Page 69 of Employing Patience

If he’s going to get what he wants out of me anyway, why shouldn’t I use him the same way?

That thought turns my stomach. I scrub a hand over my face as I try to center myself in this room full of my friends. Yet another party, which I usually love, and somehow I feel … misplaced.

Me.

Artur de Almeida, the man who’s comfortable anywhere with anyone. The man who can charm his way into any man’s pants.

Apparently, even the straight ones.

I cut my eyes back toward the bar, but Joey has left serving drinks and is making his way around the party, collecting empty glasses.

Ah, fucksticks.

I dive into a conversation with Griff and his boyfriend, Heath.

“I’m just saying, there is always more we can do at Halloween,” Heath says.

Griff rubs his chin. “But we already sell out in October. Do we need to—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa …” I lift my hands. “What the hell are you talking about work stuff for? At my party? Nope. Forbidden. If I can’t trust you two to talk about sex, who around here will?”

“Barney and Leif?” Griff suggests.

“They’re traveling, so not here, so not able to turn on my ear holes. You two, spill. What crazy sexcapades have you been up to lately?”

Griff chuckles. “What kind of men do you take us for?”

“The horny kind. And you’re always horny, so don’t try to deny it.”

“Wasn’t gonna.”

“Might be my favorite thing about you,” Heath tells him. “Well, that and the way you blush.”

“Fuck you very much, I don’t blush.”

“Sure. Of course not. Definitely not blushing right now.”

It amuses me when Griff slaps his hands over his cheeks. “For that, you’re not getting any tonight.”

I snort. “Even I don’t believe that. Heath’s known you most of your life. You really think that will work?”

“I can hold out. For one night …”

Heath leans forward and sets an evil hand on the top of Griff’s thigh. “If you take me into the bathrooms, I’ll suck you off here and now.”

I hold up both hands. “Not while I’m within hearing range. If you’re busted for indecent exposure, I don’t want to be implicated. Also, I’ll be tempted to listen at the door.”

“Pity.” Griff shrugs. “We might have invited you to watch.”

And at any other time in my life, I would have dragged them into the bathroom myself. But first, Griff is a grade A shit-stirrer who doesn’t mean a thing he says, and second … I scoff and don’t even let myself think of the second option.

“No response.” Heath tilts his head. “Where’s Art? Our friend who sees any dick as an offering to the gods.”

“It’s true. The gods bathe in the jizz of my prospects. It’s their fountain of eternal youth.”

“Well, that’s certainly not accurate,” Beau says, joining us with a very drunk Payne hanging off his arm. Payne collapses into one of the chairs, and Beau takes the space next to him, pulling his boyfriend’s head into his lap to run his fingers through his hair.

I grunt. “You two are disgusting.”

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