On The Floor (Second Story) Read online

  I quickly shut my mouth, smile, and put my hand in his. “Nice to meet you Mike, I’m Rachel," I say loudly trying not to yell, but wanting him to hear me.

  He chuckles and keeps holding my hand as he leans down closer to me so he doesn’t have to speak so loudly.

  “I hope you don’t think this is too forward, but what I really wanted to tell you is that you looked beautiful out there. Watching you dance was one of the most enchanting things I have ever seen.”

  I blush and go back to gaping. I seriously wish that my default face with this guy was not gaping. I quickly change my face into a smile and hope he didn’t notice the gaping, but based on his return smile I think he did.

  “Um… thank you?”

  “You’re welcome. I’m not trying to creep you out or anything, I just thought that someone should tell you how beautiful you looked out there.”

  He turns to walk away and I grab his arm. “Do you want to dance with me?”

  That just came out of nowhere. I have never been this forward. And I have decided it is definitely the beers. I will keep myself at a three beer max in the future. I am not sure if I like the lowered inhibitions that come with the beers.

  He looks me right in the eyes, his are smoldering and I’m sure mine are wide with surprise at my own forwardness. “Absolutely Rachel.”

  He takes my hand and starts to walk with me back to the dance floor. What did I get myself into? Dancing with a normal guy who expects me to “sway” or whatever Jimmy called it is fine. Dancing with the most attractive man anyone has ever seen when he expects me to really and truly dance with him is... um… I think I might die.

  Before I know it he has pulled me onto the dance floor. We are near the edge of the floor in the back. I can see my friends from where I am and Jimmy waves at me to let me know he can see where I am. At least I know that he will be watching in case this guy turns out to be the creep he says he isn’t.

  Mike grabs my hips and turns me around so my back is to his front. He keeps his hands there and moves so close to me I can barely breathe out of nervousness. I drink what is left of my beer and set it on an empty table near us.

  And then the new song starts. It’s one I haven’t heard before, but I like it. Mike starts to move and I follow suit. He starts slow as the beat builds. All I can think about is his hands on my body and the sound of the music. And the way he moves. Oh god the way he moves. I think I may be doing something more like the “sway” that I normally do, but who can blame me. I can barely think, let alone move the way I want to with his hands on me.

  As the song speeds up, our movements follow. My response to his body becomes effortless and I can’t help but move with him. Mike’s hands grip on my hips and I realize that without even thinking about it I have started to dance like I was before. I smile.

  He lowers his head and his mouth is dangerously close to my neck. I feel his hot breath on me. My smile fades as my lips part slightly, my heart races, and my breathing speeds. His hands slowly move from my hips down onto my upper thighs as pulls me even closer to him. In one movement I lean my head back onto his chest closing my eyes and reach my arms up around his neck behind me. As I move against him, I can feel his erection hardening in his jeans and I moan.

  I actually moan.

  It’s loud in here, so I hope he couldn’t hear me.

  But maybe if he did he would finally touch his lips to my neck. They are so close to touching me and I can feel his breath on my sensitive skin like fire. Right when I feel like he will finally ravage me like my body wants, he slowly slides his hands up my sides and arms, grabs my hands and turns me around so I am facing him. I am panting.

  Better than gaping.

  He places my arms back around his neck. Our eyes lock on each other and his hands start that slow sensual journey back down my body. They slide down my arms, glide over the sides of my ribs, and finally land at my hips where he grips and pulls me flush to his body. His erection is pressing into my stomach and his gaze hasn’t left mine since he turned me around. His eyes are on fire. They are dark and smoldering and I know my eyes are reflecting the same want and need that his are.

  His breathing is just as fast and shallow as mine. I know he wants me. And I want him. I have never had this kind of reaction to a man before. Not even while I am sleeping with him. Before I can decide what I want to do about it, the song ends and he makes the decision for me.

  He touches his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. He quickly pulls away and looks back into my eyes.

  In a deep, rough voice he smiles and says, “Best dance of my life. Thank you Rachel.” And then he turns and walks away.

  I am back to gaping as I stare at his back as he walks away. What just happened? For the first time in my life my body has responded to a man the way I have always wanted it to, the way I have read about, the way I have heard about. And he leaves.

  Why didn’t he dance with me again? Why didn’t he kiss me? I am pretty sure he wanted to. But maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see?

  My silent reverie is broken as Jenna collides into my back and wraps her arms around my middle. I am still gaping in the direction that Mike walked but I can’t see him anymore.

  Jenna turns me around and looks into my eyes with her hands on my shoulders. “Oh. My. God. Rachel! What the hell was that?”

  “My thoughts exactly,” I respond, dazed.

  “Here, come on. We are leaving. Dan has work early in the morning. We can talk about this when we get back to my room.”

  “Okay…”

  My mouth is still open and I am in disbelief. What just happened?

  ***

  The walk home was short and quiet. I don’t think anyone really knew what to say to me after the initial, “What happened there?” Since I didn’t really have a quick answer to that, I just told them I wasn’t sure and they allowed me the time to process in my own head.

  When we got back to Juniper Hall, Jimmy and Dan went to their own rooms and Jenna and I went to hers. Now that she has allowed me time to process, she’ll dig a bit more.

  “Sooooo friend! Any thoughts, comments, concerns? That was pretty out of character for you, Rachel. Unless you knew that guy?”

  “I don’t know him. And I know… it was super out of character. I don’t really know what came over me. I mean I drank a little more than normal, but it’s not like I was super drunk or anything. Maybe just a little loose… ”

  “Loose is right!” she says laughing, falling onto her bed.

  “Jenna!” I take a seat in the chair in front of her desk and turn it to face her.

  “Hey! I only call ‘em like I see ‘em. You guys were practically fucking on the dance floor. It was so hot I almost broke my rule and took a guy home even though I just broke up with Hector. I mean, that shit was H-O-T hot.”

  “Was it really? I mean it felt really good, but I didn’t think we were that bad," I reply blushing.

  “Oh, it was bad alright!” she says laughing at my embarrassment.

  “Jenna! Seriously! Stop it with the joking! I really want to talk to you about this. I mean, I have never felt that way about a guy before. And I just met him. Don’t those types of feelings normally take time to develop? This reaction I had to him is making me feel crazy. I’m not sure, but I think if that guy had asked to leave with me, I might have said yes.”

  I look at her waiting for her to respond. Hopefully she can give me some insight.

  “What you felt was straight up attraction. Pure and primal lust. That is the kind of stuff you feel in an instant. It is not something that comes with time. It's there or it isn’t. And in this case, I guess it was there.” She smiles at me, trying to reassure me of my unease with the situation.

  “Huh.” I am still trying to process what she just said through my still hazy brain when she continues.

  “So, what did he say to you? I mean, I could see what you guys were doing, but I couldn’t hear you guys. What happened? And start from the beginn
ing.” She sits up and smiles at me in anticipation of the information she wants me to share and knows I absolutely will.

  I smile at the memory and begin to spill.

  “He bought me a beer, then came to introduce himself. He said it looked like I was having fun. I was staring at him for like a solid minute in silence with my mouth wide open when I realized how hot he was. It was so embarrassing!” I put my hand over my face and turn red as I remember that part of the interaction.

  “Oh stop, Rachel. It probably wasn’t that bad!”

  “No, ask Jims. It was that bad. Anyways, I finally told him my name. Then he told me I looked beautiful while I was dancing and that I was enchanting, or something like that.” I pause for commentary from the bestie, which I can tell from the look on her face that she is waiting to give.

  “So he didn’t give you a totally cheesy pick-up line? No, ‘Wanna shake that thang for me in private?’” She gives me a cheesy smile as she mimics a line she has actually heard more than once. From the same guy. In the same night.

  “No cheesy line. And I think he was sincere with what he said. He didn’t even wait for me say anything. He just turned around and walked away like all he wanted to do was make sure that I knew that someone thought I was beautiful. Then before I knew it, I grabbed his arm and asked him to dance. And that was it.”

  “Wow,” she says sighing dreamily. “But what did he say while you guys were dancing?”

  “Nothing really. He didn’t kiss me or put his hands on my ass. He kept his eyes locked on mine while he was facing me which was nice since you know how most guys stare at my boobs constantly. There was none of that. Just one glance while we were talking. Then when the song was over, he closed his eyes and touched his forehead to mine before he told me that was the best dance of his life. Then he thanked me and then walked away.” My heart is racing just thinking about our dance. Just the memory has brought back the reaction I had to him at Sound.

  “He didn’t ask you to leave with him? Or for your number? Or another dance? Nothing?” Jenna seems outraged for me.

  “Nope. Just thanked me and walked away.”

  “I assumed that he asked and you said no. I was totally ready to give you are hard time about turning him down. With the way he was looking at you and dancing with you I was sure that he wanted to take you home.” She pauses then asks, “He didn’t even get your number? Or give you his?”

  “Nope.” And now I’m a little sad. I may never see him again.

  Almost if Jenna can read my mind she interrupts my reverie. “I’m sure you’ll see him again. Most of the people that go to Sound are students at CAM. I’m sure one of our friends that saw you guys together knows who he is. We’ll just ask some people. Hell! Maybe we’ll even see him the next time we go. What was his name?”

  “Mike.” Mike. I smile.

  “Mike. Cool. I’ll ask around. I mean, that is if you want to see him again…?” She adds this last part after she sees my smile falter. “Do you want to see him again, Rachel?”

  Do I want to see him again? I think I do. But if I have to find him and I am searching and asking about him, won’t I seem like a stalker? And if he wanted to see me again he could’ve asked for my number. Or given me his. Maybe the question isn’t if I want to see him, it is if he wants to see me. I make my decision.

  “I think I’m going to leave it, Jen. If I see him again, that would be great. Awesome. But I don’t want to go all stalker on a guy I just danced with. Hopefully I’ll see him, but if not then so be it.” Saying that last part makes me a little sad. Even though I’m not totally comfortable with the reaction I had to him, it’s upsetting to think that I will never feel it again. Especially with him. “And who even knows if I would feel that way with him again? It was probably just the beer.”

  “Sure Rachel. It was the beer.” Jenna says sarcastically as she looks at me. “A lust filled reaction to a gorgeous Adonis couldn’t be normal behavior. Must only be from the beer you drank,” she deadpans.

  “Okay, so it wasn’t just me? He was like the most beautiful man you have ever seen, right?” I ask her, excited about the fact that a man like that called me beautiful and put his hands on me.

  She starts giggling and motions for me to join her on the bed as we continue to discuss his perfection.

  “Totally! He was… argh! Throw me down, make me yours, fuck me anywhere and anyway you want kind of guy!”

  “I thought it might have been beer goggles. But he was really that hot?”

  “Um, yeah!” she says squealing.

  “And he had his hands on me! Oh god his hands were amazing! So strong and commanding. He just moved me like I belonged with him. Like we belonged together.”

  “I know!”

  We both lie down laughing at the ceiling.

  “You know Rachel, I saw the way he looked at you. There has to be a reason why he didn’t want your number. It was most definitely not you. It has to be something with him. Maybe he has a girlfriend?”

  “A girlfriend? If my boyfriend ever danced with someone else like that and I found out about it, he wouldn’t be my boyfriend for much longer.”

  “It was that hot, huh?”

  “You wouldn’t even believe!”

  And we are back to giggling.

  ***

  After an eventful Saturday, a lazy Sunday is what I truly want. But of course, that isn’t happening.

  It is the last Sunday in January and we are having a floor meeting this afternoon. And at today’s meeting the group will find out that their “fun” academic mentor has been asked to move out. Judy is coming to the meeting this week to tell everyone the news. Though honestly, they may not even notice his absence if she doesn’t point it out. He rarely attended the floor meetings.

  After a morning of homework and reading, I walk into the common room and grab a chair setting it near the front of the room. I pull the white board out of the closet and grab the markers from my bag.

  A couple of the freshmen start to trickle in and talk amongst themselves. When Judy walks in, she comes right up to me and gives me a hug. She is a very sweet woman who cares deeply for all of her employees. I know that it was hard for her to fire Ty, even though it was well deserved.

  “Hi Judy! How’ve you been?” I say in greeting.

  “Very well, Rachel! It’s good to see you!”

  “Have you found a replacement for Ty yet?” I ask her quietly.

  “Actually, I have. Another Music Major. He is moving in tonight. Hopefully he will make it before the end of the meeting so he can introduce himself to the group.”

  “Hopefully.” I smile at her.

  “I’ll just sit over here out of the way until you need me to explain what is going on.” She gestures to the chair that I pulled aside and goes to sit down.

  The rest of the group comes in and sits down on the couches and floor in front of me. I take a second looking around and I see how well they all get along now. Some of them better than others, but they have all become great friends. It feels really good to know that they enjoy living on my floor. They have fun coming to my meetings and are always very enthusiastic about the activities I plan. I love that I have been able to give them a good freshman experience, despite the less than stellar AM they had.

  “Hey guys!” I say as I move in front of everyone to start the meeting.

  “Hey Rachel!” they all respond.

  “Ok, everyone. Welcome back, officially. I know we have been in classes for a week now, but this is the first official floor meeting of the semester so I wanted to talk about a few procedural things. Also, Judy is here to talk to you about something at the end of the meeting.”

  Judy smiles at them as they all look at her and say, “Hi Judy!”

  “Hi everyone!” she says as her smile grows at their welcome.

  “First off, floor meetings will be every other Sunday, just like last semester. Does one in the afternoon still work for everyone?” They all nod and since there are
no objections, I move on. “Okay. Now let me ask you guys if there are any activities that we did last semester that you want to do again?” I ask the group.

  Joel, one of the Musical Performance majors, yells, “Open Mic Night! That was pretty fun!”

  I write it down on the board when everyone else nods and agrees. “I actually talked to the manager at the Rec Center. He said we could do it once a month if we wanted. I was thinking the first Friday of every month? Any objections?”

  I see everyone shake their heads. “Ok sounds good! I’ll let Jack know! We’ll start in March!”

  Hannah, one of the quieter girls and an Art major, raises her hand. I call on her. “I was wondering if we could keep displaying our art around the common room. I know we had to take it down during break so they could paint, but are we allowed to put it back up and keep hanging new pieces?”

  “Of course Hannah. I already talked to Judy about that and she said that was fine. Just make sure to use small nails or sticky hooks to hang them.” I smile at her.

  I get a couple of other responses and it gives me enough ideas to roll with until the next meeting.

  “Thanks for all the ideas and input guys! On to the next topic: quiet hours. Did you want to keep them the same as last semester or change them? Raise your hand for the same hours, three to five on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?”

  I look around at all the raised hands. “Okay. Since that's everyone, we will keep the hours the same. Glad that went so smoothly. Much better than last time!” Everyone laughs remembering the hour long discussion we had last semester about quiet hours.

  “Lastly, before Judy comes up, I just wanted to remind everyone of my open door policy. Anything, anytime. If I am not here, you can always call or send me a text. Okay?” I look around and see all the nods and smiles from my freshmen. They really are a wonderful group of young adults. If I couldn’t get the AM I dreamed of, at least I got a good group to live on my floor.

  I look over at Judy and she stands and comes to the front while I go to sit down. She looks out at everyone and smiles. I hope this goes well.