Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

24

Thelonious hadn't expected to find himself standing in front of a house party at ten-thirty on a Monday evening. What he had planned was for a quiet evening in bed with his girlfriend after a long day at work. Perhaps a movie and lazy sex in bed if she was feeling up for it.

Instead, he had received a text from Romeo telling him to get to the party.

Initially, he had declined the invitation as going to a college/uni party was not very high on his list of things to do. But once he had found out that Darcy was going, that notion had spun on its axis and here he was, stepping into the house where the music could be heard from the top of the street, his eyes already scouring the numerous dancing bodies for his vixen.

He was surprised the police hadn't turned up about the noise complaints that he was sure that he was sure the neighbours would be making.

Upon instinct, his eyes scanned the main living room for that fiery red head of his. He had expected her to be in the kitchen or playing beer pong because that was where all the booze was. Instead, he found her dancing in the middle of the room surrounded by her best friends.

Darcy Blake was a sight for sore eyes.

She didn't even notice him approach as she leaned forwards and spoke in hushed tones with Alice.

Delilah smirked when she noticed Thelonious approaching from behind. She raised a finger to her lips and grabbed Alice by the elbow, dragging her away. Darcy barely had time to react before a set of arms snaked around her from behind, wrapping around her middle and pulling her back against him. Instead, she placed her hands on his and gently rested her head against him.

She recognised his musky scent anywhere. Plus, Romeo had texted her a few seconds earlier that her man had arrived.

Turning around in his embrace, she looped her arms around his neck and they began swaying slightly, despite the fast beat of the song that was playing.

While everyone around them grinded against their dancing partners and were fast on their feet as the music pulsed through the house and most probably, halfway down the street also, Thelonious and Darcy slow danced; lost in their own world, separated from the rest of the world.

"Hi," she reached up on her tip toes and rubbed her nose against his. She was sure that she had just rubbed off some of the foundation there but in that moment, she couldn't bring herself to care.

"Hi." He pulled her closer to him. "I didn't expect to find myself here tonight," he gestured to the people around them.

She smiled softly. "Me neither. But Romeo has a way of getting what he wants."

"Speaking of Romeo, I have a bone to pick with him. He all but blackmailed me into coming here."

She giggled. "What did he say?"

"He said that if I didn't get here soon then he would stop holding back all his thirsty college buddies."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Don't worry. I don't think there's any thirsty college boys lurking around waiting for me."

"Don't be sure," his eyes scanned their surroundings. "You're too hard to resist." He mumbled against the top of her head; the words so quiet that she hadn't heard him over the volume of the music.

"So, you came to mark your territory instead of to see me?" She teased him.

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't want to see you." He pulled back, a small smile playing on his lips. With the dim lighting of the room and the neon colours that had encompassed the room from the light system, Thelonious Knight looked absolutely devilish. "But I didn't want any other guys to make moves on you." He admitted, pressing his lips against the side of her head.