Marc
Spending the afternoon at the lake with Graham and Sam had been the perfect way to unwind after an incredibly stressful week at work. Graham had brought up Aiden only once, and when Marc told him he didn’t want to talk about it, his friend had let it drop.
Marc understood why his friends were confused. Anyone with eyes could have seen that he and Aiden had made a connection on the Fourth of July. Hell, he’d been half out of his mind with lust when he’d left Aiden that night, fighting the desire to turn around and ask the man to take him to bed. He’d panicked when he’d realized how badly he’d wanted to just go back to his house for a quick fuck. That was what he’d spent the last six months trying to get away from. He wanted to know a man, build a relationship. And he knew that with one hot look from Aiden he’d have been naked in his bed without a moment’s hesitation.
But he’d made it home without giving in. Not falling back on old habits had felt like a victory, until he’d realized Aiden hadn’t asked for his number. He’d stayed up most of the night analyzing that. Had the man simply forgotten? Or after they’d kissed, had he decided he didn’t feel an attraction? Now Marc was doubly glad he hadn’t given in and driven back. Finding out that Aiden had been looking only for a one-night stand would have killed him.
Those kisses had rocked his world, though. Damn, that man could kiss. And when Graham had texted him Aiden’s number, telling Marc the man wanted to talk to him, he’d felt a surge of excitement.
Until he’d walked into his office a few minutes later and his world had been rocked again. That nice little promotion he’d just received now included moving to Chicago. In less than a month.
He’d always lived in Kansas City, and while he enjoyed traveling, he had a life there. Friends, some family. He wasn’t sure moving was the right option for him. Apparently the corporation had spun-off his division and they wanted part of it in Chicago, including Marc’s department.
His boss explained that if he didn’t want to move, he could take back his old job, but the man warned that he’d already heard some rumbling from corporate about moving the entire operation by the end of the year.
Marc could be out of a job soon if he stayed in Kansas City, but he’d be safe if he moved to Chicago. He had a lot to figure out in a short amount of time. He’d worked for the company for years, but it was changing. Did he want to stay on? He was good at what he did, so perhaps he could find a similar job in Kansas City.
Of course, he had Aiden to think about, although they hadn’t even had a date, so Marc knew he was jumping the gun. But if he stayed, he definitely wanted to pursue something with the man. The feelings he’d already felt for Aiden were intense. Too intense, and he wasn’t ready to deal with it. At least not until he figured out his employment situation. That had to come first.
The thought that Aiden might not be interested anymore had nagged at him all week. Not that Marc could blame him for moving on. Yes, Aiden had made his interest known by passing along his phone number the day after they’d kissed, but since Marc had never called or texted him, Aiden may have decided he wasn’t worth the trouble.
After showering, he changed into his black skinny jeans, slim black leather belt, and formfitting T-shirt. He liked the bright blue because it went well with his electric blue tips. He fixed his hair, added eyeliner and pale pink lip gloss, and he was ready to go.
As a teen, he’d been teased mercilessly by kids at school because he’d liked wearing lip gloss. But once he’d started wearing it, he never felt himself without it. It was just a part of who he was. If someone didn’t like it, it was their problem. He was done hiding who he was. He’d added eyeliner to his daily routine not long after that. He felt sexy—beautiful—when his lips shimmered and his eyeliner looked good.
It had been months since he’d been at a club, so Marc was excited to get out there and dance and forget about everything for a night. Hanging out with his two closest friends just made it all that much better.
He rode with them to the club. Sam and Graham both looked hot and Marc knew it would be a lot of fun to dance with them. He had always thought Graham attractive, but there was never anything between them but friendship. Holy hell, though, when he’d met Sam, he was blown away. Not that he would’ve ever made a move on his best friend’s man, but there was no getting around it, Sam was sexy. Tall, broad, muscled with blond hair and hazel eyes.
Aiden had them all beat, though. Just the thought of him and blood flowed south. Marc wasn’t ashamed to admit he’d jacked off to the thought of Aiden more than once since meeting him. In bed. In the shower. On the sofa. All it took was remembering that kiss and he was rock hard.
He leaned back his head as Sam drove east toward the club. His life was in chaos and he really needed this night out.
“Hey, Sam?” he asked from the back seat.
“Yeah?”
“How old did you turn today?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Old man,” Graham teased.
“Who you calling old? You’re thirty-two!”
Marc smiled as he listened to them clown around with each other. He wanted that. He wanted a man who loved him, even with all his insecurities. Someone who wanted to build a life with him.
They soon pulled into a packed lot and parked under one of the many light poles. The club had been purchased about two years ago and the new owners had completely redesigned the interior and added new lighting outside.
As they reached the door, Marc spied a familiar motorcycle and pointed at it. “That looks like Aiden’s.”
“Look closer. That’s blue,” Sam said.
Marc inspected the bike and saw that Sam was right—it was blue. And not even the right kind of motorcycle, although it was vintage.
“Sounds like someone has Aiden on his mind,” Graham teased.
Marc’s cheeks burned, knowing his best friend was right. He needed to get Aiden out of his head. At least for the night.
They showed their IDs to the bouncer and entered the darkened club, music blasting from the speakers. Sam found a table while Graham and Marc went to the bar and ordered three sodas. His best friend didn’t drink alcohol, so Marc didn’t order any when he was out with him.
Music vibrated under his feet, sending it up his spine and he couldn’t wait to get on the dance floor.
“Wanna dance?” Graham asked, tilting his head to the floor.
Marc grinned. “Oh, yeah.”
They ran the drinks over to Sam and asked if he wanted to dance. He said no, but Marc was used to that. It always seemed to take Sam a little while to warm up in a club, but he’d be out there soon.
Marc took a sip of his soda and gestured for Graham to follow him.
They wove through the crowds and jumped into the mass of writhing bodies. Feeling exhilarated, Marc gave in to the pounding beat and threw his arms in the air, moving to the music. Men surrounded them, all caught up in the dance. Hips and thighs bumped against him, hands floated across his back, but nobody crossed any lines. Someone usually did, but Marc could always handle it.
He suddenly wished Aiden was at the club. Dancing made Marc feel sexy. It was one activity in which he excelled, and it gave him confidence. He wished Aiden could see him like this. Maybe run his hands over Marc’s body. Fuck. That thought only made him hard.
Graham had met Sam here, and they’d fucked behind the building, out in the open, which Marc thought incredibly hot. What had started out as a one-night stand had turned into a committed relationship between the two men.
He spun around, twirling under the strobing lights, building up a light sweat. He glanced around and saw that he’d already lost Graham, probably swallowed up by the mass of dancers. Marc didn’t worry as he saw Sam heading toward the dance floor—he’d take care of his man.
Suddenly, a strong hand grasped his hip and held tight, someone dancing up behind him. Marc twisted out of the grip and turned to glare. He wasn’t in the mood for a handsy stranger.
His breath caught in surprise as he stared up at Aiden. Shit, the man looked good. Tight jeans, body-hugging V-neck. Green eyes flashing at him. Aiden raked his gaze over Marc, heat pouring off him, spilling onto him. Fire shot through Marc and he dropped his eyes to Aiden’s chest, instinctively moving his hips as he danced closer until they were only inches apart.
Aiden grabbed him by the belt loops while Marc pressed his hands to the man’s hard pecs, running them up and down his front. Shit, he was built like marble. His mouth went dry as a desert and he wanted a drink, but there was no way in hell he would leave Aiden. He looked up at the man through his lashes and licked his dry lips.
They locked eyes as the rhythm filled them, their bodies moving as one. Marc’s blood heated and sweat dripped down his back as they moved together in a fluid dance, ignoring the writhing sea of men surrounding them. For Marc, it became just the two of them. Slowly, he slid his hands down Aiden’s sides and around to his back, pressing his spread fingers against his sweat-dampened shirt. Aiden’s muscles rolled and flexed under his hands and Marc wanted to tear off that shirt, feel the hot skin underneath. Fuck, he wanted to lick that skin.
Aiden pulled him close and Marc felt the hard bulge pressing against his fly. His mouth watered at the thought of unzipping those jeans and freeing Aiden’s cock. Marc wanted to taste him, swallow him deep, and make the man lose control.
Aiden’s hands roamed his back, then cupped Marc’s ass, his strong hands kneading each globe. Marc moaned and let his head fall back, reveling in the sensation of Aiden’s hands on him. He wanted them everywhere. Skin on skin. No barriers. Aiden effortlessly picked him up in one swift move, and Marc’s head snapped up as he encircled his legs around the man’s waist. Now face-to-face, Marc trembled at the lust in Aiden’s eyes, his pupils blown wide and his hot breath skimming Marc’s cheek as he continued moving to the beat.
Marc’s heart raced as he wrapped his arms around Aiden’s neck, touching the soft skin at the curve where the pulse throbbed under his fingers. He raked his fingers through the thick layers of silky hair. He leaned forward, his lips brushing against Aiden’s ear, and the words poured out of him before he could consider the ramifications or change his mind.
“I need you, Aiden. Take me home.”