by Tara Lain
Jimothy looked at him like he was speaking Swahili. “Oh no, it’s the least I can do.”
They got to the bar, and Theodore held the door while also holding his breath. Inside, patrons packed the long, narrow space. Mary stood and waved from a table in the back, and Jimothy started toward it. Theodore glanced at the big bar, currently hosting drinkers three deep. It was tough to be sure, but it looked like the bartenders included the big, heavy guy who’d first waited on Theodore the night before and a redheaded woman. Disappointed or relieved? Both.
He joined his three companions at the table, where Burt had already secured a pitcher of beer. Theodore ended up with his back to the bar—probably best. It would keep his eyes from wandering. The topic turned to astrophysics and, bless his sweet heart, Jimothy expressed fascination and boundless enthusiasm for that too. I could learn lessons in kindness from this guy.
Jimothy squealed and hung on Mary’s every word as she explained that it was her job to ascertain the nature of heavenly bodies, rather than their movement, which was more the science of astronomy. Funny how she was his close friend and he never exactly knew that.
When Mary took a breath, Theodore held up a finger. “Keep talking. I just need to find the men’s room.” It would give both his bladder and his patience a break.
Mary smiled and plunged right back in, having secured a faithful listener. Not too much audience for astrophysics.
Theodore sidled his way through the crowd, forcing himself not to look toward the bar. He’s not here. I saw that already. When he got in the men’s room, every urinal was in use and he stood next to the wall with two other anxious guys until he got a spot. Okay, better. He took a few seconds longer than needed to wash his hands, then accepted his fate and walked out the door. Leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the hall was Snake.
Theodore’s pulse rate tripled so fast it made him light-headed. Snake’s physical presence could stop traffic or launch a thousand ships, depending on the situation and the cliché. “H-hi. I didn’t see you behind the bar.”
“Is that guy your boyfriend?”
“Guy?”
A crease flashed between Snake’s dark arched brows, then vanished so fast Theodore might not have seen it. “You know, the man you’re sitting with. The one you walked in with.”
“No. A fix-up by the couple at the table. Not a very successful one.” Theodore wrinkled his nose. “Although he’s a lot nicer than I am.”
“Have you got a boyfriend stashed somewhere?”
Theodore’s turn to frown. “If I did, what exactly would I be doing having drinks with some blind date?”
Snake grinned. “Just checking.” He took hold of Theodore’s arm and started walking down the hall away from the crowded bar.
“Uh, excuse me? Where are we going?” He noticed he wasn’t trying really hard to stop.
“Thought you’d like to see the office.”
“Why?”
Snake opened a door on the left at the end of the hall, stepped in, and pulled Theodore behind him, then pressed the door closed again. Only a small task light gleamed over a neat desktop; the rest of the room was dark.
Snake turned him around so they were face-to-face. “I just figure someone as smart and gorgeous as you isn’t going to be wandering around loose for long.”
“Uh, love your vote of confidence, but evidence mounts to the contrary.”
“I don’t want to take the chance.”
“What? I—”
Snake closed those luscious lips over Theodore’s, and that closed the book on rational thought. How can a guy smell like whiskey and beer and tangerine all at once? And taste like a bite of heaven. One pyroclastic flow of passionate heat washed over Theodore, sending his cock into steel-pipe status and pushing the time-to-fuck button in his brain repeatedly. It had been too long and this was too right.
He wrapped his leg around Snake’s hard ass, trying to get their respective parts into contact. Not happening. Theodore stood five eleven and Snake had to be six three—four inches that wouldn’t matter lying down but didn’t work well standing up. That desktop looks likely. Theodore’s cell phone rang in his pocket. Could throw it against the wall.
Snake kissed long and deep and slow, so much sweeter than a hookup in the back room suggested. Whoa, is that a tongue stud? The smooth hardness against the warm wet of Snake’s mouth shot electric currents through Theodore. He wanted to yell and scream—but Snake wasn’t screaming. He didn’t seem to mind that Theodore was climbing him like a tree, but he wasn’t escalating the situation. After a particularly deep exploration, he leaned back and smiled.
Theodore couldn’t get his brain to function. “What? You’re stopping?”
“I kind of recall that I have this job and you have this date. I just wanted to—throw my hat in the ring, so to speak. Let you know that I wouldn’t mind doing this again soon, if you’re interested.” He held Theodore out at arm’s length.
Holy hell, what am I doing? He was standing in a little, dark room ready to fuck a guy covered in tattoos and body piercings with a hundred people a short hall away and his whole future hanging in the balance. On top of that, a man named Snake had more self-control than he did. “Sorry. That was totally stupid.”
Snake shook his head. “I hope not.”
“No. It was. Thanks for realizing it.” He stepped back forcefully, pulling his arms from Snake’s hands, and ran out the door and down the hall. He swallowed a huge lump that told him crying would be an excellent idea and threaded through the crowd that had grown larger and rowdier.
Across the room, Jimothy stood staring toward the bathroom, and Theodore raised his hand to wave. Jimothy looked so damned relieved it made him want to cry more. Theodore burst up to the table. “I’m so sorry. There was this huge line.”
Mary drew down her brows and stared from under them. “I thought that only happened in ladies’ rooms.”
“Me too. Jesus, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I even called your cell phone.”
“Oh, I must have it on mute.”
Burt said, “We better get home. Will you drive Jimothy, please, Theodore?”
I’m not entitled to even a small sigh. “Sure. I’d love to.”
Mary looked delighted—and surprised.
“Let me leave money for the beer.” Theodore fished in his pocket.
Jimothy touched his arm. “No need. I got it. Heck, you didn’t even get to drink it.”
“I really am sorry.”
“That’s perfectly fine.”
“Maybe we can stop for ice cream on our way to your place?”
Jimothy clapped. “I simply love rocky road.”
Chapter Four
SLAMMING DOWN his visor against the morning sunlight, Theodore gritted his teeth at every filled parking space in the jammed lot. Okay, this place had great brunch food, but the parking was crap—and it wasn’t even in Laguna. He navigated through the lot to a little side parking area in front of some shops and found one empty space hiding on the very end. He pulled in and leaped out of the car practically before he got the ignition off, then stomped across the tarmac to Apricots, the hidden-away Costa Mesa restaurant for those in the know. Unfortunately too many people knew.
Rod—artist, close friend, and force of nature—waved from the sidewalk in front where he stood with a crowd of about thirty or so people waiting for tables and leaned forward to give Theodore a hug when he got close. “Hi, darling. They just called us, so your timing is perfect.”
“Where’s Hunter?”
“He went to tell them we’re here. David’s with him.”
“The boys?”
“Off doing ridiculous volleyball things. They’ll be back soon.”
Rod turned and led the way into Apricots. His hair, currently pink and silver, gleamed in the morning light. His tiny frame was draped in a pink-and-black kimono over black skinny jeans. Rodney Mansfield, husband to Theodore’s academic friend, Hunter Fallon, was o
ne of California’s most renowned artists. Theodore had been shocked when he first met Rod. The wildly flamboyant artist was the antithesis of the conservative, reserved, and wildly handsome Hunter, but Theodore appreciated him instantly for his bright mind and expansive heart. So did Hunter, who adored the little fireball.
Inside, Rod led the way to the back wall where Hunter and David Underwood, the art gallery owner, sat; apparently not noticing the adoring glances of admiring women. Those two at one table was an unfair amount of gorgeous.
Hunter waved. “Hey, Theodore. Glad you made it.”
“Parking. That lot wins the prize for crappy.” Theodore frowned as he sat next to David.
David waved a hand at him. “Uh-uh. Much too grumpy for a Sunday morning, dear.”
“I know. Sorry. I didn’t sleep much.”
Hunter leaned toward him. “Studying?”
“No. Worrying.”
The waitress came up, looking friendly and a little harried. They all ordered feta cheese and spinach omelets and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Rod batted his lashes. “And may we have some of those lovely homemade muffins too, dear?”
When she walked away, Hunter said, “Anything in particular you’re worried about?”
Theodore made a motorboat sounds with his lips. The guys knew a lot about him but not the most important secret. He’d better keep it that way. “I just learned my department chair might be a closet homophobe and my number-one competitor in the department goes to church with said department chair, on top of which this guy is a real backstabber.”
“Welcome to the wonderful world of academia. I told you to come over to California University.” Hunter sipped his coffee.
Theodore shook his head as the grapefruit juice arrived. Everyone grabbed for it since ambrosia would pale by comparison. “I can’t even think about changing my job until after my orals. It’s a great school academically, and having my PhD from there will be a plus. If I gave up my teaching assistant position, it would set me back, and honestly, my in-laws already think this is taking way too long.”
David licked his lips. “What business is it of theirs?”
If they only knew. “Sadly, I feel like I need to keep a good relationship with them since they really want to be involved in Andy’s life.”
“But they don’t support Andy. You do.”
“Not entirely true. They’ve already set up a very generous college fund for him.” He lifted his brows. “Which will be great if they don’t decide to dictate where he goes to school. I’m not having him go to some Bible-beating, homophobic, we’re-all-going-to-hell, stick-up-the-ass college—unless he wants to.”
That was cause for them all to sip grapefruit juice.
Rod rested his chin on his palm and fluttered his lashes. “And is that all that’s bothering our boy, hmmm?”
Theodore tried to keep a straight face. Failed.
“You look guilllll-ty.”
He snorted. “Okay, I met this guy.”
“Oh yummy! Tell me, tell me.”
“He’s just—inappropriate.”
Rod raised brows. “Excuse me? Who was just deriding sticks up the butt, darling?”
“Yeah, sorry.” He stared at the recently arrived muffins. “It’s the company I keep.”
“So tell Roddy Woddy all about him, and I’ll determine his level of propriety.”
Theodore shoved a piece of muffin in his mouth. “He’s six three or so, has longish dark hair and green eyes that practically glow, no body fat, and muscles everywhere.”
David fanned himself. “Dear heaven, if this is inappropriate, I must be mired in same.” David’s two volleyball-playing lovers both fit the total hunk description.
Theodore held up a hand. “He’s a bartender.”
The guys looked at each other and nodded. Apparently that didn’t rule him out.
“He rides a Harley.”
“Oooh, sexy.” Rod grinned.
“He’s covered in tattoos and has pierced ears, a stud in his nose, and a tongue stud.”
Hunter had stopped chiming in and had a slight crease between his eyebrows.
Theodore held up a finger and waited for total attention. “His name is Snake.”
Rod and David burst out laughing. Hunter frowned more.
Rod put a hand on Theodore’s arm. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nope.”
“Dear God.”
Hunter said, “You wouldn’t have mentioned him if you didn’t like this guy.”
“Yeah. I kind of do. But like I say, can you see me taking him to a department dinner? Sweet Jesus, it’s tough enough being gay at my college without introducing Dr. Ashworth to Snake. And, of course, there’s Andy to think about. Who knows what a guy like that is into? How could I take him home?”
“Is he interested back?”
“He says he is.”
David asked, “Where does he work?”
“I met him at the Bay Bar. I don’t know how long he’s been there. Until recently, I hadn’t been there for years.”
Rod shoved a morsel of muffin in his mouth. “Reconnaissance!”
Theodore’s head snapped up. “Uh, probably not good. This thing really has no future.”
“Is he dark and brooding like Heathcliff?”
“No, actually. He says he doesn’t take life seriously, but he seems very responsible at his work. A levelheaded guy.” He shrugged. “But who knows? He might be an ax murderer in his spare time.”
“Or a secret werewolf!” Rod glanced at Hunter. “Don’t they always have dark hair and green eyes? Yum!” Rod chewed his muffin and stared dreamily at the ceiling.
Theodore grinned. “Next time I see him, I’ll ask him.”
Hunter said, “I understand your hesitation in light of Andy and what I know about Fairhaven.” He kissed Rod’s nose. “They may be intolerant of werewolves.”
Theodore stared into his grapefruit juice. “Of course, Andy might love a werewolf of his own.” So might Andy’s dad.
Their omelets arrived, and Theodore shifted the conversation to Rod’s art and the latest doings at David’s gallery. He and Hunter also exchanged academic gossip as they chewed. Still, he had a tough time keeping his brain in the game. It kept wandering back to Snake’s kiss, which sparked his cock, which interfered with his digestion, which caused him to worry more, which—
“Earth to Theodore.” Rod snapped fingers in front of his eyes, and he blinked.
“Sorry.”
“Two questions.” There were those fingers again. “First, what time do you pick up Andy?”
“Uh, two o’clock. Those people stay in church forever.”
“Second question. What aren’t you telling us about Snake?”
Theodore pressed his lips together like maybe he could keep the words in. No luck. “When he told me he was interested—he kissed me.”
David and Rod both bounced in their seats. Rod beamed. “This is getting interesting.”
“Yeah, it was damned interesting. Way too.” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “I haven’t had sex in so long, I about attacked him.”
“Oooh. What did he do?”
“He cooled it down.” The frown popped up on his face by itself.
David said, “Looks like you weren’t too happy about that.”
“Yeah, well, I’m an idiot.”
“What happened next?” Rod gazed at him so hard, he expected to show up in a future painting.
“He said he had to get back to work, and I had a date—”
Hunter murmured, “Very responsible.”
Rod shrieked, “What? You were on a date with someone else while you were humping this guy? Were you stretched out on the bar?”
Theodore glanced around and, sure enough, a few people were giggling. One older man looked shocked. “Shh. No, I was not on the bar. I was in a back office at the bar. Yes, I acted like an adolescent, and having a guy around who prompts that kind of response in me isn’t a good
thing. I told him so and I left.”
“What happened to your date while you were humping the snake?” Hunter looked a little more disturbed by Theodore’s choices than Rod or David did, but he tended to see the more socially acceptable side of things. He’d kept his homosexuality very low-key while he was a firefighter for several years, and even now didn’t really advertise it—well, except for the company he kept.
“I took my blind date out for ice cream to apologize, but I wasn’t really gone that long.” Rod gave him a look, and he cracked a half smile. “Not because I didn’t want to be gone longer.”
Hunter said, “I gather this date wasn’t doing it for you if you were—”
Theodore held up a hand. “Attacking werewolves in the back room? Correct. The guy was Mary’s fix-up, and he’s a love but not at all my type. He kind of knew that.”
David motioned a finger between himself and Rod. “So, too much like us and not enough like Hunter?” He grinned.
Theodore looked into David’s staggeringly blue eyes. Is that true? “No, I don’t think so. I find you and Rod sexier, more attractive than I did Jimothy. Not sure why. But I liked him a lot—as a friend.”
“Jimothy?”
Theodore smiled. “Yeah. He was adopted and made up a name for himself to honor his two dads, Jim and Timothy. Does that give you the measure of the man?”
Rod fanned himself. “It gives me a lump in my throat.”
Hunter said seriously, “I know why he didn’t appeal to you.”
“Why?”
Hunter flashed that rare gift of a smile. “He wasn’t enough like Snake.”
Everyone laughed. Theodore tried, but his heart sank.
Rod patted his arm. “Listen, darling, this kind of response to a person has to be respected. Dear heaven, I tried to give Hunter away because I thought he could never love a pipsqueak queen like me.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “It gives me cold chills to think of a life without Hunter.” Hunter looked at Rod with such love it made Theodore’s heart ache. Yeah, he’d hated walking away from Snake, and he barely knew him. Imagine how hard it must have been for Rod.
David piped up. “I have an idea. How about we all grab a drink together before Theodore has to pick up Andy?”
