Kiss Me Forever - M.J. O'Shea Page 0,12

his years bedding every pretty boy and half the pretty girls he came across, not once in all the time he’d been coming to Donovan’s club. It tightened and then released, shimmering down his spine. Tyson felt alive, like he wanted to see what happened next. He couldn’t keep his eyes off the stranger. And against all of his usual instincts, he didn’t even want to try.

He had to talk to him. And he didn’t talk to anyone. If anything, Tyson waited for people to come to him and rebuffed them half the time when they did. He held court at the bar and took a man or a woman home every so often, if he was interested. He was rarely interested.

When he was younger, he used to get into wild shit, stuff he wouldn’t even consider anymore—sex parties and orgies, public shows, parties where everyone was masked and naked the entire night. None of that did anything for him anymore. Truthfully, it had been such a long time since he’d even wanted to be bothered with the scene that it was far easier to simply stay home.

But this guy? This compact piece of beautiful man who’d smiled at him nervously and made him feel melty and warm like he hadn’t felt since he was an actual hormonal teenager? He was irresistible. Special.

Tyson excused himself from his conversation and made his way over to the table where Beautiful had just plopped down. Donovan’s table. At least that wouldn’t be trouble—he and Donovan had always been friendly. Donovan gave Tyson a vague nod and a silent be careful look before he went back to his conversation with a rather voluptuous blonde. Tyson didn’t really care. He only had eyes for....

“Hi.” Tyson didn’t sit, but he kneeled to bring himself to the booth’s level.

“Hi,” he whispered. His voice sounded like he looked, all caramel and sweetness.

Tyson felt the guy’s nervousness, the flutter of his heart, and the way his scent intensified, things his tea made him able to do, but he rarely bothered to try. This time every instinct, every sense, every pore of his body was aligned to this one small man. Tyson didn’t want to make him nervous. He just wanted to kiss.

“Do you want to get a drink?”

Tyson noticed the nearly full drink on the table, but still the man nodded.

“Good.”

Tyson grinned and stood. Then he held out his hand and helped his... prey? No, not prey. It wasn’t like that. He helped the most adorable creature he’d ever seen, out of the booth. He probably should’ve dropped his hand as he led him back to the bar, but Tyson couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead he twined their fingers together and reveled in the innocent gesture. It was almost too soon when they were back where he’d been, seated, and drawing knowing glances from his friend behind the bar.

“So, um, hi. I’m Avery.”

Don’t be a dork. Don’t be a dork.

Avery thought he had to be dreaming. He knew he was cute enough, but actual gods didn’t pick him up in clubs. Ever.

“Hi. Tyson.”

He was even more incredible-looking than he’d been a few minutes ago at the bar, however that was possible, and his voice was smooth and low and musical. Avery had to quash the impulse to pinch himself. If he had to create the guy out of pure imagination, the one guy who would be the most physically attractive to him, it would be exactly this. He realized he was leaning closer, but he couldn’t find the impulse to care or correct it. Avery breathed in and smelled warm cologne and skin. He shuddered.

“So, you’re here with Donovan?” Tyson asked.

Who? Oh, right. Donovan. Not important. Avery tried to come up with something to say other than please kiss me.

“You know him?”

Tyson shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. We see each other around.”

He didn’t look like he wanted to say more about how he and Donovan were connected, so Avery decided to change the subject. He wasn’t resorting to the weather, and “Do you come here much?” was too lame for even him, so he decided to go with talking about the bar. That was safe, right? Not too lame?

“Where did this place come from? I’ve never seen it, and I live only a few streets away.” He thought he sounded reasonably unflustered.

“Giving away all your secrets already?” Tyson asked with a chuckle.

“Oh, um.” Avery blushed. There goes unflustered.

“I’m just joking. I live in the Garden District, so