Page 39 of Drink Up, Darling
Godwin pulled back at the exact same time Athens did, and though it was pure coincidence, Dariel saw it as a tease. The body heat of the other two disappeared instantaneously whilst Dariel had to cling onto every last ounce of self-restraint he had before he combusted.
“I… erm…” Dariel thought it was himself speaking, but it was actually Godwin. He stepped away and hung the shirt on the handles of the now closed wardrobe door, rubbing his palms down his trousers.
“A question,” Athens said rather abruptly. Dariel turned to him, trying to read his face.
Athens clasped his hands together. “I believe it is getting rather late, don’t you?”
“Oh, well, yes. Maybe,” Godwin grew flustered, looking around as if he’d lost time in the boxes and clothes around him.
“Don’t worry, the night is still young, but my question is a rather important one.”
Godwin raised his head high to indicate he was listening.
Athens stepped over to Dariel’s side, clearly displaying the easy five or six inches between them. Dariel’s eyes wandered all the way up and down Athens’ body, ears burning.
Athens’ hand found his, and as the warm, slender fingers wrapped around his skin, he finally realised Athens had taken every ounce of his jewellery off. Earrings, the lot.Did he do that all for me?
Dariel’s stomach flipped.
“Of course, your wish was to take one of us to bed with you. I believe we concluded I would be filling the role of bed partner this evening, though it hardly seems fair to leave such a handsome fellow out, now does it?” Athens said.
Godwin was a deer in headlights. “Oh, well I…” he rubbed his hands against his trousers again, clearing his throat for the thousandth time. “I was rather hoping you both could join me this evening… if that’s what you’d both be comfortable with?”
Oh, God.
‘Would you be comfortable with that?’
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
“I would like that. A lot.” Dariel thought it good measure to verbalise his consent.
“Excellent, then lead the way to the bedroom, Godwin, dear,” Athens said, pointing to the door with his free hand, his other having tightened on Dariel’s own.
Godwin didn’t move though. “Oh, well. I quite wish to erm… It’s been a very long while, you see, and I’d quite like to freshen up and… prepare.” He looked to the side of Dariel, heart pounding again.
‘Oh, this is going to be a lot of fun.’
Godwin produced a key. “It’s erm, the room on the…”
“We know which room, dear,” Athens cooed.
Godwin nodded frantically, mumbling then handing the brass key to Dariel as Athens turned to face him.
“Well then, we’ll go and get a head start, won’t we darling?”
Chapter Ten
The last time Dariel had let anyone into his bed was about seven years prior. It was the dawn of a new millennium, and he’d been invited to a gala of some sorts, he didn’t really remember what it was for. His agent would secure all the events and all he had to do was turn up and look pretty in something he’d designed. They were showing off a few of his pieces at some point during the evening and would be auctioning something off to charity. It was a free bar though, so once the exchanging of pleasantries had ended, he decided it was time to unwind. An hour after the clock struck midnight, he stumbled home with a pretty thirty-two-year-old woman who knew exactly what she liked in bed. He was her ‘pretty prince’ for three months before he realised he really could not do relationships… not while he was Dariel Hale, one of the most known alternative British designers of the late nineties. Too much press, too much hiding. He liked to keep life as simple as it could be. He didn’t enjoy lying.
But now? He was free. No strings, no expectations, just a choice to make the evening as pleasurable as possible for Godwin. A job role Dariel very much wanted to take on.
Godwin wandered off to shower as Athens took Dariel back down towards the room.
Theroom. The ornate bed with gold trimmings and eccentric wallpaper with three pillows set across the bed. Dariel hadn’t homed in on that detail when he’d first looked through the keyhole, though it was at the forefront of his mind now that he realised Godwin had expected them both to say yes all along.
Athens worked the key into the lock as Dariel stood watching, trying to manage his breathing.
“You took your jewellery off,” he said matter-of-factly.
