Page 33 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

I circled his waist, just like we practiced. Only better. I was fucking floating across the floor with James. Happiness surged inside of me, making me move as if on air. I lifted James up, spun him roughly in my arms. I set him on his feet, and we shifted together into the next move.

“I’m doing it and not stumbling.” James’ smile lit the room.

The song changed to something by Earth, Wind & Fire. Laughing, James gripped my hand tightly in his. I led James in some of our mambo steps. We jumped to the Jackson Five, and we swung to Stevie Wonder. We danced and danced until we were out of breath.

I hugged James to me as a slow song started. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” began with Roberta Flack’s soulful lyrics. We broke away for a minute, flushed and sweaty.

I bit my lip, a sweet, confusing jumble of emotions going through me as I gazed for a second at James’ face. Nobody else on the dance floor was there. Just James. I was aware only of his face, just like the song. He stared back, swaying toward me like aflower toward the sun. My senses felt heightened, acutely aware of him. Of this moment.

We had been broken in the past, but we were here, now, still standing. Maybe it was the song, the lyrics of first times and promises… or maybe it was simply James.

Whatever it was, he was the man I wanted to hold.

James walked the few steps between us. Barely moving, our eyes on each other, we pressed our bodies together. As the final notes played, James cupped the sides of my face with his hands, and we locked gazes. My God. The expression on his face.

Without hesitation, I gave him a soft kiss, tasting him, embracing him, the swell of the music around us.

In a final move, I dipped him low enough that his shiny mop of blond curls grazed the floor before I swung him back to me. James laughed, snorting, absolute trust and joy in his eyes.

“Such a great job. Fucking awesome.” I brushed some hair away from his face. “You did so great, dancing and everything. See, the key was to just let go.”

“No, Phin.” He shook his head. “The key was you.”

His sweet words stayed with me. I wanted to catch them and tuck them inside. Linger over them. Him. It had always been James. He was my key, too.

When his eyes met mine, I saw my hopefulness mirrored.

“If you want me… I’m yours. For real.”

“Of course I want you. And this is real. It’s always been real… I never wanted to date anybody else. I just wanted to be with you so badly. You make me feel as if I can do anything.”

I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I would have groveled for him, begged on my knees.

It had always been real.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

We slammed the door to my apartment, and James pounced on me.

Our mouths met in a less gentle kiss. We devoured each other’s lips, rough and aching. The kiss was everything. I only knew I needed James as much as he needed me. I wanted him to take every piece of me, including my heart, and that no longer terrified me.

“Touch me,” I begged.

Making our way to the bedroom, James fumbled at my clothes, stripping them away. He shed his, no longer shy to be naked.

“How do you want me?” I asked, stopping by the side of the bed. My fingers traced patterns over James’ pecs, and he leaned into my touch.

He gently pushed my shoulders, nudging me backward another step. In the faint light streaming in from the cracks around the blinds and from the hallway, his expression was lust-filled and determined. “On your stomach.”

“Are you looking at me?” I taunted softly as I obeyed. “Do you like my shoulders, back, ass?”

In answer, James neared and began to knead my shoulders, kiss my neck.

“Feels good.”

“Does it?” James’ breath hitched. “I want you to talk to me and not stop. What do you want next?”

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