38

They gathered around with their friends and other wrestlers as Isis and her dance partner took the center of the dance floor. The jazz music started, and she danced an adorable ballroom Jive swing dance. Wraith, his wife, and Cyrus were watching across the dance floor, clapping along to the music. They all looked so proud of their girl.

A second later, Isis’s dance partner went and grabbed another dancer as Isis pulled Cyrus on the dancefloor. Everyone erupted in cheers as the big, former scary Cyrus hit the dancefloor. He swayed across the floor with ease. Everyone was in shock seeing him dance. He looked as if he had done it for years, and in fact, he had. Secretly in his home, as Isis learned to dance. He was always her biggest cheerleader and supported anything she and Holly wanted to do.

Colt looked over at Holly, biting the inside of his jaw. His mother had sent him to dance classes as a kid and he still has a few moves still in him. “Oh... What the hell? Holly. Baby, let’s cut a rug!” He grabbed Holly and pulled her onto the dancefloor expecting to lead her a little. Soon he found Isis had taught her a few things as well.

Wraith joined in, pushing his wife in her wheelchair to dance with his family. His wife giggled as he picked her up in his arms, dancing with her as people cheered them. He had a few moves too; it seemed. He wasn’t near as good as his brother and sister, but Isis had a way of teaching everyone she knew to dance. Anytime music played, she was dancing. Soon the entire party was doing their form of swing or at least pretending to.

Isis ran over to Gage, pulling him to the dance floor. “Dance with me, my king.”

“I can’t, love. You know that.”

“Sure you can! Everyone can dance. JUST HAVE FUN!” She twirled around and pulled him to the dance floor. Gage was not the most graceful, but it didn’t matter. Everyone was having fun, and even the worst dancers didn’t matter tonight.

Holly danced as Colt swung her into his arms. “Having fun, babe?”

“The best. I could do this all night!” Holly danced around laughing as Isis and Gage joined them.

As the music faded to a slow song, Colt placed his hands on her hips, pulling her close. He gently kissed Holly’s cheek, and she shyly hid her blush. “Now this is my type of dancing.”

“I didn’t know you could dance like that?”

Colt chuckled. “My mom made my dad let her put me in dance classes for me getting to play football. She wanted me to be well rounded. When I was in school, all the girls always wanted me to be their date so I would dance with them.”

“Well, Mr. Smooth. You are full of surprises.”

“I have a few surprises up my sleeve tonight.” His eyes darkened as he slid his hands around her waist.

“Such as?”

Colt leaned in, whispering in her ear. “I want to make love to you tonight. I need to feel you near me. Will you let me?”

Holly ran her hand down his jawline. “You never have to ask. I was thinking tonight would be the night. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

Colt leaned his forehead to hers and closed his eyes with a relieved sigh. “I love you, Holly Evans. I can’t picture my life without you in it.”

“Oh, Colt. I love you too. For so many years I have felt alone. So afraid of being hurt. With you, I’m not afraid. I feel safe in your arms and I never want that feeling to end.”

“I want to make you a promise. For the rest of my life, I will take care of you. I will always love you as no one else could.”

Holly took a slow breath, not realizing she had been holding it in. A tear trailed down her cheek as she closed her eyes. “That sounds awful like forever, Mr. Wesson.”

“Forever sounds perfect.” Colt felt like his heart was about to leap from his chest. Everything he ever wanted was standing right before him. Something he didn’t even realize he was looking for until he met the feisty Holly Bordeaux.

Colt slowly touched his lips to hers. His touch was so soft it almost felt like nothing at all. Holly leaned in, pressing her lips to his with a light moan that instinctively gave him permission for more. Colt’s tongue teased the swell of her parted lips. He slipped his fingers behind her head, gently lacing them into the nap of her hair.

He never wanted this to end. Colt had obviously kissed women before. Even Holly, but this was different. He felt it deep in the depths of his soul. Dirty and sexy, yet tender and sweet. Her hands roamed around his collar, running her hands through his hair. Yes, it felt a little too much for the middle of the dance floor, but it felt far too good to stop. Even if he had to feel the wrath of her brothers, he didn’t care. This was where he wanted to be and live in the moment forever.

Slowly, her hand crept down his chest to his belt, tugging. Was he imagining it? He had to be. Colt hesitated for a moment to look into her eyes. Looking back at him was the most seductive look of desire he had ever seen. He whispered against her lips. “Holly, we can’t. Not here, my heart. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

Holly nodded, biting her lip so softly it made every inch of his skin feel like it was on fire. A twitch of his throbbing member made him fully aware of the effect the women had on him. Colt wasn’t sure what felt more powerful; the hold she had over his libido or his heart? It was his heart. That he was sure.

It was just supposed to be a loving kiss. Why did he want to find his way out of the room? They had just entered, and he desperately wanted to make his way back to the hotel to find out what she had under that fire red dress? Looking into Holly’s deep brown eyes, he could only picture the thoughts of when he had her beneath him. Rocking inside her to the brink of ecstasy. Even though the only time they made love ended so badly, it ran through his mind over and over.

It was then he knew it was time to come clean. The secret he had hidden for years.

“I was a virgin too.” He blurted out and stepped back, grabbing his hair as if he shocked even himself.

Holly’s eyes shot up, and her mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? What?”

“I was too. You were my first.”

Holly stopped dancing and stepped back. She couldn’t believe it. “Holy shit. Are you joking right now?” After the initial shock, she turned away. “It’s not funny, Colt. Don’t make fun of me.” Holly walked away from the embarrassment his words brought.

Colt felt the stinging behind his eyes and his mouth went dry and he grabbed her hand. “Holly. Please, don’t go. I’m telling the truth. I was afraid you would think I was a loser.”

“Everyone said you were a playboy. That you had a lot of girls when you first started here. Even threesomes and being a party boy.”

“I was a stupid kid back then. I thought if I went along with the stories that the guys in the locker room would think I was cool. Only Slade knows and we never talk about it. He knows it’s a sore spot with me. I was saving myself too. Now I know it was for you.” Colt looked around, feeling like the room had spun around him. His heartfelt like it was going to pound out of his chest from the anxiety. “I guess you think I’m a fraud now.”

Holly slowly walked back to him. “Are you serious? You really were a…?”

Colt nodded, and his head dropped, looking at the floor in shame. He never wanted to lie to her, but he knew if he wanted her to be his wife, he needed to be completely honest.

Shoving his hands in his pants pockets, he grabbed his gum and shoved a couple of sticks in his mouth fast. It was clear he was nervous. Few people know about Colt’s high functioning social anxiety. He hid it so well, but not tonight. He shifted back and forth as the blush of embarrassment crept up his cheeks to the tips of his ears, making it clear he was telling the truth.

As Holly thought back through all the things he had done in the past, it was clear now. He was often making excuses to wait until marriage, teasing and making awkward jokes when he was shy about something, blushing every time the subject of sex came up when it regarded him, and he was always the guy to do the right thing.

“You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” Holly tilted her head to see his face.

Colt nodded. “Sorry, I lied. It’s difficult for a guy like me to admit something like that. It’s how I was raised. My father taught me to respect women. I never wanted to disappoint my parents by being some womanizing asshole.”

“I think it’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard.” Holly beamed.

Colt looked up, seeing the biggest smile across her face as her hands clung together at her heart.

“You’re not mad that I didn’t tell you?”

Holly shook her head no. “I could never be mad at you for that. I know it’s a male ego thing. I’m sure it’s hard for a guy to admit. There’s a certain stigma for men to be studs. I think it’s a load of bull. We were each other’s first, and that’s special. You have no idea how happy that makes me.” Holly looked behind him and cringed at who had just shown up.

Colt snarled from the look on her face as Holly looked over his shoulder. “He’s standing behind me isn’t he?”

Holly nodded covering her lips trying to hold back a laugh. Colt slowly turned to see Cyrus standing behind him with his arms crossed over his chest with a cocky swagger. A grin as wide as the eye could see stretched across his sly face.

“Oh, this is epic. The boy toy was a good little boy all along. Well, I’ll be damned. You actually might have my respect, after all, kid.” Cyrus stuck his hand out to shake Colts. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Thanks, Cy.”

Cyrus nodded, adjusted his tie, and walked away. “Have fun. But not too much fun.” He laughed.

Colt rolled his eyes. “He’s a smug asshole sometimes, isn’t he?”

Holly giggled. “Yep. It runs in the family.”

“Let’s go raid the buffet. I can’t seduce your pretty ass now. Your brother is a boner killer.”

“Sounds good. I see some lobster with my name on it. Ooo yummy! Chocolate cake!”