A little giggle escaped out of Jayse’s mouth as he peered up at Kaeden through his lashes.
The little twink was so sexy. So adorable. And his giggle made Kaeden feel about ten feet tall.
“Again?” Kaeden asked.
“Yes,” Jayse said in a breathy voice.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot,” Kaeden said, then threw paper. He looked down at Jayse’s fist clenched tight and grinned.
“Damn,” Jayse said with a big smile. He picked up a shot glass and threw it back.
Kaeden watched carefully as the liquor raced through Jayse’s system. When Jayse’s eyes cleared and focused on Kaeden, Kaeden just raised an eyebrow.
The kid had already had five shots. It probably wasn’t safe for him to leave tonight. Or, at least on his own. Maybe Kaeden would invite him to stay upstairs…
“Hey, guys! What’s up here?” Blake plopped into the booth next to Kaeden and dropped his arm around his shoulders.
Jayse glared at Blake.
“We’re playing roshambo,” Kaeden grinned at Blake. “Whoever loses has to take a shot.”
“Oooh! I want in!” Blake said.
“It’s a two person game,” Jayse was scowling now. “And you weren’t invited.”
“How many shots have you had so far, kid?” Blake asked him, though his voice was kind.
Jayse bristled at being called a kid. “I’m not a kid. I’m twenty-two.”
Blake raised an eyebrow and looked at Kaeden. “You’re practically robbing the cradle.”
“Seven years isn’t that much!” Jayse insisted.
But Blake was right. There were certainly moments that Kaeden felt every one of those seven years.
When Jayse leaned forward to hiss some threat at Blake, Kaeden watched his balance waver. Yep, five shots was definitely more than enough.
Kaeden looked over to the bar. He waved to catch Anders’ attention, then made the “call me” sign. Anders nodded and pulled out his phone to order a ride share.
They didn’t let people drive home drunk from Ax to the Heart. But suddenly, with Blake sitting next to him, Kaeden wasn’t so sure he wanted Jayse to spend the night.
Kaeden tuned back into the argument Jayse and Blake were having. And he was a little surprised to find out it was about him.
“I don’t care how long you’ve been dating. Kaeden’s been my friend for four years,” Blake was saying. “He wouldn’t be stupid enough to take a sucker bet like that.”
“Well, apparently you don’t know your friend so well,” Jayse was gloating, though Kaeden wasn’t sure why. “He not only agreed to the bet, but he did his best to lose it.”
“Um…” Kaeden was about to interrupt when Blake turned on him.
“Did you honestly bet this kid that you could drink twice as much as him and not get drunk?”
“Uh…” That wasn’t exactly how the bet had been phrased.
“You idiot,” Blake said. But Kaeden caught the happy gleam in his eye. “You’re twice his size. Of course you’re not going to get drunk on two shots like he is! Why would you bet that?”
“I’m not drunk!” Jayse insisted. He was so drunk.
Now Kaeden felt a little bad.
“I definitely want in on the next round of roshambo,” Blake insisted. “But we’re going to up the stakes.”
“A shot for the loser isn’t enough?” Kaeden asked with a raised eyebrow. It had certainly been enough for the last few rounds.
“With three of us playing, then there’s bound to be times two people throw the same one,” Blake pointed out. “So the new rule is that whoever throws the same sign… has to kiss.”
A warmth of excitement Kaeden hadn’t expected spread from his heart and perked up his dick.
“No,” Jayse shook his head vigorously. “There is no way I am kissing you. Only Kaeden gets to kiss me.”
Blake raised his eyebrow. “What makes you think that I’ll be kissing you? More likely you’ll be begging to kiss me.”
“You’re an ass,” Jayse said.
Kaeden did his best to bite back his laugh, but it wanted to burst forth so badly.
“There’s a car here,” Sawyer said as he walked up to their table. “Anders called it to take you home, Jayse.”
The three of them looked up at one of their pack members. Sawyer was a tall drink of water who… loved the water. For a wolf, he spent more time in the ocean than anywhere else. Kaeden sometimes wondered if he was really a dolphin shifter instead. Except that he’d gone on night runs with him before.
“Aw, so sad,” Blake pouted at Jayse. “Guess you’ll have to go home now.” A smirk crossed his face. “Before you get drunk.”
“I’m fine,” Jayse insisted. “I’ll drive home later.”
“Nope,” Sawyer gently reached down and took Jayse’s arm in his hand. “Bar policy. If you’re too drunk to throw an ax safely, you’re too drunk to drive home. Let’s go.”
Within seconds, Sawyer had disappeared with Jayse, and Kaeden and Blake were left in silence.
“So… roshambo?” Blake asked.
* * *
Blake threw hands and a little spark of satisfaction shot through him when they both showed paper.
“Come on, big guy. Pay up.” Blake grinned at Kaeden.
Kaeden’s eyes fell to Blake’s lips, then he swallowed. Slowly, oh so slowly, Kaeden leaned forward and barely brushed his lips against Blake’s.
Blake grinned at him. “Don’t think that’s going to work next time. Again.”
He counted out, and they threw again. Both rock. Awesome.
Blake reached up and pulled Kaeden’s neck down toward his. He smashed his lips into Kaeden’s and licked his way in.
God, Kaeden tasted good. Obviously he hadn’t lost many rounds to Jayse because Blake could barely taste any liquor at all. No, he was all mint and spice and heaven.
“What the hell?”
Blake reluctantly pulled away and looked into Kaeden’s eyes. They were glazed over with lust. Hunger. Satisfaction. Oh, yes. Blake definitely liked that look.
“Why are you kissing my boyfriend?” Jayse shrieked.
“It’s just a game,” Blake said.
At the same time, Kaeden said, “I’m not your boyfriend. We’ve barely been on two dates.”
It had been more like ten. Not that Blake had been counting. Too closely.
When Jayse looked at Kaeden with a mix of hurt and anger, Blake couldn’t help the little sprig of satisfaction that bloomed in his chest.
“You know what, Kaeden?” Jayse reached into the other side of the booth and snatched up his phone. Ah, that’d been why he’d come back. “Kiss whoever you want. I don’t want to see you again!”
Jayse spun and marched off. Too bad he was still mostly drunk. At least Sawyer was still there to help steady him before his ass met the hard floor.
“Again?” Kaeden swallowed thickly, but he was staring at Blake’s mouth again.
Blake knew he was smirking. But he couldn’t help it. “Again.”
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot,” Kaeden said.
They both threw scissors.
This time it was Kaeden who reached out to pull Blake close.
“You two seriously need to figure your shit out,” Hawk said as he sauntered by.
Kaeden and Blake pulled apart and looked up at Hawk in confusion.
Right then “Last Christmas” came over the speakers.
Heat flooded Blake’s face as he remembered their first–and only–dance so many years ago. “Uh… happy birthday?”
“Thanks,” Kaeden grinned at him. Then he picked up one of the shot glasses, stood, and wandered off.
Blake sat there alone, head swirling. Intoxicated with lust.
Damn.