Bored ten minutes later, Ari wondered if Jai would think it was rude if she asked Jenn if she was working on any new films. Deciding it couldn’t hurt, she looked over at Jenn and flushed inwardly, forgetting her question. Jenn and Chris were making out. Heavily. There were hands everywhere. Squirming uncomfortably, Ari threw a quick look at Jai to see if he’d noticed their clients were chewing on one another. Her heart stopped as her eyes clashed with Jai’s. He’d been watching her and he had this knowing smirk on his face that she wanted to smack right off.
“Hey!”
Their heads swiveled toward the voice. A tall guy who didn’t look old enough to be in the club grinned at them through the bars of the railing. He eyed Ari, his eyes sparkling flirtatiously. Ari thought he looked vaguely familiar.
“You wanna dance, pretty girl?” he asked, yelling over the music.
A heavy arm came around Ari’s shoulders before she could respond, and Jai drew her back against his chest. Her breathing faltered. “Beat it,” he growled at the guy. Ari didn’t know if the guy heard or not, but he certainly understood the intent. He gave Jai a wary look and disappeared into the crowds on the dance floor.
The arm slid from her shoulders and Ari turned to Jai wide-eyed, her heart thudding at his possessiveness. Her guardian shrugged at her. “We can’t leave our post.”
Ari contemplated punching him as that irritating little thing called hope deflated instantly. Slumping a little, she looked away from him, only to catch Jennifer’s eyes. Jenn gave her a sympathetic smile, as if she saw right through her. Ari smiled sadly back at her. Boys sucked.
“You know,” Jenn said loudly, grabbing a hold of Chris’s hand. “I want to dance.” She stood up and grinned down at Jai. “I guess that means you two better join us.”
Damn every single matchmaker in this world. Ari closed her eyes briefly, hearing Jai’s reluctant sigh beside her. Feeling the breeze of movement as he stood too, Ari slowly rose to her feet, unable to meet his gaze. This was perfect. Just perfect.
Jai grabbed her hand and, before she could react, he pulled her ahead of Jenn and Chris, constantly checking behind him for his clients and then around them to make sure there was no one bothering them. With his black scowl, he cleared a space on the floor for them and positioned Ari close to Jenn and Chris. She stared stupidly at him as his hands fell lightly on her waist. There was a whole body's worth of space between them. It was as if the clock had turned back and she had ‘cooties’ at her fifth grade dance. Ari slapped her hands hard down on his shoulders, drawing his startled gaze.
An indiscreet chuckle caught her ears and Ari glared at Jenn who smothered a laugh in Chris’s neck. When she looked back at Jai, he frowned at her.
“What?” he asked.
Feeling annoyed and frustrated and bold all at once, Ari tugged his head down and brought her mouth to his ear. “Dance with me believably or I’m going to kick you in the nuts.”
Relaxing at the sound of Jai’s choked laughter, Ari melted into him as he drew her closer. Much closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she laid her head against his shoulder, her hands around his neck, fingers stroking his nape with a mind of their own. “We’re here to work,” Jai said in her ear and she tried not to shiver. “Not dance.”
We can do both, she insisted.
I’ll monitor the happy couple, Jai replied. You watch the crowds.
Yes, sir.
He snorted at her insolence but didn’t push her away.
At first… it was fine. Ari watched the crowd, and Jai watched Jenn and Chris. But as the music slowed, she felt Jai unconsciously pull her closer until their bodies were no longer just brushing together, but pressed tight. One of his hands slid slowly down her back to cup her hip, his other tracing lazy circles on her lower back. The breath whooshed out of her as all of her awareness focused on Jai — the feel of his chest under her head, the strong shoulders under her arms, the powerful arms holding her close, the unknown exotic scent mixed with sandalwood and rich musk that was all his own. If Ari turned just slightly, she could nuzzle her nose against his throat. The heat built from deep within her as images of them together, kissing, touching… more… rioted around in her not so innocent mind, and as if he’d heard those thoughts Jai tensed against her, the hand on her hip gripping her hard. His heavy exhalation blew against her ear, sounding more like a groan of frustration than annoyance.
“You ready for another drink?” Jenn’s voice peeled them apart and they separated quickly, as though she'd caught them doing something they shouldn’t.