Dare You To(20)

 

Dare reached out and held the back of Austin's head. He eased Austin toward him and kissed his forehead. "Thank you. And I know. In my head, I know that. It's the rest of me that's afraid to admit it. Now, let me see you. I didn't get to ogle how hot you look. I was too busy savoring how sexy you think I am."

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

Austin stepped back. It was just getting dark out, but the lights in the parking lot made it so they could see each other.

 

He wore a black suit with a teal bowtie. He held his arms out as though that would give Dare a better view of him. Dare held up a finger and twirled it.

 

"Other side. I have to see your ass before I can make a proper assessment."

 

Austin rolled his eyes but went ahead and turned around so Dare could see his ass. He looked over his shoulder and asked, "Happy now?"

 

Dare smiled so big, it made Austin dizzy.

 

"I am." He stepped closer until the front of his body molded against the back of Austin's. His voice went low, almost insecure, when he added, "You've always made me happy. I just didn't know it could get even better."

 

Austin closed his eyes, concentrated on his breathing. They'd spiraled into this relationship so quickly that it scared him, but then he'd never been surer about anything in his life either. It felt like a natural step, like it was almost meant to be. He just hoped Dare felt the same way.

 

"I really want up in it, too, Austin." Dare squeezed him. "I want your ass."

 

"Isn't that what prom night is for?" Austin asked.

 

Dare chuckled, almost humorlessly. "Don't know. This is the first one I've been to."

 

Austin wanted to make sure he never forgot it, either.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

It was hard to be at the center for an event like this. It wasn't as though Dare had never been there, but it was always a quick in-and-out thing. He respected the hell out of people who dedicated their lives to helping others like this. It had always secretly been one of his favorite things about Austin, but it also felt uncomfortably familiar to his past-of being left, of being unwanted. He'd hoped to forget that.

 

Music pumped through the speakers. Teens danced, laughed, talked and ate. Austin had asked him to dance a couple times, but he'd said no, which wasn't like him at all and he was pissed at himself for it. He'd agreed to come here. He wanted to see what Austin had worked so hard for, but that didn't help dissolve the heavy knot in his gut.

 

"Hey, Mr. A!" A young girl in a rainbow dress ran up to Austin. "Is this him?"

 

Him, huh? He looked at Austin and cocked a brow, which earned him Austin's signature headshake and eye roll in return.

 

"Yes, this is my friend Dare. Dare, this is Frankie."

 

"Hi, Frankie. Nice to meet you." Dare held out his hand and shook hers.

 

"Dare is such an awesome name! Mr. A told us all about you. He said you surf, skydive, bungee jump, and all sorts of dangerous things. He also said he wanted to wrap you in bubble wrap."  

 

Damned if that didn't make Dare smile. "He did, did he?"

 

Dare really wished he could make a joke about how kinky that sounded, and by the quick head nod Austin gave him, he was pretty sure his friend knew that.

 

But on the flip side, his heart suddenly felt entirely too mushy because Austin worried about him. He cared about him. Dare would never question that. "I won't get hurt. I promise." He reached over and set his hand at the small of Austin's back, and rubbed it.

 

Jesus, were things changing between them. There wasn't an ounce of Dare that could deny that, even though it sort of made him nauseous at the same time.

 

"Now he's never going to let me live that down, Frankie. Thanks," Austin teased the young woman, who smiled.

 

"Just keepin' it real, Mr. A. Okay! I'm going to go. I promised Jenn a dance tonight."

 

Frankie ran away, and Dare turned to face Austin. Colors from the strobe light danced across his face as Dare's chest swelled with pride. "You're pretty amazing, Mr. A. You know that, right?" Dare leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Austin's lips.

 

"Hmm, what did I do to deserve that, Mr. D?"

 

"Ooh, Mr. D. I like that. But this." He motioned around the room. "Everything. But then, you always have been."

 

Which was true. He'd always thought Austin was incredible. Austin had always been able to make Dare think, feel and do things no one else could-like reading Harry Potter and being here tonight.