Try (Temptation Series)(62)

“So, that’s it then? Tate, every decision, whether it’s between a man and a woman or two men, always comes with risks. To think otherwise is naive, and you’re not that. But I can’t give you guarantees. I can only give you my word, and if that’s not enough…”

Tate shut his eyes for a second, and Logan had to physically stop himself from reaching across the table to try to soothe the man.

“If that’s not enough,” he started again, “then why are we even here?” Logan wanted to know as his temper rose.

Tate peered back at him. “Because you’re the first person who has made me feel since I walked away from that disaster. And you’re the only person that I think about when I can’t fucking sleep at night.”

Logan pushed his hand up through his hair, frustrated. “Okay then, so now what?”

“I don’t know.” Tate shrugged and threw his napkin on the table.

“Tate?” Logan waited patiently for Tate to look at him. “Tell me what you want from me, from this?”

Tate seemed to mull over the question before answering, “I want you to either stop coming by the bar, or…”

Logan grasped at the word now hanging between them. “Or?”

“Or prove me wrong.”

Breathing out in relief, Logan sat forward, placing his arms on the table. “And how do I do that?”

“I’m not sure. But maybe you should try something new,” Tate suggested.

Logan raised his hand for the check while asking, “Such as?”

Then, with determination, Tate told him, “How about trying to see where this goes with me—and only me?”





Chapter Fifteen



Tate sat in silence as Logan paid the bill, and then stood, looking down to where he was still sitting.

“You ready?”

Ready for what? Tate grabbed his jacket and slid out of the booth.

Logan still hadn’t said a word about what they’d just discussed. Sure, Tate had thrown out the scary idea of seeing how things between them would progress, and as predicted, Logan hadn’t said more than a few words. He might have said he was interested, but as Tate had suspected, the actuality of it had made Logan uneasy.

Tate hadn’t meant to issue that particular request, especially tonight, but before he had known it, the words had tumbled out of his mouth. After all, the thought of going any further down such an unfamiliar road, with someone who could just up and leave, was really stressing him out.

Standing, he made sure to keep his eyes on the man waiting on him. Without a word, Tate turned and made his way to the door. Pushing it open, he didn’t bother turning back to see if Logan was following him. He knew that he was.

Making his way to the narrow alley between the buildings, Tate turned to walk down to the tiny parking lot where he had parked his bike. Halfway there, he felt a firm hand grab his arm and turn him around. Tate knew what was coming, or thought he did, as he was pulled to a stop, facing Logan.

“So, if I say yes, that would make you, what?”

Tate could hear the cars driving by on the main road in front of O’Malley’s, and as he searched the face covered by shadows, he tried different words out in his head. Boyfriend? Am I okay with having a boyfriend? Or what? A lover? A male lover? It would have been alarming and slightly comical if he didn’t want it as much as he now realized he did.

“I thought you didn’t like labels,” was what Tate finally said.

Logan stepped closer and moved him back farther into the shadows. “I’m warming to one with you.”

“I’m serious, Logan. I don’t think I’m…” Tate trailed off his jumbled thoughts as rough bricks came up against his back.

Logan’s right leg moved between both of his as he pressed in close to Tate and caressed his cheeks, sliding his hands into his hair. Tate winced at the tight hold Logan had taken as he lowered his head until their lips were only an inch apart.

“You don’t think, what? I don’t like labels, Tate. But I am being serious about trying this out. If I weren’t, I would have paid the bill and told you to fuck off.”

Tate blinked several times, dropped his eyes to Logan’s mouth, and let his hands drift to Logan’s waist where he slid them around to the denim covering his ass.

“You would never tell me to fuck off,” Tate murmured, much more confidently as he squeezed the ass in his hands, rocking his erection against the one Logan was now sporting.

“I wouldn’t, huh?”

Tate realized that this was the first time he’d initiated things, and as Logan started to really react, he felt a hot sexual thrill skate up his spine. He was anticipating what was yet to come when they got to his place—alone.