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Luke releases my hips and kisses my bare shoulder before guiding me toward Eli. As a shiver courses down my spine, I take Eli’s hand. I want to believe this will be the hardest part of the night, trying to keep from dragging each of them or all of them off to dark corners.

But I still have the crowning to look forward to, which should have very little to do with me. Besides just being up on the stage with the other nominees. It’s not like I’ll be the one crowned. And if I am, it’s probably best to just run.

Eli leads me to the dance floor and then draws me into his arms. The song is one of my favorites by Jessie Murph, “Always Been You.” My focus narrows to my guy in front of me. He slides his hands around my waist, and lightning sparks beneath his touch as I lift mine to his neck. When he pulls me in close, the rest of the room fades away. The music is so loud I can’t hear any of the other people. It’s darker, more intimate here than at the tables.

“We each need to get a dance in prior to the announcement. It’ll keep you from getting too nervous about it, but also...” Eli leans down so his mouth is next to my ear. “It’s another first, and this one is mine. Your first slow dance.”

My cheeks heat as I realize he’s right. Seems like this one could have come before a lot of the others, but I’m glad I get to share it with Eli. We’ll have a ton of firsts together as we make our way into the world, but I like that the guys always mark them. Like these moments are as important to them as they are to me.

“How did you guys decide who got to be first?” I look up to meet his eyes as he straightens, gently swaying to the music with me. Awareness of him is like lightning in my veins. My insides are delicate and sizzling. “Did someone spin the bottle for me?”

“No, kitten.” His smile is so unlike anything I’ve seen before this year on him. It’s soft, without his usual hard edge. “We all just decided. Just like we’ll decide how to take you tonight. No random chance needed. Just a slow seduction.”

I press my legs together against the ache his words cause. I wish the only thing I needed to worry about tonight was how they were going to take me later. But it’s a nice distraction to think about, and I’m all about the distractions right now.

Eli slides a hand down to cup my ass and his other hand presses against the bare skin of my back, drawing me in so close, nothing could come between us. “Don’t worry, kitten. We’ll make sure to hang up your dress before we ruin you.”

Anticipation bubbles like champagne through my veins. His thumb runs along my spine between my shoulder blades. Definitely a good distraction.

Ashley

Alex Mitchell is way too hopeful about where this date is going. I can’t fucking wait to ditch him. Meanwhile, his hands are on my ass like he has every right to touch me there because we’re slow dancing.

I look anywhere but at Alex. Which I’m sure he doesn’t even notice because his gaze hasn’t left my cleavage in this expensive dress. I can’t believe Sidney thought the basketball guys would be comparable to the horsemen.

Yes, they’re hot, but they aren’t nearly as intense. Ask them to spank you, and they think a little pat is going to get the job done. I roll my eyes.

My gaze snags on Eli and Harper. That’s a man who knows what he wants and takes it. He never treated me like a fragile female, which is what I need. What I long for.

They look like they’re fucking in love. Which is disgusting. I respected what Eli and I had, but it was never love. I don’t know if I’m capable of the emotion. Besides, we’re in high school. Fuck that noise.

“So, babe.” Alex finally lifts his gaze to meet mine.

I hate that he calls me babe. It makes me want to knee him in the balls. But that would get my parents called to the school, and we can’t have that. “Yes?”

“What are you wearing under this pretty dress?” He arches his eyebrows and smirks. “How hard am I going to have to work to get to the goods?”

I withhold the eyeroll begging to be released and smile sweetly. “I can’t just tell you that, babe. Unless you give me something in return.”

Like lay out what your fuckhead friend was thinking last night. I did notice Alex hadn’t been part of Zach’s plan. In fact, most of the guys who usually hang out with Zach are here tonight. That has my mind turning.

Because if last night was the grand finale, wouldn’t you want your most trusted with you?

Alex tugs my hips into his. “I’ve got something for you.”

I giggle like that’s cute. Pretending to be cute and innocent makes guys pliable. “If you want to know what I’m wearing, you need to give me something in return. Information.”

“Oh.” His head bobs like he gets it. But that’s all he does for a moment. He runs a hand through his thick blond hair before returning it to my ass.

Maybe I’m going to have to be even more direct. Fuck. I could just take him into the closet and suck his cock. I’m sure he’d tell me what I want to know, but that shit takes work. And I almost guarantee this asshole won’t know how to return the favor.

“What do you want to know?” And... he pulls his head out of his ass.

“What does Zach have planned for tonight?” I tip my head, trying to appear curious as opposed to calculating. “I mean, that thing last night couldn’t have been it, right?”

He smirks. “We definitely have an encore scheduled, if that’s what you mean.”

I slide my hand up the side of his neck, and he shivers beneath my touch as his eyes darken. “Sidney was planning something with Zach. Is that still on? Even though they aren’t here.”