The thought wasn’t offensive. Instead, it sent shocks of excitement zipping through Cole’s system.
You really want to fuck him? You just met him.
Did that make him a slut? A man of low morals? Cole honestly didn’t know who or what he was; he hadn’t taken time to find out, as he’d struggled to stay one step ahead of his nightmare past. He realized he didn’t care who he was, orwhathe was, as long as he wasn’t…
You’re not… that. If you were, you wouldn’t have run from it.
Cole turned his mind away from the dark thoughts and let the heat building between him and Gabe flood his senses. This beautiful, sexy stripper was the first person in seven years to override his quiet urge to keep moving, making him pause to consider that maybe…maybe… he could put down roots. NotwithGabe—a complete stranger—but here in this city.
Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy him while you’re putting down roots.
True. It didn’t have to be anything serious. Gabe was astripper, after all. Surely, the last thing he wanted was a committed relationship. And Cole didn’t think he was ready for that either. Maybe someday, but nottoday.
Gabe suddenly pulled away from Cole, took his hand, and led him back to the bar, where he ordered two very cold drinks.
CHAPTER 3
“Told you so.” Gabe was a bit breathless as he downed half a glass of chilled beer. His whole body was on fire, the core of the heat in his crotch.
“What?” Cole looked a little shaken, his hand not quite steady as he raised his glass to his lips, while a subjectively tantalizing trickle of sweat snaked its way down his left temple.
“I said you probably had moves you weren’t aware of.” He grinned. “I was right.” He released a heavy breath and wiped his own flushed, sweaty face. “Boy, was I right.”
Cole took another drink and then twisted his glass on the bar. “I’m pretty sure most of that was you,” he mumbled.
Like fuck it was,Gabe thought as a sudden, jarringpulseran through his cock. “Oh, no,” he chuckled. “Trust me, you were doing your part.” He exhaled and cleared his throat. “And doing itdamnwell.”
Cole wasn’t convinced. “I was just following your lead.”
Gabe looked at him. “You should come to work here.”
“What?” Cole blinked. “Here… at the club?”
“Yeah.” Gabe grinned. “You’d be an instant sensation. Handsome, with a rockin’ hot body that…” He blew out a breath. “… that knows how to move.”
Twisting his head, Cole glanced toward the stage. Jin had finished his performance, and now Trey—a young, blond southern boy from the Bible Belt—set the stage ablaze with a sprinkling of hellfire. Cole watched him for a few moments as the young man seemed to put every sexy muscle in his body to use, then looked at Gabe and laughed nervously, “No way I could dothat.”
“That’s what you said about dirty dancing on the floor, and… well…” Gabe shrugged, smiling.
“That’s a lot different than dancing on stage.”
“Not really.” Gabe finished his beer and rested his elbow on the bar, his chin in his hand as he gazed at Cole. “It’s kind of the same thing, with less clothes and you’re making money.” He raised an eyebrow. “How much are you making at your current job?”
Cole shifted. “Nothing. I don’t have a job. I just…” He shrugged. “I just got to town about a week ago. Right now, I’m living on savings.”
“So, you’ll need a job soon?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Well, then?” Gabe stretched out his arm and grinned.
Cole chuckled quietly. “No, I don’t think so. I would never feel comfortable on stage.”
Gabe hardly believed it. Cole moved with an innate grace, a kind of sensuality that can't be taught. The way he effortlessly and quickly tuned into Gabe’s body showed clear signs that he was born to dance. Now, all that remained was convincing Cole.
Was Gabe serious? Become astripper?Over the past few years, Cole had thought about what he might want to do for a living, but “stripper” had never made the list. It hadn’t even been in therunning.
He looked again at the stage, his eyes following the young blond dancer as he executed moves that made Cole’s cheeks flush. Gabe said it wasn’t much different from what they had done on the dance floor, but Cole didn’t remember doingthosethings.
