Cort’s answering smile was genuine. “Noshit?”
“Nope. And I play videogames.”
The way Cort’s smile widened was more arousing than the hand currently caressing Cam’s leg. “Yeah, you mentioned that. Sometimes with one eye closed.” He laughed. “Whichgames?”
“Uh, League of Legends, a couple of first person shooters. And I’m developing a game with our software team based on a series of YA fantasy novels, which… Well.” Cam shrugged and braced himself for ridicule, for more of the “Grow up, Cam,” he’d always gotten fromDrew.
Cort grinned in the lopsided way Cam was already starting to find familiar - way too familiar for an acquaintance that could only be measured in hours. “So, what you’re telling me is, you shoot people for fun? That’s kindabadass.”
Cam burst into laughter. Badass? He’d been called that exactly never, but hekinda likedit - and liked it even more because everything about Cort said his flirtatious teasing hid genuine interest. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this good, or done something forhimselflike this. Cort didn’t want to talk about Seaver, didn’t seem to care about his job or his bank account, didn’t want Cam to put on some kind of fake persona. He couldn’t believe someone like Cort could be into him in thisway.
“Yep. That’s me. Totally badass and dangerous. I like to shoot stuff online for fun, and I can run far, far away veryquickly.”
Cort nodded with mock-seriousness. “Dulywarned.”
“What about you?” Cam asked, leaning his elbow against thebar.
“Whataboutme?” Cort returned. His eyes turned a shade more guarded, and despite the way the alcohol and the man were making his brain buzz, Cam read that as a flashing sign saying, “Proceed with Caution.” Cort didn’t want to talk about himself, didn’t feel the desire to share the way Camdid.
So fine. Okay. Strangers at a bar don’t have expectations. Keep itcasual.
Cam leaned in closer to Cort’s heat, loving the way Cort’s body responded, the sharp exhalation of breath that warmed Cam’scheek.
“What do you do to blow off steam?” he asked. Seduction and flirtation were not his forte, but tonight he feltbold.
“Sometimes I like to justscream.”
Cam snickered. “What?” He’d expected to hear… well, something more violent maybe? Something more befitting the man’s heavy muscles and the way he’d tensed at a perceived threat. Cort’s entire demeanor blared “man of action.” But his face held the same sincerity as before, and maybe just a trace ofvulnerability.
“True story. I just go someplace alone and let out all the anger, all the frustration, all the shit I’ve dealt with all day. You should try it sometime. You know, if the shooting thing doesn’twork.”
Cam shook his head, amused and charmed. He gave a pointed glance around the room. “Pretty sure it wouldn’t go over too well aroundhere.”
Cort grinned. “True. It’s harder to find places in the city. Especially in exclusive hotels.” His grin turned cagey. “But not impossible, if you know where tolook.”
Cam’s eyes widened. “You want us,” he gestured between them, his hand brushing the hard wall of Cort’s chest in a way that made his own thoughts blank momentarily. “To scream? Inside this hotel? Is the ensuing arrest all part of thefun?”
Cortlaughed.
The sound was so potent and rich that if it could be distilled into liquor, Cam would happily have drowned himself init.
When his laughter subsided, he looked at Cam with affection no less potent than the laughter. If he wanted Cam to scream right here, right now, he’d do it and damn the consequences. But instead, he stood up and held out his hand. “Come withme?”
It was not a demand or an expectation, but an offering. Cam was vividly aware he knew nothing about Cort - the Jameson hadn’t dulled his thoughts to the point where he could forget it. Everyone wanted a piece of him - his money, his influence, his name on a fucking computer program, and maybe Cort was noexception.
But for years, everything in Cam’s world had required cold logic, scrupulous planning, and straight paths. Somehow this man, thisstranger,glowed like a beacon, hot and bright, and Cam, who had never done a dangerous thing in his life as far as he could recall, had finally found someone who wanted something from him that he wanted to give. He hopped off his stool and set his hand in Cort’s largerone.
“Let’sgo.”
