Page 37 of Devil's Kiss
Fed up with the douchebag know-it-all talking as though he wasn’t there, Derek crossed his arms and said, “I don’t know who you are, but how ’bout you stop talking as if I’m not standing in front of you and able to kick your ass.”
“Oh ho.” The guy laughed. “Down, boy. You can stop growling. I’m just trying to understand why a giant is sleeping in my best friend’s bed. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Uncaring of how little he was wearing, Derek stepped forward until he was toe to toe with the man and said, “I’m not sleepinginhis bed. And who I am is none of your business unless he decides to tell you.”
“Boys, boys…” Jordan said as he scooted to the edge of the couch and then pushed up onto his feet. He didn’t sway much as he walked their way, but when he stopped beside the both of them and placed a hand on Derek’s bicep, it seemed to register with him that Derek was wearing hardly any clothes. Jordan tested the muscles under his palm and then aimed a megawatt smile up at Derek that made his dick instantly hard.
Motherfucker.
“Derek, this is August, he’s my…my…” Jordan pondered over his choice of words for a second but then became sidetracked when he squeezed Derek’s arm again. “Wow. Your arms are huge. I mean, I knew you were big, but damn. And so…so…” He flattened his palm and ran it over the tattoo on Derek’s right shoulder before he whispered, “I’ve always wanted to touch these…”
Before Derek could halt Jordan’s wandering hand, he’d trailed a finger over to his chest to trace the script written just below his collarbone.
“They’re so sexy,” Jordan murmured, more to himself than anyone else, as far as Derek could tell, and then Jordan looked over to his friend, who was watching the exchange with curious eyes. “Aren’t these sexy?”
Jordan was so close that the scent of his cologne mixing with his sweat was intoxicating, and it was everything Derek could do not to uncross his arms and grab a hold of the guy. Apparently his reaction was not lost on August.
“No doubt, J. You might want to stop pawing the guy, though. He looks about ready to combust.”
Jordan laughed as though that were the most absurd notion on the planet, but when he turned back to face Derek, his laughter ceased.
Yeah, pretty sure “combustible” is an accurate description of how I’m feeling.
Realizing that he’d crossed the invisible barrier they’d carefully erected, Jordan cautiously backed away, but it was too late. Derek couldn’t tear his eyes from the man who had always been very careful not to flirt, touch, or give any impression he was interested. But the heat in Jordan’s cheeks and the alcohol that had loosened his inhibitions were showing Derek what was behind Jordan’s carefully manufactured facade.
“I’m August,” the guy standing beside Jordan said as he held his hand out in Derek’s direction.
Derek tore his eyes from Jordan’s then and took a hold of the guy’s hand. “Derek.”
August shook his hand and then gave a knowing smirk. “Sorry if we woke you. J’s had a few too many?—”
“Hello. J’s right here, and quite sober, thank you very much.”
August poked his tongue into his cheek as he dropped Derek’s hand and nodded. “Sure you are, J.”
“I am.”
August slipped his hands into his pockets and asked Derek, “Has he ever stroked your tattoos like he wanted to lick them before?”
Oh, Jesus.Like he needed that visual. “No.”
August turned back to face Jordan then. “Exactly. You, my friend, need water and an aspirin, then bed.”
Jordan waved his hand in anI don’t think soway, and when August made a grab for him, he dodged and giggled and had Derek smiling right along with him. Who knew Devaney was so damn cute when he was plastered?
Jordan spun on his toes and strutted over to the ridiculously expensive sound system, where he took the remote in one hand and aimed it at the entertainment center like he was pointing a Taser at a target—then he pressed a button.
As a familiar beat filled the room, August, who was still standing beside Derek, sighed. Derek tried to place the song, but as soon as the lyrics started, his mouth fell the fuck open.
“Britney Spears? Is he fucking kidding?”
August looked at him and shrugged. “He’s drunk, is what he is.”
Derek looked back toward the living room, and sure enough Jordan was swinging his hips and shaking his ass to an anthem about some guy being toxic. It also appeared he knew every single word as he turned to face them and crooked a finger.
“Oh, fuck no,” Derek said.
August chuckled and patted his arm as he walked toward the kitchen. “I’m gonna get a bottle of water for me and him. Think you can handle him for a few minutes on your own, He-Man?”