Page 16 of Demon's Mate
His face flamed and his gut twisted just thinking about it. Wasn’t the point of running away to be free of all that shit, do what he wanted, be who he was, try new things, and not live in fear? He couldn’t let paranoia stop him from going out when the risk was low. He’d even have people to go with.
Harper wanted new experiences. He wanted to dance like he never had, check out hot guys, and broaden his knowledge in every way. He wanted to be like everyone else.
He couldn’t stop the smile that stretched his lips. “Count me in.”
Harper scrambledout of the rideshare after Ollie and Dex. They were in a mostly deserted part of the Docks, full of old warehouses and the closed cannery. The building in front of them was lit up in a multicolor display. Music pulsed from inside and a line wound down the otherwise quiet block.
It seemed like a strange place for a club, but what did Harper know.
Dex led the way to the bouncer at the door. He gave his name and the guy checked their IDs before letting them in.
A thrill went through Harper as the heat of the club hit. After the year he’d had, it was like walking into another world.
It was a good thing Harper had borrowed some clothes from Ollie. He didn’t have anything cute in his limited wardrobe. Ollie had lent him a tank and a pair of black shorts, which were ideal for the hot club. The shorts were tiny and hugged Harper’s body, making his ass look better than should’ve been possible.
“Drinks?” Ollie shouted over the music.
Dex nodded enthusiastically, and they pushed into thecrowd. Ollie reached back and grabbed Harper’s hand, pulling him along so they didn’t get separated.
Harper stumbled, his palm pressed against Ollie’s.
It was such a casual, friendly gesture. One it seemed Ollie hadn’t thought twice about, but Harper had never held hands with anyone like this. It felt so good that he didn’t even register the people they pushed through on their way to the bar.
Harper didn’t like Ollie in a romantic way, which almost made the physical contact more jarring. There’d been no casual affection in his life, or any affection, really. Ollie’s soft palm made him realize how little other people had touched him other than to hurt him. How nice was it to feel connected to someone this way?
They reached the bar and Dex leaned forward, waiting for a bartender to look in his direction.
Ollie dropped Harper’s hand. “What do you want to drink?”
Harper crouched to be heard over the noise. “Nothing for me.” He wasn’t letting anything lower his inhibitions.
“Okay.” Ollie passed his answer on to Dex, along with his drink order.
For once, it wasn’t annoying to be tall. Harper took in the club as the other two got their drinks. Lights flashed in the far corner of the large open space. The DJ must be over there, where everyone was dancing, and there was a second bar to the left, next to a platform with dancers covered in body paint.
A loft ran along one edge of the club—some sort of VIP area, maybe? Harper couldn’t see the people up there with the lights flashing below, but as he looked, he got an odd feeling, a prickling of anticipation like something was waiting for him.
He cast out his magic, inspecting the loft. No other magic registered, so he wasn’t sure what put him on edge other than paranoia. He pushed it away.
Ollie and Dex threw back a shot each. “Another!” Ollie slammed his shot glass on the bar and Dex handed him a second one. He downed it. “I’m so glad you came out with us, Harper.”
“Yeah?” Harper couldn’t help smiling. Ollie’s dimpled grin was infectious.
Ollie slung an arm around Harper’s waist. “Yeah, and I’m happy you moved in with me and thatyou’remy new roommate.”
Harper laughed. “I’m glad you’re my roommate too.”
Ollie squeezed him. “Yay. You’re so sweet. And respectful. And nothing like my last roommate.” He frowned.
Ollie seemed a bit drunk. He and Dex had a drink at home before leaving, but Harper didn’t think that made anything he was saying untrue. It was a relief Ollie liked having him around.
“I got lucky finding your place for rent,” Harper said. “I think it’s going to be good.”
Ollie’s smile returned. “It is.” He grabbed Dex and pulled him and Harper toward the dancefloor.
Harper didn’t know how to dance, but who cared? His insides bubbled, and he couldn’t stop smiling.
When they reached the dancing crowd, Ollie and Dex pressed close together, arms slung easily around each other like they’d done this countless times.
