Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(25)
“You’re butterin’ me up for somethin’.” Key’s sudden shift in thoughts confused Alec, and he watched Key’s ass bounce toward the back door. Alec bit his lip, proud of his purchase. He’d gotten it right. He’d suspected those shorts might help accentuate that bubble butt perfectly. “Grab my beer?”
He wasn’t even embarrassed that Key caught him appreciating the view. Alec grabbed the beer bottle and his wine glass then started for the back door. Resolve struck. He had to show Key he meant what he said, not with words, but with actions. All Key’s impenetrable barriers were nothing more than big gray sheets of glass waiting for Alec to shatter.
There were some holes in that theory. His father was the Speaker of the House for the United States Congress. That would never change no matter how estranged they were. Various images of the club members came to mind. Key was extraordinary, beautiful in every way. The others…not so much. His mind jumped straight to a scene out of the movie Deliverance, with burly mountain men saying, “He got a real pretty mouth, ain’t he?”
Alec shivered at the thought then shook his head. How in the hell had the bikers in his head suddenly morphed into backwoods hillbillies? Probably remnants of Key’s father’s rap sheet bouncing around in his head. Key might be in self-preservation mode, but his guy needed to know how badly Alec wanted him on all levels, not just a sexual one. A challenge he looked forward to winning. And he would win. No question.
Four days later
Keyes’s gaze stayed fixed on Alec’s swaying ass as he walked through the house in a pair of barely there workout shorts. His arms rested on the kitchen bar countertop, an ice-cold beer nearby, and he was tired as hell. He had come to Alec’s place every night after work, which required he leave each morning at the crack of dawn to fight the hellacious traffic all the way back into downtown Dallas. Adding to the misery, it was hot as hell outside, the temperature boiling, making the ride that much more unpleasant.
Now, he was there, butt-ass tired, and Alec was ignoring him. Keyes sighed. Alec wasn’t really ignoring him. They’d fallen into this weird routine of dinner, some sort of entertainment that usually included swimming or television, then bed. Strangely enough, for four long nights they hadn’t had sex. Alec “the toucher” wasn’t truly touching him anymore. Which was confusing as hell. He got a kiss goodnight and a kiss goodbye the next morning. A simple peck with barely any tongue and definitely nothing more. He didn’t like that shit one little bit.
Tonight, Alec’s thin shorts mocked him. He drank his beer while staring at that perfect ass until Alec turned and lifted a cold brew from the refrigerator. Keyes nodded, draining the one he had as Alec slid the new one across the bar to him.
“What day are you off this weekend?” Alec asked, leaning against the kitchen sink, twisting the top off his bottle of beer.
“Probably Sunday,” he answered, tracking everything about Alec, trying to understand what had happened between them.
“A friend of mine from work’s having a get-together at her place tomorrow evening. I thought I’d go. She’s announcing her engagement,” Alec explained, pushing off the counter and rounding the bar to take the barstool next to his.
“Go,” Keyes encouraged, turning to face Alec as he took the seat. “I can stay on my side of town tomorrow night.”
Alec took a drink of the beer, before reaching for Keyes’s hand. He gave a squeeze, and that gentle smile that Keyes loved so much tugged at the corner of Alec’s lips.
“I’ll swing by for a few minutes then come home. I’d rather spend time with you.”
Keyes scanned Alec’s face. The lawyer seemed completely unaffected by his presence, which was in direct contrast to the raging hard-on pulsating behind the zipper of Keyes’s suddenly too tight jeans. Was Alec intent on driving him mad?
“Are we still good?” Keyes asked, his voice softer than normal, uncertainty had his hand twisting in Alec’s, threading their fingers together.
“Absolutely,” Alec said, looking as if the question were ridiculous. “I’ve loved you being here so much.”
“All right. And you’ll tell me when it’s not good for you anymore?” He asked the words that hurt his heart to say.
“I’ll always be honest with you.”
Keyes nodded, watching Alec take a swig from his bottle.
“Your hair’s an incredible color now.”
“The sun bleaches it and the beard.” It was this right here—Alec mentioned his hair without reaching out and touching it. Something had changed. They were weird now. Right when Keyes had decided to ask what the hell was going on, the doorbell rang. Alec turned away, sliding off the stool, and grabbed his money clip off the counter. He came back a few minutes later with a box of pizza. That was new too. Alec always texted him to ask what he wanted for dinner. They had grown into a habit of cooking together. It was rare to even order out anymore.
“I ordered while I was running. I hope it’s okay. I ordered you a meat lover’s supreme, right?” Alec asked, absently tossing the pizza box on the counter while going to the cabinet for the plates and napkins.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, tracking every one of Alec’s moves. He grabbed two water bottles from the refrigerator, placing those on top of the plates and napkins then started for the back door. “Grab the pizza and come on. You like the patio better.” Alec left him there, walking outside, managing the door while Keyes carried the pizza and both their beer bottles.