Second Chance Mates

-30- 🌹 Moonlight

^ Ryland 🤤 (minus the tattoos)

"There's something about you in the moonlight, but your eyes go so well with the day. You won't let go of your layers, but your power can strip me away."
~Ben Platt, 'Honest Man'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

"Oh dear goddess," I groan, covering my face with my hand as I lean my back against a tree.

The Moon Goddess above seems to really like testing my self control tonight. My beautiful mate is less than fifty feet away, completely plastered and dancing provocatively with my sister. Their bodies sway to the rhythmic melodies, holding each other closely at they dance. In any other situation, I probably would've been burning with jealousy while watching Ryland dance with someone else — even if it's with my own sister. But the sight of his lean body swaying back and forth, hips rolling in circles to the music has me completely hypnotized.

Either he's too drunk to realize how tempting he looks right now, or I've severely underestimated how seductive my mate can be. Ryland lifts his head to look right in my eye as he bites down on his lower lip; his honey eyes glazed over from intoxication. And that's when I realize both previously stated options are completely true.

'Why are you still standing here?' Leo demands in my mind. 'That tree you're leaning against is not nearly as sexy as our mate!'

I put my hand on Lucca's shoulder, pulling him away from the drink he was currently downing. "I need a favor, and this will be the only time I ask something like this," I tell him, immediately piquing his interest. "I need you to go dance with Lia."

Lucca's eyes brighten as he drops the cup, stumbling over to Lia without question. I sigh and shake my head, preparing for the hundreds of apologies I'll owe Lia later. However, if she hadn't gotten Ryland drunk, I wouldn't have to resort to such tactics in the first place.

I watch in amusement as Lucca drags Lia away, leaving behind a very confused Ryland. He pouts adorably, clearly upset to have lost his dance partner. Grumbling to himself, he looks at the ground as he kicks a few stray pebbles around, not even noticing that I'm now standing right next to him.

"Need a dance partner?" I offer, making him jump in surprise.

"Babe!" Ryland's eye light up in realization, and he throws his arms around me. "You found me!"

"I've been standing right over there the entire time," I chuckle at my drunken boyfriend. "You don't remember? You looked at me several times."

Ryland blinks as he tries to recall the hazy events. "Oh! I remember now. You looked super sexy just leaning against that tree. How did you do that?"

I laugh loudly, making Ryland smile wider "I'm just awesome like that. So do you want to dance, or not?"

"Yes!" Ryland exclaims excitedly, the volume of his shout making me flinch. He drapes his arms around my neck, and I place my hands on his hips. There are couples dancing all around us; some moving romantically slow, and others grinding on each other in a way that has my face turning red.

Ryland pulls me closer to him until we're pressed flush against each other. His eyes twinkle as he presses our foreheads together, swaying his hips to the music. The alcohol on his breath makes my nose wrinkle, but the stench is quickly overpowered by his scent of vanilla and honey.

I've danced before, but never like this. Never this... intimately. With Ryland gazing deep into my eyes, our bodies moving as one. Falling into a comfortable rhythm of movements as if our souls have known since the beginning of time how to move together.