Hollywood Ever After (Red Carpet 1)

Shannon nodded. “Let’s go.”

Arthur stayed at our table. “I’m more of a voyeur. Watching you two should be quite entertaining.” He laughed as Shannon scowled at him.

I loved dancing. At least I did tonight. I felt surrounded by the thumping bass and the energy of the other dancers on the floor. I pulled Shannon after me. When we found some space on the dance floor, I closed my eyes and let the music move my body. Occasionally someone pushed into us or bumped me, but I laughed it off. Shannon was very tolerant. Dancing was not her thing.

“You don’t have to keep me company.” I smiled brightly at her. The lights bounced off the dance floor, off dancers’ sequined shirts, as well as someone’s glittered Mohawk. I blinked, but my eyes didn’t respond and everything stayed pleasantly fuzzy around the edges.

“Claire, I’m not leaving you alone on the dance floor right now.”

I laughed at the expression on her face. “I’m just dancing. I love dancing.”

She laughed too. “So I see.”

The next song was familiar. I’d listened to it in the car with the kids, blasting it as loudly as possible. It had an awesome beat.

“I love this song!” I squealed before singing along to the chorus, loudly.

A man danced across the floor, smiling at me enthusiastically. He danced around me while I continued to sing and spin with the beat. He moved in a little bit closer, singing the chorus too. I giggled; neither one of us should ever sing. He spun me once and I twirled into him, laughing when I almost fell over. He caught me and spun me away again.

Two very large, strong hands caught me and I looked up into the most beautiful face I’d seen since last night.

“Josh? Hi, Josh!” I squealed, bouncing in his arms as he smiled down at me. I kept bouncing, my racing heart thumping faster than the music as his hands slid around my back. “I didn’t know you were here.” I was smiling like an idiot.

“You’re a rather focused dancer.”

“I am! Never do it…dance, I mean. But it’s fun!” The song ended and I frowned.

He laughed. “Should I make them play the song again? I will if it will make that pathetic little frown disappear.”

Another song began. It was slower, but it still had a good beat. “No, I think this will work, and I won’t sing. Even better.”

“I liked your singing.” He was looking at me…the way he always looked at me.

I felt light-headed and dizzy as I stared up at him, wobbling on unsteady feet. I knew I was drunk, but now there was more than just alcohol heating me up from the inside.

His hands were firm, guiding me closer to him. I let one hand rest on his chest as we swayed together. Between the buzzing euphoria from my many drinks and the raging hunger burning in his eyes, my every nerve was tingling. I was more than a little pleased with life at the moment.

I quivered under his touch. His fingers splayed across my lower back, fitting us closer together. We danced with the music, our movements in sync with one another.

Under the flashing colored lights, my hand looked red and then green against the white of his shirt. I felt the heat of his skin, the solid strength of his muscles through the fabric of his shirt. His scent, his touch, his presence stirred images of our night together, sharp in my otherwise foggy mind. My skin grew more sensitive and my senses flooded with him.

I was aching for him, all of him. Now. My breath grew short as I remembered how he felt buried deep inside me.

The rational side of my brain knew I was losing control, but there was too much alcohol in my system. I had no fear or inhibition. And I liked the fire raging inside of me.

My eyes slid to his mouth and I felt my tongue wet my lips. His breath hitched and he closed his eyes. When he looked at me again, there was little doubt he knew exactly what I was feeling.

The song ended and I felt myself being guided from the floor.

“Taking her home?” Shannon had apparently returned to the table. She and Arthur regarded us with interest.

There were three other people at the table now. I didn’t know them. But I didn’t really care at the moment. I wanted to kiss the pulse wildly beating in Josh’s throat. I was vaguely aware that now might not be the right time for that. I glanced at his neck. It looked very kissable.

“Unless you have other plans?” Josh looked from Shannon to me.

I was looking at him as if I were about to eat him. It wasn’t intentional; that was really what I wanted to do at the moment…because he was so damn gorgeous…

He looked back at Shannon, his jaw muscle noticeably rigid.