Lover Mine(112)

"You said you're a solicitor in the Old Law. Must be interesting."

"I specialize in trusts and estates so the fact that business is booming is something to mourn. The Fade has become too full of the innocent as of last summer--"

At the booth next door, a bunch of big guts with gold watches and silk suits laughed like the blowhard drunks they were--to the point that the loudest of them slammed back in his seat and knocked into Saxton.

Which didn't go over well, proving that Saxton was a gentleman, but not a pussy: "I beg your pardon, but would you mind toning it down?"

The sloppy human cranked around, his belly fat bulging over his belt until it looked like he was going to pull a Meaning of Life and thin-mint it all over the place. "Yeah. I mind." His watery eyes narrowed. "Your types don't belong here anyway."

And he wasn't talking about the fact that they were vampires.

As Blay took a drink of his port, the high-priced liquor tasted like vinegar . . . although the bitter sting in his mouth wasn't because the stuff had gone bad.

A moment later, the guy banged back so hard, Saxton nearly spilled his drink. "Damn it to hell," the male muttered going for his napkin.

The fidiot human leaned into their space again, and you had to wonder if that belt wasn't going to snap free and take someone's eye out. "We interrupting you two pretty boys sucking on those hard things?"

Saxton smiled tightly. "You are definitely interrupting."

"Oh, sorrrrry." The man made an abrupt show of lifting his pinkie up from his stogie. "Didn't mean to offend you."

"Let's go," Blay said as he leaned in and snuffed out his cigar.

"I can get us another table."

"You running along, boys?" Mr. Mouth drawled. "You going to a party where there's all kindsa cigars? Maybe we'll follow you just to make sure you get there okay."

Blay kept his eyes locked on Saxton. "It's getting late anyway."

"Which means it's only the middle of our day."

Blay stood up and reached into his pocket, but Saxton put his hand out and stopped him from getting his wallet. "No, allow me."

Another round of commentary from the Super Bowl-and-stripper set soured the air even further and left Blay grinding his molars. Fortunately, it didn't take long for Saxton to pay the waiter and then they were making their way to the door.

Outside, the night's chilly air was a balm to the senses and Blay took a deep breath.

"That place isn't always like that," Saxton murmured. "Otherwise, I would never have taken you there."

"It's all right." As Blay started walking, he felt Saxton fall in beside him.

When they got to the head of an alley, they paused to let a car hang a louie on Commerce.

"So how are you feeling about all this?"

Blay faced the other male and decided life was too short to pretend he didn't know precisely what the "this" was. "To be honest, I feel strange."

"And not about those charmers back there."

"I lied. I've never been on a date before." This got him a cocked brow and he had to laugh. "Yup, I'm a real player."

Saxton's suave air slipped and behind his eyes, true warmth glowed. "Well, I'm glad I was your first."

Blay met the guy's stare. "How did you know I was gay?"

"I didn't. I merely hoped."

Blay laughed again. "Well, there you go." After a pause, he put out his palm. "Thank you for tonight."

As Saxton slipped his hand in, a frisson of pure heat flared between them. "You do realize that dates don't normally end this way. Assuming both parties are interested."

Blay found that he was unable to let go of the male's palm. "Oh . . . really?"

Saxton nodded. "A kiss is more customary."

Blay focused on the male's lips and abruptly wondered what they tasted like.

"Come here," Saxton murmured, pulling on their connection, drawing him into the shelter of the alley.

Blay followed into the darkness, swept up under an erotic spell he had no interest in breaking. When they were in the lee of the buildings, he felt the male's chest come up against his own and then their hips fused.

So he knew precisely how much Saxton was aroused.

And Saxton knew he was the same.

"Tell me something," Saxton whispered. "Have you ever kissed a male before?"

Blay didn't want to think of Qhuinn right now and he shook his head to clear the image. When that didn't work, and the guy's blue and green eyes lingered, he did the one thing guaranteed to get him to stop thinking of his pyrocant.

He closed the distance between Saxton's mouth and his own.





Qhuinn knew he should have gone right home. After he got summarily dismissed from Tohr's house, no doubt so that John and Xhex could do a little horizontal conversating, he should have gone back to the mansion and cozied up to some Herradura and minded his own goddamned business.