Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

39

I could tell my partner recognized it too as he pulled me closer to him. His hand straying downwards as he landed at the middle of my back. His pinky just above the small of my back.

I would love to say the action was surprising, but the devilish grin that had crossed his face moments before told me what I needed to know.

My hand was on his shoulder, this time closer to his neck as we were much closer than before. One wrong move and I'd step on him.

Our eyes met and it was almost like a challenge the way he rose an eyebrow at me. I was more than happy to oblige. I gave a discrete nod informing him that I was okay, and that's all he needed.

He whisked me through the nearly empty ballroom floor. Many people sitting this song out as they watched those dancing. I didn't care if people stared, all I cared about was outdoing the male in front of me.

So I did my best to keep up with him. My feet moving perfectly in timed with his as he kept us close. His hand on my back keeping me with him. Our feet moved quickly as we glided to the music. His guiding hand holding my right tightened when he turned or pushed to alert me of the direction changes.

As the tempo increased so did we.

He spun me like his life depended on it. His hand in the air as I spun, my body orbiting his as he watched me move. My dress swishing around me in a sea of lilac. I didn't dare take my focus off him as the music consumed us both. If I so much as thought of the crowd for a second, I would stumble.

He brought me back to him, a proud smirk on his lips as we continued across the floor, the music becoming more dramatic as we put on a show. A proud smile crossing my own face.

The sultry music not going unnoticed as I buzzed at the attention this male in front of me was paying. He never once looked away from me. How we didn't run into anyone was truly impressive.

At the next drop of music I was once again spinning, my body orbiting his slowly turning once again. Only this time I added an extra flare as I stopped spinning early and stepped backward to his chest.

He caught on to the request as he crossed arms in front of me, our bodies swaying in a circle before his breath caressed my neck as he instructed me to spin out. With my hands crossed I rose them upward and let him manipulate the spin until I was facing him once again and my hands were flowing behind his neck and down his shoulders only to be recaptured by his own hands.

We both spun together, him straightening first as he pulled me with one arm to walk forward more. My left arm out as I all too eagerly spun back into him in order to return to the original ballroom position.

I didn't bother correcting the hand that was plastered at the base of my back, nor create more distance when I felt our breaths mingling between us.

He gently pushed me away by setting the hand that had been on my back to my hip. With the hand I still held onto he spun me back, my back once again pressed to his front as I lifted my leg up and around in an arch. His body pulling mine slightly to keep me from falling with the momentum of my swing. Once my foot was back on the ground he spun me back around.

We glided for a few more counts until the song began to come to a close. And boy did we close that song down.

With both of his hands at my back and mine at chest, he dipped me down and moved me in an arch having me rise again only to grab my hands and spin me. As I was spinning, he switched hands with me and twisted. I couldn't see what was happening as I concentrated on not falling over.

I felt myself take an unstable step and begged to recover. As if he heard my plea, his hands were back on me. Both his hand grabbing ahold of mine to spin me back into him.

As the final violin string sang out, my hands were laced on the back of his neck as his hands were wrapped around my back holding me up as he dipped me.

My eyes so close to his that I could see the blue waves within them. The soft flakes of gray. His breath on my face as we could have easily moved an inch and our noses would touch.

The world froze. The applause fading as I soaked up this moment. I refused to let this fairytale-feeling flee as I finally was straightened up. My hands slipping free from his as we both stepped backwards and bowed to one another. My curtsy lasting longer as I didn't want to leave.

I could almost feel his want to continue dancing, I knew I did as well. But like all good things, they must come to an end.

I nearly cried as a hand was set on my shoulder. My head turning to see Gray standing behind me. When I glanced back to look for the male he had disappeared.

And here I thought Cinderella was supposed to be a girl.

"May I have this dance?" I couldn't help but laugh as Gray pulled me from my disappointment.

"Yes. Yes, you may."

Despite my focus being on Gray as we danced, I couldn't help but replay the last two dances I just had. How terrifyingly magical and wonderful they both were.

Meeting a stranger at the ball- check
Meeting a hot stranger at the ball- check
Dancing with the hot stranger- check
Not knowing the identity or name of the hot stranger- double check
Blisters on my feet- check
Heart racing so badly that it'll pound for two days- check
Taking a photo of Ma and Gray under some fairy lights- check
Having a truly magical experience- check

I never wanted to go back to normal but unfortunately I would have to.

Because despite the good things in life.

Something bad always has to happen.

Especially when you're chasing after something so precious you would consider it treasure. And in some cases, like Big John's, it was just that which brings out the bad.

A treasure hunt.