Patrick shimmied his way to the edge of the dance floor, dodging a few groping hands, and entering the long corridor that led to the restrooms. He pushed open the door with a sense of relief, and emptied himself of some of the beer he’d drunk that night. He’d always had a bladder the size of a thimble.
A quick glance in the mirror as he washed his hands showed a flushed and glowing face. Sweat dampened his hair, and he dipped his face, enjoying the refreshing splash of cool water. Using his fingers, he smoothed his hair back, taming the unruly mess.
The door opened with a bang, and Patrick’s pulse raced a million miles a minute at the unexpectedly loud intrusion of the door thumping against the wall. His eyes flashed to the mirror again, to see two guys stagger into the bathroom. He let out a breath as one of the guys stumbled into a stall and fell to his knees in front of the toilet. His buddy leaned on the doorframe and watched his friend for a minute before glancing Patrick’s way.
“Sorry,” the guy muttered, raising his shoulders in a shrug as his friend heaved into the toilet. Patrick gave him what he hoped was a sympathetic look in the mirror before grabbing some paper towels and drying his hands. It had been a long time since he’d had to deal with any inebriated friends, and even longer since he’d had a hangover of his own. At the last minute he grabbed a handful of paper towels and passed them to the grateful guy, who would no doubt need them shortly.
Patrick was still thinking of the last time he’d been sick from drinking as he closed the restroom door. It had involved an unfortunate mix-up between soda water and vodka. Or maybe it was mineral water and vodka. The one thing he was sure of was a hell of a lot of vodka had been involved. Beer was a much safer option. That, and not drinking very much anymore. Those few drunken experiences had been enough to last Patrick a lifetime.
“Watch it.” The deep words could be heard over the beat of the music.
“Sorry,” Patrick automatically mumbled, sidestepping to avoid the guy he’d nearly bumped into in the dim corridor. His progress was halted when a hand gripped his upper arm.What the—?
“Hey.”
Patrick bristled at the familiar voice and shook his arm free. “Ian.”
“It’s good to see you, Patrick. It’s been a while. How are you doing?”
“Great,” Patrick forced out. Ian was the last person he wanted to see. The guy still made him feel uncomfortable as all hell.
“You didn’t come around after you moved out. I thought you would have been by to see Dion.” Ian’s stare was intense as he leaned in to be heard over the pulsing music drifting from the main area of the bar.
“Ahh… I’ve been busy.” Patrick pressed his back against the wall.
Ian raised his brows. “C’mon. No one’s that busy. Surely you could have made some time to come around and see Dion, even if you didn’t want to live there anymore. I would have liked seeing you, too.”
“Yeah, ahh… I missed him, but....” Patrick started to turn away, but Ian gripped his biceps again. He wasn’t holding tightly, but his large hand on Patrick’s bare skin made him wish he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
“Aren’t you going to ask how I’ve been?”
Patrick shook his head and at the same time pulled his arm free. “I’m here with friends. They’re expecting me back.”
“Perhaps we can catch up another time?”
Patrick stared up at the large guy, straightening to his full height and keeping his voice strong. “I don’t think so.”
Ian brows furrowed for a moment, then he smirked. “Dion and I aren’t together anymore, you know.”
Is he hinting that he’s available?“Yeah, Dion said as much.”
“So you’ve got back in contact then? I wonder how Dion feels about that.” Ian laughed but the sound held no amusement. The guy really was strange and made Patrick’s skin crawl. “Anyhow, how about we exchange numbers and we can get together sometime? Especially now that I’m not seeing anyone.”
Patrick forced himself to keep calm, to remain polite and try not to set the guy off—not that Ian had been violent in the past. The biggest problem had always been Ian’s lack of respect for personal space, and inability to listen, much like what was happening now as Patrick stood with his back flat against the wall and hardly any distance between them. He took a deep breath. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got a boyfriend.”And even if I didn’t, you’d be the last person I’d want to spend any time with.
“Suit yourself.” Ian shrugged. “You’re the one who’s missing out. If you change your mind, I don’t mind sharing.”
“Uh… I don’t—”
The restroom door opened, flooding the corridor with light. They both turned to the interruption as the drunk guy and his friend approached. The more sober of the two gave them an apology as they passed, then Patrick was left alone with Ian again.
“No hard feelings, huh?” Ian said. “I mean, you can’t blame a guy for trying.” He held his hand out, and Patrick automatically held out his own, trying not to flinch as his slender hand was encased in Ian’s much larger one. “Well, see you round.”
Patrick watched Ian walk away.What the hell was that all about?He forced his shaky legs to get moving, sighing with relief as he sidled up to Simon on the dance floor. Simon pulled him close, his breath warm against Patrick’s cheek. “Everything okay? You took ages. I was about to send out a search party. I think I’ll have to go with you next time to stop you wandering off. I don’t want to lose you.”
Patrick pulled back and looked into Simon’s beaming face and shining eyes. The flashing overhead lights cast patterns that danced over his skin, and his smile was wide.
“Everything is perfect,” Patrick whispered, then laughed as Simon pulled him into a spin and his friends surrounded them on the dance floor. The loud bass throbbed in his chest and belly, the play of lights was hypnotic, and the closeness of Simon was intoxicating. They sometimes moved against each other, but it was almost more pleasurable to dance and flirt, but not touch too much. The sexual tension was electric and the throb of his heart matched the beat of the music.
He couldn’t wait to get home and show Simon just how perfect everything was.
