Slow songs, dim lighting, and couples dancing

Jeremy put one hand on my hip and the other on my hand, while I put one on his shoulder and the other on his hand, leveling it with our shoulders and swaying to the slow song.

We were close enough for people to look at us. While Jeremy dragged me onto the dance floor, I met Grizelle's astute gaze, and she smiled, as if she approved of what I was doing.

"Ignore them." Jeremy muttered,

"I am," I said, nodding.

Nonetheless, I looked around while his gaze remained fixed on me.

Sebastain's expression swirled in front of my eyes, and the agony that flashed within them made my heart clench.

I shook my head; I'm not going to think about him right now.

I kept my distance from Jeremy. I made certain he wasn't invading my personal space. Even if he did notice, he didn't say anything, and he didn't try to eat up the space between us.

"I just saw him leave the room," Jeremy pointed out, drawing my attention to him.

"Huh?" I said this while looking at his auburn eyes, which were now dancing with mirth.

"Sebastian. You're looking for him, aren't you?" He said it without a trace of envy or disdain in his voice. Which, to be honest, surprised me.

"No, I was not," I said, shaking my head.

I had no intention of looking for Seb. Was I right?

Yes.

I disregarded my conscience.

"Sure thing," he smirked, but he didn't appear convinced.

I rolled my eyes and swayed in silence with him. We were both lost in our thoughts, so it wasn't as uncomfortable as I had imagined.

"So, what does he mean to you?" After a while, Jeremy inquired, twirling me.

"Who?" I asked, returning to our previous position.

He sighed and rolled his eyes "You know who. Sebastian Greyson. And don't give a shit saying 'nothing' "

I wish I could say I found it surprising, but I didn't.

"It's complicated," I sighed.

Jeremy gave a nod.

My phone began to ring from the table next to us, where I had kept my purse.

It must be Jen.

"He likes you," Jeremy said casually, unaffected by what he had just said. While I burst out laughing.

"Yeah right. He does anything but like me" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not trying to defend that asshole; men express their affection in a variety of ways. I despise his fucking ass-"

"A nice fucking ass, though," I interrupted.

He chuckled and nodded, "A nice fucking ass" he agreed and continued,

"And he appeared to be about to plunge on me as soon as he got the green light. Plus you were all hell bent on ignoring him; it was obvious you guys had something going on, and perhaps that stupid fucking asshole ruined it."

I shook my head, a smile on my face, appreciating his analytical abilities.

"In the first place, we are nothing. There's an attraction. But It's just that- an attraction and a fantasy."

"Are you telling me? Or are you trying to convince yourself?"

I was taken aback by his question, so I didn't respond.

I didn't know what to say. But then on a second thought- I think I did.

"Arabella, you are stunning. You were in my mind for days after that day. It's no surprise that half of the men here are still staring at you. And a certain Henderson is glaring at me, while another Greyson employee at that corner is doing the same."

He turned me around so I could see Luke standing in the shadows, talking to someone, but his gaze was fixed on us. He took them off when he noticed my eyes on him, then returned my gaze and smiled. Before I could respond with a smile, Jeremy turned me in the opposite direction, where I could see John staring at us; I couldn't even send him a smile because I was instantly turned around and met with my dance partner's auburn eyes. He was definitely exaggerating; everyone in the room was staring at him, not at me. While Luke was just Luke, John may have gotten the wrong idea about our friendship.

"So?" He asked, bringing our chests close together, while I lightly pushed his chest, creating much needed space; he seemed amused rather than irritated by my action.

"The guy behind me is Luke, my ex. He cheated on me, and we broke up."

"For someone who cheated, he still looks madly in love with you."

"He cheated on me for three years in our three year relationship. So yeah, he does anything but love me" I rolled my eyes.

"Ouch. What about the other person?"

I raised my perfectly sculpted brow,

"Be careful. I might think you're actually interested in my life, gentleman" I responded by twirling.

"That I most profoundly am, Mi lady," he whispered in my ear as my back met his front.

I rolled my eyes and returned to our original position.

"The gentleman on the other end is John; I only met him a few moments ago; he's just a friend."

"I don't think any male in their right mind would ever befriend you," he said looking straight into my eyes and twirled one of my loose tendrils in his fingers as we slowly swayed.

What's that supposed to mean?

"What I mean is, Arabella, you are too exquisite for a man to call you his friend, unless he's gay," he winked while my insides warmed.

But the joke is on him because one of my best friends is a man.

I did get a lot of compliments, but Jeremy Carter is handsome and charming, and getting compliments from him boosts my ego.

"You're exaggerating and being humble, but thank you," I said softly, smiling.

"I'm just telling the truth," he winked as I rolled my eyes again, this time with a tug on my lips.

We danced quietly for a while, taking in each other's thoughts.

"Will I have a chance if you and him don't end up being anything more?" He murmured, his gaze fixed on me.

I could feel the air between us. I returned my gaze to his auburn eyes. They were beautiful but didn't meet the beauty held by a certain pair of blue eyes.

Jeremy Carter was breathtaking and captivating. From the moment I stepped onto the dance floor, women's gazes were fixed on him. But, for some reason, I didn't know what to say, and I didn't want to lead him on. Furthermore, obviously, I and Seb can never be anything else.

"I'm not sure, Jeremy," I said quietly.

He remained silent.

"You're a nice person, and I don't want to lead you astray."

He chuckled.

"Thank you for your gracious rejection. But I am far from a nice person, angel."

I rolled my eyes.

We kept swaying and dancing. I didn't say anything because he was quiet. But then the music started playing again, and I could hear my phone ringing but couldn't do anything about it. Before I could comprehend what was going on, I noticed women passing into the arms of men who were not their dance partners.

Jeremy spun me around, my back against his chest, his breath fanning my ears as he said,

"I'm going to let you go in this life, angel. But in any other life, I'll fucking make sure you're mine, taken or not."

With that, he shoved into someone's arms, but not in the arms of the man standing right in front of us, but in the arms of someone else.