Chapter Seven #2
They held each other’s stare. Something passed between them.
Clay felt Scout’s intention to kiss him before Scout made a move.
Before their lips met, the door swung open, blasting sunlight into the small building.
Scout practically flew three feet backward.
Clay didn’t look toward the door right away.
He wondered how much hurt showed in his expression before he hid behind a mask.
Not that it mattered. Scout didn’t look Clay’s way. He focused on the door.
“Tracker. Hey… and Zeus.”
At the mention of Zeus’ name, Clay's gaze shot to the doorway. Tracker was distracted talking to Scout. Zeus’ intense, permanently seductive stare was locked on Clay.
Clay watched as Zeus walked toward him. Even the way he put one foot in front of the other was such an obviously practiced move that it had become a habit.
It was like Scout saw Zeus for the first time.
The real Zeus. It was like decoding Scout’s training gave him the ability to decipher Zeus’s as well.
Everything about him was fake. His perfect smile meant nothing. Zeus didn’t mean a damn thing he did.
“Hey.”
Clay snapped out of his depressing discovery when Zeus spoke.
His voice didn’t match his false persona.
There was a hint of genuine happiness in Zeus' greeting. When Clay returned Zeus’ smile, it was real.
“Hey. I didn’t know you were coming on this trip.
” Clay knew Zeus was there thanks to Jett.
But it was a conversation starter, and Clay needed one.
He didn’t want to be awkward today and drive Zeus away, especially after the way Scout had jumped away from him.
Zeus’ hands rose and fell. “I didn’t know it either until last night. But who doesn’t love some unexpected heat?” Zeus’ expression completely matched the sexual innuendo.
Still, he was damnably likable. “I’m sure there’re a few people out there.”
“True.” Zeus’ gaze flickered down Clay’s body before returning to hold Clay’s stare. “I haven’t seen you in a bit. You drive-by dropped a funny movie quote on me and then never returned to my club.”
Heat exploded through Clay’s face. He hated his light coloration that showed every blush, but damn.
The last time he had seen Zeus, Clay had made an idiot of himself by trying to join a conversation by reciting a line from a movie.
Everyone had looked at him like the idiot he was, and Clay hadn’t found the bravery to return to the kink club Zeus ran.
There was no avoiding being directly called out. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I’m awkward when… well, I’m just awkward.”
Zeus smiled like he enjoyed the fuck out of himself.
“You’re adorable. That movie line never gets less funny, by the way.
I’m sorry I didn’t react differently. You caught me off guard, and—truth be told—I didn’t want you to get friendly with the men talking to me.
You’re a giver. They’re takers. All it would take was a few minutes with you, and you’d have three inferior men nipping at your heels. ”
Clay was oddly fascinated. Of course, Zeus was talking, and he was so pretty. It was hard to look away when the urge to pet him was so strong. “That reminds me. Why were they there? I thought Ridge and Shadow’s reception was a private event.”
Zeus nodded. “They work at the club. Shadow has been a member there for a while. The three wanted to celebrate the newlyweds.”
“That makes sense. I’m still considering a membership, by the way.
But I’m not sure if I’m a good fit since I’m not sure I fit in anywhere.
” Clay didn’t even add a nervous laugh. Zeus was easy to talk to.
Clay couldn’t explain why. It was like Zeus screamed zero judgment.
For Clay, that was a breath of fresh air at the moment.
Between losing Fabrice’s friendship and Scout only wanting to be friends, while simultaneously fucking with Clay’s head, Clay wanted to sit with someone simple who meant nothing to him.
Even in his head, that sounded like an asshole thing to admit, but it was true.
Zeus and he would never be anything. He fully recognized that now.
“You fit with me. We should go to lunch.”
“I just had breakfast.” Clay’s gaze shot in Scout’s direction.
He blinked. Scout and Tracker were gone.
His chest hurt. Scout hadn’t even said goodbye.
It was almost like he didn’t want anyone to think they were even real friends or anything.
He was just teaching the Scout method of shooting. Otherwise, Clay meant nothing.
He met Zeus’ stare. “I can get a drink while you eat.”
Zeus tossed a muscular arm over Clay’s shoulders and steered him toward the door. “You got a car here I can drive? If so, you can get plastered while I make sure you get home safely.”
Clay laughed. If Scout didn’t want him, Clay would not be the loser who refused to accept they were only fuck buddies. But he would be damned if he sat around pining. “This sounds like you intend to take advantage of me.”
A sexy rumble of laughter fell from perfect lips and caressed Clay’s ears. “Nah.” He paused walking for a moment to meet Clay’s stare. “When I take you, I want you sober. I want you present for every moment and thinking about me for the rest of your life.”
Goddamn. Clay’s mouth was dry.
Zeus went back to heading out. “Today, you drink and talk. I think you need that more than anything else I can give you. So, car?” He glanced Clay’s way with raised eyebrows.
For the first time, Clay stared into those stunning light gray eyes, and he saw the real Zeus.
“I’ve got what you need.” Even Clay didn’t know how he meant the statement.
There was an SUV they could use, but Clay wasn’t unaware of how he sounded.
If Zeus kept being real with him, maybe Clay could shake Scout.
He doubted it. Scout was all the way under his skin.
But the one thing Clay knew above all others, from years of lived experience, he couldn’t make anyone love him. Clay was sick of trying.