CHAPTER TWELVE
Simon
Simon checked thetime.Shit!Running late as usual, although it wasn’t really his fault given the last-minute callout, and it shouldn’t take too long to grab a quick shower. Hopefully Patrick was home and had taken some time to rest after spending the morning volunteering at the rec center then the rest of the day around at Josh and Charlie’s helping them set up for the festivities tonight. He pushed open the door of the bedroom and stopped dead in his tracks, all thoughts leaving his head.
“Oh, my God,” he breathed. “Damn, that has to be the most…. Oh, my God….”
“What?” Patrick stood with his hands on his hips, drawing Simon’s gaze to his slender form. Oh jeez, those tight pants with the ridiculously high waist. Every inch of Patrick’s tight body from his waist down was encased in black, from the polished black shoes to the inky, skintight flared pants. But his torso was bare, smooth, and glistening under the overhead light.
“That’s the…. Wow, that outfit,” Simon stammered, heat suffusing his body.
Patrick looked down at his outfit. “Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“Absolutely nothing. At least nothing if you’re happy being the center of attention. Jesus, Patrick, that costume ishot, but it doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.”
“I do look good, don’t I?” Patrick winked and pirouetted, giving Simon a view of his perfect ass and the gorgeous, pale expanse of his naked back. Simon bit back a moan. “But don’t worry, this isn’t all I’m wearing.”
“It’s not?”
Patrick laughed. “No. I’ve got a jacket, too.” He picked up a gold beaded jacket from the bed and shrugged into it. The glittery jacket was bolero style, with long sleeves but cut to the waist and tightly fitted. The sparkling fabric with shoulder pads emphasized the breadth of Patrick’s shoulders and made his waist and hips look even narrower. Simon’s throat grew dry. Wow, the man was made to wear outfits like that. Maybe he should take up flamenco dancing.Or maybe not, Simon thought as a little surge of jealousy hit at the thought of other men and women ogling Patrick. It would be bad enough at tonight’s party.
“And you think that jacket helps? Babe, you look magnificent but I’m not going to be able to let you out of my sight. Not that I’d want to anyway.” Simon stepped closer, slipping his hands inside Patrick’s jacket and touching the warm skin of his torso. Patrick shuddered as Simon’s fingers skimmed his sides, sliding over the slight bumps of his ribs, then he chuckled and pulled back slightly.
“C’mon, you need to get changed or we’ll be late. I promised Charlie I’d get there early and give him a hand with the food.”
Simon reached for Patrick again, pulling him into his arms. “You’ve been helping him out all afternoon. I’m sure he won’t mind if you’re a little bit late.” He nuzzled into the side of Patrick’s neck, inhaling his freshly showered skin, the scent immediately sending blood rushing to his groin. “I’m sure he and Josh will have everything under control anyway, knowing those two.”
Patrick melted into Simon’s hold, his whole body relaxing against Simon’s. “I guess Ishouldwelcome you home properly.”
His kiss left no doubt that Patrick was happy Simon was home, and Simon suddenly wished they weren’t going out at all. He could think of plenty of things they could do to entertain themselves, things that didn’t require them leaving this room for a very,verylong time. Before he’d finished the thought, Patrick pulled away.
“Go on, get ready. We’ll be home before you know it,” Patrick said, laughter in his voice, as if he knew exactly what Simon was thinking. “I’ve put your costume on the bed.” He slapped Simon on the ass as he walked past. “Don’t take too long.” Patrick’s good mood was infectious, and all signs of Simon’s fatigue fled as he showered and dressed in the outfit Patrick had picked out for him.
An hour later they were at Charlie and Josh’s house, surrounded by partygoers who had all dressed to the nines in line with Charlie’sDancing with the Starstheme. Halloween was a great excuse to dress up and everyone had played along, either wearing dance wear or dressed as famous people. From where Simon was standing nursing a beer, he could see a couple of ballerinas, a couple of girls in leotards and leg warmers courtesy of the eighties, and a few showgirls and guys. Disco had obviously made a comeback, too. He smiled as he watched Bruce and Lisa try out a few moves. Bruce was no John Travolta, but from his grin, he couldn’t care less—and from her smile, neither could Lisa.
The beer was cold and going down easily. Simon made a mental note to curb his drinking tonight, partially because he was so exhausted, but mainly because tonight he had plans for Patrick, plans that included making sure Patrick relaxed and had a good time. Because despite what Patrick said when they’d been talking during the week, Simon knew his boyfriend was under pressure. Patrick tried to make light of it, but in fact it had been a shitty couple of months for both of them. Between the letters, the vandalism of the car, and the almost-fight over Darren, it was no wonder they were both a bit on edge.
Although they do say things come in threes, so maybe we’ve had our fair share of bad luck and things are going to look up from now on.
The disco music that had been pumping through the living room changed to something country, and the crowd drew back to the edges of the room, giving a group of three people the space to move. The trio, dressed in jeans, plaid shirts, and cowboy hats, began to line dance. Based on the somewhat coordinated routine, it was something they’d done before.
“They’re some of the teachers from the school,” Charlie said as he sidled up to Simon. “They’ve been practicing for weeks to master a couple of dances. I think they’re giving it a go now before everyone gets too wasted. They want the audience to appreciate the effort they’ve gone to.”
The guy in the middle of the three line dancers stumbled over a step and knocked into the woman to his left, earning him a laugh and a wink. She hooked an arm through his and they picked up as if nothing had happened.
“I think they’re doing it early to get it out of the way,” Simon surmised. “Imagine having the thought of that performance hanging over your head all evening.”
Charlie laughed. Simon wasn’t sure if it was at his comment or at the inept dancing of the poor guy trying to keep up with the two girls. “So I take it you don’t have a grand show all of your own rehearsed for us,” Charlie asked.
“God no.” Simon recoiled in horror, making Charlie laugh even more.
“Not much of a dancer then?”
“I look like I’m having a seizure on the dance floor. Two left feet and all that.”
“Surely it can’t be that bad.”
Simon threw back the last of his beer and deposited the empty bottle on a nearby coffee table. “I can assure you it isn’t that good either. I have absolutely no sense of rhythm.”
