Behind the Shadows of Deception-Chapter 18
JC had never questioned Mya on her feelings for him that day, as he’d been advised to. Instead, like a coward, he had left while she was still in the shower, knocking on the door, and yelling out his goodbye. He later admitted that he couldn’t have bared being in the presence of her freshly showered appearance. Still, She thought nothing of his abrupt departure and yelled out a friendly, “I’ll call you later!” over the running water.
And she did call him…about two days later and informed him that he was to meet her at the Hilton by eight p.m., dressed to impress of course. More than just a little bit curious, JC asked why first-rate attire was required. In domineering, yet true Mya fashion, she replied, “Because I said so,” prior to the dial tone sounding off in his ear.
Not offended at all, JC dialed her number back determined to get an answer out of her. Mya answered on the first ring as if she had been expecting his call. “Yes JC?” She smiled into the receiver.
“I decided I’m not going to meet you at the Hilton.” The sassiness faded from her voice the moment she heard his response.
“Wh-why not?” JC smiled to himself, realizing his statement had caught her off guard.
“Because I don’t know why I would be going or for what reasons.”
“Oh!” Mya began excitedly. “That’s exactly the plan.” She paused as if another thought had come to mind. “Okay, how about this…I’ll pick you up, that way you can see what I’m wearing, and it’ll knock your socks off, of course.”
JC grinned at her ability to be over-confident and sexy at the same time. “Of course, I know how you do.”
She nodded as if he could see her. “And don’t you forget it buddy. I’ll see you in a bit.” Her last words spoken softly as she ended the call.
Snapping his cell phone shut, JC grinned like an idiot at the idea of spending the evening with Mya. It hadn’t mattered anymore that all of his friends were avoiding him. When he called either Lance or Joey, they were both apparently too busy to talk him. Justin had wanted to know if he had anything new to report to him and when JC replied no, Justin told him to call back when he did. Unfortunately, he hadn’t gotten the chance to speak to Chris, who hadn’t bothered to answer the phone. Even Heather had taken to the role of ignoring him quite well. He just respected the fact that they were all too occupied to make time for him…all except Mya. He appreciated that even more.
“JC!” A yell invaded his thoughts. He heard the pounding of Heather’s footsteps as they led her to his room. She stopped in threshold of his bedroom, taking a moment to catch her breath.
“What’s up? You’re not ignoring me anymore?” He smirked, stretching his body to lounge comfortably in his bed.
Heather rolled her eyes. Seconds later, her frown was replaced by the giddy excitement in her gaze. “Are you going out with Mya tonight?”
“Yes…” He uttered, hesitantly, yet wondering how and the hell could she have known. “Why?’ He hoped she wasn’t trying to get something out of him to relay back to their mother.
“Oh no reason.” Hiding a knowing grin, she walked backwards from his bedroom. “Step one completed.” She mumbled to herself. The plan was in effect.
Meanwhile, a puzzled JC stared after her. What the hell is going? He wondered before shutting his eyes for a quick nap.
A quick nap shortly turned into a deep slumber and before he realized it, his doorbell was ringing. He shrugged it off, hoping Heather would answer it. The bell chimed a second and third time before he dragged himself from the bed.
His bare feet thudded down the staircase as he made his way to the door. Abandoning his usual routine of glancing through the peep hole, he tossed open the door. A vision of radiant beauty had suddenly taken over his hazy mind.
“Mya you-” The words died on his lips as he let his eyes roam, having a one-on-one conversation with her body. Her hair was pinned up in array of loose curls baring her slender neck. She had covered her frame in a fitted strapless, Tabasco-shade dress that stretched around all of her wonderful assets and stopped short of being past her knees. The way it highlighted smooth legs and mouth-watering curves had made him speechless. To complete the ensemble, she donned a pair of strappy heels that exposed red-painted toenails. He had almost forgotten that he had looked like utter shit until Mya had told him as much in another choice of words.
She examined him from head to toe, taking in his ruffled hair and sweats. “You look a hot ass mess, but thank God you shaved.” After closing the door, Mya stepped to him for a closer inspection. Her manicured fingers grasped onto his chin as she stared him in the eye.
“Have you been sleeping? You have sleep boogies in your eye.” She grinned, not wanting to laugh at his poked out lip pouting at her.
Mya dropped her hand to her side. “Let’s get you hooked up darling.” She expressed in an uncommon southern drawl and gathered the front of JC’s shirt in a tight fist. She pulled him along behind her towards the staircase.
While staggering up the entire staircase, JC took the pleasure of viewing her attire from the back. And what a pleasure it had been. The satin fabric stretched enticingly over an attractively curvy rear almost beckoning him to take hold of it.
Sensing he was slowing down, Mya turned to face him. She noticed a wide grin light up his entire face. “What the hell is that stupid grin about?”
“Nothing.” If it was possible, his smile seemed to get wider as his white teeth gleamed at her. “Turn around and keep walking.” He placed his hands on both of her shoulders, turning her in the direction of his bedroom so that he could watch her hips sway again.
Mya pushed opened the door to his bedroom. Her eyes lit up in surprise at the new warm color scheme of muted oranges, chocolate browns, and neutral tans. “I haven’t been to your house in a week and you change the bedroom on me? I like it though, very stylish and inviting.”
“Thanks, you know how I do.” He touched his chest confidently. Mya laughed at his use of her earlier phrase while retrieving the bench at the foot of his bed.
“Park it honey.” She curled her finger at him, beckoning him to the plush bench. Once he followed her order, she went to snatch a comb from his dresser. “Okay, let’s do something with this hair.”
Mya combed through his hair until it was free of tangles. Afterwards, she stroked her fingers around his scalp, shaping and styling his hair into place, to which JC found great enjoyment in. Her ministrations nearly put him to sleep, even when he was no longer tired. “Okay done. Take a look at it.
JC walked over to his mirror while Mya stood by entirely pleased with her handiwork. “Wow. Thanks Mya.” He turned to place a sound kiss on her cheek and stepped back before she could utter a word. A sudden thought had entered his mind.
“This is weird. You never made sure I looked presentable when we went out all those others times.”
“Oh that’s because this time is special.” Her voice floated to him from the closet. She began selecting his outfit as if she had done it numerous times before. And he hadn’t minded at all.
“Why Mya, is there something you want to tell me?”
“Yes, of course…” JC’s brows rose expectantly. “What do you think about this?” She faced him, holding out a peach and lavender striped button-down shirt and white blazer in front of her. She matched them with a pair of blue denim jeans.
“It’s sexy, right? You’ll give Usher a run for his money in this getup.” She shoved the outfit in his hands as she carefully stepped down from the stool.
“Sure.” JC smiled for her benefit.
“Get showered and put a cap on or something so you won’t mess up my work. I need to make a phone call.” She pushed him into the bathroom and didn’t retrieve her cell phone until she heard the sound of running water.
The call went straight to the voicemail so she decided to leave a message. “Hey Justin, everything is going along smoothly. We’ll be there in a bit. I gotta go.” Mya rushed her message when JC began calling her. She hurried into the bathroom without a second thought.
“What-” Much like JC earlier, her words died on her lips at his appearance. He had yet to jump in the shower, but he had undressed down to only a plush towel wrapped low around his waist. She couldn’t stop herself from admiring the muscle-defining arms that she had complimented him on weeks before. Her eyes led to a chest that was just as admirable and worked their way to a set of positively tight abs. Suddenly flustered, Mya slowly allowed her gaze to drift back to his face.
“What do you want?” She finally asked, disconcerted with the steam from the shower rising the temperature in the confined space.
“This will keep my hair in tact, right?” He pointed to the shower cap fitted around his head while masking a knowing smile.
“Yeah, whatever.” Mya reached behind her, feeling around for the doorknob. “Let me go before my curls sweat out.” She tossed the door open, a draft of air hitting JC’s bare skin, as she couldn’t seem to exit fast enough.
“Whew…” She leant back against the closed door, fingering wisps of drooping curls back into place. Seconds later, she left JC’s bedroom deciding that she was in need of a cold glass of water.
Meanwhile in record time, JC had finished his shower, dressed in the outfit that Mya had picked for him, and made his way downstairs. He entered the kitchen in search of Mya. He found her sitting at the island, downing a cold glass of water. He was excited, hoping that he was the cause, although he envied those ice cubes now. She curled her tongue around those cubes until they melted in her warm mouth.
“Mya, you ready to go?”
Immediately, she jumped up at being caught off guard again. “Mmm…” She paused to remove the remaining ice cube from her mouth and dropped it into her glass. “Yeah, let’s go.” She moved to walk ahead of him until JC pulled her back by her wrist. He ran his thumb across her chin. “You had some water dripping down your chin.” He answered to her puzzled expression.
“Thanks.” She mumbled retrieving her coat from the banister and headed to the door.
“Hey.” JC called out to her. “You didn’t say how I look.”
While standing in the doorway, Mya gave him a once-over. “Nice. You smell good too. Let’s go.” She turned on her heels and was out the door.
JC smiled to himself and grabbed his coat, following her. He had finally gotten a reaction out of her towards him, and it was a good one. He wondered how many more responses he could get out of her, some in words, and some in actions.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Mya’s heels thumped against the carpeted floors of the hallway just before she identified the designated hotel room. She stopped short in front of the closed door, knocking quickly twice, and halted prior to knocking a third time. JC stood by confused at what her secret knock meant. Seconds later, the door opened, yet he could see no one behind it. In fact, he couldn’t see much of anything in the dark area with the absence of lights. Nevertheless, Mya pulled him inside.
“Mya, are you sure this is the room? It doesn’t look as if a party’s going on. If there is, this party is over before it begins.” He heard shuffling noise echo in the silence instead of Mya’s reply.
“Aww crap.” A deep tone voiced before an object crashed to the floor. He knew that couldn’t have been Mya. “Damnit man, you screwed this up. Mya turn on the lights.” The second male voice spoke.
What the hell? JC thought seconds before lights flooded the area and a room full of people appeared in front of him. His vision later adjusted to the familiar faces smiling back at him. Again, what the hell?
“Surprise!” Everyone, including Mya, screamed at him.
“Surprise? For what?”
“Okay, um…Happy Birthday!” The whole room shouted again.
“It’s…not my birthday.” JC stared at everyone more than a little confused.
“You know what,” Joey began. “Forget it. Chris already screwed it up when he knocked over the punch bowl.” The crowd laughed with a series of nods. “So…start the party!” As if on cue, music blasted from a set of large speakers and majority of the crowd moved to the dance floor.
JC searching for some answers, found his sister, and pulled her aside. “Heather, what’s going? Why are you guys screaming happy birthday to me when it’s about three months passed the date?”
“Think back to how you were acting around your birthday.” When he didn’t respond quickly enough, she continued. “Pitiful. You were pitiful. Didn’t want to celebrate anything because that bitch-”
“Heather.” JC interrupted her explanation. He’d rather gloss over that time in his life.
“Anyway. The guys wanted to throw you the birthday party you never had. See?” Her pointed finger directed him to the large banner that read, Happy Birthday JC: A jumping party for the birthday party you never had!
“I see.” And he couldn’t believe it.
“Oh and they got Mya to get you to agree to come here. I see she was a good choice for the job.” Heather smiled eyeing his attire. “You look good too. Who picked this outfit? I know it wasn’t you. Mya, huh?” She egged on. “Girl’s got the eye for it. Hell, I’d wear that shirt.” She giggled.
“Hey.” JC grasped her arm to get her attention. “Thanks. I’m going to talk to some of these people I haven’t seen in a while.”
True to his words, he walked away from Heather and chatted with a few industry folks and old friends. Afterwards, he spent five minutes searching for Mya in the large hotel room. He found her dancing with Lance to an upbeat song. She swayed her hips to thumping rhythm and he wasn’t surprised to see Lance keeping up with her, his hands placed strategically upon her waist. They were attempting to have a conversation over the blaring music.
“Hey.” JC tapped Mya’s shoulder. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I’m dancing with Lance.” She spoke loudly.
“I see that. I want to talk to you.” He replied just as loud.
“Oh man, she was just telling me about how Chris almost broke her nose and then you two started wrestling each other.” Lance chuckled, pushing JC’s shoulder lightly.
“Yeah. Mya?” JC abruptly turned to her. He watched while she tossed her arms above her head to the bass before taking hold of them. Mya sighed at him.
“I promised Chris that I’d dance with him next.” She smiled, JC’s eyes widened.
“What? Don’t you fear for your safety around him?” Instead of waiting for a response, he pulled her along while she sent her apologies to Lance.
He stopped at the bar, sitting on a stool beside her. “You tricked me Mya.”
“Tricked you? How? You didn’t exactly refuse to come with me.” She grinned boldly.
“Of course, but when you invited me out for the evening. I thought it was just going to be me and you.” He took hold of her hands again. “I wanted it to be only me and you, and not all of these people.”
Mya observed him, noticing a certain ‘look’ leap into his eyes as he stared at her. She didn’t think this was the time or place for him to be expressing those feelings. Definitely not. Therefore, she ignored them for now.
“C’mon JC, cheer up.” She shook his arms as if to emphasize her words. “This is your birthday party, the guys worked hard, not to mention that I even prepared a little-” She stopped short of giving away her secret. “Oops, you’ll have to wait. It’s a surprise.”
“Mya wait?” He continued to hold onto her hand even while she slid off the stool. “You are going to save me a dance, right?”
“Oh without a doubt. And I have a special one, birthday boy.” She finished teasingly and sauntered away to the dance floor, leaving JC with hopeful thoughts of an amazing evening ahead.
Scanning the room full of familiar faces, JC had to do a double take when he saw one all too familiar face.
Meanwhile, Mya drifted from the party scene and into a separate hotel suite so that she could prepare for her performance. She hadn’t changed much about her appearance. Her attire remained the same, but she teased the pinned curls making them appear untamed. She applied more make-up, mostly to her eyes, accentuating the brown orbs.
Pleased, Mya began mentally rehearsing her dance routine and gesturing certain steps whenever necessary. A knock sounded at her door just as she was nearing the end of her routine.
“Come in.” Justin entered at her request with Heather hot on his trail.
“Hey you look great. Almost ready?” Mya assured him that she was. “You know this is real nice of you to perform for JC. He’ll never forget it. In fact, he’ll probably want one every year.”
“I don’t mind. I enjoy it.”
“Yeah and so will he, very much. Let’s not make him embarrass himself though okay, Mya?” Justin raised his brow jokingly.
“Don’t worry, it’s a tasteful one.” She wore a hidden smile.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Okay, okay.” Heather literally jumped between them, effectively ending their conversation. “Enough of that. There’s a bitch in the building. I repeat there is a bitch in the building.”
“A bit-Heather, what are you talking about?” Justin asked, baffled while Mya watched, amused.
“Exactly. Heather.” She forced out. Mya’s amusement became curiousness. She figured this was the Heather that Justin had told her of.
“Heather?” He suddenly gasped. “JC’s ex-girlfriend is here? Who the hell invited her?” Heather shrugged in reply. “Where is she now? We can’t let JC see her.”
Heather scoffed. “Too late. She’s all over him right now. She’s going to ruin the party Justin!” She screamed at him.
“Alright calm down.” He didn’t like feeling as if he was to blame for JC’s ex-girlfriend showing up. Still, Heather had clearly directed her frustrations at him.
Justin turned, focusing his attention on Mya. “Mya, you’ll pull JC to the dance floor and start your performance. Heather and I will get rid of the-”
“The Bitch.” Heather expressed easily.
Mya giggled at her response. “And that’ll work?”
“Sure, we all know that JC is interested in you and not that-”
“Bitch.” Heather interrupted again.
“Okay, I’ll do whatever it takes.” Mya agreed, deciding not to comment on Justin’s statement right now.
“Shake those hips of yours in his direction and trust me, he’ll be near you before we can start the music.”
~*~*~*~*~
For the second time tonight, JC allowed his gaze to roam the crowd. Before he was looking for familiar faces, now he was aiming for a distraction. His ex-girlfriend, Heather, that he hadn’t seen in at least three months had managed to crash his birthday party. She had told him that a friend had invited her as a guest and she had no clue she was attending his party until her eyes caught the large birthday banner. Then she decided to come over and share her birthday wishes. The explanation seemed plausible, but he’d rather be anywhere but near her. She had made him feel like a fool when she cheated on him and he didn’t associate with people who stomped on his dignity.
His eyes focused more on the crowd. Where in the hell is Mya? She was just the type of distraction he needed, wanted.
“So JC, how’s life been? Haven’t seen you in the spotlight lately.” Heather asked, resting her hand on his shoulder. Rather than give her a response, he shrugged her hand way.
“Huh? Who was the lucky lady after me?” Her question sparked a nerve in him and he turned swiftly, catching her seductive grin.
He fought to hold in his next words, but failed. “There was no you. You don’t exist in my world.”
“Ooh a little bitter, are we?” She pretended to be offended.
“Actually, I used to be, I’ll admit that. But my interest lies elsewhere now.” His thoughts immediately drifted to Mya.
“Well, well, good for you. I wouldn’t want you to still be hung up on me after all this time.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He was prepared to walk away until he saw Mya sauntering in his direction. Curious, JC chose to remain seated. She seemed to strut towards him on bare feet with a purpose as the crowd receded into the background around her.
When Mya caught him intently, but inquiringly watching her, her lips curved into a teasingly hidden smile as she closed in on her target. She stood in front of him, lowering forward to rest her hands on his knees, and spreading them just enough to accommodate her body.
“What are you doing?” JC whispered as he raked his eyes over her hovering form before slightly leaning away. Mya didn’t directly answer his question, but a glint sparked in her eyes. “Mya-”
“Hello, Mya. I’m Heather.” She spoke casually, thinking nothing of her rude interruption.
JC didn’t give Mya the chance to the return the greeting even if she had wanted to. He tugged her hand gently so that her gaze remained on him. “What are you doing?” He questioned again anxiously wanting a response. The last time they had been this close was more than a week ago in his basement where he serenaded her with an original song and confused her with a kiss. However, he couldn’t say what was going to happen now in front of all of these people.
“I’m dancing.” She replied, shimmying her hips for his benefit.
“To this?” He waved his hand out directing her attention to the infectious beat of the dance track.
“No.” She stepped back and turned away from him. She lifted her hand to signal the DJ. Gradually, a new track began playing. As Mya faced JC again, an arrangement of spotlights, coming from every direction followed her. Noticing that a personal performance was about to take place, the crowd receded into the background and cleared the dance floor.
With one hand on her hips, Mya swayed them seductively while snapping her fingers in time with the steady rhythm. Her movements led her to her previous position, in between his legs where she continued to roll her hips to the beat.
Completely enthralled by the performance Mya was putting on especially for him, JC didn’t hesitate to allow her to set his hands upon her undulating hips. Yet, in an attempt not to embarrass himself, he only permitted himself to blush slightly. He wouldn’t get too excited…yet.
Mya hands swept up her body, passed the undersides of her breast, journeyed over her shoulders, and up into her hair. She rummaged through her silky mane, releasing the pins so that a mass of tousled curls fell, framing her face. She disappointed JC when she moved away again, releasing his hold on her hips.
The music had disappeared and for a moment, JC thought her impromptu dance was over. He was pleasantly surprised, when the tempo increased and she began an entire new set of provocative dance moves.
With her hands on her knees, Mya bent forward and whipped her head around, causing tendrils to fall in front of her face. Once she was standing upright again, Mya peaked at him through wisps of hair, her gaze shimmering under the low spotlights.
Damn. JC found her gaze, intense and uncomfortable for his current sitting position. He shifted in the stool to relieve some of the pressure building in his pants. So much for not getting too excited.
Lost in her own fantasy and immersed in the music, Mya let herself go and focused on giving this memorable performance her all. However, wanting to make this a memorable experience for him as well, she would need him to participate.
As she turned her back, Mya snapped her eyes at JC and beckoned him over her shoulder to the middle of the dance floor. At this point, the crowd hollered and hooted encouragingly, yet JC still hesitated. He didn’t like not knowing what she was asking of him. But then again, that's why she was so intriguing. Therefore, though unmoving, he stood. Mya on the other hand had other ideas. She latched on the lapels of his blazer and tugged him closer, so that they were pelvis-to-pelvis, hip to hip and grinding to the rhythm. All the while, JC was willing himself not to react to the contact. He breathed a sigh of relief when she suddenly stepped back. However, not one to make it easy on him for too long, Mya placed her hand on his chest, lightly traveling to his back as she glided around him. And as if her touching him hadn’t been enough, she decided to take it a step further and press her front tightly to his back, her hands curving over his shoulders. JC immediately tensed.
She stood on the tips of her bare feet, her lips managing to level with his right ear. “What’s wrong JC?” She whispered, her husky tone teasing his senses. “Why aren’t you dancing?”
“If you’re set on trying to embarrass me you’re doing a wonderful job.” He uttered through clenched teeth, putting a ton of emphasis on the word wonderful.
“Embarrassing you is definitely not part of the plan. But, if you’re getting too excited let me know.” She breathed out in a giggle.
However, JC never spoke the words to her while she continued her dance routine, yet he was certain above everything else, that she was aware of how she was turning him on. In fact, he was pretty sure that had been her intention from the beginning.
She had stimulated him, with a sexy gaze here, and a provocative dance move there. Or better yet, she would decide to boldly brush up against him. That was what had started it.
In a natural and an untamed fashion, and her hands raised to the ceiling, Mya spun around before him, her dress floating about her exposed legs and her hair tossing in complete disorder as fluidly as her body. Her dance steps had led her a great distance away from him, where she eventually struck a dramatic pose and fixed him with a fierce stare. It was incredible; how she was feeding off the energetic responses from him and the crowd yet didn’t permit it deter her performance.
She moved, slowly at first, then her pace quickened and sizzled with the music’s increasing tempo. With more and more determined steps, she danced, then rose on her toes and skipped forward back to JC. Once in front of him again, she began spinning around and around, some times up on her toes or one leg raised to the heavens in another.
It wasn’t like any type of dancing he’d ever seen and certainly one he’d never attempted. However, she executed the different styles of contemporary, modern jazz, and hip-hop with remarkable skill and grace. Much like in her earlier movements, she twirled around several times, a movement that had quickly become his favorite and allowed him to see all of her.
The music had reached a climatic moment, the bass thumped, horns soared and his heart raced. She suddenly ended her series of twirls with her body doing a grinding motion. Her back arched and she stretched her arms high while with extraordinary balance and confident in her abilities, she fell backwards to the floor, landing in a true yoga pose, with her hands and feet supporting her perched form.
Reversing her position to her hands and knees, she eased to the floor. She lied down for a second, sprawled against the hardwood, then rose, arching her back. The music dropped out and her deep exhaling breaths drifted through the silence. JC stared down into the depths of her glittering orbs, his heart thundering in his chest, as if he had been the one performing the rigorous routine. Meanwhile, everyone watching was in awe to say the least, but she wasn’t done just yet. The tempo increased just one more time.
Mya pulled up from the floor and instantly sprang to her feet. She was the essence of sensuality as her body swayed and gyrated to the sexy rhythm all while leading her closer to him. She took defined steps, her legs lifting and knees bending as she did so. She put her hand against JC’s chest, gently pushing him backwards and she followed. The music’s crescendo enveloped the entire room before coming to an abrupt end. In a quick and unexpected movement, Mya threw her body up against his and he landed hard in his stool, his back knocking the bar countertop. Her performance finished right where it had begun.
Their eyes connected. Mya sighed heavily, catching her breath and JC managed to calm his racing heart. This was a birthday he would always remember, he thought as thunderous applause echoed into the space.
Mya turned away from him to accept the gratitude from some friends and some complete strangers. Justin was the last to congratulate her on her talents.
“Good God Mya that was amazing, you had us guys all hot and flustered over there and I’m sure C here has a mean case of blue balls right now.” He laughed. Mya turned to JC with an apologetic smile. She didn’t mean for him to be teased by his peers. She meant for him to thoroughly enjoy her performance and by Justin’s comment, she was sure he did.
“Damn, can you do a little something like that; say in January for my birthday party? And you may take it a step further if you prefer.”
“I’m flattered-” JC grabbed a hold of her wrist possessively and pulled her to him, she landed not so gracefully in his lap.
“Bye Justin.” JC sent him away. Justin rewarded him with loud and almost obnoxious laughter.
“Take care of him Mya, he’s on edge.” He smirked, before leaving them alone. Well, not entirely. Heather, JC’s ex-girlfriend was still in close proximity. Justin remembered what he was supposed to do with her and came back over. He told her to join him on the dance floor giving her no option to object. She followed.
JC chose that moment to wrap his arms low around Mya’s waist and share his opinions about her performance. “So that was the special performance you had for me, huh?”
She smiled, proudly. “Yes you liked it, right?”
“Liked it? Baby, I don’t think that begins to even describe how much I enjoyed it. I mean, c’mon, you saw me standing there like a dumbfounded fool when you were dancing. Shoot, I’m still experiencing the effects now. You feel it?”
“Yes, I feel it.” The evidence of how much he had been affected was snuggled beneath her backside. She quickly decided that it was time for her to find a new seat. She pulled up the stool that Heather had left.
Although JC was disappointed, he didn’t mind that she had vacated his lap, taking the warmth of her body with her. He knew she was still trying to get a handle on the reactions that she was finally allowing herself to display. He wouldn’t pressure her. She hated to be pressured, past experiences and journal entries had told him so.
“I can’t wait until I get you alone.” He promised he wouldn’t pressure her. He had never said anything about not charming her.
At his admission, Mya tensed, her once relaxed body becoming stiff and rigid. His statement expressed many possibilities and all of them filled her mind at once. “JC, I don’t-”
“I just want to talk. We need to talk don’t you agree?” He grasped onto her left hand. “I got some things to say and I don’t want to say them to just anybody.”
“Okay.” Mya sighed, giving in. “We can talk later after the party.”
JC nodded. “I’ll settle for that.”
“Now…” Mya stepped down from the stool. “I need to find my shoes. And accept some of these dance offers.”
“Make them quick.”
“Okay, Mr. Possessive.” Mya smiled before drifting into the crowd.