Page 23 of Scoring Slater
Booker raised his brows. "Is that Noah Alzado? Itisyou. What's wrong, Noah, don't want anyone else playing with your teammate? Okay, ten thousand dollars. That's a pretty big jump, but a nice amount for the charity. Do I have eleven thousand?"
The man in the gray suit smirked and raised his paddle.
No freaking way.
Noah cupped his hands around his mouth. "Twenty-five thousand dollars." He glared at the suit. "I'll go as high as I have to. There's no way he's leaving here with anyone but me."
More gasps and titters and murmurs followed his statement. He didn't care. Staring down the guy, as Booker asked for other bids, he cocked a brow and slowly shook his head.Don't you dare.
The guy looked at his paddle, then at Noah, then at the people sitting around him. Someone leaned over and whispered in the guy's ear. Whatever was said, the suit finally set the paddle down.
Mission accomplished.
Noah faced Slater once again. His friend hadn't moved at all.
"Going once… going twice… Twenty-five thousand dollars for the win to paddle number three hundred."
Someone to his left clamped him on the shoulder, jarring his attention away from Slater. "Big spender."
"Yeah, well." He cut through the tables to the cashier and settled up payment. Heat rushed through him and he rubbed the back of his neck. Music blared again and another bachelor took the stage, accompanied by Booker's booming voice.
When he turned around, Slater stood before him. "What the hell are you doing?"
Noah's heart raced. Three steps eliminated the distance between them. He curled his fingers into the front of Slater's shirt—hisshirt—and pulled him closer. He swallowed over the thickness in his throat and spoke from his wrung-out heart. "We need to talk."
"Noah—"
He laid a trembling finger over Slater's lips. "Now."
They were close enough to kiss. Close enough for Noah to see the darker flecks in that glittering gaze and feel the heat radiating off of Slater's body. Close enough to hopefully let Slater see the need in his eyes.
Catcalls and whistles and shouts of their names rang out. There were too many eyes on them, too much attention.
He released his hold on the shirt and grabbed Slater's hand. Locking their fingers together, he pulled Slater along with him. Taking long, determined strides, he marched toward the door.
A path opened up for them, parting right down the middle. Cheers accompanied their exit.
Hopefully, Slater would be willing listen to what he had to say.
CHAPTER NINE
Shock radiated through Slater as Noah led him from the Atlantis room. He quickened his pace to keep up with his friend as they exited the doors. Curling his fingers more securely around his surprise bidder's hand, he marveled at the feeling of the strong grip holding him tight.
Noah didn't stop or slow down until they reached the elevator. He pressed the button and his gaze roamed Slater's body. "You're wearing my shirt."
Slater's brows drew together and his eyes narrowed as confusion clouded over every other emotion. He had zero patience for games. He needed to know what Noah wanted. Why he'd placed that bid. "You paid twenty-five grand to get your shirt back?"
"No. But I'd have paid any amount to get you back."
The vulnerability and earnestness and sadness washing over Noah's features pulled at something deep in Slater's core.
"Get me back? I don't understand."
Noah's lips pressed together as he slowly shook his head. His blue eyes blazed with an intensity suggesting there were a lot of thoughts churning through that brilliant mind, and Noah was getting them in order. When his gaze shifted to their joined hands, a soft smile bloomed and he rubbed his thumb over Slater's knuckles.
That touch alone was enough to bring him to his knees. "Noah…"
"We've never held hands before." His hushed tone held so much wonder.
