Page 54 of Charlie Sunshine
I step back. I glance and Misha and find he’s frowning at me. His hair is tumbled around his face, and those eyes of his are very blue tonight. My cock stirs immediately, and I want to scream. This isnotwhat I signed up for as Misha’s best friend. For twenty years we’ve been all about warm friendship and brotherly love. Now, for some bloody reason, everything has gone haywire. The genie is out of the bottle and on the rampage.
I quickly glance at Doug again. He’s regarding Misha and me with a slightly sardonic expression. Rupert immediately nudges him. I thinkit’s supposed to be unobtrusive. Doug immediately pins a smile on his face.
What’s that all about?
“It’s so lovely to see you, Charlie,” Doug says, stepping closer. “You’re looking as bloody gorgeous as ever.”
“Thank you.”
“No, really.” He grins widely. “I’d forgotten how good-looking you are. Thank heavens Misha made that phone call, or I would have mourned the loss of making a real connection with you.”
Misha stirs and frowns at Doug.
Rupert coughs loudly. “I say—” he begins.
Doug talks merrily over him. “I mean, that’s all we want in life, isn’t it? A connection.” His gaze travels around our slightly stunned group and lands on me. “I look at you, Charlie,” he says, stepping close and touching my hair, “and I see forever in your eyes.”
“What thefuck?”Misha breathes.
Rupert coughs again. I wonder if he’s coming down with a cold, but I can’t ask, because I’m standing very still, afraid to make any sudden movements that might provoke Doug.
“Erm, thank you,” I finally say with a big question in my voice.
“Look atyou,” he coos. “All that pretty hair and that face.” He steps back. “And that arse. It’s a thing of beauty.”
“I don’t think we need to discuss Charlie’s arse,” Misha says rather forbiddingly.
Doug just shrugs and puts his arms around me. “You have no idea what you look like, do you, Charlie? Oh, how I adore modesty in a man.” He clutches me closer. “Tell me, what are your views on surrogacy and the desire I have to raise ten children?”
“Too close,” Misha says loudly, peeling Doug off me.
“Okay,” Rupert says in a loud voice, taking hold of Doug’s arm and steering him towards the bar. “I think Doug needs a drink.”
“I think Doug’s already had several,” I mutter.
Doug laughs at Rupert as he steers him to the bar and says, “This is so much fun. Why have we never done this before, Rupert?”
Misha stares after the two men.
“Well, that was a bit odd,” I mutter.
“Pah!”
I jump at the explosion of sound that just came from my best friend. “Pardon?”
“Ten children? What is he? A member of the fucking Waltons?”
“He was joking, surely,” I say. I bite my lip. “I mean, hopefully that was a joke. I do like a man with a sense of humour,” I finish on an up-note.
“Well, you’ll be fine, then. You’ll laugh all the way through raising your massive army of children.”
I snort and give him a nudge. I’m rewarded with a smile, but its quickly replaced by a dark frown as Doug and Rupert come back.
“Here you are,” Doug says happily, throwing his arm over my shoulder and edging Misha to the side of the group. “Rupert says you’re not drinking?”
“Erm, no.” I hesitate and then decide to go for it. “I’m epileptic, so I don’t drink. I hope that’s not a problem.”
He smiles, and it’s very kind. “Of course it’s not,” he says, offering me a bottle of water. “Why on earth would it be a problem?”
