The dancing continued all evening and into the night. Spock and McCoy remained together throughout although they did stop occasionally for refreshments.
Each time they returned to the dance floor, their hold became slightly closer, a little more intimate.
The last dance set was obviously intended for couples and Spock had shifted so one hand was holding McCoy's waist and the other was resting on his neck, his fingers brushing underneath the halter to maintain telepathic contact.
Leonard had long since taken to resting his hands about the Vulcan's waist.
Jim had called it a night during their last refreshment break. Neither Spock nor McCoy had offered to accompany him and he hadn't asked. Instead he'd left them with instructions to enjoy their last night on the planet.
Neither queried whether they wished to keep dancing. Both simply kept up their gentle conversation as they moved instinctively together.
Spock couldn't remember the last time he and the doctor had engaged in such prolonged discourse without argument. Of course their conversation hadn't contained much of import. It was primarily an excuse not to have to stop dancing.
They were quiet now though and Spock couldn't help but pick up the doctor's sleepiness through the skin contact. He wondered if he should suggest retiring for the night or whether that would put the doctor's hackles up.
McCoy chose that moment to drop his forehead down against Spock's chest.
"You are tired, Doctor," Spock murmured softly.
"Yeah," McCoy agreed genially.
"We should stop," Spock suggested, although he continued to lead them slowly through the steps.
"Not yet." McCoy turned his head so it was more comfortably resting on Spock's shoulder. "This is the nicest evening I've had in a long, long while," he admitted.
They were silent a minute before Spock confessed,
"It has been pleasant for me also."
He could feel the doctor's smile against his chest.
"Did it hurt ya to admit that?" he asked.
"No," Spock replied. He cautiously shifted his arm to hold the doctor more securely. "I would in fact appreciate more time to engage in conversation of mutual interest."
McCoy pulled back to look at him.
"You want to spend more time with me?"
"That is what I implied."
"You mean in the labs or…" The doctor fell silent so Spock completed his thought.
"I mean off duty when we are less likely to be in conflict over how best to protect Jim from his own ideas."
"You wanna meet up for off duty conversations?" McCoy's eyes shifted away to stare at nothing and Spock allowed himself a moment to truly see him. The man was beautiful, inside and out.
"I want to engage in all the activities expected of a courting couple," he stated.
That brought McCoy's eyes back to his.
"Courting?" he echoed.
"If you will accept me as a suitor," Spock allowed. A few seconds passed before a slow smile spread across the doctor's face.
"I think I could accept that," he drawled.
They stood and looked at each other, seeing each other for the first time as more than friends.
"The music has stopped," Spock suddenly realised.
"So it has," McCoy agreed. "You going to walk me home then?"
Spock shifted his hold so he was holding the doctor to him by the waist and guided him out of the hall.
They were silent on the short journey back but comfortable in each others' presence. McCoy continued to let his head rest against Spock.
It wasn't until they reached the landing of their accommodation that they spoke.
"Will you help me with the zip again?" McCoy's eyes seemed strangely bright in the darkness. Spock nodded and followed the doctor into his room.
The doctor turned so Spock could access the short zip and the Vulcan almost tenderly undid the dress.
McCoy let it drop and turned back to the Vulcan, winding his hands around his neck.
"Stay with me?" he asked.
"You are tired," Spock reminded him without making any effort to move away.
"I know." He dropped his forehead back onto Spock's chest. "I just want you here with me though."
"Very well," Spock agreed and led the sleepy doctor back onto his bed.