A few nights had passed since the barbeque, and I was out with Oliver, Chris, and a few of his friends, while Lan had gone to the compound. Clubs weren’t usually my scene, but of course, it was hard to say no to Oliver, especially since it was his birthday.

“How’s hot-stuff Lan going?” Oliver shouted in my ear.

Grinning, I said, “Good.”

Oliver studied me for a moment, then leaned in. “You know, I don’t think you were ever this happy with me.”

“Ollie—”

He shook his head. “Relax. I like it. Seeing you this happy. He’s the one, like Chris is mine.”

I nodded. “I like to think so.”

“Speaking of Chris, I’m going to go help him at the bar. If Patrick and Niall ever get off the dance floor, tell them we’re getting this round.”

I gave him two thumbs-up instead of shouting. While I might still be young enough to go to nightclubs, I knew I’d regret it tomorrow with a pounding headache. Also, if Oliver had anything to do with it, I’d be stumbling out of there by the end of the night with the amount he wanted to drink. I was already halfway tipsy. He was such a bad influence at times.

Patrick slipped into the booth puffing and panting. He waved his hand in front of his face and said something.

“Sorry?” I yelled.

He moved around the booth and got close. “It’s so hot out there. Niall’s gone to the loo and getting some drinks.”

I was about to tell him to find Niall to tell him to forget the drinks when someone gripped the top of my arm and dragged me up to stand beside the booth. I spun to face a fuming Parker.

He got in my face. “Lan know you’re here whisperin’ sweet nothin’s to some dude?”

“We weren’t—”

“Say goodbye. I’m takin’ you home.”

“Parker, I’m not leaving. I’m here to celebrate Oliver’s birthday.”

“Bullshit. You’re steppin’ out on Lan.”

Now I was pissed. So I pushed his chest. He didn’t budge. “I would never do that,” I yelled, and just in case I could take him off guard, I tried to shove him again. His hands wound around my wrists and held them against his chest. My stomach twirled like a fancy ballerina dancing for the first time.

No. I couldn’t, wouldn’t, let him and his good looks and firm chest distract me. Neither would the way his hands loosened on my wrist and… was that his thumbs brushing over my skin. I shook my head to clear it.

“Ah, Easton, is everything okay here?” Patrick asked, loud enough to be heard over the music, kneeling beside us on the booth seat.

Parker ignored him, and asked, “If you’re here for Oliver and not to pick up, then where in the fuck is he?”

“He’s getting drinks, not that it’s any of your business.” Sheesh, that sounded familiar, like I’d said it to him before. I rolled my eyes, fully aware I had.

“It is my business,” he clipped loudly.

“How?”

His jaw clenched, his glare narrowing even more.

Oliver stepped up to our other side. “Hey there, scowly. What’s going on?”

I raised my brows at Parker. He said nothing.

“Um, what’s happening here?” Oliver asked.

“Nothin’,” Parker snarled and dropped my wrists, stepping back.

“Wait,” I called, grabbing his arm before he could take off and getting in his space so I didn’t have to yell too much. “You need to talk to Lan.”

His gaze travelled over my face before meeting my eyes. “Why?”

“He’s worried about you. We both are. Have we done—”

“Don’t,” he bit out.

“What? Don’t what? Ask about you? Ask what we could have done to have you steer clear of us? Is it because of me? Do I annoy you that much you have to stay away from your friend? Or is it because Lan kissed you? While I’m at it, why did you kiss—” He covered my mouth with his palm, and I glared up at him.

My eyes widened when his expression softened. His gaze moved lower, on his hand over my mouth. He moved his hand and slid it across so his finger grazed against my mouth. He stopped with his finger at the edge of my mouth and then ran it down to my chin. He tapped it a couple of times before resting it there.

“Yes,” he said.

“Yes what?” I asked, more confused than before.

He shook his head and dragged his eyes up to capture mine, and I sucked in a shocked breath when I saw desire pooling in his eyes. He smirked, turned, and left through the crowd. While I stood there, frozen to the spot.

What. Was. That?

What was that?

“Are you okay?” Oliver asked, threading his arm around my waist.

“Ah….”

“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” Chris said from the other side of me. Oliver nodded, agreeing with Chris.

“What are you talking about?” I asked Chris.

“I was coming back with drinks. I saw the whole hand on mouth and trailing his finger, tapping your chin and resting it there.” He gulped his drink.

“I saw the look in his eyes. Easton, honey, he wants to eat you alive,” Oliver said.

“I got that same feeling from just seeing a touch,” Chris said.

Shaking my head, I told them, “You two are crazy.”

Oliver spun to me. “You can’t tell me you didn’t get the vibe off him wanting you. Don’t lie to me, Easton.”

I shrugged.

Chris patted my shoulder. “Does Lan know?”

“I, no, there’s nothing… I—” I threw my hands up in the air. “I don’t know what he needs to know. Yes, it was a hot look and touch, but I don’t know,” I cried.

“There, there,” Oliver cooed, rubbing his hand up and down my back. “Come on, let’s go have a drink, and we’ll call Lan to come pick you up.”

I shook my head. “A drink yes, but I’ll text Lan and tell him I’m Ubering it home. This place is too far out of his way.”

“Do you think that’s wise? He’d hate it.”

“It’ll be fine. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself, and Ubers are safe.”

“Plus,” Chris said. “It’ll give you time to think about what to tell Lan.”

“No, that’s not why. He won’t care. Not that there’s anything to care about, but he was fine when Parker kissed me the first time.”

“Parker kissed you and you didn’t tell me!”

Now I knew I’d need not one but two drinks. One for my rattled mind and body, and another for the Parker conversation with Oliver. I still couldn’t believe that look. His eyes had smouldered. It sounded so lame, and something from the eighties, but darn it, that’s exactly what they did. Smoulder.

As I took my drink from Chris, I couldn’t help but wonder why Parker was there in the first place. Had he been looking to hook up with some random woman or could he have known I was there and wanted to see me?

I laughed at that thought and shook my head. That thought was just stupid.

Or was it?

With the outside light shining, I could easily see Lan waiting on the front porch as the Uber pulled into my driveway. Smiling, he leaned against the house with his arms crossed over his chest. As soon as I was out of the car, he straightened and started towards me.

“How drunk are you?” he asked, coming down the front steps.

Grinning, I tilted my hand side to side. “So, so.” Once close, he pulled me into his arms. “What about you?”

“I’m fine, drove home. Already been in. Dogs are out in their kennels. I’ve got water in our room ready for you.”

I laughed. “Am I going to need it?”

“Oh yeah, you’ll be very parched when I’m done.”

My heart stumbled, only to stop. “I saw Parker tonight.” Lan’s head jerked back in shock.

“And?”

“I… he… strange.”

“What was?” he demanded.

“He got angry with me because he thought I was stepping out on you.”

Lan snorted. “Seriously?”

“Yep.” I nodded. “When he realised I wasn’t, he went to leave, but I got in his face, blurted stuff out, asking if he hated us or just me for being with you. He didn’t really say anything, but he did put his hand over my mouth. Lan, Ollie and Chris saw it, but I don’t know if it’s for real. I thought it was just me seeing things and maybe feeling things, but they think it’s true.”

He shook me a little. “What?”

“There was a moment.”

“A moment?”

I nodded.

“What kind of moment?”

“An intense one.”

Lan studied my face. “We need to talk to him. See what’s going on.” He shifted, curled his arm around my shoulders and started us up the steps.

“We do.”

We both turned at the same time when we heard a car coming down the road. My breath caught when I saw it was Parker’s.

I took a step down, and Lan’s arm slipped from my shoulders. He moved behind me more.

“Why would he be here?” Lan pondered.

“I don’t know. He left the club, but didn’t mention he was coming out here.”

Parker parked, got out, and strode towards us with stiff movements. His eyes scanned over both of us, and he kept clenching and unclenching his jaw. It looked like he could even be grinding his teeth. Still, even with the dark look upon his handsome face, he was unbelievably attractive in the light of the porch.

Okay, maybe I did have too much to drink.

“Parker,” Lan greeted.

“Lan.” Parker lifted his chin and moved his eyes down to me. “Easton.”

“Ah, hey.” I waved lamely.

It could have been my eyesight, but I was sure I saw his lips twitch. Of course it didn’t last.

“What’s goin’ on?” Lan asked.

He glanced over to the side, then down at his feet. I heard his intake of breath before he peeked up at us. “I want to watch.”

Say what now?

“Watch what?” Lan asked cautiously. He was probably wondering what I was: Did he mean me and Lan together?

Holy fuck, did he?

Would he?

Would I want it?

My dick was screaming yes, yes, yes, while my mind was… all right, I was also thinking hell to the yes. I loved Lan. Being with him was something special each time, and to share that with Parker would be amazing, especially since it was Parker. A man we were both attracted to.

“You two,” Parker clipped, probably annoyed Lan was questioning him, but we had to know.

“Why?” Lan asked.

He opened his mouth, closed it, and mumbled under his breath before sighing and staring down as he shuffled his foot into the gravel.

Oh my God.

Parker Wilding was curious.

He thought he could be interested in men. Maybe in us. He didn’t know; he was confused.

Was all this the reason why he stayed away from us?

Was it why he was being such an arse to Lan?

It must have been.

“Parker?” Lan bit out.

I knew one thing, if Parker had to talk about it first, it would freak him out even more. He was an action man. If I didn’t take control of the situation, Parker would leave, and I wasn’t sure something like this would happen again if it came to Parker.

Turning to face Lan, I reached up and cupped his face. His eyes crashed down to mine. I mouthed, “Trust me.” Lan nodded slightly. I smiled and slowly dragged his face down so I could touch my lips to his.