“I try.” James made sure Daniel could feel his breath. “Believe me. The more pleasure and the longer I can delay it, the more delicious it becomes.” He swung Daniel around more athletically, letting his soul take both of them on their dance-floor journey.
The song ended and another started, the beat slightly different. James moved accordingly, spinning Daniel and recalling him, keeping a tight hold when he was near, watching his expressive eyes, the occasional flare of his nostrils. Daniel’s gaze shifted, his expression becoming less stormy, but still intense. He loved that Daniel threw himself into everything he did, and at least while they were on the dance floor, that energy was all his. And damn, it was excitement personified. James twirled Daniel as they circled the floor, movements fluid, languid and easy, yet intense. Daniel felt right in his arms, like he was made for him. He’d had multiple dance partners, but he hadn’t danced like this in quite some time. The movements came right back, and as the music shifted, so did James, keeping Daniel on his toes, changing direction and tempo right along with the music, carrying Daniel along. There were missteps, but they quickly became fewer and fewer as the two of them became one along with the music. “I had no idea you could dance like this,” Daniel said, a little breathlessly.
“I’m a man of many hidden talents,” James tossed back. “It’s up to you to try to determine what they are...if you have the guts.” He dipped Daniel at the end of the song, grinning from ear to ear. “So how about it? Do you have the courage or not?”
“That was lovely,” Beverly said, and it took James a second to realize she was talking to Howard and Holly. Not that he minded. James held Daniel’s hand, escorting Daniel off to the side as Howard moved Holly around the floor. He hadn’t become proficient in a matter of seconds, but he and Holly were smiling, and it seemed his sister’s feet were safe for the time being.
When yet another song began, James held out his hand, a silent question. Daniel took it, and they took the floor once more. “Remember what you told Howard,” James teased and swung Daniel into a dramatic spin, catching him when he returned and gliding him across the floor.
James knew he was dancing with a man—the muscles under Daniel’s clothes were unmistakable—but he also made sure to show him off, displaying Daniel’s grace and poise with each turn. “What?” Daniel asked, his gaze searing into James.
“That dancing was like sex.” James held Daniel firmly. “I can feel you quivering in my arms and I know exactly what I’m doing. This is making love standing up, and you know it.” He spun him once more as the song ended. Then he hugged a flushed Daniel tightly, deciding that they had probably had enough excitement for the time being. James sat in one of the chairs by the wall and relaxed, stretching out his feet, pleased with himself.
Daniel was still breathing hard, and James could almost feel each time he glanced his way. The next steps were up to Daniel, but James had definitely given him something to think about while Howard and Holly continued the rest of their lesson.
“One last song,” Beverly told the bride and groom a little while later.
“Are you up for it?” James asked, holding out his hand. He held Daniel’s gaze until he accepted the invitation, and James once again reminded Daniel of exactly what he was offering.
“The real question is, are you?”
* * *
“Can we look into Reverend Creepy now?” Margot asked in a whisper as soon as James and Daniel walked in the door. “Mom is out doing some last-minute shopping. She wasn’t happy with the dress she was going to wear tonight so she decided to try to find something else.” Howard had dropped them off and needed to return home for a few hours.
“Daniella and Holly need to check that the wedding dress fits, but you and I can do some work to see if there’s anything going on.” James had figured this little exercise would give him and Margot something to do together. If Margot wanted to be a police officer like him, then she needed to learn that a lot of investigations came to nothing, especially fishing expeditions like this one.
“We can go to my room while they use yours. Mom will have a fit if she finds out we’re doing this.”
“Yes, she will,” their father said as he glared at both of them, shaking his head. “What do you think you’re up to, young lady?”
“Dad...” She huffed and disappeared into her room, closing the door harder than was necessary.
“Son?” Now James was in the hot seat.
“Let’s go check on that dress,” Daniel said quietly and hurried past him and down to the other room.
“Cowards,” James called as they disappeared behind a closed door, leaving him to face his father’s glaring indignation.
“Spill it,” his dad growled.
“The girls don’t like the minister. Holly doesn’t, and neither does Margot.” He motioned down toward the living room. His dad sat in his chair and James on the sofa. “Margot calls him Reverend Creepy, and I have to tell you there’s something off about the guy. Have you been in his office?”
“Can’t say as I have.”
“The floor is raised behind his desk to make him seem taller and more imposing. It’s weird, Pop, and that lectern, like he needs to seem closer to god. That’s downright bizarre. I took some pictures while I was in his office, and since Margot says she wants to be a cop, I figured we could look into a few things, make her see that the guy is a little weird but harmless, and then she can move on.” He shrugged.
“And if there’s something to what the girls feel?” his dad asked, carefully.
“Then you need to listen to them. They deserve to be comfortable. He may be creepy, but that isn’t illegal. Is the guy dipping into the communion wine?”
His dad chuckled, but didn’t relax for a second, leaning forward. “You know I’m on the board of elders. Your mother put me up to it last year.” He paused a few seconds as though he were thinking. “I can keep my eye on things, but you know your mother when it comes to the church.”
“Okay, like I said, I promised Margot that I would look into him with her. If we come up with anything, I promise to tell you.” He really didn’t expect anything to come of any of this. “Let me find Margot.” James stood just as Daniel hurried into the room.
“She’s ready.” Daniel grinned from ear to ear as fabric rustled, Holly gliding down the hall. James barely registered his father standing up as he stared at the vision his sister had become. Without makeup, her hair just combed...none of it mattered.
“Holly...” James breathed as she stopped in front of the full-length mirror on the linen closet door. She paused, tears running down her cheeks, and Daniel hurried over.
“God, I’m sorry, I...” Daniel began, and Holly held his hands.