“Leo,” I warned.
“Kira.” He mimicked my tone.
“I’m telling you, you’re going to be embarrassed in front of these people for bringing a girl who can’t dance.”
“You say that like I give a damn.” He lifted his hand in an attempt to get me to spin. I moved my feet too late and tripped over my own toes. Leo pulled me close before I could faceplant on the dance floor. He laughed when I gave him the “I told you so” look.
“Okay, we’ll take baby steps, beautiful. Go slow, like we’re in the pool,” he promised in a tender tone. His easy use of a pet name made me freeze and I would have stayed that way if he didn’t wrap an arm around my waist to tug me further onto the dance floor.
Around us, the other dancers moved with ease. The women were being spun, picked up, or dipped like they’d been practicing. But nothing looked like it’d been rehearsed. I marveled at how they all moved to the music without worrying about their next step.
“Eyes on me,” Leo instructed.
My heart dipped when I looked up. Up close, there was a softness in Leo’s eyes that I’d never seen him give to anyone else. I could get used to feeling this kind of special.
“Now, let me make you look good, alright?” he offered as he placed one hand on my hip and grabbed the other in his.
I snorted. “It’s an impossible task, but sure, go ahead and try.”
Leo laughed. He lined us up so that my right hip pressed against his left. I could feel the top of his thigh applying pressure in between my legs. The feeling of lust gathering in that one spot. Still, I did my best to remain focused on the steps Leo was trying to teach me.
Like most of the couples on the dance floor, we held one another too close for anything to come in between. I could feel Leo’s heart hammering against his chest, nearly matching the beat of my own.
Leo surprised me by how calm his movements were. His dancing style was simple and breezy. Maybe he was taking it slow for me, but it felt like he didn’t like to rush the steps. Not because he wanted to get the steps right - like me - but because he enjoyed the moment.
“It’s like swimming,” he murmured in my ear. “One stroke at a time.”
“One stroke?” I teased. “Is that all it takes?”
He pulled back to see my expression. My flirting was a shock to both of us. I didn’t want to go back now. Not when there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Leo thought he knew everything about me, so I would enjoy debunking him at any turn.
“Very cute.” He scanned my face, eyes lingering on my lips.
“I’m just curious,” I continued, and let him spin me around once. This time, I didn’t stumble. He turned me again for good measure and then pulled me back against him.
The band transitioned into a slower song. A few people left the dance floor to grab drinks from the bar, giving those of us who stayed more space and spotlight.
“Are you now?” Leo pressed his forehead against mine.
“Are you not?” I raised a brow.
He nodded. “Of course I am. I just…”
“What?”
“I’m trying to figure out where this is going,” he confessed. “Slow’s fine with me.”
“I like it fast.” The comment earned me a laugh. I smiled and placed my hand behind his neck to feel the small bit of hair at his nape. My fingers played with the short strands.
“Well, I like it slow, so maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle,” he suggested.
I nodded. “I could compromise.”
“Could you?”
“I could learn to compromise,” I revised with a laugh.
“That sounds more realistic.” He leaned in for a kiss. His lips were gentle but urging. I parted my mouth, inviting his tongue to graze against mine. My quiet moan was lost in the change of song. We were back to the louder, faster tempo. Thankfully, Leo continued kissing me like nothing had changed. I felt how hard he’d grown. There was a smile on his lips when I pressed against him more to tease.
