Page 42 of Rising Storm

He could see the humor in him getting with a thief like Quincy had. They’d both fallen for criminals, though both of those criminals had been forced into that life. The fact they were making reparations now canceled that out as far as Gareth was concerned. Quincy, too. He stood close to Helix as the man settled back on a bar seat. He felt the sweat gathered underneath the back of his shirt and again, wished they were alone so he could see that fantastic body glowing with it.

Carter came back to the table, his dark hair mussed and a wide grin on his face. “That guy was hot. Damn.”

“Where did he go?” Liam asked.

“He was with friends, so he went back to them. I might seek him out a little later, though. Moved like his hips were well oiled.” He laughed and reached for the drink he’d left in front of Liam.

Liam just shook his head and Isaac snorted loud enough to be heard over the music. Gareth laughed. This was just what he needed to take away some of the nerves he was feeling about the re-steal the next night. He doubted anything went wrong—they’d planned it all out—but he still couldn’t kick the nerves. He kept reminding himself of how happy Larry was going to be to get his Monteague back.

Helix picked up his beer and Gareth rubbed his back. He just couldn’t keep himself from touching the man and he noticed his friends watching them closely.

“I get why you didn’t want to stay with me now,” Liam said. “When do you go back?”

“We’ve got flights on Tuesday,” Gareth answered.

“So have you already done the thing you’re here to do?”

Gareth shook his head. “Tomorrow night.”

“It’s still wild to me that you’re doing this.”

“What he’s doing is a good thing,” Isaac said. “You wouldn’t believe how many stolen items are out there for the taking back. It’s nice to see justice happening this way.”

“It’s got to be fun, too, right?” Carter asked. “The adrenaline rush alone would be a blast.”

Gareth knew Carter would make a good thief for that reason alone. He couldn’t see either Liam or Isaac breaking into homes to re-steal, but he still hoped they would join them in Maine.

Helix excused himself to use the restroom and all three of Gareth’s friends pinned him with curious looks.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m with him.”

“Well that’s plainly obvious,” Isaac said with a smirk.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” This from Liam, who leaned over the table to nearly yell the question.

“I know I really like him. He’s a good guy who was forced into a life he didn’t choose. He’s doing everything he can to make things right now, so yeah, he’s the one.”

“The one?” Liam asked.

Gareth nodded because everything in him told him that Helix was the man for him. He knew it in his soul. He just had to get the prickly man on the same page, but tonight, the way he’d leaned against Gareth, told him he was on the right track. “I really care about him.”

Liam gave him a look Gareth recognized. Yeah, he did tend to care too fast when it came to men he was sleeping with, but this felt entirely different. He couldn’t explain it either. It just was.

Helix returned and they went back to normal conversations. Gareth got Helix to dance one more time and even Isaac went off with a man. When he came back, it was to tell them he was taking off and Gareth knew he’d gotten lucky. They wound the evening down with a last round of beers, then Gareth and Helix headed back to the motel.

When they returned, they noticed the light on in Helix’s room and disappointment filled Gareth because Helix gave him a look that let him know he wouldn’t be joining Gareth in his room that night.

But he wanted a taste, so he leaned across the seat and cupped the back of Helix’s head, pulling him in close. Their breath fanned over each other’s lips and Helix’s golden eyes looked dark in the dim light. He slanted his mouth over Helix’s and the man opened for him. His tongue went into his mouth and slid against Helix’s. Helix’s hands came up to grip his arms tight. The strength in his fingers went to Gareth’s head and he deepened the kiss, loving the way Helix tilted his head to let him in.

When they finally pulled away from each other, they were both breathing hard.

“Sorry,” Helix said. “But I need to be with Sayer right now.”

“I understand. I had fun dancing with you tonight. We’ll have to do that again.”

“We will.”

And that was enough of a promise to appease Gareth’s heart. He smiled and let the man go to his brother.

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