Page 24 of Frat Around and Find Out (Peach State Fratbros #1)

Ty

T here’s so much heat in my chest, I can barely stand it.

I was so distracted throughout my shift, constantly checking my phone before Lance’s text came through: You should meet Dax and me at Crave.

As soon as my shift was over, I rushed back to the frat and changed, then got my ass over to the bar.

I shouldn’t be so worked up. If Dax and Lance were vibing, surely he wouldn’t have invited me.

But even the thought that they’re still hanging when I want Lance all to myself again has me hurrying in, nearly getting tackled by the guy checking IDs at the door.

Once I get that out of the way, I go right for the dance floor.

I know how Lance and Ash are at parties, and my intuition is proven right when I catch him dancing with Dax.

Lance has a smile stretched across his face, and Dax leans close and whispers something. As Lance’s smile expands into a grin, my cheeks get as hot as my chest.

I want to be the reason he’s smiling like that.

And there’s a fear in the back of my mind—one I considered on the way over.

That Lance invited me out because they clicked so much, he felt bad about what he promised me.

Maybe he wanted to tell me right away that our deal about giving me his ass is off.

I could see Lance wanting to tell me something like that in person.

No, it’s mine. I’m the one who showed him how good he could feel. I deserve it, not Dax.

It’s a selfish thought I hate myself for having.

Lance owes me jack shit.

Intellectually, I know that, but what’s happening to me right now is visceral, primal. I swallow, bracing myself as I work up the courage to not act like a total creep, before approaching the guys.

Dax notices me first, and he offers that familiar smile. He’s always a fun-loving guy, but I can tell he’s having an even better time tonight…because of Lance? Because he knows what they might do later?

When Lance turns to me, he’s still smiling, and his eyes light up in a way that’s enough to make me question all my wild, intrusive thoughts.

“Hey, man, what’s up?” Dax asks.

“He’s mine,” I blurt out. Like at the auction, the words spit right out, as though I don’t have a fucking filter.

This…is all Lance’s fault.

Dax’s expression twists up. “What’d you say? It’s hard to hear you because of the music.”

I’m fucking relieved he gave me an out, so I say, “I said hi, fine . Sorry, I thought you said how are you…” It’s the closest I can think of, but he’s looking at me strangely, like he knows that doesn’t fit.

“You should win some prize for making it here before the rest of the guys,” Dax says.

“Yeah,” Lance adds. “We got a Sigma Alpha–Alpha Theta Mu rumble going down tonight, I guess. We were gonna just do this for a while before things get going at Zeta Tau later.”

“And how was the date?” I ask, searching between them for any indication that Dax has him under a sex spell.

Dax casually hooks his arm around him.

Get your greedy fucking hands off him.

I’m such an asshole. Dax is a good guy, one of my own, and it’s not like he knows he’s hitting on the guy I’ve been experimenting with. Neither is doing anything wrong, which just makes me that much more frustrated with the whole damn situation.

“We had a great time,” Dax says. “Pressed him for plenty of details we can use to destroy Alpha Theta Mu.”

Lance glares at him playfully. “Oh, that’s what it was really about, wasn’t it? Well, you did a good job getting me to let my guard down.”

Dax shrugs. “Kind of my thing.”

Lance laughs.

I don’t make him laugh like that. Wait, yes I do.

“Come on, Ty,” Dax says. “Show us what you got.”

I’m usually a good dancer, but right now, I’m tense as fuck. Dax moves close to me, strutting his stuff, and it’ll be less awkward to go along with him, so I do. Besides, now that it’s clear they’ve been having a good night, I need to remind Lance I can be fun too.

I can be cool.

Which is totally not something that cool or fun people ever have to think…

Dammit.

“There you go,” Dax says before getting closer to Lance, who doesn’t seem fazed by the move. “Come on. You know how to work that ass.”

Lance spins around and pushes back until his ass is against Dax’s hips.

I’ve always known Dax to be a damn good dancer, and the way he’s rolling his hips puts on full display the kind of rhythm I’d expect a guy like him to have. And seeing the way Lance moves that ass…

My face is on fire. I could fucking lose it and deck my Sigma Alpha bro over this stupid shit. As Lance pulls away from Dax, laughing at his move, my fists are clenched, my shoulders stiff.

“You mind if I chat with Lance for a sec?” I force out through my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength I can muster.

“Sure, man.” Dax shrugs. “Let me grab you a drink while you do that. Your usual? Tequila and soda?”

“Yeah, that works. Thanks.”

He rushes off, and my nerves settle. Lance waits for me to say something, but when I just stand there, silent, he finally asks, “What did we need to talk about?”

I rest my hand on his shoulder, guiding him through the crowd to a dark spot in the corner of the dance floor, mostly to buy time to regain my senses and not say something wild or stupid, but also because I figure we need to actually hear each other.

As we settle by the wall, I turn to him. “How was the date?” I ask, unable to disguise my irritation.

“Um…fine.”

“Good enough that you guys decided to hang after, apparently.”

Lance’s brows tug closer together. “Yeah, Dax was really cool about it all.”

He is cool, something I never had an issue with until recently.

“Music’s good tonight,” Lance says.

“Be better if you were DJing. How else am I gonna hear the latest Tate McRae remix?”

“You pay attention to my mixes?”

“Yeah, everyone knows Alpha Theta Mu’s music is the best. And I’m not saying that just because I want to get in your ass—” I stop myself. “I really need to start filtering myself around you.”

“I’m fine with you not,” he says playfully.

“Speaking of your ass… I’m sorry for that shit I said earlier today.

It wasn’t right of me to ask that of you, and if you want—” I stop again because this is fucking killing me, but I know it’s the right thing to do.

And it wasn’t fair to Lance. “You know you can do whatever you want with him, right?”

Lance quiets, has that deer-in-headlights look that makes it impossible to work out what’s going through that pretty head of his.

“But, before you decide, know that, even though he might be more experienced, you know I know what I’m doing with girls. And I clearly know how to please you…”

“Ty—”

“Just hear me out,” I say before he has a chance to go on, moving close to him, my lips just inches from his, so close that I’m tempted to take a kiss, but what I have to say is too important.

“Maybe the first time with me won’t be everything Dax can give you, but you’re gonna feel more comfortable telling me what you need and want.

” I slide my hand around his hip, down to his ass, cupping his cheek.

“You know we have chemistry. You know there’s something here.

That I’ll be even more determined to impress you than anyone else. ”

“Ty—”

“Please, let me finish.” I need to get this out, or I’m gonna stifle it, which is only making this shit worse.

“No one can take care of this ass the way I will.” I firm my hold on it.

“I’m sure Dax would be fun, and I’m sure it’d be great, but if you tell me that whatever he does to you sparks like it sparks between us, you know I’m not gonna believe that. ”

I move closer to his throat, and he rolls his head back, reminding me that I still have this power over him.

That exciting rush returns. If he feels even a fraction of what I do, how could he ever deny me?

“I—” Before I have a chance to say more, Lance rests his hand against the back of my head.

He guides my lips to his, and though everything we’ve done together has been hot as hell, in a moment, it’s like an explosion, ripping right through my train of thought, and I lose myself in wet kisses and tongue.

When I finally pull away, Lance looks just as shocked as I am by how intense it was, though it’s definitely made me less concerned about everything that had me so worked up.

As he seems to regain his senses, he glances around, reminding me that we’re still in fucking Crave.

“Sorry,” he says.

“Don’t you dare be sorry for that,” I insist, which earns a smirk.

See, Dax, I can make him smile too.

His lips move like he’s about to say something before I hear, “One tequila soda.”

Dax passes me my drink, and I quickly take a sip.

I grind my teeth. The guy just bought me a drink, but now I’m annoyed with him for another reason. Because it would’ve been nice to know how Lance felt about everything I said. Although, given the way Lance attacked my mouth, I’d say it can’t be bad.

“Did I interrupt something?” Dax asks, glancing between us, his expression confirming he knows he did, his smile suggesting he might even be proud of it.

“Let’s…uh…let’s dance,” Lance says, still a bit out of it since that kiss.