Page 78 of Backward Motion

Sam shook his head, unperturbed. “That’s the beauty of it—you don’t have to fit in. You don’t have to be a certain type. Just show up as yourself.”

Despite his hesitation, Connor felt an unfamiliar excitement. He was being invited to the party he’d spent his whole life watching from the window.

“All right. I’m in.”

“Oh my God!” Sam exclaimed, beaming. “This is going to be amazing!”

His enthusiasm was infectious, and Connor couldn’t help but laugh. If anything, it would be a fun story to share, a peek into Sam’s old life in the city.

Sam checked them into a swanky hotel downtown so they could shower and freshen up after a day on the road. The plan was to head back to Oakdale late the following morning.

Connor watched Sam slick back his hair in the bathroom mirror and dab a touch of electric blue eyeshadow to the inner corners of his eyes. “I am sorely unprepared for this,” he said, standing next to Sam and staring at his own unremarkable reflection.

“Don’t worry. All you need to do when we get there is take your shirt off.”

Connor blanched. “What? I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. You have an amazing body, and less is more in these places. Try it out; see how it feels.”

They were close enough to walk to the first club, which was already packed when they arrived, and it was only eleven. They paid the cover and got their wrists stamped, then Sam took Connor’s hand and led him into a sea of sweaty bodies pulsating to the thump of an early EDM remix.

Connor’s gaze roamed the gloriously skimpy outfits, which left little to the imagination. Above them on a raised platform, two dancers gyrated in silver shorts, their bare chests streaked with glow paint. All around them, men were dancing, touching, exploring. Connor felt someone palm his ass as they passed. It was like he’d stepped into a technicolor fantasy land.

“This is insane!” he shouted in Sam’s general direction.

Sam grinned and moved to wrap his arms aroundConnor’s neck. “Isn’t it?”

“I mean, look at everyone!”

Sam frowned. “Uh-oh. Did I just bring you to an all-you-can-eat buffet?”

Connor pulled Sam close so their bodies ground together in time with the music. “I only have eyes for you,” he said, pressing his lips to Sam’s ear.

Sam tilted his chin to kiss him as they floated through an ocean of beautiful people, clinging to each other.

While Connor had opted not to shed his shirt, he still looked incredibly fetching in a tight white tee and jeans. It was hard not to notice the attention he’d been getting since they’d arrived at the club. Sam was used to how Connor appeared in Oakdale—the friendly, unassuming tradesman. In Austin, under the roving gaze of hungry eyes, he oozed a clean-cut masculine charm. At first, Sam had fought against a familiar insecurity, but Connor seemed oblivious to the effect he had on the men in the room. True to his word, he remained glued to Sam all night.

Sam stood to one side of the bar as Connor, taller and more assertive, attempted to muscle his way through the throng of people to order drinks. There was a flash of movement in the corner of his eye, and Sam turned to see someone bounding toward him.

“Sam!”

“Brandon?”

Brandon burst out laughing and scooped Sam into a bear hug. “It’s been forever!”

Sam smiled when he released him. “It has.”

Brandon scanned over Sam’s shoulder as though looking for someone. “You still with...?”

A flush crept up Sam’s neck. “Ah, no. Not for a while now.”

“Thank God!” Brandon blew a mouthful of air through his lips. “Felix was such a fucking asshole.”

Sam laughed; it came as a relieved burst, bubbling up his throat. “He really was.” He glanced over to where Brandon had come from and spotted Remy and several others sitting at a private booth with Brandon’s boyfriend, Mike. The booth was decked out with balloons and what appeared to be a blown-up sex doll with a beard scribbled on in black marker. “Is it someone’s birthday?”

A flicker crossed Brandon’s face. “Nah, it’s just a leaving thing for Mike.”

Sam’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.Have they broken up?He’d always thought Brandon and Mike were rock-solid.