“Less shit I have to pack.” My response was less conciliatory than it could have been, and I found myself not wanting to hold a grudge any longer. I could only imagine the horror stories Gray had told him about me, even if they weren’t true. I raised my bottle and said, “Confirmed bachelors unite.”
“Amen.”
Miller clinked his bottle to mine, and the tension from earlier faded until all that was left were two guys sharing a beer while their best friends dreamed of fairy tales, happily ever afters, and probably a unicorn ring bearer at their future wedding. They weren’t engaged yet, but we all knew it was just a matter of time. The teasing glint in Miller’s eyes changed to something darker and blatantly sexual, but I did my best to ignore it. He had been absolutely right when he’d cautioned that starting anything between us would only make the situation more complicated. I had no regrets about the night we’d spent together, but I was determined it wouldn’t happen again.
Miller
Leaving my niece’s birthday party early to attend an alumni mixer at the university was not my idea of a good time. Holiday break was supposed to be just that—a holiday. Instead, I found myself surrounded by stuffed suits all trying to convince an important alumnus who had deep pockets to donate to his beloved alma mater. I much preferred wearing a party hat and being mauled by my niece and her tiny friends.
Unfortunately, my attendance was required since I was the mastermind behind the joint Mayan artifact project between the university and the Smithsonian, even though my department head, Micah Halverston, had taken all the credit. I wasn’t exactly sure why he needed me to be in attendance. Oh, right, in case someone had questions he couldn’t answer because his interest in the project had been next to nil until articles praising the exhibit had begun cropping up. Quite honestly, I was tired of saving his lazy ass every time something like this happened, although this was the first time it was happening on a national level.
Micah had to defer to me to answer one too many questions and the wealthiest alumnus in attendance, Senator Baxter Thompson, narrowed his shrewd, gray eyes at Halverston before turning his attention to me. “I think you and your students did an amazing job, Dr. Brexler, and you should be very proud of the positive press the archeology and anthropology departments are receiving.”
“Thank you, Senator Thompson, for acknowledging my students’ dedication to seeing this exhibit become a reality. They worked tirelessly to make it all happen.” I had to admit I was a little bit of a Senator Thompson fanboy. He was openly gay and a champion for LGBTQ rights, not to mention extremely handsome. He was one of the brightest minds to attend Georgetown Law as well as one of the youngest members of Congress, and he’d had people fawning all over him all night long.
“It sounds like your students had some amazing instruction.” The senator turned his full charm on me, and I felt myself turn a little pink under his praise. He smiled charmingly, and I returned the gesture. I half expected an invitation to get to know him a little better, but his attention was suddenly diverted. “It has been lovely getting to know you, Dr. Brexler, but I see an old acquaintance, and I need to say hello.” He shook my hand in a hurry and made a beeline for someone behind me. I was curious to know who he was talking about and turned to watch his progress but wished I hadn’t.
I watched as Jag waved in the senator’s direction. A huge smile split his face, and I found an unfamiliar feeling burning in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t like Jag smiling at Senator Thompson like that, and I certainly didn’t like the hug they exchanged. I knew right then what kind of acquaintances they had been and understood the senator’s burning desire to reacquaint himself with Jag. I sure as hell had spent several nights tossing and turning, burning with desire I had started to suspect only Jag could satisfy. Damn it,Iwanted to reacquaint myself with his body.
The fiery sensation intensified, burning a path up my esophagus until I could taste the jealousy on my tongue. There was part of me that wanted to stomp over there and break up their little reunion before anything could even get started, but I held myself back. I’d made a big enough asshole of myself the last time I’d seen Jag, and I refused to do so again.
Dr. Halverston yammered on about this alum and that alum, but I tuned him out and focused on the two gorgeous men engaged in a conversation full of smiles and laughter. It was during this intense scrutiny that I noticed Jag’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. My jealousy faded somewhat as I remembered the times I’d seen the smile in his eyes when he’d looked into mine. Okay, so we’d either been playing basketball, fucking, or sucking each other off, but still…I had been on the receiving end of his genuine smile. The urge to see it again struck me hard enough to make me dizzy, causing me to blink several times while I gathered myself.
“Are you okay, Miller?” I heard the forced concern in Dr. Halverston’s voice. “You’re not intoxicated, are you? That would make the department look bad in front of our esteemed alumni.”
“Too much birthday cake at my niece’s party this afternoon, sir. I think my blood sugar dropped suddenly and left me a little lightheaded. I’ll grab a bite to eat from the buffet and be just fine.” I kept my voice modulated so as not to show my disdain for the man who thought I’d get tanked at a university event.
“Dr. Brexler,” Gavin said, walking up beside me, “there are a few benefactors here who’d like to talk to you about future projects.” Thank God for Gavin who knew how much I disliked the clueless department head.
“Perhaps I should come along as well,” Micah said. I would have hung my head in embarrassment for him, but Jag chose that exact moment to look at me.
Time had not diminished the impact of his penetrating gaze. Jag tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment before turning his focus back on the senator. It felt more like a dismissal than a greeting, and the burning sensation returned in full force.
“There are so many people for you to talk with, Dr. Halverston,” Gavin answered. “If Dr. Brexler needs your assistance, I will come find you.” Gavin’s ass kissing was met by a harrumph and hearty slap on his back before the penguin-shaped man waddled off into the crowd. “Is that him?” Gavin asked as soon as Halverston was out of earshot.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gavin.” I pivoted on my heel and made my way to the buffet table to get a bite to eat. The excuse I’d given Halverston wasn’t far from the truth. I had eaten too much birthday cake and not enough of anything else.
“Don’t play coy with me, Dr. Brexler,” Gavin said as he followed behind me. I had hoped if I ignored him, he’d walk away and find someone else to annoy, but no such luck. “I saw the way you were looking at the tall, dark, and sexy man talking to the senator.”
“You saw no such thing, Gavin.”Deny. Deny. Deny.
“He’s the one that had you wiggling in your chair a few months ago, right? The one you were sighing over as you looked through your planner like you couldn’t get the memory of how he made you feel out of your mind.”
“Perhaps you should switch your major to romantic literature since you seem to have the knack for it.”
“I know what I saw on your face in the office that day. I haven’t seen that expression again until tonight, so who are you trying to fool? Me or yourself?”
“Look—”
“Yeah, Doc, who are you trying to fool?” Jag’s dark, sexy voice came out of nowhere and caught me by surprise. “Let me help you with that,” he said as he eased an arm around me and plucked the plate out of my hand. “I’m going to borrow him for a bit,” Jag said to Gavin. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Gavin looked Jag up and down like he was a life-sized hot fudge sundae. “Take all the time you need.” He gave me a jaunty little salute and an impish smile. I was ready to give him a scalding retort, but Jag took my upper arm in his free hand and began guiding me to a table.
“You’re a doctor who studies bones, yes?” That was a unique way of referring to my job, but I knew whichbonehe was referring to, and it had nothing to do with archeological digs or lost civilizations.
“In a manner of speaking,” I replied as I sat down at a vacant table. “You’ve just met my teaching assistant, Gavin Anderson.”
“He’s a scrumptious little cupcake with sprinkles on top,” Jag replied. I did not want to hear about his past or future conquests, so the question that popped out of my mouth shocked me.
