Wes snagged two glasses of champagne fromthe bar at the far end of the living room and took a moment toadmire Mac’s spacious, modern home.The room was filled with large,low furniture in earth tones and sparse wood accents, as well ascolorful art, which resulted in a relaxed, elegant vibe.Twenty orso guests occupied the space, filling it with conversationalmurmurs, occasional laughter, and the clink of glassware.Westurned to hand a glass to Ryker and was greeted by that penetratingblue glare again.
“Ryker, you’re going to age that pretty faceof yours frowning at me like that.Here, sip on this and let’s finda quiet corner to talk,” he murmured, offering up his bestsmile.
“No need for compliments or quiet corners,Wes.I’ll get right to the point.I work alone.That’s it.I knowMac means well, but I enjoy my working life the way it is.It’snothing personal.I just don’t need a writing partner.I’m sorry ifthis has been a waste of your time, but I told Mac it wasn’t a goodidea at the outset.But, like the stubborn man he is, he’s going tokeep trying to convince me.As, I’m sure, will you.Good luck withthat.”
Ryker raised his champagne glass in a mocktoast and headed off to the other side of the room.Wes didn’t havea difficult time with witty comebacks, but in that moment, he hadnothing.
Wes stared at Ryker as he walked away, hiseyes inevitably straying lower to get a good, long look at his ass,modeled perfectly in tight denim.He shook his head to get his mindoff his reaction and wake up the rational part of his brain.
Ryker thought he’d had the last word, butWes wasn’t going to let a little excuse like “I work alone” deterhim.He had a gut feeling about this book series, and now that he’dmet Ryker and experienced their initial chemistry, it would onlymake this project that much more exciting and interesting.
Wes didn’t need luck.He just had to bepatient.
****
Ryker
Twenty minutes later, palms sweating, Rykerforced a polite smile as he pretended to listen to the conversationgoing on around him at the dinner table.Wes kept glancing overfrom the opposite end, that dimpled grin on his face.What thehell is that guy so fucking happy about?Ryker had said no.DidWes think he was going to change his mind?The sexy asshole wasjust trying to play with his head.His dick twitched in his jeansat that thought.
No, not that head.Calm down,he toldhis dick.Wes is the enemy.
His dick did not agree.
Ryker watched as Wes turned his attentionback to Mac, and suddenly, they bent their heads together andlowered their voices in what looked like an intense conversation.Unfortunately, Ryker was too far away to hear what they weresaying.Besides which, Cal was going on about one of his crazyadventures, and the resulting laughter that filled the room blottedout any other conversations.
“And then I was buck-ass naked in the middleof the fucking piazza at two in the morning, being chased by areally angry husband and a horde of Italian police.”Peals oflaughter echoed in the large dining space.
Shaking out of his internal angst, Rykerlooked across the table and noticed that Grey was paying particularattention to Cal’s animated face—and flushing every time Cal saidsomething flirtatious or outrageous.Interesting.
A large hand suddenly landed on Ryker’s leftthigh and squeezed tight.Oh, no.Harrison Ruehl.
Harrison was a successful fashionentrepreneur, a very wealthy businessman, and a regular at theseparties.An admitted sugar daddy, Harrison kept trying to convinceRyker to “play” with him and be his boy, despite Ryker’s insistencethat he was not interested in that role.Ryker put on his fakesmile, which was more like a grimace, and quietly removed theoffending hand.Harrison didn’t get the hint and gently touchedRyker’s shoulder and hair.Guess I’m not the only one who can’tread social cues.
“I was hoping to sit near you tonight and Ilucked out.I figured I would finally be able to convince you to goout with me,” Harrison purred as he leaned in.“I love your quietnature.It’s mysterious, and it intrigues me.”
Rolling his eyes at Harrison’s horribleattempt at a pick-up line, Ryker leaned away as far as he could.“Please don’t touch my hair or any part of me.I’ve already toldyou that you and I are never going on a date.We want differentthings.You have a room full of other options,” Ryker grumbled.Hedid his best to keep his voice low to avoid the attention of otherguests, but he wasn’t above making a scene if push came to shove.Some people needed to learn their lessons the hard way.
“But surely you need someone to help guideyou and unleash your inner fire.I’d be happy to teach you,” hesaid and slipped a business card into Ryker’s jacket pocket.
Ryker took a deep breath and gave his bestglare.“If you don’t stop touching me in the next ten seconds, Iwill make a very loud comment about your inability to performsexually.”
“You wouldn’t,” Harrison scoffed.
“Try me,” Ryker replied angrily.Harrisonslowly withdrew his hand and shrugged.
Ryker breathed a big sigh of relief until afew minutes later, when Harrison once again placed his hand onRyker’s leg under the table.
It was going to be a long-ass night.
****
Wes
Who is that man practically sitting inRyker’s lap?Wes grumbled to himself as his mood took adistinct nosedive.
The large man to Ryker’s left was probablyin his fifties, with a shaved head and several visible tattoos.Hewas talking loudly and kept leaning into Ryker’s personal space,touching his hair and shoulder.Ryker looked uncomfortable andpissed, even more so than when he was introduced to Wes, if thatwere possible.Or maybe that was his permanent expression.Wordswere exchanged and Wes observed the older man back off, and thenhis left hand moved under the table again.Wes felt the sudden urgeto walk over and physically remove the man from his chair.Ifthat guy touches Ryker one more time…White-hot anger burstthrough his blood, and it was all kinds of strange, because Wes wasnever possessive about anyone, let alone someone he had just met.Control yourself, Wes, and focus.
“How did your conversation with Ryker go?”Mac asked quietly, interrupting Wes’s primal thoughts.
