My eyes touch on all the other couples dancing too and it feels like there’s so much love in this room that if it could be bottled those vials would sell for a mint, traded for souls even.
I try to calm my racing heart because of some of what I’m feeling this fast, and also what’s coming at me from the man whose arms I’m in. The guy who is helping me find myself again. The guy who is doing a great job of making me fall head over heels for him.
I feel confident with him.
I feel sexy and desirable with him.
I don’t feel like I have to hide, camouflage myself.
I’m still not one hundred percent the old me, and maybe I never will be, but I really love the direction my life is heading in. And it’s thanks to him.
He seems to get a kick out of my klutziness instead of rolling his eyes, making cutting remarks about it, or getting annoyed by it.
When I screw up, he doesn’t lose it on me, doesn’t belittle me.
He indulges my taste in corny movies. He’s tidy and kind to his employees and their kids.
It’s happening fast, the emotions I’m feeling for him.
I wanted to be cautious. I wanted to give myself time to heal. I am praying that I’m doing the right thing here, letting things happen organically with Killian.
Work is good. Life is good. My family likes him. My family is more than happy to have me in the fold again. And I have friends.
“I wanna go away together,” Killian whispers in my ear. “You think you can get some time off work?”
I nod. “I have vacation to use up. What about right after Christmas?”
“That works,” he says. “Pick a place. We’ll go.”
“What kind of place?”
“Someplace where all we need are swimsuits and toothbrushes.” He twirls me around as the song ends and then leads me back to our table. “What about Christmas?” he asks. “What’s the plan?”
I smile. “For my family, same as thanksgiving. Dinner at my parents’ house. Or maybe my Grampa’s. They’re talking about doing it there. He’d be ecstatic having us all there.”
“Am I invited?”
I smile big. “Significant others are always welcome.”
“Is that what I am? Significant?” He kisses my ear.
I snuggle in and he kisses me again.
“I’d love to spend Christmas with you, Killian,” I tell him.
Our eyes lock and the emotion in his eyes is so disarming.
It’s like everyone and everything else just disappear.
The other couples aren’t back at our table yet, so I find myself watching the head table. The bride throws her head back and laughs with three beautiful women, one of them Luciana. Another lady holding a baby leans over and kisses the bride on the forehead and her eyes get even happier. She’s definitely a glowing bride.
The song Macarena comes on and the four girls all dash to the dance floor together.
I don’t know them, or I might’ve run up, too.
The lady with the baby sits and for a second, I consider going over to offer to hold the baby so she can dance, but I see she’s surrounded by kids so surmise she’s watching all of them so their moms can enjoy themselves.
I catch Killian’s eyes watching me as I smile at the kiddie table.
I give him my full attention.
He’s smiling, too, looking genuinely happy. Relaxed.
He’s had a difficult week, so it’s a really nice thing to see, such a wide smile on his face, relaxed posture.
I lean forward and whisper, "I really love these shoes you picked out for me, Killian."
"Good," he says casually, but then leans in and his breath whispers across the skin behind my ear, making goosebumps erupt as he informs me in a way that is not at all casual, "Glad you like them. You'll still be wearing them later when I bend you over and slip my tongue inside you."
I gulp. Wow. That was… wow.
I see the bride waving me over, then waving at the table beside ours that has another few couples that I don’t know and then all the girls in the place are moving toward the dancefloor together.
“Go,” he says. “I love watching you dance. And while I do, I’ll be thinking about all the dirty things I’m gonna do to you later.”
I bite my lip, feeling a whoosh of wet heat between my legs. I somehow manage to compose myself as I rise, smoothing out my dress. I do my best to give him a sultry look before I join the girls.
Killian watches me for a minute doing the macarena, which isn’t a super-sexy dance, but the way he’s looking at me you’d think I was stripping for him. Finally, he rises and approaches the bar and stands there with the groom, groom’s brother, and the guys from our table. Each with eyes on their women as we dance our butts off.