Lance’s eyes light up. “Holloway’s having a fucking field day with that, isn’t he?”
Adrian’s eyes fucking twinkle, almost proud of the reaction he’s getting. “Yeah. Very much. And as you implied, can’t exactly waste all this talent. I might even want a disciple to pass the skills on. Haven’t worked out how yet.”
Lance grins, that cocky flash in his eyes. “Pfft. I could probably pick it up in my sleep.”
Adrian’s eyebrows lift, mildly entertained. “Of course you could.”
“I’m a quick study,” Lance shrugs like it’s obvious.
I mutter, “You trip over your own feet sober.”
“Bullshit,” Lance fires back. “I’ve got better rhythm than you.”
“You have exactly as much rhythm as a drunk seagull.”
Adrian watches us for a long second, then shakes his head. “Alright. I’ve had enough. This is getting too painful to watch.”
We both turn to him.
“What?” Lance asks.
Adrian gestures between us. “This. The talking-around-it. You keep throwing words out there, watching how they hit.” He says it lightly, but his eyes are sharp. “If you want to keep pretending there’s nothing there, that’s your business. But I’m not gonna sit here and watch you do this all night.”
Everything settles off-beat. I keep my eyes off Lance. He does the same. The easy back-and-forth from a minute ago is gone, replaced by something tighter that’s been sitting under the surface for months.
I can usually read him without trying. Always have. Since we got back from Azure Tides, I’ve been struggling to do that.
Maybe he’s just curious. Maybe this is new ground and I’m making it bigger than it is. Either way, I’m not making the call for him. I’m not assuming shit.
Lance looks at Adrian, wide eyed, then shifts on the couch. “And…what are you trying to say again?”
Adrian’s voice stays easy. “You said you could do it in your sleep, right?” His eyes lock on Lance. “Show me. Or better yet… show him.”
Lance lets out a short laugh, rolls his shoulders like he’s loosening up for something physical. “Oh, I’ll show you both.” He glances between us, grin back in place. “You really think I can’t back that up?”
Adrian’s smile drags out slower this time. “I don’t know.”
“Damn right I can,” Lance says, voice lower and rougher, like he’s steeling himself for it. That familiar mix of cocky and cornered showing through.
My pulse kicks hard. Heat slams through my chest and drops straight down. My fingers clamp around the beer bottle like it’s the only solid thing left in the room. Lance talks a big game and never backs out once he’s committed. That’s always been one of his many flaws that sometimes gets him into trouble.
Right now it’s my problem too. The thought of Lance stripping for me, even in the privacy of this room, makes my cock swell and throb against my jeans.
Fuck. I wasn’t expecting this tonight. I thought I had it under control, that I could keep it down until we got home.
Adrian leans back, watching him. “Go on,” he says, tone light but pushing. “Or are you just running your mouth?”
The air turns close. Not much space left to breathe.
Lance leans forward beside me, like he’s about to get up, then checks himself for a second too long. Most people wouldn’t catch it. Adrian doesn’t.
I do.
There’s a hitch there, brief, but gone fast.
I don’t say anything. I just watch what he does next.
Adrian pulls out his phone. “Give me a second.” He pulls out his phone from his back pocket, then dials Vince.
