Chapter 1 Benny

Benny had always known breaking a sweat was the key to a good time.

Example numero uno: a challenging gym routine. It didn’t get much better than a killer workout, did it? The kind that had Benny’s sweat dripping and his muscles shaking.

Mm. So good.

Example numero two: getting pounded, especially if the guy had the stamina to really go at it. Then it was basically like an amazing workout with the added benefit of an orgasm. What wasn’t there to love about that?

And now Benny could add dancing in a gay club in Miami to the list of fun, sweaty activities. Because, man, the sweat was flowing .

It was almost midnight, and the night was still balmy, the press of bodies writhing to house music on the outdoor stage creating its own toasty heat in addition.

It was the best, every bit of it. Benny had been right to come here for his summer vacation.

Although, the fluid loss from the sweat slicking Benny’s back combined with the flashing lights was actually making him a bit dizzy.

Another drink would fix that.

Benny raised a hand to push his curls back from his head, then remembered he’d buzzed his hair short and gave up halfway, shouldering his way through the crowd to get to the bar. He tried to flag the bartender down but he couldn’t catch the dude’s eye.

No biggie.

And no surprise either. There were so many good-looking men to attend to; how was a guy supposed to choose? Benny had been fighting the urge to ask every other dancer he saw for their gym routine.

At least Benny measured up, he was pretty sure. He’d been putting in extra gym hours the last few weeks. He looked good, and he had ample videos for his YouTube channel set up to play while he was here. Plus, he was wearing the shortest shorts he’d been able to find in his size, showing off his best assets—thick thighs and a fairly bodacious ass (if he did say so himself).

He wasn’t necessarily looking for someone to play with those assets—this vacation was all about chilling and relaxing (chillaxing?)—but he still wanted to be able to hold his own.

Someone bumped into his back, pushing Benny harder against the bar. He turned to find a blond twink in hot pants that put his own shorts to shame tilted up against him.

“Careful, little dude.” Benny righted him with one hand and gave him a “no harm, no foul” smile, turning back to the bar.

The twink let out an annoyed huff behind him, leaving Benny a little confused. It wasn’t like he’d pushed the guy—he’d been standing still. Maybe the little dude had been having a rough night.

“In need of a drink?” asked a low voice next to him, surprisingly clear given the banging music and crowds of people.

Benny turned toward the voice.

And holy shit . Speaking of good-looking men.

The dude sitting on the stool next to where Benny was leaning on the bar was a total smoke show. He had dark hair falling in waves to his chin, and his eyes were striking—almost turquoise, like the ocean on a clear day. He had more skin covered than the rest of the crowd, but Benny could still tell he had what some would call a sleeper build. Like, he didn’t look overtly buff in his linen button-down, but he had broad shoulders, and those pecs were nothing to sneer at.

The man cocked a brow, his long fingers tapping at his drink. “Well?”

Benny laughed sheepishly. “Sorry, man. I got distracted.” He leaned his elbows on the bar, trying to get close enough to be heard over the din. “Anybody tell you you’re super good-looking?”

The man’s lips twitched. “I might’ve heard it once or twice.”

“Hell yeah you have!” Benny raised his fist for a bump, but the guy only cocked his head, his hands staying on the bar.

Not a fist-bump guy. Fair enough. Benny shot him another grin instead. “But yeah, if you can get his attention, I’d love a drink. I’d owe you one.”

“Would you?” Something dark seemed to flash in the guy’s eyes for a sec. But maybe that was just the effect from the strobe lights. “What would you like, then?”

Benny considered. “Something sweet and fruity I guess? When in Italy or whatever.”

The guy’s lips twitched. “Do you mean ‘when in Rome’?”

Benny snapped his fingers. “That’s it! Exactly. But I think the bartender’s…” The rest of Benny’s sentence was cut off as his new friend waved a hand and the bartender just, like, magically appeared, putting together a bright-pink drink with a pineapple slice and little umbrella in under a minute.

“Whoa.” Benny’s eyes lit up, and he swallowed with a dry throat. The pink drink looked delicious, and he really was thirsty. “You’ve got connections here, huh?”

“Something like that.” But the guy didn’t hand the drink to Benny yet, keeping it just out of reach. “What do I get in exchange?” he asked.

Benny furrowed his brow. “For the drink?”

“You said you’d owe me.”

“Um.” Benny scratched at his chin. He’d gone all clean-shaven for this beach vacay, but it was late enough that some stubble was breaking through. “What would you want?”

Was this like a sex in exchange for a drink thing? Benny wouldn’t exactly be against it, but wasn’t it a little friendlier to chat a guy up first?

Maybe they did things differently in Miami.

“Oh, nothing too dear,” the guy reassured him. “A mere measure of your time, I think.”

“Just my time?” Benny laughed his relief. “Sure thing. Sounds cool.”

“Excellent.” There was that weird flash to the guy’s eyes again. He pushed the pink cocktail to Benny.

Benny accepted and slurped at it happily. The cool drink felt amazing after he’d been dancing in the heat. He had to force himself to slow down after half of it was gone, to savor the taste a little. It was sweet but not overwhelmingly so.

The guy watched him closely the whole time.

It was a little intense, but he’d bought Benny a drink and all, so Benny stayed close, letting him look his fill. He gnawed on his pineapple garnish to delay finishing his drink. “So…are you a professor?”

His new friend cocked a brow. “Pardon?”

Benny waved a hand. “The way you talk.” He knew a smart dude when he heard one.

“I deal in contracts.”

“Oh, cool.” Benny tossed his pineapple husk into his drink for a little added flavor, mushing it down with his straw. “Big money in that?”

The guy gave him his first real smile. It was a nice one, and Benny found himself leaning in a little closer. “It has its rewards.”

“Cool, cool.” Benny realized he’d forgotten an important step. He stuck out a hand. “I’m Benny by the way. Benny Carter.”

The guy’s palm was cool and dry. It felt good against Benny’s sweaty skin. “Is that your full name?” he asked, holding Benny’s hand tight. “Benny’s not short for anything?”

“Nope.” Benny flashed him another smile. “That’s it.”

“How trusting of you,” the guy murmured, finally letting Benny’s hand go.

“What?” Benny asked, figuring he’d misheard.

“You can call me Helio.”

“Helio.” Benny nodded. It was an unusual name. He liked it. “You wanna dance, Helio?”

Helio shook his head. “Not my scene.”

“Sure, sure.” Benny slurped the rest of his drink, tapping his fingers on the bar, then asked, “You mind if I dance? I’m only in town for a couple nights.”

It was all he’d been able to afford. He’d wanted to stay at a fairly nice hotel, but the odd jobs he did back in his hometown of Seacliff Harbor, Maine, didn’t pay much, and his workout vids—though pretty killer, in his opinion—weren’t exactly paying the bills yet.

He’d promised Helio his time, but Helio didn’t seem interested in much other than watching Benny closely and saying mysterious things. Which was fine and all, but it would have been cool if he’d wanted to do that and also stick a hand in Benny’s shorts.

Benny had changed his mind about chatting before sex. Helio was super hot, and he smelled really good—like some sort of flower Benny couldn’t name—and he was just…alluring, that was the word. Like he had some pull to him, something extra that made Benny wanna lean in close and sniff at him.

That was weird, right?

Plus, Benny had worked hard for this butt. Someone should get their hands on it while he was here.

But Helio just smiled. “Go right ahead, Benny Carter. Come back if you want another cocktail.”

So Benny did. He danced his heart out, grinding against other burly, sweaty men. And when he got thirsty, he could always find Helio at the bar, and he’d wave a hand and get the bartender to appear in seconds.

Benny was being smart though. He didn’t always get a cocktail. Sometimes he requested a cup of water. And every time, Helio asked for a measure of his time, and then didn’t seem all that interested in actually claiming it. They chatted only a little bit in between Benny’s bouts on the dance floor. Helio mentioned something about his own secluded island, joked about whisking Benny away to it.

He had to be rich as hell if that was true, assuming he wasn’t just pulling Benny’s leg.

In all, it was a weird night but a fun one. They had some decent dance nights at the gay club in Benny’s hometown, and enough tourists in the summer that Benny could usually find someone to go home with when he wanted to touch and be touched. But it wasn’t like this. He couldn’t stay out until four a.m. with hordes of beautiful men he’d never met before.

With one beautiful man in particular paying him special attention.

So yeah. Best vacation ever.