Page 15 of Truth or Spare

“Please! I’ve never danced to a country song.”

“It’s not that great and I’ve never…” Dewey flailed and spluttered. “I’ve only danced a handful of times and never with a man. It’ll be stupid,” he predicted. But Theo could tell by the way Dewey averted his eyes and by the pink stains spreading across his cheeks that he wanted to.

“Who would know? It’s just us,” Theo noted. He hummed encouragingly, then cheered when Dewey swore and dragged himself out of the folding chair.

“Just one song,” he stipulated as he set his beer on the pavement and straightened. He held out his arms and Theo set his beer down and started the song, then rushed over.

“I am so excited!” he said as took Dewey’s right hand, then gasped in approval as he was pulled closer.

“We’re gonna have to two-step,” Dewey said, winding his other arm around Theo’s waist so they were chest-to-chest. “It’s all I know and I barely know how,” he warned in a grumbled rush.

“Ausgezeichnet!” Theo whispered, fascinated and slightly giddy as Dewey’s hips swayed against his with the music.

“You want to step, step, and slide, slide. Like this,” he said as he led.

It only took Theo a moment to get the gist of the waltz and Dewey began to sing again as they glided down the alley. Theo stumbled a few times, he was so captivated. Dewey was incredibly handsome when he wasn’t staring at his boots or snarling. And it was very nice, being in Dewey’s arms and having all that strength and warmth wrapped around Theo. Dewey turned them, giving Theo a quick twirl before they danced back toward the Winnie.

“You lied again. You’re an excellent dancer,” Theo noted and settled in Dewey’s arms, thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Nah.” Dewey shrugged it off. “I used to spend a lot of time practicing alone, in case I ever found myself in an alley with a mysterious Austrian.”

That got a good laugh out of Theo. “Were your imaginary partners always women, when you practiced by yourself?”

Dewey shook his head. “That’s kind of how I knew that I liked both. I liked watching my parents and I’d practice in case I was ever brave enough to ask someone at a dance. I mostly imagined girls until I was like fourteen or fifteen. I started thinking about dancing with some of the other boys at school and I got that tickle, you know?”

“Mmmhmm…” Theo hummed, letting out a dreamy sigh. “My father wanted us to have a ‘proper’ education and scraped so that Leo and I could go to boarding school. I was very popular. Lots of tickles.”

“I bet you were.”

“I take it American boys don’t explore as much with each other,” Theo said, causing Dewey to rear back and shake his head.

“God, no. What the fuck happens in boarding schools?” he asked and Theo gave him a wide grin and wiggled his brows.

“Pretty much what you’d imagine in a school without girls. ‘What you got there and how does that work?’ A lot of comparing of techniques and assisting,” he explained. “It’s a pretty good way to find out, though. You’re just there for the assist or you’reinto it. And I was always into it. I can find a spark with just about anyone, if they’re willing to give me a chance.”

“Because you’re pansexual?” Dewey confirmed.

“If a woman tells me she’s a woman or a man says he’s a man, that’s enough for me.” Theo made a dismissive sound. “And I think there’s beauty in the middle as well. Why should the type of equipment matter, if there’s a spark and the other person feels it too?”

“I didn’t know that pansexuality was a thing and I don’t know that I’ve ever met a trans person,” Dewey admitted. “But it wouldn’t matter to me. If I was the kind of person who dated. And assuming anyone would want to date me,” he mused.

“Then, that would make you pan too,” Theo said, frowning at Dewey. “What do you mean, assuming anyone would want to date you? You’re quite a catch, Brooks.”

“Hardly,” Dewey said with a snort. “I bet you’ve never had a problem. I bet lots of people have been willing.”

“More than I could count,” Theo confessed and raised a shoulder. “I’ve never offered anyone anything other than the present, because that’s all I’ve ever had to give. Sex can be incredibly intimate and thrilling when you know there will be nothing afterwards. You can put your whole self into it without reservations or shame because you won’t have to look the other person in the eye later. You’re free to enjoy the moment and revel in another body without the obligations and ups and downs of a relationship.”

“I guess that’s fair. As long as no one gets hurt.”

“That’s my only rule,” Theo said with a sigh, reminding himself to stick with dancing.

He was sorely tempted to rock his hips so Dewey would notice his hard-on and Theo’s hands itched to squeeze one of those big, firm asscheeks. He could have easily danced Dewey to the Winnie and spent the night scaling this mountain of a man, but Theo knew there would be real consequences in the morning.

“Thank you!” Theo said brightly when the song ended and offered Dewey a proper bow. “That’s one more thing I can scratch off the list.”

“Happy to help.” Dewey said and went to fold his chair and collect his beer. “Think I’ll take off. See you in the morning.”

“See you in the morning,” Theo said as he returned to his seat and the rest of the six pack. “Think I’ll stay out here and enjoy the stars. They’re very different in this part of the world.”

---