“There’s something there, Ollie. Something about Daniel that clicks with me. It’s like he needs me to look after him or something.” He closed his eyes and groaned. “Is that strange?”
“Honestly? Yeah. As Danny pointed out to me in no uncertain terms yesterday, he can take care of himself. And you can’t even take care of a houseplant. Didn’t you manage to kill that cactus garden I gave you for Christmas?”
“Shirley gave me the cactus garden,” Asher mumbled.
“Well, I signed the card.”
“She signed your name on the card.”
“Same difference,” Oliver replied.
Asher raised his head and tried looking for the bartender. The room spun.
“Asher, come on. I’m tired. Your blood alcohol level is .85 for the third night in a row. My brother asked if you were ready to go back to the room two hours ago and gave you a look that clearly meant something I refuse to articulate or I’ll throw up. Why are we still at this club?”
“I’m not drunk anymore, just tired and buzzed. Did you notice how he can’t walk across the room without bumping into at least three people and every piece of furniture?”
“If you’re tired, Asher, then let’s leave. Come on.” Oliver was officially whining.
“But then put him on a dance floor and suddenly his body moves like liquid or fire or something,” Asher continued. “Seriously. These past three days he couldn’t even take two steps without endangering himself. Made me feel like I should put him on a leash to keep him out of trouble, and now—”
“He’s had a lot of experience dancing. Used to do it professional—Wait. That was metaphorical, right? You’re not actually thinking of putting my brother on a leash.”
“What do you mean he danced professionally?” The way Daniel moved his body was like sex personified, and Asher suddenly had visions of Daniel taking the place of the strippers he’d seen on this trip. It was hot as hell, but it pissed him off to the point that he wanted to put his fist through a wall. “Like a stripper?”
“Nooo, like a dancer. On Broadway and shit. From what my father said, he was big-time or was about to be big-time or something.” Oliver shrugged. “I don’t remember the details. It was a long time ago. Now about that leash comment, you didn’t really—”
Asher pushed his stool back and stood up. “All right. Let’s go.”
Oliver still seemed worried, but he followed Asher to where Daniel was dancing without asking more questions, which was a testament to the man’s exhaustion. Good thing too, because Asher didn’t want to lie, and Daniel in a collar, tied up and under his control, seemed like a very good idea.
Chapter 9
DANIEL’S gaze landed on Asher as soon as he and Oliver got to the edge of the dance floor. A huge smile took over his face and he waved them over excitedly.
“No way,” Oliver grumbled. “My knees are already killin’ me from being dragged around up there half the night. I’m done dancing.”
Asher couldn’t use that excuse because he’d refused to move from his seat. He’d originally planned to dance, but as soon as he saw Daniel move to the music, he’d changed his mind. It wasn’t that Asher was uncoordinated, and when there’d been occasion to dance in his life, he had always felt like he had held his own. But Daniel… the man was in another league and Asher knew he’d look like a fumbling oaf in comparison. So he’d begged off dancing, found a spot at the bar, and parked his ass there all night. Again.
When Daniel realized that Asher and Oliver weren’t going to join him, he kissed his dance partner on the cheek, making the girl blush and giggle, and then bounded over to them.
“Hey!” he said when he was close enough for them to hear him over the thumping music. He stepped right into Asher’s personal space, rested a hand on Asher’s upper arm, and raised himself on his toes to kiss the side of Asher’s neck.
Asher was way too manly to blush and giggle like the girl on the dance floor, or so he told himself, but he understood her reaction. Having Daniel close by, smelling him, did things to Asher’s chest. Unfamiliar things. Things that might or might not have been welcome. The jury was still out.
“Hi,” Asher said roughly. “It looked like you were having a good time out there.”
Daniel nodded. “I love dancing and I don’t get to do it as much anymore.”
“Your brother said you were a professional dancer. Why’d you stop? You get injured or something?” Asher asked.
“No.” Daniel shook his head. “Just bored. I’d been at it for a while, started out when I was a kid and pretty much did what there was to do, so I figured it was time to move on. You guys want to have a go on the dance floor?”