Yeah, he said I was beautiful and that he wanted to kiss me and all of those things, butit was just because I was his only option. And sure, maybe there was Mackenzie, buthe seems to be into men. I can't believe I thought it was about me.
I realize I'm just standing here, watching the two of them dance, watching the way Star tips his head backagainst the man's shoulder and turns his face toward him.
And then he jumps away from the man, lunges away so hard that he knocks right into two girls who were dancing in front of him.
I see his mouth moving, apologizing. I don't know what's going on, but I don't move.Just stand on the edge of the dance floor and observe.
Star's wide eyes scan the crowd and snap to me.
“Mason,” he says, and just like that first day in the woods, I hear him like he’s speaking directly into my ear, like he’s standing right next to me. How does he do that?
The second I process exactly what happened, my feet are moving again.
Star thought the man was me. He thought the hands on him belonged to someone he knew, someone he trusted. Why else would someone touch him without his consent?
When he felt hands on him, itshouldhave been me.I shouldn't have left him alone.
The bald man steps toward Star like he's going to try again to dance with him,but Star's eyes are still on me as I approach.
“Hey,” I say, stepping between Star and the man.“He doesn't want you on him.”
The guy raises his chin, and I start to think maybe this was a bad idea. I've never been in a bar brawl before.This guy is big and muscular.I'm pretty sure I'm not winning any fist fights here.
“You sure about that?” the man shouts.
“Yes, I'm sure.And if you had half a brain, you'd be able to tell.”
“He has a mouth. He can say no.”
Star leans around me, pointing his stern chin toward the man.“I do not wish to be touched by anyone but Mason.”
His arms come up to snake around my chest and waist, and I suppress a shiver.It's like he's claiming me, and it's intoxicating.
The man glares but leaves us alone, and I turn to face Star.
He takes my face in his hands.“Dance with me, Mason.”
He didn't have to ask. I’ve already made that mistake once.
As the music thumps, I take him by the hips and tug him toward me.It isn't like before, when we slow danced in my kitchen.I'm not hesitant now.
I wasn't sure before, but I am now.Starlight wants me and only me, and I want him.I wrap myself around him, getting as close as I can,and then we start to move together, chest to chest, hips to hips.
The music is loud, people pressing in on all sides, but all of Star's attention is on me.And even though he's the one with stars on his skin, I feel like I'm glowing.
What did I do to deserve the way this perfect man is looking at me?His hands grip me, arms, shoulders, neck,until they're sliding into my hair while he dances,throwing his head back so his entire neck is exposed.
Under different circumstances, I would hold myself back.I would be too aware of the people around us.But looking at Star, seeing the way he accepts himself,the way he doesn't care who's looking, the way he has no choicebut to be entirely and completely himself, it makes me feel fearless.
I move closer and bite his throat, and then I kiss it in the same spot, and then lick it.I feel Star shiver under my hands.
With my mouth against his throat, I think maybe it would be harmless to say, here,where no one can hear me, that I've fallen in love with him,that I'm certain once he's gone, I'll spend the rest of my life thinking about this moment,dancing with a man who's unlike anyone I've ever met before or will ever meet again.
But before I can say the words, Star slumps against me.At first, I think he just wants to dance closer, but then I realize all his weight is on me, heavy and still.
I stumble under him. “Star?”
I can't see his face, whether or not he's conscious.I lower him to the floor, shoving people out of the way.
