Love Struck Read Online Free PDF Page A

his breath hot against my earlobe. “I’d love to see some of your dance moves.”
    I shiver , and paste on my most confident smile. “I’d love to show you.” Then I grab his hand and yank him forward until we are entering the dance floor. I squeeze my way through people and locate a space to dance. Anxiety takes root in my stomach.  Telling him I used to be a dancer may have been a slight over-exaggeration. I took a class once when I was eight, and it was ballet. Not sure how well that will translate here in this club while the band plays rock music. All around us couples gyrate, and some girls spin their hair around their heads violently. I cringe, knowing I won't be doing that. Not only will it seriously mess up my perfect curls, but it will give me a major head-rush. Taking a deep breath, I allow my body to sway back and forth. I've been to school dances before. Surely I can do this. I just need to feel the beat and move in sync. Closing my eyes, I let the music blanket me, let the beat weave its way around my body and pull me in the right direction. I raise my arms above my head, hearing my bracelets tinkle like chimes. Then I move my hips sensually from side to side. When I open my eyes, Ryker is staring at me his mouth slightly agape. I worry that maybe I've made a complete fool of myself.
    "Damn," he says under his breath. "Are you sure you weren't, you know, that kind of dancer?"
    I giggle, swatting at him again while continuing to dance.
    "Because that is seriously the sexiest thing I've ever seen." He swallows thickly and licks his lips. Then he steps closer to me, and my heart clatters in my chest. His hands curve around my waist and his body sways with mine, his fingers digging into my flesh. Keeping my arms above my head I continue to dance. "You're gonna have to stop doing that," he growls.
    "Why?" I answer coyly.
    "You have no idea the thoughts that are going through my mind right now, Lola."
    "Is that a bad thing?" I let my arms drop and they drape over his shoulders like a designer shrug.
    "It is if you want me to remain a gentleman."
    "I have a feeling you're always a gentleman, Ryker," I say with a smile.
    His forehead falls against mine, and I savor his musky scent. Even though we are surrounded by tons of people, I feel like we’re the only two in the room. Normally I can’t stop myself from people-watching. Star teases me about it all the time, how my eyes dart around and I have trouble focusing. But in this moment I am so in tune to Ryker that I have no desire to look anywhere other than in his rich brown eyes. "It's how I was raised. But in this moment I have the urge to throw all that out the window." The tone of his voice changes, taking on a husky quality.
    I lift my forehead off of his, searching his face. Maybe I took my flirting too far. Sometimes I do that.
    "But don't worry, I won't." He flashes me one of his dimpled grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The song ends abruptly and it seems so much quieter. "I always treat women with complete respect. I can assure you of that, Lola."
    "You really are like a sweet country boy. You must be the last old fashioned man left on this planet."
    "Like I said, it's how I was raised." He winks at me, causing me to melt into a puddle at his feet.
    "Your dad must be a gentleman too."
    His eyes darken, and he clears his throat. The music kicks back up again and he grabs my hand. "C'mon, let's get a soda or something."
    It feels good when his thick fingers thread through mine, but I can't help but wonder why he evaded my statement. Allowing him to lead me, I follow him to the bar. I can't hear over the loud music and people chattering, but after a couple of minutes Ryker thrusts a cold glass of dark, fizzy liquid into my hand. I close my fist around it, and bring it up to my lips. The minute the liquid lands on my tongue I realize that I was actually really thirsty. After taking a sip, I wipe the sweat from my face with the back of my