Lachlan made a disapproving sound. "Stop acting like it's a good idea, Valentine. These people are fucking monsters."
"At least they are smart ones. I can't help admiring skill wherever I see it. You two should start dancing, or they will notice something is wrong. I will go look at the auction items and find the security doors Layla mentioned," Valentine replied before gliding off through the crowd.
Apollo didn't need to look under Lachlan's mask to know he was frowning.
"Don't judge him too harshly. Val loves magic more than anything in the world," he said, patting Lachlan's hand.
"I suppose we should do as he says and dance," Lachlan replied, and his mouth lifted into a grin. "But I get to lead."
"And why is that?" Apollo huffed.
"Because you are a terrible dancer, Apollo. And I was forced to take lessons growing up." Lachlan toyed with one of Apollo's curls and let it spring up again. "I promise I will let you lead later."
Apollo rolled his eyes. "You're pretty confident anything will happen later at all."
"I always keep my promises," Lachlan said. He lifted Apollo's hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles, his blue eyes locking onto his. "Dance with me."
Apollo was a sucker for a hand kiss, so he could only nod and let Lachlan lead him easily out onto the dance floor.
20
Nothing had felt so right to Lachlan as leading Apollo into a waltz. The other man's body seemed to fit neatly up against his, and even though he wasn't the best of dancers, Apollo knew how to follow Lachlan's lead and move along gracefully.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" he asked because Apollo still had a stiffness to his spine.
"I feel like everyone is watching me," Apollo replied, his eyes darting around him.
Lachlan couldn't help but smile. "They can't help it, Apollo. You are the most handsome man here. The mask doesn't do much to hide that."
"That's not what I meant." Apollo gave him an irritated look. "And you're only saying that because you want to get in my pants."
"And your shirt. And your cute rainbow toe socks," Lachlan replied, trying to get a smile out of him.
Apollo sighed in despair. "I'm never going to live that night down, am I?"
"I liked how they matched your underwear. Really, it's quite irritating how you're always so adorable."
Lachlan knew he probably should quit while he was ahead, but he didn't know if he would ever get a chance to have Apollo in a situation that he couldn't avoid him.
"I'm not just trying to get into your pants either. I mean, you're gorgeous, and I would be honored, but that's not all I want from you."
Apollo leaned back a little so he could look into his eyes. "Is that right? I'm not an idiot, Lachlan. I know that you don't do relationships. I know that you're worse than me with one-night stands. So what exactly is it that youthinkthat you want with me apart from some mutual orgasms?"
"Right now, I want you to give me a chance to prove how good we could be together," Lachlan said. He held Apollo closer, worried that he would run. "I've never wanted anything more than a one-night stand with anyone until I met you. I've tried to ignore it, thinking that I would feel different with time, but it's only getting worse. I was serious at the hospital when I said that I'm not going to give up until you give me a chance or tell me to fuck off."
Apollo made a frustrated sound at the back of his throat. "Jesus, Lachlan, you can't know all that when we haven't even kissed yet."
Lachlan slid his hand from Apollo's waist and up to the back of his neck. He gave him plenty of space to back away as he lowered his head.
"The fuck I can't," he whispered against Apollo's lips before pressing them lightly against his. Apollo leaned into the kiss, but when Lachlan tried to deepen it, Apollo made the sweetest little moan and pulled away.
"I can't do this. Not here," he said before hurrying off.
Lachlan couldn't risk losing sight of him, so he followed, knowing Apollo really wanted to be left alone. He could be pissed at him, but Lachlan wouldn't leave him alone surrounded by enemies.
Lachlan followed him, weaving through the crowd and not losing sight of Apollo's shining mane of hair. He seemed to not know where he was going. He passed the stairs to the auction viewing areas and ducked under a red velvet cord.
"Where are you going?" Lachlan asked, his eyes looking for cameras. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any, meaning there was nothing worth guarding on this floor.
