Fabian took Ryan’s hand, then turned and led him to the dance floor. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so giddy in his life.
The floor was packed, and Ryan was a substantial size, so they stayed close to one side instead of trying to push to the middle. Fabian also wasn’t sure how comfortable Ryan was with people pressing against him. When he found a reasonably spacious spot on the floor, he turned and gave Ryan a reassuring smile.
Ryan smiled back, but he still looked unsure of what to do next. Fabian figured he would be the one leading this dance, so he let his body find the rhythm of the pounding Robyn remix. Ryan tried to move with him, and he was definitely awkward. His eyes darted around, as if searching for people judging him.
Fabian reached up and placed a hand on the side of his face, directing his gaze back down. It was too loud to talk, so he just pointed to his own face.Focus on me.
Ryan gave a slight nod, and Fabian let his hand slide off his cheek, down the side of his neck, and onto his chest. It finally landed on Ryan’s hip, and Fabian stepped closer until the buckle of Ryan’s belt bumped against Fabian’s ribs. When he was sure he had Ryan’s full attention, Fabian closed his eyes and let himself go.
Dancing had always come naturally to him. Music spoke to him so clearly, and his body knew exactly how to respond. He rolled his hips seductively and lifted his free arm over his head, letting his fingers play with the music. Ryan was stiff against him, so Fabian stepped back a bit to give him a better view.
When he opened his eyes again, Ryan had a wide, delighted smile on his face. He wasn’tdancingexactly, but his body was moving a bit. Fabian put a hand on Ryan’s neck and pulled him down so Fabian could speak in his ear.
“Are you laughing at me?”
Ryan shook his head, then tilted it so he could reply. “No. I just love watching you dance.”
His breath tickled Fabian’s ear when he spoke, and tingles shot through Fabian’s body. He draped one arm lazily over Ryan’s shoulder, and returned his other hand to Ryan’s hip. Ryan was going to dancewithhim, dammit.
By the middle of the next song, Ryan had finally loosened up enough to follow the movement of Fabian’s hips as they dipped and grinded. Fabian was trying not to actively hump him, but it was a challenge because his tree trunk thighs were rightthereand the buttons of his shirt looked like they might pop open at any second.
Inspired by the thought, Fabian trailed a finger up to the top fastened button and deftly opened it. He glanced at Ryan’s face to get his reaction. His lips were parted, possibly in shock, but his eyes were pure desire. He gave a barely perceptible nod, and Fabian opened the next button. Then the next.
He was wearing a black tank top underneath his shirt, which Fabian wasn’t surprised by, but he was a tad disappointed. The undershirt did nothing to disguise the fact that Ryan wasbuilt. His pecs were huge and defined, and even through the fabric Fabian could see there was a considerable amount of chest hair coating them.
Ryan’s giant hands grasped Fabian around his rib cage, holding him in place until he’d opened every button. When he’d finished, Fabian wrapped his arms around Ryan’s shoulders and pushed down on Ryan’s open shirt until the sleeves slipped off his shoulders and pinned his arms to his sides.
Fabian leaned in and pressed his mouth—open and wet and hungry—against Ryan’s left pec. He realized, after he had left a damp spot on Ryan’s shirt, that this might be a bit forward.
Ryan didn’t seem to mind. He was watching Fabian with an intensity that made Fabian want to get on his knees in the middle of this crowd. The bulge in Ryan’s jeans had grown significantly, and was nudging Fabian’s stomach every time Ryan moved his hips in his direction.
Fabian locked eyes with him, trying to match Ryan’s intensity. Then he leaned in again and pressed another openmouthed kiss to the distinct peak of Ryan’s left nipple.
Ryan’s head fell back, and his thumb brushed over the piercing in Fabian’s nipple. Fabian sucked in a breath, and gently bit Ryan’s chest. It had almost no give under his teeth.
Fabian wanted to see a whole lot more of this ridiculous body, but for now they could just have some fun. As if reading his mind, the DJ transitioned into a remix of Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied.” Fabian jumped up and down in excitement, which made Ryan laugh. He removed his button-up shirt completely, balling it up in his fist as he finally let go and started really dancing.
He wasgood at it. Fabian shouldn’t have been surprised—Ryan was an athlete, after all—but it was wonderful to watch. His eyes sparkled with unabashed joy as he watched Fabian dip and twirl in ridiculous, over-the-top moves that were designed to amuse him.
When Ryan lip-synced the opening lines of the chorus, complete with an exaggerated motion of wiping sweat from his brow with his discarded shirt during theA little sweat ain’t never hurt nobodyline, Fabian shrieked with laughter. Ryan beamed back at him, and Fabian wanted him so badly in that moment.
An arm draped across Fabian from behind, and a familiar voice said, “You guys look hot together.”
Fabian twisted his head to find Marcus’s face right next to his. He grinned and kissed Marcus’s cheek. “Where’s Tarek?”
“Some lovely gentlemen are buying him birthday shots.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Mm. Vanessa and I found a table over there.” Marcus pointed to a table with actual chairs near the high-top Fabian had been standing at. “Come find us, if you’re not too busy.” He left with a blatant leer at Ryan.
Fabian and Ryan stayed on the dance floor for another couple of songs, and then Fabian tugged him toward Vanessa and Marcus’s table. As soon as Vanessa spotted Ryan, she clasped her hands over her mouth.
“You remember Ryan,” Fabian said casually when they sat in the two remaining seats.
“Oh mygod! You look sogood! And you’re here! I thought you were at another party.”
“I left,” Ryan said simply.
