About an hour later, I’m still not distracted, even though I did find that guy and he’s currently whispering some sexy bullshit about what he wants to do to my cock, which should be getting me hard but isn’t. And then I see Axel, out of the corner of my eye, walking to the bathrooms. I take a step away from my admirer. “Gotta go.”
“What? Dude!”
I follow Axel.
5AXEL
I’m just finishing up,washing my hands in front of the long line of black marble sinks, when Gabriel enters. I can tell by the way his eyes land on me immediately that he knew I was in here.
“Hey,” I say.
He walks right over to me as I turn off the water and shake my wet hands. Before I can take half a step to the air dryer on the wall, he’s blocked my path. His blue eyes are floating in booze, but his pupils aren’t as big as saucers so it’s likely he didn’t take whatever his dance partner earlier was on. He pushes back his shoulders. He’s a decent height, I’d say six feet even, but I’ve got a couple inches on him. Still, his presence is more than his height or slim build. He owns this space and is intimidating me. Maybe on purpose, maybe not, but it’s happening.
“Look, I don’t know what kind of guy you actually are, other than hot as fuck and an incredible kisser,” he says bluntly and the pauses as his tongue darts out and wets his bottom lip. They’re really nice lips and that tongue is pink and talented. He clears his throat, which makes my eyes move back up to his. “But in case youarea decent guy with morals and shit, you should know that guy you’ve been with all night has agirlfriend. And I don’t think she knows about this side of him. So yeah. FYI…”
He turns away abruptly and I reach out and grab his wrist without thinking. He turns back. “You rat people out all the time?”
It's a stupid conversation to have. I should just tell him who Billy and I are to each other, but this is really intriguing to me. Years ago, I thought he was a rich kid playboy. I was a plaything he had used for amusement and I didn't mind.
When I got tapped for this job, I figured maybe hedidcross a line. Maybe. But clearly, he has boundaries and actively enforces right and wrong, in these types of situations, which makes me think the hesitation I felt the first time I heard the story of alleged inappropriate behavior was valid.
He frowns at my silence because my brain is running right now but my mouth isn't. "I don't lie. Not for anyone or to anyone. And I don't like compromising situations, if everyone involved doesn't know they're being compromised. I know you probably don't know this, since we never really met, just kissed. But I work with Billy and his girlfriend. I didn't think he was that type of guy, but I guess I'm shit at judgment."
“You’re not shit at judgment,” I reply. “Billy is my best friend. He’s the reason I was on that boat years ago. And he’s straight and ridiculously in love with Frankie.”
Gabriel blinks, the shock bringing a hint of sobriety into his eyes. “So you’re… visiting your best friend?”
“Something like that,” I tell him. “I also have business in the area.”
I realize in that moment, as a soft smile starts to bloom on his oh-so-handsome face, that I've still got my fingers wrapped around his wrist. I let go. He looks down at where my hand is now limp by my side and back up to my face. "Are you single?"
“Yeah.”
“Still like kissing men?”
“I’m gay so it would suck if I didn’t.” Gabriel smiles at my smart-ass comment, which feels like a personal victory. I shouldn’t be having flirty small talk with the guy I’m about to work for.With. Whatever.
“I’m bi, which is why I kissed you that night. And would kiss you again.” Gabriel’s smile gets deeper, and it suddenly feels like the AC got shut off in here. I watch his eyes rake over me slowly. His thoughts are dirty. I have no doubt about that and there is a part of me—bigger than it should be—that feels a thrill from that. “If you’ve known Billy for long, then you know who I am too.”
“I figured out who you were before I even ran from that yacht. Google confirmed it.”
He takes another few seconds, his eyes roaming my face with suspicion, before answering. “And you never used Billy to reach out?”
“No. I thought about it but…” I swallow. “I lived in Australia. You… were all over the place in F2. I didn’t see how that could be anything.”
“It could have been at least a weekend or two of fucking incredible sex,” Gabriel replies, the smile parting his lips again. “You like to talk yourself out of things.”
“You like to act without thinking,” I reply. “Singing a song slamming the media when you’re in the middle of a scandal is a stupid decision.”
He blinks. “What are you referring to?”
“I work in public relations. I’ve been assigned, by your dad, to help handle this situation with your reputation. Rectify the damage done by the paternity suit and the current accusation by your dad’s former assistant.” He is just staring and blinking. I’ve blindsided him, I get it. “Let’s talk about this more tomorrow. At the track. Sober and everything.”
I walk by him and exit the bathroom, letting the crowd swallow me up as I weave my way to where I left Billy. He's moved from whiskey to beer and has a bottle poised near his mouth when he sees me approach. He grins. "Okay, there's a guy over in the corner who I think might be interested in you. He has been looking over here since you left. Like he's awaiting your return. What took you so long by the way?"
“I ran into Gabriel. Can we go?”
“What about the dude over there?” Billy does what he thinks is a subtle head tilt. It isn’t. And I only look over to see if the guy noticed. He did. And he’s getting off his stool.
