Page 8 of Hidden Plays (Desert Football #1)

FOUR

HOLDEN

W hat the fuck was happening to me? I wasn’t queer, but I sure as hell wasn’t homophobic either. JJ was fucking with my head. I peeked at him from under my wrist and then dropped my arm as I fought to breathe through the stiffness in my chest.

“Come here. There’s an outdoor patio with misters.” He grabbed my hand and wound us through men, past a long bar with a chalkboard full of shots written in neon colors, and finally to a sliding glass door.

I stopped outside, the vapor of the misters cooling my heated skin. I had to stop with the shots. Obviously, getting drunk in a place like this was dangerous.

A couple of guys stood at the railing, bumping shoulders and exchanging eye contact while looking down at the sidewalk.

“Holden, talk to me.” JJ grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You’re surprising the hell out of me tonight.”

“Yeah? I’m surprising me too.” I glanced inside the bar. So many men and so much bare skin. It was everywhere. Muscles and sweat and…fuck. Don’t think about it.

Another server in a well-packed Speedo stepped onto the patio. “Drinks, anyone? ”

“Sure, get us a couple of beers, please.” JJ stepped to the server and ordered.

The server left, and JJ’s attention drew to me. “Sit.” He pulled a chair from the tall metal and glass table in the corner.

Taking a hard swallow, I hitched into the chair, planted my elbows on the table, and scrubbed my face. “I don’t know why I kissed you.” I’d lost my damn mind. How would I face him at practice on Monday?

JJ dragged his chair close to mine and sat on it. “Maybe I’m irresistible.” He snickered. “Or maybe you’re not as straight as you think you are.”

Through my teeth, I said, “I’m fucking—” My gaze snagged on the couple, and I lowered my voice. “I’m fucking straight.” I’d never wanted a guy before. Sure, I found some attractive, but it meant nothing.

The server dropped off our beers, JJ paid, and the server left.

Holding up his beer, JJ said, “You’re getting the next round.”

“Sure.” I sipped my beer and relaxed my shoulders, letting the alcohol calm me.

Flicking a glance at JJ, my gaze meandered over him, his dark bangs swooping along his high cheekbones, the perk of his nipples through the sheer top, the tight abs underneath and the fuck…

The outline of his thick cock in his tiny shorts.

I gave him a fucking boner tonight in the medical room.

And it almost gave me one. My balls tingled.

Oh, hell no, not again. I squirmed in my chair.

“Your head seems preoccupied.” He flicked my forehead.

Stinging spread along my scalp. “Ow, fuck.” I rubbed it. “Yeah, but I’m not homophobic. I think I proved that tonight.” After drinking more beer, I said, “I mean, a homophobic guy wouldn’t kiss another guy.” Right? But maybe a queer guy would. Oh, fuck me.

“Or would they do it to prove they’re not homophobic?” JJ cocked his head, the edge of his lips quirking. “You almost passed out in there. Was my kiss that good?” He freed a sharp laugh .

“Stop fucking with me.” I fingered the cool wetness on my glass. I couldn’t let him get to me. I had to pull myself together. “When will you photograph yourself so we can go?”

“Aw, so soon?” He knitted his brows. “This is the first time I’ve enjoyed a gay bar.” With a huff, he sipped his beer. “I think we should stay another hour, at least. We haven’t even gotten on the dancefloor yet.”

Slowly shaking my head, I tutted. “Fine.” I knew what he was doing. Making me as miserable as possible. “But when this is over, you’ll trust my judgement, right?” Isn’t that why we were here?

“Maybe.” He twisted in the chair and brushed a lock of hair from my forehead, his soft touch igniting my skin, his stark blue gaze catching mine.

I stared into his eyes for a beat, and a fluttering sensation flowed through my chest. It was like how I’d feel toward attractive girls, but I didn’t like JJ. It was this place. I held up my beer and peered into it. Did they drug my drink? “This is only a beer, right? And the club wouldn’t put?—”

“No, you didn’t get roofied.” He chortled. “Damn, Holden, you really are freaking out right now, aren’t you?” He dragged his chair closer to mine and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, chill out and drink your beer. Then we’ll go inside and dance a little.”

I turned my head, and my lips skimmed his cheek, the scent of his cologne filling my senses. He smelled nice, not what I’d expect. He was woodsy, with a hint of vanilla.

With a short laugh, he said, “Are you trying to kiss me again?” His gaze locked on mine, then dropped to my mouth. “You know, I wouldn’t mind it. You have great lips.” He scraped his teeth across his bottom lip. “You already know what I’m packing.” He cupped his balls, giving them a quick shake.

My dick swelled and heated, along with my face. Covering my straining cock with my hand, I leaned back. “In your dreams, Matthews.” No. Fucking. Way .

Straightening, he dropped his arm from my shoulders and tongued the corner of his mouth. “Fine. Like I said, you’re not my type, anyway. No matter what my dick thinks.” With a chuckle, he downed the rest of his beer and slid off the chair.

My chest pinched. I’d beg to differ in his analysis of what his type was. Maybe I’d play along with this little game and fuck with him, too.

“Come on, drink up so we can get another beer and see what the dancefloor is like.” He glanced inside the bar and held his hand open. “Come on, baby.” He scoffed a laugh.

Under my breath, I said, “Fuck.” I threaded my fingers in his and followed him inside, the heat of the club and dancing bodies swallowing us.

We bumped along, then weaved through the crowd to the bar.

I ordered another round of beers from a bare-chested bartender in skimpy shorts, and he dropped them off.

“Here.” I slid a beer to JJ, taking in the names of the shots on the chalkboard.

“They have a Fuck U of A shot here?” I smiled.

There was also a Dirty Dog shot. Funny place.

“Yeah, the hockey players Cooper lives with have those shots after a win. I think it’s one of their crazy superstitions.” Bouncing to the beat of the music, JJ drank his beer.

“Cooper lives with hockey players?” I peeked at JJ and a man behind him, inching his way into JJ’s side. Fuck, time to play boyfriend. Throwing my arm around JJ, I yanked him into me.

With a start, JJ’s breath caught, and a grin swept over his mouth as his gaze snapped to mine. “Oh, possessive suddenly?”

I picked up my beer, holding it at mouth-level. “Yeah, the man next to you is?—”

“JJ Matthews?” The guy gushed. “You’re on the football team, right?” His blue eyes twinkled as he clapped his hands over his chest.

“I am.” JJ gave the man a flirtatious smile while leaning against me. “And you are? ”

“I’m Nathan. I’m on the cheering squad.” He glanced around JJ and toward me.

Fuck, he might recognize me. I twisted my head and squeezed my eyes shut. How the hell could I escape this shitshow?

“Hi Nathan, this is my boyfriend.” JJ patted my chest and made to step away.

I jerked him back. Keeping my hair draped over my eyes, I said, “Nice to meet you, Nathan.” Maybe he wouldn’t recognize me. It was dark.

“He’s a little shy.” JJ threw a peek at me and said, “But he’s a great kisser. He has the softest lips. Like pillows.”

That fucker. I tightened the grasp of my beer glass. If the thing were plastic, I’d have crushed it by now.

“I’ve never seen you in here. Do you come here often?” Nathan asked and sipped a fruity drink.

“Nope. I’m here because my boyfriend loves it.” JJ smirked. “He loves to get kinky on the dancefloor, know what I mean?” He squeezed my ass cheek.

My hips thrust forward, and I bit the side of my lip.

I had to keep my mouth shut. But if this guy identified me, what sort of rumors would spread through the team?

I buried my nose in JJ’s hair, by his ear.

“Come on, JJ. Let’s get out there.” Pulling him from the bar, I stomped into the throng of gyrating men.

“See you later, Nathan.” JJ stumbled beside me, waving at Nathan.

As the crowd parted for us, I stopped in front of a DJ stand with neon lips and butterflies painted on it. This place was crazy.

Sweaty bodies enclosed us, and a man stepped to JJ, winding an arm around his waist and nuzzling his neck.

“Holden.” JJ gave me a pointed look.

This was why I was here. “Dude, lay off. He’s mine.” With heat prickling my chest, I shoved the guy while pulling JJ into my body.

The guy lifted his hands. “Okay, damn, don’t have to be rude.” The guy danced behind another man and repeated his actions.

JJ pushed a leg between mine, our bodies flush, and his gaze rose. “You totally sounded straight right then.” He snickered, hooking his arm around my hips, cupping my ass, and swaying to the beat.

Oh, fuck…His hot cock pressed against mine through the jeans fabric we wore. “What are you doing?” Was he grinding on me? Is this what gay men called grinding? The pressure teased me, and my dick once again rose to the occasion.

“We’re dancing. We’re supposed to be boyfriends, so we should act like it.” JJ thrust his hips, his firm cock rubbing against mine.

I shut my eyes, fighting the feel of his hard body against me, the pleasure winding tightly in my gut. This wasn’t happening. “JJ, grinding with you on the…”

He squeezed my ass.

A moan slipped from my throat as my dick twitched inside my briefs. “Stop…stop it, JJ.” I couldn’t enjoy this. But any guy would get off if someone rubbed their dick, right? It was a purely physical reaction. Nothing more.

JJ halted his movements and gazed at me with dark eyes. “What’s wrong?” His swollen lips lifted on one side, and his breath whispered across my cheek. “Can’t take the heat?”

I croaked, “When—” Clearing my throat, I said, “When will you take those photos for your friends?” I stepped back, my balls aching.