On Point (Out of Uniform 3)

And right now Ben was eying a redhead who reminded Maddox too much of their friend Pike. Ben had been strangely subdued all evening, and wasn’t approaching the stranger despite obvious interest on both their parts, which was, in its own way, as annoying as if he were to go dance with the guy.

Maddox wasn’t sticking around for the eye-fucking to start. Because he didn’t like lying, he headed to the back of the bar where the restrooms were.

“Hey, stranger. Thought I recognized you.” A blond in a tank top stepped into Maddox’s path right on the edge of the dance floor. Oh f—heck. It was him. The guy from that scene Ben had instigated in their living room. Canaan.

“I...uh...” Maddox was hardly a stellar conversationalist on his best days, and he had absolutely no idea how to make small talk with a guy he’d had a not-a-threesome with.

“I never caught your name that night, but you’re looking good.” Canaan obviously had no such issue, voice free and easy as he looked Maddox up and down like he was an ice-cold Dilly Bar on a July afternoon.

And Maddox wasn’t a vain man but couldn’t deny that the interest felt good. Maybe Ben was right and it had been a darn long dry spell, if getting cruised was enough to make his skin heat and pulse speed up.

“Maddox,” he said at last, because it seemed rude to not give him his name.

“Maddox.” Canaan nodded. “Suits you. You and Ben ever work your...whatever out?”

“We’re just friends,” Maddox said too quickly.

“I’ll take that as a no.” The guy had to be about six inches shorter than Maddox, but he crowded up into his personal space anyway, an appealing kind of fearless as he hooked his fingers in Maddox’s belt loop. “How about you dance with me?”

“Not much of a dancer.” Maddox didn’t step back even though he should have.

Canaan tugged and Maddox took a step forward, putting a hand on Canaan’s back to avoid mowing him down. “See? Not that hard.” The kid had a nice laugh, bright and cheerful. It didn’t raise goose bumps on Maddox’s back the way Ben’s did, but it was nice nonetheless.

The music was good—not country, but not the same old house techno-dance mix that so many bars favored either. A slow song drifted over them with a nice backbeat, and despite himself, Maddox found himself swaying with Canaan. Not dancing per se, but also not walking away. And what the hell, right? Ben was probably all about the redhead by now, and why shouldn’t Maddox enjoy the music for a moment?

And Canaan was easy to move with, smiling at him with very pink lips and big green eyes. He gave Maddox a wink and pulled him even closer. “Right on schedule.”

“What?” Maddox asked right as Ben strode up. Alone, and with an expression like a summer rain in Eastern Washington—gloomy with more than a passing chance of thunder.

“What’s going on here?” Ben asked. The music was loud, but Maddox was well-accustomed to reading Ben’s lips, even if his mind remained frustratingly elusive.

“You never called.” Canaan said the words like a dare. “But I found your roommate looking all lonely here.”

“Thought you were just heading to the can?” Ben ignored Canaan.

“I am capable of socializing.” Maddox didn’t really like being so darn predictable and reliable. And Ben going all protective rooster was annoying as all get-out, coming from the guy who started flirting while in line to pay the cover and didn’t quit until he was locking the door behind his latest conquest. It was about time Maddox had some fun too.

“Socializing.” Ben rolled the word around in his mouth like it tasted like cough syrup.

“Unless you’ve come to offer me that SEAL sandwich, you can go find somewhere else to loom.” Canaan moved between the two of them.

“Maddox isn’t into that.” Ben didn’t move a millimeter.

Maddox had had enough. “Aren’t you the one who keeps saying I need to...try new things?”

“I am 100 percent in favor of that.” Canaan nodded before turning to Ben. “But if you feel the need to...supervise, maybe you should both take me home.” Canaan didn’t wait for an answer before stretching up to Maddox’s ear. “You know you want to watch me with him again.”

God, help him, he did. This was all kinds of messed up, and tomorrow he’d surely hate himself, but he wanted that. Wanted to watch Canaan wrap those pretty lips around Ben’s cock, wanted to see Ben lose his ‘tude, wanted to be there when he lost control again. Wanted to lose himself in the soft rumble of Ben’s dirty talk and Canaan’s answering smart mouth.

And more than anything, he wanted Ben out of his system, even though he knew that was pointless and that fucking wasn’t the answer in any case. But maybe...