I dashed my gaze about the room. Being among so many people while holding hands with my nephew wreaked havoc on my brain.
I shoved those panicked thoughts away, performing a reality check. First, we looked nothing alike. It was no different than Harley and me. People remarked all the time how they couldn’t tell we were brothers by looking at us. Second, no one here would have a clue who I was since the only club I’d ever graced was in another city decades ago. It was more likely that Edison would run into someone he knew from school. Even then, our relationship as uncle and nephew wouldn’t be the conclusion any stranger would reach when seeing us together.
So I clung to his hand and allowed him to take me toward the bar, all while repeating my newest mantra: I will not drink. I will not drink. I will not drink. I will not drink.
The bar top was black lacquer. The wall behind it was tiled with a mosaic of mirrors that refracted the colorful flashing lights. The man running around serving drinks was dressed in a skimpy pair of shimmery white boy shorts and a brilliant red bowtie. He was not wearing a shirt. Miles of perfectly sculpted muscles were on display, the monstrous circumference of his arms a work of art. It was hard to look away from them. I pegged him to be in his midtwenties. He had dark, well-defined eyebrows above warm brown eyes. His lashes made me envious, and his facetious smile would make any gay man in their prime pop wood. Even one not in their prime since I felt the swell of my erection nudging the zipper of my jeans.
My mouth went dry when he turned that soul-melting smile on me and asked, “What can I get for you?”
Edison, who stood in front of me, glanced back, pressing the length of his back against my front, no doubt feeling the hardening mass I couldn’t hide. “I thought you weren’t drinking.”
“I’m not. Order what you want.”
Edison told the bartender he wanted a Green Lantern. I wasn’t familiar with the concoction but wasn’t surprised when the glass came back filled with a neon green liquid, a wedge of lime, and a tiny umbrella.
Watching Edison take his first sip, hollowing his cheeks as he sucked through the confining straw sent a pulse through my cock.
“You sure you don’t want anything?” the guy tending bar asked, a seductive quirk in his brow.
No man had any right to look that good. I felt inferior in so many ways.
I glanced back at Edison who was playing it up now, batting his lashes and gorging on his drink in the most provocative manner known to mankind.
The words were out of my mouth before I could recall my mantra. “What do you suggest?”
“For you, sexy, I’m gonna say a Flaming Rainbow.”
Edison cleaned his lips with a languid lick of his tongue, and my southerly problem only grew worse.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what that is, but hook me up.”
Edison’s smile was devastating, like the Cheshire cat only more volatile. “Hot guys can make you do anything it seems.” The bartender walked away to make my drink, and Edison watched after him. “He’s stunning, isn’t he. His name’s Liam.”
Maybe Liam is stunning but not nearly as stunning and dangerous as you.
“I’m just having the one.” Defending myself only made Edison’s smile grow.
“You won’t hear me complain. As long as when you let loose it’s on me and not him.”
“Behave.”
“No.” He sipped his drink again, the fire in his eyes scorching.
A short time later, Mr. Buff with the bowtie, Liam, returned and placed a tall shot glass in front of me with a perfect rainbow of colors inside. I didn’t know how he’d done it or what was in it, but I accepted the shot with a smile and upended the drink in one go. It burned a sweet delicious path down my esophagus until it coated my belly. It was strong, whatever it was.
I left my empty on the bar top and took Edison’s hand, guiding him to a vacant high table near the dance floor. Once I’d slid my ass onto the vinyl, low-backed stool, I tugged Edison to stand between my legs. Caging him in with my thighs, I kept him close as I spoke. “Tell me about your counteroffer.”
Chapter Five
Harley
Brandy was just finishing her second number. I was working the stage area tonight, ensuring the handsy drunks