15. Caleb

FIFTEEN

"ANOTHER?" THE SERVER keeping the group topped up reached for my glass, but I shook my head. I was still working on the first round, and it was hard enough to get that down. Vodka wasn't my thing. This club wasn't my thing, yet here I was.

Why? I'd been asking myself since JT had called with the invite. Why say yes?

Because if I didn't go, they'd drag me out or harass me until I did go. At least this way, it was on my own terms. I could make an appearance, then dip out.

And speaking of dipping out… Travis hadn't even bothered joining his friends tonight, and I knew I was the reason for that.

Not being on the other end of his glares or taunts should've filled me with relief, but all I could think about was where he'd disappeared to. What he was doing. Who he was doing it with. Why we'd never been able to get past something that had happened long ago, and how it was I still let him infiltrate my thoughts.

"Oh come on, waste some more of East's money." West gestured for the server to refill my glass anyway, finishing off the bottle as he poured the last of it.

"That wasn't necessary," I said, setting the drink on the round table in front of us.

"Lighten up, Reeves. No one's out to get you. Not even if you get a little tipsy."

JT nudged me with his elbow, giving me a reassuring smile until East dropped into the seat across from us.

He nodded at my full glass. "Refusing my good booze?"

"Not looking to get shitfaced with you."

"Why not? It always made you fun." A devilish smile curved his lips. "Oh wait. That was tequila. I can make that happen too."

He gestured for the server to come back, and I shook my head."No. Absolutely not."

"Let me guess. You haven't had tequila in years, and that's why you've become such a bore."

"Shut up, East," JT said.

"What? It's why he sought you out, after all. Bores have to stick together."

West flicked his finger over the top of his glass, sending a spray of vodka in East's direction. "Shut up, East."

East took a napkin from the server's tray and dabbed it over his cheek. "I see immaturity is rubbing off from your little Golden Boy."

"Immaturity?" JT scoffed. "This coming from someone who tattooed penises on other humans?"

East's eyes turned deadly. "Other humans who fucked with Gavin, in case you forgot. I wasn't holding the tattoo gun, but trust me, I could've done worse."

I didn't need confirmation that East had been the one to orchestrate a takedown of Gavin's ex-boyfriend months ago, since it was exactly the kind of thing that screamed revenge from this group, but considering I'd heard horrible stories about that ex, this might've been one instance where it was justified.I'd never admit that to him, though.

I reached for my glass, readying myself for the terrible taste of vodka, and took a long swallow that made me cringe.

"And you." East turned his attention to me. "You've run off my last single partner in crime. How dare you."

"Like I have control over what Travis does or doesn't do."

He exchanged a glance with West, and whatever that look meant, I didn't want to know. Whatever issues Travis and I had weren't anyone else's concern.

"Tell you what." I set my drink down and stood up. "I'm out. So let your partner in crime know it's safe to come back now."

I pushed past East's knees blocking my path as JT called out after me not to go, but I'd had enough. It had been stupid to even come here. Especially after what happened last night.

As I headed for the exit, I saw a sign for the restrooms and decided to make a stop, since there was no telling how long the commute back uptown would be.

"Is this the line?" I asked several guys standing in the hallway, and when they nodded, I joined the tail end.

Somewhere, Travis's phone was probably going off, telling him the coast was clear and I'd peaced out. Then he'd be able to party it up or do whatever it was he did now when I wasn't around. The thought was almost scary, considering what he did when I was around.

My thoughts drifted back to last night, the nonstop PDA show with Kirby, the way my traitorous body had reacted to seeing it, and I couldn't help but wonder if I'd said yes to tonight's invite just to prove to myself that what had happened was an unwanted response to his overt sexual behavior.

But one look at Travis tonight and I realized what a mistake I'd made. He was on the hunt, that was clear by the way he was dressed, and the last thing I wanted was to watch him catch someone in front of me…again.

I looked up the line to see if I'd made any progress. It seemed to have barely moved, and I figured something else had to be going on inside the restrooms. Guys' lines never took this long.

Resigning myself to being there for a few more minutes, I scanned the club while I waited, watching the crowd on the main dance floor bump and grind.

That was what I should probably do—hit the dance floor, find some gorgeous girl, and forget all about my asshole roommate. It was bad enough I had to live with him, but was I really going to let him run me off from having a good time? I was only weeks into this year from hell our parents had decided to inflict upon us. I'd be damned if I suffered while he went on with his life like nothing had changed.

A familiar laugh caught my attention, dragging it to a smaller, more intimate dance floor to the left. The lights were low over there, and the velvet walls were designed for comfort—if couples wanted "support" in bumping and grinding minus a few articles of clothing.

It wasn't my scene at all, but as the shadows shimmered over the entangled bodies, a very familiar silhouette came into focus and my breath caught in the back of my throat.

Travis was difficult to miss in the outfit he'd chosen tonight: fitted black pants that flared at the bottom and sat indecently low on his hips, his usual assortment of cuffs that went up his arm, rings that adorned several fingers, and a couple of chains hanging from his neck. But it was the cut of his contoured vest, dipping to mid-chest and leaving his back bare and on display, that was the real showstopper.

My eyes got stuck on his back as he danced, and just like the night before, my body immediately responded.

This was exactly what I'd been hoping wouldn't happen. I stood there in some sort of trance, and my cock decided to come to life.

Travis had his hands braced on the wall on either side of his captive's head. Wandering hands were running over his ass and pulling him in close, making it clear that whoever was between him and the wall was very happy to be there.

I knew I needed to look away, get away from where I had a perfect view of them, but my feet seemed glued to the floor. My eyes fixated on the scene unfolding in front of me.

Walk away. Just walk the fuck away.

But just like last night, I found my body unwilling to follow my brain's orders. It was like he'd put a spell on me, a voodoo curse where he could make my body do what he wanted, because that was the only possible explanation for why I was hard right now.

Travis lowered his head, and I watched him kiss his way down his partner's neck. It was like I could feel his lips on my own skin, and I had to reach down to adjust my pants, which were growing tighter by the second.

Unbelievable. I was standing here in a club full of potential hookups and my dick was hyper-focused on a person already hooking up. Not to mention a person I didn't want to be hard for. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself of that fact, I was still standing here watching him.

Maybe that was it. Did I just like to watch?

Travis wedged a leg between the other guy's and began to rock against him, and I tightened my grip on myself, remembering how good it felt to be pressed up against Travis's writhing body.

"Hey, move out of the way, man."

The annoyed voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I stepped aside, closer to the smaller dance floor. I zeroed in on Travis again, only this time, he was watching me, looking over his shoulder as his partner kissed his way down his chest.

It was as though he didn't even notice. His slow, knowing smile mocked me as his gaze traveled down my body, catching on the way even the shadows couldn't hide my tented pants.

Goddammit.I should've just left. I shouldn't have stopped and risked running into him. Now he had confirmation of just how much he affected me, and I hated giving up that power to him. It tipped the scales, not giving me a fucking foot to land on.

Why did this keep happening? I wasn't into guys. I wasn't into Travis. I let my guard down once, and he'd never let me forget it.

He bit down on his lip suggestively, then pushed off the wall. Grabbing the front of the guy's shirt, he turned them both around so Travis's back was against the wall, giving him a prime view of where I stood. The guy's hands roamed Travis's body, his hips swaying as he slinked his way down, but Travis was still staring at me.

With one hand holding the guy's head down at his hips, he curled a finger at me, beckoning me to come closer.

Was he insane? No way was I getting in the middle of whatever was going on. Even if he didn't already have someone to supply his next orgasm, I still wouldn't have walked over there.

But I also wasn't looking away. It was like I was hypnotized, something in Travis's hooded eyes keeping me rooted to the spot. When it was clear I wasn't joining him, he threaded his fingers through the guy's hair, keeping him down near his hips as he thrust them forward. Sucking his bottom lip behind his teeth with every slow roll. The sight made my cock ache to the point of my being desperate for release.

God he was…

I swallowed, not letting my mind go there. Travis was a sexual creature and used it to his advantage, and this was just a way to prove a point.

As the guy made his way back up Travis's body, it was as if I was the one over there, feeling how hard he was. I remembered how good it felt, how shocked I was to feel Travis's erection rubbing against mine. It'd been years since I let myself think about that. The aftermath had ruined that entire night, made me feel like I'd done something wrong.

But it'd been Travis who made the first move, even if I'd been staring at his mouth, wondering what it would feel like under mine. For a moment, I thought we both wanted the same thing, until my brain came back online and I realized I'd just come with my stepbrother.

It was wrong. Standing here like a voyeur was wrong.

So when Travis cocked his head and mouthed, "Come here," some sense of reality finally kicked in, and I did the only thing I could think of.

I ran.