Chapter Six
Nightclubs.
What was the point? James was so tired of letting himself be talked into doing things like this. Bethany had a point—it had been a while since he’d been out. As he allowed her to pull him through the writhing bodies at Sparks, he tried ignoring the throb of his head. Thankfully, Bethany managed to get them a private area and he settled into one of the seats to massage his temples.
“So how do you know this guy?” James asked.
“You mean, Marc?” Bethany fell into the sofa across from him. “Marcus and I go way back. My firm helped him with all the legal stuff when he wanted to start Sparks. Actually, I was going to try setting you up with him but he was a bit of a horn dog.”
“In other words, he’s a slut.”
“Was—was a slut.”
“Right. He’s reformed now?”
“Precisely. He found himself a loving man and who would want to screw that up, right?” She walked to the glass and peered out.
“Do you think a man can change?” James asked. “I mean, what’s to stop him from cheating on this new man?”
“It’s not exactly new, new. And I think Tyler would strangle Marcus with his own intestines. I really do think he’s changed his ways. I mean, it’s not going to be perfect, but Marcus probably knows he’d lose Tyler if he strayed.”
“And you think that’s enough to keep him in line?”
“Yeah. Love makes us do strange things, big brother.” Bethany turned to level green eyes on him. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” James said, trying to hide the irritation he felt. “I met this guy coming back from Boise and I wished we’d exchanged numbers.”
“Really?” She scooted back over to him. “Tell me about him.”
“He’s a musician. A very successful one. Jordan knows who he is. Apparently his music got Jordan through some hard times.” James laced his fingers and lounged back. “He has this song called Broken Symphonies and it’s…it’s amazing.”
“Since when did you start listening to hiphop?”
James frowned. “Since Quentin Lauder is one of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen and he’s a rapper.”
Bethany grinned.
“There’s a lyric in the song that says I look for acceptance in your eyes. But it was never there. Without a word you break me, leave me shattered on the floor.”
Bethany gasped. “Wow…did he write that?”
“According to the credits—yeah.”
“Damn. If he’s so famous, look up his agent and reach out that way.”
“I can’t do that.” James frowned. “How stalkery would that be?”
Bethany sighed. “James, you obviously want to know more about this guy.”
“Well, he did take Jordan’s email address. Said he would message when he has a show coming up in New York.”
“Do you know how long these shows take to plan?” Bethany asked. “You really should find another way. You could be waiting like two years and who knows what would happen in all that time.”
James sighed.
Bethany went back to the window. “This won’t do at all. You can’t get laid if you’re hiding out in here.”
“I’m not trying to get laid,” James said, rolling his eyes. “My head is throbbing like hell.”
A waitress entered and took their order and left as quickly as she’d entered. Bethany final sat beside him and lounged. “So, how has things been since you got Jordan home?”
“Okay—He’s still a little mad at me, I think.”
“It’s expected. Felix and the wicked witch had like fifteen years to program him. Give it time. He’s not going to come around all at once.”
James was about to say something else when the door opened and a rather handsome man stepped through. At first, James thought the man had entered the wrong area but when Bethany smiled and hurried over to hug him, James figured not.
“Marcus Feldman, please meet my brother—”
“James McLaren!” The man with the bright eyes said while offering a hand.
James rose and shook it. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Are you kidding? My husband is a fan of yours and he doesn’t really read much—aside from bedtime stories and the newspaper.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I knew Beth’s last name was McLaren but I never put two and two together.” Marcus flashed another dazzling smile. “Hey listen, would it be a hassle to get you to sign something for husband? I wouldn’t usually ask but he is nose deep into your last book and living on your website to see when the next one is coming out.”
James nodded. “Sure…” He looked around. “Um, what though?”
“Hang on. I think there’s a copy of your book Whispers in my office.”
Before he could say anything Marcus was gone. When he turned to look at Bethany, she was beaming at him.
It didn’t take long at all for Marcus to return with the book. After a few minutes, of chatting and James signing it, Marcus offered them drinks on the house.
“You can let the Mister know that the next book is now with my editor.” James offered. “So, now I’m waiting to see how brutal the rewrites will be.”
Marcus laughed then nodded. “Have fun tonight. If you’ll excuse me, I must speak with Darius.”
“We will,” Bethany said before James could.
Alone with his sister again, James rose. “I’m going to make my rounds.”
“Okay. I have to call the sitter to make sure Ellie is in bed,” Bethany said. “And be sure to ogle the dancers while you’re at it. It’s been a while since you’ve ogled.”
“I ogle plenty.” James puffed up his chest.
“No—no you don’t.”
With a grunt, James let himself from the luxury area and made his way into the thick of writhing bodies. On little stages, dancers swayed to the music pulsing through the place. Lights flickered, songs changed, people screamed their pleasure at the ever changing beats and James head throbbed right along with it all. A couple of times people tried pulling him into dancing. He merely declined and inched his way further and further until he reached the bar. A couple of guys vacated a seat there and he climbed onto one of the stools.
“What’ll it be?” A voice called to him.
James wondered how the bartender would hear him over the racket so he leaned in and motioned for the man to come closer. With the stranger’s ears close to his lips he said, “Whiskey sour.”
The bartender grinned at him and turned to grab a glass. When he set it before James, he leaned in once more.
“James McLaren, is it?” the bartender asked.
“Yeah.” James didn’t feel like being recognized at that moment.
“Good. The boss said your drinks are on the house tonight,” the bartender said. “Just making sure you’re him.”
James nodded and took a sip from his glass. He didn’t have to turn to know the stool beside him was no longer vacant. But something pulled him in that direction. The familiar face of Quentin Lauder filled his vision. He reached over and tapped Quentin on the shoulder.
“Professor!” Quentin said, his eyes lighting up. “Hang on.”
Quentin turned to speak with the bartender and once he had a beer in his hand, Quentin took James’ hand and led him back through the bodies and into a quiet hallway that led toward the toilets. James leaned his back into one wall, as Quentin did the same.
“I didn’t think you were the partying kind,” Quentin said.
“That your way of saying I’m old?”
Quentin smirked. “No. It’s my way of saying I didn’t think you were the partying kind.”
“I’m not. My sister figured she’d save me from becoming a sex-less hermit.” James downed the rest of his drink. “She’s trying to get me laid.”
Quentin quirked a brow. “Is that so? And how’s that going?”
“It would be going a lot better if I was a willing participant—I assume.”
“You don’t want to get laid?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t?” James inhaled and turned his gaze toward a couple of guys who scampered toward them holding hands. He said nothing until the men disappeared into the bathroom. “But this isn’t the way I want it to happen. Enough about my weird sister.”
Quentin chuckled.
“What’s your excuse for this madness?”
“It’s my brother’s, bestfriend’s birthday.” Quentin explained after a swallow of his beer. “This was what he wanted to do and I got roped into coming. Apparently, I can sleep when I’m dead.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Look—” They said at the same time, paused then laughed.
“Go ahead,” Quentin said.
“Um—I should have done this the first time we met but I didn’t think you’d be remotely interested and the fact that I’m seeing you again means I need to get my fear out of the way and—”
“Yes, you can have my number.”
James’ cheeks heated. “Not playing hard to get?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“How come?”
“Why would I” Quentin asked. “You’re hot and I’m too impatient for all that cat and mouse drama.”
James blushed harder.
“Why wouldn’t you think I’d be interested? Just curious, of course.”
“Of course.” James smiled. “I’m Forty, Quentin. You see the grey hairs, right?”
Quentin chewed on his lush bottom lip. In that moment, James couldn’t help staring. The thought of having that mouth on his was absolutely divine. Still, he braced his back to the wall, and forced his eyes to meet Quentin’s.
Quentin closed the distance between them. Soon, he was so close, his scent filled James’ head and wrapped its way around James. Unable to stop himself, James moaned and closed his eyes.
“Have you ever been felt up in a club?” Quentin asked, dropping a kiss to the side of James’ head. “After all, you’re the more experienced one of the two of us.”
“No—I can’t say I have.” James sighed each time Quentin’s lips caught his flesh. It was like being gently shocked. “Clubs were never my thing.”
“Well, Mr. McLaren, you can scratch this one off your bucket list.” Quentin growled softly as his right hand trailed down James’ side. His left was bracing against the wall by James’ head.
“I didn’t know I had a bucket list.”
Quentin said nothing to that. Instead, he allowed the right hand to glide across James’ torso then down to the front of his pants. James didn’t hear it but felt the rumble in his chest. He was never the primal kind of guy, especially in bed but having Quentin massaging his cock to life did something to him. Unable to stop himself, he grabbed Quentin’s shoulder, spun them around and shoved Quentin into the wall.
A growl filled the air from Quentin and he tried pushing forward to kiss James. James merely smirked and pressed in close, using the weight of his body to keep Quentin where he wanted him.
Quentin moaned and lifted his soul piercing brown eyes to James. Weak, he lowered his mouth to Quentin’s, hesitated only for a second before taking what his body so desperately craved. He plunged his tongue into Quentin’s hot mouth and growled when their tongues met. Electricity stormed through him, making him tremble, leaving James weak in the arms of this man he barely knew. But it felt as if his body knew Quentin—almost as if they’d been lovers in a past life. He moaned, slammed his hips forward to grind his arousal into Quentin’s while deepening the kiss.
When his brain felt as if it would explode, James lifted his head and stepped back. In that moment he couldn’t meet the younger man’s eyes. He’d lost control. He sought to assuage his desires and he hadn’t even asked what Quentin wanted.
“I can see you want to run,” Quentin said, extending a hand. “Let me see your phone.”
“My—my phone?”
Quentin nodded.
Unsure, James dug into his pocket or his cell, unlocked it and handed it over. Quentin tapped away for a few seconds before giving it back.
“Now, you have my number,” Quentin said, softly. He then turned toward the club once more.
“Quentin…”
“Yes, professor?”
James licked his lips. “This—what we’ve done—it’s all new to me.”
“You’re not a virgin, are you?”
James laughed. “No. I don’t do flings, especially now that I have Jordan. I have to put him first in everything. As much as I want you, I have to consider what this could do to him. I know how much he loves your music.”
“Loving my music and sleeping with me are two different things, James,” Quentin explained. “You do understand that, right?”
“I didn’t say he wanted to sleep with you.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
James smiled and inhaled deeply while shoving his fingers deeply into his pockets.
“Look, tomorrow, I’ll be at a local studio just running some lines,” Quentin said. “My brother and producer will be there so we won’t be alone. You don’t have to worry about us kissing again. But I’d really like to see you—maybe go for a cup of coffee afterward or something.”
James opened his mouth to decline but found himself nodding. “Sure. And I’m not afraid of being alone with you…”
“Yes, you are.” Quentin smiled. “Don’t try sparing my feelings. I’m a big boy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“What time?”
“I’ll be there from about eleven, so, any time after that.”
“Okay.”
Quentin approached James once more. With each step, James’ heart raced so hard. He thought for sure Quentin would kiss him. The more James thought about it, the more he realized he wouldn’t have minded. In fact, James wanted to be kissed, to he shoved to the wall and felt up. He needed to feel Quentin’s long fingers wrapped around his cock, stroking, stroking, stroking…
Stroking…
…Until he was nothing but a whimpering, writhing mess. But instead, Quentin lifted a tender palm to James’ cheek. James shamelessly pressed his skin into the warmth of Quentin’s touch.
“I’m not the type to beat around the bush.” Quentin explained. “It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone and I’m ready. But I’m not thirsty and I’m not going to beg you to fuck me either—well, if we’re going at it and you’re into that kind of thing.”
“Thirsty?”
“Needy, James. I’m not needy.”
“I see.”
“Ball’s in your court, professor.” Quentin leaned in and dropped chaste kiss to James’ lips.
This time, James allowed Quentin to walk away.