Page 20 of Beck

He loved how interested they all were. They weren’t asking questions just for the sake of it, they wanted to know the answers to them, too. When the clock ticked over to six-thirty, their group cheered, and Ani flipped the sign over to closed.

“Go on, you bunch of twits. Get moving. I’ll lock up,” Ani said, laughing.

“I’ll keep you company,” Kole said, not wanting to leave her alone. It wasn’t because he thought she couldn’t look after herself, it was because he would’ve done it to anyone to ensure they weren’t left alone.

“Me, too,” Beck said. “Three is better than one. Or two.”

Ani shook her head. “You didn’t have to, but I won’t argue.”

She set the alarm and locked the doors, giving the place a quick once over before seemingly being satisfied. Then they all headed towards the Indian restaurant, which, if Kole wasn’t mistaken, was only a ten-minute walk away. Their conversation was light and easy, and it felt like he’d known them for years rather than months. What was it about these people that made him feel…safe?

As soon as he thought that, he had visions of them being hurt, and goosebumps rose across his skin. The same feeling he got when it seemed like someone was watching him. He glanced over his shoulder, checking behind them, but couldn’t see anyone of significance. He tried to shake it off—after all, it was all in his head—but it was hard. It was only when Beck rested his palm on Kole’s nape that he was able to breathe properly.

When they reached the restaurant, Beck paused, leaning down. “Are you sure you’re up for this? I can take you home.”

Kole wanted to take the excuse and hide away in his new apartment, but he couldn’t. He needed to start fresh, even if old memories and thoughts were trying to keep him down. Determined not to let them win, he shook his head. “I’m good.” He licked his lips, deciding to take a huge leap of faith. “But promise me one thing?”

Beck tilted his head and nodded. “What?”

“The next time we get together, it’ll be you, me, a bottle of tequila and a bed?”

Beck’s breath caught, but then he smiled, the tip of his tongue caught between his teeth. “I can promise that.” He leaned down, brushing his lips across Kole’s briefly before stepping back. “Time for food. Rain check?”

Kole nodded. “Not too long, though, yeah?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Exhaling quietly, Kole walked in behind Beck, proud of himself. He’d made the first move on other people before, but since Andrew had shaken his confidence, he hadn’t wanted to try. But Beck had wormed his way into his brain, and he couldn’t leave well enough alone. Despite being scared to death that he’d ruin things, he needed some relief, and what better way than to spend a night with the man who kept haunting his dreams?

“Oh, and Kole?” Beck said, stopping a few metres from their table, where everyone else waited for them.

“Yes?”

“Let’s make it a day we haven’t got to work the next day. I plan to take my time with you.”

Beck winked and settled beside Ani at the table, immediately jumping into the conversation and making everyone laugh. Kole, however, had lusty images running rampant in his head and couldn’t get his legs to work.

How the hell was he going to survive whatever Beck had planned for them?

****

Chapter 7

Beck

Working alongside Kole was pure torture. Sometimes, Beck wouldn’t see much of him because one of them would be locked away in their room working. And other times, Kole would sit in reception to draw and chat with Ethan and Ani. And when he did that, Beck saw him every time he had a new client.

Their agreement to spend time in bed hadn’t happened because Beck had been called away to tattoo some people the day after Kole had started working there, so he’d been away for two days, and since, they’d not mentioned anything to each other. Beck wanted to take what Kole said as golden and make a date, but what if he’d changed his mind and was happy to think Beck had, too? He didn’t want to make things awkward for them at work.

As time drew closer to the weekend, he decided to take a chance. He found Kole in reception, with his elbow on the back of the chair and staring out of the window at the dismal weather. Glancing around, no one else was there, so he settled gently beside him.

Kole still jumped, but he smiled when he saw him, his shoulders lowering from around his ears. “Hey.”

Beck smiled. “Hey to you, too. How are you doing?”

“I’m getting inspiration from the rain. Have you got a client?”

“Not yet,” Beck said, mirroring Kole’s position and crossing his leg over his knee to get that little bit closer to him. “I wanted to ask… Are you still up for a night?”

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