"I like your place," Avery said from the entryway. He cocked his head, bending to get a better look down the hall. From this angle, it appeared as though there were only two doors at the end of the small hall. He stood in the living room, and the small kitchen was just to his right. He wished he could see Kane's bedroom. A bedroom said a lot about a man.
"Thanks, it's small, not the best part of town, but I've lived here a few years now," Kane shouted back. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's fine, we aren't on a time schedule. This is like downtown St. Paul now, isn't it?" Avery said, losing the battle with polite manners and taking a couple of steps farther inside the home.
"Yeah," Kane said, rounding the corner while raking his fingers through his hair. Avery liked that move, which Kane seemed to do quite a bit. Perhaps a nervous habit? Avery found he loved to run his fingers through Kane's short, thick strands when they lay in bed together. All in all, Kane had some great hair.
"Why are you standing here?" Kane asked, and Avery realized there wasn't a good explanation for where he stood. He wasn't in the living room any longer. He'd inched his way to stand almost in the hall. Silence ensued between them. "What? Did I miss something?"
"It's just rare to be this close to a bedroom and not be in it." Avery grinned, dropping his hands in his slacks pockets.
"Is that new for you?" Kane threw out, sliding on the shoes by his front door.
"New for us," Avery shot back.
"You can take a look around. There isn't much to the place. This is kind of it," Kane said.
"Nah, I think I need to stay here. You look too good tonight. We won't make it out the door if I step any farther in this house, and I really wanna take you out," Avery said. Kane gave a little sideways smile, running his fingers back through his hair as a small blush crept into his cheeks. He walked across the living room toward a coatrack by the front door.
"Thank you, you look nice, too," Kane said, reaching for his jacket.
"What? This old thing?" Avery held open the lapels of his brand new suit. Kane laughed as Avery posed with his suit jacket open revealing a partially buttoned silk button down. As Kane watched, Avery executed a perfect full circle turn on his heels before doing an exaggerated strut down a make-believe catwalk, all headed toward Kane.
"It's a hundred percent silk dress shirt that I bought just for you. Thoughts of you dancing against me, rubbing those sexy hands across my chest made me buy this without a second thought." He turned like he was going to give Kane a kiss, and instead flipped around and wiggled his ass. Avery was forced to jump backward or be slammed with the door as it was pushed open in front of him. Avery watched as Kane's entire demeanor changed when he saw whoever was at the door.
"What are you doing here?" Kane asked, and Avery stepped around the door to see a nice looking, much shorter man, who clearly had a key to this apartment, standing in the entryway. The fun vibe of a minute ago was zapped from the room and Avery narrowed his brow in speculation.
"I came for my things. Who's this?" So this must be the ex-boyfriend. Jealousy struck Avery hard. He wanted this guy out of the house and gone, right now.
"Avery Adams, his date. Who are you?" Avery answered for Kane, sticking out his hand for a handshake.
"Brian Walton, his boyfriend." Avery wanted to snap the guy's arm right off his body.
"Really? Because I'm pretty sure I replaced you and thanks for vacating the spot…" Avery was on a roll, but Kane jumped in, taking the wind out of his sails.
"Brian, why are you here?" Kane asked. The entire conversation took place in the small entryway and Avery resisted the overwhelming urge to wrap an arm around Kane in ownership.
"I came for a few of my things, but we need to talk," Brian said. Avery watched something spark in the guy as he stared first at Avery, then back at Kane. Avery knew the look—competition. Shit. He'd made it worse with his cocky attitude. He'd only had a few days to solidify his position in Kane's life, this guy had had years.
"You should've called first. I have a date tonight, Brian," Kane said, stepping in front of Avery to take the doorknob.
"Date? Really? You?" Brian laughed in Kane's face.
"Call the restaurant and leave them your address. I'll have your things delivered to you." Kane's voice took on that super calm tone, the one he used in the restaurant. Avery found that voice meant so many things, none of which indicated Kane was comfortable with the moment. Avery didn't like it. He didn't like the guy laughing in Kane's face or the insinuation Kane couldn't get a date.
If Avery right-hooked him, how much trouble would he be in?
"That's all you have to say to me? Four years together and you replaced me in a couple of days?" Kane didn't bite, but gently and thoroughly put his hand on Brian's chest and began moving him backward, the door shutting a little farther with every step taken.
"Remember, you met someone," Kane said.
"I had second thoughts. Don't do this, Kane, I'm sorry. There I said it," Brian said.
"Too late," Avery called out from behind Kane. Avery felt territorial and primal. He clenched his fists and dropped them into his pockets to keep from going after the guy.
"That's not for you to decide," Brian shouted back at Avery. That got his attention. Avery's eyes narrowed, and he ripped his hands free of his slacks, moving around Kane, toward Brian. Brian backed the rest of the way out of the apartment, holding up his hands. Kane's hands were on Avery's chest, pushing him back, so he slammed the door shut with his foot. Avery locked the dead bolt in a show of dominance.