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An Excerpt From: HIDDEN HANDS
Copyright © SHAYLA KERSTEN, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.
Jeremy
Lawson glanced around the packed club. He had no idea it would be so
crowded this early. The weak spring sun had barely set when he arrived a
few minutes before.
Releasing
a long sigh with a pop of pursed lips, he returned his attention to the
full bottle of beer in front of him. He hated the club scene. Once upon a
time, he enjoyed the sweaty masses of men clamoring for attention, backroom
hookups and one-night stands. Maybe he was just getting too old.
A few
months before, he’d been ready to settle down for life with someone.
Unfortunately, his “someone” had someone else. Jeremy had known for years
that Rich had a thing for Dan. He just didn’t know Dan was waiting for
someone to show him the closet door. As happy as Jeremy was for his friend,
he was also lonely.
A body
jostled Jeremy’s elbow as a deep voice barked an order at the bartender.
“Whiskey, straight up.” Strong-looking fingers dropped a twenty on the bar
then tapped an impatient staccato.
Jeremy
eased to one side, allowing the newcomer more space at the crowded bar.
“Sorry,
man.” Dim lights from behind the bar reflected in dark blond hair.
The
unmistakable musk of male sweat distracted Jeremy with a shiver of desire.
His reluctance eased at the idea of something other than his right hand
around his cock. “No problem.” Jeremy looked up at the tall man. “You been dancing?” Inwardly, Jeremy rolled his eyes.
He’d been out of the scene way too long if that was the best he could do.
“Nah…just
got off work.” His gaze flickered around the room and up and down the bar.
Anywhere except at Jeremy.
The
bartender set a tumbler of caramel-colored liquid in front of him. The man
snatched up the liquor and tossed it back. His forehead creased in a deep
frown and his lips set in a grimace.
“Bad
day, huh?” Jeremy flicked his gaze between the man and the now-empty glass.
“More
of the same.” His attention finally came to rest on Jeremy. A spark of
interest clicked in his dark eyes. “Name’s David.”
“Jeremy.”
Wrapping his fingers around the long-neck bottle of beer, Jeremy slid his
hand up and down the damp glass in long, slow strokes. His cock twitched
and began to fill. “With someone?”
“Not
yet.” David’s gaze locked on Jeremy’s suggestive motions. “You?”
Jeremy
shook his head slightly. Hesitation played across his tightening nerves.
What was he doing? The club scene wasn’t really to meet men but to pick
them up. One-night stands were something Jeremy thought he’d given up. But
then masturbating to fantasies that would never come true was pathetic.
“You want to go…” Jeremy tilted his head toward the club’s back room.
David’s
gaze narrowed as he glanced in the indicated direction. “Let’s go outside
instead. My truck.” Snagging his change from the bar, he turned then headed
for the exit without another word.
Jeremy
nodded as he plucked his change, leaving behind a generous tip. Weaving
through the sea of people, he kept his gaze locked on the tall figure. His
broad shoulders were a match for Jeremy’s stocky build, but David was at
least four or five inches taller. The bulky muscles looked like he lifted
weights, often and a lot.
The
idea of being wrapped in those arms… Jeremy hurried toward the exit. Even
if it was only one time, the urgency to feel a hot body against him instead
of cold sheets drove his cock into anxious hardness.
As
soon as Jeremy pushed through the heavy door of the club, his gaze darted
around, looking for David. The cool spring air had a bit of a nip to it but
not enough to cool off Jeremy’s growing need.
A
sense of danger crept along his spine, mixing with increasingly urgent
sexual desire. Picking up guys could be dangerous. Staying in the back room
of a club was actually the safer option.
Jeremy
caught the tall figure of David near the back corner of the cramped parking
lot, well away from other cars and the lights. Standing next to a big white
extended-cab pickup, David motioned Jeremy toward him. As he got closer,
Jeremy could make out words stenciled on the door of the truck, but it was
too dark to read them. The light didn’t come on when David opened the door.
Jeremy
took a deep breath then hurried the remaining distance. The passenger side
door popped open as he approached. “This is a really stupid idea…” he
mumbled as he climbed up into the big truck. Residual heat in the oversized
cab confirmed David’s story of having just arrived.
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