“I also really like your ass in those pants.”
Heath spit seltzer over the balcony railing. “I beg your pardon?”
Evan cleared his throat. “I said, ‘I really likePirates of Penzance.’”
Heath grunted and brushed droplets from his lapels, averting his eyes from the halo of fire cast about Evan’s head by the heat lamp at the far corner of the balcony.
He could see the weariness on his face in this low lighting. The mask he wore while working the floor lay discarded when they were together, just like the rest of the defenses Christian had lamented.
Heathhadseen the person hiding behind them. In a remarkable show of trust for a man who lived warily, Evan had let him in and allowed himself to be seen. Foolhardy, since Heath had hardly earned the privilege, but at least he now understood that it was indeed a privilege.
He put his drink on the nearby ledge and pulled on his big boy pants. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
Evan dropped the last of his guise, hitting Heath with the full brunt of his feelings. It was staggering, joyous, and terrifying. “You have every right to be cautious.”
“Yes, but I had no right to purposely hurt you.”
“Is that what you were doing?”
“Yes. No. I don’t actually know. Having you, Christian, and Lucy collide in one place… this evening has been exhausting.”
“Agreed.”
“I’d wondered if I’d see you here. Or ever again, to be honest.”
“I warned you that you wouldn’t get rid of me easily.”
“I have a long and storied history of ignoring warnings.”
“That might actually work in my favor, depending on how many people have warned you away from me.”
“You’re in trouble then, because everyone’s been telling me I’m insane for letting you get away.”
Evan faced him fully and spread his arms to either side. “I’m standing right here, pookie. Haven’t gone anywhere.”
I will not cry at a gala. I will not…
“I am a cranky and deliberately difficult sesquipedalian. Why do you put up with me?”
“I don’t see it as putting up with you, for starters. Also, don’t think it’s a choice. You’re under my skin, Lennox. Maybe the booze made me vulnerable, but you got into my bloodstream the minute you threw yourself into that airplane seat.”
“But why me, of all people? You could have anyone?—”
“I don’t wantanyone. Ifanyonewould do, I’d have branchedout a lot earlier than my fucking forties. It’s you, Heath. You’re the person who turns me inside out. You make me feral. Think justanyonecould send me to my fucking knees? Or make me come so hard I black out? Couldanyonetell me to suck their dick on the balcony of a fancy charity gala while hundreds of people are milling about?”
Evan had advanced as he’d spoken, driving them into the shadows until Heath reached the brick facade and had nowhere else to go. Then he’d loomed. Put his hands on the wall on either side of Heath’s head, caging him in warmth and the scent of a subtle, spicy sweetness.
Heath swallowed audibly. “I don’t remember asking you to do that.”
“You can if you want, and I’d do it.”
Letting his head roll back against the wall, Heath uttered a low moan and closed his eyes. He’d missed this. All of this. The tension and chemistry. The witty repartee. He’d missed the quiet comfort of his nearness, and the rightness of them together.
“I think I’d rather steal you away and apologize in person.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“What if I want to?”
