Page 35 of Body Check

So he let Dakota pull him to his feet and up the stairs. They skirted the perimeter of the dance floor, Dakota searching through the crowd for something.

When the lights reflected off a familiar gleaming bald head not far from an auburn one, Gavin tugged Dakota close to shout in his ear. “Danny and Connor are over there, if that’s who or what you’re looking for.” He nodded his head toward the group of hockey players and staffers.

Dakota followed his line of sight and nodded. “Okay. Let’s join them.”

A flash of confusion shot through Gavin because, if anything, he’d thought they’d want toavoidpeople who worked for the Harriers organization, but he let Dakota pull him into the crowd of people.

Dakota deftly wove through the throng, but Gavin’s wider shoulders knocked into people as he followed in his wake, and he muttered apologies, getting a few bitchy glares and others that were more appreciative.

Dakota let go of his hand before they reached the cluster of people they knew, and Gavin suddenly missed the contact.

Most of them didn’t notice his and Dakota’s arrival.

Jesse was completely immersed in his dancing, Connor gamely trying to keep up, even though he obviously was out of his element. Danny, Leah, Graham, Tanner, and Kady were nearby, laughing about something as they swayed to the music.

Thad was nowhere to be found.

“Hey, guys,” Graham said with a happy smile as he glanced up. “Glad you found us.”

He looked flushed, his smile bright as he moved to the music. He wasn’t as fluid as Jesse, Tanner, Kady—or Dakota, Gavin quickly realized.

He’d begun to dance too, swaying and shifting to the music, graceful and sensual all at once. It made Gavin want to get his hands all over him, but he forced himself to turn away a little.

He let the music flow through him, familiar, even though he didn’t know this song. But he’d spent so many nights in clubs. From seedy spots where cheap hookups and drugs were as readily available as liquor, to the elegant, exclusive spaces where Champagne flowed like water, Gavin had danced in them all.

Rory had loved it so much and Gavin felt an odd little catch in his throat when his gaze skipped over Connor and Jesse’s entangled bodies, reminded of the way Rory would dance with other men, gaze hot, showing off for Gavin.

He’d let them touch but never linger, and it was Gavin’s cock he had in his mouth during the drive home to their condo, the driver blissfully unaware of what was going on behind him with the partition up as they flew through the streets of Boston.

But that seemed like a lifetime ago and Gavin was here now, dancing with his team and his colleagues, so he pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the steady thump of the bass resonating in his breastbone and the glancing touch of hot bodies around him.

Time spooled away as Gavin gave himself over to the music, getting lost in it.

He danced until he was dripping sweat, and then unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off. A cheer went up around him and he grinned, making a little show of it. Jesse got into it, hamming it up too, until Connor pulled him away and into his arms, giving him a kiss so sizzling Gavin wondered if there would be scorch marks on the floor around them.

Gavin tucked the shirt into the waistband of his trousers, then stole a glance at Dakota and caught him licking his lips, his face bathed in the bright glow of flashing lights. Their gazes caughtand held for a moment and Gavin shivered at the sparks sizzling between them.

But Dakota turned away, gathering his messy hair into a rough stubby bun. He’d lost his shirt a while ago, his lean muscles rippling with every movement. His jeans were a little low, low enough the waistband of his underwear showed, just a peek that made Gavin’s mouth water, wanting to see more.

Dakota spun in a little circle, moving in time with something Kady did, both of them laughing.

Dakota’s torso was long and sleek, hairless, even below his navel. Gavin wanted to drop to the floor right there and drag his tongue down the bare skin, then use his teeth to tug the underwear down as he undid the button and zipper and stripped off his jeans.

Dakota shot him a look, heated but also warning, and Gavin glanced away again. Sothatwas what this test was? Foreplay with a side of Gavin showing some restraint? Or was it to see who broke first?

He wanted to be mad at the lack of clarity, at the mixed signals, but instead, all he could feel waswant.

A guy danced up to Gavin then, small and lithe, all fluttery lashes and pouty lips. He was gorgeous, with smooth brown skin on display in the tiny shorts he wore. He backed his ass up to Gavin’s fly, the movement of his hips so mesmerizing all Gavin could do was watch for a moment.

But then the guy leaned back, settling his back against Gavin’s chest, and all Gavin could think about was Dakota’s body pressed against his earlier.

Gavin shifted away, deftly spinning the guy into the arms of someone else. His would-be partner shot him a disappointed pout, but didn’t appear too put out as he wound his arms around the neck of his new suitor.

Now Dakota was dancing with Leah and Tanner, their moves silly and exaggerated.

Gavin laughed—although the sound was swallowed up by the pulsing beat of the music—and caught a glimpse of Danny and Graham laughing too.

A sudden surge of affection went through Gavin for this group, for Jesse, who had brought it all together. A flutter of hope too, that this—this bonding, this night—would be what the team needed, even if not all of the guys had come out tonight.

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