The moment Evie introduced Nic to River, Kyle could feel his best friend’s eyes cut straight over to him.

Yes, he’s that guy. No, don’t make it obvious, Kyle mentally begged River.

For the first few minutes, he thought he’d won that psychic exchange. Turned out he was wrong.

The moment Nic turned away to reorder, River sidled up and put his arm around his shoulder, stopping Kyle from talking music with Nic. “Hey. Come here. Dance.”

“What?” Kyle laughed as River pulled him toward the dance floor to shimmy with him. He mirrored River’s moves, swishing his hips back and forth. “You and Evie look like you’ve been plotting.”

“What if we have? He’s the same Nic you were talking about before, isn’t he?” River exclaimed. “No wonder Evie wanted to get him here with you.”

Kyle wagged his finger. “No. Nuh uh. You know my thoughts on that.”

River completely ignored him, so he tried to wag his finger in River’s face. He just grabbed Kyle’s hand and raised it overhead, shimmying to the music and shouting along for a few verses.

Kyle relaxed into the movement and laughed at his best friend. “You are ridiculous.”

“Your shyness all of a sudden, that’s what’s ridiculous,” River called back, then leaned in to talk to him closer again. “Go chat with him. Hit on him.”

Kyle stared at River. “Really?”

“Really! He’s here to dance. He’s as gay as three repressed Mormons. Small town kid? He wants to explode onto the scene. And by explode, I do mean…”

Kyle grabbed River’s other hand before he could make any obscene gestures. “Okay, okay. Jesus. I get the idea.”

River spun him around and grinned at him. “Come on. You start blushing when you’re standing next to each other.”

“No, we don’t! Do we?” Kyle felt like he was in middle school again, which was about right since Evie was giggling in the background with Dana as she watched him awkwardly dance. He was a good club dancer, when he wasn’t being distracted by very bad ideas.

And the very bad ideas that those ideas gave him. Like Nic, pinned to the bed, gasping and squirming and crying his pleasure, Kyle’s mouth on his cock.

River smacked his hip. “Go do it before I twist your arm.”

Kyle hesitated, glancing away and moving to the beat. The darkened lights, the touch of alcohol getting to his head, the pulsing music that vibrated his chest… it loosened his inhibitions just enough. Work relationship between them or not, life was meant to be lived, right?

He drew a breath, downed the rest of his beer, and handed River the bottle. “You’re such an asshole.”

Nic was too fucking adorable to resist.

“Love you too, baby,” River blew him a kiss as Kyle made his way back to the group and straight to Nic’s side.

Nic had been subtly pulling away from the group, shyly watching for the last half hour. No more of that.

“Dance with me?” Kyle beamed, holding out a hand.

Nic went a funny shade of pink, his lips parting—and such delectable lips they were, too. Even in the dim lighting, they looked pink and full and soft. Kyle would kill to feel them on his own.

Don’t shoot me down. Or do, and get this whole silly thing over with.

His heart leapt when Nic nodded. Kyle tried not to get invested in every guy he asked, but hell, it was impossible not to hope that Nic had eyes for him.

They found a relatively clear spot on the dance floor where they didn’t instantly have to grind together, and then Kyle rested his hands lightly on Nic’s shoulders. “Having a good night?”

“I am now,” Nic beamed back at him. Oh, that was a good sign.

Kyle winked. “We’ll get you having a great night.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Absolutely.” Kyle grabbed Nic’s hand and traced his finger over his heart in an “x” shape. “Cross my heart.”

And hope to die… The catchy pop lyrics overhead made Nic laugh, and Kyle thanked the universe and the queen of pop for the perfect timing.

It worked. Nic’s hands came to rest on his sides and they shimmied up closer, still keeping a little space between their bodies.

Kyle’s heart raced. He kept his hands where they were for now but put a little more effort into rippling his body from head to toe with each move until Nic’s eyes were drawn to his chest, stomach, and further south to watch the undulations.

Nic’s eyebrow arched, and then he grinned, mimicking the same slow roll of his hips toward Kyle. His hand slid up Kyle’s back toward the back of his head.

That was as clear an invitation as any. Kyle let his hands run down Nic’s back toward his waistband, resting them on his sides for a few moments. He stepped close enough that their thighs started to brush.

With Nic’s full attention on him, the sexual and playful side of him coaxed out, Kyle barely remembered anyone else’s existence. He ignored it whenever he stumbled from an arm or elbow. He couldn’t tear his eyes off Nic’s face, except to admire his body.

And then the moment came: they stumbled close together, high off the beat of the music pulsing through them, dirty suggestions vibrating through their chests… their bodies nestled together, arms slipping around each other’s backs and running over each other’s asses and thighs, clutching at the back of each other’s heads as they play-fought who was going to lead this kiss.

Nic’s eyes sparkled as he pulled his head back from Kyle’s and cocked it, licking his lips slowly.

Kyle half-closed his eyes and tilted his head, and then they both leaned in together to close the gap.

Soft and surprisingly intimate for a first kiss in the middle of the dance floor. And chemistry flared between them, so hot that Kyle felt like his whole body was scorched.

Suddenly, Nic’s lips weren’t enough, but they were all he wanted to taste.

They leaned in for the second kiss and teeth caught lips, tongues teasing, Nic’s stubble scraping his cheek. Kyle pulled Nic into his body until they stumbled together, losing the beat of the music.

I need him.