Chapter Six

Ava

"It's great to meet you, Ava. I'll get back to you sometime this week." Anita grins, holding her hand out between us.

Anita owns the small dance studio in town. I saw the help wanted sign printed on the front window when I was driving downtown with Colter yesterday.

Expressions Dance Academy offers dance classes starting as early as age one. Meeting Anita and having her show me around the studio brought back many memories of where I started dancing back in Beaufort.

My mom got me into dancing as soon as I started walking. My favorites were lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop, but my mom insisted on exploring all of them, saying I'd never know until I gave it a shot.

They were finishing the last day of their summer camp, so we didn't have much time to chat, but she reassured me that if I was hired, they'd have no problem working around my dance team schedule.

"It was great meeting you, too. I hope to hear from you soon."

On my way out, I waved to the other two girls she introduced me to.

After the rough start to my move to Braysen, I haven't had a chance to fully adjust to life here. I have to admit, though, being in the studio and seeing what this could be like made me feel like everything would come together perfectly.

Given my situation, Colter has been incredibly welcoming and accommodating, but it feels uncomfortable being in his space when he is at practice. We are still getting to know each other, so as much as I want to drive back to his place and hang out, I decide to busy myself with random things.

Deciding to enjoy the summer sunshine, I walk to a small diner just a couple of blocks down the road to grab a sandwich and some chips for lunch. Alec texted me this morning to check in on how the move went. While I eat, I figure I've put off responding long enough and fire off a reply. I keep it short and sweet, trying not to raise any eyebrows.

Afterward, I stop by the university to pick up the rest of my textbooks, then walk around campus to find where all my classes will be.

Once I'm confident I've wasted enough time, I head back to Colter's place and wait for him to return home from practice.

The driveway is empty, except for the Makin' Moves truck parked along the side of the drive. I pull up behind it and grab my purse and water bottle. I don't have a key to the house, so to pass the time, I turn on music and practice our dance routines.

Everything fades away, all the stress of the move and the anxiety of being in a new town. All I think about is dancing.

I don't notice Colter watching until I'm twirling on the ball of my foot, and in my periphery, I spot a figure standing off to the side, arms crossed while studying me.

I gasp and jolt to a stop. My chest heaves, sweat trailing down the side of my face.

"Holy shit, you scared the crap out of me."

"My bad, I didn't mean to freak you out. You were doing your thing, and I didn't want to interrupt you, so I waited until you finished."

"Have you been standing there long?"

"About ten, maybe fifteen minutes." He shrugs, and my eyes bulge.

He doesn't notice, though, because his gaze is too busy trailing down my body. Every inch of my body is on fire beneath his heated stare.

If I thought I was warm from my workout, nothing compared to the intensity of the way Colter's eyes devoured me.

"I was thinking—" His voice cracks. "If you're up to it, maybe we can grab some dinner? There's a spot in town, The End Zone. They have good pizza and wings. You in?"

I pick up my T-shirt from where I left it on the hood of my car and wipe the warm material over my face.

"I'm game. I think I'm gonna grab a shower and get cleaned up before we go."

Colter looks like he showered after practice. He picks up his gym bag from where he dropped it near the sidewalk and nods with me toward the house.

"I'm sorry for not leaving you with a key. I realized I forgot when I was in the middle of practice. I hope it wasn't a problem for you."

"Not at all. I kept myself busy. I stopped by the dance studio in town to put in an application and met with the owner about the position. Then, I grabbed some lunch and picked up the rest of my textbooks at the administration office."

"Sounds like you had a productive day," he says, opening the door before he steps back to let me in first.

One of his roommates sits in the living room, his leg resting on the coffee table, and he's wearing a headset. He shouts into the microphone in the middle of an intense game of Call of Duty.

"Sorry, I swear he's not as unhinged as he sounds. I promise."

I chuckle. "I think you forget I grew up with an older brother. Alec and his friends have spent plenty of nights shouting at the TV in the heat of their game. He doesn't bother me. If anything, it makes me feel oddly at home."

His chest shakes with his laughter.

"C'mon, let's get you set up for your shower," Colter whispers, pressing his palm against my lower back.

"Okay," I murmur, and we slip down the hallway toward his room.

When the door clicks shut, it's like my body is keenly aware of the fact we're alone. Once again, it's as though all the oxygen has been sucked out of the space. He turns to face me, his gaze dropping down to my stomach.

"I hope I'm not crossing any lines by saying this, but I'm finding it hard not to stare at you right now."

My body trembles. My eyes grow heavy, and when he doesn't hear me protest, he must take it as a positive sign and steps toward me.

"All I could think about last night was you lying in my bed, and when I was at practice today, I kept wondering what you were doing."

Without thinking, I reach my hand out for him and grip his forearm. When I sway toward him, he returns the gesture, his large hand clutching my hips to hold me up. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

It's hard not to compare the two of us, with my back against the wall and his impossible size towering over me. You'd think the difference in our size would be intimidating, but it's the opposite.

All I'm thinking about is how easily he could lift me into his arms and attack my neck, fucking me against the wall with the force of his punishing thrusts.

Colter is all man—from his rough hands and full beard to his intoxicating scent. I've never wanted to be manhandled more than I do right now.

"Tell me what you're thinking," he murmurs, leaning in to press his mouth against my ear.

"I don't think I should say…"

His breath is warm on my heated skin. "And why is that?"

"Well, for starters, I don't think we've quite crossed that line yet."

He hums, but it comes out more of a sigh. I shiver when he quietly repeats the word "yet."

"You want to know what's on my mind?" Colter drawls.

I'm frozen, unable to move, but I think I manage to nod because he goes on to tell me.

"I'm picturing my lips brushing along your soft skin before I trail my tongue up the column of your neck to see if you taste as sweet as I imagine you do."

He reaches his hand up and caresses his thumb along my chin, and I release my lower lip I hadn't realized I'd been biting.

"If you keep biting your lip, I'll take it as a sign you want me to find other ways to occupy your mouth."

My chest heaves, and my nails dig into his skin. He sucks in a low breath, his mouth moving a fraction away from mine.

"Is that what you want, Ava? You want me to taste you?"

"Yes," I croak.

He slips his hand into mine and pulls me with him over toward the end of his bed, positioning me between his legs.

I try not to think about how perfectly we align in this position. Instead, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me. We're a few inches from each other, and I'm waiting for him to finally give in and kiss me when two heavy knocks beat against the door.

"Vaughn, you here? We're gettin' ready to head out to Whiskey Sinner's. You joinin' us?"

Colter clenches his jaw, and I step away, glancing back and forth between him and the door. He shakes his head, the tic pulsating there. I press my palm against his cheek, rubbing my thumb along his skin, and his eyes soften on mine.

He pushes himself to stand and jerks the door open, just as the guy standing on the other side holds his fist in the air, ready to knock again.

"Beckham, you mind?"

His eyes flick from Colter over to me, then back to Colter. A slow smile spreads across his face.

"My bad, man. Hayes mentioned you had a girl staying over, and I forgot she was here." He greets me with a nod, and I press my lips together, attempting to smile, but there's no doubt he can see how flustered I am.

I decide to give them their space and grab my bag we pulled out of the truck this morning and head into the bathroom, but not before Colter mutters for me to wait.

"I have plans tonight, so count me out. Have fun, though," Colter says, shutting the door on Beckham.

"Yeah, man, looks like you'll have a fun night ahead of you too." Beckham teases from the other side of the door.

Colter grunts and turns to face me. "Sorry. Ignore him. He's new around here and obviously can't take a fuckin' hint." Colter shouts the last two words, and I hear Beckham's laughter, followed by a muffled, "My bad, my bad."

I giggle and shake my head. "You're fine. He's good. I'm gonna go rinse off and change if you don't mind?"

Colter steps past me and shuts the door briefly, rummaging around in the bathroom before he steps out.

"There's a towel and a washcloth for you on the counter. Take your time. I'll give you some space, but if you need anything, just give me a shout."

I glance past him at the towels folded on the vanity counter and smile.

"I'm starting to wonder if you're even real." I blurt the words out without thinking.

He takes a step closer to me, eliminating the space between us. He pushes the hair away from my face and presses his palm against my cheek, lifting my chin until our eyes lock.

"I promise I'm real," he says, his gaze moving to my mouth. Just when I think he's going to drop his hand and leave, he leans in and presses his lips against mine.

He moans against me, his other hand gripping my hip, and all I can do is hold on for the ride.

His tongue brushes along the seam of my lips, and I open for him. I hope he'll drag me over to his bed to finish what we've started, but he breaks the kiss and steps away, taking a deep breath like he's trying to force air into his lungs again.

"I'll be waiting for you," he says, and without another word, he disappears out the door.

I'm left melting into a puddle in the middle of his room, wondering how the hell I got myself here but also not wanting to wake up from this dream either.