Page 34 of Body Check

“I am thinking about it. Weighing the pros and cons.” Dakota hummed thoughtfully.

“Pros are really great orgasms.”

“You’re assuming they’ll be great,” Dakota shot back.

Gavin scoffed. “Do you have any reason to think theywon’t? Come on, who do you take me for? Some inexperienced rube? I know how to get a guy off.”

“Despite my size, build, and profession, I’m not generally a bottom,” Dakota said, his tone calm, but his gaze challenging.

“Ahh. And I’m strictly a top.”

“You must admit, it does create some complications.” Dakota shrugged.

“Some. None we can’t work around, however.” Gavin slid a little closer again, until there were only a few inches between their bodies.

Dakota tilted his head back, studying him intently. Yeah, he’d be lying if he claimed he didn’t find the man’s looks and confidence attractive. “Pretty sure of yourself, huh?”

“I know what I’m doing in bed, yeah. And there are plenty of ways to have sex.”

“There are, but how many of them involve me giving in to you wanting to top me?” Dakota asked.

“Wow, cynical much? Do you really think I care that little about what you actually want to pressure you?”

“It’s been known to happen.”

“Fair enough. But not withme.”

Dakota crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you willing to do a little give and take?”

“As in bottom for you?”

“Yeah.”

Gavin huffed. “I … it’s been a long time since I’ve done it. It’s not my preference.”

“Hey, I’m not here to talk you into anything you don’t want either,” Dakota said. “If it’s a no, that’s fine. I …” He glanced away. “I’ve spent too many years with men who push me into things I don’t want, in and outside of the bedroom. Men who assume they know best for me. And I’m done with that part of my life. Everywhere and in every aspect of my life.”

“Hey,” Gavin said softly, pressing his knee against Dakota’s. “I get that. If our jobs or our preferences are a deal-breaker for you, we either walk away or we figure out a compromise we can both live with. And at least on my end, that doesn’t meanyoudo allthe bending while I get what I want all the time, okay? It’s not how I make deals or how I conduct my personal life.”

He winced, and Dakota wondered what that was all about.

“Or, at least I’mworkingon that in my personal life,” Gavin admitted. “Maybe Ihavedone it in the past. More than I feel comfortable with. But I’m trying to change.”

“I appreciate the honesty.”

Gavin gave Dakota another long, searching look. “So, what do you think? Should we give this a shot?”

“I think,” Dakota said slowly, “that I want to dance.”

SEVEN

Gavin was vaguely confused when Dakota stood, holding out a hand to him. His eyebrows were lifted and he had a faint smirk on his face, like he was challenging Gavin to something.

So Gavin took his hand. He’d never backed down from a challenge before, and while he might not know exactly what Dakota wanted, it was clear this was a test of some sort.

Despite not knowing exactly what the test entailed, it was also clear Dakota was the prize at the other end.

And damn did he want him.

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