thoughts, but it’s no use. If I thought he consumed me before, that’s nothing compared to how much I’ve thought about him since our night together in Charleston.
It was the best night I’ve had since I lost everything. It felt so good to have someone to talk to and hang out with again. And it was even better that the someone was Kolan. I saw so much more of that kindness I had glimpsed in him this past week. From him buying me the bracelet because he knew what it meant to me, and the way he never hesitated to take pictures with the group of boys, then sponsored them to go to nationals. It showed just how truly generous he can be. A far cry from what so many people seem to think about him.
I’ll admit when I first met him, I was intimidated like so many others. He does give off an unapproachable vibe, but I have a feeling it’s a façade to keep people away. I’m just not sure why he does it.
The one thing that’s been consuming me the most since that night is the way it felt to be in his arms as he carried me back to his SUV. I felt…safe. A safe I haven’t felt in years. It’s dangerous and something I should never let myself feel, because as long as Daniel is still breathing, I will never be safe. It’s the cold, hard truth, and I need to remember it.
My depressing thoughts come to an end when I clue in to one of my favorite songs coming from the radio. Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”
I let the beautiful words wash over me, blanketing my soul, and begin humming along with the melody, allowing my body to sway back and forth to the base vibrating from the speakers. The sound grounds me, anchors me in place while every bone and muscle in my body yearns to submit to the seductive beat.
Since the dance-off the other night, it’s as if something has broken loose inside of me, a piece of the old me returning. I’ve decided to grab hold of it and embrace it. Dancing is the one thing that always made me happy, and since I’ve been robbed of everything else, I’m going to take that part of me back. Even if it’s only in private.
I’m completely lost in my euphoria when awareness creeps up my spine. Spinning around, I see Kolan standing on the other side of the ring, watching me. My breath catches at the intensity of his gaze.
“There’s something about this gym that makes me want to dance,” I say with a smile, trying to lighten the tension filling the air.
“Dance away. I like watching.” His voice is as dark as his eyes—beckoning me. I should look away, break this spell he seems to have over me, but I can’t. If anything, I want to drown myself in it.
Without thinking about the consequences, I reach out to him, offering my hand. “Doing it is so much better than watching.”
He gives me that sexy smirk of his. “Sorry, baby.” My tummy dips at the endearment, just like it did the other night. “I’m all about doing but not when it comes to dancing. As in…I can’t. I’ve never done it before.”
A frown pulls at my face. “Never?”
He shakes his head.
“What about school dances? Or prom?”
“I never went.”
His expression remains stoic but those simple words have pain striking my heart. Everyone should dance at least once in their life.
Stepping closer to him, I take his large hand in mine and pull him to the center of the ring. My eyes train on his chest as he reluctantly follows.
“This goes here.” I bring his one hand to my lower back then show him how to hold my other as I move it between us. When I try to sway us, his feet remain planted, and that’s when I finally meet his eyes.
He stares down at me, his jaw ticking. “I don’t give up control to anyone, Lia. Ever.”
His hard words remind me of what I saw online the other night when I looked him up.
I nod, not wanting him to back away. “Okay, then you lead. All you have to do is move side-to-side, as slow as you want. Your hand on my lower back will guide me.”
He watches me with indecision. I
It was the best night I’ve had since I lost everything. It felt so good to have someone to talk to and hang out with again. And it was even better that the someone was Kolan. I saw so much more of that kindness I had glimpsed in him this past week. From him buying me the bracelet because he knew what it meant to me, and the way he never hesitated to take pictures with the group of boys, then sponsored them to go to nationals. It showed just how truly generous he can be. A far cry from what so many people seem to think about him.
I’ll admit when I first met him, I was intimidated like so many others. He does give off an unapproachable vibe, but I have a feeling it’s a façade to keep people away. I’m just not sure why he does it.
The one thing that’s been consuming me the most since that night is the way it felt to be in his arms as he carried me back to his SUV. I felt…safe. A safe I haven’t felt in years. It’s dangerous and something I should never let myself feel, because as long as Daniel is still breathing, I will never be safe. It’s the cold, hard truth, and I need to remember it.
My depressing thoughts come to an end when I clue in to one of my favorite songs coming from the radio. Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”
I let the beautiful words wash over me, blanketing my soul, and begin humming along with the melody, allowing my body to sway back and forth to the base vibrating from the speakers. The sound grounds me, anchors me in place while every bone and muscle in my body yearns to submit to the seductive beat.
Since the dance-off the other night, it’s as if something has broken loose inside of me, a piece of the old me returning. I’ve decided to grab hold of it and embrace it. Dancing is the one thing that always made me happy, and since I’ve been robbed of everything else, I’m going to take that part of me back. Even if it’s only in private.
I’m completely lost in my euphoria when awareness creeps up my spine. Spinning around, I see Kolan standing on the other side of the ring, watching me. My breath catches at the intensity of his gaze.
“There’s something about this gym that makes me want to dance,” I say with a smile, trying to lighten the tension filling the air.
“Dance away. I like watching.” His voice is as dark as his eyes—beckoning me. I should look away, break this spell he seems to have over me, but I can’t. If anything, I want to drown myself in it.
Without thinking about the consequences, I reach out to him, offering my hand. “Doing it is so much better than watching.”
He gives me that sexy smirk of his. “Sorry, baby.” My tummy dips at the endearment, just like it did the other night. “I’m all about doing but not when it comes to dancing. As in…I can’t. I’ve never done it before.”
A frown pulls at my face. “Never?”
He shakes his head.
“What about school dances? Or prom?”
“I never went.”
His expression remains stoic but those simple words have pain striking my heart. Everyone should dance at least once in their life.
Stepping closer to him, I take his large hand in mine and pull him to the center of the ring. My eyes train on his chest as he reluctantly follows.
“This goes here.” I bring his one hand to my lower back then show him how to hold my other as I move it between us. When I try to sway us, his feet remain planted, and that’s when I finally meet his eyes.
He stares down at me, his jaw ticking. “I don’t give up control to anyone, Lia. Ever.”
His hard words remind me of what I saw online the other night when I looked him up.
I nod, not wanting him to back away. “Okay, then you lead. All you have to do is move side-to-side, as slow as you want. Your hand on my lower back will guide me.”
He watches me with indecision. I
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