Part 4
“Does that mean your dance card is free McDermott?”
Paul turned around and smiled at Corinne.
“Guess so.”
Corinne returned his smile. There was still a slower song playing so she allowed herself to move closer to him, sliding her arms around his neck. Paul rested his hands on her hips and she felt a tingle run through her body as he touched her.
Corinne had to admit to herself that she was enjoying being this close to Paul. She laid her head on his chest and in response his hands slid from her hips around to the small of her back, pulling her closer to his body. As they danced she began to lose herself in his scent, a mixture of aftershave, sweat and pure Paul.
As he moved his head he couldn’t resist the urge to place a soft kiss on her forehead. Corinne lifted her head from his chest and smiled up at him. As their eyes locked together they both saw that the desire for each other was clearly evident. Paul leant down, their lips drawing closer.
“Hey guys!”
Paul jumped back as Rove and Wil ran back over to the dance floor with drinks in hand. Paul and Corinne exchanged a look, neither of them sure if they were glad they’d been interrupted or not.
Part of Paul was happy, knowing that he and Corinne were friends and he didn’t want to jeopardize it. But another part of him desperately wanted her. He needed to think, and he needed to be a further distance away from Corinne when he did it.
“I’m gonna go and get a drink.”
Corinne looked at him.
“I’ll go with you..”
“No it’s alright. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Paul quickly took off towards the bar before Corinne had a chance to say anything else. When he eventually made his way back to their booths he found Mark and Corinne sitting down chatting to each other.
“Mind if I interrupt?”
Mark looked up.
“Not at all. I was just leaving actually.”
Mark winked at Paul and Paul resisted the urge to say something to him he might regret. He knew Mark was only trying to help, but he seriously had a thing for interfering in Paul’s love life that Paul was going to have to talk to him about one of these days.
“You took your time getting a drink.”
”Yeah I’m sorry, was doing some thinking. Where’d Wil and Rove get to?”
“I don’t think you want to know.”
Paul smiled and took a sip of bourbon, allowing it to flow down his throat and licking his lips. Corinne sat there just taking in the image of him. His dark hair was wet and sweat glistened on his forehead. His lips were full and flushed, and Corinne watched as Paul’s tongue slid out to wipe a stray drop of bourbon from his lip. Her mind began to wander to thoughts of what else Paul could do with that tongue.
“Look about what happened out there..”
Paul’s voice broke her from her thoughts and she lifted her gaze from his mouth to meet his eyes.
“Nothing happened Paul.”
“Maybe that’s for the best.”
Paul didn’t know why he’d said that, or even if he really believed it, but it just slipped out. He made the mistake of looking at Corinne, and his heart almost broke as he saw the obvious disappointment on her face.
“Corinne I’m sorry..”
“No it’s alright, you’re right. I know that sex would just complicate things, and I really don’t want something like this to ruin our friendship.”
Paul was about to say something else but Corinne stood up, mumbling something about a drink and heading off towards the bar. Paul sighed and quickly swallowed the last of the bourbon from the glass. He thought about what Corinne had said and sighed again.
“I think it already has.”
part 5