Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Iris & Arthur

Iris

I stare at Arthur’s outstretched hand, and the way it reminds me of the first time we shook hands all those years ago isn’t lost on me.

“Well?” he asks. “Care for a dance?”

I hesitate, looking up at him. A dance sounds intimate, and dangerous, and a whole slew of other things. It feels too close to the ‘good old days‘, too close to giving in when ‘ve made it clear that I have no intention of getting back together with him.

As if reading my mind, Arthur tilts his head. “It’s just one dance, Iris. I’m not asking you to marry me.

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Yeah, I think wryly. That’s sort of the point. If things were different, then maybe he would have asked me five years ago, the very moment I found out I was pregnant with his child. He never would have gotten engaged to Selina and people might have judged us for our relationship, but he would have unapologetically loved me, and we could have been happy.

But he didn’t. And he won’t. We won’t.

Still, I can’t deny him, especially not as he grabs my hand and hauls me to my feet. His palm is rough and familiar beneath mine, and I set my half–finished glass of wine aside, shaking my head.

“Fine. Just one dance.”

Arthur smiles slightly, pulling me into the center of the room. His left hand curls around mine, the other coming to rest on the small of my back. My throat bobs as I place my right hand on his shoulder, resisting the urge to move it toward the nape of his neck and trace my fingers through his hair like I used to.

We begin to sway to the music, turning in a slow circle. I stare over his shoulder, at our feet–anywhere but his eyes.

But truthfully, the movement is so easy and familiar that it makes it even harder not to gaze at him. Before I know it, I’m meeting his eyes, and he’s holding my gaze as if he never intends to let go.

“When was the last time you danced?” he asks, pulling me just a touch closer.

I sigh, knowing that he’s trying to butter me up. “Arthur-

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