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The next hour passed in a blur of introductions, drinks, appetizers, and dancing.

I twirled Tempest around the dance floor, delighting in her laughter as I showed off the moves Jules had been mocking me for practicing.

Gryff and Bettie joined us, along with Parker and Artemis, the six of us forming our own little group in the middle of the dance floor.

“I didn’t know you could dance, Kingman,” Artemis shouted over the music, executing a perfect spin that had Parker laughing.

“Full of surprises, aren’t I?” I called back. “Not just a pretty face and incredible athletic ability.”

“And so humble,” Gryff added dryly, though his own moves were drawing appreciative glances from several nearby dancers.

The band took a break and played some upbeat pop song, then a more electronic dance song, and the energy on the floor intensified.

Tempest moved with surprising grace and rhythm, her body swaying in a way that had me completely mesmerized.

Seeing her having fun, her body in action, was something else entirely.

“You’re staring,” she said, her cheeks flushed from dancing.

“Can you blame me?” I pulled her closer, spinning her again just to hear her laugh.

When the song ended, she fanned herself with her hand. “I need a break and something to drink.”

We made our way to the bar, where Gryff and Artemis were already waiting.

“Water for the dance queen,” Gryff said, handing Tempest a glass. “You’ve got some moves too, Navarro.”

“Just wait until Abuela visits us in LA and takes us out salsa dancing.” Tempest did a little salsa step. “You won’t be able to move for a week.”

We all laughed, and I felt a surge of warmth watching Tempest so relaxed and happy with my brother and his best friend, talking about our life together in LA. This was how it should be. Our lives intertwining, our people becoming her people and vice versa.

The band returned, and the singer’s voice floated over the crowd. “Alright, couples, time to slow things down. Grab your special someone and head to the floor.”

I held out my hand to Tempest. “May I have this dance, my queen?”

Her smile was soft as she took my hand. Back on the dance floor, I pulled her close, one hand at the small of her back, the other holding hers against my chest. She rested her head on my shoulder, fitting against me perfectly.

We swayed to the music, her curves pressed against me, her scent, that floral and uniquely Tempest smell, surrounding me. My body responded predictably. I glanced around, wondering if there was somewhere I could drag her off to have my way with her.

She pulled back just enough to look up at me, one eyebrow raised. “Is that a football in your pocket, Mr. Kingman or...?”

“Sorry, not sorry, babe.” I pressed my lips to her ear. “You just... you feel really good. Wanna go find a coat closet and let me see what you’ve got on under your dress?”

To my surprise, she didn’t tease me back. Instead, she pressed closer, her lips brushing my ear. “I like knowing I affect you this way.”

Jesus Christ. My body went from interested to fully at attention.

As if on cue, the music faded, and Bettie’s voice came over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the crowning of this year’s KATman.”

Oh shit. I was about to have to get up on stage with a huge stiffy for the whole world to see. I tried desperately to think of anything unsexy. Coach yelling during practice, Isak’s disgusting protein shakes, the time Declan’s dog devoured my favorite cleats.

“You’re thinking too loud,” Tempest murmured, amusement in her voice.

“I’m trying not to embarrass myself in the middle of your sorority formal,” I admitted.

She laughed softly and pressed her soft curves against the bulge in the front of my pants. “Maybe this will get you a couple of last minute votes.”

The crowd cheered as the senior KAT class filed up on the stage with their dates, and I strategically placed myself behind Tempest. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pressing my hard on against her luscious ass. She gave a tiny squeak and whispered something about saving that for later.

God, I loved her.

“Our KATman candidates have been judged on charm, personality, dancing skills, and of course, their compatibility with their KAT date,” Bettie announced. “We’ve tallied the votes, and we’ll start with our runners-up.”

I was genuinely curious about where I’d place in this ridiculous but endearing tradition. Competition was in my blood.

“Our second runner-up is... Artemis Ingvar.”

Cheers erupted as Artie made her way to Bettie, accepting a small trophy and hamming it up for the crowd. Gryff wolf-whistled from beside us, making her laugh mid-bow.

“Our first runner-up is... Flynn Kingman.”

I kissed Tempest’s cheek. “Everyone is going to know exactly how hot I am for you now, babe.”

A few titters and a couple of gasps sounded as I stepped out from behind her. But then someone stage-whispered, “If that’s the runner-up, the winner must have, like, magical monster peen or something.”

Everyone laughed and Bettie, being the smart woman she was continued the ceremony. “And this year’s KATman is... Killian Kane.”

A guy from the hockey team, that Hannah had started dating after the party that shall not be named, bounded onto the stage to thunderous applause, accepting the ridiculous crown and scepter with good-natured humor.

I clapped him on the back as he took his place at the center, genuinely happy for him.

As we left the stage, Tempest met me at the bottom of the steps, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Congratulations on your almost-victory,” she teased.

“The only crown I care about is having the queen,” I replied, bending to kiss her softly. Anything more and I would need to get a room like the onlookers were shouting at us.

The formal continued for another hour, but eventually couples began to drift out, heading to after-parties or back to campus. Tempest and I found Gryff and Bettie near the coat check.

“Heading out?” Gryff asked, his arm around Bettie’s waist.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “And don’t come knocking until it’s time to leave for the Dragon’s Lair to do the captains’ ceremony tomorrow. Tempest and I will be terribly busy.”

“What’s the captains’ ceremony?” Bettie asked.

“It’s a sacred tradition,” Gryff replied solemnly. “The passing of the torch to next year’s captains. Profoundly serious business.”

Usually accompanied by a some kind of video game tournament. We were all ultra-competitive guys after all.

“Including the care and feeding of One-eyed Willie,” I added with a straight face.

Tempest looked between us. “Who or what is One-eyed Willie? Please don’t tell me you guys have some giant peen idol in the Dragon’s Lair.”

“The captains’ mascot. A very distinguished, somewhat ugly, completely hairless cat who lives in the Dragon’s Lair, and has been known to do his own bit of matchmaking of many a team captain over the years.”

“You’re joking,” she said, though her expression suggested she wasn’t entirely sure.

“Completely serious,” Gryff confirmed. “One-eyed Willie has been overseeing the transition of team captains and helping to find and approve of their girlfriends or boyfriends at DSU for fifteen years. He’s practically an institution.

If any team captain brings a date to meet one-eyed Willie, you know it’s serious. ”

“Somehow, this school gets weirder the longer I’m here,” Tempest said, shaking her head with a smile.

We said our goodbyes and headed out into the cool May night. As the car took us back to campus, I said quietly, “You will come to meet Wille with me tomorrow, won’t you?”

“That’s seriously a thing? I find it completely adorable you big, bad bunch of team captains have a Cat Corleone you bring your girlfriends to for his approval.”

“I nodded. “Yeah, it’s a long-standing tradition. Almost as important as meeting the parents. Willie’s going to love you, but not as much as I do. We’re couple goals, babe.”

Bringing a girl to the Dragon’s Lair to meet Willie had never been on my radar, because I’d never intended to fall in love. Now I couldn’t imagine the rest of my life without Tempest.

I wasn’t the Flynn who’d started this semester, a cocky Kingman looking for nothing more than a fling, a round one draft pick to the Mustangs, and a solid, but hidden fear of change. My girl had changed all of that for me. She made me want to be the kind of man she deserved. Forever.

I kissed my girl, pouring everything I felt about her into it, my love, my hopes, my promises. When we broke apart, she rested her forehead against mine.

“Take me to bed and show me those couple goals, Kingman.” she whispered.