Reservations

“I’m not sure how much I had to do with it, but I’m glad he’s eating better. Meet Levi. He’s my date.” All sets of eyes turned his way. These men were a force in all their focus, and out of nothing but practiced manners, Levi reached out, accepting Kellus’s handshake. When silence lingered and he felt like he should say something, he turned to the art that Kellus may or may not like to talk about. “I was drawn to your art. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m not sure he’s telling you the truth, Kel. His back was to the art when I walked up,” Arik teased, and Kellus knocked his husband in the arm.

“No, I just turned away. I was standing here for several minutes. It’s beautiful…” Levi tried to explain even when Thane and Arik both started laughing.

“Ignore him. He’s giving me a hard time at your expense,” Kellus offered, nodding his head in Levi’s direction. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“We’re late for dinner,” Thane said, pulling him away, much to Levi’s relief. He turned back, switching the arm that held Levi as he walked backward toward the bar. “We’ll talk tomorrow about the holidays?”

“Only if we’ve agreed I’m going,” Arik called back.

Levi watched Arik wave, saying goodbye before taking Kellus’s hand in his as Thane turned around and started to explain. “He thinks I’m letting him have my spot on the HSN Thanksgiving special.”

“Are you?” Levi asked, raising his brow. HSN sounded impressive.

“I might if you consider going out with me again that night,” Thane cheekily answered with a complete non-answer. “You’re very consuming. You’d definitely take my mind off my missed opportunity,” Thane said again, coming in right next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist, bumping his hip as they came to a stop at the host stand.

Yep, he’d done it again. Levi was so off balance with Thane. The man oozed confidence. He knew how to chitchat, which drew people to him. He was so uninhibited with his attention, then saying things like wanting a date with him in nine months’ time… Levi could feel the heartstrings pulling in his chest at the attention. Levi had never had this reaction before—to anyone. No one had been able to break down all the protective boundaries he’d placed around himself.

“I’m confused by that lack of answer. Is that possibly a yes or a solid maybe and I have my work cut out for me?” Thane winked at him before turning to the host. “I reserved a table in the grill.”

“Yes, Thane. We have a table reserved, but we aren’t too busy. You can really pick wherever you want to sit.”

Thane took Levi’s hand, guiding him inside the bar. From the hands lifted in greeting as they passed by, Thane knew several people there. But Thane didn’t stop walking until he got to a back table in the corner. It was a highball table, and Thane extended a hand, letting him go first then following, moving his stool close to Levi.

“Do you need menus?” the host asked as they settled at that table.

“I think Levi may,” Thane responded, resting his elbows on the table, leaning in closer to him.

“What do you normally get?” Levi asked, nervously wringing his hands under the table until one of Thane’s palms slid between both of his.

“I go lean because of all the taste-testing I do. Grilled chicken and whatever the steamed vegetable is,” Thane said as those whisky-colored eyes locked onto his.

“It’s broccoli,” the waitress added, relieving the host. Thane never turned away from him.

“Then broccoli it is.”

“That sounds great to me,” Levi said.

Thane finally looked the waitress’s way. “I’ll take a vodka tonic.”

“Grey Goose with two limes?” the waitress questioned. Thane gave his grin, and Levi completely understood the waitress’s dazed and confused stare as she had to force her eyes down after a pause. He wanted to commiserate with her; he totally got the Thane-effect. It was hard to concentrate on anything when Thane focused solely on him.

“I’ll have the same,” Levi said when she didn’t look up. He had to throw her a bone. She just nodded, scribbling on the pad, without looking back at either of them as she headed off.

“You do that a lot,” Levi said, bumping Thane in the shoulder, drawing his attention back to him.

“What?”

“You’re really handsome. People get mesmerized,” Levi answered honestly.

“That’s how I feel about you,” Thane said, resting an arm on the table, propping his head on his hand, just staring at Levi. Levi burst out in nervous laughter, embarrassed his laugh may have sounded a little hysterical. That was all right because he felt frantic, especially when Thane rubbed a hand up his thigh, moving his palm all the way to his dick. He lightly massaged there, Levi growing even harder at the touch. Damn, Thane’s hand on him felt good. Thane made an appreciative noise in the back of his throat as he rubbed the heel of his palm along Levi’s aching length.