“Yeah,” James sighed, looking off into the distance with the same dopey, love-struck look Chase had seen for months whenever his wedding was mentioned.
After they’d eaten and cleaned up, they headed out as a group to the tux shop. Even though Chase and James had tuxedos, they were getting all new clothes so everyone coordinated perfectly.
Chapter 9
CHASE PULLED up as close as possible to the front of the Onyx Rose B&B, the site where the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception were being held, barely taking in the beautiful setting. He had been here before, of course, seeing as it was the first in a chain of GLBTQ hotels Carrington Enterprises—Seth Burns specifically—designed and owned. If it weren’t for the building before him, James and Seth would never have met, and there would be no pending nuptials.
A young man darted over, offering assistance. Chase smiled, thankful for the full service offered, even though it was set up as a B&B and not a traditional, stuffy hotel. “Can you grab me one of those big dolly things? I have a lot to transport inside and need to do so quickly.”
In a matter of minutes, Chase—with Chad the valet’s help—had the tuxes and other apparel for the wedding party, the programs, and a few early wedding presents loaded. Chase tossed the man his keys and headed inside to start delivering items.
Even though he lived in the area, as did much of the wedding party, they were all staying at the Onyx Rose. That evening, they would hold the rehearsal dinner, and tomorrow evening, the wedding itself—well, the public wedding. The legal one would be in Iowa in the morning.
An hour later, Chase stopped in front of Rhys and Dal’s room to drop off their things, and froze. Why he couldn’t just forget about the damn man, he did not know. However, showing up at Rhys’s hotel door was not on Chase’s list of happy things to do. Nope, Rhys was definitely not on his bucket list. Taking a deep breath, Chase raised his fist and gave a light knock, hoping no one would be there… or maybe just Dal. Dal he could handle just fine, but he so didn’t want to see—
Before he could continue that thought, the door opened. The sight before him nearly brought Chase to his knees. Rhys was in a pair of jeans that hung low on his tapered hips. They highlighted his thick, muscular thighs. Chase wasn’t entirely sure how they even stayed up with how low they sat. That was also the only thing he wore—well, other than the towel he was using to dry his hair.
“Yeah?” Rhys asked. He stopped, and his eyes widened as he stared at Chase.
It took Chase a moment to form words that weren’t likely to get him in trouble. “Uh, um, Rhys? I, I have yours and Dal’s stuff. I’m just, um—”
“Calm down, Chase. You know it doesn’t bother me to have you here, so take a deep breath, please.”
Chase went from flustered to irritated in a half second flat. How dare the man tease him like that? “I don’t need you to help me breathe, thank you very much. I was trying to say I have your tuxedos and… things. Would you mind?” he snapped, pointing to the dolly where both men’s items hung.
Rhys’s gaze followed Chase’s slender hand as he gestured but then snapped back to Chase’s face again. “No, I don’t mind. Here, let me help you,” Rhys continued, his voice low and husky. He stepped into Chase’s space, brushing his massive, naked chest against Chase’s outstretched arm as he reached around to grab the two garment bags.
Chase couldn’t stifle the gasp fast enough as the heat shot through him at the touch, his mind flashing again to their one night together. As Rhys drew back, his free hand gently settled on Chase’s shoulder, his thumb barely grazing Chase’s throat.
“Thank you for picking everything up, Chase.” Rhys caressed up and down Chase’s skin with his thumb, leaving goose bumps in its wake.
“No, no problem,” Chase squeaked. He could feel the warmth spread across his face, but he couldn’t manage to tear himself away from Rhys’s touch or gaze. “I should go,” he added, though he made no move to leave.
Rhys grunted, though he didn’t notice or care if it was in agreement or not. Chase wanted to step into the man before him and devour him whole, but the memory of Garrett’s name on his lips and the twink on Rhys’s arm held him back.
Chase cleared his throat and finally looked away. “Well, I’ll catch you later. Please tell Dal hi for me. He owes me a drink and a dance.”
The small smile that turned up Rhys’s lips made his heart hurt. “I’ll let him know. I look forward to seeing you later.” With that said, he broke physical contact, letting Chase breathe finally.
Once the door was shut, Chase made it partway down the hall before he stopped and leaned back against the wall, and then closed his eyes. He had no idea what to do about his attraction to Rhys. One portion of him wanted to say screw it and go for a real relationship with the gentle giant, but the rest of him knew how much the man could hurt him if his assumptions about Rhys were correct. Right then he wished he had a cold drink, a comfy pile of cushions to flop down in, and James to talk to, but he couldn’t burden his best friend with all his drama—not the night before his wedding! Maybe not ever.
Chase was pulled out of his musings when someone touched his shoulder lightly. “Chase? Are you all right?”
Startled, Chase righted himself and drew away from the wall. He looked up, surprised to see Dal peering down at him. “Yeah, fine,” he mumbled as he smoothed his hands down his thighs.
“You sure? You jumped a foot in the air, and seriously, you didn’t hear me coming down the hall?”
“I’m just a little worn out. There’s a lot that goes into a wedding, ya know,” Chase teased, though it sounded a little flat to him. “Anywhozit, Rhys has your tux.”
“You talked to Rhys?” Dal asked, his face lighting up like a little kid’s. Chase hated that look! Meant Dal was still hopeful Chase and Rhys would get together, permanent like—an idea that held both interest and fear for him.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, looking down at his feet. Suddenly he snapped up his head and grinned. “So… you bringing anyone special to the wedding? Some cute girl? Or maybe some delish guy?” he asked as he waggled his eyebrows.
Dal laughed, the deep rumbling sound making Chase smile even wider. “Um, no. I’m not bringing a date.”
“Aw, why not? I heard you met someone recently. Not ready to show him or her off yet?”
The flush that swept over Dal’s face delighted Chase beyond reason. He was glad the topic had changed. Besides, he wanted his friend happy, and that flush said the mystery someone was definitely interesting to one Dal Sayer. “I, um, no, it’s not like that. We’ve only spoken a couple of times, and we haven’t even gone out yet.”
“Have you even asked?”
If it were possible, Dal turned a deeper share of red—even his ears and throat pinked up. “No, he’s so cute and sexy and, I don’t know. I mean, he doesn’t seem to like cops much. I swear he flirted a little, but….”
“But you’re scared?”
Dal nodded, not quite meeting Chase’s eyes. “Rhys offered to do a background check on him, but I said no.”
“Are you tattling on me again, Dal?” Rhys’s voice slid up Chase’s spine, causing him to shiver before he could control it. Rhys was standing behind him. The man had sneaked up on them as they talked, unnoticed by him and unannounced by Dal.
“Hey, it’s my job, right?” The sudden grin on Dal’s face was precious.
“Depends on what and to whom,” Rhys quipped, gently shoving Dal’s shoulder.
“Boys, behave,” Chase snapped, the grin on his face belying the harshness of his words. “Don’t make me separate you two.”
Both men looked down at Chase, then at each other before chuckling loudly. “You and whose army, little man?” Rhys said, his voice deep, sensual.
“I don’t need an army to control the likes of you, big man,” Chase replied in the same tone, head tilted slightly to the right. His voice dropped again as he continued, “And you will be good, won’t you, Sayer?”
; Chase watched in delight as Rhys swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing so hard it drew his eyes for a moment. He nodded, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “For you, I would,” he whispered so softly Chase almost didn’t hear him.
They stood frozen, gazing into each other’s eyes for a moment before Chase managed to tear his gaze away.
“We’re not doing this, Rhys,” Chase mumbled before he turned on his heel, grabbed the dolly, and left both men standing in the hall, whispering behind him. He couldn’t figure out why he’d baited Rhys, but he needed to get it under control before he did something truly insane. No matter what James or Adrian or even Dal said, Rhys was dangerous to his heart. He wasn’t ready to risk everything for a man who already had two strikes against him in the partner column. Why no one else could figure out they were better off not together, he did not know.
He was certain—well, mostly, maybe—if he told James everything, he would at least be on Chase’s side. But for whatever reason, Chase had been unable to reveal what had happened that night…. That one perfect night—until the end, that was.
FLITTING BETWEEN tables, Chase checked the settings and place cards, making sure everything was exactly as it should be before he met with the others for the wedding rehearsal. He wanted everything perfect for James and Seth. Satisfied that everything met with his approval, Chase turned and came face to face with Rhys. The wedding and reception were going to be the end of him, he was certain, as Rhys seemed determined to flirt, follow, and watch him at every turn.
“You needing something, Rhys?” Chase asked, annoyed when he heard how raspy he sounded. It was bad enough he couldn’t get the man out of his fantasies, but even his voice was betraying him now!
“Oh, I need something all right, but for now, I just wanted to see if you wanted any help.” Chase lifted his eyebrow as he stared at Rhys, making him squirm. “I, oh, never mind.”
Chase released a sigh and deflated some. He knew Rhys liked him, but being rude over an offer of help was beyond petty, something he was ashamed to admit to being a lot lately.
“No, I’m done, but thank you, Rhys.”
The smile he got in return was breathtaking, and his heart melted a little more. He knew he was losing the battle with his heart and loins, but he wasn’t ready to give in. Not yet. Hearing Rhys call out his ex’s name still rang through his mind.
“Would you like a ride to the rehearsal?” Rhys asked, his voice deeper than before.
“The church is just down the road, ya know,” Chase chirped. The tone Rhys used shot straight to his cock. He was half-hard and desperately hoping Rhys wouldn’t notice.
Rhys shrugged his broad shoulders, smiling softly. “And?”
Chase bit his bottom lip, thinking. He wanted to say yes, to sit behind the delicious man in front of him, his groin pressed to Rhys’s lower back with the deep rumble and vibrations of the bike beneath them.
“I’ll be good, Chase. I promise.”
Chase let out a soft groan. Oh, you’re that, all right! Damn you! “Fine. But we need to hurry. I can’t be late.” He knew he was making excuses to himself, but an offer of free touching with a nonsexual justification? Yeah, he was so there!
HOW THE hell did I end up here? Chase took another sip of his fourth—or was it his fifth, not counting the shots somewhere in between—mojito as he looked around the club. The same club where he’d met Rhys the first time. After the rehearsal and dinner, a group of guys had decided they needed to hit the clubs—ignoring the fact that neither James nor Seth went along with them. His gaze again caught on Rhys as he danced with a group of friends. Why does he have to be so gorgeous and addictive? Ugh!
A strong hand settled on his shoulder, and a deep voice in his ear startled him out of his thoughts. “Come dance with us, Chase,” Dal rumbled. “One dance won’t kill ya, and I know you love to dance. Come on.”
The plea and touch both excited and frustrated him. He wanted Rhys to be the one begging him, not Dal. No, I don’t. I do not want Rhys, dammit! The little voice in his head mocking him with “I think the gentleman doth protest too much” was not helping. Deciding what the hell, he stood, letting Dal drag him onto the dance floor.
As usual, as soon as Chase hit the dance floor, dancing, writhing bodies surrounded him. He smiled as Dal grabbed Chase’s hips and pulled him closer. “Come on, lose the shirt, Chase!” Dal called as he grabbed the hem of Chase’s tight indigo T-shirt and pulled it up over his head.
Chase grabbed it back, tucked one corner of it into one of the pockets of his tight jeans, and put his hands on Dal’s wide shoulders.
As they ground against each other, dancing, Chase looked up at Dal, almost able to pretend he was Rhys. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he winced, hating himself for such a thought. He would never use someone like that, especially not someone as sweet and loving as Dal.
Dal suddenly spun him around, pulling him so his back pressed to Dal’s front. He could feel a rather impressive bulge against his lower back. Warm breath tickled across his ear and cheek as Dal chuckled next to his ear. “You are such a cock tease, Chase,” he moaned, rubbing against Chase’s ass hard.
“Sorry,” he breathed. “I-I don’t mean to be.”
“Oh, I know.” Dal’s hands moved up Chase’s abs to his chest, pinching his nipples and twisting them a little as he continued to murmur in Chase’s ear. “I’m not the Sayer you want, but damn, you’re hot enough to make me forget who we each actually want right now.”
Chase laughed at him. “You should have brought your cutie with you, Dal. We could have danced together.” He punctuated his words by wrapping his arms around Dal’s neck behind him, continuing to rub against him. He knew they were both being stupid, but he was too drunk to care, especially when he could see Rhys grinding on some skanky rent boy across the dance floor.
They continued dancing and teasing one another for two more songs. When Dal whirled him around to face him again, Chase had a sudden flash of worry, fear that Dal might try to take things further—an idea both intriguing and horrid. It would ruin so much for four men if that ever happened. Plus, Dal wasn’t what his body or heart wanted.
The unexpected hands on his hips from behind didn’t worry him, not in a club like this, but the way Dal’s eyes went wide and he suddenly stepped back did. Before he could see who it was, Chase felt more than heard a voice he would recognize anywhere. “What the hell are you doing practically having sex in the middle of the dance floor with my brother, Chase?”
He whimpered as Rhys pushed his impressive erection against his ass, already so horny he was about to climb Rhys right then and ride him—damn the consequences and his preferences. He wanted Rhys and was just drunk enough to dismiss the warnings going off in his head.
Without thinking about it, he pulled Rhys down and slanted his mouth over Rhys’s. Rhys instantly opened for the violent assault, tangling his tongue with Chase’s as soon as he licked inside Rhys’s mouth. Chase groaned again, pushing and tugging at Rhys, continuing the punishing kiss as he wrapped himself around Rhys, making him support his weight.
Rhys reached down and grabbed his ass, lifting him off his feet. Chase immediately wrapped his legs around Rhys, never breaking the kiss. When his need for air finally made him pull back, Rhys chased his lips even as they both panted.
“Chase, please,” Rhys begged. “You haveta take me home with you!”
Cutting off any further words, Chase delved back into the kiss, thrusting against Rhys’s tight abs. “Cab?” he panted, pulling back only long enough to bark the word before taking Rhys’s lips again.
He felt Rhys moving, he hoped toward the door. When he was finally set on the floor again, Dal was standing there, holding the door open, smiling at him. Maybe smirking would have been a better description. “I grabbed you a taxi already. Go on, you two,” he added with a wink.
Refusing to second-guess anything right then, Chase yanked his shirt back on, grabbed Rhys’s hand, and dr
agged him out of the club and to the waiting cab. As soon as the door closed behind them, he gave the driver the address of the Onyx Rose.
He made Rhys stay on his side of the car, not wanting to deal with a cabbie putting up a fuss if they kept making out as they had been. He concentrated on his shoes and his breathing to prevent himself from pouncing on Rhys and damn the consequences!
Chapter 10
AS RHYS dipped in for another kiss, Chase stretched up to meet him in a devouring, soul-searing crashing of lips. Before Chase knew what was happening, Rhys pushed him against the door and lifted him enough that Chase’s feet no longer touched anything. The power and strength Rhys displayed shot straight to his cock, making him hungrier for the not-so-gentle giant now ravaging him.
Chase slid his hands up and down Rhys’s sides before moving slowly to unbutton his dress shirt. Rhys was busy holding and kneading his backside as he held him tighter. Never breaking the kiss, he pulled at the bottom of the shirt to untuck it before he finished unbuttoning it. Once it was out of the way, Chase ran his fingers along Rhys’s firm pecs, reveling in the strength he found. When he rubbed, then pinched one nipple, Rhys reared back. He groaned and shivered against Chase, his eyes closed tight as he panted hard.
“Chase, please,” Rhys ground out.
“Please what, Rhys? Please stop? Please more? What do you want, boy?”
“Not. A. Boy,” Rhys countered, grinding his swollen member against Chase through their clothes.
Chase vibrated, nearly in pain at the thought of being inside Rhys again. “Bed, now!”
Rhys backed up enough to allow Chase to slide down his body before leaning over to continue the ravaging kiss, moving to nip at Chase’s jaw.
It took Chase only a moment to realize he was being manhandled over to one of two huge king-sized beds in the middle of the room. He allowed the maneuvering but stopped when he felt the bed against the back of his legs. He teased around the edge of Rhys’s pants before unbuttoning them with quick, controlled motions. He slid down the zipper and tugged them off Rhys’s hips, to pool at their feet.
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