Page 84 of Allegiant

My lips quirk. “Just who’s going to be hiding out to watch us on stage? It’s a big production, but we’re not heading to Broadway.”

“You’re too trusting,” Samson says. “Bad people are everywhere. You should know that better than anyone.”

My breath catches in my throat as I take an involuntary step back. Tears cloud my vision, but I see Samson’s eyes widen in panic as his brain catches up to what his mouth said. “Fuck, I didn’t mean⁠—”

“It’s fine.” I cut him off with a bright smile. Behind me, I can hear the chatter of my approaching friends. “Everything’s fine. Why don’t you find a seat if you’re going to insist on watching?”

I go to turn, but Samson catches my arm. He spins me and crushes me to his chest. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it to come out how it did.”

Heat burns at the back of my eyes. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“You’re not fine,” he growls, his hands stroking along my spine. “Stop with that bullshit right now. You might always wear a smile, but I’m learning which are real and fake.”

I blink up at him. “You are?”

“Yes. And the one you just gave me was about as real as my desire to play Monopoly using the token Harley shit out.”

The voices are closer now, making me reluctantly pull out of his arms. “You need to tell me the full story about that.”

“I will,” he promises, dusting a light kiss over my temple. “Go dance. I’m ready to see some real smiles.”

Samson gives us a standing ovation when we’re done, both fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly. My chest heaves with exertion, but I have the biggest grin on my face as I take a bow.

“You killed it,” Clay chirps at me as we disappear offstage. “I mean, you’re always good, but that? That was spectacular.”

“Oh, hush.” I swat at him playfully. “We were all fantastic.”

“But you more so.” Marcy nudges me with her hip as she passes. “Something to do with the hot, muscly beast of a man watching from the audience?”

I busy myself removing my pointe shoes. “Can’t think who you mean.”

“Please.” Shane rolls his eyes. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you. It was like he was mesmerized.”

I grin as I put my shoes in my bag and pull on my ballet pumps. I don’t need outdoor shoes yet, not with what I have planned.

I bid everyone farewell, promising to bring cookies in for the next rehearsal. I’ll have to sweet-talk Jules into letting me use his kitchen. Despite him apparently being Matthias’s chef, he was the one cooking us all breakfast this morning, with Harley watching from a shadowed corner like a wounded puppy.

I wait until they’re all gone before slipping into the wings and out into the auditorium. My brow crinkles when I notice the empty seat Samson chose. Where is he?

Before I can panic, a strong pair of arms wrap around me from behind. “Boo.”

I can’t help but snuggle back against his chest. “Are you trying to scare me?”

“No,” he grumbles, kissing my jaw. “I was trying to prove a point about how many hiding places there are around here. You need to be on your guard. All the time.”

I give a light laugh. “I’m perfectly safe in the theater.”

I twist in his arms, and one glance at his face tells me he’s about to argue with me, which doesn’t sound fun. Not as fun as my other idea, anyway.

Pushing up on my toes, I bring our lips together. I kiss him until the tension melts out of his body and his hands are moving hungrily over my body. Only then do I break the kiss.

“Come with me.”

His tongue flicks out over his lower lip. “Are we going somewhere more private?”

“Yes, but not for the reason you think.”

Samson groans. “So, you kissed me like that to…?”