Page 15 of Hidden Plays
As I choked out a laugh, a second of heat flickered through my chest. This was funny, right? Wrinkling my nose at Speedo guy, I said, “Okay, a little aggressive, but at least you got my boyfriend warmed up for me.” I wound an arm around Holden’s bare midsection.
Wiping the corners of his lips, Speedo guy said, “It was totally worth it. He’s a little shy, but he’s got great lips.” He fluttered his lashes at Holden. “Like pillows.” With a flourish, Speedo guy walked to his next target.
With a glare at me, Holden said, “Kissing random guys wasn’t in the contract.”
“Oh, just random guys? What about me?” The fuck did I just say? I dropped my mouth open. How could I recover? “I-I mean, I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, and if you want the guys in this bar to think we’re together, it might help if?—”
With a growl, he slapped his hands on my cheeks and crushed my lips with his. The fresh cinnamon scent of him invaded my senses, my cock waking and shivers running along my skin. Holy hell, what was happening? I snuck my tongue behind his teeth and swiped it against his, a soft moan spilling from me.
He stayed on me a moment more, slanting his mouth over mine, his lips devouring me in demanding caresses. And then he ripped free. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.” He pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. “I need to go somewhere. I can’t fucking breathe.”
FOUR
HOLDEN
What the fuck was happening to me? I wasn’t queer, but I sure as hell wasn’t homophobic either. JJ was fucking with my head. I peeked at him from under my wrist and then dropped my arm as I fought to breathe through the stiffness in my chest.
“Come here. There’s an outdoor patio with misters.” He grabbed my hand and wound us through men, past a long bar with a chalkboard full of shots written in neon colors, and finally to a sliding glass door.
I stopped outside, the vapor of the misters cooling my heated skin. I had to stop with the shots. Obviously, getting drunk in a place like this was dangerous.
A couple of guys stood at the railing, bumping shoulders and exchanging eye contact while looking down at the sidewalk.
“Holden, talk to me.” JJ grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You’re surprising the hell out of me tonight.”
“Yeah? I’m surprising me too.” I glanced inside the bar. So many men and so much bare skin. It was everywhere. Muscles and sweat and…fuck.Don’t think about it.
Another server in a well-packed Speedo stepped onto the patio. “Drinks, anyone?”
“Sure, get us a couple of beers, please.” JJ stepped to the server and ordered.
The server left, and JJ’s attention drew to me. “Sit.” He pulled a chair from the tall metal and glass table in the corner.
Taking a hard swallow, I hitched into the chair, planted my elbows on the table, and scrubbed my face. “I don’t know why I kissed you.” I’d lost my damn mind. How would I face him at practice on Monday?
JJ dragged his chair close to mine and sat on it. “Maybe I’m irresistible.” He snickered. “Or maybe you’re not as straight as you think you are.”
Through my teeth, I said, “I’m fucking—” My gaze snagged on the couple, and I lowered my voice. “I’m fucking straight.” I’d never wanted a guy before. Sure, I found some attractive, but it meant nothing.
The server dropped off our beers, JJ paid, and the server left.
Holding up his beer, JJ said, “You’re getting the next round.”
“Sure.” I sipped my beer and relaxed my shoulders, letting the alcohol calm me. Flicking a glance at JJ, my gaze meandered over him, his dark bangs swooping along his high cheekbones, the perk of his nipples through the sheer top, the tight abs underneath and the fuck…The outline of his thick cock in his tiny shorts. I gave him a fucking boner tonight in the medical room. And it almost gave me one. My balls tingled. Oh, hell no, not again. I squirmed in my chair.
“Your head seems preoccupied.” He flicked my forehead.
Stinging spread along my scalp. “Ow, fuck.” I rubbed it. “Yeah, but I’m not homophobic. I think I proved that tonight.” After drinking more beer, I said, “I mean, a homophobic guy wouldn’t kiss another guy.” Right? But maybe a queer guy would. Oh, fuck me.
“Or would they do it to prove they’re not homophobic?” JJ cocked his head, the edge of his lips quirking. “You almost passed out in there. Was my kiss that good?” He freed a sharp laugh.
“Stop fucking with me.” I fingered the cool wetness on my glass. I couldn’t let him get to me. I had to pull myself together. “When will you photograph yourself so we can go?”
“Aw, so soon?” He knitted his brows. “This is the first time I’ve enjoyed a gay bar.” With a huff, he sipped his beer. “I think we should stay another hour, at least. We haven’t even gotten on the dancefloor yet.”
Slowly shaking my head, I tutted. “Fine.” I knew what he was doing. Making me as miserable as possible. “But when this is over, you’ll trust my judgement, right?” Isn’t that why we were here?
“Maybe.” He twisted in the chair and brushed a lock of hair from my forehead, his soft touch igniting my skin, his stark blue gaze catching mine.
