Page 94 of Hunt Me

He looks gorgeous.

I glance down at Archie’s sweater, which dwarfs me, and wonder what on earth he sees in me. But as he steps around me and pulls my back against his chest, I feel the hard length of his cock pressed against my ass, and it’s reassuring.

I hate being this insecure. I hate how I’ve seemed to fold in on myself, but the last few weeks have been difficult, andI feel like I’m not fully myself. The only time I really feel like I’m Denver Voss is when I’m with Archie in this basement, surrounded by him.

‘Ready?’ Nico asks, moving up to me and tugging on the hoodie strings dangling down the front. ‘You look cute in his sweater.’

He glances at Archie and winks, clearly happy for his best friend.

‘Thank you,’ I reply, and he nods, grabbing my hand and pulling me up the stairs.

In the kitchen, Percy, Milo, and their dad are talking, but since we’ve come in the middle of the conversation, I can’t catch up with any of it. It doesn’t really matter though. The moment they see us, they all stop like someone hit a pause button on them.

‘Okay, this is awkward. But whatever. It’s drink time!’ Nico says, pointing to the cabinet near the fridge. ‘Vodka,’ he adds, flicking his finger against his neck.

Milo arches an eyebrow at him, and when he doesn’t move fast enough, Nico punches him in the arm and points his finger more aggressively.

‘Go. Now.’

Milo murmurs something I can’t lipread, doing as he’s told, bringing down a large bottle of vodka as Percy grabs some shot glasses. They’re all mismatched, but it works. This entire place has a certain kind of charm that’s really growing on me.

‘I think we all need a drink or two before we head out,’ Nico explains as he grabs the shot glasses and lines them up, tallest to shortest.

‘Not me,’ Jasper replies. ‘I’m driving.’

‘Boring,’ Nico answers and then points to Milo and then to the glasses. Milo sloppily pours vodka into each one until they’respilling over. They’re handed out, one by one, Nico nearly vibrating with excitement.

‘To a fun night!’ he says on a salute before tossing the liquid back.

Milo makes a face, and Percy grins. Archie just slips his hand into mine as we all take a shot, the clear liquid burning the back of our throats. It makes my eyes water, but it loosens something inside of me.

I won’t let the man who has been following me ruin my night.

‘Ready?’ Archie asks, his hand curling into mine.

I nod, and then we’re off, piling into Jasper’s pristine SUV as he drives us down the dirt path that leads into town.

The lights are flickering around us in the club, the heady bass thumping through the ground as we move through the large crowd to the bar. Archie and Percy are walking next to me, not giving me an inch of space, which would normally bother me, but not tonight. Tonight, it makes me feel safe.

Nico has his arm tucked through Jasper’s, and Milo is hovering somewhere in the background. He made it clear he doesn’t want to be here, and I know he doesn’t like being touched, so a drag show is probably hell for him.

‘Drinks!’ Nico calls with his hand, his eyes bright.

I think another would actually do the trick.

Archie’s dad is stoic as Nico pulls him up to the bar. He looks slightly too formal for this place with his designer suit and his fancy shoes, and his eyes move from one side of the crowded space to the other, constantly aware of our surroundings, though his face is unreadable.

I wonder if he’s ever been to a drag bar before. He doesn’t look uncomfortable though, just cautious. It can be a little overwhelming if someone’s never done this before, and tonight is a lot more crowded than usual, thanks to the two-for-one drinks special they have going on.

Behind the bar, I see Oleander making drinks, his purple hair a mess on top of his head, his nipple rings obvious through his sheer top. His eyes rove over Nico first and then Jasper. I can tell he’s trying to figure out who these new guys are and wants to ask, but his hands are too full for questions.

Eventually, his blue eyes land on me, and he lifts his chin in acknowledgment.

I wave back, leaning my elbows on the bar top, Archie pressing in behind me, Percy to my left, and Nico to my right. Thanks to the crowd, Jasper’s side is pressed up against another man I think I recognize from town, but I can’t quite place him. He’s Jasper’s age though, with dark hair and a very pristine, trimmed beard to match.

Before I can get distracted, Oleander moves up in front of me and smiles. ‘I thought you were on a break.’ His gaze flicks to my throat, but in this lighting, the bruising is nothing more than shadows. I can tell he’s curious, but he doesn’t ask, and I appreciate that.

I bob my head. ‘I am. Just here with friends.’