4. Ian

CHAPTER FOUR

IAN

“I should get going,” Rex says, standing up from my dining table.

Drat, I should have moved us to the couch after we ate. I just got so caught up in Rex and listening to him talk about his family. He rolled his eyes a lot as if they were annoying but I could tell he loves them all.

And I get to meet them tomorrow.

I can’t wait. I am going to make- wait. Did he say he was leaving?

“Um, what about my tattoo?” I say, scrambling out of my chair with all of the finesse of a baby giraffe.

Rex turns around just as I trip over my own stupid foot and fall into his chest. He wraps his big beefy arms around me before I high five the carpet with my face.

This is what heaven must feel like.

I relax into his impromtu embrace and soak up this feeling for as long as I can. When minutes pass, I look up and meet Rex’s gaze.

“You look good in my arms.”

I can’t help but smile like a goober. I know he doesn’t mean that in a romantic way, but when I relive this interaction tonight, alone in my bed, it’s what will make me cum all over my chest.

“Thank you,” I say, blushing and reluctantly stepping out of his hold. I do that a lot around Rex. He is the best kind of friend and doesn’t call me out on it.

He reaches into his pocket and sees to my tattoo. I try as hard as I can to breathe normally and not let him now how much his touch affects me.

It’s funny how yesterday morning I would have begged to be touched my anyone and now I only ever want to be touched by Rex.

Today is going to be the best day ever. I think to myself as I walk to the bakery before work. I get to spend more time with Rex and he is going to introduce me to some of his club.

I really hope they like me.

If Rex’s family don’t like me there is no way he is going to want to be friends and I can’t have that. I don’t know why, It’s pretty inexplicable, but I have to have Rex in my life.

This isn’t desperation for any kind of human contact. It’s a need for him. Rex. A carnal need, but I know that wonthappen. I really need to bury those thoughts down deep.

Friendship is all that I will get from Rex so I need to stop thinking about how he would feel on top of me or what his cum tastes like.

With that resolved, I pay attention to my surroundings for the first time and realize I’ve walked past the bakery. I retrace my steps and head on into the delicious warmth. Lacey always asks for my order but it never changes. Hazelnut croissant and a chocolate mint coffee.

My heart stops for a moment when I see two guys wearing Fallen Gargoyles leather jackets. Neither are Rex. These guys might be even smaller than me.

One of them looks up at his face brightens when he sees me. “Fizz, he’s here.” The guys jumps up and before I have a chance to blink I’m being hugged.

“Joey, for fucksake you can’t just hug the man, he might not like that,” Fizz says, also getting up. “Ask in future you fucker.”

“Sorry, Ian,” Joey says not looking sorry at all.

“It’s okay, I like being touched.” I say with a smile.

Fizz snorts. “I make sure to tell Rex.”

I am more than okay with that. Being wrapped up in Rex’s arms when he was trying to save me from high fiving the floor with my face was amazing. Imagine how great it would be purposefully.

“Rex said you’re coming to the club tonight and we wanted to introduce ourselves because we thought you might like to know people other than Rex at the party and also we want to rub it in everyones faces that we knew you first.” Joey says smiling kind of manically.

“Party? Rex didn’t say it was a party.”

Crap.

What if he forgot. He isn’t going to want to baby me when he can be having fun with his friends and flirting with people. Uneasiness rolls through me. What if he hooks up with someone and I have to just watch. This is going to be a train wreck.

“Hey,” Fizz says gently. “Where did you go?

I rub the back of my neck. “Um, Rex didn’t mention it was a party. I don’t want tto cramp his style.”

Joey gets out his phone and presses a couple of buttons.

“Yeah?” Rex’s deep voice comes through the loud speaker.

“Hey, did you remember that tonight is a party at the clubhouse?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool, so you still want Ian there?”

“Of course I do. What’s with all the fucking questions?”

Joey and Fizz smile smugly at me.

“Just checking. See you later.” Joey says and hangs up on Rex. “There you go. Rex didn’t forget. Now, what are you going to wear?”

Lacey brings me my usual order and I spend the next half an hour discussing clothing options with Fizz and Joey.

The whole time I keep thinking Rex wants me at the party. Warmth fills my body and stays there for the rest of the day.

I get off of Rex’s very sexy motorcycle and take a deep breathe to center myself. Thankfully, my erection has calmed down. Who knew the rumbles of a bike were so erotic? Or maybe it was being pressed up against the man of my dreams. Who’s to know?

“Are you okay?” Rex says in that sensual deep voice of his. Literally everything about this man screams sex. And the thing is, he doesn’t even know it.

He stands there in a tight dark green henley, nipple piercing on display, and well worn black jeans with biker boots, the star of all of my fantasies. The star that also has an executive producer credit and gets a decent chunk of the royalties when it smashes all of the box office records.

“Ian? Do you not want to be here?” he says, his eyebrows wrinkled with worry. Damn it.

“No, I do want to be here,” I say, stepping close to him. “I’m just a bit nervous. I don’t do a lot of socializing. I hope they like me.”

An emotion I can’t place flitters over Rex’s face as he looks down at where I laid my hand on his arm in reassurance before he meets my gaze. “They will like you. Joey and Fizz told everyone about meeting you and they’re all happy and shit.”

“Really?” I don’t like the needy way that one word slips out.

“Not going to mess you about, Ian.”

The way he says my name is so fucking sexy.

Rex places his hand on the small of my back and leads me into the clubhouse. It’s a beautiful building. Joey said it used to be a hotel and I can totally see that in the arcitecture.

The places is full of chatter and laughter set to the backing track of rock music. Maybe Neon Liars? I try to take everything in as Rex guides me to a booth near the back. For a split second I’m worried he wants to hide me away but then I see Joey manically waving to us. He’s sitting with a group of people who all look excited to see us.

“I’m sorry for whatever nosy shit they say.” Rex says again.

“Rex, I’m not that easily scared. They could be the worst people in the world and I would still need you in my life.” I tell him honestly.

“How do you -” before he can finish that sentance I’m being pulled away by Joey.

There is a quiet rumble behind me.

“Did you just growl at me?” Joey says, increduality lacing his voice. “Jesus fuck, I’m just introducing your man to the fam. You looked like you were two seconds away from whisking him away to your room.”

I look behind be but Rex just looks neutral to me.

“I hope you don’t mind?” Joey says to me. “I’m sure you would have showered, but I couldn’t take the chance. I am only really a fan of me and Echo smelling like sex.”

What. Is. Happening?

“How about we let Rex and Ian sit down? Why don’t you go get them a drink, Joey?” An older guy says gently. He turns to me with an outstretched hand.“Hi, I’m Kenny”

Oh my god, I am meeting the president of the Fallen Gargoyles.

I shake his hand with all of the finesse of a wet dog. “It is so nice to meet you sir.”

Kenny gives me a huge smile.

“Oh we are keeping you son. I’m going to go tell Stella she’s got another dildo warmer to crochet.” And with that he disappears.

Is everyone here very high?

Maybe this is how close families interact? With a lot of sex talk and a dash of insanity.

Rex motions me to slide into the booth and I find myself in a Fizz and Rex sandwich.

“You’ve met Booker, the man stradling him is his stepbrother Nicky. Next to them is Jet, he’s a L and D nurse, and Echo, Joey’s beloved,” Fizz says filling me in.

Echo nods, I remember Joey saying his man was the strong and silent type like Rex. Jet gives me a shit eating grin before leaning forward, elbows resting on the table.

“So Ian, are you available?”

“Fuck off, Jet, you know he has Rex’s brand.” He crosses his arms and looks at Jet like he can’t decide if he wants to kiss him or kill him.

I have no idea what my tattoo has to do with my relationship status but I’m glad I don’t have to answer the question.

“ONe drink for Rex and Ian,” Joey declares placing a wine glass of beer in front of us. Rex and I share a look. I guess we’re meant to share? Rex just shrugs and passes it to me. I take a sip before passing it back. Instead of turning the glass arounf, Rex takes a sip from the exact spot that I did, closing his eyes as he did it.

Why is that so hot?

I try and temper down a whimper but it comes out as a squeak anyway.

“Wow, okay, you guys are reminding me way to hard that I am twenty seven with no prospects.” Fizz says with a strained smile.

“Not no prospects,” Jet mutters. Fizz ignores him.

“C’mon, I want to dance. Who is with me?” Rex and I stand up to let him out and he grabs my hand as we marches to the dance floor. I guess I’m dancing then. Joey bounces after us and the three guys that aren’t dry humping each other,watch us go.

“What is the deal with you and Jet?” I ask Fizz as we bop to a Neon Liars tune.

I am so glad I took their advice and wore my sexy comfy clothes. My favorite baggy jeans and a graphic tee that I accidentally shrunk a tiny bit and now it’s like a slighly long crop top only showing an inch of skin.

“We aren’t talking about that,” Fizz says in a sing song voice. I look at Joey who just rolls his eyes.

“What do you think of Rex?” Joey asks

“He’s the best. Literally the best person I’ve ever met,” I say, before realising how rude that might seem. “Shoot, I think you are both great as well. I just mean-”

“Don’t worry, Ian, we’re not offended.” Fizz says, patting my arm in reassurance.

“Do you think Rex is boyfriend material?” Joey asks with an indecipherable look to Fizz.

“Of course he is. He’ll make an excellent boyfriend.”

“So you’d date him?”

“Rex deserves the best man possible. He needs someone handsome with a bright energy. The salt to his pepper. I’d love to be that person, but I don’t deserve Rex.”

I’m not sure what kind of person I deserve. Maybe that’s the wrong way to think. It’s not like I’m entitled to love.

I just hope whenever Rex meets his man, they still let me be in his life.