Chapter 7

AIDEN

All I wanted was to unwind. To go to my favorite club, drink, and maybe find someone to take me home with them so I could forget all the bullshit I'd had to deal with during the day.

I hadn't been there long when I felt strong hands grip me from behind as I swayed to the beat of the music. While I wasn't the best dancer, and most of the time, didn't actually like to dance, I could sway and grind with the best of them. Not even caring about who was behind me, I closed my eyes and let the music and the feeling of someone else being close to me wash over me.

The feel of their hands was all wrong though, even though they were big and obviously strong, just the way I liked them. But they didn't hold me the way I wanted to be held.

Like Nate touched me when we had been locked together.

After a couple of songs, I tried to move away from the guy I'd been dancing with. My mood had soured, unable to stop thinking about a certain someone who had just disappeared on me after fucking me senseless. Not that it was too unusual. A lot of people were intimidated by the fact I was a detective and didn't stick around once they got off.

But there was something about Nate. Something that didn't want me to let go of him, even though I didn't have a choice.

When I tried to slide out of the guy's arms, they tightened, holding me in place.

"Where you going, sweetheart?" the guy slurred, obviously drunk.

I sighed. The last thing I wanted was to deal with a drunk idiot who didn't know the meaning of the word no. I was supposed to be having fun and maybe getting laid. Not dealing with this.

"Thanks for the dance, but I think I'm done for the night." Again, I tried to move out of his grip, but even drunk, he was strong. Not that I couldn't get out of his arms if I really tried, but I didn't feel like getting into an altercation.

"Don't be like that," he snapped in my ear as his hand slipped from my hip down to my crotch, and he tried to stroke me right there on the dance floor.

Appalled, I pushed his hand away, but he wouldn't budge.

"Don't be a fucking cock tease."

I went to step him from away, fed up with the manhandling, when I felt him being yanked away. My eyes went wide as I stared at Nate, who had the guy by the throat.

"Nate? What are you doing here?" He was the last person I expected to show up at The Docks. It didn't really seem like his type of scene. Then again, I didn't really know him. Though, I was shocked to see him dressed in an equally fancy suit as I'd seen him wearing at the wedding.

I wasn't sure why, but the fact that he liked to wear suits and that it was his normal attire, just did it for me. Who knew I had a suit kink?

Nate ignored me, even though his eyes never left mine as he continued to hold the guy by the throat.

"Move along, asshole. He isn't interested." The guy suddenly stopped struggling, his eyes impossibly wide as his face got redder. My brows furrowed, confused as to what was causing the reaction. From what I could tell, Nate wasn't really putting much pressure on his throat.

"Now, apologize," Nate demanded as he shoved the guy toward me, making him stumble.

"Sorry, man," he muttered before he fled.

My eyes narrowed as I took in Nate's unruffled demeanor and realized I'd had enough of men for the night.

"What the fuck was that?" I wasn't really angry about him interceding on my behalf. A part of me thought it was chivalrous, even if I would have been able to handle the drunk asshole on my own, despite our obvious size difference.

"You're mad?" Nate asked, looking confused as I marched towards him.

God, it was endearing yet frustrating. He looked like a lost puppy, trying to figure out why he was being called a bad dog. I rolled my eyes and started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.

"Aiden?"

"Fuck. Nate." Exasperated, I yanked my arm out of his grasp and stormed off to the bar. I wasn't even sure why I was pissed at him. Actually, I wasn't even pissed at him. I just felt… off-kilter with him. I was a bundle of nerves as I had opposing urges warring within me—one part of me telling me to fall to his feet and never let him go and another part telling me to run as far away as I could.

It was maddening, and I wasn't sure what the right move was. Based on the fact he just helped me with the drunk gropey asshole, I didn't think I had anything to be afraid of with him, but I couldn't be sure. All I knew was what warning bells were going off, especially with the look he'd had in his eyes when he'd had the dude by the throat, but I was content to ignore them.

And that scared the hell out of me.

"Two tequilas, please," I ordered when I got to the bar, shoving between patrons already there waiting.

"Should I re-open my tab, or is that all you need?" came Nate's amused voice as he handed his card to the bartender after I downed both shots. I thought for a moment and then ordered us each a water. I'd needed the shots to calm my nerves, but I thought we both could use the water, even though I didn't know how much Nate had to drink before he found me on the dance floor.

"Of course, anything you need," he said, sounding so sincere. I scoffed, unsure if I could believe his words.

He let out a sigh as I downed the water. "Talk to me, little bird." Again, he looked at me like a kicked puppy, and my heart flip-flopped in my chest.

I watched him carefully as I took another sip of my water. The confusion and desperation were plain to see. Something told me he wasn't used to dealing with whatever emotions I elicited in him, and I wasn't sure if I liked that or not.

Either way, I was screwed.

"Why do you call me that?" I asked, unable to help myself. But he didn't answer me. Instead, he looked away as if he couldn't look at me while I was asking such a question. It annoyed me. Mostly because he wouldn't give an answer and because it sparked something that I couldn't pinpoint.

"Fuck it," I muttered before I chugged the rest of my water and grabbed Nate's hand and dragged him to the bathroom. I was already on the express train to Bad Idea Land when it came to Nate, so why bother playing it safe?

When we got inside, I slammed the door shut, shoved him into a stall, and locked the door. Within seconds, his mouth was on mine, devouring me like a man who had his first taste of water in days. I let out a low, dirty moan at the way his hands lit up my body as they grazed along my arms and sides until he reached the edge of my shirt and pulled it up so he could attack first one and then my other nipple with his lips, teeth, and tongue.

I sighed at the way he made me feel. He'd be mine forever if it were up to me.

"Nate. Jesus, baby, please," I begged, though I wasn't sure what for. The only thing I knew was I needed him more than I needed anything else. There had been a pressure building up inside me since I woke that morning with an empty bed, and he was the only one who could give me the relief I desperately craved.

"Needy little bird," he said with a chuckle as he kissed his way up my neck before biting my ear and eliciting a new set of fireworks that sparked inside me. "Don't worry," he whispered in my ear, his voice a low, sexy growl, "I know how to make you fly."

Nate dropped down to the dingy floor, and the look he gave me as he unbuttoned my pants was pure sin.

"Fuuuck." My head fell back but I had nowhere to brace myself as we were crammed into the small stall. Knowing anyone could hear us at any point sent a spark of excitement through my body. It was wrong, but it felt so right with Nate. He made everything feel right.

Without saying a word or taking his eyes off me, Nate tugged my pants and underwear down and immediately sucked my aching cock to the back of his throat. His hands gripped my ass, tight enough I knew I'd have bruises for days as he swallowed around my sensitive cock head.

"Fuck, baby, that feels so good." The way he worked my dick made me see stars. It was the perfect amount of suction and stroking of his tongue along my hard flesh. He pulled back, grazing his teeth lightly, and I let out a shout as my body bowed forward from the sensation. "You're going to kill me if you keep doing that," I said with a chuckle.

Something flashed in his eyes, and he gave me a wicked grin. "Only if you ask nicely, little bird." Then he was back on me like a man on a mission, and I suppose he was. Being in the bathroom was risky. We could get caught, so the sooner he could make me come, the better it would be for the both of us, especially since I'd need time to return the favor.

My hand tugged the short strands of his hair, and he let out a groan that vibrated throughout my entire body. Surely, this was what heaven felt like.

One of Nate's hands moved to my crease, and as soon as his finger grazed over my hole with the slightest pressure, I was shouting with my release that he swallowed down like a pro.

He gave me a predatory grin as he popped off my softening dick and stood to claim my mouth in a filthy kiss that left me swooning the moment his tongue demanded entrance.

Even through my haze, I could feel his arousal as our bodies were pressed together. I reached for his pants, but one of his large hands grabbed my wrist and held it still as he shook his head. I pulled back, giving him a questioning look, but he just leaned forward and gave me another kiss. This time, it was much softer and somehow felt more intimate than anything else we'd shared.

I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, when he shocked the hell out of me.

"Come for dinner with me, little bird. Let me take you on the type of proper date you deserve."

I bit my lip and searched his eyes, but for what, I had no idea.

Besides, how could I refuse?