Page 7 of Gin & Sin (Last Call #2)

SEVEN

KIT

Every time the door opens and the cold air pushes back some of the heat inside, I immediately hope it’s Stewart, even though he gave me no indication that he’d be coming in tonight. Plus it’s still early. The bar is pretty busy for a random weeknight, and we’ve all been running trays from the kitchen to the dinner crowd. We’ve still got two hours before the menu shifts to apps only, the DJ starts up, and the drinking crowd starts to replace the diners.

“Fucking hell,” Ridley says, slapping my shoulder as he stops beside me. “This is the busiest we’ve been for dinner so far, I think.”

“Wren’s food is gaining attention. There’s nothing better unless you head back to the city.”

“I know. We might need to think about hiring a few more folks if this keeps up. Lowen is already looking over our operating budget with Indy in the office.”

“Good. I agree, even if it’s just a couple of nights a week. We can keep costs down with our labor, but we don’t want service to suffer.”

“Right, and we still need to think about extending our dinner hours in the summer to make up for the student population dipping out.”

I nod, crossing my arms over my chest. “But Salem’s idea to get people here from the city with drink discounts could work. Back in the day, I would’ve driven thirty minutes to drink for cheap.”

“Same.” He chuckles. “I looked up menus at some of the popular bars in New Onyx. Seventeen bucks for a martini, twenty for top-shelf whiskey.” He gently smacks my arm. “Your signature drink, that Gin and Sin, even using house gin it’s fifteen to eighteen in most places.”

“Damn. How do college kids afford to drink anymore?”

“No idea, but it gives us space to play with prices.”

“On top of being queer friendly and the theme nights, it might work.”

“And drag brunch on Sundays.”

I groan. “I love the idea, but I love my lazy Sundays more. They’re all we have.”

“Once a month to start, then maybe we can rotate or something. We don’t need everyone here all the time.”

“True. I complain, but I don’t really have anything else to do but work.”

“Except for a hottie professor.”

Chuckling, I nod. “Except for that. How are things in that department for you?”

Ridley shrugs. “I’m hung up on somebody and it’s annoying as fuck. Not to be an ass, but it’s not usually too difficult for me to pull a baddie.”

“Pull a baddie? College kids rubbing off on you?”

Ridley laughs, twisting the longest part of his hair around a finger. “It keeps me young.”

“If you say so.”

He bumps his arm against mine. “Let me live in my delusion.”

Chuckling, I nod. “You bet. Is it Wren still?”

He scrunches his nose. “I’m not hiding it, huh?”

“Not even a little. Your face lights up like a kid’s in a candy store every time he’s around.”

Ridley huffs out a breath, directing his gaze to the table of five that just got up. Both of us walk that way to grab the empties and clear the table.

“I got it bad for him, but he’s in a long-term relationship.”

“I heard. Salem said it’s fizzling though.”

“I know. Patience has never been a virtue of mine, but I’m trying. I haven’t been able to really get into anyone else since I met him.”

Stacking some plates, I smile at my friend. “My take is that he likes you too. It must be complicated for him. You have the sunk cost fallacy to grapple with.”

“Sunk cost?”

“You know. You spend years with a person, so in your head, it’s an investment that you don’t want to lose, but at some point, you have to cut your losses and move on or you go broke. It relates to money and relationships.”

Ridley nods, chewing his bottom lip for a few seconds before releasing it. “I get it. Maybe that’s how Low felt?”

“Maybe, but his situation was even worse because they had the public to deal with and they were business partners. It had to be rough.”

“It changed him. Makes me sad, because other than Jerryn, I always thought Lowen was the guy who had the most love to give out of all of us.”

“Yeah, I agree. I don’t know what it would take to get him to try again, but so far, no one’s been successful.”

“Even the gorgeous bear, Oakley.”

“Except Low said he never asked him out or anything. At first, I could see not crossing the line because we were clients, but that’s been done for months now.”

“Low hasn’t exactly been welcoming advances.”

I snicker, gathering the plates as Ridley carries glasses. “Fair.”

We go off in different directions, him to the bar and me to the kitchen, where I find Lowen standing in front of the service station, calling out order tickets for Bane and Jerryn to run to tables. I finish taking the dishes to the washing station, waving at our hardworking teenage dishwasher, Bellamy. He smiles back and I take a moment to be thankful we could give him a job. Being a trans guy and living in a small town isn’t easy, and Moby’s came along just as he graduated high school last summer. We couldn’t hire him fast enough.

“You okay back here?”

Bellamy nods, his big grin displaying the silver braces on his teeth. “All good, boss.”

I salute him then walk out to help carry out food. Lowen leans his hip on the silver metal shelf, somehow managing to look like a model even in a restaurant kitchen. That’s his superpower. Lowen looks good no matter what he’s doing.

“Three minutes,” he says, pushing a salad toward me. “Waiting on salmon for that one.” He turns in my direction. “Still crazy out there?”

“Yep. Rid said you and Indy went over the budget?”

Lowen nods, pulling the salmon plate down and adding it to the tray. “This is supposed to have a side of beurre blanc,” he calls out to Wren.

“Thirty seconds,” Wren calls back, whisking the sauce in a small pan.

“Anyway,” Lowen continues, “we’ll go over numbers in the Monday meeting, but long story short, we think we should hire a food runner, a busser, and another server. Maybe two.”

“Good call.”

Wren turns around and hands the dish of sauce to Lowen. I take it when Low hands it to me, then lift the tray. “Table?”

“Four.”

“On it.”

I’m out the kitchen door on the way to table four when my eye catches something delicious sitting at the bar. Tonight he’s wearing a button-down shirt, looking out of place and so adorable I want to bite him.

I hurry to drop off the food before Wren and Lowen yell at me. Both of them are very picky about the food, but it’s working for us, so I comply. Once I’ve made sure the guests are happy with their food, I wipe my hands on my jeans and head in Stewart’s direction.

He’s studying a menu like there’s gonna be a quiz, and I have a feeling it’s just to give him something to do. Sliding up behind him, I lean in close to his ear.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

Stewart’s breath catches as he looks over his shoulder. “Hi, Kit.”

I move to his side so I can look fully at him. He smells good, like body wash mixed with the ocean, and he shaved so his cheeks are smooth. More memories of his needy moans and filthy words flood my mind.

“How was your day,” I ask, sliding my hands up his thighs.

“Long.” He huffs a laugh. “I hope you don’t mind that I came in.”

“Best part of my night so far.” With my fingers under his chin, I tilt his head back slightly. “But I think it’s gonna get better.”

“I hope so. It looks busy though.”

“It is. It’ll be a while before I can sneak out. Are you hungry?”

He shakes his head. “Not for food.”

My stomach flutters and my cock swells just imagining all the ways I’m going to unravel him later. “Yeah, same.” I scratch my fingers up and down his thigh. “You look so good.”

“I do?”

Nodding, I step closer so I’m between his legs. “Did you get all dolled up for me?”

His cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. “Maybe.” He tickles his fingers up and down my arm. “Want to know what else I did?”

“Yep.”

“I took a long bath and made sure every crevice is squeaky clean.”

“Mm. Why’s that, babe?”

He swallows hard, holding my gaze. “I believe I was promised an ass eating.”

Laughter bursts from me as I wrap my arm around his waist. “I love the way you talk. So dirty. I bet your students wouldn’t expect it at all.”

“I doubt it.” He scrapes his bottom lip with his teeth. “Do you really like it?”

“Hell yes. You’re a contrast. Buttoned up on the outside and filthy sweet on the inside.”

“I never have been before. I never talked like that with women.”

I brush a lock of his hair behind his ear. “Yeah? What makes me special enough to get it?”

“It’s different with you. A guy. I feel like I can…” He pauses, clearing his throat and shaking his head. “I need to stop talking now.”

“No.” I slide my hand up to rub his back. “You can be honest with me.”

Stewart searches my eyes for a second before giving me a nod. “I told myself if I was gonna do this, explore my attraction to men, then I was gonna go all in and do all the things I’d wondered and fantasized about. I’m not talking dirty to be sexy or whatever, I’m just telling you what I want.”

“Good. I happen to be a fan of giving you what you want.” I move in closer. Any closer and my eyes wouldn’t be able to focus on him. “So you scrubbed that sweet little hole of yours for me?”

Stewart nods, swallowing audibly.

“Because you want my tongue there?”

“Oh god.”

“Is that why, baby?”

He whimpers softly. “Yes.”

“And my fingers. You want me to stretch you out and get you ready for my cock?”

He fists the hem of my t-shirt. “Kit.”

“Is that what you want, gorgeous?”

“Yes. Fuck, yes.”

“It’s what I want too. I was thinking about it all day.”

“Really?”

“Promise. Did you think about me today, Professor? Did you think about my kiss?”

“All day. I could barely focus on my work.”

“You’re due for a reward then. I’m gonna make you come so hard and enjoy every second of it.”

“I want that so bad.”

I step back so I don’t end up fucking the man on this stool in front of everyone. “Have a drink. Things should slow down soon since the kitchen is closing. Then I’m all yours.”

Stewart nods, releasing my shirt and smoothing down the area he wrinkled up. “I’ll be right here.”

“What are you drinking?”

“I don’t know.”

“How about my signature cocktail? It’s called a Gin and Sin.”

A sweet smile tugs at his lips. “Sin, huh?”

“Yep. It’s sweet and a little sour and goes down smooth.”

“Sounds just like you, except the sour part.”

“You haven’t tasted all of me yet.”

Stewart moans softly. “You’re definitely living up to the sin part.”

“Not a bad thing, is it?”

“Not at all. I’m ready for that.”

I motion for Florian who hurries over. “What’s up, Kit?”

“A Gin and Sin for the gentleman. On my tab.”

“Coming right up.”

As Florian prepares Stewart’s drink, I force myself back another step before I attack his mouth.

“Oh, the things I’m gonna do to you later. I hope you’re ready for me.”

He nods, straightening his shoulders. “I hope you’re ready for me. I’ve been holding this in for a long time.”

“Bring it on, Professor.”