“You two need supervision,” Deck added.
“Never,” I said.
“Yeah, well, Finn says otherwise.” In the background, I heard Finn yell,“They’re being weird!”
I laughed quietly. “What is Finn doing at your place?”
Deck paused. “Thirty minutes.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
The line went dead, and I shook my head as I turned back toward Eli. What I saw just about had me calling Deck straight back to cancel the whole thing. But my boy needed a night of fun: something light, something that didn’t sit so heavy on his shoulders. So I pushed the urge down, got ready, and we headed out anyway.
Even if I was doing it a little reluctantly.
* * *
The local bar was already packed when we arrived. Music spilled onto the street, laughter filled the room, and bodies moved across the dance floor.
The second we walked in, people noticed Eli. I got it. He’s beautiful.
His blond curls fell around his face, his tattoos were visible, and there was something magnetic about him that pulled people in. He didn’t even realize it. I reached for his hand immediately.
A simple message to everyone watching:He’s with me.
Deck saw it and chuckled. “Careful, brother. Anyone would think you’re in love.”
I shot him a look. “I’m relaxed.”
“Sure you are.”
I ignored him, mostly. For the next hour, everything felt normal. Eli and Finn argued about anything and everything.Deck and I talked about work. Food arrived, drinks were ordered, and then Finn started telling a story involving a shopping trolley, a watermelon, and the police. I wasn’t even sure if it was true, but Eli laughed, and I realized I’d do almost anything to keep hearing that sound.
The music shifted to something upbeat, and Finn immediately stood up, grabbing Eli’s hand.
“Nope,” Eli said.
Finn pointed at the dance floor. “Absolutely.”
Eli looked at me, wordlessly begging for help. I just laughed. “You’re on your own, Baby Boy.”
Finn dragged him away, and Deck and I stood back, watching them dance.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His hair swayed with the music, his jeans stretched tight over his hips. His body was lean and hard, every muscle shifting beneath his skin as he moved.
Then he turned and caught my eye, and a slow heat spread through my body. He looked so alive in this moment it almost hurt to watch.
He rolled his hips, never breaking eye contact, a smug little smirk playing on his lips. He lifted his arms above his head, dropped low, slid his hands down his thighs, and then rose again, rolling his hips the whole way up.
Jesus Christ.
He was pure fucking sex, and I was so hard I could cut steel.
He knew exactly what he was doing, too. I saw it in the grin he threw me before turning back to Finn, leaving me with a perfect view of his ass.
I was yanked out of my filthy thoughts when Deck nudged my shoulder. “You’ve got it bad.”
I glanced at him. “Got what bad?”
