Somebody to Hold (Tyler Jamison #2) - April Wilson Page 0,10

All he has to do is look at me, and I want him. This man owns me—body, heart, and soul.

He transfers my wrists to one hand so he can grip my jaw. “I missed you, too.” And then he kisses me, coaxing my lips open. “I think about you way too much when I’m at work. It’s distracting.”

My breath catches. “What do you think about?”

His hand slides down to my chest and he fingers one of my nipple piercings through my T-shirt. “This.”

His touch makes my nipple tighten, and pleasure shoots down my spine. “What else?”

He smiles as his hand slides further south until he encounters my hard-on. He presses his hand against me. “This.”

I smile.

And then he teases me with what he knows I crave. “And then I imagine you on your knees, sucking me off.”

God, yes.

Just as I’m thinking of doing just that, the oven timer goes off, and I groan. “Dinner’s ready.”

Before releasing me, he kisses me once more. “Saved by the bell. But hold that thought for later.”

Tyler follows me to the kitchen. I slip on my pink unicorn oven mitts and take the baking dish out of the oven. After setting it on the stove to let the enchiladas rest, I dish up the rest of our meal—a Mexican rice dish and homemade salsa with sour cream, guacamole, and tortilla chips. We carry our dinners and two beers up to the roof and eat at the little table that overlooks the lake in the distance.

Tyler takes his first bite of the enchiladas. “Mmm, these are really good. So, how was your lunch with Miguel? How’s his shoulder?”

After I’m done chewing, I swallow and nod. “He’s doing pretty well. He had a follow-up appointment with his doctor this afternoon. He’s hoping to get the all-clear soon so he can return to work. He’s getting restless.”

Thinking about Miguel reminds me of Brad’s visit this morning, and that ruins the moment. Miguel’s right—I need to tell Tyler about Brad, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.

“Hey,” Tyler says, eyeing me with concern. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” No. I’m in way over my head and I don’t know what to do. “Everything’s fine.”

“You sure? You looked a bit spooked all of a sudden.” Tyler picks up his beer. “So, what time are we meeting Sam and Cooper this evening?”

“Nine o’clock.”

“Good. I have time for a shower. Want to join me?”

“I’d love to.”

Chapter 4

Tyler Jamison

Dance music blasts out of the sound system as neon blue strobe lights bounce off the black club walls. As usual, Sapphires is packed with men of all ages and backgrounds. Clubbing isn’t at the top of my to-do list—I’m more of a homebody—but Ian loves to dance, and I love to make him happy. So, here we are, at a gay nightclub on our first double-date with good friends.

As I watch my boyfriend out on the dance floor, I think, I’ll never take this for granted.

I’ll never take him for granted.

I haven’t known Ian that long, but he’s already upended my life, and I’m still reeling.

Daniel Cooper, who’s sitting across the booth from me, nods toward the crowded dance floor where our respective boyfriends are working up a sweat. “Ian’s a good dancer.”

Without taking my eyes off Ian, I nod. “He is.” Smiling, I take a swig of my beer.

I’m a pretty reserved person, and I don’t advertise my sexuality to the world at large. Hell, it was only recently, after meeting Ian, that I came out to my family. Ian helped me understand my own needs and desires. I’d lived my whole life thinking there was something wrong with me when there wasn’t. The truth was staring me in the face—and I’d just been in denial. And tonight, on a double-date in a gay nightclub, I’m not just out, but out in a big way.

My gaze is glued to Ian on the floor. He’s electrifying to watch, and I can’t stop staring. His movements are so crisp and perfectly choreographed. He’s free and uninhibited. He’s in his element out there, surrounded by his usual entourage of friends, plus Cooper’s much younger partner, Sam Harrison.

As usual, Ian’s the center of attention.

“It’s a good thing you’re not the jealous type,” Cooper says in his rough voice. He reaches for his beer and takes a swig, then points his bottle toward the dance floor, where Ian is at the epicenter of a crush of guys.

“I wouldn’t exactly say that.” I know I’m a controlling SOB,