Reservations

Things would be so much easier if Levi would just take the damn money. Hell, three thousand dollars was more than fair. He was certain that no one else in the club made that kind of money for a few hours’ worth of companionship.

“At the end of his shift, send him up here. I wanna talk to him alone,” Thane said sternly.

“I’m not your assistant,” Julian snapped. Thane looked over his shoulder. Julian hadn’t budged, and his face remained buried in what he was working on.

“Just do it, Julian. Or better yet, get someone to cover his tables for a few minutes.” Thane all but pleaded, before turning back to the mirrored glass, tightly crossing his arms over his chest when he located Levi.

“He’s messing up tonight. He can’t be making much money. I put him first on the cut list,” Julian explained, giving Thane a small sliver of hope they might come to an understanding this evening after all.

“Then you better shag your sassy ass down there right now and tell him I want to see him.”

“You don’t pay me enough for this shit.” Julian pushed back from the desk in a huff. Luckily for Thane, he went down without any further argument.

Thane watched Julian make his way across the crowded floor to Levi. They spoke for a few moments, then Julian pointed in his general direction. As if Levi knew the exact location where Thane stood, their gazes connected. Even if Levi couldn’t see him, Thane felt the weight of his stare. Was there a hint of panic in his expression?

“Good. You need to look freaked.”

Even then, it still took Levi some time. At least ten minutes passed before a knock landed on the door.

“Come in.” Thane did little more than turn, keeping his arms crossed over his chest. He still held Levi’s background report rolled in his hand. He waited until Levi was fully inside the office before he moved toward the desk. “Close the door, please.”

There was a hesitation in Levi’s steps and a strange expression crossed his face, but he did go back and shut the door. He remained close to the door, nervously shifting on his feet like he was about to bolt if Thane didn’t start talking soon. Instead of rushing to speak, he placed the background check face down on his desk.

“I’m intrigued.”

Damn if that wasn’t the understatement of the year.

Levi’s gaze didn’t stray from his. Those penetrating green eyes disarmed him, erasing all the things he’d wanted to say. How was that even possible? The guy hadn’t said a word, and Thane was thrown so far off his game he wrestled with his composure and struggled to push the unfamiliar feelings down.

“Julian explained that you helped him through his treatment. He says you picked up on things no one else did.”

Levi remained silent. Thane instinctively knew that Levi was intuitive enough to know he was posturing. The silence spoke volumes. Thane took a closer look. Levi’s expressive gaze held a seasoned maturity that he’d somehow missed before. Obviously, he’d lived life and learned lessons, perhaps a hard life to have mastered such a discerning stare.

“Are you mad or scared?” Thane asked.

Levi’s broad shoulders rolled before his posture shifted to ramrod straight. “Neither.”

“Then what are you?” Thane asked, moving to within a few feet.

“Wondering if I’m being fired.” His gaze still didn’t falter. Very impressive. Even Julian dropped his gaze on occasion.

“Why would you be fired?” Thane asked, although he probably knew that answer.

Levi didn’t respond to the question. Instead, he remained silent, watching him.

“I’m attracted to you. I’d like to try things out, see if we can come to some sort of arrangement that would benefit us both. I can be very generous. What I’m offering isn’t a traditional relationship in that sense, but it is a business relationship. Let’s say an alternative arrangement between two consenting adults, nothing more. We can draw it up any way you like.” Thane stopped speaking. He’d gotten ahead of himself. “I wanted you to know, unless we just don’t mesh, I’m not talking about a one-time encounter.” Thane moved closer. Levi’s brow wrinkled. He must have started to panic, because he took a step back when Thane stepped forward.

Not willing to let the waiter slip away from him again, Thane reached forward, cupping the back of Levi’s neck, feeling the slight tremor in his body as he pulled him forward and stepped firmly into the other man’s personal space. Levi didn’t struggle or push Thane away. Neither moved as everything around them faded away. He swore time stood still as he stared deeply into Levi’s eyes. He’d never wanted anyone like he wanted Levi.

“I want to kiss you,” Thane whispered.

Levi’s intake of breath and the darkening of his eyes suggested Levi wanted the same. Thane gave in to the need coursing through his body and inched closer, waiting for an answer as the air around them sizzled with erotic tension. Levi’s eyes darted to his lips, and he made a needy sound in the back of his throat as he closed the distance between them. The warm press of lips against his surprised him at first, but in the best of ways. One minute Levi was trying to escape out the door, and the next he was moving in for a kiss.