Pride (Living In Sin #1)

Chapter 22

Alec

There was so much to Pry. He was tall, and there was a bulk to him that none of my other boyfriends had. Pry filled out the flowing white shirt. Not that it was much of a shirt; it showed more chest than it covered. And the black leather pants were so tight I could even imagine feeling the planes of his muscles.

As it was, I could feel the heat of his erection against my hip. Pry didn’t bother to hide it. He didn't actively grind against me. But he was there, resting against my hip. With his body so close because he had his thumbs hooked into my belt hoops. Pry was using them to anchor the two of us together.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd danced at a club. Not that I'd ever been much of a dancer. It didn't seem to matter to Pry, though. His hands against my hips guided me to the beat of the music. The extra hot pulsing music that made me just think about sex. Between the erection and the music, I could feel the heat swamp through my body.

There were bodies all around us, but I didn't notice them anymore. Pry really knew how to romance someone, even with all the sexy people. His eyes never left my face. He didn't look at anyone else. It was overwhelming, but in the best of ways. All I could do was let Pry lead the dance to keep me close.

Tentatively, I lifted my arms, threading my fingers into the hair at the base of his neck. It was surprisingly soft, and I had the irrational urge to ask him what sort of products he might use. It was insane, but my mind couldn't really stick to one series of thoughts. Everything was all jumbled with the feel of Pry around me.

I let him move us, pulling me more into the song and the dance. The feel of him was overwhelming. But even with that, I didn't want it to end. The whole feeling was surreal.

He moved to the deep sound like someone who was born to it. Pry knew how to move. I was at a loss, but I could keep up with him surprisingly. It was so much but also it wasn’t enough. I wanted to crawl into his skin, but that was crazy.

This whole thing was crazy. I was dancing with my boss and I wished it never had to end.

The bodies pressed around us; they followed the pole dancer with fevered abandon. Had the clubs back when I’d been younger been like this? Was there so much energy back then? Probably, I guessed?

At least Pry didn’t move that fast; I’d probably have a heart attack. I wasn’t unfit, but it wasn’t like I did a lot of movement. And I loved food when I could afford it. But with his hands on my hips, keeping me anchored to his pace, I could feel the world fade around us.

“Thank you.”

I startled myself as well as Pry, but the words felt right. I couldn’t deny them if I tried. Pry, of course, bounced back quickly, his grin teasing.

“For what? Shouldn’t that be my line for finally agreeing to this dance?”

I wanted to point out he hadn’t given me much choice. But it was like there was some sort of spell being woven around us. “You’re a wonderful dancer,” I said instead, “so I’ll forgive you for bullying me all week.”

“Oh?”

Well, mistakes had been made as Pry’s teasing smile grew to his eyes. I was going to suffer because I’d chosen not to be sarcastic for once. Go me.

“I think you like my ‘bullying’.” He wasn’t wrong, but my mouth was too dry to respond as his face moved even closer. I could practically feel the touch of his beard against my lips whenever he spoke. “I think it’s just the thing you need.”

Licking my lips right now would be a terrible idea. “Someone’s got a high ego of himself.”

He chuckled, and the feel of his breath made me swoon like a teenage girl. Damn it. Just because he was close enough for me to feel the wet heat shouldn’t be making my knees weak. And the way the sound reverberated up my spine should have been embarrassing, not hot as sin.

“You have no idea, little boy. My pride is definitely my most defining feature.”

The way his hooded eyes watched me made my cock jump. We were close enough that there was no way he didn’t notice it. His smirk had me wanting to wipe it off his face, but I also couldn’t deny how right he was. Pry was cocky and sure. But he wasn’t just about himself. Pry’s ego extended to everyone around him. I was not immune from his little bubble of pride.

His head tilted to the side, those soft-looking lips just out of reach. “Will you kiss me now, Alec?”

I shouldn’t. There were literally a million and one reasons kissing Pry was the worst idea. But he was watching me with those eyes and the music only swelled higher around us. I wanted to. It was something I felt I needed; it was something I wanted more than anything else in the world.

Why was I fighting something I didn’t think I could live without?

So, with all the swirling feelings riding me, I closed the last few millimeters and pressed our lips together.

Fuck the consequences. I was going to have something I wanted, even if I shouldn’t.