Page 6 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Keon has a big fucking mouth.” Ari goes back to kissing my neck and makes a noise suspiciously close to a growl when I pull away.

“I won’t be your secret gay fuck, Ari.”

“I just want some time to enjoy you before they get involved.”

“Maybe this is a bad idea,” I say, ducking away from him. I can’t think when his body is against mine. “I don’t get involved with straight men wanting to experiment. You obviously know that I’m gay, but that doesn’t mean you can use me.”

Ari leans against the door, crossing his arms over his chest, making me want to run from the room. “Is that what you think of me? I’m not asking for your hand in marriage, but I’m also not an asshole. Don’t you think I would have asked Keon if I just wanted to experiment?” I know Keon is bisexual. We’ve talked about it before, and that thought never crossed my mind. “You’re right. Maybe this is a bad idea.”

He turns to leave, and I’m moving before I even register it. I slide between him and the door, putting my hands on his chest. “I’m not asking for a commitment. I just don’t want to have to pretend nothing has happened.”

“I’ll go out there right now and tell them I’m about to eat your ass alive. Is that what you want?” Ari pushes closer until his lips are hovering above mine. “You want them to know that I’m the reason there’s a smile on that pretty face, Sweet cheeks?”

Ari doesn’t give me a chance to answer. His lips land on mine, hot and hard. His kiss overwhelmed me before, but it’s nothing like this one. The first one was to tease. This one isto mark me. His tongue is expertly stroking mine, and I’m so fucking lost to the feeling. He pulls back, and his hand slides down my hip. “I have to go back out there,” I say regretfully. “I’m the only one working tonight.”

“I know, and I don’t like it.”

“I can handle myself. I’ve owned this bar for a long time.”

“A lot of bad shit happens that we can’t predict.” With that cryptic remark, he steps back. “I’ll be waiting for you to get off.”

“Why?”

“So we don’t have to fool around in a stockroom. Take me home with you.” That wasn’t a request; that was a demand, and I have a big enough crush on him that I’m not going to deny it.

“Okay. We close in about two hours.”

“Perfect. I’ll see you out there.” With a grin, he walks to the back of the room, where the alley door is. He disappears, and my mouth drops open. How the hell did he get through that door? It has a code lock on it.

With a shake of my head, I go back to the bar, and Tyler’s eyes flash to me. “Jason! I seem to be out of liquid!”

“Did you have a stroke?” Gavin asks Tyler. “First, hide the hotdog, and now you’re out of liquid?”

“Don’t judge me, asshole,” Tyler answers, waving his glass for me. “I need more,por favor.” I fill his glass and sit it in front of him. “Gracias.”

Gavin and Tyler start bickering, so I tend to my other customers. I’m just filling the last order, when Ari walks in the front door. My eyes stay locked on him until I hear Tyler laughing obnoxiously. Ari slaps him on the back of the head and, with a wink, sits down at the bar. “Hey, Sweet cheeks.”

“Goddamnit, Ari,” Tyler says, rubbing his head. “That hurt.”

“Good. It was meant to.”

“Do you want your scotch?” I ask Ari, hoping my voice is steady.

“Nah. I need a clear head tonight.” I don’t miss the hidden meaning, and neither do the other guys. Keon looks at me and then at Ari.

“For what?” he asks. “We don’t have anything going on.”

“We don’t, but I do.”

“What?” Tyler demands. “To go home and scowl at the fucking wall?”

Ari gives Tyler a hard look. “Do you ever just shut up?”

“No.”

“That’s the fucking truth,” Keon laughs.

“You guys are going to give me a complex, and I’ll end up mute.”