Page 73 of Driving Beats

He places it on a nearby table together with his, then reappears. Grabbing my hand, he twirls me, causing me to laugh. And praise the footwear gods for keeping me on balance. We dance to a few more songs, until I wipe my sweaty forehead. “I need a break.” My foot does, too.

“Sounds good. Let’s grab a seat over there.” He points toward a bunch of overstuffed club chairs.

We make our way to the side, where only one chair is empty. “It’s a chair and a half,” I note. “I’ll share.”

“Works for me.”

Kieron sits first. Turning my back to him, I allow him to guide me onto his lap. For such a tall guy, I manage to fit in pretty well next to him. He calls over a server and soon we have two more beers. At least he didn’t get more tequila.

“Tell me, what exciting things has Coop been up to with you besides shopping, of course.”

“We’ve certainly done a lot of that. Got him most of what he should have in a good wardrobe. Other than shopping, we’ve gone out to dinner a few times. And to a bookstore.” We also went to the botanical gardens where I spilled my guts about the cult. Plus other things…

He chuckles. “As I said, Coop really knows how to have a good time.”

“It hasn’t been all bad. I did get to bake bread in his amazing kitchen. And watch my favorite movie in his media room.”

“Well, that makes up for everything. I can never resist home-baked bread.” He winks.

“You would love this one. It has beer and raisins, which sounds terrible, but believe me when I tell you it could change your life. Fresh out of the oven with butter and cinnamon, it’s so good.”

“Damn.” He rubs his stomach. “You’re making me hungry.” He pushes his long sleeves up to his elbows, exposing his watch.

“Oh,” I grab his arm and bring it upward. “I took Coop shopping for watches yesterday too. He got an Omega.”

“La-ti-da,” Kieron replies. “This watch cost a fraction and can tell the time just as well.” He taps the face. “It’s ages old, but takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

I nod, my attention stealing to some excellent dancers taking up the dance floor.

“I think you deserve to let loose, especially after having been cooped up these past few weeks.” He chuckles. “Cooped up. Get it?”

I swat at his chest. “I appreciate a pun when I hear one.”

“Come here.” He snuggles me close to his body, which I allow. Why the hell not? It’s not as if I’m in a relationship or anything. Not even dating anyone. I can do whatever the fuck I please.

I inhale, and am rewarded not with patchouli and jasmine, but with sandalwood, causing my olfactory senses to pout. Hey! I shouldn’t feel disappointed. No. Way.

“Here, let me take this from you.” Kieron takes my half-full beer mug and puts it on the floor next to his empty one. His arms go around my body and he pulls me tight. “I like this.”

“It’s nice,” I agree. I slide my hand down his arm and interweave our fingers. He has calluses like Coop, which makes sense as he is UC’s guitar tech. I ask him the same question I asked Coop weeks ago. “Do they hurt?”

“What? These?” He holds up our entwined hands. “Not much.”

Coop told me all about his skin care regimen for them. I shake my head. “Do you have any rituals around them?” Coop mentioned filing his.

“Not really. Want to kiss them and make me feel all better?”

Why not? I’m a free agent. I bring his palm to my mouth and kiss the calluses on his fingertips, which are a bit more pronounced than Coop’s. I guess he hasn’t filed them in a while.

“There you are!” My makeup artist friend appears. “I asked the DJ to play a UC song. Come join me!” She grabs my hand and pulls me to standing.

I give Kieron an apologetic look and go with her to the dance floor. “Refocused Destiny” rings out across the club. She asks, “Did I interrupt something over there?”

“Nothing serious. Kieron and I were only having some fun.”

“After this song, I can return you to him.”

Kieron is nice, but … he’s no Coop. Dammit! I came out tonight to get laid, and Kieron seemed like he was into me. What is stopping me from sealing the deal? An image of Coop standing in a dressing room trying on a new pair of pants appears in my mind’s eye. “Go away!”