unrivaled

chapter 19

I mean.............

But then.......

Dae sat in silence staring at where he once stood until she felt a hand at her elbow.

“Are you ok?” Jimin asked.  Dae just nodded, her face a mask of guilt and confusion.

They were joined by the others and Dae tried to follow the conversation, but she was lost in the tumult of her thoughts.

Watching her, Tae knew it was time to step in.  He drifted over to Dae and after a few minutes asked if she would introduce him to a friend of hers.  She readily agreed and he led her to the bar.

“What is wrong? You are ghost white and look guilty as hell,” he said.

She just shook her head at him and he sighed.

“Jin.” He said.  It was a statement, not a question.

Before he could say anything else their attention was drawn to the man himself.

He stood near the KimCom table speaking to Alex.  He was standing with his arms crossed, his face set, speaking sternly to her. 

Dae knew that look. Negotiations were not going Alex's way.

Dae felt guilty because she knew she was watching a train wreck.  Even so, she was shocked as Alex started to shove into Jin's chest. 

He turned so that his broad shoulders would provide some privacy.  Even so, Dae plainly saw Alex draw back to slap him and Jin deftly catch her wrist in his hand.  He held onto her wrist tightly and bent to speak to her. 

Whatever he said was effective because Dae watched the fight slowly drain from Alex.  Jin shook his head and turned away from her and strolled out of the ballroom.

Dae was watching Jin's dark head disappear into the crowd until a low whistle from Taehyung drug her attention back to Alex.  Even from their spot at the bar they could tell she was in a fury.

“Damn.  Jin better watch his back!  That bitch is dangerous,” Tae said, leading Dae back to their seats.

He had just voiced fears Dae had kept hidden for years.

Jimin stood watching the whole fiasco unfold.  He watched as Taehyung pretended to need Dae.  He saw the fight at the KimCom table.  But mostly he saw Dae watching Jin with her feelings warring all over her face.  It looked  like tonight just wasn’t his night.

They sat out a couple of dances until an old school club favorite dropped.  Everyone tried to get Dae on the floor and she just smiled and shook her head.

Finally, they were at the table alone.  Dae looked at Jimin and his heart dropped.  If only she knew how well he could read her.

“Jimin…” she started.

“Dae, it's ok,” he interrupted, “you don’t have to lie to me.  I'll get your things.” He turned quickly before she could see the hurt in his eyes.

He returned with her things and took her hand and led her out of the crowded room

He walked her slowly toward the door, politely nodding at the other couples they passed.

When they reached the deserted hall, he stopped her with a gentle hand.  She turned to him, surprised at the look on his face.

“He's one lucky bastard.  I hope he knows that,” he said taking a step closer to her.

She felt a flush creep up her neck to her face.  His words, his nearness, the look on his face had her flustered.

She started to call his name but he shook his head.

“No need, it's ok.  It really is,” he said softly.

He dropped his gaze from her eyes to her mouth, subconsciously licking his lips as he did so.

She was struggling to keep her breathing even.  That wicked mouth had her second guessing her decision.

His dark eyes lingered a moment too long before flickering back to meet her gaze.

“I concede this round,” he whispered, moving until his hard chest brushed her breasts. “But I don’t have it in me to quit.”

Before she could formulate a response, he was leaning into her, pressing harder against her.  Panic rose in her chest, if he kissed her, she feared she would not control her reaction.

He paused just a heartbeat before a kiss perfectly placed to tease brushed the tiniest corner of her mouth. A gasp slipped as she felt those plush lips so close to her own.

He smelled so damn good and his body was hard pushing into her own, warming her in all the right places.

She shuddered as he nuzzled his way to her ear, his warm breath causing tiny ripples of pleasure.

His husky whisper in her ear had her reaching for him to steady herself, her hand landing on his hard chest.

“I find that I am consumed by the need to have you look at me the way you just looked at him….Like I am fire and you are about to drown me in gasoline.”

With that he pulled away and left her releasing the breath she had been holding.

She started to call him again but he smiled a slow, sensuous smile.

“Go! Enjoy yourself.  Please don’t worry about me.  I am going back inside and find a willing partner who won’t mind if I pretend she is you for an hour or two.  It's not like I have never done it before.”

At that he moved to return to the party.  She watched the sway of his hips and the fluid roll of his shoulders as he walked away.

Shit…. Shit… seemed to be the only thought in her brain.