She directed her gaze to me as she lifted her head and formed her lips into an amused smile.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“Why?”

“Your expression is unreadable.”

“That may be a good thing.”

“It’s not,” she said. “For me, it is. I like to know what the man I’m with is thinking.”

I leaned forward so my mouth not too obviously brushed against her ear. “And I’m the man you’re with?”

“Well. . . I am dancing with you.”

No. You had it right the first time. Have mercy on the guy who tries to cut into this dance, or any other dance, tonight.

“You’re still not answering my question.” She blushed.

“What was it?”

“What is on your mind, Alvarez?”

I loved the way my name curled over her tongue. How would it sound when she moaned my name? And she would, there was no other option this evening. Every muscle in my body wound into knots of need and her presence had triggered it. I craved her. From one hand shake, I was thirsty for more. From the time we spent together at X-lab and even this evening, I could think of nothing else but her.

“I’m wondering what’s on your mind because you’re just looking at me really weird.”

“Weird?” I twirled her around and then brought her back to me. “How do I look weird to you?”

“Maybe not weird, but you have a different expression from when we hung out together in X-lab.”

“That’s because a lot has changed since last night. Something’s been on my mind all day, even with the craziness around me. Something’s been deep in my thoughts and swimming through my head.”

“What?” She leaned away with a questioning look on her face.

“You. All day I’ve been thinking about you.”

Chapter 11

Elle

Me?

That wasn’t what I thought Alvarez would say. Sure, we’d had fun together. Sure, an attraction streamed between us. That couldn’t be denied. My skin charged when he touched me, even with the tiniest gestures. Holding my hand. A finger brushing my arm. My flesh tingled with each friendly contact of his skin to mine.

But that was where it had to end.

I’d loved for ten long years, where pain had mingled with kisses and Michael’s hugs suffocated me so much that I wasn’t sure I could wriggle away enough to gasp for air. It was purple love, ugly and endearing, passionate and bruising like the tiny plum marks one left from sucking on a lover’s neck. After loving like that, one needed a break, a vacation from the intensity of it all.

I needed to catch my breath and take a time out with myself.

“Did I say something wrong?” Alvarez searched my face with his gaze. Confusion lit in his expression and made those brown eyes glow in the moonlight. I risked a peek at those long eyelashes, not realizing they were so feminine on such a hard and masculine face. How odd that his carved looks hinted at softness in such subtle places.

“Elle, answer me. Please.”

By then, we’d stopped moving. Everyone else danced around us, twirling and twisting with the new song, some melody of love accompanied by trumpets and a saxophone that slipped in during the most rhythmic times.

“I don’t know what to say.” I moved my arms away from him. “I’ve just gotten out of a relationship. I don’t know what your answer meant, but I’m not interested in doing anything more than being . . . whatever this is. Friends, I guess.”

His confident expression faltered. “I understand.”

Did he really?

He stepped away from me and rubbed his eyes. “I should go upstairs.”

“No.” The word rushed out of my mouth without my own doing, but I agreed just the same. “I’m having fun with you.”

“Yeah, but this has turned awkward too quickly.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” I bit my bottom lip and his gaze shifted there. Drunk women bumped into me and stumbled away in the direction of the bar. When I looked their way, I spotted a flash of red hair and figured it was Patricia.

We’d spent a lot of time together today, hanging out and packing her things, although she hadn’t really packed much. She gave most of her belongings to me and others in rooms near her,—favorite poetry books, a few paintings from friends, jewelry, and other little knick-knacks. In the end, she’d barely filled one suitcase.

“Why are you giving everything away?” I’d asked.

“You can’t take it all with you, right?”

“You certainly can.” I laughed.

I should say hi to Patricia once Alvarez and I are done. And what are we doing?

I turned to Alvarez as he gazed at me with a neutral expression fastened to his face.

And then the lanterns went out. Darkness blanketed the whole area. The music ceased. A few people screamed.

“Calm down! Calm down! It will only be dark for a little while.” Hex’s voice rose over us in the darkness. The crowd hushed. “I just wanted to give you all my final gift tonight. Every last one of you has aroused my creative juices. Lots of beautiful journeys have come from just a few minutes of me being in your presence. So look to the sky! Turn your heads up for the main event.”

Tags: Kenya Wright Mystery
Source: readsnovelonline.net