Page 100 of Defend Me

“Absolutely. You’re practically a baby.”

“Ha. Ha,” he mocked. “Your taunts bounce right off me, bud. It’s because of these abs of steel.”

“Ah, so you’re delusional too.”

“Okay,” he drawled, grinning like a maniac. “He has snark. And here I thought you just stood in dark corners looking like a school shooter.”

I scoffed. “Pretty sure those jokes aren’t allowed.”

“Good thing it’s just me and you.”

I hummed my agreement before I took one of the shots. I hated tequila with a passion, but I could handle it. A gag reflex was for suckers.

“Why am I getting dragged into drinks?” I asked.

“Cause I want to see what makes you tick. Sen likes you and…” He cleared his throat, then shrugged. “You seem chill to be around. Maybe I need some of that in my life.”

“I recommend yoga. Pretty sure you can’t be tamed by the likes of me.”

“Tamed?” He let out a bark of laughter. “I’d rather die. I’m a machine, always going, going, going. Quick on my feet, baby.”

“You’re impossibly fast and strong,” I said before snorting a laugh.

He knocked back a shot, still grinning. I took my second one before he finished and leveled him with a challenging look. Leaning his elbows on the counter, he gnawed on his lip for a minute. I poured another drink and slid one over to him while I waited for him to say what was on his mind. I didn’t think it was often that West thought about what he said before it came tumbling out.

“You’ve fucked a guy, right?”

I choked on the tequila and barely managed to get it down. He just continued to stare at me. Fuck, I was actually gonna have to humor him here.

“Yeah, that’s sort of how it goes. Why?”

He shrugged. “Just wondering how gay it is.”

Putting a hand over my mouth, I tried not to laugh. “How gay is it to fuck a guy? As an expert on the subject, I’d say it’s pretty far up there, dude. Did you fuck a guy?”

He waved a dismissive hand. “I have tons of curiosities up in this gourd. You should know that.”

“I think the world knows it.”

I leaned my hip against the counter and took the shot he handed me. At this rate, I would ride out the night drunk as a sailor. I didn’t really mind anymore.

West blew out a breath as he stared into the crowd. “I’m gonna go work the rizz. Wanna come?”

“Nah. Go bless the people of Seattle with West Densmore.”

“Fuck yeah.”

He sauntered smoothly into the living room as if he hadn’t just taken four shots in the span of ten minutes. Maybe he’d throw up on the floor when they hit him. It’d be kind of funny.

I saw Linc leaning against the wall by the stairs and since I’d already had a weird conversation with someone unexpected, I decided to head over to him. He was hot and we’d talked a little bit at that housewarming party. As far as I knew, he was single. Why the fuck not?

He glanced at me and smiled, then returned his gaze to the dancers.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Okay. Not feeling in the party mood?”

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