LeftInTheDarkness by Stephani Hecht Read Free Book Online Page B

be strong enough to save Andy from himself.

Chapter Six
    Taylor winced as they walked into the club. He hadn’t been sure what to expect to find at a gay club, but this sure as hell wasn’t it.
    While the sign outside proclaimed that it was new, the inside looked small, dank, and frayed around the edges. The tables and chairs were all mismatched, almost like they’d been collected from various garage sales. A stained, worn carpet covered all the floor save for one tiny space that had been cleared for a dance floor. That area was so small that it could only hold about a dozen people.
    Even the bar appeared small and worn. It was manned by only one bartender, and even then, the guy looked bored. The shelves behind him held a few bottles of booze. Thanks to his family history, Taylor could tell that while a couple were premium, most of the liquor was cheap.
    “What is this, a Shriners club, or something?” James waved a hand in front of his face as he coughed. “I think they had my grandpa’s retirement party here.”
    Taylor laughed while Andy shot them an annoyed glare. “Don’t complain. At least we got into a club.”
    Devlin cast a droll glance over the place. “Yeah, and if we want to pick up some pedo-bears, we’re all set.”
    A much older guy walked by, his eye practically eating Christian alive. Devlin pulled his boyfriend into his arms and glared at the guy. “Go find some other prey. This one is taken.”
    Christian tilted his head up and grinned at Devlin. “I like the jealous side of you.”
    Taylor looked over at James just in time to see the flicker of hurt pass over the guy’s face. For some reason, an irrational flare of anger went through Taylor at the thought of James still harboring feelings for Christian.
    What the hell? What should that matter to him? Taylor shook his head. He must just be worried for a friend, that’s all. There was no way it could be anything else. He and James had been friends forever, and that was never going to change into something else.
    Then Taylor noticed he was getting a few leers coming his way, and he instinctively moved closer to James.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll just pretend to be a couple, too. That should keep them away,” James chuckled into Taylor’s ear.
    A shiver went through Taylor as James’s breath skated over his neck. Oh, wow! Until that moment, Taylor hadn’t even realized that was a sensitive area of his body. Then James put his arms around Taylor, pulling his back to James’s chest in a backward hug, and Taylor felt like his insides were melting.
    Shoot! I’m getting turned on by this!
    You can’t be. You and James are just friends. Nothing more.
    I know, but this feels really, really good.
    What? Do you like having your heart broken? Because that’s the only way that this could end.
    Taylor let out a sigh when he realized that he’d just actually had an argument with himself. That had to be a first. If he kept this up, they’d be sizing him up for a padded room right next door to his mother.
    “You want to dance?” James asked.
    Devlin and Christian were already heading there, and Andy was practically glued to some guy’s side. Taylor could only assume that was the Seth he kept yapping about. Taylor’s stomach rolled as he studied the guy. He might have been kind of cute, were it not for the tight leather pants and boots. To Taylor, though, the guy just screamed creepy. Even the way he wore his shirt, with the top three buttons undone, screamed douchebag.
    “Yeah, that sounds great,” Taylor replied.
    Maybe it would get his mind off his worries for Andy. James frowned, showing he had the same concerns. James even gave a slight shake of his head before he took Taylor’s hand and began to lead him over to the dance floor.
    Christian and Devlin seemed to be in a world of their own. Christian’s head rested against Devlin’s chest as they swayed to the music. Devlin gazed down so tenderly that it tugged at Taylor’s heart, but in