Was he regretting accepting the job at the club? Maybe anxiety was starting to take hold.
It’s just a trial run. You haven’t committed to anything yet.
The mental search for what caused his anxiety drained Cole. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and went to the living room, dropping onto the sofa. He turned on the TV and cracked open his beer, but his mind kept drifting, mostly toward Gabe.
Cole dug out his phone and checked the time. 5:00 pm. Was Gabe still working? So what if he wasn’t? Did he want to invite him over? Finish what they started in the shower? Cole sighed and stared at the dark screen. He’d just met Gabeyesterday,and already he was fucking around with him?
What if he thinks you want something serious?
Gabe didn’t strike him as a “commitment” kind of guy. Like Cole, he was young and in his prime, and seemed eager tofuckat any given moment. Maybe that’s all Cole was to him—another sexual conquest.
Do you want to be more than that?
Cole didn’t want a “relationship” but thought he and Gabe could be friends—fuck-friends, definitely, but still friends. What if Gabe only wanted the “fucking” without anything else? Would Cole become insignificant, even invisible, to him once they had sex?
Releasing a hard breath, Cole tossed the phone onto the sofa cushion beside him and leaned back, shoving his hands through his hair. “You’re putting way too much thought into this,” he groaned. “So what if he just wants to fuck? Youneeda good fucking. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of other hot guys at the club to take his place if he bails.”
Another breath escaped him, and he closed his eyes, fingers gripping his head. The thing was—if he was to be completely honest with himself—Gabewas the reason he even considered the job at the club. Who knows? Maybe he was Max’srecruiter, picking out club patrons who fit the vibe of the club, and then seducing them to join with the idea that he had a personal interest in them.
“Sounds a little far-fetched,” he mumbled. “And so what? You need the job.”
Cole lowered his hands and looked at the TV, not at all interested in what was playing. He picked up his beer, took another sip, and then glanced at his phone. He might be conflicted about Gabe and the job at the club... but at least he wasn’t dwelling onotherthings. This was the first time in seven years that something had distracted him enough to focus on more than justrunning away, more than thenightmarethat had never ceased breathing down his neck.
It had only been one day of relief, but it felt fuckingamazing. And when he was with Gabe, up close, blood pumping—he almostforgotthe nightmare had even existed. Maybe that’s why he immediatelyclungto Gabe… because he made the scary stuff disappear.
Cole picked up his phone, hesitated, typed out a message, hesitated again, and then sent it. Not two minutes later, he received a reply… as if therecipienthad been diligently monitoring his phone,waitingfor Cole to initiate contact.
CHAPTER 14
‘I talked to Max about the job.’
Gabe had been home for about fifteen minutes when the text arrived. When he saw it was Cole, he fumbled with the phone, his fingers momentarily losing their grip. He finally managed a one-word reply.
And????
He stared at the phone, heart thumping at the base of his throat. A dull ache spread through his hand from gripping the phone too tightly.
‘You remind me of an overeager puppy.’
Gabe grinned.Arf. Arf. TELL ME!!!
‘LOL I’m starting tomorrow. For a trial period. One week. To see if it’s something I want to do.’
Gabe felt an unmatchedeuphoriaand kept grinning. A low throb settled between his thighs as his cock twitched.
You’ll stay.
‘How do you know?’
I’m psychic.
‘Why would I stay?’
Gabe reread the words a few times and chewed his lower lip, still grinning.
Because you would miss me if you left.
A short pause before the next message popped up: ‘I would?’
