Page 90 of Shift Change

Leather man one said, “We really enjoy watching you play.”

“Thank you.” Nate smiled. “Appreciate that.”

Leather man two gave Nate averypointed glance, like he was mentally checking off a list of things he’d like to do to him. “Hope you both have a nice evening,” he said.

They peeled off, but not before giving Nate one last full-body inspection.

After they left, Nate turned to me. “Those looks were so deep, I feel like they should’ve had to pay a cover chargeandleave a tip.”

I laughed and brushed his arm with mine. “They can look all they want. You’re going home with me.”

We leaned against the bar, sipping our drinks and watching the crowd churn around us. People came and went, and while some ignored us, others were stunningly suggestive. A well-dressed middle-aged man offered us a thousand bucks each if we’d let him watch us fuck. Nate seemed too shocked to say anything, but I politely declined for both of us.

Jesse glided by again, throwing me a look that needed at least an R-rating. I met it with a bland smile and slid my arm around Nate’s waist. Jesse raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow and sashayed away like I’d failed an audition.

“This place is something else,” I told Nate.

He grinned into his drink. “Welcome to the big leagues, Chuck.”

“Know what?” I put my glass on the bar and took Nate’s hand. “Come with me. It’s time for your dance lesson.”

He anchored himself in place as if his life depended on it. “No fucking way. No dancing.”

“Come on,” I said. “Dance with me.”

He winced. “Get back over here. We’re comfortable.”

“I didn’t come here to becomfortable. Did you, gramps?”

He snorted. “Fuck you. I’ll show you who’s gramps.”

Bolting ahead, he dragged me onto the dance floor, and we wove through the gyrating bodies until we found a spot in the middle of the chaos. It was then—God help me—that Nate let loose.

His so-called dancing hadn’t improved since Christmas. It was still wild, still galumphing, and still giving off drunk-giraffe-at-a-wedding vibes. His arms sliced through the air like he was signaling a plane to land while his knees bounced in an electrified shimmy. It looked less like dancing and more like interpretive cardio—but goddamn, it was pure, unapologetic joy. His grin lit up the room, and somehow, against all odds, it was sexy as hell.

I couldn’t resist joining in. The beat got under my skin, and soon I was mirroring his moves. Nate pumped his hips in a way that should’ve been illegal, then spun in a half-circle like he was checking for predators. I grabbed his hand mid-twirl, steadied him with another on his waist, and leaned in.

“Okay,” I yelled, “stay with me.”

I started small. A hand sliding down his side smoothed his jerky bounces into a loose, rolling sway. A finger under his chin tilted his face until he was looking at me instead of his feet, and his entire presence shifted, becoming more confident and focused. I rested both hands on his hips and guided them into a rhythm, coaxing out a slow, sinful glide that left no doubt he was dancing for me now. The change was much more than visible; it was transformative. A spark caught and grew into something that could burn anyone who got too close.

We leaned into each other, moving as naturally as we did when we fucked, our bodies syncing without thought. His energy and my smoother rhythm collided into something wild and magnetic, drawing stares from every corner of the room.

When the music changed to something slow, Nate’s big hands slid to my waist. I gripped his arms, anchoring myself to the only thing that mattered in the swirling chaos. He dipped a hand inside the waistband of my jeans, staking his claim and holding me in place.

His eyes were as deep as the emotions inside me. Under the club lights, their usual hazel color had deepened, making them appear dark and molten. Everything in me went still except my heart, which pounded so hard I was sure he could feel it.

The music surged in a slow, soaring crescendo, each note swelling as the music rose, stretched, and trembled on the edge of something vast and unstoppable. It nearly swept me off my feet as it crested in a glorious, heart-shaking release that left me trembling all over. And then, without hesitation, Nate leaned in.

The kiss was all heat and hunger. His lips were insistent and sure, and when our tongues met, the rest of the world disappeared. The moment was cosmic, like I’d been waiting a lifetime for it. I grasped his shirt and pulled him closer until we were chest to chest and our cocks were grinding like they were trying to fuse into one. The contact lit me up, head to toe, but it still wasn’t enough. I wanted more; I wanted all of him.

When he slid his hand under my waistband and grabbed a handful of my ass, I groaned into his mouth. My hands found the back of his neck and stayed there. If I held him close, maybe time would stop, and this moment could last forever. Under the glittering haze of the disco ball, Nate kissed me like I was his entire universe. I held on for dear life because letting go was no longer an option.

Eventually, we came up for air. Awestruck, we drifted off the dance floor like we were floating on a cloud. Since our old spot at the bar was long gone, Nate pulled me into a quiet corner where we leaned against the wall with our foreheads pressed together.

We were struggling for air, and between pants, he said, “I guess we’re out now, huh?”

My pulse kicked, not because it scared me, but because it felt incredibly right. “Yeah. And I’m good with that if you are.”

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