Chapter 20
D ANIEL WAS HAVING a hard time keeping his hands off Brantley as they sat in the back of the Uber car that was driving them toward Boyz. He tried to think of the last time he’d been dancing, but it’d been so long that he couldn’t actually remember.
The last few months, he’d been so busy working that he hadn’t felt the desire to spend his nights in a packed club. But it wouldn’t have mattered if it had only been last week. The fact that he was going back to this club with this man had his adrenaline spiking in a way he hadn’t felt for years.
He was looking forward to the night. Not only because of the man sitting beside him, but because it was also the first time he’d gone out with Derek since he’d been back, and what better place to do it than where they used to work.
When he’d brought it up, his friend had laughed and, in true Derek style, asked, “Do you even own anything that doesn’t button up to your neck? They frown upon three-piece suits at that kind of establishment.”
And while he wasn’t dressed in his minuscule white shorts from back in the day, his black-collared shirt and dark jeans were clearly having the desired effect on the man beside him. Brantley hadn’t taken his eyes, or his hands, off him.
“Professor, would you kindly quit looking at me like you want to fuck me right here in the car? I’d like to be able to walk into the club when we arrive.”
“Hmm… You don’t like how I’m looking at you?”
“That is certainly not the problem. Just keep your fuck-me eyes to yourself until we’re inside.”
Brantley pursed his lips as he took Daniel’s words under careful consideration and then shook his head. “No.”
Daniel’s cock took immediate interest at the playfulness in Brantley’s eyes. “No?”
“No. For years, you teased me at this damn club. Always watching me.”
“Me? I wasn’t forcing you to be there.” He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Brantley’s temple. “ You couldn’t stay away.”
When Brantley turned his head, the desire in his eyes had Daniel balling his fists to keep from reaching for him.
“Well, I had to keep an eye on what was—” Brantley clamped his teeth down into his lower lip to halt his words. But Daniel knew exactly what he’d been going to say, and wanted to hear it. So he put his mouth against Brantley’s and whispered, “What was yours ?”
“Yes,” Brantley sighed.
Daniel lost the battle to keep his hands off him then.
He held Brantley’s face still as he dipped his tongue between those lips to tease him.
As Brantley’s eyes slid shut and he angled his head to get closer, Daniel traced his tongue along his lower lip and then sucked on it until the fingers on his thigh flexed.
When he raised his head, the intense expression in Brantley’s eyes was hot and possessive and so reminiscent of the man who used to commandeer his every thought that Daniel’s breath got lodged somewhere in the back of his throat.
Fuck, the guy still has that look down to a fucking art form.
“Seriously, though, you need to stop looking at me like that.”
As the car came to a stop by the curb, Brantley’s lips quirked at the side. “And I said no. Out, Mr. Finley. I believe we have some people waiting on us.”
When Daniel turned to look out the window where Brantley had gestured, he saw Prof—Jordan standing with his back against the wall and his arms crossed, glaring over at Derek, who was several feet away from him with some half-dressed brunette twink draped all over him.
Daniel then looked back to Brantley and frowned.
When he shoved the car door open and they got out, Jordan spotted them immediately, pushed off the wall, and headed their way.
With his hands planted on his hips and his eyes narrowed, he came to a standstill opposite them and looked like he was two seconds away from exploding.
His face was the same shade as a ripe tomato, and when he took in a deep breath, Daniel wondered if he was about to breathe fire.
“How nice of you two to finally show up.”
“Sorry. The traffic—” Brantley started, but Jordan’s arm flew up, palm raised.
“Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Did you perhaps neglect to mention something this morning at breakfast, Brantley ?”
At the high-pitched tone Jordan had said Brantley’s name, Daniel looked at Brantley, saw the way he was biting his lip, and knew he was trying his hardest not to laugh.
“What, you mean in between you ordering for me and taking every opportunity to poke fun at me? Nope, I don’t think so.”
Derek was now facing them, not paying any attention to the guy hanging off his muscular arm, and a smug smile curled his lips as his eyes trailed a blazing-hot path down the back of the fuming man.
Huh…
Jordan took a step forward. When he was close to being nose to nose with Brantley, he asked, “You didn’t think to mention that someone else would be coming with us tonight?”
Obviously, Brantley had a death wish when he answered, “Who? Oh, you mean Derek?”
If steam could’ve come out of someone’s ears, it would’ve happened to Jordan. As it was, Daniel wasn’t shocked in the least when Jordan balled his fists, grunted, and then stamped his foot—for real, he stamped his fucking foot.
“Do not expect me to entertain that barbarian tonight. Got it?”
Brantley raised his hands in surrender. “Got it. I didn’t think it would be such a problem.”
“Yes you did,” Jordan said. “Otherwise, you would’ve mentioned it.” Finally over his tirade, he spun around on the heel of his boot and marched toward the line, straight past Derek, who was now watching the exaggerated swing of the guy’s hips.
Okay, so that was an interesting development. It seemed as if Derek wanted a little spice in his life.
brANTLEY LOOKED TOWARD Daniel. He was staring over at his friend, who was pulling a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and strolling away in the opposite direction of the crowd.
Both of them had a little investigatory work ahead of them, it seemed, because while it was no surprise for Jordan to be overdramatic in public, it was unlike him to leave before he had seen the reactions to his performance.
“You might want to get over to Derek,” he suggested. “He looks like he’s about to hit the road.”
Daniel glanced at him and agreed. “Yeah… That was all rather unexpected. You sure you don’t know what it’s about?”
“I have no idea. But I’m thinking I should go in and find Jordan before he drinks more than he can handle. You don’t want to see him in a mood after several tequilas.”
He started to walk toward the door. Then, at the last second, he stopped and looked back to Daniel, who was watching him.
“I’ll catch up with you over by the tables. End of the bar. And Finn?”
Daniel raised an eyebrow, and when the side of his mouth quirked, Brantley’s heart thumped a little harder.
“Since you like the number so much…you have ten minutes. Then be inside. I’ve waited long enough to be this close to you again. I’ll be damned if I wait longer than that.”
Before Daniel could reply, Brantley headed for the door.
“HEY! DEREK! WAIT up,” Daniel said as he jogged over to his friend.
Derek glanced over his shoulder and brought his cigarette to his lips. “Nah, I’m just gonna head home. You better get inside. I’m sure your boy friend is waiting on you.”
“Fuck you,” Daniel said as he came to a stop.
Derek was dressed tonight in his signature triple-buckle boots, which were laced haphazardly in a way that said he didn’t give a fuck.
His tight black pants and open green vest were the only two other pieces of clothing he was wearing.
It was also worth noting that he’d painted his nails black and had several different leather straps around his left wrist. All different widths and sizes.
The look was effective as hell at securing the attention of nearly every man who saw him. Then add in the tan, the muscles, and tattoos running along the top of his chest and down his arms, and Derek looked like a badass motherfucker.
“You know, as curious as I’ve always been about what that would be like…I think I’ll pass on your offer, Danny boy. Tonight, I’d rather be the one doing the fucking.”
When Derek started to walk again, obviously set on leaving, Daniel reached out and grabbed his arm. “What the hell is going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. You’d never pass up the opportunity to get some ass, and that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I’m just not in the mood.”
“Really? Because you sure look dressed like a guy in the mood.”
“Yeah, well, that was before. And you said we were gonna celebrate. I didn’t realize that included your professor and his…”
Grabbing a hold of Derek, Daniel pulled him over to the walkway behind the club. “And his what? Friend? Jordan? What the hell is the problem with you two?”
Derek threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it dead under his boot. “He’s an overdramatic princess, is what the fucking problem is.”
Daniel knew he must’ve looked shocked, but hell, he hadn’t even known that these two were acquainted with each other, let alone enough that Derek would have such an intense opinion on the matter. He was about to say something else when Derek started up again.
“I mean, did you see what he was wearing tonight? Those pants were practically glued to his ass. I could see his fucking G-string from where I was standing. He might as well stick a sign on his forehead that says Wanna fuck? and be done with it.”
“As opposed to your outfit, which says…what exactly?” Daniel asked, finding it difficult to keep his lips from twitching.
Never would he have imagined that Derek would be interested in Jordan. But the reaction he was having to the short firecracker of a man was telling all in itself, and he’d be damned if he didn’t think a little payback was in order.
“And why do you care what he’s wearing, anyway?”
“I don’t.”
“Yes. That’s obvious.”
“You know what? Why don’t you shut the fuck up?”
“You have a fucking hard-on for Posh Spice. Admit it.”