He felt like Jameson was flaying him open. He wanted to feel harassed, because he was being harassed. He didn't know this guy from Jesus. He was done with one-night stands, with being someone's quick fix. Was Jameson just looking for a fix? Corvin honestly didn't think so.
He started to get a little nauseous himself, but eventually, the arousal did go away and was replaced with concern. The girl in the bathroom was puking kind of a lot, whoever she was.
He tapped at the door. "You all right in there?" he called.
"No," she said, mid-hurl. "I need help."
"Okay, who are you with?"
"Marceline and Jameson."
"Okay, hang on."
He realized it was probably the girl who had been doing way too many shots all night. He had been concerned about her, and so had Jameson. Walking out from the hallway, he entered the crowd. There were a few people waiting for drinks at the bar, but he figured they could wait a minute. Looking around, he found Jameson and the chick with awful glasses. He tapped Jameson on the shoulder. Jameson turned around, and for just a second, Corvin's breath was sucked out of him. Up close, Jameson was a lot taller, a lot more imposing, and smelled like cedar and pine.
"Um," he stammered. "Your friend is in the bathroom and she needs some help."
"Oh crap, thank you," he said, and then turned to grab the other girl's shoulder too. "Sarah's in trouble."
"Dammit," she sighed, and she walked past Corvin and to the bathroom. Jameson followed her, clapping Corvin on the shoulder.
"Thanks, man," he said, and went into the hall.
Corvin went with them in case he had to file some kind of incident report. He found Jameson holding the door open.
"I'm super sick, Marceline," the girl said.
Jameson piped in, "No wonder, Sarah, have you ever even had tequila?"
"No," groaned Sarah.
"Did you eat anything before you came in?" Corvin added.
"No."
Marceline sighed. "Jamie, please go start my car," she said as she straightened up and rummaged through her pockets for her keys. She handed them to Jameson, who reached out and took them. He glanced at Corvin before turning and leaving the bathroom.
Corvin stayed with the girls while Jameson went to go start the car. He wasn't quite sure if they were sisters or lesbians, but he was leaning toward the latter. They were so comfortable with one another. He was a little jealous.
"I'll be right back," he said, and Marceline nodded once to him. He went to the back room and got a hot wet washcloth and a bottled water. When he came back, he handed the washcloth over. Sarah wiped her face clean, and then took careful sips of the water.
"You guys think I might be drunk?" she asked, in a slurred voice.
"The thought had occurred to me," said Marceline. "What do you think, sexy bartender man?"
"Oh, there's a possibility you might be," he said. "I probably shouldn't have sold you so much alcohol."
"You greedy bastard," said Sarah, without real heat. "Selling me all that alcohol."
Marceline rolled her eyes, and gave Corvin a look that reassured him. He smirked.
"So, are you and Jameson gonna hook up?"
Corvin was kind of taken aback.
"I don't know. I told him I wasn't looking for a relationship, but he seems all right."
"He is all right. We've known him forever. Just trust me, you should just hook up with him."
Corvin's cheeks got hot, and he rubbed at the back of his neck. "You think so?"
"I know so. I have intuitive lesbian senses."
With a lot of noise, Jameson came back through the hall and into the bathroom. "Hey, car's pulled up out front. Better get in it before someone snags it."
He looked at Corvin.
"I'll be right back," he said, and Corvin understood what he meant.
He helped Marceline limp Sarah out of the bathroom, then out of the bar. Corvin waited in the bathroom. He knew he probably should have just gone back to work. Should have let Jameson finish his business. But he waited anyway.
Corvin's lips were sore from kissing and the scratching of Jameson's jaw. He held Jameson back, catching his breath. His chest rose and fell. He looked into the green eyes of the younger man, and what he found there surprised him. At first they were bright with lust. Desire was the only thing written across his face.
But then they softened. Jameson reached up and touched Corvin's face, stroking the edge of Corvin's sharp cheekbone with just his thumb.
Corvin said, "I really should probably go back to work…"
"Yeah, probably," Jameson agreed as his hand lightly stroked Corvin's chest. He reached down, down, tucking his hand into the waistband of Cor's jeans. "People need beer."
"I'm sick to my stomach of pouring beer," Corvin said, trying to tidy his hair. It was very hard to ignore Jameson's hand in his jeans. His erection was pressing hard against his jeans and it was starting to hurt pretty badly. He scratched his jaw, a movement that Jameson watched with hungry eyes. Their stares locked again.
"I really don't want to let you go out there," he said.
"What if I promise to go home with you tonight? Would that make it easier?"
With a laugh, Jameson said, "I think that just makes it even harder to let you go."
"Well, then I won't make any promises."
Jameson came in close again and cupped his hand against Corvin's jaw. He kissed him, more gently this time. "Please come home with me tonight? You won't regret it."
"I think I might."
Jameson stayed close, almost close enough for their noses to touch. Corvin felt laid bare, as if Jameson had already taken his clothes off. Corvin broke the eye contact when Jameson's eyes went from soft to concerned. There was a question there.
"Why would you regret it?"
Suddenly, Corvin realized that Jameson was a little stung.
"It's just… I just got out of a bad thing, and I… I wasn't supposed to start something now. But here you are, and here I am."
Jameson nodded. "I understand."
His tone still had an undercurrent of hurt.
"I'm just sore, y'know?"
Jameson smiled. "You can say you're heartbroken. I don't know who the guy was who hurt you, but I promise, I'm not like him."
Corvin lifted his eyes to meet with Jameson's again. No, Jameson wasn't like Caleb. That made it scarier. Jameson seemed like long-term material.
"We both better get back out there. But you should probably kiss me again, just in case."
"In case of what?"
"In case you have crap for a memory, and need reminding of how bad I want you."
Corvin snorted and rolled his eyes, but he did kiss Jameson again, only this time, it was softer, sweeter. A loving kiss, rather than a hungry one.