Chapter 4

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SKYLAR

SKYLAR WAS in serious trouble.

Ward hadn't said how he wanted him to act, so Skylar was having to take cues from Ward's expressions and body language. The last thing he wanted to do was upset or disappoint the man. Not just because Ward was a client and it was Skylar's job to please him, but because the man was surrounded by old friends. But even trying to follow Ward's lead was proving difficult, since Skylar was simply too distracted by him. Ward looked too damned good. And he smelled even better.

Jiminy Christmas on a cracker. It was taking everything Skylar had to sit still rather than burying his nose against Ward's throat and inhaling the scent of him. Whatever cologne or aftershave the man wore, it was worse than catnip. Skylar had to bite back the urge to actually purr. He wanted to strip Ward down and crawl all over him. Rub himself all over Ward's body. Mark himself with Ward's scent.

The wedding hadn't even started, and he wanted it to be over already.

Jeebus . For the first time in his life, he actually wanted sex. Not because he would get paid for it, but because his body was vibrating with need.

Prior to starting hormone therapy, his sex drive had been pretty much nonexistent. But with testosterone? What a wild adjustment that had been! The hormones had given him a piece of his humanity, a part of himself that he'd always been lacking.

But that was nothing other than pure, physical need. An itch to be scratched. What he felt now, with the gorgeous man sitting beside him? The desire was so much more.

He wanted Ward to utterly consume him. To claim him. Fuck . He'd never been this aroused in his life.

Not even with Charlie.

Skylar winced as a pang of guilt hit him. He loved Charlie. He really did. The boy was the one and only truly good thing in his life. Not the simple, easy pleasures, but a thing that really mattered. Well, him and music , Skylar thought, though he didn't get much time to play anymore. But he did love Charlie, even if theirs wasn't a typical relationship.

And sex with Charlie was easy. Granted, there was zero romance or passion to it. The only reason they even did it was so Charlie could satisfy that basic, human need. It was physical relief. Nothing more. Their sex was quick and almost clinical, but also gentle. Not like some of Skylar's clients.

Skylar eyed Ward as the wedding dragged on before them. Would Ward be rough or gentle? Skylar could usually read a man at a glance, but Ward was a mystery. The man was built like he could easily throw Skylar around, pin him down, and use him mercilessly. Like maybe all that bashful innocence would flip a switch in the bedroom. That would suck, but even that didn't lessen Skylar's arousal. He didn't care how he got Ward, so long as he got the man on top of him.

Ward touched his hand. “You ready?”

“Huh?” Skylar looked around, slowly registering that everyone was on their feet. “Oh!” The wedding was over, the last of the party making their way down the aisle.

Cripes. Where's your situational awareness, Sky? He took Ward's hand and stood. They followed the crowd to another room, where the reception was being held. Ward found their table and pulled out Skylar's chair.

Skylar felt his cheeks go hot and he couldn't help smiling. “I really need to meet your mother and tell her what a good job she did, raising you. Or was it your dad who made you such a gentleman?”

Ward smiled sheepishly as he took the seat beside him. “Both, really.” His smile dimmed. “If it's too much–”

Skylar leaned towards him. “Ward?” he murmured. “Don't stop. Please , don't ever stop.”

Ward's eyes darkened and his nostrils flared.

Fuck . That hungry look on the man's face was almost irresistible. Skylar clenched his hands into fists, fighting the urge to climb straight into the man's lap and beg.

“You okay?” Ward asked, studying Skylar's eyes.

“Yeah,” Skylar replied breathlessly. “ Sheesh . I feel like a cat in heat. I'm sorely tempted to crawl right up onto this table and shamelessly beg you to take me, right here in front of everyone.”

Ward swore under his breath, then studied Skylar's eyes again. “Is this how you do it? Get a guy so riled up that he can't resist paying for more time later on?”

Skylar flinched. Shit . Normally, that was exactly what he did. Sex after a date wasn't always a given. Some men really did need to have someone on their arm in public to keep up appearances. Others simply wanted someone to listen. To give them undivided attention. For them, it was less humiliating than therapy.

For many, though, there was always that underlying expectation. The idea that an escort was really just a high-class whore. Skylar could usually tell right off which new clients were expecting sex and which ones would have to be talked into it. Extra time , they called it. When a date was booked, it was scheduled for so many hours. The client was given the option to extend the date for extra time, but they were warned to bring cash for such things in case the office was 'closed' and couldn't take a credit card payment. That way, there was no paper trail, which benefited both the company and the client.

And that cash went a long way to helping Skylar get closer to leaving this life behind for good. He did whatever it took to earn every penny he could get his hands on. The faster he made money, the faster he'd be free.

Which meant giving in to the easy clients and seducing the tougher ones. After years at the job, it was second nature. He'd flirt shamelessly and get the client so desperate that the night simply couldn't end without some cash changing hands in a bedroom.

But, for once, money was the furthest thing from Skylar's mind.

“No!” Skylar gasped, then winced and added, “I mean, yes, but not–” He broke off and swore. “Shit. No. Ward? I'm sorry. That's not what I'm trying to do. Not with you. If you want me to stop, I will. I'll behave, I swear. We can just be here at the wedding and leave it at that, if that's all you want. You're the client,” he added in a whisper, making sure nobody else could hear him. “What you say, goes. End of story. But honestly? I've never been so attracted to anyone in my life. And my boss would kill me if he heard me say that, because I'm supposed to be 'attracted' to everyone,” he went on, making air quotes with his fingers. “But you? Jeebus criminy . You're like a walking wet dream, and I'm having trouble keeping my damned mouth shut.”

Ward's eyes darkened again, his gaze intense as he studied Skylar's face, probably looking for any hint of a lie.

Skylar held completely still, waiting for the man to respond. It was strange, how utterly devastating that direct gaze was. Charlie almost never looked him in the eyes, though he was like that with everyone. The boy couldn't stand direct eye-contact. But it was the same with several of Skylar's clients, who seemed to think that avoiding his eyes allowed them to pretend that they weren't out in public with a whore. Like not looking directly at him meant they didn't have to acknowledge him. Or the truth. Then again, most people tried to ignore reality these days.

Being pinned under Ward's gaze should have made him uncomfortable. But it didn't. If anything, Skylar felt himself drifting, lost in the moment, his skin tingling with the knowledge of Ward's awareness of him.

“Is that Wolf?” someone called out, shattering the bubble that surrounded them.

Ward blinked, then tore his gaze away, rolling his eyes and laughing as he stood up to shake hands with someone.

More introductions were made, and then everyone sat down to eat. Skylar sat quietly and listened more often than not, answering questions when they were put to him but mostly focusing on the food. It wasn't as good as he'd been expecting, but it was free, so he was hardly going to complain. Goodness knew he had little enough at home. Then again, that was by choice. He had to save money wherever he could.

Ward shifted in his seat and looked around.

“Something wrong?” Skylar asked, resting a hand on his arm.

Ward blushed at the contact, then said, “Just need a bathroom.”

“Oh. Over there.” Skylar pointed discreetly.

“Ah. Thanks. Um. Be right back.” He got up and pushed in his chair before walking away.

Ward was barely gone for two minutes, but while he was away, Skylar was asked how the two of them had met. Skylar put on a smile and told the story he'd made up earlier, getting ooh s and aah s from the women at the table.

“…murmuring that he'd like to take me out for coffee sometime, if I was interested,” Skylar was saying just as Ward returned to the table. “And this girl never turns down coffee,” he added with a laugh.

Ward frowned and opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then snatched up his wine glass and took a healthy gulp instead.

“So of course I said yes ,” Skylar went on with the story. “And we've been together ever since.” He turned and gave Ward a flirtatious grin.

“Oh!” a woman exclaimed. “I love this song.” She jumped up, dragging her date with her. Another couple followed, leaving Skylar and Ward alone at the table.

Ward picked up his wine glass again and idly swirled it around. The wine was clear, but when the light hit it just right, it shone with a hint of gold.

“What's that?” Skylar asked.

Ward's hand went still. “Sauvignon blanc.”

“Is it any good?” Skylar asked. “I bet yours is better. Do you make that one?”

Ward smiled shyly. “Yeah, we do. This one's decent.”

“I had your grenache,” Skylar said. “At least, I think it was yours. You work with John, right? At that party, Beau pulled his trick on Adam and me, and the wines were different but the bottles had the same logo.” Beau Renaud, the proprietor of Living in Zin, apparently had a knack for pairing people with their favorite wines. It had worked on Skylar, that was for damned sure. Beau had poured him a glass of grenache, and Skylar had never tasted anything better in his life. “Because Adam insisted that he only drink something that John had made, and then Beau poured mine, and I saw the logo. And I'm rambling. We should dance.”

Ward blinked at him, then blushed as he set down his glass and slowly rose, towering over Skylar in a way that made him feel tiny and fragile and wholly at the man's mercy. But not in a dangerous way. For once in his life, having a man looming over him didn't feel the least bit threatening. Then Ward moved behind Skylar's chair and pulled it out as Skylar stood.

Then it was Skylar's turn to blush. Jiminy Christmas . He'd thought for sure they didn't make men like Ward anymore.

Ward took his hand and led him out to the dance floor just as one song ended and another began. And of course, it was just as the DJ brought the energy way down. Ward blushed as he gently pulled Skylar into his arms, slipping easily into the slow, swaying rhythm of Lifehouse's “Everything.”

Holy shit . Skylar almost melted, except Ward held him too steadily. The man was a better dancer than he'd been expecting. Ward's frame was strong, his steps smooth. Skylar drifted into it, giving himself over to the man's control.

In the heels he wore, Skylar would be eye-to-eye with Charlie, but next to Ward, the top of his head only came up to the man's nose. He was sorely tempted to kick the heels off. To see just how much more the man would tower over him while pressed this close together. Skylar tipped his head back to look up at Ward, on the verge of blurting out all the thoughts racing through his mind, but when their eyes met, all the words vanished.

Fuck . The way the man looked at him! It was like Ward was both feasting on the sight of him and also searching for something more. For the boy underneath the makeup, maybe? Skylar trembled. He wanted to rip off the disguise. Strip himself bare for Ward's inspection. Would the man still like what he saw? Would he still look at Skylar like he was now?

Ward muttered a curse.

“What?” Skylar asked, holding his breath while he waited for Ward's response.

“I want to kiss you so badly right now,” Ward growled, then he paused, his gaze turning wary. “Am I even allowed to do that?”

Skylar shuddered in Ward's arms. “Yes,” he gasped. “Holy hell, yes.” But when Ward slowly moved in, Skylar sucked in a breath. “Wait,” he choked out.

Ward pulled back, eyeing him with concern.

Skylar shook his head. “I'm sorry,” he murmured. “It's just…”

Ward frowned. “Not here?”

Here. There. Everywhere . “ Hhng ,” Skylar whined. “I want you to kiss me more than I want my next breath,” he blurted out, “but no, not here. Not like this.” Skylar squeezed his eyes shut and muttered a curse, then looked up at Ward again. “If you're going to kiss me, I want you to kiss me . Not Sarah. Not the lie. I want you to kiss the real me.” Skylar paused. “Assuming you still want to, once you see me.”

Ward's eyes darkened. “I want to see the real you,” he whispered back. “Geez, you have no idea how much I want to see the real boy underneath all this armor.”

Skylar blinked. Holy shit . Ward saw that? Skylar almost stumbled, feeling dizzy, but Ward held him too well. Sheesh . What was it about this man? Skylar was sorely tempted to get down on his knees right there in front of everyone. “Think it'd be rude if we left now?” he asked breathlessly.

Ward blushed and cleared his throat. “I'm gonna need a minute.”

“Huh?”

Ward tightened his hand on the small of Skylar's back, his palm burning through the fabric of the dress, but otherwise didn't respond.

Oh . Skylar inched his way closer to Ward's body until they were flush up against one another. Oh, fuck . Ward was hard. When Skylar subtly glanced down, he saw the steely length bulging through Ward's dress pants, only hidden from sight by the closeness of their bodies. Hhng . It was all Skylar could do to make himself pull back a little rather than rubbing up against it. He wanted to make Ward come. See him fall apart.

They danced through two more songs before Ward finally blew out a heavy breath and pulled away.

Skylar almost whimpered at the loss. But then Ward took his hand and started heading for the exit, barely pausing to say goodbye to the friends he encountered along the way. They did stop and wish the newlyweds their congratulations again, but then they were walking out the front door and into the darkened city streets, climbing into Ward's truck, and heading back to the hotel.

All the while, Skylar was achingly aware of the man beside him. Good gods . The night had barely even started, and he already didn't want it to end.