Page 69 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 5

SPENCER

We finished eating but neither of us made a move to leave the table, and after a server took our plates, we leaned in closer. “Jake, I’m really glad I met you tonight,” I said and reached across the table for his hand.

“Did you know this hotel has a rooftop lounge?” Jake asked.

“I did know that, but I haven’t been. Have you?” I tried to control my smile, but it wasn’t easy around him.

“I hear it has a great view. Would you care to join me?” he asked, and I knew by his expression and tone he wasn’t just asking me to check out the view. He was giving me the opportunity to change my mind.

“I’d love to,” I said, and when we stood, he looped his pinkie with mine. Life is strange. When I was younger, I wanted so badly to have someone who would walk down the street holding my hand without an ounce of hesitation, now I wanted someone who was willing to commit to me without the need to sleep around with every other gay man. When he looped his finger with mine that same excitement rushed through me the way it had when I’d first held hands with a boy.

The crowd had grown, and we stopped and chatted to a few people before finally making it to the elevator and he never let go of me once. We stood at the door, and I was surprised we were the only ones, and even more shocked when the doors slid open and it was empty. Jake led us in and as soon as the doors slid closed his eyes met mine in the mirrored wall before he stepped in front of me and pressed me against the wall. “I’ve wanted to taste those lips all night,” he whispered before slowly leaning in to kiss me.

My hands gripped the back of his jacket as he kissed me so deeply, I never wanted it to end. His tongue swirled with mine and the slight brush of scruff on his chin forced a groan out of me that I should have been embarrassed about. We gasped for air when we broke apart but neither of us moved. His warm breath on my cheek was all I could focus on, until I felt him press against my leg.

I grinned at him and brushed my thumb against his cheek before kissing him again. “You are full of surprises aren’t you,” I whispered just as the door slid open.

“Maybe,” he said. His fingers found mine and as soon as the doors slid fully open, he pulled me out of the elevator and onto the rooftop lounge. There was a large bar area that wasn’t nearly as crowded as downstairs, but there were several small private areas set up to ensure the feeling of being all alone up here. He guided me over to the far wall where we stood and looked over at the capitol building and the Christmas tree.

“It really is beautiful up here.” He glanced at me and smiled.

“I used to come up here a lot when I was getting my business together,” he said with a faraway look in those beautiful brown eyes.

“I can see why. It feels like we’re a million miles away from the craziness below us.”

“It does. Spencer, can I be honest with you?” he said as he turned and took my other hand in his too.

“Of course.” I was both anxious and excited to hear what he’d say. I hoped it wasn’t that he’d lied and was really married, but I didn’t really think that was it.

“I’m very attracted to you. There’s just something that draws me in and I don’t want it to end after the party. Would it be okay if we see each other again?” His voice was full of confidence, but his eyes were not quite so certain, and he seemed to brace for my answer.

“I feel the same way, and I would love to see you again,” I whispered and leaned in to kiss him again. “I don’t want this night to end.”

He smiled before pulling me into his arms. “Maybe it doesn’t have to. We could always get a room for the night.” Once again, his eyes were full of doubt but now there was also the fire of desire.

I thought about it a moment and couldn’t think of a reason to say no. I wanted him, and if I was reading him right, he wanted me too. “Should we go see if they have an opening? I’m not really sure how this works,” I admitted and ignored the heat on my cheeks.

“I, umm, might have already checked on my phone when we were downstairs. Should I book it?”

“Yes,” I said, making him laugh.

“Oh, thank god. I promise I’m not usually this forward, but I want to spend the new year with you.”

“I’m glad you thought of it. I was already trying to find a reason to spend more time together. I wasn’t sure if you liked to take people home with you or if you preferred to go to their house.”

“Like a hookup?” he asked. “I hope this is more than a one-night stand.”

For a moment all I could do was look into his eyes. He said there was something about me, but from where I stood there was definitely something about him. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to have only one night with you.”

He kept his arm around me as I rested my head on his shoulder, and we looked out over the city below us as I wondered why I’d never noticed how beautiful it was until this very moment with this wonderful man. It was cold and foggy, but none of that mattered as long as he was next to me.