Page 2 of Every Move You Make
Shauna had known Aditya and Sabrina for years. They were part of her brother’s circle. In fact, Aditya was a close friend of her sister-in-law, Raashi.
She studied the two of them. Up until now, she’d never suspected that Aditya and Sabrina were attracted to one another, but Akash was right. Tonight, there seemed to be a pull humming between them. It was evident in the quiet tension between them, the charged looks they shared, and the unconscious way their bodies kept leaning toward each other.
She inhaled, and once again his scent hit her—spicy, heady, sharp, unmistakablyhim.Her gaze drifted back to him before she could stop it.
He was already watching her. His dark, steady gaze slowly swept over her, as if he had all the time in the world to take her in. His eyes finally paused on her mouth and stayed there. Her pulse stuttered. Another shiver raced through her. Heat curled low in her belly. The silver dress that had felt perfect an hour ago suddenly clung too tightly, every inch of her skin acutely aware of his scrutiny.
She tore her gaze away and reached for her glass, taking a quick sip. The burn of alcohol did nothing to steady her. Akash leaned in, his hand lifting before she could move. His thumb brushed lightly against the corner of her lip, wiping away a stray drop. A spark shot through her. She jerked back instinctively, her breath catching.
His eyes darkened. Was he feeling this too? This strange, magnetic pull that had been humming between them all evening, growing stronger with every glance. Fuck. This was crazy.
The music shifted, the slow thrum giving way to a pounding EDM beat that pulsed through the club like a heartbeat. Shauna’s head snapped toward the DJ booth as the familiar track dropped, lights flaring in sync with the rhythm.
When she turned back, Akash extended his hand toward her. “Let’s dance.”
Her brows rose. Akash was asking her to dance? Why? He’d made it clear often enough that he didn’t like her and took an almost sadistic pleasure in getting under her skin. Then why this? Her gaze flickered from his outstretched hand to his face, and the look she found there made her breath catch. There was no mockery this time, no teasing smirk, only heat. And the more she stared at him, the hotter the fire crackled between them.
Deliberately ignoring that, she shot him a haughty look. “Are you asking or ordering?”
He grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Requesting.”
She hesitated, her pulse still unsteady. The idea of being that close to him, his hands on her, his body moving against hers, felt reckless. Dangerous. Dancing with him now, when her thoughts were already tangled and her heartbeat uneven, was asking for trouble. Her gaze flicked toward the exit. Leaving seemed like the better option. Less risky.
Akash smiled. “Shauna, are you going to dance with me? Or are you so afraid you’re thinking about running away?”
She lifted her chin, her jaw tightening. “Why would I want to run away?”
“So you can keep pretending this isn’t happening,” he said softly, his eyes locked on hers. “This… whatever it is that’s erupted between us.”
“There is nothing between us,” she shot back, her tone sharper than she intended.
He stepped closer, the beat thrumming around them, his voice low enough to curl beneath her skin. “Then dance with me and prove it.”
Her breath hitched. And against every warning in her head, she nodded. But instead of taking his hand, she moved toward the dance floor, knowing he was behind her. She turned, and Akash was right there, too close for comfort. Her heart thudded hard against her ribs, traitorous and loud, as the air between them pulsed with everything she refused to admit. She shut her eyes and began to move to the music, hoping that when she opened them again, she’d feel only irritation and annoyance for him once again. Nothing more.
But alas, she was wrong. When her eyes fluttered open, Akash wasn’t dancing. He was standing perfectly still, watching her. The look in his eyes was raw, dark, hungry. Heavy with need. The sight of it made her breath hitch. Heat prickled across her skin, her movements faltering as that look burned into her.
The world around her blurred. Everything faded until it felt like there was only him, her, and that scorching awareness stretching between them. Her throat went dry. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Panic, or maybe something wilder, shot through her, and before she could stop herself, she turned and pushed through the crowd, running away from him.
The cool, air-conditioned air inside the hotel hit her as she stepped outside. It felt sharp against her overheated skin. She inhaled deeply, trying to steady the chaos inside her, but it was no use. Her body still hummed, her heart still raced, and she didn’t know if it was fear or want that drove it.
“Running away?”
She whirled around at his voice. Akash stood there, his arms crossed, his intense gaze locked on her.
“I just needed air,” she said, though it sounded weak even to her own ears.
He took a step closer. A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Sure you did.”
“Akash…” she began.
But the hunger in his eyes halted her words. Longing mixed with panic warred inside her. She backed away from him. He kept moving closer until she felt the wall press against her back. He leaned into her.
“What do you want?” she breathed.
He gently caressed her jaw. She gasped at the electric touch.
His lips curved. “I want the very same thing you’re too scared to admit.”
