Page 14 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

Before Noah could lower the empty glass to the bar, someone sidled up to the bar and nearly pushed him out of the way. “Hey!”

Noah turned his focus on the guy who’d invaded his space. The newcomer was fluttering his lashes at the bartender. “Sorry I’m late,Daddy.You got that drink for me?”

Wait! He’s my daddy for the night!Noah’s focus moved to the bartender and the uncomfortable appearance in the man’s eyes. He poured the newcomer a drink from the same bottle they’d shared and slid it the new guy’s way.

“There you go. We even now?”

“What in the hell is this? I want a mojito!” his new barstool neighbor said before flashing Noah a glare. He glared back to the bartender. “You don’t rememberanythingfrom the other night,do you?I drink mojitos… andonlymojitos.”

Even in the low light, Noah could see the bartender’s face darken.

Noah reached for the rejected drink and downed it, too. Already, he was starting to feel a tiny bit fuzzy around the edges and he rather liked it. “You must not have been too memorable,” slipped out of Noah’s lips. His own eyes widened. Maybe it had been the alcohol.

Definitely the alcohol.

“Whothe fuck are you?” the guy beside him asked.

“Okay, guys…” the bartender said, but Noah didn’t really listen.

“Nobody,” Noah murmured.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Stayoutof our conversation,” the guy replied.

“You’re the one who busted into ours,” Noah replied. He wasn’t sure where the bravado was coming from, but he rather liked that, too.

His barstool neighbor spun to fully face him. “Bitch, sit the hell down and close your mouth.”

“I thought Iwassitting?” He turned to peer at the bartender. “What the hellis in that scotch? Am I standing and don’t realize it?”

“Funny guy,” Mr. Mojito yelled. “Why don’t you get the fuck out of here?”

Noah glanced at the bartender. “ShouldI leave? You tell me.”

Before the bartender could speak, the guy shoved Noah in the shoulder. Hard.

He landed on the floor.

Years of abuse… years of not defending himself… years of humiliation… it all roared to life inside him. He was up on his feet in a split-second and going for the guy—only the bartender had somehow raced around and gotten between them. The giant bouncer was there in a few seconds, too.

The volume of the music dipped for the DJ to say something—but apparently the man’s attention fell on the ruckus at the bar. The DJ’s pause was enough to have all eyes land on them. Heat crept up his neck… it was like the last time… when he’d been dragged out of the club. Mortified, he froze, memories of that embarrassment settling low in his belly.

“Get him out here,” the bartender spat, eyeing the other guy.

“What about him?” Mr. Mojito cried, pointing at Noah.

Noah cringed inwardly.

His bartender glared. “Youhit him. You’re out. Permanent ban.”

Noah sighed.One down. One to go.

Mr. Mojito sneered. “Fuck you and this shitty joint… you’re all a bunch of worn out fags!” He opened his mouth to say more but was hauled out by the giant bouncer and another almost as big. The volume rose once more, the dancing commenced. Noah watched the man being dragged from the bar. The ranting continued, but the music was too loud for Noah to hear what was said.

Before Noah could realize what was happening, he was tugged into a quieter corner of the club—a short hallway to the kitchen perhaps. He wasn’t sure. What he could tell was that it was brighter than the interior of the club. Noah was able to better scrutinize his sexy bartender. The man was almost close enough to be touching him. A song with a faster tempo began, the muted sound filling in the space between them. Noah smiled sappily, hoping he wasn’t about to be kicked out, too.Better put on the charm.“Hiya.”

“You okay?”

Heat spread through Noah’s face. “Yeah… yeah. Just bruised my pride.” He sighed, a little embarrassed. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut… I don’t normally do that.”

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