Chapter Twenty

Denton

Try as I might, I couldn't stop the heat of embarrassment invading my cheeks when we finally walked towards the group of men waiting for us to have lunch. Leeson wore a wide grin that pretty much matched most of the other men sitting at the table.

"Alright… we're a little late," I said, as we came to a halt, attempting to circumvent a conversation about the reasons why. I continued to hold Victor's clammy hand as he fidgeted next to me.

Victor wore a black mesh, sleeveless top that left his skin exposed, leaving the bite mark on his neck visible. It wasn't hard to add up the sums and figure out why we were so late. I couldn't decide if it was good or bad not to have known before just how wanton and demanding Victor could be. I couldn't resist him and that was going to be a problem for our plans on this cruise.

"It's my fault." Although Victor looked contrite, he didn't sound it, and I had to bite my lip to hold back a chuckle.

"Is that so?" Leeson eyed Victor with interest, his gaze lingering on his neck before it switched to me and he arched a brow. "A little? Denny, you might want to look up that definition in the dictionary. You messaged to say you'd meet us over two hours ago," Leeson pointed out, through his laughter.

Garrett shook his head, wearing an amused expression. "You can't be late for everything. We have a wedding booked."

"Leave them alone. They're here now," Ollie interjected, giving Victor an odd look I couldn't interpret. "Vic, why don't you come sit next to me?"

Victor's fingers clamped a little tighter around mine, and it was almost like he was attempting to resist stepping back. I couldn't fathom why. Clearly, I had missed something.

"I want him to sit with me." The words had barely left my mouth when Victor visibly slumped in what seemed to be relief. The smile he aimed at me was full of gratitude, making me wonder further about what I'd missed between these two at breakfast. "Lesson, can you move down a seat so Vic and I can sit together?"

His reply was to do as I asked, while he continued to chuckle.

"I'm famished," I said to no one in particular as I helped Victor into his seat, noticing how he winced and moved to perch on one butt cheek. Again, I had to hold back my amusement, understanding exactly why he was tender. He didn't seem to factor in my size when he was naked, which I wasn't ever going to complain about.

"We've ordered several of the share platters. We figured you'd be hungry…" This came from Ollie, who pointedly looked at Victor's throat, "and it seems we were right by how you've gnawed on Vic."

This comment got a stern look from Beckett and Ollie dropped his chin, but he didn't appear cowed more that he was hiding his amusement.

Something about the two men suggested there was more going on between them than simple friendship. As no one seemed to be inclined to mention it so I kept my thoughts to myself as I settled next to Victor. He stayed quiet as the conversation continued around the table.

When it switched to the pride party and guesses about who the entertainment would be, I listened, lounging back in my seat, but my attention was on the man next to me. He had leaned closer towards me, making a fluttery feeling settle under my breastbone. Needing to touch, I placed my arm on the back of Victor's chair, running my fingertips in circles over the silky skin of his shoulder.

"Isn't that cute," Haines said, looking at his husband. "I remember those days you couldn't keep your hands off me."

While I blushed right along with Victor, who didn't move away, Quinton got up off his seat and came around the back of Haines" chair. He cupped his husband"s cheeks and tilted his head back, giving him an upside down kiss that was fucking hot.

Every man at the table stared. Even Teo, who was straight, or maybe not, judging by the interest he didn't hide, making me wonder if he might be like me.

"You pair need to stop!" Garrett complained, his lips twitching as he eyed his friends. "You can do as much of that as you like in your cabin or at the pride event."

Quinton took his time and leisurely released his now flushed-looking husband. He winked at Garrett. "Don't tell me I didn't see you in the pool earlier with your hands down Leeson's shorts."

Leeson snorted loudly, then covered his mouth when he erupted into giggles. Garrett reddened and lifted his middle finger at Quinton, who laughed along with the rest of us.

The servers" arrival with food didn't stop the banter as I reached for a plate and filled it with things I knew Victor liked.

When I placed it in front of him, he colored adorably and whispered, "Thanks."

I ignored Ollie, who nudged Leeson, grinning like fools at each other. Raised by parents who'd continually shown their affection for each other with thoughtful gestures, I didn't see a problem with what I was doing. For a second, I considered maybe the color gracing Victor's cheeks was embarrassment. I gave him a quick side eye look then, seeing how chilled he appeared while he tucked into the food with gusto, I released the breath I'd held and filled my plate.

The surrounding noise was voices and music, which kept the conversation light but the need to shout increased as time slipped slowly into the afternoon, alcohol flowed freely and a party atmosphere developed.

When the servers came back to clear the empty dishes, Haines ordered two jugs of cocktails. "If we are going to the Pride party, I need a little Dutch courage to get my groove on."

"Darling, when you shake that magnificent ass of yours, no one will be worrying about whether you"re in time with the music," Quinton said to his husband, his gaze lowering and a heated light appearing in his eyes that left no one in doubt about what he was thinking.

"Behave! I'm renowned for having two left feet that prefer to kick out at anyone silly enough to get too close to me."

An announcement cut off Quinton's husky laugh.

"It's time to celebrate all our colors. Are you excited? Do you want to know who the guest star is? I hope so, and I hope you've brought your dancing shoes."

Haines groaned and rolled his eyes, then his mouth fell open as the guy continued. "Kylie Minogue is waiting for you." Haines shot out of his seat along with other men. Chairs clattered noisily as Haines grabbed for Quinton's hands.

"Oh my god, Kylie," he squealed.

"I thought you wanted drinks first," Quinton said, staying exactly where he was.

Another eye roll and Haines looked at his husband like he'd lost his mind. "It's Kylie!"

The rest of us laughed, but Leeson was now bouncing in his seat, as was Teo. "I'm with Haines, it's Kylie," Teo agreed.

"We'll wait for the drinks and bring the jugs with us," Quinton explained, getting a grumble of complaint from Haines and Teo.

"You two go and we'll follow," I suggested, seeing as Haines had remained standing.

"I'll go with them too." Victor got up.

"Me too," Leeson muttered, throwing the few things he's laid on the table in a small bag he shoved at Garrett.

"If you're going, I'm coming too." Ollie followed suit and stood with Leeson.

Before anyone could say anything, the group was already heading after the other men, who were looking like they were in a walking race.

"Who knew Kylie was so popular?" I said to the remaining men.

Their laughter matched my own when, the moment Garrett and Quinton saw our server coming with the cocktail jugs, they were up and gathering their things hurriedly, too.

"It's Kylie," Garrett said as he took the jugs, barely taking the time to thank the server before charging off.

"Wait for me," Quinton called after him, "I don't want to miss anything!"

"They can't be serious?" I muttered, eyeing both Nolen and Beckett, who remained at the table.

"It seems so," Beckett said, lazily getting up, his eyes twinkling. "But live entertainment, who doesn't enjoy that?"

"Me. I hate when you see an idol live and they can't sing for toffee," Nolen, the last to stand, said dejectedly.

I slung my arm around his shoulder and grinned. "Maybe this time you'll be surprised."

"Yeah, we can all dream!"