I’d been introduced to Micah when I was still living in L.A. and began counseling Lachlan after his brother, Spencer, was killed by insurgents who had taken both Spencer and Micah hostage. Micah had been the one to break the news to Lachlan and they became very close friends. Micah insisted on meeting the person who was counseling Lachlan through his grief and he and I had quickly become friends as well.
“Hey, man, it’s good to see you,” Micah said, grabbing me up into a fierce hug.
“You too,” I told him. I returned the hug, but was surprised by the gesture. In all the years I’d known him, Micah had always been a little standoffish and more than a little unapproachable. The new side to him could only be explained by the handsome man who stood beside him, with a friendly smile on his face. I’d only met Landon once before, but I’d immediately liked him and could see how just his nearness seemed to soothe the rough edges of his ex-military husband. It made me happy to see Micah finally looking so happy.
“Come on, we’ve got a table. Some of us have already had a few drinks so you might want to catch up,” Micah said, nodding his head in his husband’s direction with a grin.
“Hey! I saw that,” Landon huffed indignantly. “I haven’t had that many.”
“Oh really, so your grabbing me right in front of your sister was normal behavior for you?” Micah teased.
“I can’t help myself,” Landon insisted, wrapping his arms around Micah’s waist. “I’m drunk on you.” He waggled his brows at Micah who threw his head back with a laugh. It was undoubtedly one of the cheesiest lines I’d ever heard, but it obviously worked because Micah pulled his husband in for a quick yet heated kiss.
I followed them around the crowd of people on the dance floor, the bass playing loudly through the speakers and thumping out a steady rhythm in my chest. They led me to a large round table full of people and I smiled when I saw Isaac there. He smiled back shyly, his blue eyes sparkling in the flashing lights of the club. He looked completely edible in a black shirt that showed off his tight little body and I wished I could steal him away into some dark, secluded corner so I could peel it off him. Circling around the table, I sat in the empty chair beside Isaac and he turned towards me, his smile widening.
“Hi!” he said. I watched, mesmerized, as the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his plump, pink lips. There were a lot of people who worked hard to perfect the art of seduction, but with Isaac, he didn’t even have to try. Being sexy just came to him as naturally as breathing.
“Hey! How are you?” I reached over and took his hand in mine. Isaac’s eyes darted down to our hands and then around the table before landing back on me. “Is this okay?” I could sense his tension and didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
“Yeah, of course. It just took me by surprise. I wasn’t sure if you’d want anyone to know we were seeing each other yet,” he told me, shrugging his shoulders. I narrowed my eyes at him and leaned in so I could whisper in his ear. If he’d thought I was going to treat him like a dirty secret, then I wanted to clear that up right away.
“I’m the luckiest man in the world to get to be with you and I want everyone in this club to know that you’re here with me,” I informed him, leaving no room for doubt. I watched the movement of his throat as he swallowed and all the blood rushed to my cock, filling it and making it uncomfortably hard inside my jeans. He turned his head to face me and he must have seen the need in my eyes because he visibly shuddered. The tension between us was palpable and I was seconds from taking his mouth in a passionate kiss.
Luckily, the music switched to a different song, reminding me that we weren’t alone and Isaac drew in a deep breath as I pulled away from him. I looked across the table, and immediately caught Lachlan’s eye. He looked down pointedly at Isaac’s and my clasped hands and then looked back at my face, raising his brows questioningly. I gave him a single, discreet nod and he grinned at me, obviously pleased. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. Ever since Lachlan had met and fallen in love with Rylie, he’d been after me to go out and meet someone, so I knew the sudden turn of events had made him very happy.
I looked around the table at several familiar faces, including Landon’s twin brothers, Caleb and Carter, who I’d met at the youth center as well as their cousin, Morgan Greene, who’d been responsible for building the new Agape House and his fiancé, Akio. The two had apparently become engaged the night of the grand opening and as far as I could tell, they couldn’t keep their hands or eyes off each other.
The twins’ husbands, Giovanni and Ryan, came up to the table just then, carrying a stack of shot glasses which they spread out on the surface and began filling with the bottle of tequila they’d brought with them from the bar as they declared it was time for a toast.
Landon plopped down in the seat next to me and he handed me two shot glasses. I passed one to Isaac and held the other as I waited for the rest to get handed out. Without intending to, my eyes sought out Rylie. The drummer had worked very hard to overcome his addictions and continued to meet with me on a regular basis. I knew how far he’d come and how determined he was to never go back to the life he’d been living before, but I still felt the need to check in with him. He met my gaze with a self-assured smile and held his glass of ginger ale up to me in a salute then winked at me and gave me a cocky grin.
I rolled my eyes, but smiled back at him, glad that he seemed to be doing okay despite being surrounded by alcohol. Lachlan leaned over and whispered something in Rylie’s ear which made Rylie smile even wider. I should’ve known Lachlan would’ve made sure his husband was alright with being in that type of atmosphere before planning a party there. Realizing I wasn’t going to be needed as a therapist for the evening, I decided it was time to relax and have some fun.
I held my glass up along with everyone else as we toasted to safe travels, great adventures, and rock and roll. Isaac and I tapped our glasses together and then I tossed back the smooth liquid, enjoying the warm feeling it caused in the pit of my stomach. I’d just set my glass back on the table and was admiring the beautiful flush the alcohol brought to Isaac’s cheeks when I felt a delicious current run through my veins. Turning and searching the crowd, my heart began to thunder in my chest when my eyes landed on the man who had just walked through the door.
My heart was hammering in my chest as I stepped into the club. I knew that Carter’s Creed had a lot of fans, but I’d never expected the huge crowd of people that had been waiting when I’d pulled into the parking lot. I was tempted to forget the whole thing and just go home, but I’d told Caleb that I would come to the party and I’d promised myself that I was going to try to get out more. Besides, the thought of going back out and facing that crowd was enough to make my stomach turn.
I hadn’t been to a club in several years. The flashing lights, cheesy pickup lines from guys hoping to score for the night, and music thumping so loud you had to scream to be heard had always left me with a pounding headache and a feeling of why the hell did I come here? I would much rather spend my nights at home, curled up with a good book, but lately I’d started to wonder if I wasn’t using that as a way to hide.
“Matt! I’m so glad you’re here,” Caleb yelled as he ran towards me and threw his arms around me.
I felt myself stiffen at first, I wasn’t used to being touched and it startled me. I gave him an awkward pat on the back and he stepped back, smiling at me happily. His green eyes sparkled and I couldn’t help but smile back. Caleb was one of those people who was always happy and his exuberant attitude was infectious.
“Sorry I’m late. That crowd was crazy,” I told him, using my thumb to point over my shoulder towards the door.
“I know. It’s been getting worse lately with the new album coming out and the tour getting ready to kick off. Micah even had to assign a bodyguard for me because fans see me and think I’m Carter.” He rolled his eyes at that and I laughed. It had taken me a long time to tell the identical twins apart. Physically they were exactly alike, but once
I got to know them better, I could see how different their personalities were. “Don’t worry though, none of the fans or paparazzi can get in here tonight. Between Lachlan and Micah, this place is more secure than Fort Knox. Only friends and family are allowed into the party.”
I took a second to look around for the first time and I began to relax when I realized he was right. The crowd was much smaller than it would normally be in a trendy nightclub on a Saturday night and I saw several people I knew, including Caleb’s parents and his cousin, Morgan, who had been responsible for the design and building of the new center. He was dancing with his fiancé, Akio, and I felt a pang in my chest at the intimate way they were looking at each other.
I felt the loneliness creeping in and it reassured me that I made the right decision in going to the party. I needed to be around people and not just the teens at the center, but people my own age that I could interact with.
“Come on over and sit with us,” Caleb said, grabbing my arm and pulling me along behind him before I could even ask who us was.
I found out soon enough as we walked up to a table with several of Caleb’s family members who I was friends with along with Lachlan and Rylie. I tried to smile as they greeted me, but I wasn’t sure I pulled it off as my eyes latched onto the other two men who were sitting there.
My pulse picked up speed when I saw Hudson and Isaac sitting next to each other and my eyes darted down to where their hands were joined. I waited to feel some sort of jealousy that the two men I wanted for myself were together, but that feeling never came. When I’d been with Sean, I would’ve wanted to kill anyone that dared to touch him. Sharing him would have never been an option, but for some reason, seeing Hudson and Isaac together seemed completely natural, like it was meant to be that way. There was only one thing missing as far as I was concerned.
Me.
I wanted to be with them and before my brain could even finish that thought, my feet began to move in their direction. They smiled at me as I walked towards them and my eyes darted back and forth between the two. Physically, they were complete opposites. Hudson was tall, dark, broad-shouldered and looked like he could be a professional football player. Isaac was pale, slender yet toned with delicate features which many people mistook for fragility. If they took the time to look closely, however, they’d see the quiet strength he possessed inside.
“Hey, Matt! It’s great to see you,” Carter called out and I nearly stumbled. My face heated as I suddenly noticed everyone staring at me. I’d been so caught up in Isaac and Hudson, I’d forgotten there was anyone else in the room.
“Hi!” I said, raising my hand in a wave to my friends and they all smiled back at me and someone handed me a drink.
I was surprised when Hudson jumped up from his seat and grabbed an empty chair from the table behind him, placing it between his and Isaac’s. His eyes held mine in a challenge as he waited to see if I’d take it. Glancing around at the other couples I wondered if anyone had noticed, but they were too busy laughing and talking. I was sure to any of them, it would be no big deal to sit next to someone you were attracted to, but for me it was huge. I felt like I was opening a door that I thought had been locked forever.
I sat down and Hudson lowered his large frame into the seat next to me, leaving a trail of fire where his arm grazed mine. I sneaked a glance at him and the intensity with which he was staring back at me nearly stole my breath.
“We were hoping you’d come,” he said.
Hudson’s words were innocent enough to anyone listening, but coupled with the hungry look he was giving me, I felt a chill race up my spine. I hadn’t missed the fact that he’d said “we” either and I turned to look at Isaac whose bright blue eyes were staring back at me. I saw something in his gaze that I’d seen many times, but had tried to ignore. The look was full of heat and longing and my cock jerked in response. I no longer wanted to ignore the fact that I wanted him too. I wanted both of them and there was no use denying it.
“I didn’t want to miss this,” I answered honestly, knowing my words could be used to describe the party for our friends or being with the two of them. Isaac smiled, drawing my attention to his full bottom lip and I was filled with the overwhelming need to know what he tasted like. A hand on my thigh had me looking back at Hudson who was grinning.
“You both look amazing,” he said. I had to agree with him about Isaac, but I glanced down at my own jeans and dark-green shirt in surprise. I supposed all the running I did helped keep me in good enough shape, but I was nowhere near as built as Hudson or as beautiful as Isaac.
“So, do you,” I told him, letting my eyes rake over his broad chest which was barely contained underneath the thin material of his sweater. My mind wandered as I pictured myself peeling him out of that sweater and I shifted in my seat to relieve the building pressure in my groin.
“I want to climb him like a tree,” I heard mumbled from beside me and I nearly choked as my head whipped around to look at Isaac. His eyes almost bugged out of his head as he realized he’d said that out loud and I couldn’t hold in my bark of laughter. Hudson looked at us curiously, but I just shook my head at him, winking at Isaac. He had no reason to feel embarrassed, especially since I’d been thinking the same thing. How could anyone look at Hudson and not want him?
Carter began pouring everyone another round of tequila and I realized I’d never drank the one I’d been given. I rarely drank because I never went out with friends and it just seemed too depressing to drink alone. I tossed mine back along with everyone else then sat back in my chair as the alcohol ran through my veins and loosened the last bit of tension from my body.
I listened to the playful banter between my friends and found myself laughing at the stories. I was having a good time and I realized just how much I’d been missing out on by closing myself off to the rest of the world. I caught Caleb’s eye and he smiled at me, the look in his eyes telling me that he understood. I smiled back at him, grateful to have him as a friend.
I was constantly aware of the fact that Hudson’s hand remained on my thigh, its warmth burning a hole through the material of my jeans. I liked the possessiveness of the gesture as if he were telling me I was right where I belonged, by his side. He let out a deep, rumbling laugh as Rylie told about the time that he took Hudson for a ride in one of Lachlan’s tiny sports cars. I laughed along with them as I pictured the 6’4” man trying to squeeze himself inside the cramped space.
Rylie had told me a little about his struggle with drugs and alcohol and I was glad that Hudson had been able to help him. The two men had obviously become very good friends through the experience.
The other members of the band walked up just then and soon stories were being told about their travels and the trouble they liked to get into while on the road. They teased Landon about having to babysit them, but he responded that being their manager was more like being a zookeeper than a babysitter. Everyone laughed at that, but I noticed Isaac had become quiet. I turned to look at him and saw his attention was on the dance floor. I glanced over at the people who were dancing and having a good time and I wondered if he wanted to join them. The music switched to a new song and I took a deep breath, a little surprised by what I was about to do.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked him. He turned his head quickly, giving me a shocked look.
“Uh, yeah. Sure,” he said.
We stood and I caught Hudson’s smile as we moved around the table and out onto the dance floor. I found an open spot and turned to face Isaac. It had been ages since I’d been dancing, but it all came back to me as I began to move, and soon, I was lost in the music and the feel of Isaac’s body brushing up on mine as he circled around me. He obviously loved to dance and was very good at it. He danced with a fluid grace, his movements sensual and provocative.
Isaac was always friendly and honest, but as he danced, he let go and became freer than I’d ever seen him. The sight was breathtaking and as the music changed to a slower song, I could
n’t stop myself from grabbing his hips and pulling him closer to me. His body was surprisingly firm against mine and I groaned when I felt his hard length against my leg. He tried to pull away, obviously embarrassed that I’d felt his desire, but I slid my arms around his waist, bringing him even closer to me.
“You are so sexy and you feel so good against me,” I told him. I could tell that my words shocked him, but I saw no reason to take them back because they were true. “Why do you look surprised?”
“I’m just having trouble believing any of this is real,” he replied.
“It’s very real,” I assured him, thrusting my hips against his. I heard his quick gasp when he felt my own aching hardness pressing against him, leaving no doubt about how much I wanted him. I stared down at his beautiful face, the pale freckles over a creamy complexion and the long lashes that framed the innocent eyes looking back at me.
“I’ve been attracted to you for so long, but I never thought you would see me the same way,” Isaac whispered.
Excitement ran through my veins at the desire I saw in his eyes. It had been way too long since anyone had looked at me that way and it woke something up in me that I wasn’t sure could be contained, or if I even wanted to. It made me feel good, it made me feel wanted, and it made me feel alive.
“I’ve had my reasons for holding back, but trust me, Isaac, I see you. I see what an amazing, sexy, and desirable man you are,” I assured him.
Going off pure instinct, I bent down and covered his lips with mine. We swallowed each other’s groans as fire raced through my veins. Isaac’s hands slid up around my neck and I felt his fingers run through my hair as I gave myself over to the kiss. I couldn’t believe that this man, my friend, had been waiting there the entire time and I’d almost missed it.
Uniting the Souls Page 8
