could get you more than you bargain for. I may be forced to defend your honor.” Unable to suppress it any longer, his smile burst forth.
Ash’s stare focused on James’s mouth. “You know, when you smile that smile, it doesn’t feel like I’d be interested in other men.”
His breath hitched. No, you don’t need anyone but me. His hand curled around a strong, newly shaven jaw. His lips claimed a soft, startled mouth.
You. Are. Mine.
Ash pulled back from the searing kiss, glanced from left to right then straightened his tie. “Yes, well. I think I’ll go get us some drinks.”
The corner of James’s mouth curved upward. “Good idea.”
Chest out, chin tilted high, James surveyed all the hungry eyes following Ash, then flicking back toward him. Yes, he is young and gorgeous and he’s with me.
His attention refocused and lingered on a pair of tight jeans. Ash’s indecisiveness over his clothes now made sense. Asking James’s opinion on several different variations, Ash finally settled on a dark blue shirt, black tie, and waistcoat with jeans. He was not the only one appreciating the final selection.
A handsome, shirtless young man blocked Ash’s path. James’s breath caught. Had it been wise to let Ash run the gauntlet by himself? Fists clenched painfully as the young man gripped Ash’s arm and leaned in close to speak in his ear. Ash shook his head and sidestepped only to have another young man accost him. At least this one’s not pawing him. Ash finally made it to the bar to order drinks. The breath James unconsciously held left his lungs in a rush. Thank God!
However, his respite was short-lived. Like a well-planned battle maneuver, two young men moved in for the attack. His jaw clenched. A laughing Ash, his face bright and animated, chatted with them. One of the forward young men pushed a piece of paper into the pocket of Ash’s jeans. With a smile, Ash leaned to whisper something in the half-naked man’s ear.
Damn it! A vise gripped his chest, and he drew in a shaky breath.
Finally, with drinks collected, the return journey began. It was worse. Some people had no sense of boundaries. As Ash successfully managed to evade a particularly persistent pair of wandering hands, the urge to vault across the table and react with violence, had James shaking with its intensity.
The sea of young men surrounding Ash were all obviously interested in his beautiful young lover. Faced with this sea of options, would Ash choose a different path? Could the isolation, lack of options, and reliance upon him be the key reasons for Ash remaining? His heart threatened to hammer its way out of his chest. What if Ash never remembered his past, their past together, and chose someone else? No! He couldn’t lose Ash.
His heart stuttered.
He loved him.
Oh God. He loved Ash.
One, two, three muscled half-naked young men. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine—Oh give it up! He’d be counting all night.
“Well, that was an experience.” A breathless Ash placed the drinks on the table and sat down. “I’ve just had some interesting propositions, most of which were variations of me ‘ditching the old guy’ and having some real… well, I’m sure you get the idea.” The corner of Ash’s mouth twitched.
With his brow furrowed, James sat in silence for a while. It was real. He loved Ash.
He looked up and caught Ash suppressing a smile . Probably thought he was moping with a dented ego. If only it were something that simple and unimportant.
Ash placed a hand on James’s thigh. “Of course, I politely refused their offers. I mean, why would I be interested in one of those sweaty, half-naked, muscle-bound, hot young men when I have you?”
James relaxed a little. It was time to wipe that hint of a smile off Ash’s beautiful but cheeky mouth. What would be most enjoyable? Some clever banter or kissing him senseless.
He chose the latter.
Ash’s hair slid through his fingers. Clasping Ash’s head in both hands,
Ash’s stare focused on James’s mouth. “You know, when you smile that smile, it doesn’t feel like I’d be interested in other men.”
His breath hitched. No, you don’t need anyone but me. His hand curled around a strong, newly shaven jaw. His lips claimed a soft, startled mouth.
You. Are. Mine.
Ash pulled back from the searing kiss, glanced from left to right then straightened his tie. “Yes, well. I think I’ll go get us some drinks.”
The corner of James’s mouth curved upward. “Good idea.”
Chest out, chin tilted high, James surveyed all the hungry eyes following Ash, then flicking back toward him. Yes, he is young and gorgeous and he’s with me.
His attention refocused and lingered on a pair of tight jeans. Ash’s indecisiveness over his clothes now made sense. Asking James’s opinion on several different variations, Ash finally settled on a dark blue shirt, black tie, and waistcoat with jeans. He was not the only one appreciating the final selection.
A handsome, shirtless young man blocked Ash’s path. James’s breath caught. Had it been wise to let Ash run the gauntlet by himself? Fists clenched painfully as the young man gripped Ash’s arm and leaned in close to speak in his ear. Ash shook his head and sidestepped only to have another young man accost him. At least this one’s not pawing him. Ash finally made it to the bar to order drinks. The breath James unconsciously held left his lungs in a rush. Thank God!
However, his respite was short-lived. Like a well-planned battle maneuver, two young men moved in for the attack. His jaw clenched. A laughing Ash, his face bright and animated, chatted with them. One of the forward young men pushed a piece of paper into the pocket of Ash’s jeans. With a smile, Ash leaned to whisper something in the half-naked man’s ear.
Damn it! A vise gripped his chest, and he drew in a shaky breath.
Finally, with drinks collected, the return journey began. It was worse. Some people had no sense of boundaries. As Ash successfully managed to evade a particularly persistent pair of wandering hands, the urge to vault across the table and react with violence, had James shaking with its intensity.
The sea of young men surrounding Ash were all obviously interested in his beautiful young lover. Faced with this sea of options, would Ash choose a different path? Could the isolation, lack of options, and reliance upon him be the key reasons for Ash remaining? His heart threatened to hammer its way out of his chest. What if Ash never remembered his past, their past together, and chose someone else? No! He couldn’t lose Ash.
His heart stuttered.
He loved him.
Oh God. He loved Ash.
One, two, three muscled half-naked young men. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine—Oh give it up! He’d be counting all night.
“Well, that was an experience.” A breathless Ash placed the drinks on the table and sat down. “I’ve just had some interesting propositions, most of which were variations of me ‘ditching the old guy’ and having some real… well, I’m sure you get the idea.” The corner of Ash’s mouth twitched.
With his brow furrowed, James sat in silence for a while. It was real. He loved Ash.
He looked up and caught Ash suppressing a smile . Probably thought he was moping with a dented ego. If only it were something that simple and unimportant.
Ash placed a hand on James’s thigh. “Of course, I politely refused their offers. I mean, why would I be interested in one of those sweaty, half-naked, muscle-bound, hot young men when I have you?”
James relaxed a little. It was time to wipe that hint of a smile off Ash’s beautiful but cheeky mouth. What would be most enjoyable? Some clever banter or kissing him senseless.
He chose the latter.
Ash’s hair slid through his fingers. Clasping Ash’s head in both hands,
Similar Books
