Page 17 of A Hard Sell

“Give us a good spread!” Finn called as Rory lined up their shot.

The triangle of balls exploded and clattered all around the table, but none went in. Rory groaned.

“Excellent work, Rory!” Finn purred. “Open table.” He strutted around, making a show of deciding what his best shot would be. “Three, corner pocket.” He sank it easily. “We’re solids. Don’t let me down, Moreno.” He picked up his pint with smug satisfaction.

Luka eyed the table, chewing his lip. He could feel Thomas watching him. His heart rate picked up as he bent over to aim. A vision of Thomas standing behind him, grasping his hips, and thrusting into him flashed through his mind. The cue slipped off his hand and bumped a nearby ball.

“Are you kidding me right now?” Finn asked after a moment of incredulous silence.

“Sorry,” Luka said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding Thomas’ gaze.Jesus, I am a mess.

Finn shook his head. “Brutal.”

“I guess it’s me,” Thomas rumbled.

Guess so.Luka watched him prowl around the table.Yup. Wolf.He stared at Thomas’ forearms as they tensed before his shot. With the precision of a sniper’s bullet, a striped ball slammed into a pocket.

“Ah, fuck. I picked the wrong partner,” Finn moaned.

“Mmm,” Thomas agreed.

Luka would have been offended if Finn weren’t completely right. He got one more turn, which he missed, then Thomas and Rory cleared the table.

“All right, all right,” Finn muttered, signaling Tasha for another pitcher. “Rematch. Get it together, Moreno! You’re breaking. I swear to God…” He took a swig, muttering to himself.

Luka inhaled.You can do this. No need to embarrass yourself. Again.He didn’t handle the break with Rory’s power, but he did manage to sink a stripe.

“That’s my boy!” Finn cried, his mood improving. He slapped Luka on the back.

“Well done, Luka.” Thomas nodded. “You were bound to sink one eventually.”

Luka gasped. “How dare you, sir? Just for that, we’re going to destroy you!”

“Starting when?” The corner of his mouth twitched.

Luka felt the flush of his fourth—fifth?—drink in his cheeks.Is he flirting with me?“Just you wait!”

Finn sank another ball and Luka squirmed as he analyzed his options. Happily, an easy shot was waiting for him that he managed not to mess up.

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Scared yet?” he asked the other two as Finn hunched over the table.

“Fuck!” Finn swore as the cue ball followed the other into a pocket.

Rory grinned. “Nope. Good try, though, Finny.”

“It’s still early. I’m not worried.” Finn pushed his curls off his forehead and reclined against the table.

“Well, I’m going to need you to move,” Rory said, pointing at the shot they had in mind.

“What if I don’t want to move?”

“I could make you move.” Rory took a step closer, eyes glimmering with amusement.

Luka glanced between them. Electricity crackled. Maybe they were further along than he had thought.

Finn blinked first. He cleared his throat and stepped aside. “Still going to beat you,” he mumbled.

Rory slammed another ball home. “We’ll see.”

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