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Even Dagor knew that Aru had messed up, and he wasn't an authority on females, not by a long shot.
Negal shook his head. "You shouldn't have said that. Some things are better left unsaid."
Dagor couldn't agree more. Turning to Frankie, he extended his hand. "Would you like to dance?"
"I thought you would never ask." She took his offered hand and let him pull her up. "Do you even know how to dance?" she whispered in his ear. "Or did you just want to escape the argument between Aru and Negal?"
"I can dance," he dodged the answer. "I am a god."
She laughed. "That doesn't mean that you can move. Do they have dances on Anumati?"
"Of course." He pulled her into his arms and started swaying in place. "You see? This is not difficult."
"That's a slow dance," she murmured as she melted into his embrace. "What are you going to do when they change the beat?"
He hoped they wouldn't do that anytime soon. Holding Frankie felt incredibly good, and he was reluctant to let go of her. "I've been to clubs. I can emulate what I've seen."
Resting her cheek on his chest, she put her hand right over his heart as if guarding it so it wouldn't jump out. "I like being with you, Dagor. And it has nothing to do with you being a god. I would have liked you even if you were human."
Dagor froze as her words resonated through him, causing an earthquake and cracking his armor. The truth was that he liked being with Frankie as well, and he would have liked her whether she was human, immortal, or a goddess.
But he couldn't allow himself to feel that way. He wouldn't change his eternal life trajectory just because he'd met a female he liked.
It didn't matter that he felt more comfortable with her than with any of the goddesses he'd dated and that being with her was as easy as breathing. It didn't matter that she made him smile and eased the tightness in his chest.
"I like you a lot, too." He gently rubbed her back through the bodice of her dress. "Especially when you are naked and under me."
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the entire truth either.
He liked her in bed and outside of it.
Frankie stiffened for a moment, and Dagor wondered if he'd offended her by his comment about liking her in bed. It hadn't been one of his finest moments, and he regretted resorting to such an immature statement to guard himself against his own feelings for her.
But as the music continued to play, and he held her close, she relaxed against him again. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat was like his but not as strong, and it made him think of her humanity, her fragility, and the transient nature of her existence. There was a vast chasm between their worlds, unbridgeable, and the differences in their lifespans weren't even the most critical part of it.
When the melody changed, becoming more upbeat, Dagor felt a moment of panic. He hadn't lied about being able to dance, but he wasn't in some random club where no one knew him, and he didn't want to make a fool of himself by moving too much or too little.
Frankie looked up at him with amusement dancing in her eyes. "Don't worry. Give me your hand and follow my lead."
As soon as he did as she'd instructed, she spun them around and faced Dagor. Placing one hand on her hip, she extended the other, beckoning him to follow. With a playful twirl, she moved to the beat, her feet tracing intricate patterns on the floor, which was truly an acrobatic achievement given the size of her heels.
Dagor followed her lead effortlessly, mimicking her moves. After all, he might not be a good dancer when pitted against other gods, but he could hold his own against immortals and humans.
Frankie moved closer and took his hand, guiding it to her waist, and with her other, she directed his movements, teaching him without words. Her steps were fluid and confident, and soon Dagor was dancing as if he had known those movements since he was in the cradle. Frankie transitioned into more complex moves, spinning under Dagor's outstretched arm and pulling him into a series of gyrations that had their bodies popping and locking in sync with the beat.
The laughter and chatter around them faded as they lost themselves in the dance, their movements becoming more synchronized with each step. She was a great teacher, telegraphing her next steps so he had no problem adjusting his accordingly.
Dancing with her felt natural, instinctive.
When the song ended, Frankie was breathless, her face flushed with the exhilaration of the dance. Dagor looked down into her eyes and was about to lean in for a kiss when Negal's voice interrupted them.
"That was quite the performance, Dagor."
"You should compliment Frankie. Without her, I wouldn't have known which foot went where."
She laughed. "Not true. You are a natural. All you needed was just a little guidance."
Dagor smiled. "Don't be modest, Francesca. You are an inspired dancer. Did you take lessons?"
