Somebody to Hold (Tyler Jamison #2) - April Wilson Page 0,12
wink, daddy.”
“Any word from Brad Turner?” Cooper asks, effectively changing the subject on me this time.
My smile fades. “No. Nothing. He’s biding his time.”
“But you think he’s going to press charges?”
I nod. “He spent four days in the hospital recovering from injuries I gave him. I don’t think he’s going to let that slide.”
Cooper scoffs. “He deserves everything he got. If someone tried to choke Sam—well, let’s just say they wouldn’t live to tell the tale. Turner got off lucky as far as I’m concerned.”
Ironically, it was right here in this club where the altercation took place just a couple weeks ago. I’ve been waiting for Turner to press charges ever since.
Just as the guys return to our table, our server arrives with our drinks. Sam orders another beer, and Ian orders a Cosmo—his third for the night. Since Cooper and I are driving, the guys are free to let their hair down.
Ian slides onto the bench seat beside me and lays his hand on my thigh. It’s an innocent enough touch, and yet my body responds instantly, my cock stirring.
He’s a bit breathless from dancing as he leans his head on my shoulder and grins up at me. “Miss me?”
Ian’s a little tipsy, and I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling. Some people are happy when they’re drunk. Others get sad or angry. Ian is playful, and it’s fucking adorable. I want to take him home right now and show him just how adorable I think he is.
Instead, I say, “Nah. Cooper kept me company.”
Ian’s lips instantly turn down in a pout. “Not at all?”
Feeling like I just kicked a puppy, I lay my hand over his and link our fingers together. Then I lean in close and whisper, “Of course I missed you. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
He smiles, clearly pleased with my revised answer.
I wish I had the guts to kiss him, right here and now, in front of our friends and anyone else who happens to see. But I’m not quite there yet. It hasn’t been that long since I admitted to myself that I felt desire for a man. I’m still playing catch-up.
In my peripheral, I catch a glimpse of Cooper sliding his arm across Sam’s shoulders and drawing him close for a quick kiss on the lips. And of course that’s not the first incident of PDA I’ve seen tonight. I’ve seen men groping each other, kissing, cuddling, grinding against each other on the dance floor.
As Ian notices the kiss between Sam and Cooper, he smiles wistfully and squeezes my hand beneath the table.
I’m a shitty boyfriend.
But Ian doesn’t seem to mind. Reaching for my water bottle, he says, “Do you mind?”
“Go right ahead.” I’m used to Ian stealing my drinks.
He chugs half the bottle before setting it back on the table.
I laugh. “Thirsty?”
He sighs, settling back in his seat. “You have no idea.”
When his fingers tighten on mine, my heart contracts and my pulse quickens. I squeeze his hand in return and lean in close so he can hear me over the loud music. “How much longer do we have to stay? I want to take you home.”
Ian’s eyes light up. “I thought you’d never ask.”
The four of us sit for a little while longer, just long enough to finish our last round of drinks. It’s nearly midnight when Cooper flags our server down and asks for the check. He insists on paying the tab.
“We should do something again, real soon,” Ian tells Sam as we say our goodbyes on the sidewalk outside the club.
“Absolutely,” Sam says as he hugs Ian.
After the four of us part ways, Ian and I head down the street to my black BMW. I walk Ian around to the front passenger seat and open the door for him.
He pivots to face me, swaying a bit unsteadily. Besides his beloved Cosmos, he had a couple of shots and a beer. “You’re such a gentleman, Tyler.”
“You like that?” I know he does because he’s grinning at me like a fool.
His hand slips to my waist. “You know I do. It makes me feel special.”
Special? Ian has no idea just how special I think he is.
I take a step closer, just inches from him now, and we stand eye-to-eye. “Let’s go home so I can make you feel really special.”
“Oh, my god, yes,” he says as he slides into the front seat and reaches for his seatbelt.