Chapter Six

Alex

T he restaurant was getting rowdy in direct correlation to the amount of alcohol consumed and the anticipation of the big day ahead as Christmas Eve counted down. Lucas was drinking his latte and his amaretto very slowly. From time to time he pulled his phone from his pocket, scowled at it, and put it back. I wondered who was bothering him. I wanted to go over to his table but I didn’t really have an excuse to be there. I certainly didn’t want to give him the bill for the second time. I thought about that second drink he’d offered me and took another beer, quenching my parched throat. Max watched me add it to his bill. “So what’s going on?” he said. “This is quite a love story I’m watching play out tonight.”

I laughed but his words warmed me. “He wants to take me out. After.”

He lifted a brow, then glanced around. “I should let you go early then.”

“Really?” Before I could turn to him in delight, I saw Tom, the ma?tre d’, escorting a tall, well-built man over to table three. Well no, it couldn’t be table three. There had to be some mistake.

But apparently not. The tall man stopped at the table, addressing Lucas.

◆◆◆

Lucas

I glanced up as a shadow fell over the table. I recognised Pete from his profile, although unusually, he was better looking in the flesh. We’d spoken a couple of times on the phone. He’d not been remotely interested in details about my life; he only wanted to talk dirty. We’d both wanked off and I’d consigned him to the bin. Then he’d texted me and asked me to go out tonight. I’d expected the usual quiet Christmas Eve at home. I hadn’t fancied saying yes to some random. But I’d forced myself to come here tonight. And the thanks I had got for it was being stood up.

Apparently.

“I’m really sorry,” he said. “Something came up.”

I frowned at him. He wasn’t flushed or out of breath like he had driven here at sixty, screeched to a halt outside, left his engine running, and charged in like a crazy person, only to avoid making me wait one more second. On the contrary, he was smooth and cool and way too laid back. Obviously he operated on his own time zone and expected everyone else to agree.

I looked at my watch. “You’re over an hour late.”

He waved his hand and sat down uninvited. “I’m here now. Shall we order?”

It was all I could do not to gape at him. I couldn’t believe the brass fucking neck on this dickhead. I could feel my lips purse. “I’ve eaten,” I snapped.

“Well, I’ll get something. I’m starving.” He clicked his fingers at thin air. “Garcon! A menu.”

Now I couldn’t believe my eyes as well as my ears. Had he really just done and said that? I looked around and wondered which unfortunate member of staff he had summoned. Then I saw Alex approaching and I shrivelled inside with mortification. Please no.

He was pale, his face tight, all the humour and life fled from it as he eyed Pete and studiously avoided looking at me. Not long ago I had kissed flushes into his lips and his cheeks. He had been warm and real in my arms and this horrible man from Grindr had wrecked it all. He held out a menu. “Would sir like a drink?” His tone was as stiff as his face.

Pete swivelled in his seat to stare at him. “What I’d like from you, young man, is a smile,” he said. “Or would it crack your posh face?”

I froze in my chair, looking at Alex, who gave a grimace of epic proportions.

“Try again, and I’ll leave you a nice tip,” Pete said.

“Will you shut up and stop being a dick,” I told him.

He glanced at me. “What’s got your knickers in a twist?”

“Don’t speak to him like that.” My voice was a low growl.

Pete eyed me, then looked at a red-faced Alex. “Hmm,” he said. “Did I miss something? Has the waiter sucked you off while you were waiting? That’s fine. I have room for both a little twink and you , big boy.” He pushed his tongue into his cheek and mimed a blow job with his fist against his other cheek.

I stood up. “Get out.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m hungry.” He yawned. “Twinkie, get me some of those fancy mushrooms in cream and a beer. Hold the garlic bread because I’m going to shove my tongue down this bloke’s throat shortly. And don’t spit in them.”

Alex was stood rooted to the spot as I grabbed Pete by the lapels of his jacket and dragged him out of the chair. “Get the fuck out, right now. I mean it.”

He responded with violence, shoving me backwards hard, where I careered into a waitress and knocked her plates all over the floor. Just fucking great . I tried to help her while snarling at Pete.

“You know what,” he said. “I only came that time I was on the phone to you because I was watching porn at the same time. Your boring voice down my earhole was enough to give me a limp dick. I nearly fell asleep. In the flesh, you’re even more disappointing. And your underwear’s shit. It chafes my balls. I want a refund.”

He stalked off, leaving me hoping the floor would swallow me up. I glanced at the other people in the nearest vicinity and looked away when I caught Alex’s eye. He helped the now-crying waitress to the kitchen. I sank down into my chair and squeezed my eyes shut.

A minute later I felt a hand on my shoulder. A glass appeared on the table. “On the house,” said the blond man and walked away. I gulped the liquor in one and resisted the urge to put my head down on the table. The whole room was staring at me. Someone turned the music up a touch and conversation gradually resumed. Still, I wanted to sink through the floor. I made that my sixth shot. I needed to ease back or I wouldn’t even remember my date with Alex. I nearly laughed aloud. Right, I was still taking him out, was I? Fat fucking chance.

I sensed a presence and looked up into Alex’s eyes. “What a horrible man,” he said. “How dare he turn up like that and expect you to still be waiting for him. I mean, I know you were but…” he trailed off, blushing. “Just for the record, I don’t think your voice is boring. If you were talking to me on the phone, I’d have no trouble coming to climax.”

I couldn’t help but laugh and he did too, his colour deepening. “Just saying,” he said.

I regarded him, taking in his even, handsome features, lingering on his lips. That kiss of his had jolted me back to life. “You’re quite remarkable, do you know that?”

He shuffled on the spot, turning red up to his ears. “If you say so.”

“I do say so. Has that bell-end ruined my chances of taking you out?”

He held my gaze. “No.”

I smiled and my heart fluttered in my chest like a caged bird taking flight. “All right then. Please will you bring me some more water and the bill?”

“Yes.” He walked away.

I sat back in my chair and pulled my phone out of my inside pocket when I felt it vibrate against my chest. Another invite to Christmas dinner. I had told them all I would try and drop in. I had no intention of doing any such thing.

◆◆◆

Alex

I went back to the bar and poured another jug of water and found a glass. “Can you do table three’s bill, please, Max?” I asked.

“Is he going?”

“I don’t know. He said before that he might come back when I finish.”

“You can go,” Max said.

My gaze jerked to his. “Really?”

“Yes. Get your tips and go.” He gestured to the jar which looked to be overflowing with more notes than coins. On the top I saw a fifty, which was rare, despite my decent tips.

“Who…” I began, my eyes wide.

“He did, earlier.” He nodded towards Lucas.

“Fuck,” I said.

“Yeah. Have a good time and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

I laughed and pulled my rucksack from under the bar, retrieving the little bag inside that I used to transport my tips home. I crouched so the patrons couldn’t see, pouring the jar into the bag before I zipped it away. I stood and took the tray with Lucas’s water and bill to his table along with the card reader.

When I got there, I saw another fifty on the table along with his debit card. I swallowed and said nothing, unloading the tray. He didn’t look at the bill so I opened it and checked the amount before I entered it into the card reader. The only things on it were my second beer and his after-dinner liqueur. “Please check the amount and tap your card,” said.

He did so. “Thank you, that’s gone through. Would you like your receipt?”

“No thanks.”

“Thank you.”

“That’s for you.”

“You already left me fifty after your first bill.”

“Well, there’s fifty more for being so kind to me tonight and not treating me like a freak who dines alone on Christmas Eve.”

I swallowed, suddenly choked up. I understood loneliness. There had been many times in my life where I had felt it and I still did. Even with people around me. “It was no hardship. You’re an easy man to be kind to.”

He smiled as we gazed at each other for a long moment.

“Max said I can go,” I said.

His smile widened. “Get your coat then.” He put the fifty in my hand. “I’ll call a cab.”

“Be right back.” I hurried to the staff changing room and grabbed my coat.

It was unfortunate that I had nothing to change into, but I pulled off my bowtie and shoved it in my pocket, then opened the top two buttons on my shirt. I examined my reflection in the mirror and restyled my hair a little. I wished I could have a shower and brush my teeth before going out with the sexiest man in the world, but I would have to do. At least I had some mints in my coat pocket.

I went back to the bar to get my rucksack. I saw Lucas speaking into his phone, then he rose from the table and my breath caught in my throat as he walked across the room. I hadn’t had time to study him properly when I had seen him warning off Bill in the bathroom. And then I was too busy kissing him to look. He was a vision. Tall, subtly muscled under his suit, long fluid limbs and that gorgeous face.

“Thanks, man,” he addressed Max.

“No problem,” Max said. “Take it easy.” I half expected him to give Lucas some fatherly lecture about treating me right but he turned away with a smile at me and Lucas slid yet another note onto the bar top and walked away. I went after him, catching him up in the lobby.

“You’re very generous,” I said.

He didn’t say anything. He retrieved his coat from the cloakroom and pulled it on. I saw him look down the V of flesh exposed by my open shirt and my blood quickened. “Let’s go,” he said, opening the door for me.

Outside, the snow was falling in denser flakes now. It was a proper Christmas Eve like we hadn’t had in so long. I stood for a moment turning my face up and letting it fall onto my closed eyelids. When I glanced to my side, Lucas was watching me. I gave a self-conscious smile.

“Do you like the snow?”

“Yes. Do you?”

“Not usually. Maybe you could change my mind.” Our gazes held. My mind went tumbling into a future of Christmases, snowmen and log fires. Us rolling around on a rug in front of the flames. Ludicrous. I didn’t even know him. We would have a drink and then I would go home. Would I go home alone or would I go home with him ? Did I want to go home with him? Would he ask me to? Expect me to? My head hurt from overthinking. Better to go with the flow and see where this ended up. But it had been a great night so far. Maybe we could make it magical. I wanted to make it magical. I wanted him .

“I’d love to change your mind. Maybe if the snow sticks we could build a snowman.”

He laughed and stepped closer. “What a refreshing change you are,” he said.

We were almost nose to nose, the snow falling around us and the background receding. Nothing but me and him alone on the street on Christmas Eve. Then a taxi squealed to a halt at the kerb and the spell was broken. He gave a rueful roll of his eyes and opened the door, waiting for me to get in. I loved his manners. He was a refreshing change. Maybe he was a beast behind closed doors. A crazed serial killer who was taking me home to dismember and eat me. Somehow I doubted it. I thanked him and slid inside. He got in beside me and greeted the driver, giving him the name of a fancy wine bar in South Bank that I could only dream of going to. And now it looked like I was.

We fastened our seat belts and settled back. We set off down the snow-covered street, passing the shops and bars draped with Christmas lights and spilling celebrating patrons out onto the pavement. I hoped the place wasn’t so noisy that we couldn’t even talk. I very much wanted to talk to him. Failing that, we could just kiss. I liked that idea too.

A subtle hint of his spicy aftershave wafted across the back seat. It wasn’t a brand I recognised and its novelty made it even more intoxicating. I felt him watching me and turned my head. His eyes gleamed like sapphires in the dark of the back seat. “Is my age a problem?” he asked in a soft voice.

“No,” I said, not sure if I was lying or not. “Is mine?”

His teeth were bright in the gloom when he smiled. “No. As long as you don’t think I’m a dirty old man.”

I snorted. “You’re not old.” I glanced at my watch. “Although it is your birthday soon.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You googled me.”

I shook my head. “Max did. He knew who you were. I didn’t.”

“And what do you think now you do?”

“I’m wondering if you wear your own underwear.”

He laughed, then leaned closer over the middle of the seat. “What do you think?”

“I think yes. And I think they’re snug briefs. You look like a man with a lot to contain and restrain.”

His chuckle was deep-throated and it raised goose pimples on my skin. “I’m liking you more and more.”

I was disappointed that he didn’t say I was going to find out for myself, but at the same time, I liked that he was a gentleman. So far he had made not one crude insinuation. Any other man might have been leaning over the seat telling me what he was going to do to me later. I hadn’t had a lot of men, but I wasn’t behind the door either. I knew what I liked and what I didn’t and this man was different from others I had met; I was sure of it. I reminded myself he appeared to be a hermit who didn’t go out. Maybe, despite being so physically blessed, he was sexually inexperienced. I wasn’t sure if I liked that idea or not, because something about him made me want to be mastered by him very much. But I wouldn’t care when it came down to it. If he needed me to help him along, I could do that too. I was versatile but I liked to do the fucking. I would love to fuck him. We continued to look at each other. Shadows shifted across his face. I was presuming we were going to have sex. I shouldn’t. I was happy enough to be in his company and not be going home alone and tired after a hard shift. I was happier still that he was not going home alone just yet either. I was still angry at the dickhead who had stood him up, angrier still that the guy had then dared to turn up. I suspected it had badly dented an already fragile ego.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said and sat back to look out of the window.

I reached across the seat to lightly touch his fingertips with my own. “Me too,” I said.