Page 20 of Allured
Hidden and alone backstage, I check my watch for the time. Curtains open for the show in forty minutes. It’s not unusual for my heart to race this close to showtime but I know it isn’t racing because of the show tonight. Taking off my clothes makes me feel less nervous than what I’ve got planned tonight. My date with Professor Hottie.
If things go well, I might be taking off my clothes tonight either way.
“Mixology is an art form.”
The voice I hear as I’m approaching from the back of the bar on my last pre—show stop sounds all too familiar. Entering the space, I see Ez and Emma in the far corner of the bar.
“Yes,thank you, someone freaking gets it.” Emma is beaming behind the bar as Ezekiel leans over it as he watches her mix a drink.
He hasn’t seen me yet because he’s so focused on what Emma is adding to her shaker. I can see how his eyes track everymovement and measurement while she explains the cocktail. I’ve noticed he puts his full attention on something when he wants to learn more about it. It’s endearing as hell.
“And there you go, a drink to share.” My best friend winks as I approach. Ez doesn’t look to the side yet, still engrossed in the cocktail. He might not be looking at me but I take my fill of him.
Ez, bent over the bar with his long body stretched out on the polished wood, has me suppressing a moan. I know I saw him, and kissed the shit out of him, last night but damn if this isn’t permanent spank bank material.
Clearing my throat, I finally steal his attention away from Emma’s cocktail.
A little dressed down from yesterday, but no less striking, Ez straightens and stands tall on the patron side of the bar. I swear this man was pulled out of the latest fashion magazine. He’s in a fitted black turtleneck sweater and dark—washed jeans with a burgundy leather messenger bag strapped across his chest.
The outfit screams broody with a side of grumpy and I fucking love it.
“Alek.” Ezekiel fidgets with his messenger bag and smiles shyly at me. “I arrived a few minutes early and Emma told me you were preparing for the show.”
“Hey Ez,” I reply with a much less timid smile. I mean, I was checking the guy out a few seconds ago. I’m not feeling shy about anything that happened last night.
“I hope there isn’t an issue with my early arrival.”
“You’re good, Ez,” I reassure him. “What did y’all make me?”
Throwing my arm around my best friend, I take a look at the bright drink in front of us and raise my eyebrow at it before looking at both of them. As much as I’d like to hurl Ez over my shoulder and run out of here so we can get some one—on—one time, I’m curious about this drink too.
“Why’s it green?” I ask, a little suspicious of the lab experiment in the glass in front of us.
“It’s a themed cocktail for tonight called Death in the Afternoon,” Emma explains at my side.
I’m a simple guy when it comes to alcohol, I only need a beer and some shots to call it a party. This looks a little too fancy for me.
“So is it poison?” I joke and Emma tosses my arm off her before gesturing to the drink.
“Just try it, you drama queen. Ezekiel was about to.”
“You wanna share?” I glance a bit eagerly over at Ezekiel while I pick up the small coupe, pinching the stem between my thumb and forefinger. “We’ll be walking over to the burger joint so no worries about either of us driving.”
“I’d be delighted. Thank you,” he answers.
Now it’s my turn to bend over the bar. Angling carefully, I bring the coupe to Ezekiel’s lips and encourage him to sip. He looks a little stunned at first but the look quickly melts into a heated stare instead. My gaze never once leaves the sight of his lips carefully wrapping around the rim of the glass as he takes in a long sip.
Is this a new kink?Feeding this guy has quickly become one of my favorite things to do. But I don’t want to think too much about it and I don’t want to look it up,thank you.
“That was hot,” a feminine laugh sounds behind us. Emma seems to be enjoying the show. Meanwhile, Ezekiel’s cheeks begin to turn pink as I remove the glass from his lips.
With a bit of a strangled laugh of my own, I gently nudge Emma away with my foot. She continues giggling while moving to the other side of the bar and finishing her prep.
Keeping my full attention on Ez, I lean back to stand again and take the drink with me.
“So, how was the slime—looking thing?” I ask, swirling the glass around in my grip.
“Flavorful,” he begins. Sneaking out his tongue to lick any remaining drops of the cocktail from the rim. Glancing to the right, he makes sure Emma is out of earshot before he continues. “But not the best thing I’ve tasted recently.”
