With one hand grasping Tyler’s jaw, Marcus meant his kiss to be hard and devouring, a clash of souls and wills. Instead, at the first touch of Tyler’s lips, Marcus hesitated, their softness coming as a complete surprise. Changing tactics, Marcus pressed his mouth against Tyler’s in a gentle kiss, sliding his tongue inside the plush warmth of Tyler’s mouth; their breaths mingled, and their tongues tangled hard, neither giving the other any leeway or control. Tyler turned in Marcus’s arms, and Marcus groaned, his hands playing over all the half-naked muscled body flush up against his. Lips locked together, their kiss deepened while the rest of the world fell away.
Lost in the dark and sensual recesses of Tyler’s mouth, the ground swayed beneath Marcus’s feet. The mask of self-control he fought so bravely for slipped, and Marcus’s heart slammed against his rib cage. Breathing hard, he sucked at the tender flesh under Tyler’s ear, inhaling the scent of sweat and hot skin. Tyler intoxicated, and Marcus had to have him.
“God, I want you bad, Ty. I’m ready to say screw this bet and drag you back to my office right now.” Fuck, he wanted to mark him, show everyone who he belonged to. He tamped down the inexplicable, needy possessiveness that consumed him and continued to nip and lick along the smooth lines of Tyler’s neck. At Marcus’s murmured confession, Tyler froze, then twisted out of his arms and stood breathless and shaking before him.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
With his hair disheveled in sweaty ringlets and his lips bruised and swollen, Tyler looked like a debauched angel. An angry angel, but Marcus had every intention of putting that dreamy smile back on Tyler’s face. He held out his hand.
“Don’t lie. You know you loved it. Now come on.”
“I didn’t know it was you. I thought it was one of the guys here.” He gestured to the five men grouped around them on the edge of the dance floor, all of whom tried hard to pretend they weren’t listening in on the conversation and failing.
Unwilling to be the focus of their gossip, Marcus took hold of Tyler’s hand and yanked him close. “You kissed me like you wanted to fuck me.”
Tyler pushed his damp hair off his face. Even in the dim lighting of the club his eyes blazed, hot and stormy with anger. “I thought you were a customer. If I’d known it was you, I’d never have let you touch me like that or kiss me.”
Reeling as if he’d been physically slapped, Marcus remained silent. It was like his childhood all over again; never first for anyone, never good enough.
“You liked it; you can’t lie to me.”
“I’m here to do my job. First I get harassed by the customers, and now I’m getting harassed by you. Leave me the hell alone. I’m not interested.”
Joining him at his side, Zach put a reassuring hand on his arm. Sam, as always stood next to Zach.
“Hey, come get a drink with us. We’ve hardly had a chance to hang out all night, and Sam wants to talk to you about some ideas he has for the club.”
Breathing hard, Marcus’s gaze dipped down to his best friend, who stared back at him with sympathetic eyes. Shit. He could accept a lot of bullshit, but people feeling sorry for him wasn’t on his menu. Choking back the slashing words he longed to hurl at Tyler, he nodded at Zach, and without acknowledging Tyler’s existence turned his back on the man and walked away to the bar at the back of the club.
Zach followed him with Sam trailing behind. “What happened?” Zach shook his head when Marcus took a bottle of beer from the bartender. Sam accepted it instead and gave him a grateful smile.
“Not a fucking clue.” Marcus slumped against the bar, watching the crowd pile up. The two bartenders made fast work of the customers and never lost their smiles. “One minute we’re dancing and grinding together and the next he’s telling me I’m harassing him.”
“Did you ever get a chance to talk to him about last night?” Sam twirled the neck of the bottle between his fingers. “You know, to explain how you were willing to help him.”
“Yeah I did. And he didn’t seem all too thankful. He’s such a fucking touchy guy.”
“But you like him,” Zach stated with a quiet certitude. “I can tell.”
“What are you talking about?” Irritated, Marcus drank down half his beer in one long gulp, then scowled back at Zach. “I just told you he’s pissing me off, and that’s all you have to say?”
“You can’t take your eyes off him. Even now, after Tyler brushed you off, you can’t stop watching him; don’t think I haven’t noticed. He’s gotten under your skin.”
Annoyed at Zach’s perception, Marcus mumbled, “You’re fucking crazy.” Marcus nudged Sam’s arm. “Take him home, and get him laid.”
Sam laughed and shook his head. “That’s your answer for everything.” His gaze turned serious. “But I tend to agree with Zach. You seem to be very preoccupied with this Tyler guy, more so than with anyone else since I’ve known you.” Sam smirked. “I trust Zach’s instincts.”
Time to shut this down. “Since you two have gotten together, all Zach can think of is matchmaking. It’s like he’s living on Noah’s ark and every living thing has to be paired off for survival.”
“That’s not true,” Zach protested, his voice defensive. “I don’t believe that for everyone. But with you…” His gaze turned sad. “I love you, and you’re my best friend. I don’t like seeing you alone and unhappy.”
“That’s all your fault. If it wasn’t for that stupid bet, I’d be with someone right now.” His grin failed to elicit the same response from Zach.
“That’s lust; it doesn’t last. I’m talking about relationships, not one-night hook-ups.” Zach moved his chair closer, and his voice grew urgent. “We’ve been friends forever, and I want you happy. Deep inside I know you want love. Once you find that, you won’t need to wander, having empty, meaningless sex.”
Being with Zach lately was like watching an afternoon reality talk show. Marcus patted Zach’s cheek. “Sex with me is always meaningful; you never have to worry. And once this bet is over, I’ll show you how happy I can be, probably starting with my bartender Antonio.” Ignoring Zach’s eye roll and Sam’s groan, said bartender rewarded Marcus with a wide smile, a wink, and a fresh drink.
That’s what he needed: someone easy and willing to take the edge off the gnawing hunger eating away at his core. If Marcus found himself aching for what Zach and Julian had with their lovers, that thought got ruthlessly squashed. That hunger within him to prove his desirability swelled and festered, clamoring for its rightful place. It fed his ego and watered his soul. And the more men he had, the greater his need. It became a vicious, never-ending cycle with no escape outlet.
