They didn’t make it halfway through the bottle before giving up. Ian had no idea what time it was or how they were all going to get home and he didn’t care. The bourbon tasted fine, smooth on the tongue, and he’d enjoyed more than his usual. So had some of the others. Noah was stretched out flat on his back, asleep, with his head on Rowe’s thighs. Lucas had freed Andrei’s hair and tangled his fingers in it as he talked to Rowe. Andrei looked as if he were half dozing sitting up. And Snow and Jude were having a whispered discussion, gazes locked like they were alone in the room.
Ian leaned against Hollis and contemplated crawling into his lap. His cop—no, his PI now—had such a wonderful lap. He eyed it, thinking about how much better it would feel than the hard floor. Then he thought about the hole in the back of his jeans and how it had felt to slide his fingers along the skin of his thigh earlier in the basement. “We need to go home,” he said, voice low. “I want a shower and sex.”
Apparently, his voice wasn’t low enough because Snow snorted, then laughter sounded around the room.
“Better hop to it, Banner,” Lucas ordered as he tugged Andrei closer and slid his hand under his hair to cup his neck.
“He’s happy to hop on that, Lucas.” Rowe laid his hand on Noah’s chest. “You should have been at Royce’s place with them. Lots and lots of hopping. Today wasn’t the first time they went at it like bunnies in a basement either.”
The bourbon didn’t keep the heat from crawling up Ian’s neck. He’d been expecting shit for when he and Hollis had disappeared to the basement much earlier. “Did it take you all day to come up with that one? You used to be quicker.”
Hollis’s arm shook as he laughed next to Ian. Then he startled Ian into letting out an undignified squeak when he lifted him into his lap. He wrapped both arms around Ian and pulled him back to rest against his chest. “I like his plan for the rest of the night. You think I wore these jeans for you shits today?”
“I quite enjoyed those jeans today, Holly,” Noah drawled as he turned his head and opened one eye.
Rowe laughed.
Ian’s lips twisted because he felt Hollis tense up against him but knew he wouldn’t give them any bait on that nickname. Ian hoped Holly didn’t stick, though it was damn funny. He preferred Hulk because it made him think of all the times Hollis carried him around the house. Damn, he loved that. Loved how hot it made him and how safe it made him feel at times. He also loved the way Hollis anchored him to the bed before they fell asleep. Loved how he put up with his friends.
He just fucking loved the man with every fiber of his being.
With liquor warming his veins and hazing his judgment, he let a naughty grin stretch across his face as he wiggled his ass into Hollis’s groin. Turning his head, he leaned to the side and gave Hollis the smile he knew the man couldn’t resist. Lips slid onto his and he sighed into Hollis’s mouth, ignoring the amused objections that came from his friends. He didn’t let the kiss go deeper, pulling back to whisper, “I really do want to go home right now.”
“Yeah, GQ, me too. We’re leaving. I’m calling a cab because neither of us is driving, so—”
“None of us are driving,” Andrei broke in. “Lucas already called cars to come pick us up. You’ll have to leave your other baby in the street.”
“Hell if I will. I can at least get it into the driveway.”
But he didn’t move, his arms tightening around Ian again, his nose going into his neck.
“It’s not going to get moved like that.” Sarcasm dripped from Snow’s voice.
“I’ll do it!” Noah jumped up and held out his hand. “Keys?”
“Damn babe, how you moving so fast?” Rowe’s head plunked back against the wall and he closed his eyes. “I haven’t been this drunk since Snow and I hit the tequila this one night last…last…” He squinted. “Last day I don’t remember.”
“I remember.” Snow’s groan was long. “The next day was rough.”
“Ahhhh, tequila.” Jude tugged Snow closer. “It’s time for us to go home, too. Good thing we all piled into two vehicles to get here.”
“Is Noah still moving? How you still moving around like that?” Rowe lifted his hand and gestured Noah closer.
“I stopped drinking some time ago. Made me sleepy.” Noah still stood over Ian—not moving. He wiggled his fingers. “Come on, Banner. Where’s the trust? I’ll move your car then drive my drunk boyfriend home. Only Jude’s Jeep and Hollis’s pretty blue baby will get left here.”