Page 7 of Flirt
That goddamn adorable blush worked its way up Cameron’s neck and spread over his cheeks. “Yeah,” he admitted with a little shrug. “I’ve never met anyone famous before, so I admit to not really knowing the protocol. If you don’t want to talk about it, I completely understand.”
No one had ever said that to him. The comment section on his website was filled with interrogations about everything from his methods to what came next in the story arc. Of course, he never answered them, and he’d had some fairly imaginative insults hurled his way because of his lack of cooperation.
“No, that’s fine.” Maybe. It really would depend on what Cameron wanted to discuss, but he had the feeling Cameron instinctively understood how protectively he guarded his work. “Do you want to get out of here?” Words that had never crossed his lips spilled out next. “Just coffee or something. I’m not coming onto you.”
The statement, as well as the honest sentiment behind it, felt foreign, but he had a hard time caring when Cameron smiled. It was the first real smile he’d seen directed at him, and it did strange things to his body. Yeah, his cock really liked it, but the warmth that spread through him felt a hundred times better.
“Sure,” Cameron answered, though he still ducked his head. “Let me just tell Nico.” Sliding off the stool, he set his empty water bottle on the bar, then turned toward the dance floor. He made it two steps before spinning around and pointing a finger at Asher. “Don’t move.”
Grinning so wide his cheeks hurt, Asher held his hands up in surrender. He had no intentions on going anywhere, at least not alone.
~
Winding through the gyratingbodies packed onto the dance floor, Cameron fended off a number of groping hands and suggestive hip thrusts before finding Nico and Luke. He should probably be flattered by the attention, butmostly, it just made him uncomfortable. He still didn’t know why the hell he thought this would be a good idea.
Lie. Total lie.
So, maybe he’d spent the entire day pacing his living room, going over his earlier conversation with Asher, alternating between indignation and mounting desire. By the time Nico had knocked on his door, he’d almost talked himself into calling it an early night and going to bed. At eight. The sun hadn’t even set.
He was aware of how unlikely their friendship probably appeared to outsiders. It always had. Even in high school, no one understood how the quiet, studious kid had become friends with the handsome, charismatic rebel. Hell, Cameron didn’t really understand it himself, but he’d long ago ceased to question it.
It worked for them, and he thought they were each a little better for it. Nico encouraged him to be braver and slightly more adventurous. In return, he softened Nico, reminded him to be more patient, offer people more compassion.
“Everything okay?” Nico asked as soon as Cameron was within shouting distance.
“Fine,” he answered closing the last few feet between them. “I just wanted to let you know we’re taking off to get coffee.”
Nico frowned, but Luke started to laugh. “Oh, is that what the kids are calling it these days?” He shuffled closerand slid his palms up Nico’s chest. “Want to come back to my place forcoffee?”
The guy was too much, but Cameron kind of liked him. He had always admired people who knew themselves and what they wanted. He respected those who went after their wants with both hands and never worried about what anyone else thought of them. It had been one of the main reasons he’d agreed to come to Swerve. That, and Nico practically dragging him out of his house after hearing the whole convoluted story.
Ignoring the corny come-on, Nico took a step away from his eager dance partner, his frown deepening. “Are you sure?”
Not really, but Asher had seemed earnest, and he couldn’t deny he wanted to hear more about his work. “I’m good. Really,” he insisted when Nico continued to scowl at him. “It’s just coffee. Besides, I have a feeling you’re going to be otherwise occupied tonight.”
Nico’s gaze flickered briefly toward Luke, and a little of the tension in his shoulders eased. “Okay, fine.” He nodded as if deciding something. “Do you want me to come rescue you in a couple of hours?”
Cameron bristled at the implication that he needed a babysitter or a hero, but he didn’t want to fight with Nico in the middle of the club. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d arrived somewhere, then left separately. Only, it had always been Nico doing the leaving. For some reason,having the tables turned didn’t appear to be sitting well with him.
He smiled, charming as ever, his body language relaxed and open. Only Cameron would notice the slight narrowing of his eyes or the subtle tick in his jaw. They were definitely going to talk about this later.
“Okay,” he answered slowly. “That sounds good. The coffee shop around the corner. You know it?”
Nico dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“They close at midnight. Meet me then.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and pushed his way through the crowd, back to the bar, back to Asher. He had to admit it surprised him a little to find the guy sitting right where he’d left him.
“Ready?” he asked. Unsure of what to do with his hands, he stuffed them into his pockets. “I know this place around the corner.”
“Grinders?” Sliding off his barstool, Asher straightened, arching his back to stretch the muscles. “Yeah, I know it. Good coffee.” He paused, probably just to be dramatic. “Better eye candy.”
Surprised laughter burst from his lips, and he shook his head as he angled toward the exit. “Shall we?”
He wouldn’t admit it, not to Asher anyway, but he enjoyed the quaint coffeehouse for similar reasons. Just because he wasn’t looking to commit didn’t mean he couldn’t window shop. Still, he went there for more thanjust the coffee and parade of single, gay men who streamed through the doors.
Most of the businesses in the immediate area catered to the LBGTQ crowd, and Grinders was a popular meeting place for first dates. Cameron loved those the most. The nervous laughs, the uncertain smiles. He enjoyed watching the carefully choreographed dance of people getting to know each other while struggling not to overshare.
