Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
So fucking hungry. He was starving.
He leaned in, wanting desperately to taste Tam’s lips. To kiss him and feel all that passion explode on his tongue.
He’d never wanted something so much in his entire life like he wanted that kiss.
Fuck the friend-zone. There was no way he’d settle for that shit now. He’d seen behind the curtain, had a glimpse of Oz, and it was glorious. He wanted more.
But Tam turned away with the music, still caught up in the rhythm of creation. Driver caught his hand and pulled until he was spinning back into Driver’s embrace as if they’d planned it. And then, just as quick, the song was over. With the silence, the spell ended. Quiet descended. They stared into each other’s eyes for half a second, both too stunned and disoriented to do more than blink.
Driver opened his mouth to speak, though he had no clue what to say, but Tam’s cheeks flamed scarlet and he pushed out of Driver’s arms.
“Sorry.” His long hair fell over his face like a curtain. Before Driver could say anything, Tam fled from the room.
As Driver followed, he heard Ansel say, “I thought they just met?”
That was the thing. They had just met, but what just happened felt like they’d known each other all their lives. Driver had somehow predicted exactly what Tam would do next. They’d been in sync, so deep they’d even breathed at the same time.
A connection that strong didn’t happen every day.
So why now? Why Tam?
* * *
“Care to explain?”
Tam didn’t need to look up to know Driver was standing in the doorway. He could still smell his cologne and the beer on his breath. He could still feel his touch burning. God, the heat. It scorched.
For the first time in a long time, Tam ached. He wanted. Pure torturous desire still coursed through his veins. His fingers tingled with need, the antelope were back thundering through his insides, and he felt light-headed.
But he couldn’t give in.
Rarely did the choreography come to him fully formed, like the music was being translated through his body by an energy greater than himself. As if he were just a conduit. Whenever it did, he gloried in the feeling. Ever since he was little, dancing had been his escape. Allowing expression to transform him was all the freedom he’d ever really known, at least until recently.
But it hadn’t been just him out there. Driver had been just as much a part of the dance. They’d communicated without words and it’d been thrilling.
How?
He couldn’t figure it out and it rocked him. It hadn’t been just a dance. It had been a dialog between souls. Or at least that’s what it felt like. He’d felt it all. Everything the lyrics conveyed had coursed through his blood and ignited his nerves. His heart still pounded, his hands were sweaty, and his skin was so sensitive, the breeze from the open window made him shiver. He clutched the counter and took a deep breath and then another until the weird floaty disconnected feeling left him and he could really focus again.
Back to reality. Back to himself.
“No,” he said.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.” Driver came closer and rested his hip on the counter. His body heat surrounded Tam like a cocoon. “Feel free to use me like your own dance mannequin whenever you want.”
“It won’t happen again.”
“Shame.” He made a noise of disappointment. “Seriously, you are amazing.”
Warmth flooded Tam’s chest and he bit his lip against the rush of pleasure. It took three deep breaths before the sensation passed. “I came in here to be alone.”
Driver’s laugh was so deep and silky it sent a cascade of trembles through Tam’s bones. “Yeah, I figured.”
“And yet you followed me.”
“Yep.”
“Reason?”
“Well, I’ve got this thing about annoying you.”
At this, Tam finally looked up. Driver’s smile almost killed him. Devastating. This guy would be devastating. The dance proved that much. He still couldn’t believe he’d let go so easily. He’d allowed the hypnotic rhythm of it to sweep him under. He’d fallen, willingly, and Driver had been there to catch him.
“You never grew out of monkey bars and playgrounds, did you?”
The way Driver pushed the flop of hair off his forehead was not charming and it definitely didn’t twist Tam’s stomach in knots. “Maybe not, just shifted the fun to more adult pursuits.” Those stormy eyes heated.
Tam looked away and crossed to the window. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
Tam spun in exasperation. “Flirting with me. I’m not interested in you.”
Driver tipped his head and seemed to study him. “Nope. Try again.”
“What?”
“That was a bald-faced lie. Try again.”
“It was not a lie.” Tam propped his hands on his hips.
This time when Driver laughed it was a full belly chuckle. “Damn, but you are adorable.”
Tam squinted at him. “Go away.”
“I’ll make you a deal.” He closed the distance between them. “I’ll leave you alone for now, if you agree to go out with me tomorrow night.”