Admittedly, if I were him, I’d be confused too. Not wanting to get my hopes up about Elijah’s declaration—but I totally did and embraced the glow of his interruption with fierce hands—it had been clear he was staking his claim on me. Me! Elijah was gorgeous and cool and had this whole sexy boss vibe going for him, and I was just me.
I didn’t ever go searching for an ego boost. I was a decent-looking guy, but I was also small and slim, which was regularly held against me. There was also no way in hell I’d ever pass as straight. I’d known that since I was fifteen, or maybe even twelve from the constant jabs from kids at school, but at twelve, I hadn’t fancied anyone, so the jibes had never stuck. I tended to attract pricks—as in idiots who thought they were better than me and assumed they could treat me like crap or less than. A few bears had also taken a liking to me, but big brutes of men tended not to appeal to me.
I risked a glance at Elijah, whose head turned a moment after my own. His gaze connected with mine, a heat there that I’d seen yesterday. Then his lips curved upwards, and I inhaled fully, quite possibly for the first time since arriving at work.
I dragged my attention away to refocus on Benji. It would be too easy to drool over the perfection of Elijah. When I did so, the firey was still looking at the both of us, a small smile lifting his lips. And Elijah’s thigh then pressed against mine, and that long breath I’d enjoyed escaped me instantly.
The urge to lean into him, reach out to touch him niggled at me. An hour, I reminded myself. After that, we’d talk, and hopefully he’d make good on the more he’d promised me a couple of nights ago.
Somehow, I managed to finish off answering the final few questions Benji had without getting too distracted. And after leading him around so he could check our compliance and that we were up to spec, it was finally time to say goodbye, thankfully after receiving the appropriate certification.
“No,” he said as I led him to the front door. Elijah had disappeared about fifteen minutes earlier to take a call. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen her act. I’ve been here quite a few times and managed to catch a few shows, but never hers.”
I may have started chatting enthusiastically on our tour of the bar about the drag show and Lady Bra Ga’s incredible performance. But as far as I was concerned, everybody needed to see it.
“You must. There’s a performance schedule online, both social media and the website, so be sure to check it out.”
A genuine grin was sent my way. “I definitely will, Seb.”
I reached for the lock and unbolted the door, ready to show him out. His words had me pausing.
“So, you and Elijah are a thing?” Curiosity filled his gaze while I felt a little stumped, not quite sure how to answer.
“Um, well, he’s my boss.” Benji’s brow quirked high in challenge. I rolled my eyes. “We’ve spent some time together.” I wanted nothing more than to say we were “something,” but a couple of kisses and the promise of dinner wasn’t exactly something I could label.
“So it would or wouldn’t be a problem if I asked you out sometime?”
My eyes sprang wide open. “Me?” The question came out unbidden, the word wrapped up in disbelief, causing me to blush and Benji to frown.
“Yes, Seb. You.”
I pulled my lips tight and pressed them between my teeth, wondering what was going on with the gorgeous men in the world acting so weirdly.
“So,” he said, “would it?”
My heart flipped over, knowing full well the answer. “It would be,” I admitted. “A problem,” I clarified to be sure. “Thank you, though.”
A tilt of his head made him seem even more stupidly sexy. I really needed him to leave. While there was no way I’d be changing my mind about Elijah, so much handsome around me addled my brain.
“Good choice,” he said with a wink, and reached and shook my hand. “A drink between friends at the next show would be good though.”
“Definitely,” I said, relieved I hadn’t offended him.
With the door wide, he turned to go before angling around a little. He lifted his hand in the air, calling out, “See you, Elijah.” Another wink was then sent my way, along with an expression filled with mischief.
I grimaced, having no doubt from his reaction that Elijah had stepped into the room at some point while I’d been talking. With no way of avoiding it, I pushed the door closed, locked it, and turned around.
Elijah stood behind the bar, hands pressed on the wooden surface, his gaze intent and zeroed in on me. “Hey,” I said, my shoulder lifting a little. “So, have you got things to do or—”
“I think it was a good choice too.”
His words stopped me short and sent my heart pounding. I swallowed hard, my mouth going dry. After a beat, I managed, “Me too.”
His smile was disarming, and when he stepped from behind the bar and headed purposefully in my direction, I just hoped like hell he’d only stop once his lips were pressed against mine.
And oh, how they did.
He teased my mouth open, unrelenting and soft, a quiet urgency in the movement. Responding immediately, I clung onto him, needing the connection so I didn’t float away. Our tongues connected, and a zap of heat licked a path over my skin. My groan escaped, raw and instinctive. The sound caused him to pull away, but only for his lips to travel my jaw to my neck. I groaned once more, loving the hungry kisses on my skin.
“Holy shit, can I pull up a chair?”
Lenny’s voice had Elijah tearing his mouth from me. Thankfully, I maintained my grip so I didn’t fall flat at the loss.
Elijah turned towards the bar and Lenny’s voice, allowing me to get a visual on him too. Elbows on the bar, hands cupping his chin, his eyes were wide, and a huge smirk settled on his lips.
“The back door was unlocked. I did call out from back there. I now understand why you didn’t hear me.” Amusement danced in his eyes as his gaze flicked between the two of us. “You want me to leave so you can go at it?”
Mortification battled with amusement, and laughter threatened to burst free. My lips twitched as Elijah sighed, his hand replanting itself around me. My own sigh escaped at the move, and I didn’t care that it made both men look in my direction. A quick glance up at Elijah had my heart fluttering. Heat remained in his eyes, and his own small smirk twitched his lips.
He looked at Lenny. “We’re just leaving.”
Lenny snorted, standing up straight. “Spoilsports.”
“You okay to head out?” Elijah asked me.
“Definitely.” I slipped my hand into his, loving the touch and how his palm felt in mine.
“I totally called it,” Lenny said, beginning to move around the bar, preparing for the day.
I glanced over in question.
“You two getting together.”
“I don’t want to know,” Elijah said, his voice turning grumbly. “You’re the worst bunch of gossips.”
“I can take ownership of that,” he said, laughing and making me snort.
“Your friend Val,” Elijah said, “how’s he doing?”
Not sure who Val was or what the problem was, I glanced first at Elijah and noticed the concern etched on his face. When Lenny spoke, I turned my attention back to him. The humour there a moment ago had disappeared.
“He’s okay. No longer shaken, which is great. Just pissed off and angry. He’s made of tough stuff, so he won’t let this get him down. He said you were there at the police station and helped him out.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“You don’t kn—”
“Shit, I’m sorry,” Elijah said, cutting Lenny off. “And I didn’t call you yesterday.” He angled more in my direction and squeezed my hand. Guilt filled his gaze and then something else slipped in and replaced that emotion. “You were worried.” His voice dipped low, sounding pissed off. “I should have called, but yesterday was a clusterfuck.”
Surprise and relief rushed out of me, my own understanding registering.
“It’s okay. Why don’t we get out of here, and you can catch me up?”
Elijah’s gaze didn’t waver as he said, “I can do that.” A small exhale followed his words, and I was happy I’d offered him some relief.
“Thanks, Lenny, just call if you need anything.” He threw Lenny a nod, and we left with me offering a quick goodbye.
Thirteen
Elijah
Over lunch I’d explained everything that had happened with Val. Including how Ricky had been arrested yesterday afternoon after Val had IDed him. They’d also arrested a guy called Rocky.
After that, Cole and I had spent some time making sure that Tom was okay while trying to prepare for any possible repercussions. I went on to explain how I’d also been at the station for Val, and by the time I’d got home, it had been late and I’d been burned out.
I was pleased I’d gone though. There was a part of me that felt responsible for the attack on Val, so being there to make sure he was well taken care of mattered. I also told Seb how Drake would be calling at some point to get him to ID Ricky for the paint attack, which Seb readily agreed to.
“I just can’t believe it,” Seb said with a shake of his head. “I’m relieved this Val guy is okay, though.”
“Yeah, me too. He was keen to press charges.”
“It’s amazing how many people don’t.”
The reality made my chest heat in frustration. “I know. It’s shit. I’m just glad it didn’t turn out that way this time.”
Seb’s gentle gaze roamed over my face, and he reached out and touched my arm. “It was really good of you to go and check on Tom.” His touch combined with his compliment brought heat of a different kind to my chest and gut. “Is he going to be okay? What about his family? You said they didn’t know he was pan, right?”
I nodded and removed his hand so I could hold it, earning me a smile. “Not sure if his brother has told anyone anything. The good thing is that Ricky’s received a couple of cautions before, so Drake seems to think the judge may come down harder on him, plus he’s in remand rather than being released on bail. They’ll find out in a couple of weeks.”
While taking a drink, Seb listened intently. When he finished and placed his glass of water down, he tilted his head. “I was a dick earlier, when I arrived at the bar.”
Guilt flared to life as I shook my head. “I get it. I said I’d call. And you weren’t a dick so much as a scared rabbit or some shit.” Somehow I managed to smile. Knowing why he’d avoided me and thinking back to how jumpy he’d been was kinda funny, but only now that he was holding my hand and sounding ridiculously cute with his apology.
He snorted. “Maybe, but I jumped to conclusions and considered running.”
My body tensed at that, all too aware of his practically nomad past of picking up and trying new places to live. The thought of him skipping out sat heavily. “You’d have run as in left?” I didn’t intend for my voice to come across so hard, but his flinch at my tone told me it had been just that. “Shit, sorry.” I huffed out a heavy breath. “Listen, this talking shit can be seriously overrated. Just…” I hesitated, searching Seb’s face and reading some sadness and uncertainty there. It was clear he was just as terrified as I was. I tried again. “Just, if you think this isn’t for you and you think you’re gonna up and leave anytime soon, I need to know.” I felt like a dick, putting myself out there like this, but a shot for something real with Seb was worth the embarrassment licking its way through me.
Surprise rippled through me when Seb released my hand, stood, and stepped around the table. His eyes were wide, and a flush steadily rose from his neck to his cheeks. “Scoot back,” he said, a small shake to his voice.
I did so immediately, my surprise changing to awareness.
With my chair shifted, my breathing stuttered when he straddled my thighs, his chest close, his arse landing directly on my groin. Immediately, I gripped him, keeping him steady, both hands on the small of his back.
In this position, we were almost eye to eye. Our lips within touching distance with the slightest of movements.
“You terrify me.” The quiet words pressed against me. “But in the best of ways.” Emotion swirled in his eyes, and my dick twitched. “I don’t plan on leaving. I want us to see where this is going.”
And those were the words I needed.
A shift of my hands followed—one to his arse to pull him closer, the other to the back of his head so I could finally get a taste.
Warm and supple lips pressed against mine. The movement was slow, the press just the right side of sweet and perfect. His words ran through my head as I flicked my tongue out, chasing a better taste. Finally, we were on the same page. The knowledge slammed into me, and I tugged him closer, both of us groaning around our touching mouths when he ground against me.
The sound of his need colliding with mine ratcheted up my desire to claim this man. It didn’t matter that I had no idea what that meant at this moment. The claiming of his mouth, this kiss, was a start.
Our lips clashed, moving quicker, almost to the point of frenzy. I wanted everything Seb would give me. The swipe of his tongue against mine had me squeezing his arse cheek. His hips jerked, the push he needed to start rubbing against my cock.
I pulled away, breathless as he ground down on me, desperately wanting our clothes out of the way. My hand went to his jeans, my eyes on his button and zip as I quickly undid both. When he whimpered, I lifted my gaze. His bottom lip clamped between his teeth kicked up my need.
“Don’t stop,” he said on a gasp, and I realised my hand had paused before reaching inside to find the skin I craved.
I managed to smile through my lust and moved my fingers that were so close to his backside.
“What—” Wide-eyed, he cut himself off and held on tight when I stood.
Fuck, this was the first time I’d picked up any man this way. He felt so right in my arms, perfectly positioned for so many tantalizing possibilities, but for now, I wanted my bed.
“Bed okay?” I asked, pretty sure I was reading him well enough to know it was what he wanted.
Relief sagged his shoulders, and he bobbed his head quickly, making me laugh. He shut that down when he clamped his mouth on my neck and pushed against my groin.
“Urgh… keep that up and the table will have to do.” The gruffness of my voice was full of need.
“But lube and condoms,” he said between kisses. “I can’t imagine you have any here.”
I throbbed in my jeans at the mention of both. I had no expectations beyond getting my hands and my mouth on him; his mention of more had me holding on to him even tighter and walking at a fast pace through the house to my bedroom.
He was grinning by the time he pulled away to look at me as I placed him on the bed.
“What’s that smile for?” I asked breathily.
“Your eagerness is hot.”
I chuckled and lowered towards him, hand on his waist and edging him further up the bed. “That’s not the only thing that’s hot.” I trailed my lips down his neck and reached down to the hem of his T-shirt. Seb hastily helped me remove it.
Smooth, soft skin clinging to his defined muscles greeted me. No muscles here were from weights. Rather, they were the result of the hours of surfing he enjoyed. Seb pulling at my own tee dragged my eyes away from his chest. I tugged it off before lowering myself for another kiss.
Urgency pressed and moved our lips together, the desire to sear the moment into my memory urging me on more.
Seb was heat and fire and returned my kisses with equal fervour.
“Jeans,” he said on a gasp as he moved his mouth from mine.
I grinned and shifted, working on tearing off the rest of my clothes while he did the same. As I tugged at my jeans, I froze momentarily, my eyes zeroing in on his erection. It lay heavy on his stomach, leaving wetness on his skin.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, rushing forward to get naked. Any hint at distance or even pretending he didn’t affect me br
oke off and dissolved completely. I needed him to know how much I wanted him. When he moved his hand and it glided over his stomach to his balls and he tugged, I edged closer, my eyes flicking to his.
Eyes partially concealed by half-lowered lids stared back at me. Once again, Seb’s lower lip was held between his teeth. He lay there almost expectantly, definitely needy, but almost frozen and clearly waiting for my move.
The knowledge calmed me a little, forcing me to slow down. As far as I was concerned, this was the start of something new, was just the beginning. The urgency still beat at me, but there’d be more times than this, and from the hint of uncertainty in his eyes, he needed to know all of that.
I’d start by showing him.
Reaching out, I trailed my fingers up his calves and to his thighs. The breath of air that escaped him was choppy. It also had Seb releasing his lip and a smile curving his mouth. I eyed my bedside drawer a moment before returning my attention fully to the man before me.
“Do I need to get a rubber to suck you off?” I didn’t care if I did. It would have been nice to taste him, but there’d be time for that if we had to wait.
His already flushed cheeks pinkened more, and he shook his head. “No, only if you want to.” He angled up onto his elbows. “I have regular checks, and it’s been a while.”
A shot of pleasure and relief went through me at his words. “Me too,” I said before swiping my tongue across by bottom lip. “I’m good to go without when sucking you off.”
Air whooshed out of him as he all but gasped, “Okay. I’m good with that too.”
A smirk tilted my lips as I backed away and lowered myself between his legs. His eyes stayed on me as he remained leaning on his elbows. The flick of my gaze in his direction was the precursor to showing him just how much I wanted him. I made sure to maintain eye contact as I dipped out my tongue and gave one long, hard lick along his length.
His garbled, “Holy shit,” egged me on. This time, I went for it.
By the time I lapped my tongue gently against his slit, then preceded to bob, suck, and lick, Seb had fallen flat on the mattress, his back arching and the hottest pleas for me to never stop falling from his lips.
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