“Oh, we’re getting to meet your sweet little bite? This should be rich. I give it a week before you drive him off. Your fuse is so short it’s a twist tie. You’re worse than I am.” Merit sighed like that made him happy, and I reached over and punched him hard on the leg. He rolled away from me, moan-cackling like the self-proclaimed dick he was as he held the spot.
Creed nodded quickly. “If you ever actually looked at any of the programs I recommended—”
“I know you’re a shrink, but please, don’t.”
Creed crossed his arms and threw himself back against his chair in a decidedly uncalm way. Merit winked at him. I thought about calling Creed a hypocrite but didn’t bother. I tried never to think of that day when I’d hurt Peter. It was a long time ago, and it was a real drag that Creed wouldn’t just let it fucking die already, even if he did have several mostly valid points.
“Oh, no wonder you want to fuck him,” Merit said, and I swiveled around in my seat to see what he was looking at. “Fucking tasty.”
Across the way at the top of the stairs, appearing more than a bit lost, stood Angel. His hair glowed in the blue lights from the bar, brighter on the tips, but that made him more exotic and enticing, like a scared wood nymph who had somehow materialized in the real world. He had one hand in the pocket of his hoodie, the other resting lightly on the railing that curled around and became part of the balcony balustrade, while he glanced to-and-fro. Somehow, his thighs looked more touchable with that baggy top on him, and I loved that it made him seem… more vulnerable.
There really was something wrong with me.
But I liked the idea that I might be able to pick him up and cuddle him. His searching gaze stopped on me, and he froze—a deer in headlights. The host walked around Angel, he must have been left behind on the stairs, and then moved ahead of him toward me, though Angel didn’t follow.
The initiative seemed to be firmly in my court, and I could handle that. Smoothing down my suit jacket, I rose.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Ouch.” Merit snickered, and Creed muttered something to him, but I didn’t look back at them.
I walked toward Angel at a measured pace. His shoulders curled slightly as if I would spook him if I wasn’t careful. I got a chance to study him as I moved around seats and other club members, some of whom I gave passing nods. His button nose was as adorable as I recalled, and the ball on the piercing through the corner of his lip winked blue in the soft overhead lighting.
When I was nearly to him, he gave me a bright smile that nevertheless left him seeming a bit wary. Heat socked me in the gut and also worried me. Things frequently started out well when I managed to meet someone, and then I did or said something shitty, and that was the end. Of course, he’d already seen my bad side, and he was still here, so maybe this wouldn’t unravel the way things normally did.
When I reached him, I fumbled awkwardly for something to say while he stared up at me. “Thanks for coming. I expected you later.”
Angel flinched and ducked his head. “Plans changed.” He glanced over his shoulder down the stairs and then back to me. “Is it okay I’m here now?”
“Absolutely! I’m happy we’ll get more time together.” I wanted to reach out and take his hand, but I curled mine into a fist to stop myself. He already quivered like a flight risk. Would holding his hand be okay?
Angel glanced toward the windows across the way from us. I barely noticed the view anymore, but if he’d never been here it was something to see.
“The second story of the Yacht Club extends out over the water of Lake Ontario.” In imitation of a bad tour guide, I lamely gestured toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, which gave a dazzling view—at least when it wasn’t snowing and overcast. Right now it was nothing but tossing gray waves lit as far as the lights from the club extended. My chest tightened the longer our silence dragged out. I was bombing and bad.
“I’ve never been here. Can the water hit the glass?” He glanced at me.
“What? No. You’re safe. I thought you might appreciate the quieter atmosphere up here away from the gaming tables, unless you haven’t eaten yet? Would you like to go downstairs to the restaurant?”
His smile faltered and he shook his head before he let out a light chuckle and shifted nervously from foot to foot. It seemed like we were both uncomfortable. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to get over how we met, but I was beginning to hope he would, especially when he smiled at me again and a single dimple dug deep into his right cheek.Fuck. Cute.
“Uh, did you ever get your password fixed?” My heart raced faster as he took a step closer all on his own. “I—I would have done it for you.” He gave me another faltering smile.
I laughed. “Yeah, the tech boys fixed it… eventually. They weren’t happy with me.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I brushed my hand to the back of his, and his smile mostly stayed put. I counted that as a win. “I don’t know why that glitch pissed me off so much. I just hate it when things are fine, and then they aren’t, and I have no control over it.”
“I get that….” He pursed his lips. “Not being in control is awful. But you do have it with your computer. Have control—I mean. If you’d changed your password the first time you were prompted, it would have been fine. There are plenty of situations that really are out of your hands, but most things with a computer aren’t like that. They just require you to pay attention. That’s why I like them.” The tip of that tongue bar I’d noticed before flashed between his lips and I wanted to touch it in the worst way.
Angel paused and glanced up at me as if he was terrified I’d begin raging again.
Irritation battered inside my skull, and yet I was amused that he had said all that after the way I’d thought he might faint earlier just from seeing me standing in his doorway. Maybe being in neutral territory was helping his confidence. Fuck Merit, I’d made a good call asking Angel here.
“You’re right. How’d you get so smart?”
Angel shrugged and took a step closer to me. I turned and lightly brushed a hand to his back to guide him forward. He flinched, and I dropped my hand—both hurt and curious at his reaction to a simple touch—but at least he walked with me. We reached the seating I’d been aiming for, where Merit and Creed sat judging me silently. Merit’s shoulders shook slightly in laughter, and Creed looked on coolly, as if my life was a science experiment he was conducting.
“I was having a drink with a couple of good friends, since I expected you later. Care to meet them?”
Angel took a deep breath like he was bracing for a trip to the dentist. “Sure.”
Merit waved and introduced himself, and Creed did the same, almost reluctantly. He gave Angel a curious frown that made me want to toss him out the nearest window. “You look familiar.” Creed pushed his glasses up his nose and leaned forward. “Do I know you?”
