Chapter Fourteen

A flash of pain crossed his face, and then he schooled it into something more jovial, or at least tried to, but Aria could tell it was forced. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked.” She put a hand on his forearm. Normally she wasn’t one to touch people, but there was this need to try and comfort him.

“No, it's fine.” He glanced down at her hand, and she let go of him. “Turn the music off for a minute?”

Aria turned and walked across the room to tap the mute button on her phone. “Funny, half the songs on my private playlist are ones I had my friend, Marcy, add on for me. I'm no techie, and don't have a clue, and I also don't follow mainstream music. I'm more into oldies and classics. When I hear something I like, I ask Marcy to add it.”

“Why did you ask for this song specifically?”

Aria pointed at the floor where a mat was laid out in front of a wall of mirrors. “I need to sit for this.”

They sat facing one another, their knees inches apart. Aria took a deep breath. “When I first heard it, I could relate. People interpret songs differently, but to me this one is about giving up someone not because you want to, but because you have to.” She gave him a small smile when he nodded.

“That's pretty much what it is.”

“You gave up Cindy for Troy.” She guessed it from the lyrics, and from what Marcy had told her.

Devon lowered his head. “Yes. She loved him more, and I wanted her to be happy. You know the saying...If you love something—”

“Set it free,” she finished for him. “I'm sorry.”

“It is what it is. I'm trying to move on now.”

“That happened a long time ago, though.” His head popped up and his gaze bore into hers. “Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything.”

She ducked her head, and he touched two fingers under her chin to get her attention back.

The warmth of his skin did funny things to her, heating her in a way she'd never felt from a simple touch.

“It's all right, that's the truth. Not many people have called me on it, though.”

“Again, I'm sorry.”

“You said you could relate to my song?”

“I guess if you're spilling the truth, I owe it to you as well.”

Devon smiled genuinely. “That'd be nice.”

“Here goes. My boyfriend proposed to me a couple years ago, but after a short time, he took off. He said he had cold feet and needed time to think.”

“What happened after that?” He prompted her when she went silent.

“I never heard from him again.” Her voice was barely a whisper but seemed unusually loud in the quiet room.

Devon reached out and took her hands in his. “Jesus! I'm sorry that happened to you.”

“Yeah, me too. I loved him. Still do in some sick twisted way.”

“Trust me, I understand.”

They sat there for a few moments immersed in their own thoughts, and then Devon shook his head. “Okay, enough of that.” She looked up at him, and he smiled. “Dance for me.”

She couldn't say no, not to the sexy man in front of her. Aria pulled her hands from his, and without a word, she stood. She could totally do that for him.

When she felt these feelings that they'd just dredged up, she needed release, and dance was always that release. Or sex, but that wasn't happening any time soon, although she'd love to crawl over his body.

Before she could decide which song to play, he sidled up next to her. “Play my song again, I want to see you move to my words.”

Her knees went weak at hearing the deep emotion in his voice.

She nodded, cued up the music, and hit play. The first note started, and it hit her hard, like she was hearing it for the first time again. It was quite different from anything else she normally danced to. It was grittier, and had more soul with a rock ‘n’ roll edge.

Devon stood off to the side and leaned against a support column. He was far enough away from her that she could get lost in her performance without distraction. As she always did with an audience, she closed her eyes and mouthed to herself, “I can do this.”

The music began and she danced her heart out. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she continued. She was no longer dancing just for the loss of Aaron in her life, but for Devon's loss of Cindy, too. The extra emotion was almost too much, so when Devon joined in and softly sang the chorus, she slowed her movements to a stop and locked eyes with him.

He was gorgeous, broken, and there with her in the moment.

With the song still playing, they walked toward each other, stopping when they were a breath apart. His eyes searched hers, and before she could think better of it, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.

There was a connection there that could not be denied.

The kiss was desperate and needy. Their mouths moved rough and sloppy while their choppy breath mingled. It wasn't sensual, or sexy, but there was something calling to her, and she was certain he could answer it.

After a long moment, she finally pulled away.

“Shit, I'm sor—”

“No, don't be.” Aria led him over to the mat again, where she sat, pulling him down with her, and then she leaned into his personal space. “Kiss me again.” Her lips feathered over his.

This kiss was softer, more sensual, and just about as perfect as it could get. It seemed that dancing for a man was a turn-on for her, or maybe it was this particular man.

They kissed long enough that her lips were swollen, her nipples hard, and excitement swirled around in her belly, causing a steady pulse between her legs.

Unable to deal with the ache any longer, she crawled up over his legs and straddled him.

Devon's breath caught. Pulling away, he pressed his forehead against hers. “We should stop.”

“I don't want to.” Her voice was steady, but with a hint of need, and it startled her. “I want you, Devon.”

He groaned and pulled back, looking into her eyes. “If you're sure, do you want to go back to my place?”

“I can't wait that long.” She reached for the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it up over his head. “I need you now.”

They were both panting, and he was as needy as she was, judging by the erection straining between them.