Page 57 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
“Yes, well, if I’m ever that stupid, go ahead and put me out of my misery.”
Harry laughed and moved to take someone’s order.
André got his soda and sipped it, listening to the band performing on stage. They weren’t half bad. The boss here gave new talent a chance to perform and get themselves out there. It was also a good distraction from the argument he’d just had with his mother.
Seriously, what was he going to do? Now that he had a clearer head, he had to agree with her. Setting up and organizing all of those presentations from a different country was not…feasible. Could he somehow get by with just being gone five days? Andréwas reasonably sure he and Ian would be fine apart for such a short amount of time.
Four weeks was out, though. No way in hell he could risk being away from the man that long. Just the idea gave him hives.
“Hey. Can I buy you a drink?”
It took a second longer than it probably should have for André to realize the guy was talking to him. He turned around, looking him over. He was a cute thing, in a formfitting maroon button-down shirt, top two buttons undone to reveal smooth golden skin, silky black hair in a casual wave around his head. Pretty boy, looked about his age, definitely someone he’d go home with—or would have if he could see anyone but Ian.
Pre-Ian, he’d have taken up the obvious invitation in his smile.
He was now in Post-Ian, though, and the guy didn’t score a single point on the interested scale.
“I’ll have to pass, sorry.”
His brows flickered together in a briefly irritated look. Wasn’t used to getting a no, huh? Understandable with his looks.
“You’re here alone, so why not?”
Persistent, wasn’t he? André shook his head and softened the refusal with a smile. “I’m not.”
“He’s mine.”
Ian stood in front of him, but his eyes were on the new guy, the challenge in them clear. André’s normally affable lover stared the guy down with the words clear in his expression: Try me, man.
Jealousy was so becoming on Ian. An excellent look indeed.
André propped an elbow on the bar and rested his head on his hand, staring at Ian with a happy sigh. Yes, he did realize he appeared besotted just then, thanks for asking. No, he did not care.
The guy glanced uncertainly between them. “Are you two really…”
“Really are,” André assured him brightly without even looking at him. Could he sneak a picture of Ian without him realizing? He wanted to preserve this moment for posterity. Or his own amusement, take your pick.
Ian was nicer, so he didn’t ignore the guy. “He’s my boyfriend. I know he’s very pretty, but please don’t hit on him.”
The guy huffed in aggravation and abruptly left the stool, likely already planning to try his luck elsewhere.
André didn’t notice; he was still enjoying the jealousy rolling off Ian in waves. Teasingly, he offered, “If you made me a collar with your name on it, I’d wear it.”
Ian caught his chin with his fingers and pulled him in closer to murmur above his mouth, “Do not tempt me.”
Oh, so the thought had crossed his mind. André felt giddy satisfaction. It was a silly worry, of course—no one could compare to Ian—but he was just evil enough to enjoy the situation. He leaned in that extra inch to smack a kiss against Ian’s mouth.
Ian drew back, already shaking his head and ignoring the wolf whistles from those watching nearby. “You. Drink your soda.”
“I can be good, you know.” André obediently picked the soda glass back up.
“You can be very good.” Ian arched a brow, mouth quirked up at the corners. “You can prove it to me later.”
Oh, hotdamn. Ian was in a fine mood this evening. André looked forward very much to capitalizing on the invitation in his man’s eyes. They were going to have so much fun. Also probably a late start leaving on their trip tomorrow. The month-long trip his mother wanted him to take he’d push off until after they were on their way back home. He put it firmly out of his mind,determined to only think about spending time with his lover over the next few days.
Harry came back to the sink and warned, “If you try to take off with him before we’re closed, I will give you hell. We’re too busy as it is.”
André had been tempted, so the warning was justified. “It’s fine. I can wait. I know how to wait for him.”
