“How about now?” His voice is husky and rough.
His eyes entrap mine, freezing every forming thought.
Slowly, I nod, my gaze dropping to his full lips. “A little.”
He smirks, and I think for a second that he might kiss me, but instead, he lowers me to my feet and looks up behind me as the song comes to an end.
I nearly jump out of my skin when Knight murmurs into my ear, his warm breath striking me like lightning, “I think it’s my turn.”
My heart is hammering in my chest as she spins toward Dean. I don’t know who the hell she is, but I intend to find out.
I know if I’d wanted to, I could’ve kissed her right then in my arms. Wanting to is not my problem, but wantingmore—so much more.
Our kiss can wait a little longer. It’ll only make it that much better. Tonight won’t be enough with her. That’s for fucking certain.
Dean mumbles something to her, and she giggles, one of the sweetest fucking sounds I’ve ever heard. I need to hear it again, and again, and again. Burn it into my brain and my ears, and it still won’t be enough.
I make my way to the bench and sit down, enjoying the view she’s providing.
It’s weird to feel such a connection. We don’t know her, her name, or why she’s at this party, aside from her stepmother.
Yet here we are, sneaking away in the gardens and ignoring all responsibility just to spend more time with her. She’s beautiful, but I don’t think that’s the main thing that drew us to her.
She has an aura of kindness that’s intoxicating. I want to breathe it in repeatedly. Being around her in the midst of tonight is fresh air all on its own.
The song comes near the end as Dean and she dance, swaying and spinning around the floor.
He smiles, and his attention flicks up to me for a millisecond before dropping back down to her.
But that’s all I need to see. That’s the truest smile I’ve seen on his face in a long time. One that’s stretched all the way to his eyes.
The song ends, and not a second later, the next one is singing through the air. It’s honestly impressive how long the orchestra has gone without a break. Don’t they need to piss or something?
Stepping up to her, I take her hands, spinning her back across the floor. “Another?”
She smiles big, happiness beaming in her eyes. “I think we can manage another.”
“Good.” I twirl her again and again, steadying her when my other hand finds her waist.
Minutes fall away as we spin and sway, dancing to the music coming from the party. Song after song, Dean and I switch, each sharing moments with her in our arms.
We aren’t the Kensington boys here, with responsibility and expectation. We don’t have to have a smile on our face, but rather we do because we can’t help it.
She is the last thing I expected to come of this night. But the best thing I could’ve ever imagined.
Minutes turn to an hour or maybe more, time falling to the wayside in our happy bubble. Dean and I share stories of Mom, and she does the same of her parents, all of us opening up more and more until we each hold a piece of the other’s heart.
When the song Dean and she are dancing to comes to an end, he walks over and sits down next to me, beaming from ear to ear, our princess nervously striding over.
Something uncertain crosses her face before she turns and slowly starts pacing, walking in front of us.
“Are we going to be interrogated?” I chuckle.
She side-eyes me with a smirk. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Does that come with punishment? Because I wouldhateto have you punish me.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
She rolls her eyes, and I bite down on my bottom lip with a groan.
