CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

 

They had no sooner stepped onto the floor than the band kicked into an upbeat swing number.  In moments, there were old people flying everywhere, probably dancing harder with partners new and old, than they had in years.  Sadie just stared.

 

Fuck, she thought angrily.  Leave it to me to waste a slow-dance opportunity by choking on a martini olive.

 

Yet as soon the thought ran through her head, she realized JC was making no move to get them off the dance floor.  She looked at him quizzically.

 

“You swing?” he asked, dazzling blue eyes alight with mischief.

 

“Um…no…” she replied, “I never…”

 

Her sentence was cut off by his hand on her waist. 

 

“Then I’ll teach you,” he promised, lips inches from her ear so he could be heard over the sudden din of pounding feet and frantic piano playing.  Sadie’s senses swam.

 

“Um…ok…” she managed.

 

And in the next breath, he was whirling her through the crowds of people.

 

It was the most incredible three minutes of her entire life.  Not only did the hand of JC Chasez never lose contact with her body, that mesmerizing voice whispered directions in her ear the whole time.  And, fortunately, eighteen years of dance lessons paid off…at least a little bit.  She let him lead and missed several steps along the way, but she caught the general gist with natural skill.  She knew he noticed, too, by the way he smiled at her. His lips were so perfect.  It sent shudders running straight up her spine from the tips of her toes.  She couldn’t help but smile back.

 

When the music stopped, he dipped her with a flourish.  All around them, aging gamblers applauded furiously.  It made her giggle.  Though she knew the clapping was for the band and not for them, there was a brief moment where she felt like the center of everyone’s attention.  Then, with JC’s help, she righted herself.  The band announced they’d be “taking five.”  The crowd around them dispersed.

 

“So,” her companion drawled, making no move to remove his hand from the small of her back, “Where did you NOT learn to swing like that?”

 

 He was smiling again, oozing that unique mix of pure sex and little-boy innocence.  He needed to stop doing that.  If he didn’t, she was going to melt into a puddle of teenie jell-o right there on the cabaret dance floor.  And there was truly NO need to embarrass herself this evening any more than she already had.

 

“Honestly, I’ve never done it before,” she said, cheeks flushing, “But I’ve danced forever, so it wasn’t that hard to follow.”

 

He nodded slowly.

 

“A dancer,” he mused, “That explains a lot.  Can I buy you a drink, Sadie-the-dancer?”

 

His arm tugged her gently in the direction of the bar.  She followed without duress.

 

“I promise not to have a martini this time,” she joked as they found a couple of empty stools.  He looked at her, eyes twinkling.

 

“Good,” he said, “Another olive disaster like that and I’ll be giving you mouth-to-mouth!”

 

He started to laugh, but stopped abruptly, realizing the sexual innuendo he had just made.  Sadie saw his cheeks flush.  She chewed her bottom lip to hide her giggle.

 

Like that would be a bad thing, she thought. 

 

But she didn’t DARE say that out loud.

 

“How ‘bout we both just do a shot,” she suggested, gesturing to the bar tender, “Pick your poison.”

 

The bartender came over and waited while JC pondered the question.  Shortly, his face broke into a smile and he looked at her with a raised and teasing eyebrow.

 

“Ever had a ‘screaming orgasm?’”

 

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