* * *
Gregory pulledinto the dirt parking lot of Rapture and cut the engine. He and Justin got out of the car and walked up the wide staircase to the front door. The bass beat of the music was thrumming and vibrating so strong Gregory could feel it pulsing up his legs.
“Let’s go find Verity and make sure everything is situated.” Justin clapped Gregory on the back and they navigated through the throngs of people to the bar in the back of the old church.
“There they are,” Justin shouted over the noise into Gregory’s ear, gesturing to the bartender.
Gregory quickly understood what Justin had meant earlier when he said the only way to describe Verity wasVerity. They were lithe without being lanky; slender and pale arms moved with a graceful fluidity underneath the gauzy black sleeves of their shirt as they mixed a drink in a stainless steel shaker. Verity laughed and tossed their entire head back, shiny black hair falling to the side, showcasing the crisp lines of an undercut.
Verity was indisputably…ethereal.
But a switch.
Gregory shook his head and pushed his way to the bar to flag them down.
“What can I get you?” Verity’s voice was smooth and sugary.
“I’m Gregory?” he answered, unsure of why his voice tipped up into a question. “I’m Gregory,” he tried again.
“Verity.” They extended their hand over the bar and Gregory shook it.
“I called to set up the ceremony tonight for Justin and Micah.”
“Indeed, you did. I’m a bit slammed here, but everything is all set upstairs. I’ll get the owner to pop by and show you so you can make sure everything is how you want it. Just gimme five. Can I get you a drink?” Verity smiled and even in the dark of the club, Gregory could see their green eyes sparkle.
“Just a whiskey.” Gregory returned the expression.
“Just a whiskey.” Verity poured two fingers into a tumbler and slid it across the bar. They reached into their pocket and pulled out a cell phone, tapping out a message. “He’ll be out in a few.”
Then Verity was off, mixing more drinks and moving like honey being poured out of a jar. Gregory definitely understood what Justin meant earlier. He didn’t even want to be with a switch and he was entranced by the person on the other side of the bar.
“See what I mean?” Justin laughed in his ear and grabbed Gregory’s whiskey, taking a small sip.
“Yeah,” he agreed, taking his drink back.
Gregory turned and rested his back against the bar, watching the people around him dance and writhe together. His eyes fell onto a couple, obviously a Dom and sub… the Dom had his finger looped through an O-ring on the other man’s collar and was controlling his movements as they danced together. Something so simple, yet painfully foreign to Gregory’s memory.
He realized Justin was talking to someone and tapping him on the shoulder, so he shifted his attention to his friend who made a spinning gesture with his finger. Gregory turned and his heart stuttered in his chest before slamming into the floor.
There had been many times in the past fifteen years that he’d waited for this moment. He’d thought about the way he’d feel and the things he would say—the things he would yell, the way he’d curse. Instead, all that he managed was a raspy and painful sounding…
“Landon.”
Gregory swallowed thickly, taking in the man in front of him, far older and more grown than he’d been the summer after high school. His cheeks less tear-stained than the day he’d changed their plans and left Gregory on his own.
“Greg?”
Landon’s eyes widened as he realized who was across from him, and his face flushed so bright Gregory could see it in the dim light of the club. Landon opened his mouth and snapped it closed. He pulled his lips in between his teeth and closed his eyes, his shoulders heaving with deep and anxious breaths. He squeezed his eyes tighter, and Gregory could see wrinkles form around the edges of his lashes.
Verity slid up next to him and placed a palm against Landon’s bare stomach and whispered something into his ear. They glanced at Gregory before focusing back on whatever they were saying to Landon, who nodded and let go of his lips but kept his eyes closed. Gregory watched Verity’s palm smooth its way across the soft flesh of Landon’s exposed stomach and jealousy bubbled inside of him. There had been a time when Gregory had been the only person to know what that slice of skin felt like, when Gregory had been the first to paint it with cum.
It made sense that Landon had found himself someone like Verity, although the thought of Landon switching didn’t mesh with his memory. Landon hadn’t ever had a dominant bone in his body, unless it had been Gregory’s.
Verity stepped away from Landon, and he opened his eyes. His lower lashes glistened, but he forced a smile onto his face that Gregory imagined was reserved for strangers he was trying to please.
“I can take you upstairs so you can see the space we’ve set up.” Landon’s voice sounded mechanical and monotone. There was a pang of hurt that reverberated through Gregory’s chest at the slight of Landon not even acknowledging their history, their past, but he pushed it aside, instead choosing to focus on the reason he was here—Justin and Micah.
“Right.” Gregory’s voice came out so soft he doubted anyone besides himself heard it.
