Dallas swallowed hard. “What—”
Nolan pushed up onto his toes and kissed him full on the mouth, one hand sliding across the back of Dallas’s neck as the other gripped his waist.
Brain glitching at the man’s touch, Dallas didn’t stop to think. He dove in, wrapping his arms around Nolan’s lean torso and sipping at his lips until the man of his dreams opened for him.
Oh, hell yeah.Nolan tasted of white wine and desire and—
Wait, wait, wait.
Dallas released him, pushing him away, hard. “What the fuck was that?” he asked, his voice growly and rough and out of breath.
Like him, Nolan was winded. He gave a bitter laugh and ran a hand through his hair, his gaze suddenly guarded. “I thought it was pretty obvious.”
“But—” Dallas frowned, aching to ignore his analytical side and just take what this beautiful man was offering. “Are you…bi?”
Nolan shrugged and lifted his chin. “If you need a label, I prefer pan. I’m out to my family and anyone who asks, and Gretchen knows. I’m not ashamed or anything, but I don’t go out of my way to advertise it.” His luscious mouth twisted as he shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable at work, but I thought it was obvious how much I’m into you.”
Dallas felt his jaw go slack. “You are?” He mentally replayed the past two years of interactions through this new lens.
Nolan scoffed and threw up his hands. “Jesus, Dal. If my tongue down your throat wasn’t enough to convince you, I don’t know what will.”
Heat rushed through Dallas at the reminder. And the nickname. He wanted to step back into Nolan’s strong arms and kiss him senseless. But a tiny insecure part of him didn’t trust this sudden turn of events, especially given the timing. “Why now?”
Nolan’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. You were acting strange this afternoon, and then you took off early. After what happened with Natalie… I was worried about you. And then I found out you were okay, and for once you weren’t staying late at work, so—” he cleared his throat “—I asked you out as a friend. I didn’t expect more, but I thought we clicked tonight. Like maybe you wanted more too.” His cheeks turned pink under the diffused moonlight. “Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?”
“It…No, but…” Dallas was still trying to wrap his brain around his unrequited infatuation being not so unrequited, and the words wouldn’t form. He glanced around, suddenly feeling vulnerable in the open, even though the only other people around were happy couples, drunk tourists, and the unhoused who’d carved out space wherever they could along the boardwalk and bike trail.
“This is Venice. I’m pretty sure no one will look twice at two guys kissing,” Nolan said, misunderstanding his apprehension. “But I’d be happy to move indoors.”
Christ. Dallas flushed from head to toe. “I’m not worried aboutthat.”
Nolan crossed his arms, looking sexy as fuck. “Then what is it? Are you worried about work?” He moved closer then and gently gripped Dallas’s biceps, looking up at him through dark lashes. “I’m not in the market for a hookup, Dal. Or the awkward morning after at the office. I want more than that.”
Dallas shivered at the other man’s touch, aching to pull him close again. “I am worried about work, but not like that.” The tension and distraction of having Nolan around couldn’t get much worse than it already was, right? “I just don’t know how to trust the timing of this.”
Nolan made an exasperated noise. “Explain.”
“Somehow the Herons have been infiltrated, and I’d like to think it’s a bug or malware, but I can’t discount a mole.”
Nolan dropped his hand like he’d been burned and stepped back. “You suspect me.”
Fuck. “No, but—Maybe?I’m sorry, but I’ve been…interested in you for two years, thinking the entire time that you were straight and I had no chance.”
“Really?” Nolan’s expression softened and he shook his head. “I had no idea. I wasn’t even sure you liked me.”
“Yeah, well. That was kind of the point.” Dallas nudged the sand with the toe of his shoe and fixed his gaze on the dark waves beyond the wide expanse of beach. “But now, right when it seems someone is trying to take us down, you’re conveniently queer and into me? I’m sorry, I can’t help but be suspicious.”
Could he really fake a kiss like that if he was straight? Dallas was still tingling from head to toe. He was probably being ridiculous, but if he walked blindly into what Nolan seemed to be offering—basically his every wish since the man had first joined the Night Herons—he’d be every kind of fool.
Nolan interlaced his hands on top of his head and took a deep breath, as if gathering patience. “I think your self-esteem needs a boost if you honestly think I couldn’t be hot for you.” He dropped his arms. “You’re a fucking smokeshow, D. You’re smart, and funny, and nerdy in the best possible way. Even when you’re grumpy and working too hard, seeing you, talking to you is the best part of my day.”
Warmth spread through Dallas’s chest, but he didn’t move. History had shown him that men like Nolan weren’t into workaholic computer geeks, and this man was laying it on a bit thick.
And much as he hated to think it, Nolan was the only outsider in their group, the only one who hadn’t suffered in some way at the hands of Remy Blaze. Who knew what might sway him to turn?
The breeze blew Nolan’s dark hair into his eyes and he flipped it back distractedly. “I wish I hadn’t waited so long to ask you out. My timing is shitty, and not just because it made you doubt my motives.” He tapped his chest with both hands, his dark eyes sad. “I don’t know how to prove that you can trust me right now. Just know that when this is over and you can see that we’re still on the same side, I’ll be waiting, okay?”
A vise clamped around Dallas’s heart. Someone trying to get into his life, learn his secrets, would push harder, right? They’d act offended and make him feel guilty. But Nolan was smarter than that. And if he was innocent—please, God—he’d understand why Dallas couldn’t take a chance right now, even if he didn’t like it. Even if Dallas wanted to believe in Nolan more than anything.
