My smile faded. The anger started to build up inside me. “Don’t you think I should be the judge of that?” I asked in an angry tone.

He looked back down at me and laughed. “You have no idea what you are saying. You know nothing about me, Azurdee. Why would you want to be involved with someone you know nothing about? I have secrets, and I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

I saw the hurt in his eyes, and all I wanted to do was make it go away. “I know everything I need to know about you. Everyone has secrets and has made mistakes in life.”

“Is that so?” he asked in such a seductive way.

“Ah…yep. Isn’t that what it’s all about though? Getting to know each other. I would think that would be the best part of a relationship.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “That is one of the best parts. Sex is the other.”

I felt my face blush. If he ever knew I was a virgin, he would probably run away as fast as he could. He looked at me, and the look in his eyes caused goose bumps to pop up all over my body.

“Trust me, Azurdee, you need to just stay away from me. I’m no good for you.”

I pushed him back. “I think you just say that because you’re afraid of being in a relationship with someone.”

He tightened his eyes as he glared at me. The hurt in his eyes was replaced by something else, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Anger? Lust maybe?

He pulled me back into him. The song had changed at some point, but we were still dancing slowly.

“Do you want to be with me, Azurdee?”

Oh god. He just came out and asked it. What do I say? Do I tell him the truth?

I looked into his eyes and whispered, “Yes.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Azurdee, no, you don’t.”

“Yes. Yes, I do. I want to be with you, Lark. I want you to make love to me.”

He opened his eyes, and the look in them caused me to suck in a breath of air.

He placed his hand on my face and whispered, “You don’t know what you’re saying, baby.”

I put my hand on top of his. “Yes, I do. I want you, Lark. I want to get to know you…please let me.”

He looked into my eyes for what seemed like forever before he finally gave me a small smile. “If I do this, Azurdee, you need to know what you’re getting into. I’m…I’m not sure if I can be what you want me to be.”

I swallowed and nodded my head. “I understand.”

He’s just scared. That’s all. He needs someone to love him.

He pushed his hand into my hair and grabbed it. “Once you’re mine, you’re mine though, Azurdee. I won’t share you with anyone.”

I smiled. “I won’t share either, just so you know.”

He shook his head. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing with me.”

It felt like my heart dropped to my stomach. What does he mean by that?

“I’m not playing any games, Lark,” I whispered.

Right then, Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” started playing. The smile that spread across his face shocked me. I wasn’t sure if I should be turned-on or if I should turn around and run. He pulled my hair, making my head tilt back some, exposing my neck to him.

He leaned down and put his lips against my neck, and right before Katy started singing, he whispered, “Do you want me to make you mine, Azurdee?”

Chills ran up and down my body instantly. The moment the beat started, he pulled me to him and started dancing with me so seductively that I could feel my face blushing yet again. I didn’t know if it was the way he was dancing with me or the song itself, but I felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into a trance, and he was in total control of every single one of my emotions.

I’d never danced like this before, and I had never felt so incredibly turned-on like I was. The way his body was grinding into mine had me going insane. If he were to tell me to strip down for him and make love to him right here in front of everyone, I would do it. His hand was moving up and down my body, and I was quickly falling faster and faster for him.

I want him more than ever.

He let go of my hair and moved both his hands over my body. Everywhere he touched, I felt like I had been zapped by tiny bolts of electricity. He placed both of his hands on my face and tilted my head up to him. Then, he just stopped moving. I had to hold on to something to keep my legs from going out underneath me. I grabbed on to his arms and stared into his eyes. He brought his lips barely up to mine and stopped just short of kissing me. I could feel his hot breath, and I was trying like hell not to seem desperate for his kiss.

“Who’s the guy you’re with?” he asked.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. He had me pressed up against his hard-on, and I was going insane with lust.

“Um…just a friend. He’s just a friend.”

He smiled as he tilted his head and looked down at my lips. Then, he looked back up into my eyes and said, “What’s your answer?”

“My answer?” I asked, confused as hell.

He lightly brushed his lips against mine, and I let out a moan. I was inwardly cursing myself for seeming so needy. He dropped his hands and took a few steps back from me.

No! I wanted to call out and reach for him to pull him back against my body. I needed to feel him close to me. I needed to feel his heat.

The farther he moved away, the colder I felt.

“If it’s a yes, Azurdee, tell him he can leave anytime, and the sooner, the better because I really want to make love to you. Now.”

He turned and started toward the house. I stood there, just watching him walk away from me, as I tried to catch my breath. He turned back around and smiled at me right before he walked into the house.

Oh dear God. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, dreaming about since the first time he ever looked into my eyes. He had been the one I was saving myself for.

I looked around to see if anyone had been watching us. I could feel the heat burning my cheeks. I took a deep breath in and slowly let it out. I looked around and found Paul, my date for the wedding.

As I walked over to tell Paul good-bye and to thank him for coming, I had the strangest feeling that I was about to give my heart and soul to someone who could possibly take it and crush it into a million pieces. I knew one thing for sure though. I was about to walk into something that both excited and scared me.

It was the perfect storm indeed.

I’d like to first and foremost thank God for the many wonderful blessings in my life.

There are a few people who have been with me since the beginning of this journey, and without them, I don’t think I could have done what I’ve done. So, I’d like to thank them first.

Darrin Elliott—I love you. I love that you support me. I love that you put up with my postings about you on Facebook, and I love that you inspire so many stories. I love that you love me.

Lauren Elliott—Thank you for putting up with the crazy world we have adapted to this last year. I’m so proud of you, Lauren, and I love watching and seeing the amazing person you are growing up to be. Now, if I could just get you to read! Damn it.

Ari Niknejadi—Thank you so much, sweets, for always believing in and me and being such a huge part of this series. You always kept me going and helped me so very much those first few months. I will forever be grateful to you for that. Thank you for your friendship!

Patricia Winn—You are not only my big sister but probably my biggest fan. You will never know how much it means to me that you stood by me when so many didn’t. I love you and love your never-ending support. You are my very own personal cheerleader.

Elizabeth Bartell—Thank you for being such an incredible friend. Your help with Wanted will never be forgotten. I’m so blessed to have you in my life.