Gabe wasn’t sure how Brody had done it, but somehow he’d managed to get Nate to agree to go to Owen’s party. Okay, so Gabe had to promise lay off him, and he would. Hell, there didn’t need to be any laying down involved. He was perfectly happy to be taken up against a wall, or even bent over the island. He wasn’t picky.
Looking in the mirror, he smiled at his reflection. Gabe wasn’t one to be self-conscious or timid; he knew he was a good-looking man and made no apologies for it. His short, dark hair was perfectly styled. He’d chosen a plum, V-neck shirt to offset his olive skin and whiskey-brown eyes. The black pants he wore were snug around his ass, one of his favorite features about himself. Gabe intended to make Nate take notice tonight. If this didn’t do it then the man was clearly blind—or insane.
He looked at the clock and saw he was already fifteen minutes late. Usually Gabe preferred to be fashionably late. Tonight was no exception, and actually it would probably work in his favor. He figured Nate would get there first, maybe have a beer and begin to let his guard down a little if he thought Gabe wasn’t coming. Little did he know, coming was one of Gabe’s favorite things to do, and he sure didn’t mind a little help doing it. Good thing Nate likes to work with his hands.
Gabe chuckled and grabbed his keys and wallet off of the dresser. It only took him five minutes to get to Owen and Brody’s. He could’ve walked if he didn’t mind working up a little sweat. But unless the sweating involved a gorgeous blond man, condoms, lube, and earth-shattering orgasms…he preferred to drive.
Gabe walked right into Owen and Brody’s house, hearing the sound of people talking and music coming through the door. Immediately, he spotted Brody and headed in that direction, stopping behind him. “Please tell me you have something other than beer?” Gabe said in his ear and smiled when Brody turned around and hugged him.
“You’re late,” Brody scolded.
“And this is a surprise?” Gabe asked.
Brody laughed and pointed toward the kitchen. “Got a couple of bottles of merlot and plenty to eat. Help yourself.”
Gabe scanned the room, knowing exactly what the target looked like. Abruptly, his gaze stopped and zeroed in when his eyes landed on Nate by himself over in the corner.
“Whatever I want to eat?” Gabe licked his lips, imagining what that delicious man tasted like.
Brody put a hand on Gabe’s face, turning his head back to look in his direction. “Except him. Be on your best behavior, please?”
“Brody Walker, when am I not well-behaved? As a matter of fact, it seems like one of your guests is in a need of another beer. I’ll just go take care of that.” Gabe flashed a smile and winked at Brody.
“Gabe,” Brody said in warning, but Gabe was already walking away to the kitchen.
He poured himself some wine, grabbed a beer, and made his way in Nate’s direction. Out of nowhere, Owen stepped in front of him, blocking his way, obviously stalling the inevitable. “Well, if it isn’t the birthday boy,” Gabe said. “Get what you wished for this year?”
Owen glanced over at Brody and his eyes immediately softened, sending a very rare feeling of jealousy through Gabe. “Yeah, I definitely got my wish this year.” He smiled and looked back at Gabe, a blush on his pale cheeks, making his blue eyes seem brighter. Gabe wasn’t jealous Owen Richards had Brody, even though Brody was the most important person in Gabe’s life. It was that hint of something more, a little voice in the back of his head saying he wouldn’t mind having that with someone. Then he reminded himself he’d tried the relationship route once, and it clearly wasn’t meant for him.
“I’m happy for you. If anyone deserves the happily-ever-after, it’s you and Brody.” Gabe genuinely meant it too. It wasn’t an easy or expected road for either one of them, but Owen and Brody clearly belonged together.
“Don’t you think you deserve it too?” Owen asked, and suddenly, Gabe felt like this conversation had become too serious, too quickly.
Gabe raised one eyebrow and grinned. “I prefer the happy ending that usually comes at the end of a massage—if I choose the right masseur.” Gabe winked, making Owen laugh. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe one of your guests could use another beer.”
“Gabe, we’re lucky we got him to come. Don’t scare him away, okay?” Owen’s dark eyebrows furrowed in concern.
“He’s not a frightened animal, for heaven’s sake. You and your boyfriend seem to think I’m going to attack the guy in your living room. I’m simply replenishing the man’s beverage. If he chooses to sample the other goods being offered, who am I to deprive him?” Gabe stared at Owen with a look that said he wasn’t backing down.
“You’re relentless,” Owen said, shaking his head and smiling.
Gabe nudged Owen’s shoulder and returned the smile. “Don’t blame me. I was raised that way.” Walking around Owen, he continued on his path toward the gorgeous man in the corner.
“Hey there, sexy.” Leslie linked an arm through Gabe’s and stopped his forward momentum.
“I thought we covered this, honey. Unless you’ve got a tab A that will fit deliciously in my tab B,” he wiggled his butt, “this puzzle won’t work.”
“Hey now. I’m not putting a thing into anyone’s anything. And trust me,” she glanced over to a tall, handsome—and extremely nervous looking—man in the corner, “my tab V is covered.”
“Hmm…is it? Then you wouldn’t mind if I brought my future tab A on the other side of the room a beer.” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
“Aren’t you supposed to stay away from a particular sexy, broody, muscular…?” She licked her lips. “What was I saying?” Leslie asked as she unashamedly eyed Nate.
“You were saying you were going to stay out of my sex life and go back to your man over there before Jenny scoops him right up.”
“What?” Leslie whipped her head in the direction of the shy man. “Why that little—”
“Bye, Leslie.” Gabe carefully pulled his arm away so as not to spill his wine and watched Leslie storm off. Wouldn’t want to be Jenny right now.
“You’re a man on a mission, huh?”
“Ah, Jonah.” Gabe sighed when Jonah stepped in front of him. “I should’ve known you would be part of the roadblock. Whatever happened to not cock-blocking a friend, hmm? Is there no loyalty in the gayhood anymore?”
Jonah laughed, spreading a gorgeous, dimpled smile across his face. “Glad to see you’re still as dramatic as always, Gabe.” The guy was perfect from head to toe, inside and out.
Too bad perfect wasn’t what Gabe was after. No, he needed something with a little more wear and tear. Someone with an edge. Which brought him back to the roadblock currently standing in his way. “Well, it’s been fun, but if you’ll excuse me―”
Jonah placed a gentle hand on Gabe’s chest. “Nothing I can say to get you to back off then?”
Gabe sighed again, rolling his eyes. “My God, did the four of you have a Nate Protection Plan meeting I wasn’t invited to? I assure you, I’m harmless. I’m also pretty sure that Nate is a grown man who doesn’t need protection—unless it’s a condom. Then I fully condone it and will even offer my services in the Sheathing Department.” Gabe winked. “He can thank me later.” He held the beer bottle in the crook of his left arm and patted Jonah’s cheek. “Wish me luck.” Then he walked around Jonah and headed for his target.
Nate didn’t disappoint tonight that was for sure. The guy made a pair of jeans the sexiest material ever to fit on a man’s strong body. Long legs, strong muscled thighs, unmistakable well-endowed bulge, all covered in denim. It made Gabe want to get down on his knees and find out what hid beneath the denim—with his tongue. Nate’s broad chest was screaming to be released from the tightly stretched black cotton T-shirt. Tell me the man doesn’t know what he’s doing to me in that outfit?
“You’re staring.” Two plump, well-defined lips uttered the words—none too kindly—and Gabe blinked, snapping out of his stupor.
Shit, was there drool on his chin? He’d been undressing the man with his eyes. “Sorry, bad habit. Another beer?” Gabe held up the bottle to Nate and, as he expected, was quickly shot down.
“No, thanks,” Nate said, obviously irritated, not even looking in Gabe’s direction.
“Tell me, Mr. Black, do you have a problem with all tall, dark, and handsome men, or is it just me who ruffles that blond hair of yours?” Gabe asked. His voice was low and seductive as he moved in a little closer to Nate.
Nate turned his face to look at Gabe and snickered. “Tell me, Mr. D’Angelo, do you have a problem with rejection in general, or is it just the fact that I’m not interested that rubs your conceited ego the wrong way?”
Touché.
Gabe smiled wickedly and moved a little closer, letting his hot breath caress Nate’s ear as he whispered, “Trust me. There isn’t a wrong way to rub me. When you’re ready to admit you want to, we can make this interesting.”
Nate moved in even closer, the heat from his body making Gabe’s cock dance with glee. Nate’s lips and the scruff of his goatee brushed up against Gabe’s ear, sending a delicious chill down his spine. “Why don’t you hold your breath,” Nate pulled back abruptly, “and see where that gets you.” With a look of disgust, he walked away.
“That went well,” Gabe said to no one in particular. He had to laugh at the situation, or he’d explode. If he were smart, he’d get over it, realize the man was a waste of time, and find someone more willing to tickle his fancy—and other parts of his anatomy. Hell, he could be back in the city with a man filling him so good by the end of the night.
Too bad he wasn’t a smart man.
Following Nate to the hallway, he stopped out of view when he saw him on the phone and did what any respectable man would do. He eavesdropped.
“Lily, I know, honey, but I’m going to be home late.” Nate shook his head, holding a finger to his ear so he could hear the conversation better. “Don’t wait up. I don’t know how long I’ll be. How about we go out for breakfast tomorrow morning? Max’s has those chocolate chip pancakes you like.” He laughed, and Gabe got a glimpse of a genuine smile from the man. He found himself feeling a pang of unwanted jealousy that someone else could make Nate smile like that. “Yes, and extra crispy bacon. Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.” Nate paused then said, “I love you too.”
Gabe ducked out of the way before Nate saw him standing there listening in. He absolutely hated that this Lily chick could make Nate smile like that. Even more, he hated that it confused the shit out of him. There was no denying Nate genuinely sounded like he loved her, but there was no way Gabe was wrong. He was never wrong. Nate was gay, no doubt in his mind. So the man left him no choice. He’d just have to pop into Max’s tomorrow for breakfast and check out the competition.