“I don’t think we ever truly knew each other, Caiden. Not the way we should have for people who spent so much of our lives together. And not that it’s any of your business, but I meant what I said – I would never hurt Darius.”
Caiden mulls over my words, then steps forward and holds out his hand. Glancing down, I reach out to return the gesture.“Maybe we don’t know each other. But I think we’re not so different,” he says. “It’s scary isn’t it?”
I swallow thickly. “What is?”
“The way they barge right in despite your defences. Jamie, Darius, they saw through all my bullshit. I never stood a chance.”
Caiden releases my hand and I move to enter the pub, leaving him to do whatever he originally came outside to do, mumbling under my breath, “Neither did I.”
Darius is out of his seat as soon as he sees me. He pushes past a person blocking his path and when he’s right in front of me, he throws his arms around my neck and pulls me in for a tight hug.
“Hey, angel.” I press a kiss to the spot beneath his ear, letting my lips linger against his warm skin. He smells sweet, like roses and coconut, and I can’t hold myself back from running my nose down the side of his neck, stopping where the top three buttons of his shirt are undone. Darius holds in a breath as I move his shirt to the side and press a gentle kiss to his collarbone.
“You’re a lying shit, Darius,” a voice says, and I drag my lips away, turning to find Caiden behind me. I can’t read the expression on his face and I guess neither can Darius, because I feel the moment he tenses where my hand is still resting on his back.
Jamie comes up behind Caiden, pulling him flush to his chest, an arm around his waist. Caiden glances back at his boyfriend, a look spreading across his features that I’ve never seen on him before. There’s a burning in my chest that feels like jealousy. Only I know it’s not, at least not in the sense that I want either of them. It’s more of a longing for what they share. I look at Dariusand he turns his head, a knowing smile on his lips. A thought crosses my mind, taking root in my heart that maybe I already have it. Cupping his chin, I tip Darius’s chin up and kiss his forehead. He sucks in a breath, only blowing it out when I move away and turn to face the two men now watching us.
Caiden scoffs, but he’s smiling, and I feel the tension roll out of Darius’s body.
“Twenty minutes ago, I believe the line you fed me – besides saying nothing had happened between you two – was ‘if you don’t want me to pursue anything with him, I won’t.’ and yet...” Caiden waves a hand at us. “There’s a whole lot of something going on here.”
“I’m sorry I lied," Darius says. "Not that everything I said was a lie.Nothinghas happened between us. We’re…” he looks at me. “Really good friends.” I don’t like that that’s what he’s calling this thing between us, but in fairness, it’s not like we’ve discussed it. Wearefriends. Friends who’ve jerked off over the phone together, once.
“Uh, huh. I don’t believe you.” Caiden lifts his hands up to stop Darius from saying anything more. “But you know what? It’s none of my business.”
“So, you’re not mad at me?” Darius asks. Caiden removes himself from Jamie’s hold, moving closer to Darius, and I drop my hand from his back. Caiden hugs his friend, releasing him with a pat on his shoulder.
“I don’t care that you lied, D, and I could never be mad at you. Ifhemakes you smile, I guess we’ll learn to deal with it.” Caiden shoots me a look and I roll my eyes.
There’s the screech of a microphone that grabs our attention before the quizmaster announces that the quiz will be starting in ten minutes.
“Shall I get us drinks before we start?” I offer.
“Jamie will go with you,” Caiden says, to which Jamie scowls and shoots me a sour look, clearly not pleased with the suggestion. But then Caiden kisses him and it’s clear, the guy will do anything for his boyfriend.
“Vodka cranberry, please,” Darius says. He lays his hand on my forearm and I cover it with my own.
“I know.”
Darius and Caiden return to the table where two of Darius’s other friends are sitting, while Jamie and I push our way to the bar.
“Just so we’re clear,” he says while we’re waiting for our drinks. “I still don’t like you.”
I lean against the counter, looking him over from head to toe and remembering the anger on his face the day he walked in on me and Caiden, back before they were together. I get why he doesn’t like me. He’s a possessive guy. I’d probably feel the same way about anyone who’s touched Darius before me.
“Funny that you think I care,” I retort, grabbing mine and Darius’s drinks before turning my back on him and making my way to our table.
I take the seat next to Darius and he introduces me to his friends Lachlan and Finch, both of whom he went to school with. His other friend, Darcey, who he’s told me so much about, couldn’t make it, but he’s promised I’ll get to meet her soon. I was nervous at the thought of meeting his friends, though I can’t pinpoint why, exactly. I’ve always been confident in social situations, and Darius doesn’t seem the type to be influenced by others’ opinions. Perhaps it’s because for the first time in my adult life, Iwantto make a good first impression. If only for him.
The quiz starts and we ace the geography section, get one wrong on the film titles, and then completely tank the politics questions. The final question is music related and we get that right, but it’s not enough to secure a win. I buy us all acommiseration round, Jamie and Caiden saying their goodbyes soon after. Finch and Lachlan follow twenty minutes later and then it’s just me and Darius. I’ve waited all night to be alone with him.
I’m about to ask him if he wants another drink when he looks at me and says, “Come home with me.” He leans in, his hand falling to my upper thigh. My breath catches when his lips caress the shell of my ear. “Stay the night.” His fingers dig into my thigh and the bite of pain shoots right to my balls, blood filling my cock until there is no way I can stand up from the table.
“I’d really fucking like that.”
Darius leans back in his chair, mischief in his blue eyes. “Are you ready to go now?” I shoot him a look, adjusting myself under the table.
“What do you think? If I get up now, I’ll be giving this entire pub an eyeful.”
