Oh god, was this peer pressure?
Superman’s eyes were on me, but I couldn’t discern his reaction. Was it panic? It definitely wasn’t disgust, despite his smile wavering as if he could sense Kryptonite nearby. Time slowed as I processed the moment. I’d kissed strangers at cons before and at parties too, never bothered by the proximity of my nearly nonexistent personal space. But they’d all been women. Then again, what was the big deal? If Superman was willing, indulging the crowdwouldn’t hurt. Not like a chaste kiss would lead to us breaking the doors to a bathroom stall a minute after.
Pfft.
At the thought, heat swirled in my abdomen, and I shook my head to clear the image.
“No?” Superman mouthed, clearly misunderstanding my reaction. His eyes were comically wide, but his body language didn’t scream panic. On the contrary, he was slightly leaning toward me, his cape fluttering in the breeze as if he was gearing to swoop me up. My stomach already behaved as if it fought the pull of gravity as we flew into the sky.
I shrugged, and the thrill coursing through me prompted the grin that spread on my face. “Why not?” I’d done a lot more ridiculous and dangerous shit on a dare.
Superman swallowed before his lips parted to let his tongue swipe over the bottom one. His full lips looked soft as I inched forward, closing the gap. I was right. The featherlight touch sent a static electricity spark through me, all the way to my toes. I’d blame it on polyester clothes, but we weren’t wearing any. My lips tingled, and I closed my eyes, letting the world disappear. The chanting around us turned into excited shouts and camera clicks, but I muted it all, focusing on the warmth of the velvety lips against mine. We were truly flying.
It was time to break away. Probably. Maybe. Yet I couldn’t move.
Step back, Cayden.
Suddenly, a strong hand cupped my nape to pull me even closer, and I not only went willingly but jumped into the pool that was this unexpected kiss. On instinct, my tongue sneaked into Superman’s hot and welcoming mouth to swirl with his in the heat of the moment. It was like riding a bike, natural and freeing.
Except someone stole the brakes.
The scent of Superman’s woodsy cologne reminded me of sitting in front of a bonfire, snuggled in blankets, surrounded by the strong arms of the man who kissed like he was seducing me.
Wait. I was kissing a man.
What the fuck, Cayden?
My eyes popped open, but I didn’t want to make a scene by flailing my arms or falling backward. Thankfully, Superman sensed my hesitation and gently pulled away at the same time.
Heart pounding, cheeks burning, I plastered a smile to pose for more pictures, when all I wanted was to hide my face in the crook of Superman’s neck. My body was all tingly and wavy—totally weird. But the sensation of Superman’s tight grip on my belt at my lower back kept me steady. As if both of us needed the touch to stay upright.
“The DC news panel is starting!” someone yelled from the crowd, snapping me to reality.
The crowd dispersed, and people continued talking, adjusting their costumes, and checking the program for the afternoon.
And like that, we were just another Batman and Superman in the middle of a busy con.
Except for me, everything seemed different, as if my Superman was the only splash of color in a swarm of nameless people. Which was absolutely ridiculous, considering the flashy costumes surrounding us.
“Come.” Superman’s voice sounded husky as he looked forward instead of at me as he said it. “We don’t want to miss the panel.”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat, suddenly parched. “Let’s go.”
We followed a wave of people going in the same direction, their excited chatter blurring as my thoughts grew louder. My legs wobbled, so I focused on putting one foot in front of the other so as not to keel over.
Did I just kiss a man?
Not just a peck on the lips for fun at a party. Nope. A full-on make-out session was more like it.
I glanced at Superman walking with me. He was looking straight ahead, his shoulders as stiff as the moment I’d approached him the first time.Shit.
I’d nearly made a friend, and now I fucked it up. And in a new and inventive way this time. Maybe that was why the majority of my friends were women,mostly those whom I’d never managed to form a solid relationship with. There was something wrong with me, and that stupid kiss put me completely off-balance, scrambling my brain.
Meandering through the crowd, I had to fight the urge to grab Superman’s cape to not separate. Then again, even if we attended the panel together, I might have already lost him.
Squeezed between cosplayers and families, we stood at the back of the room, but I was still able to see the stage clearly. Superman’s presence next to me was like a warm glow willing me to huddle close. Which was absolutely insane, since I didn’t even know the guy’s name.
“Hey, um… I’m Cayden, by the way. Friends call me Cay,” I said, giving Superman the option. Hopefully, he’d latch on to the latter.
