Bat Boy (Easton U Pirates 1)

“Oooh, good one,” I said, putting down my drink and yanking on his arm to drag him back to the dance floor.

“I thought you were a music snob.” Donovan laughed but came willingly. “This song is pretty cheesy.”

I twirled in a circle around him because even though he was right, it still had a good, upbeat tempo. “Hey, there’s music for every mood, and I like most of it.”

“Noted.” He followed my lead, gripping my waist and dancing behind me, which made me feel all shivery and warm. Not that I’d let him know that.

When a guy approached Donovan and tried to dance with him, his eyes looked panicked.

I leaned over, hoping to help him relax. “You’re here to have fun, right? So go for it if you want.”

“I am having fun.” He motioned between us. “I don’t think I can… I’m not ready to…”

“It’s okay, I get it.” I spun around, trying to get my pulse under control. What did I get exactly? I could only make assumptions that he was trying to figure out his sexuality. Wasn’t that what his visit to this club tonight was about?

After he turned the guy down, we stayed out for another song, until another attractive man accidentally bumped into him. When he turned to give Donovan the once-over, his eyes brightened, apparently liking what he saw. And who wouldn’t? Donovan threw me a cursory glance as he squared his shoulders, finally getting up the nerve. As he spun to dance with the guy, his moves were tentative, his gaze continually searching for mine, which I admit was endearing. Maybe he saw me as some sort of lighthouse in his storm of confusing thoughts. I could definitely be that for him.

When the guy leaned over and whispered something no doubt salacious in his ear, Donovan’s cheeks flushed.

I raised an eyebrow as if to say, Interested? and he shook his head.

I shouldn’t have felt instantaneous relief, because I did want him to have a good experience, but more than likely, he wasn’t ready for anything more. It was huge he’d even shown up, and I didn’t want him to move too fast and have regrets.

After another song, we were sweaty and out of breath, so I followed Donovan to an empty spot along the wall. We almost got trampled by the crowd, so I led him away from the dance floor and down the hallway toward the exit, so we could get some fresh air from the door that was propped open. The music was muted there, which was a reprieve because my ears were ringing.

“I didn’t know you could dance like that,” Donovan rasped near my ear just as I turned my head, and we bumped noses. “Sorry.”

We laughed awkwardly, but then sobered as the air crackled around us and we stared at each other.

He lifted a shaky hand to my face and brushed his thumb across my cheek. “The makeup is kickass.”

“Yeah?” I replied in a weird voice because my heart was going crazy. Feeling a moment of bravery of my own, I lifted my fingers to his jaw. “Bet some gloss or blush would look good on you, though you’re already too pretty for your own good.”

“Pretty?” He drew back, his eyes wide as saucers. “Me?”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately?” I shoved him playfully.

“I just meant the word pretty.” He dipped his head as he flushed.

“Does that word bother you?” I asked, wondering so many things but not wanting to bombard him with too many questions and overwhelm him. So, I’d just follow his lead.

“No, I…I like it. It’s how I would describe you,” he replied, and my heart did a little stutter step. “But no one’s ever called me that before.”

“I’m glad to be the first,” I teased.

“You’ve sort of been the first for a lot of things,” he murmured, shyly glancing away.

My breath hitched. “Wh…what do you mean?”

“Never mind.” His cheeks were crimson-red, and he couldn’t look me in the eye.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, and his eyes lifted hesitantly to mine. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want—”

Suddenly, he backed me against the wall, his strong forearms caging me in, his eyes burning into mine with some sort of internal struggle. Holy shit, I wasn’t expecting that, and I couldn’t help trembling because I’d never seen this side of him before. So freaking sexy.

“Donovan?” I looked up at him.

“Would you mind calling me by my first name?” His gaze still looked torn.

“Okay, Brady. What are you—”

“I want to kiss you so bad, but I’m not sure if I’ll freak you out or if you’ll—”

Not letting him finish, I lifted onto my toes and brushed my lips against the corner of his mouth. “There. Done.”

He lifted his hand to his lips as if my kiss had stung him, and I felt momentarily guilty. But then his fingers connected with my neck and he hauled me toward him. Without hesitation, he planted his lips firmly against mine. They were warm and soft, but too quickly the pressure was gone.