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CHAPTER ONE

CAMERON

This wasn’t his scene. Along with the loud music came the dancing bodies, sharp and piercing howls of laughter, but most of all the flirting. He’d known what the night held when his friends insisted on going out and despite his hesitation, Cameron had agreed.

He wouldn’t say he was lonely since he was the one who quit the football team the year before and secluded himself using any excuse he thought of to avoid social interactions. But from time to time, he missed his friends.

The music blared from the various speakers around the crowded club, but it had a good beat as it blended from one track to another. He nodded toward the bartender as he handed him a new beer before he turned toward the crowd, scanning the dance floor.

Cameron couldn’t hold in the laugh as he spotted Tim, one of his best friends, dance up to a girl with a huge smile on his face. When she rolled her eyes, he reversed the other way with a friendly a wave. That was Tim. He let nothing get to him, even such an obvious rejection.

Unlike his friends, Cameron had no interest in finding a date for the night. But he watched his friends as they maneuvered around the bar amongst the gyrating bodies having a great time.

As his gaze landed on Aaron, who had a blonde wrapped around him as they swayed back and forth, a small hand landed on his chest before a compact body pressed up to his side. Cameron blinked down at the beautiful woman who smiled at him. Her eyes traveled over him, down and back up again, unable to keep her predatory gaze from his body.

Cameron sighed. She wasn’t the first person who thought he was available for a good time, but she was the first to touch him without permission.

Attraction was fleeting. At this point in his life, Cameron had no desire to pursue a physical relationship with anyone. Temporary attachments made his skin crawl for a reason he never understood, and he knew as she spoke she wouldn’t be more than that.

“Wanna head to my place? It’s quiet and we can talk.”

“No, thanks.”

He supposed people thought he was a typical jock, looking to score around every corner. Although he’d been told he was attractive, he knew attraction was subjective. His six foot three height, wide shoulders, and lean muscles resulted from years of conditioning and training. His parents gifted him with great genes, his light blond-brown hair, and hazel eyes completed the package. But for him, he wanted something substantial.

“Come on, handsome. I’m an easy score and you seem well… equipped.”

“I’m not interested.”

This time, she huffed away and Cameron felt as though he could breathe again.

He lifted his beer to take a swig, and he paused when he spotted a gorgeous figure dancing alone. He swallowed without taking a sip of the beer hanging in his grip and watched as the man closed his eyes and let the music wash over him. Cameron noticed the small smile on his lips grew wider the longer he continued to move to the pulsing beat. He’d never witnessed pure bliss etched on a face before, but this man exuded it.

What surprised Cameron wasn’t that he couldn’t tear his eyes away from a man as he traced his gaze over his beautiful face, his long neck, his thin but not skinny frame, and his long legs, mesmerized.

It wasn’t only that.

But the flare of attraction that hit Cameron square in the chest for the first time in his life.

Over the next few minutes, something drew Cameron’s eyes back to the gorgeous blond man as he built up the courage to approach him. But each time he glanced up, there was a new man or woman who walked away when the man refused a dance.

Cameron’s eyes roamed over him. He estimated the blond was shorter by four or more inches. He looked to be on the thin side, but Cameron could see the defined muscles where his shirt clung to him. And his tight jeans moulded to his perfect ass and slender legs, giving Cameron fantasies for the first time, stunning him.

He had no clue how long he stood there ignoring his beer and the rest of the people surrounding him, admiring the man who’d captivated him, until he blinked when Eric shook his shoulder. Cameron glanced down and caught Eric’s smirk before he looked at Aaron, who was holding his stomach, laughing.

Although his friends were having a laugh at his expense, Cameron appreciated they didn’t mention his utter fascination with the man who had moved closer to the bar.

“Hey man, we’re taking off.” Tim pulled Cameron’s attention away from the moving bodies.

Cameron nodded. “I’ll stick around. I’ll see you guys.”

All three nodded and Cameron watched as they headed toward the exit before his gaze moved to find the object of his fascination.

The crowd had thinned and while he should have been able to spot the man, disappointment flooded him when he couldn’t find the captivating dancer. His eyes darted around the club, but it wasn’t his night, the man must have slipped out when he wasn’t watching.

He turned back to the bar. Before he could snag his beer for one last sip, he felt a presence next to him. Wallowing in his sorrow at missing his chance to meet the mesmerizing man, he had heard nothing said by the new arrival.

Cameron turned his head and almost groaned aloud at the relief rushing through him when the man he’d thought left was standing next to him. For a moment, he became lost in the brilliant smile aimed at him. He forced his eyes away from his lips and caught the man’s gaze.