Page 15 of The Hot Shot

Was fate really that cruel to dangle the guy in front of me, teasing me with something I wanted but knowing in my heart I could never have it without causing pain to someone?

I jumped out of my skin the moment Jace shouted my name, knocking me out of my trance of undressing Walker with my eyes. I turned and faced him and saw that he was holding my drink out to me. I took the drink and without hesitation, brought the glass to my lips and downed the contents in one motion, not allowing the strong, harsh liquor to have a chance to savor in my throat.

“That took me ages to get, man. Have you seen the length of the queue at the bar?” Jace asked as he stood by my side, bearing his gaze at me. I knew that look too well. He was assessing me, trying to get a read on why I was acting so out of sorts, wondering why I had devoured a drink in a mere few seconds like I’d been sweating my ass off grafting in the hot sun all afternoon and not savoring it like I was known for. “Is everything alright?”

Jace’s inquisitive nature was like a homing signal set to deliver its deadly impact on target. I loathed how in sync the pair of us could be and it wasn’t even as if I could escape from the situation. The moment I left the dance floor and stage area, it would just confirm Jace’s suspicions that I was wrapped up tightly about something and make his desperation for me to reveal all even more extreme. Jace wouldn’t stop until I spilled everything like verbal diarrhea, but this was one situation that I just needed him to step back from and give me space to breathe. It didn’t matter that he was my blood and that we promised to never hide anything from another; everyone has an exception.

I couldn’t risk him hating me or worse, disowning me. He was my brother and my everything but Walker was becoming an obsession that I wasn’t sure I could deny myself much longer without showing my true colors.

“I was just parched and got too involved with the beat, man.” I indicated to the band playing, noticing how dry my throat had instantly become as I quickly tried to stop myself from allowing my gaze to linger too long over the guy pouring the words from within his soul. The lyrics that I felt were being sung especially to grab my attention, not giving a fucking shit that it was meant to be a performance for a packed room of the most sophisticated professionals around. “They’re really good.”

“I can’t argue with you there. He’s got a great voice and it fits well with the rest of the band backing him, very rough and ready,” Jace uttered as he started moving to the beat and I dropped my head, biting my lip harshly to stop the growl from escaping my throat. I knew his voice was great. It was more than great; it was damn bloody perfection, especially when I managed to tear my name from the depths of his throat.

“I’ll be right back. I just need a top-up,” I shouted to Jace, ignoring his words and hoping they didn’t consist of anything that regarded grabbing him another drink in the process. I needed space. I moved quickly, making my way through the crowded group of people that swarmed all around us to the bar, thinking how many shots I could down in quick succession to ensure that Jace took me home before Walker stepped off the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve been amazing so far,” Walker said, smoothly addressing the crowd just as the melody came to an end. I closed my eyes and took in deep breaths, praying that he wasn’t about to say or do anything that would mean I’d need to make a quick exit. “I need to take a quick intermission if you catch my drift or these vocals, that you’re loving all too much will become too hoarse to continue singing at the rate I have been and you know how much of a shame that would be for the rest of tonight.”

The crowd goes wild for the guy—the smooth man who has worked the crowd around us into a frenzy with his voice—but with one look had me go completely mute and breathless. If he was calling an intermission, then that meant only one thing; he was either coming to find me or to tell me to leave. It had to be to leave because I was affecting his performance after all and ruining the night for him. What other reason could it be?

I quickly pushed through the three deep thick line of punters at the bar and made my way towards the restrooms. Maybe if I could hide in here for a little while until Walker headed back on stage, I could avoid any confrontation with him. Then at least he could finish the set and I would only have Jace to deal with.

I splashed some water on my face before allowing myself to take in my appearance in the mirror. I willed myself to relax and calm down as the guy next to me left the room but that all changed when he held the door opened for someone to enter.

“Did I freak you out so much that you’ve taken up to hiding away in the men’s restroom now, Sebastian?” Walker asked cockily, grabbing the trash can and sliding it against the door and barricading us in. “Don’t worry. Remmy is diverting anyone from disturbing us, but I wasn’t sure if I’d need to keep you locked in to get five minutes of your time.”

“Walker…” I turned to face him, and quickly reached behind me to grip the sink, knowing my knuckles would be white from how tight my grasp on the porcelain was. Damn did he look fine. A little messed up, sweaty as hell but nonetheless, as gorgeous as the last time I was this close to him. “I didn’t know you were going to be here. I thought…”

“I knew what you thought.” He said the words so slowly, with a sultry tone that went straight to my cock, making it twitch in excitement as Walker inched closer to me until he was standing within my personal space. “I saw the instant spark of recognition, followed by pure desire the moment you recognized me on the stage. I stumbled and became tongue-tied because I had the exact same reaction.” Walker took control and grabbed my shoulders, aligning our bodies so they fitted perfectly against each other, eliciting a moan from the pair of us before he leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Fate seemed as though it wanted to help the pair of us stay in touch and I’m certainly happy to play a part in that game.”

“How?” I stuttered. “I’m…”

“Shh,” Walker said, covering my mouth with his and instantly stopping every thought that was running through my mind and turning it to complete jello. Instead, I was lost in his punishing kiss and the way our lips moved together like they had been cast from a mold, just for one another. The moment that he pulled back, I sighed and reached for his lips, only to be stopped by Walker’s hand. “Here. Take it and use it, please. I’ll be waiting.”

I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn’t as I looked down at the paper. I glanced back at Walker and watched as he moved the trash bin back from the door into its original place and opened it.

“Don’t throw this opportunity away, Sebastian. We can work this out between us completely at your pace, but I couldn’t not take the risk and make a move tonight. The question is, are you willing to take a chance?” he asked me before he walked out and left me alone with my thoughts.

I took in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves before the door opened and the concerned tone of my brother filled the room.

“There you are… I thought you’d gone off with a girl or something,” Jace said when he saw me standing in the corner. “I was worried. We normally tell each other if we’re heading out.”

“No, I didn’t head out. I just needed a piss, man. You were right, too much alcohol too quick,” I said, slapping him on the shoulder as I slipped the sheet of paper into my pocket and followed behind on his heel.

I knew that the time had come for me to make a decision.

Do I take a leap and just message Walker? What’s the worst that could happen?

CHAPTER TWELVE

WALKER

“Are you going to tell me what happened in there?” Remmy stopped me in my tracks the moment I attempted to leave the restroom as I headed down the corridor. He placed his palm gently against my chest, making me pause. It was pointless to try and bypass his tall, overpowering form. The guy was well built and I knew that there was no point in attempting to shake his hand from me. If he wanted to grab your attention, then you gave it to him. “Walker…”

I looked up at him, knowing that my emotions were so close to the surface. It wouldn’t take much for them to fully reveal themselves. I had a habit of showing what I was feeling on my face. I fought back the tears from leaking out of the corners of my eyes. I gave Remmy a sharp shake of the head, hoping he’d take the hint to stop prying and to just leave me alone.

At the moment, I just wanted to turn around and head straight back into that restroom and demand Sebastian to give me an answer, but I knew that if he rejected me to my face, I’d be heartbroken. I know that sounded pathetic, but I hadn’t been this obsessed about a guy, ever. It was as if I’d been hypnotized by him completely, by his charms, his wit and of course, that damn cock of his. I couldn’t get him off my mind and I had tried.

I knew that if he rejected me, I would demand to know the reasons behind his answer. I’d want to change his mind and I knew that I would act selfishly and not respect that he truthfully didn’t want me. This way at least, if I never heard from Sebastian again, I knew that I gave it my all. I had tried and I had done everything in my power to give him a chance to pick me—to talk to me—because from the reaction he gave me, I knew that these feelings deep down were matched by him, even if they were buried deep inside.

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