticky situations.” Some of my glitter has rubbed off on his suit.
“The fact that you deal with that regularly enrages me.”
“Why don’t we go home, and you can focus that rage on something productive? Like my ass.” I’ve been putting off penetrative sex, but I’m already half in love, determined to live in the moment.
“Don’t you want to stay to see who wins the auction?”
Damn his memory. If we don’t win the trip, I’ll explode, blue balls and all.
Chapter 20
Maverick Maher
“You are in sooo much trouble,” I growl in his ear as we get in the car going home.
