Page 46 of Filthy Sweet

I think back over our encounters. “He’s told me a few things. I think he likes panties and threesomes, maybe?”

Robin squeezes my hand. “There you go. Just ruminate on what he’s shared, and I’m sure you’ll come up with something appropriately freaky.”

I laugh. “Thanks for your confidence.”

Robin winks. “I believe in you, Owen.”

After dinner, I have just enough time to run home, shower, and change, then leave the apartment again at dusk. When I get to the concert venue, I immediately spot Reggie and Fox, hanging by the bar. I’m actually kind of relieved that Reggie’s along. Seeing Fox makes me horny and sweaty, and I’d throw myself at him if I could.

Maybe a night of just hanging out will ground me.

“Owen!” Reggie hollers, his voice booming even with a record blaring on the speaker. “Over here!”

My brother greets me with a bear hug, and Fox gives me a soft squeeze after. He’s dressed down, wearing just a black T-shirt and jeans, and nursing a mug of beer. When I go to stand next to Reggie, my brother shakes his head and steps aside.

“Next to Fox,” he says. “In case some of his work friends are here. You’re still doing that, right?”

Fox sighs. “Reggie, those people aren’t my work friends.”

“Not with that attitude they aren’t,” Reggie counters.

Fox laughs. “Anyway, no offense, but I don’t think any of them are likely to attend an emo pop concert.”

My brother shakes his head, grinning. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you music people. Emo is still the best.”

Right at the moment when I start to feel like a kid again, unable to get a word in while Reggie talks at Fox, Fox turns and sets his eyes on me. “Hey,” he says, his deep voice steady. “How’s your day?”

I smile. “Good. Just doing research.”

“You want a drink? Something fruity?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

For a heartbeat longer than is appropriate, our gazes stay locked. I’m warm everywhere, and when I see a flash of hunger in Fox’s eyes, my tongue flicks the back of my teeth, moving without thinking.

Fox turns abruptly to the bar, and Reggie gives me a gentle shove. “Really selling this fake romance thing, man. But hey, does Fox know about the guy you’re seeing? And does he know about Fox?”

My heart pounds. Robin was right. Compartmentalizing feels impossible right now.

“Yes,” I answer slowly, like I’m walking on a tightrope. “Fox does know.”

Reggie nods. “Cool,” he says, then starts nodding heavily to the music, and I let out a sigh of relief when the moment passes.

Unsurprisingly, Fox actually has a connection with the band, and he brings the three of us to some private side area, a tall table with stools to the side of the stage. For a while, we joke around and talk about nothing, and I almost forget about all the weird hidden tension in the air. It’s easy to hang with both of them. Reggie brings Fox down to earth, and Fox lovingly teases Reggie back.

Sure, there’s an erection throbbing in my jeans the whole time, just from being in Fox’s presence, but I do my best to ignore that.

Reggie turns to me. “How are things going with your guy, anyway?”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“You’re seeing him still, right?”

I shoot my eyes to Fox, who crosses his arms, a cool, controlled expression on his face, although I spot a flash of pain in his eyes.

“Yes?” I answer weakly, and guilt floods my gut.

“Hell yeah,” Reggie says. “He a hottie?”

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