Page 43 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Sapphires is pretty crowded for a Tuesday night. There’s actually a line forming outside, and we have to wait a bit to get in. Tyler and Ian arrive shortly after we do, and when we spot them, we move to the back of the line so we can wait together.

Cooper and Tyler shake hands like two old fuddy-duddies. They’re both late bloomers—both late to come out of the closet.

Ian, who is my age, throws his arms around me and squeezes. “Congratulations! Only four more days until the big event. Are you excited?”

“Very,” I admit. “I am literally counting the hours.”

Ian’s friend Trey—a stunning mixed race man our age—joins us in line. Chris is already inside. He works here as a server.

Finally, we reach the front of the line. The bouncer lets all five of us in together.

The club’s throbbing energy complements the blue strobe lights and the pounding dance music. The dance floor is crowded as an Ariana Grande song plays.

I grab Cooper’s hand and try to lead him into the crowd. “Dance with me! You promised you would.”

“I will,” he says, laughing as he pulls me toward a booth big enough for the six of us. “Let’s get a table and order drinks first. Then the dancing.”

We slide into the booth. Cooper and I are on one side. Tyler and Ian are across from us. Trey sits next to Ian.

Chris waltzes right up to our table with a huge grin on his face. “Hey, you guys! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you both.”

As usual, Chris stands out. It’s not just his wild blond surfer hair and blue eyes drawing a lot of interested gazes, but also the gauzy, see-through white skirt he’s wearing, paired with a barely-there, silver-sequined crop top.

Beneath the skirt, he’s wearing a pair of the tiniest bright blue briefs I’ve ever seen. “What can I get you all to drink?”

Tyler and Cooper both order beer—boring!

Trey, Ian, and I all order Rim Jobs—scotch and Bailey’s Irish Cream—for our first round.

At least Ian and I don’t have to worry about how much we drink tonight because we both have our own designated drivers.

Tyler and Ian offer to give both Trey and Chris rides home tonight.

After Chris delivers our first round of drinks, he’s officially off for the night and joins us at our table. Tony, a stocky, heavily muscled guy, takes over as our server for the rest of the night.

The four of us order Blow Jobs for a second round of shots while Cooper and Tyler are still working on their beers.

“We have all night, you know,” Cooper murmurs in my ear. “Maybe you should pace yourself on the alcohol.”

“I don’t have to pace myself,” I say as I lean in and kiss Cooper on the cheek. “I have you.”

He gives me a stern look. “Behave yourself.”

I glance across the table at Tyler, who’s whispering something to Ian. I imagine Ian is getting the same lecture I just got.

We down our Blow Jobs, and then the four of us—Ian, Trey, Chris, and I—hit the dance floor. We’re the ones who love to dance. Tyler and Cooper, not so much. In fact, getting them onto the dance floor is like pulling teeth—no fun.

The four of us dance as a group, in a tight configuration, making it clear we’re together and not just four single guys looking for action. As much as we love teasing Cooper and Tyler, we don’t want any trouble. The old guys can be very protective when the occasion calls for it.

One song blends into another and then another. I’m hot and sweaty by the end of the third song. “I’m getting something cold to drink,” I tell the others. I nod to our table. “Be right back.”

As I’m heading back, I notice our server, Tony, standing by our booth. Good, because I need to order a Coke.

“That sounds really exciting,” Tony says to Cooper.

“What’s exciting?” I ask Cooper as I slide onto the bench beside him.

Tony blushes and looks away. “Unless you need anything else—”

“Can I have a Coke, please?” I ask. “I’m parched.”

Tony frowns at me. “Sure,” he says. And then he returns to the bar to place the order.

A couple of times, I catch our server looking in our direction. “Did I miss something?”

“No, nothing,” Cooper says as he takes a swig of a soft drink. Apparently, he’d finished his beer and moved on to something nonalcoholic.

I point to his drink. “What’s that?”

“Coke.” He hands me the glass.

I take a long drink, reveling in the icy cold liquid cooling my throat. “I’ll pay you back when I get mine.”

“No problem,” he says.

“So, what did I miss?”

“I told you, nothing,” Cooper says. His expression gives nothing away.

Tyler laughs. “Cooper’s being modest. Our server was hitting on your fiancé.”

My gaze darts from Cooper to Tyler and back. “Are you serious?”

Tyler grins as he shakes his head. “I wouldn’t kid you about a thing like that. You should have seen Cooper squirming in his seat.”

I shift in mine to face Cooper. “I told you! Next time I’m going to give you a hickey.”

Tyler’s clearly amused “Told him what?”

“I told him his silver fox vibe would attract all kinds of attention. I warned him guys would be hitting on him.” I point to the hickey on my neck. “He gave me this so guys wouldn’t hit on me. I told him I should give him one, too, but he said it wasn’t necessary. Obviously, I was right.”

My Coke comes, and Tony makes a point of ignoring Cooper, not making any eye contact at all. I guzzle down half my drink and then hand the rest to him. “Come on, you’re dancing with me now.”

Cooper makes a face. “Do I have to?”

“Yes, you do. This is our bachelor party, and I want to dance with my fiancé.”

“Okay, fine.” Copper slides off our bench seat. “Tyler, you’re in charge of the table while we’re gone.”

I drag Cooper out onto the dance floor just as they’re playing an old-school classic— It’s Raining Men .

As we make our way over to the rest of our group, Cooper is completely out of his comfort zone.

I take pity on him and wrap my arms around his neck.

I know he can at least sway—like he’s slow dancing—and that’s good enough for me.

Halfway through the song, a young guy, barely five feet tall, bumps into Cooper. He’s got to be at least twenty-one to get into the club, but he looks like he could pass for much younger.

Cooper automatically releases me and turns to see what the commotion is, and the kid gets one look at Cooper and his face lights up.

“Sorry,” Cooper says to the guy before he turns back to me.

The kid moves so he’s in front of Cooper. “Hey.” His gaze scans Cooper from head to toe. Then he spares me a quick, dismissive glance before turning back to face Cooper. “How about a dance, Daddy?” he asks my fiancé as he runs his index finger down the front of Cooper’s shirt.

Cooper freezes for a moment, looking quite uncomfortable as he meets my gaze over this kid’s head. “I’m sorry,” Cooper practically stammers. “I’m—I—”

I realize Cooper’s not used to being hit on by guys. I don’t count, because he hit on me first. Taking pity on him, I move in between them, pushing the kid back a couple of feet. “Can’t you see he’s taken?”

The kid smirks at me. “It’s a free country. Let him decide.”

Ian steps in beside me, and Trey and Chris appear on my other side.

Finally, Cooper finds his tongue and tells the kid, “Yeah, can’t you see I’m taken?” And then he pulls me into his arms and kisses me right in front of the little punk who wants my man. “You were right,” he says to me. “Next time, you can give me a hickey.”

After Cooper’s had enough dancing to last him a while, we all head back to the table. We order another round of drinks, and we all tease Cooper about his barely legal admirer on the dance floor.

“He called him Daddy to his face?” Tyler asks, trying hard not to laugh. “Seriously?”

Cooper glares at Tyler. “Like no one’s ever called you that before?”

“Honestly, they haven’t.” Tyler runs his fingers through his short, dark hair. “What can I say? No gray hair.”

Ian grins as he brushes the hair at Tyler’s temple. “Well, at least not much, Daddy .”

I put my arm across Cooper’s shoulders. “I told Cooper he’d get hit on tonight. The silver fox vibe is hot.”

Our new round of drinks arrives.

Ian raises his glass—a vodka soda. “A toast to the happy couple. In four short days, you two will join us old married folks in the state of holy matrimony.”

Tyler raises his Coke. “May you be as happy as Ian and I are.”

“Aww,” Ian says, laying his head on Tyler’s shoulder. “That was so sweet, babe.”

“Oh, my God,” Trey groans, covering his face as he reaches for his beer. “I can’t take all the sappy vibes.”

“You’re just jealous,” Chris says. “I think it’s sweet. We should all be as lucky as these guys are.”

“So, Sam,” Tyler asks with a perfectly straight face, “exactly where is Cooper getting his hickey?”

I smile. “Oh, there are so many options, I don’t know where to begin.”

“Maybe I’ll give you a hickey,” Ian says to his husband.

Tyler smiles indulgently at Ian. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

* * *

It’s after midnight when we call it a night. Tyler and Ian drive Chris and Trey home. Cooper and I walk down the street to where we parked the Jag.

Cooper opens the passenger door for me.

“Thank you,” I say. Before I slide into my seat, I add, “And thanks for dancing with me tonight. I know it’s not your favorite thing to do.”

“It was good practice for our wedding reception.”

At the mention of a wedding reception, I can’t help but think back to the time I asked Cooper to dance with me at Beth and Shane’s wedding. When he said no, he broke my heart.

“Hey.” Cooper frowns as he steps closer and cups my face. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head in an effort to dispel the painful memory. “It’s nothing.”

“That wasn’t nothing . One minute you were all smiles, and the next you looked like— oh . You’re thinking of Beth and Shane’s wedding reception.”

“Forget it. That’s ancient history. It’s not important.”

“No, baby, it is important. It’s something I need to atone for. Actually, one of many.” He grasps my shirt and pulls me to him. “And I promise you, I will.” He gives me the sweetest kiss right in front of all the pedestrians passing by.

* * *

That night, Cooper makes love to me with a mixture of tenderness and urgency that steals my breath.

“I love you,” he murmurs into my ear as he slowly thrusts in and out of me. “And I can’t wait to marry you. I can’t wait to be your husband.”

I shiver every time he says husband . He kisses the back of my neck and behind my ear.

We’re lying on our sides, and he’s behind me. One of my thighs is draped over one of his. He’s got his hand wrapped around my erection, and he strokes me in time with his thrusts. It’s a two-prong attack of sensation. His other hand has a firm hold on my hair.

“You feel so fucking good, baby,” he says, his voice a quiet growl in the dark.

I’m so close . “Cooper!” I gasp.

“Not yet.” He releases my erection and slips his hand down to cup my balls, massaging them gently, rolling them in his warm, slick palm. “You can take more.”

Desperate to come, I arch my back and cry out. “Please!”

He keeps thrusting, slow and steady, angling himself just right so the head of his cock brushes over my prostate with each pass. It’s torture, the sweetest, most mind-blowing torture ever.

I reach back and grasp his butt cheek, squeezing. I try to urge him to move faster, to give me the release I need.

Finally, he takes pity on me. His hand returns to my dick, and he finishes jerking me off until I get what I need. Fire shoots down my spine, and suddenly, I’m ejaculating ribbons of cream.

A moment later, he pushes deep inside me and comes. Both of us are breathing hard, trying to catch our breath.

After we clean up, we snuggle in bed. Cooper’s lying on his back, and I’m lying half on him, half off, my chin resting on his chest.

“All right,” he says, tapping the side of his neck. “Get to it.”

He’s talking about the hickey, which I am totally going to give him. After I stop laughing. “I told you you’d get hit on.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Are you sure you didn’t put that kid up to it?”

“No, of course not! I would never do something like that. Cooper, I don’t think you realize how attractive you are.”

It’s too dark to tell, but I’m pretty sure he’s rolling his eyes at me.

I scoot closer and press my mouth to the side of his throat. I kiss him, lick his skin—which makes him shiver—and then I make my mark.

When I’m done, he says, “I hope you’re happy.”

“Very.” I kiss his new hickey and lay my head on his chest. His warm palm skims up and down my back, lulling me to sleep. I yawn. “Night, Cooper.”

“Goodnight, baby.”