An alpha.
Chapter Two
Elouan sauntered into his favorite club, searching in the low light for a shock of fiery red hair. Ah, there! A rapid-fire bass beat pulsed through the air. He danced to the music over to where Curtis sat at a table, two beers in front of him. Oh yeah. They were going to have a good night.
Curtis handed a beer to Elouan. “I thought you might’ve changed your mind about coming out tonight.”
“Never! I just had a few things to finish up.” Elouan plopped into a chair across from his friend, then cocked an eyebrow, giving Curtis a once-over. “Dude. What the hell are you wearing?”
Curtis stood with a grin, running his hand over a vivid green mesh shirt. A quick look around said Elouan wasn’t the only one noticing.
“Like it?”
Like it? Well, it wasn’t Elouan’s personal style, but…“It’s totally you.”
“That’s what I thought!” Curtis gushed.
“Anyone else here we know?”Have you seen anyone you shouldn’t have yet?Elouan had worked so hard on this surprise.Please let no one tip Curtis off before time.
“I saw a few guys I have classes with, but I don’t think you know them.”
Elouan stared out at the dance floor, noting a few familiar faces. Some men smiled at him. One grinned and received an elbow to the ribs from his partner. Every variety of man sashayed around the dance floor, hard-bodied construction workers to button-downed office types. Anything from jeans to dress pants molded to some mighty fine asses. Many were shirtless.
“Wanna dance?” Curtis asked.
Elouan whipped his T-shirt over his head, tossed it to his seat, and followed Curtis. They made their way to the dance floor, finding enough space to fit in.
While Curtis had never learned to shift, his dragon DNA slowed his metabolism, making him appear eighteen instead of twenty-three. The red hair and freckles also worked well with his youthful appearance. Men stared.
They also stared at Elouan, who’d determined to let off some steam tonight. While his bulkier body wasn’t as limber as Curtis’s, he tried to match Curtis’s wild gyrations.
Other men inched closer, stepping up to dance with Curtis or Elouan for a time before retreating when neither accepted the offers whispered into their ears. One or two tempted Elouan to go out back or leave with someone, but tonight was all about Curtis.
They danced a few songs, then stumbled back to their table, where two fresh beers waited. Elouan searched the surrounding area and lifted his beer in a toast to the two men sitting nearby,who nodded in acknowledgement of having sent over the drinks. Neither smelled of dragon, so human.
“I think you could have your pick of those two,” Elouan told Curtis.
Curtis managed a discreet look without being too obvious. “You’re crazy. They’re obviously interested in you.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that.” While Elouan didn’t plan on hooking up tonight, he wouldn’t blame Curtis if he wanted to reel someone in. “Go on over. Talk to them.”
“What about you?”
“I’m out with a friend and I’ve got to work tomorrow.” Elouan lifted his second beer. “This is my limit tonight.”
“We came, we drank, we danced. I’m ready to go home.”
Really? “But you usually stay later.”
Curtis shrugged. “Nobody here interests me.”
Something about the statement didn’t ring true, but Elouan wouldn’t question his friend. Tonight, he’d follow his friend’s lead. “Then what say we go home and see what’s on TV?”
“Sure.”
“But first, I want to check out the balcony for a moment.” Elouan barely kept a mischievous grin off his face.
“I’ll wait for you here.”
