“Malik, stand down.” Tex grabbed Malik’s forearm and focused on me. “Look, we only want what’s best for our friend. He’s got a good heart, and right now, his heart is hurting.”
My brows knitted. “Why? I’m here, aren’t I? I’m giving him a second chance.” Damn, these two were loyal as hell to Eli.
“I know, but he thought maybe you were flirting with your friend right in front of him, knowing full well how he feels about you.” Tex freed Malik.
“I wasn’t. We were just dancing. I haven’t seen Jasper since last May.” I didn’t like defending myself. I had done nothing wrong. “Eli and I are not together right now. Even so, I wouldn’t do something like that.” As my gut clenched, I glared at the table.
“Okay, sorry, man.” Malik’s gaze softened. “I guess we got the wrong impression. I thought you might play with Eli’s heart.”
“Yeah, me too.” Tex twisted his mouth. “Sorry. We just want what’s best for him, and we don’t like to see him hurt.”
Nodding, I said, “Apology accepted.” Eli was hurt? Had he gone to the restroom because I’d upset him that badly? It was an innocent dance.
Eli stepped to the table. “Okay, what did I miss? You all look so serious.” Picking up his beer, he peeked at me and then took a drink.
Facing Eli, I said, “Hey, Jasper is only a friend. He was waiting for his boyfriend to show up. I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings here.” I arched a brow at Malik. “Because your friends were grilling me about it while you were gone.”
“Were they now.” With a tut, Eli shook his head. “Guys, I appreciate the concern, but let’s tone it down.”
“Dude, we always have your back.” Malik side-hugged Eli.
“It’s okay.” I chuckled. “I’d expect the same thing from my friend Grace if she were here. In fact, if the tables were reversed, Eli might have a stiletto sticking out of his back right now.” Damn Grace could be vicious when she was angry with someone.
“Grace?” Malik narrowed his eyes at Eli. “Isn’t that the roommate you thought he was dating?”
Dipping his head and shuffling his feet, Eli said, “Yeah.”
“I’m seeing a pattern here, Eli.” Tex’s eyes twinkled. “You’ve got it bad, man. You think everyone’s out to get your man.” He slapped Eli’s shoulder. “Chill, dude. Wren’s right here, with you. He came back to you.”
Lifting my chest, I threw a grin at Tex. Was I winning his friends over? “See? Listen to your buddies.”
A slow song started over the bar’s speakers.
Eli turned to me, his dark gaze soft, and held his hand out. “Dance?”
“Yes.” I downed my drink, placed my hand in his and followed him to the dance floor. We’d never danced in high school, with him being in the closet. This would be interesting.
As he found an open space, he turned to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pushing his leg between both of mine.
“Wren, I about lost my mind when I saw you with Jasper.” He hugged me to him, my cheek resting against his chest. He swayed, holding me in his arms.
My heart burst with warmth. Why did it feel so right every time he held me? Not even four years of trying to forget him had made a difference. “I’m sorry about that. He’s just a friend, like I said. I suppose I could have made it clearer.” I’d hurt him. How deep were his feelings if watching me dance with another man had hurt him? I wasn’t being fair to either of us.
“No, I saw things that weren’t there.” He nuzzled the top of my hair, breathing me in. “I keep looking for something solid and I?—”
Lifting my head, I pressed my mouth against his, skimming my tongue along his lower lip. The kiss was slow and meaningful, full of years of longing for what never was. As he slanted his lips over mine, taking more of my mouth in his, I broke the kiss. I should have known a slow dance with him would destroy my defenses.
As a smile broke on his face, he rubbed his nose against mine. “Now, that’s something solid.” He swayed with me to the beat of the music, our hips inching closer and closer. “That was nice.”
“It was inevitable.” I melted against him, my cock brushing his through our denim. “But yeah, it was nice.”
As his hand lowered to my ass, he melded around me, pressing his swelling dick on mine. “God fucking damn it, Wren, how will I control myself?”
My cock swelled and pulsed against his, a shock of pleasure spiraling through my body. A soft gasp freed from my throat, and I rocked my hips. I couldn’t stop myself. “I’m not sure I can control myself either.” Biting my lip, I fought to keep my cheek on his chest and not look at him. If I did, I’d be lost, and we’d end up in a restroom stall tonight. Or…somewhere.
As his lips brushed the shell of my ear, he said, “Don’t worry, I won’t let it go too far. I’ll honor what you said earlier.”
I swooned. God damn him. This was the man I’d fallen in love with during high school. The one who made me feel safe, who I could count on. How the hell had he let those assholes berate me and not spoken up? A knot twisted in my gut. This was why we had to take it slow. I needed time for my brain to process this.
