Read Online The Arrangement by Felice Stevens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Felice Stevens
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bold red lipstick and the colorful feather earrings sweeping her shoulders.
“I’ll have a Grey Goose on the rocks. Reed, what do you want?”
Because of all the medications he took, Reed didn’t often drink, but tonight, being here in public with Carter for the first time, he felt a little reckless and decided to indulge.
“I’ll have a Sam Adams.”
The waitress left, and he and Carter soon became so engrossed in the hilarious karaoke, neither noticed the waitress setting their drinks down on the table. An unexpected, flirty side of Carter emerged, and Reed enjoyed the neck nuzzling and Carter holding his hand and toying with his fingers. His heart lurched with a happiness he hadn’t felt in years, and he struggled to remember it was all a fantasy.
Without even realizing it, he’d finished his first beer only to find it replaced with another. It slid down his throat cool and easy, and to his surprise he watched Carter take a big gulp of his own drink.
Maybe he was nervous too.
And somehow that small chink in the armor, letting in the tiniest light of vulnerability to shine through, endeared Carter all the more to Reed.
When the group on stage had finally finished, a lull fell over the now-crowded room. Carter nudged his thigh and whispered in his ear. “Want to try?”
Reed almost choked on his beer. “Me? I sound like a dying chicken when I sing.” He wiped his chin. “Do you sing?”
Carter downed his drink and stood. “Guess you’re about to find out.”
Chapter Six
‡
W hen Reed had asked for a night out, Carter’s first inclination was to refuse. He had no desire to go out in public together; after all, their arrangement had been to spend their time having as much sex as they could possibly cram into their weekend. But the disappointment in Reed’s pretty golden eyes bothered Carter more than he imagined it could, and he found himself agreeing simply to keep Reed happy because he liked to see Reed smile. Another alien concept Carter mulled over as they walked together in the cold.
Once they were out and strolling through the city, Carter admitted to himself he enjoyed it. It was a rarity for him to take the time and wander about, look at restaurant menus or simply people-watch—he and Reed had even played a fun game of Guess Where the Tourist is From. Once Jackson had come to live with him, Carter had thrown himself headfirst into work, pushing all thoughts of personal pleasure out of the way. Jackson had to and always did come first. Carter had promised himself his brother would never end up feeling unloved and unwanted like he did.
But for this night Carter gave in, not only to Reed’s wishes but his own desire to be part of a crowd; a desire he didn’t know existed until he walked with Reed amid the throngs of people in Times Square. The usual hawkers were about, shoving pamphlets in their faces encouraging them to take a tour bus ride around the city or listen to a comedy act. Carter ignored them and chose to focus strictly on Reed: his animated voice, the excited sweep of his hand as he pointed out something of interest, and the sweet curve of his smile.
With some difficulty Carter forced himself to look away from Reed; not an easy task with the man so close he could see the smattering of freckles along the bridge of his nose and the vivacious sparkle in his eyes. Happier than he could recall in recent memory, an idea popped into his head as they walked up Broadway toward 50th St. A client had recently opened a nightclub that featured both karaoke and dance, and watching Reed walk slightly in front of him, Carter pictured them with their arms around each other, dancing to a slow, rhythmic beat. Inside of twenty minutes, they were seated at a cozy table, having a drink and listening to terrible singing, with Carter enjoying himself more than he thought possible. He ordered a second round, figuring it would loosen Reed up for the dancing he had planned. And, God knows, he needed the
“I’ll have a Grey Goose on the rocks. Reed, what do you want?”
Because of all the medications he took, Reed didn’t often drink, but tonight, being here in public with Carter for the first time, he felt a little reckless and decided to indulge.
“I’ll have a Sam Adams.”
The waitress left, and he and Carter soon became so engrossed in the hilarious karaoke, neither noticed the waitress setting their drinks down on the table. An unexpected, flirty side of Carter emerged, and Reed enjoyed the neck nuzzling and Carter holding his hand and toying with his fingers. His heart lurched with a happiness he hadn’t felt in years, and he struggled to remember it was all a fantasy.
Without even realizing it, he’d finished his first beer only to find it replaced with another. It slid down his throat cool and easy, and to his surprise he watched Carter take a big gulp of his own drink.
Maybe he was nervous too.
And somehow that small chink in the armor, letting in the tiniest light of vulnerability to shine through, endeared Carter all the more to Reed.
When the group on stage had finally finished, a lull fell over the now-crowded room. Carter nudged his thigh and whispered in his ear. “Want to try?”
Reed almost choked on his beer. “Me? I sound like a dying chicken when I sing.” He wiped his chin. “Do you sing?”
Carter downed his drink and stood. “Guess you’re about to find out.”
Chapter Six
‡
W hen Reed had asked for a night out, Carter’s first inclination was to refuse. He had no desire to go out in public together; after all, their arrangement had been to spend their time having as much sex as they could possibly cram into their weekend. But the disappointment in Reed’s pretty golden eyes bothered Carter more than he imagined it could, and he found himself agreeing simply to keep Reed happy because he liked to see Reed smile. Another alien concept Carter mulled over as they walked together in the cold.
Once they were out and strolling through the city, Carter admitted to himself he enjoyed it. It was a rarity for him to take the time and wander about, look at restaurant menus or simply people-watch—he and Reed had even played a fun game of Guess Where the Tourist is From. Once Jackson had come to live with him, Carter had thrown himself headfirst into work, pushing all thoughts of personal pleasure out of the way. Jackson had to and always did come first. Carter had promised himself his brother would never end up feeling unloved and unwanted like he did.
But for this night Carter gave in, not only to Reed’s wishes but his own desire to be part of a crowd; a desire he didn’t know existed until he walked with Reed amid the throngs of people in Times Square. The usual hawkers were about, shoving pamphlets in their faces encouraging them to take a tour bus ride around the city or listen to a comedy act. Carter ignored them and chose to focus strictly on Reed: his animated voice, the excited sweep of his hand as he pointed out something of interest, and the sweet curve of his smile.
With some difficulty Carter forced himself to look away from Reed; not an easy task with the man so close he could see the smattering of freckles along the bridge of his nose and the vivacious sparkle in his eyes. Happier than he could recall in recent memory, an idea popped into his head as they walked up Broadway toward 50th St. A client had recently opened a nightclub that featured both karaoke and dance, and watching Reed walk slightly in front of him, Carter pictured them with their arms around each other, dancing to a slow, rhythmic beat. Inside of twenty minutes, they were seated at a cozy table, having a drink and listening to terrible singing, with Carter enjoying himself more than he thought possible. He ordered a second round, figuring it would loosen Reed up for the dancing he had planned. And, God knows, he needed the
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