It dawned on Ryan that this conversationexplained Mark's warning. Phillip did want him but his first jobwas to make him a soldier. It made Ryan respect the man before hima little more.
“How's William? Mark says he doesn't talk to himmuch.'
“He's good. We talk just about every other week.He and Mark were kinda like oil and water. They would bend overbackwards for each other but conversation was always a bitstrained,” Phillip answered. He leaned back as the server came withtheir chicken wings.
When he asked if they needed anything elsePhillip raised his eyebrow at Ryan who shook his head.
“Alright, my name is Paul. Anything at all youneed, you let me know.” The guy was seriously starting to piss Ryanoff. It was obvious they were on a date and the little fucker washitting on Phillip.
“Nope, thanks,” Phillip dismissed the guy, whofrowned.
Ryan was thankful for Phillip. That look drovehim insane in BCT, but now it just made him grin.
“Dude, I'm serious. I think you liked me toppingyou.” Phillip teased when he noticed the grin.
Ryan laughed. “I dunno. It's been a while and Iwas young...”
“Coy doesn't suit you, Freckles,” Phillip said,grinning as he bit into a wing. Juice and sauce dripped from full,sexy lips. Ryan wanted to lick the sauce off the other man'slips.
“Yeah I know but I thought I'd give it a try,”Ryan replied back.
“Nah. If I wanted coy and fake I would haveasked another guy out,” Phillip said simply. “I kinda like bitchyand snarky.”
“Then according to my friends you’ll love theshit out of me,” Ryan said, grabbing his own wing.
“That's kinda gross.”
“Yeah, but I'm cute enough to pull off ‘gross’,”Ryan returned as he bit into a wing himself.
“Yeah, probably.”
They chatted all through their dinner. It waseasy conversation. Ryan was surprised just how easy they could talkonce they had cut through all the bullshit. He liked Phillip awhole lot more now. Phillip was funny. Intelligent. Cute as hell.Fuck. If Ryan wasn't careful he could very well see himself fallingfor this man.
After dinner they sat back and stared at eachother.
“You are a very attractive man, Ryan,” Phillipsaid simply. He smiled when Ryan smiled at him.
“Alright, Phillip. This is insane. You have gotto have faults somewhere.”
Phillip laughed. “I have an insane temper.Haven't you noticed that?”
“Eh I guess I have a pretty bad temper myself,”Ryan said.
“I haven't seen it.”
“That's because we're on a date...and I wastrying to be bitchy to dissuade you.” Ryan grinned.
“Yeah, didn't really work. You should wait andsee if bitchy is a turn-on for a guy.” Phillip gave Ryan hisadvice. “I shouldn't have fucked you...back then.” He held up hishand when Ryan looked surprised. “I should have waited...that wasextremely unprofessional of me but sometimes I don't play by therules well.”
“See, that's where you and I differ. I play bythe rules too much. Patrick says that I'm one of those guys whoshould just get the rules and regulations tattooed on my chest. Iguess growing up a minister's son you either are one of twothings-- the bad boy who breaks every rule or the good boy tryingto follow every rule. I tried the good boy...My brother Josh wasthe bad boy.” He smiled at Phillip.
“Ahh! A paradox. Being gay and not wanting tobreak the rules.” Phillip grinned.
“You're telling me! I was devastated!” Ryangrinned.
“I was actually very lucky. My mother asked meif I was gay on my second wedding anniversary.” Phillip smiledsoftly.
Ryan coughed on the beer in his throat. “Dude!And I thought telling my father was bad...seriously?”
