“Okay, don’t say it like that,” Luis said, looking to Ronan warily.
“Like what?” Karim asked.
“Like–I don’t know,”Luis said in frustration. Karim had a tone, some kind of smarmy thing he was putting on that was making Ronan frown.
“What’s going on here?” Ronan demanded.
For a second Luis thought he might laugh. Karim was being purposefully reckless, poking at Luis but also risking his relationship with this bar. Why?
“Does Julien know you’re here?” Luis asked.
“Not exactly,” Karim said, and finally there was a slice of guilt in his face. Then his eyes drifted up to Ronan. “But I think Ronan wants to know if you’re going to let me bite you or he needs to throw me out.”
He sounded neutral, like being tossed out wouldn’t bother him. Luis repressed a groan, repressed the urge to snipe at him like he usually would. Ronan would take it wrong, and he needed to… deescalate.
“We’re doing the bite,” Luis said.
Ronan did not look confident about that answer. He eyed the two of them with extreme distrust.
“I’m consenting, really,” Luis said. “We’re friends, it’s cool.”
“Wearefriends,” Karim said. His tone had dropped, and Luis repressed any physical reaction to it.
Ronan looked between them once more, and then sighed. “Fine, but if this becomes an issue, you’re gone.” This Ronan directed at Karim with appropriate menace. “I don’t care how much of a regular you are, you get me?”
Karim gave a salute. “No worries, Ronan, I’ll be on my best behavior. Scouts honor.”
“Uh huh,” Ronan said dubiously.
Karim shifted in his seat. “Not trying to do anything, really. Just knew Luis was going to be nervous his first time, thought I’d try and lighten up the mood by bothering him.”
Luis flushed. Had that been his plan?
Well, he couldn’t say it hadn’t somewhat worked. He was… less nervous now.
“Alright,” Ronan said reluctantly. He set his kit down on the table.
Karim sat up from his reclined position, and turned toward Luis. The smugness had dropped off his face, and now he looked serious, focused. “You ready?” He asked Luis.
But Luis was already nodding.
“Come closer.” Karim gestured at the space between them.
Luis scooted over. Was he breathing? He forced air through his lungs.
“Wrist or neck?” Karim asked.
Luis had thought about this a lot while reading the paperwork. Wrist might be less intimate, but his arms had been through enough. “Neck,” he said.
Karim nodded. His hand came up slowly, broadcasting what he was about to do. Luis did his best not to jerk away from the pure surprise of being touched. Karim’s broad hand cupped the side of Luis’s head with startling gentleness. His skin was warm.
“Now tilt your head,” Karim guided.
Luis bared his neck. He’d worn a dark colored shirt with a looser neckline just for the occasion.
The hand moved to settled on Luis’s shoulder. It was a firm weight. Luis was grateful for it immediately.
“Just breathe,” Karim said. It was a tone he’d only ever heard aimed at Julien after two drinks on a car ride home. To hear it here and now made something electric zip down Luis’s spine. “If you need me to stop, I will.”
