“I taught her everything she knows.” June kissed her girlfriend on the cheek, and she blushed.
“Well, have a seat, but don’t grill him too hard.” Wilder waved his free hand at the two open seats.
My stomach flipped when they sat down, and I mentally prepared myself for an interrogation. My pulse slowed though as he whispered, “Meet my family… I swear they’re harmless.”
His family.
The ache in my throat grew as I thought about how Wild’s parents had abandoned him. How sometimes you had to make your own family. Anything these ladies had to say to me, I most likely deserved, and they were here for him. For Wild. His protection. The love they had for him was unconditional. After everything he’d gone through, I was thankful he had that.
“What part of Florida are you from?” June asked.
“Bell River, near Destin.”
“Destin is nice.” Gwen brought a pink drink to her lips.
I exhaled, trying not to feel awkward and exposed.
“How did you two meet?” I asked.
“We work at the same hospital. Gwen works in maternity, and I work in labor and delivery.” June, all smiles, looked at Gwen.
“Nurses,” Wild said. “We’re actually here tonight celebrating June’s promotion. She’s the new educator for her unit.”
“It’s not a big deal.” June gave Wilder a dismissive wave.
He let go of my hand and smacked the table. “It’s a huge deal, June.”
“I wouldn’t have graduated nursing school if Wilder hadn’t tutored me.” June raised her brow. “He’s one hell of a tutor… wouldn’t you agree, Jax?”
“June,” Gwen’s face was pale. “Don’t.”
“It’s okay,” I stammered. Without Wild’s hand in mine, I drifted. “I had that coming.”
Wild was silent by my side, and I wanted to take his hand, pull him back to the here and now, away from his memories at Eastchester. I couldn’t read his eyes as he stared down at the table.
“Damn straight.” June looked over at Wild. “I love this guy like he was my own brother.” Wild lifted his eyes to hers, his lips slowly spreading into a grin. “This world has dealt us both a shitty hand, and we sure as shit don’t need any more of it. Let yourself be loved, Wilder, and you…” She pointed her finger at me, and I stopped breathing. “You let yourself be happy.”
Wilder practically fell out of his chair hugging June to his chest. Her dark hair spilled over his shoulder as she winked at me, and I exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Love you, asshole,” he said to her as he sat back into his chair.
Gwen laughed. “Can we dance now? I don’t want to lose my buzz.”
June stood, taking Gwen in hand. “I think it’s safe to leave these two alone for a little while. Unless you guys wanna dance?”
“I’m not much of a dancer,” I said.
Wild stood and tugged at my arm. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
The dance floor was packed, the bright lights flashing, illuminating all the bodies pressed together in a wave of color. Their skin glittered with sweat as they moved, and as much as I wanted to be out there with Wild, to be that open, the thought made me sick to my stomach.
“I’m okay. I gotta finish my beer anyway.”
His smile dimmed enough, I noticed, as he took a seat.
“Well, if y’all change your mind, we’ll be right over there having fun.” Gwen grinned at me as June pulled her away from the table.
“Go dance,” I said, and Wild shook his head.
“It’s your first time in a gay bar. If I leave you alone, the vultures will swoop in and try to get you to blow them in the bathroom.”
“What?”
He laughed, and the sound of it warmed me from the inside out. “I’m joking… kind of.”
“Kind of?”
The song changed, and Wild’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, I love this song. Come on, stop being lame and dance with me,” he whined.
I’d always loved the way his bottom lip stuck out when he pouted.
“I’m good. Go hang out with your friends. I’ll be fine.”
He pulled that tempting bottom lip through his teeth. My dick twitched and my eyes fell to his mouth again.
“Just this song and I’ll be right back.”
I drank my beer, finishing faster than I should have, and watched him move to the music. At school I’d never had the chance to see this side of him. The Wild I’d known was reduced to the confines of a dorm room and the library. I’d missed out. His body was fluid, and sexy as hell, as he found his rhythm. His black jeans were tight, and hung low on his narrow hips, hugging his ass. Every time Wild raised his arms, his shirt lifted, exposing the well-defined muscles of his stomach, and the sharp curve of his hip bone. Jesus Christ, I needed another beer. Pulling my phone out to check if I had enough time for another drink, I swiped my thumb across the screen and found a few missed texts from Jim.
Jim: Contractor couldn’t get the lumber. We might have to drive to the lumber yard bright and early.
Jim: Never mind. Looks like we’ll have to wait till Wednesday. The shipment was delayed.
Did that mean we weren’t working on the house tomorrow? Confused, I typed out a message hoping he was still awake.
Me: Are we working on something else then?
I glanced up and my jaw tightened. Some guy, who looked like he lived in the gym, inched in next to Wild and started to dance with him. It reminded me of the thing Wilder had said about bathroom blow jobs and I stood, fighting myself. This dormant, yet loud, part of me wanted to haul my ass out there and tell that guy to back off. But I didn’t own Wild, and I didn’t want to mess up and ruin any of the progress we’d made tonight.
My phone vibrated in my fist.
Jim: Nah. Take the day to get settled in. See you on site at seven on Wednesday.
I had tomorrow off.
I looked up just as the guy ran his hand up Wild’s arm. I slipped my phone in my pocket and before I could stop myself, I found my way to the dance floor.
“Changed your mind?” he asked.
I took his hand in mine, casually dismissing the asshole staring at me like I stole something from him. “Like you said earlier, we wouldn’t want one of the vultures to swoop in.”
He grinned as he rested his hand on my hip. “Jealousy looks good on you.”
I chuckled. “You like that?”
He let go of my hand and closed his arms around my neck. Even though Wild had gotten taller since college, I still had a few inches on him. I leaned down as he lifted his lips to my ear. “I like it when you take what you want, Jax. I always have.”
Blood pumped through my veins, lighting me on fire as Wild started to move against me to the beat of the music. Not knowing what the fuck to do or how to dance, shocked by his words, being this close to another man in public, I didn’t move.
“In order to dance, you have to actually move your legs, Jax.”
Wild stepped back and took the heat of his body with him.
“I told you I don’t know how to dance.”