Page 20 of Tough Guy (Game Changers #3)

Fabian didn’t feel like dancing.

He’d been looking forward to this night for weeks, and now that he was in the middle of a loud, pulsating nightclub that was packed with beautiful people, he was bored.

He and his friends had been at Force for over two hours.

Marcus and Tarek were long gone, lost to the throng of bodies on the dance floor.

Vanessa had been hanging out with Fabian at the high-top table he’d managed to snag, but she’d gone to the bathroom a while ago and had never come back.

Fabian wasn’t worried about her; that was classic Vanessa behavior.

She had most likely run into someone she knew.

Or fifteen people she knew. Vanessa knew everyone.

Fabian used his straw to poke at the mostly melted ice cubes that were left in his gin and tonic glass.

He’d already politely declined three different men who had approached him.

He wasn’t surprised—he was alone and he looked fucking fantastic.

He’d worn a white lace tank top, which he’d tucked loosely into his black jeans so it billowed slightly off of his slim torso.

He’d splurged on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild Glow makeup kit, and now his face was a shimmering masterpiece of metallic lavender, pink, and silver.

But who was it all for? Could he admit to himself that there was only one person he truly wanted to dance with? To have admire him. To have touch him.

Oh, Fabian. What have you done to yourself?

He thought about getting another drink, but he didn’t really want one. He wanted to leave. Would it be rude if he left? He would text his friends of course. He could say that he had a headache or some such thing. It’s not like it was early; it was nearly one o’clock.

In his peripheral vision, Fabian saw someone approach the table. He turned, his mouth already forming the beginning of his apologetic dismissal, when he saw who it was.

“Ryan.”

“Hey. Good. You’re here.”

Fabian blinked, dumbfounded. “So are you.” God, he looked incredible. “You cut your hair.”

“Yeah.” Ryan ran a hand over it nervously. “I fixed myself up a bit.”

“Oh.” Fabian knew he should say something more, but his brain was frozen.

His gaze ran a circuit from Ryan’s stylish new haircut and trimmed beard, down to the open collar of his shirt, and then to the fabric that was pulled tight across his chest and arms. Below that there was the denim that struggled to contain Ryan’s enormous thighs.

Fabian had never seen such tight jeans on him before, and he was sort of mesmerized by the bulge of his package.

When his gaze made its way back to Ryan’s face, he could see how much Ryan appreciated Fabian’s outfit as well.

“I didn’t think you were coming,” Fabian said finally.

“What?”

He leaned in, and Ryan bent down until his ear met Fabian’s lips. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

“Oh.” He stood back up. “I changed my mind.”

Fabian smiled, unable to conceal his delight. He wanted to know what exactly had changed Ryan’s mind, but it was too loud in the club to have that conversation. And besides, there were better things they could be doing right now. “Would you like to dance?”

Ryan grinned back at him and nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Fabian took Ryan’s hand, then turned and led him to the dance floor. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so giddy in his life.

The floor was packed, and Ryan was a substantial size, so they stayed close to one side instead of trying to push to the middle.

Fabian also wasn’t sure how comfortable Ryan was with people pressing against him.

When he found a reasonably spacious spot on the floor, he turned and gave Ryan a reassuring smile.

Ryan smiled back, but he still looked unsure of what to do next.

Fabian figured he would be the one leading this dance, so he let his body find the rhythm of the pounding Robyn remix.

Ryan tried to move with him, and he was definitely awkward.

His eyes darted around, as if searching for people judging him.

Fabian reached up and placed a hand on the side of his face, directing his gaze back down. It was too loud to talk, so he just pointed to his own face. Focus on me.

Ryan gave a slight nod, and Fabian let his hand slide off his cheek, down the side of his neck, and onto his chest. It finally landed on Ryan’s hip, and Fabian stepped closer until the buckle of Ryan’s belt bumped against Fabian’s ribs.

When he was sure he had Ryan’s full attention, Fabian closed his eyes and let himself go.

Dancing had always come naturally to him.

Music spoke to him so clearly, and his body knew exactly how to respond.

He rolled his hips seductively and lifted his free arm over his head, letting his fingers play with the music.

Ryan was stiff against him, so Fabian stepped back a bit to give him a better view.

When he opened his eyes again, Ryan had a wide, delighted smile on his face. He wasn’t dancing exactly, but his body was moving a bit. Fabian put a hand on Ryan’s neck and pulled him down so Fabian could speak in his ear.

“Are you laughing at me?”

Ryan shook his head, then tilted it so he could reply. “No. I just love watching you dance.”

His breath tickled Fabian’s ear when he spoke, and tingles shot through Fabian’s body. He draped one arm lazily over Ryan’s shoulder, and returned his other hand to Ryan’s hip. Ryan was going to dance with him, dammit.

By the middle of the next song, Ryan had finally loosened up enough to follow the movement of Fabian’s hips as they dipped and grinded.

Fabian was trying not to actively hump him, but it was a challenge because his tree trunk thighs were right there and the buttons of his shirt looked like they might pop open at any second.

Inspired by the thought, Fabian trailed a finger up to the top fastened button and deftly opened it.

He glanced at Ryan’s face to get his reaction.

His lips were parted, possibly in shock, but his eyes were pure desire.

He gave a barely perceptible nod, and Fabian opened the next button. Then the next.

He was wearing a black tank top underneath his shirt, which Fabian wasn’t surprised by, but he was a tad disappointed.

The undershirt did nothing to disguise the fact that Ryan was built.

His pecs were huge and defined, and even through the fabric Fabian could see there was a considerable amount of chest hair coating them.

Ryan’s giant hands grasped Fabian around his rib cage, holding him in place until he’d opened every button. When he’d finished, Fabian wrapped his arms around Ryan’s shoulders and pushed down on Ryan’s open shirt until the sleeves slipped off his shoulders and pinned his arms to his sides.

Fabian leaned in and pressed his mouth—open and wet and hungry—against Ryan’s left pec. He realized, after he had left a damp spot on Ryan’s shirt, that this might be a bit forward.

Ryan didn’t seem to mind. He was watching Fabian with an intensity that made Fabian want to get on his knees in the middle of this crowd. The bulge in Ryan’s jeans had grown significantly, and was nudging Fabian’s stomach every time Ryan moved his hips in his direction.

Fabian locked eyes with him, trying to match Ryan’s intensity. Then he leaned in again and pressed another openmouthed kiss to the distinct peak of Ryan’s left nipple.

Ryan’s head fell back, and his thumb brushed over the piercing in Fabian’s nipple. Fabian sucked in a breath, and gently bit Ryan’s chest. It had almost no give under his teeth.

Fabian wanted to see a whole lot more of this ridiculous body, but for now they could just have some fun.

As if reading his mind, the DJ transitioned into a remix of Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied.” Fabian jumped up and down in excitement, which made Ryan laugh.

He removed his button-up shirt completely, balling it up in his fist as he finally let go and started really dancing.

He was good at it. Fabian shouldn’t have been surprised—Ryan was an athlete, after all—but it was wonderful to watch. His eyes sparkled with unabashed joy as he watched Fabian dip and twirl in ridiculous, over-the-top moves that were designed to amuse him.

When Ryan lip-synced the opening lines of the chorus, complete with an exaggerated motion of wiping sweat from his brow with his discarded shirt during the A little sweat ain’t never hurt nobody line, Fabian shrieked with laughter.

Ryan beamed back at him, and Fabian wanted him so badly in that moment.

An arm draped across Fabian from behind, and a familiar voice said, “You guys look hot together.”

Fabian twisted his head to find Marcus’s face right next to his. He grinned and kissed Marcus’s cheek. “Where’s Tarek?”

“Some lovely gentlemen are buying him birthday shots.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Mm. Vanessa and I found a table over there.” Marcus pointed to a table with actual chairs near the high-top Fabian had been standing at. “Come find us, if you’re not too busy.” He left with a blatant leer at Ryan.

Fabian and Ryan stayed on the dance floor for another couple of songs, and then Fabian tugged him toward Vanessa and Marcus’s table. As soon as Vanessa spotted Ryan, she clasped her hands over her mouth.

“You remember Ryan,” Fabian said casually when they sat in the two remaining seats.

“Oh my god! You look so good! And you’re here! I thought you were at another party.”

“I left,” Ryan said simply.

“Good choice.”

“Is my makeup sweating off my face?” Fabian asked. “It’s probably a mess, right?”

Marcus shook his head. “You look flawless as always. Stop fishing.”

“You do look good,” Ryan confirmed. He was wearing that adorable shy smile that Fabian loved. Fabian was glad he was wearing makeup because he was sure he was blushing.

“You guys are so fucking cute,” Vanessa said. “Oh! Here’s the birthday boy!”

Tarek strolled over, and even from a distance Fabian could tell that he was quite tipsy.

His tight T-shirt was bunched up under his ribs, exposing his stomach, his hair looked like it had been thoroughly disheveled by someone, and Fabian tried to remember if Tarek had been wearing his glasses earlier.

He hoped not because they were gone now.

“Heyyyyy,” Tarek drawled when he reached them. He slumped over the back of Marcus’s chair, letting his arms fall around his shoulders. “Being thirty is awesome.”

“Hell yeah it is,” Vanessa said.

“Oh hey, it’s that guy,” Tarek said, nodding toward Ryan. “Are you guys together now?”

Fabian made a face that tried to silently say Shut the fuck up you sloppy idiot, but it didn’t seem to work because Tarek just kept talking.

“I’m so happy for you guys. Fabian is, like, obsessed with you. What’s your name again?”

“Uh, Ryan.”

“Ryan. Right. Good for you, man.”

Oh god. This was a disaster. Fabian leaned toward Ryan. “I’m so sorry about him.”

Ryan waved it away. “It’s fine. He’s drunk.” He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and yawned. “It must be late,” he said, blinking.

“Mm.”

“I could, um, walk you home. If you’re leaving soon?”

“You could,” Fabian agreed. “Or...”

Ryan leaned closer. “Or?”

“I could walk you home. I believe your place is closer, isn’t it?” He kept his gaze locked with Ryan’s, making sure he understood him.

“Yeah,” Ryan said. “It is. Let’s go.”

They both stood, and Vanessa of course had something to say about it. “Are you leaving? Both of you? Together?”

Fabian narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes. Very good.”

Marcus joined in. “Wait. You’re both leaving at the same time? That’s weird.”

“I swear to fucking god, Marcus...”

Fabian expected a comment from Tarek, but he had wandered over to a shirtless man with a giant back tattoo. The man seemed to have his full attention.

Fabian hugged his terrible friends goodbye, then left the club as quickly as possible. After they had retrieved their jackets from the coat check, Ryan and Fabian stood together on the sidewalk. Fabian wasn’t sure about Ryan, but he was suddenly overwhelmed by what they seemingly had planned.

“Where was the party you were at?” he asked, wanting to relieve some of the tension.

“Kleinburg.”

“Shit. That’s far. And rich.”

Ryan laughed. “Yep. I drove back here as fast as I could, parked in my garage, and basically jogged to the club.”

“Eager,” Fabian teased.

“I was,” Ryan said, and he wasn’t teasing at all. The earnestness in his voice made Fabian’s heart stutter.

“Well then,” he said breathlessly, “let’s make it worth all that effort.”

Again, Fabian was torn between wanting to ask what had made Ryan change his mind about engaging in sexy fun, and wanting to keep his questions to himself so he didn’t inadvertently destroy the possibility of sexy fun.

They walked in silence for a minute and then Ryan put a hand on Fabian’s shoulder and gently spun him around.

Fabian didn’t even have time to be surprised when Ryan crushed their mouths together.

It wasn’t anything like the shy kiss they’d shared on Fabian’s bed on Monday night.

This was hungry and possessive. Ryan was devouring him, and Fabian tried to return it but his knees were growing weak and he really didn’t need to increase their height difference.

As it was, Ryan’s knees were bent so far he may as well be kneeling on the sidewalk.

Jesus, they were on the sidewalk. Distantly, Fabian could hear people catcalling them, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything but Ryan’s warm, wonderful mouth on his.

“Sorry,” Ryan said when they’d broken apart. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you tonight.”

Fabian was in danger of swooning. Actually swooning. Questions could be asked later. It was definitely time for sexy fun.

“It’s okay,” he said thickly. “I’ve been wanting to do a lot of things since I first saw you.”

“Oh yeah?”

Fabian sucked lightly on his own bottom lip, savoring the lingering taste of Ryan’s kiss. “Mm. Yeah. Take me home, Ryan Price.”