Before he thought about what he was doing, Jason walked toward them.
“You guys, seriously, I have to go,” the guy said, still sounding amused.
“It’s early!” one of his friends yelled. At the same time, another said, “You never go out with us!” And a third shouted, “But it’s your birthday!”
“It’s almost one in the morning. I went out with you tonight. And it’s no longer my birthday.” He stood up again, wriggled out of his friends’ grasps, and started climbing over their legs.
“What, no good-bye kiss?” one man said. Another made exaggerated smooching noises.
The guy rolled his eyes and smiled. “Thanks for tonight. It was fun.”
“Come on, Abe, stay!”
He shook his head as he carefully made his way out of the tangled mess of bodies. “I have to be up early tomorrow.”
Jason had heard enough to know he should find someone else to screw. This guy—Abe—was done for the night. But before Jason could move away, Abe finally extricated himself from his friends and Jason got a closer look at him.
His hair was blond, straight, a little too long, and silky. Light-colored eyes framed by thin eyebrows dominated his face. He was a few inches shorter than Jason’s six foot one, which put him at about five foot eight. And he was young. Not so young that he wasn’t legal, but Jason was sure he had at least a decade on the good-looking man.
All indications—Abe’s age, his appearance, and his comments to his friends—indicated a straight path toward rejection and therefore a waste of Jason’s time. And yet, when Abe stumbled as he left the seating area, Jason lunged forward and grabbed him.
“Careful,” he said. “It’s crowded in here tonight.”
“Thanks.” Abe clutched his shirt and blinked up at him.
Blue. His eyes were blue.
“Anytime.” It was the kind of thing he’d say automatically, without thinking and without meaning it. But he did mean it. In fact, it was possibly the most sincere statement he’d made that day.
After a few breaths, Abe released Jason’s shirt and stepped away. “Thanks again,” he said, rubbing his chest.
Jason turned around and watched the small, round ass in the tight jeans get swallowed by the crowd. Dammit, the guy was hot. Seriously hot. And, sure, he wasn’t Jason’s normal type, but that was only because Jason’s normal type was drunk, desperate, and horny.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, he told himself as he followed the seemingly sober, likely never desperate, and apparently not horny guy heading toward the exit.
By the time Jason reached Abe, he was dialing his phone in a semiempty nook next to the door.
“Meeting someone?” Jason asked.
Abe flipped around and jerked his gaze to Jason’s.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Not scared. Startled.” Abe smiled, the expression as warm as his laugh. “And no.” He held up his phone. “It’s too late to meet anyone. I’m calling a cab.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“You will?” Abe arched his eyebrows. “Do we know each other?”
Jason shook his head.
“So why do you….” Abe ducked his chin and then glanced up, his upper teeth pressing into his lower lip. “Oh.”
Shyness wasn’t a turn-on for Jason because he rarely had the time or the inclination to seduce or cajole or whatever label people put on trying to get into someone’s pants. When he was out looking, he wanted a guy who was in it for the same thing. Sex. In, out, done. Simple, satisfying, and over. But he had to admit to himself that on Abe, shy became sweet and attractive.
“I’m Jason.” He held his hand out.
After looking down, Abe put his palm in Jason’s. “I’m Abraham. Abe.”
“Nice to meet you, Abe.”
They shook hands, but rather than let go right away, Abe linked their fingers together. Though he wasn’t the hand-holding type, Jason didn’t pull back. It wasn’t as if they were in a place someone would recognize him, which was one of the draws to the bar. Besides, he wanted Abe to accept his offer. They hadn’t gotten naked yet, and the tight little body in front of him already had him hard. It promised to be a good night.
“What do you say?” He pulled his keys out of his pocket with his free hand and held them up. “You game?”
Abe looked at him, really looked at him, but not at his body or his groin, which were the usual points of interest. Instead, Abe looked at his face, his lips, and mostly his eyes.
“I never do this,” he mumbled, presumably to himself, “but you only live once, right?” He took in a deep breath. “How much have you had to drink?”
Taken aback by the question, Jason said, “Nothing yet. I just got here. Why?”
“Because going home with some guy I’ve never met is about as risky as I’m willing to get for one night. If you’re drunk, we’re both getting in a cab.”