Someone stepped in his line of sight. He looked up at a guy who had the decency to look somewhat repentant. “Sorry. My friend and I,” he gestured to the girl next to him, “were wondering if you’d sign this for us.” He thrust out a coaster, one bearing the name of the restaurant.
Rafe resisted the urge to tell him to bugger off. It wasn’t his fault the timing sucked. The guy didn’t know he was keeping him from getting to Parker, although he sure as hell knew he was encroaching on Rafe’s privacy. He forced a smile—having fans was a good thing, he just wished they’d fan over him from afar. “Sure.” He took the coaster and the pen and looked up at him. “What’s your name?”
The guy grinned. “David. And my friend is Chelsea.”
“Okay.” Rafe scrawled a short personal message on the coaster, adding his signature. He reached for another coaster, this one from the table where he sat, and inscribed that one to the other teenager. He passed both of them back. “There you go.”
“Thanks. Ah… I was wondering if maybe… maybe you’d like a drink?” David twisted a strand of his bleached-blond hair as his gaze roamed over Rafe.
Give me strength, I’m getting hit on by teenagers.
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m with friends.”
“Okay. Thanks for the autograph.”
At least the guy didn’t push it and wandered off, friend in tow. “OMG, he gave me his coaster!” The girl’s excited comment could be heard as they left.
Rafe held back a laugh and pushed to his feet. He’d been away from Parker long enough.
He sidled up to Parker, pleased to see the smile on his face when he realised it was him. “Hey, having a good time?”
“Yeah.” Parker nodded. “But I think I’ve had enough of these.” He held up the tall glass filled with ice, a wedge of pineapple resting on the rim.
God knew what sort of concoction has been in the glass. Rafe had the sudden desire to find out. He glanced around at the packed bar—it wasn’t that he was against PDAs in general, but he didn’t like the idea of a photo of him and Parker in an intimate position being shared all over social media.
“Do you want to get out of here? Maybe somewhere less noisy and not so many people? There’s a little bar not far from here. They have live music, mainly indie solo performers. I like to listen to the newcomers who are just starting to make their way in the world.” Jeez, he felt like an old man saying that, but the music business was fickle—many artists had a short lifespan, and it could be tough, just a fleeting appearance before they disappeared back into obscurity, if they even made it onto the charts at all.
Parker nodded shyly, and Rafe knew he was beaming as he ushered him towards the door after a few goodbyes. It briefly occurred to him that Harvey might wonder why the two of them were disappearing, but he seemed pretty much engrossed in conversation with Ravi and the other boys to pay them much notice, apart from raising a hand in farewell.
Once they were outside in the cool evening darkness, Rafe pulled his phone from his pocket to call a rideshare for the short trip, but Parker’s hand on his arm stopped him. He gazed at Parker’s long, slim fingers where they rested on his wrist, then met his eyes.
“How about we change our destination?” Parker suggested.
Rafe raised a brow, hoping the request meant what he thought it did. “What did you have in mind?”
“We could head back to your place.”
There was no hesitation in Parker’s voice, and Rafe rejoiced as he tapped his home address into the Uber app.
The ride from Wooloomooloo to Balmain felt like it took forever, but in reality probably only took twenty minutes.
Rafe didn’t think he’d ever been so glad to get home. He pushed the heavy front door open. It thudded on the internal wall. “Oops.” Rafe chuckled. He didn’t stop to check for damage, just pulled Parker in after him. He slammed the door and latched the lock before grabbing Parker’s hand and dragging him down the hall. They only got halfway before sanity returned and he spun to face Parker.
“You want this? I’m not making assumptions?”
The hall was dimly lit, the only light provided by a lamp on the console table, but it was enough for him to see the flush on Parker’s cheeks and his darkening eyes. “I’m sure.” Parker’s voice was low and breathy.
Thank Christ. He’s as affected by this as I am.
Rafe couldn’t resist leaning in for a kiss. He touched his lips to Parker’s. The kiss started out soft and gentle but deepened quickly. Rafe placed a hand on Parker’s jaw and controlled the kiss, pressing harder. Parker groaned, the sound going straight to Rafe’s groin, his cock swelling as Parker submitted to him, opening his mouth wider and allowing access. Parker’s taste hinted at the cocktail he’d been drinking earlier—sweet and slightly fruity—and his scent filled Rafe’s nostrils. He was surrounded by the man—his taste, his smell, the warmth against his front, the subtle rasp of stubble under his palm.
Parker reached to his shirt, pushing him away slightly so his hands could reach Rafe’s buttons. Parker’s fingers slipped inside the opening he’d made and grazed his nipple. Rafe’s legs nearly buckled. “Fuck.” Parker ran a fingernail across the delicate peak, and Rafe thought he would nearly come on the spot, his nipple having a direct line to his cock.
Parker kissed his way up Rafe’s jaw. “Like that?” Parker whispered when he reached his ear, hot breath sending a shiver through Rafe.
He nodded. “Yeah.” His own voice shook. “You’re amazing.”
He pulled away, and their gazes locked.
