A/N: Hello everyone! :D So, it's about that time for a new story!
I started this story just for fun with no real intention on posting it, but here we are! :P
I hope you all enjoy!
I fucking loved to win.
I sat behind my desk, an electric current zipping through my veins. It had been important as shit for me to nab that contract today-partially because I'd wanted it, wanted this design more than I'd wanted anything in a long time, but also because it was good for my career and no one had thought I could do it.
I hated it when people doubted me. I'd worked my ass off to be the best architect I could be, and I was damn good at it. That's why people didn't typically doubt me for long.
I should do something to celebrate.
Fiddling with my cell, I saw an unread message from Amber, a woman I hooked up with every once in a while. She was always down for a good time and I was too, so it worked.
Just as I was about to pull up the text to reply, there was a knock on my office door.
"Come in." I called out.
The door opened and a red-streaked head peeked inside.
"Hey. We're going to Wreckage to celebrate tonight. Do you want to come?" Lucy asked.
I frowned. I was familiar with the popular bars and clubs in LA, but I hadn't heard of that one.
"Wreckage?"
"Yeah, a gay bar on Central."
"Why are we going to a gay bar to celebrate my accomplishment?" I teased and she rolled her eyes.
"We're not. We're going to a gay bar to celebrate Dak's birthday. Not everything is about you, you know?"
"Most things are." I winked, and when she didn't reply, I added, "Okay, maybe not most things, but all the important ones."
"I hate you." She said with a grin.
"You love me."
"Do you want to go? Or do you have plans with whatever chick you're fucking this week?"
"Hey! I resent that!" I sat forward in my chair. "I've known Amber longer than a week."
"Oh my god. I really do hate you. You can hang out with Amber anytime. It's Dak's birthday. I know you don't like getting close to anyone-big strong man needs no one and all that, but we'd really like it if you came."
"I like to come, too." Hence the reason I was thinking Amber was a better option than a gay bar.
Lucy stepped inside and crossed her arms.
"Fine. Pretend you're too good for us because God forbid you treat us like friends. Unless...oh, never mind. I get it."
"For someone who works with me, you are taking quite a few liberties right now." I wasn't sure why she was acting like this. Lucy was one of the only people I spent time with from work, and sure, I liked Dak. We'd had lunch together a few weeks ago.
"Please. I know you. You're all bark and no bite."
"Why do you insist on being wrong about me today? I assure you, I like to bite...and I'll also play along with your game. What did you mean what you said, 'never mind'?"
"I get it. Not all men are secure enough in their sexuality to go to a gay bar. It's ridiculous, but whatever."
I couldn't help it; I laughed. Loud, boisterous laughter because she had to be kidding right now.
"Okay, that was a good one. I think we both know being secure has never been a problem for me. Nice try on the reverse psychology there. I'm beginning to wonder why you want me to go so badly…"
This time it was Lucy who laughed.
"Um...no. I don't do cocky. I swear you drive me crazy sometimes."
It wasn't the first time I'd heard that, and I doubted it would be the last. I knew I was a lot to handle...but most people liked handling me, so it worked. I couldn't say that was always the case about myself, but I tried not to think about any of that. The past was the past.
"I would love to go to Wreckage with you guys tonight." I finally answered because why not? I was always up for trying new things.
I'd never been to a gay bar before, but I wasn't kidding when I told Lucy I had no problem going. I wasn't that guy who thought all gay men would hit on me because they were gay, and even if someone did, I could handle myself. There was nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting.
"Great. We're meeting at the restaurant next door at nine. Angelo's."
We chatted about work for a few moments. Soon, Lucy said goodbye and left. I finished up a few things, ignoring my phone because I knew if I checked my message from Amber, I'd likely end up with her tonight.
The office was quiet when I made my way out. It was extremely rare that I wasn't the last one to leave, but the firm was my life. It was the only thing that never expected something of me. It was my father's dream brought to life, and I'd be damned if I didn't take that seriously.
Since I lived downtown, it only took me ten minutes to walk home. I showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and a tight, V-neck black shirt. My hair was still wet, and I ran my fingers through it a few times before I went downstairs and called for an Uber.
"Angelo's on Central, right?" My driver asked.
"Yes. How are you tonight?"
We locked eyes in the rearview mirror and she smiled.
"Good, and you?"
I made it a point to make conversation with people-drivers, waiters, whomever it was. It used to drive my grandmother crazy when I was a child. She wasn't much for speaking with those she thought beneath her-me included.
She was the definition of closed off, which was likely where I'd gotten it from, but I pretended that wasn't the case. We were different, my grandmother and I. Regardless of my attitude or how I joked around, I knew how to treat people and I made sure I did it well.
We chatted until she dropped me off at the restaurant.
Lucy, Dak, and a few other people from the firm were there. They looked surprised when I stepped up to the table, as though they hadn't expected me to come. They were a close group-it was obvious by the way they were around the office, but I didn't spend much time with them outside of Lucy and occasionally, Dak.
"Happy Birthday, Dak." I said to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Diamond. I appreciate you coming."
I waved a hand at him. "Call me James. Please."
Dak was our newest employee, so I knew him the least. I was looking forward to getting to know him better because I could tell he was a good guy. This wasn't the first time I'd asked him to call me James, either.
We ate and talked and I bought dinner for everyone. About an hour later, we made out way down the block and inside the dark club with flashing lights and loud music.
"Let's go to the bar!" Dak shouted close to my ear
The building was packed. There were more women here than I expected, which made me realize there was a chance I'd get my dick wet tonight. Of course I figured some of them were lesbians, but I hadn't thought about the fact that straight and bi women often went to gay bars.
There weren't enough seats at the bar, so we stood around until we could order drinks. I felt the vibration of the music in my chest and had the urge to dance, suddenly incredibly thankful I'd come out with them.
"Let's dance!" Lucy said after our first drink was finished. We made our way to the dance floor and spent a song with her.
We had a few more drinks and a few more dances.
Before I realized what was happening, another man joined our group. He danced alongside me and Lucy laughed before making space for him.
I might have been a little more uncomfortable if Dak and Lucy weren't here with me, but we were dancing and I wasn't going to pretend I wasn't a little bit drunk right now.
This was fun. I liked to have fun. What the fuck was the big deal about who I danced with?
We continued to move together, the new guy staying awfully close to me. He had on eyeliner, wore his bangs long, and a short shirt that showed off a six-pack.
"I haven't seen you around here before." He said into my ear.
"This is my first time here." I replied. He was being awfully nice.
Lucy stumbled into me and then she was dancing with me again and Eyeliner Guy faded into the background slightly.
When the song ended and another one played, I said, "I'm going to get a drink."
Lucy and Dak nodded. As I turned, I caught sight of Eyeliner Guy, who smiled. I grinned back, not really sure what there was to smile about at the moment unless he was feeling as buzzed as I was.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked. "I need a break."
"No problem." I worked my way through the crowd and back up to the bar with Eyeliner Guy beside me.
Amazingly, there were two open seats, so we claimed them.
"I'm Levi." He told me.
"James." The bartender approached and I said, "I'll have a Jack and Coke, please," then looked at Levi who ordered the same.
We spoke for a few minutes while we had our drink. Levi ran a department store, and we made small talk about that.
When he started touching me every minute or so, pieces began fitting into place, and I realized I'd fucked up.
There wasn't a doubt in my mind Levi thought I was gay, or at least bisexual. I really should have caught on to that before.
"Jesus, you have a sexy mouth." He said, and part of me wanted to say something flirty back because I did have a nice mouth and it was good at a whole lot of things.
"Thanks, but you should know-"
"Do you want to get out of here?" He asked. "I've been told I have a sexy mouth too, and right now, I really want it on you."
There was a second where I wanted to commend him on his line. It was sort of hot and I could imagine myself saying it to a woman I met, but yeah, remember when I said I'd fucked up? I got back to that real quick.
Had I been flirting with him? Did I give him the wrong idea? How the fuck did I get out of this without being an asshole?
"I'm not...I didn't…"
"It's okay. I just want to suck you. I'm not asking for anything else."
Now I'm not going to lie...my dick did perk up a little because it was head. What guy doesn't love getting blown?
I sat there, mouth open, not sure what to say. Someone needed to write that shit down because it wasn't often I was struck speechless.
"I'm not…" I said again but for the second time, the rest of the words didn't come out. I mean, it wasn't as if I'd never-
"James? Holy shit, is that you?" The guy sitting on the other side of me, who I had my back to, asked.
I looked at him, fucking positive I didn't know who he was. He knew my name though, so I was thinking I should.
"It's been a long time, baby." He winked at me.
"Hey." I replied because what else could I say? I'm not your baby? But again, I apparently knew this guy.
"Damn, it's so good to see you." He leaned in then and pressed a kiss to my cheek. He smelled like cologne and alcohol and his lips were surprisingly soft.
Either I was more fucked up than I thought, or I was in the twilight zone.
I looked at Levi...then back at the guy with the cocky grin and blond hair. That's when the lightbulb went off, and I felt fucking ridiculous for not seeing it earlier.
He was saving me, the cocky motherfucker. He knew I was in over my head, which was a first. I didn't like to be on the getting saved end of things.
"Oh, hey. I'm Kendall, a friend of James'." He held out his hand to Levi, who didn't look real stoked by the introduction.
"Levi." He replied.
"I can't believe you're here." Kendall said, fingering my hair.
He was enjoying this. Don't ask me how I knew, but I did. He was saving my ass and he was enjoying it. Little sadist. People didn't save me. I didn't need that shit.
"Well...I'll let the two of you catch up." Levi sighed before he got up and walked away.
I eyed Kendall, impressed but not willing to let him know it.
"How do you know my name?"
"Heard you say it when you sat down. Thought you were going to swallow your fucking tongue when he hit on you. In the closet? Or no fucking clue what was happening until it was too late?" He asked.
It wasn't often someone spoke to me like that, and I wasn't totally sure how to reply-which yeah, I didn't like.
"I'm straight. I'm here with friends." There wasn't a chance in hell I was telling him I didn't have a clue what was going on until it was too late. If I didn't admit it, it wouldn't be true.
"Okay, Mr. Straight Man. Be careful not to lead on any more guys, okay? I won't be there to save you next time."
He winked at me, stood, and walked away.
What the fuck just happened here?
Kendall, or whoever the hell he was, had gotten the best of me, and I didn't like it.
"What a hottie." Carlos said as I approached him.
My best friend and coworker stood alongside the wall, beside a bar-height table, sipping from his vodka Sprite as he eyed me.
In jeans and a black polo, he wasn't nearly as dressed up as we usually were for work. As he pulled the drink from his mouth, his lips curled into a smirk. I'd slipped away from him once we got off the dance floor and I overheard James and Levi chatting.
"Yeah. He's not so bad." I said.
"I know you didn't march all the way over there because you thought he was 'not so bad.'"
"Come on, the guy was in way over his head with that guy who was barking up the wrong tree."
"Wrong tree?"
"Yeah. Your little hottie is straight as can be. I figured as much...that or super confused or just totally not interested in what the guy was offering. But I'm leaning toward straight. I don't get any crazy I-need-to-suck-dick vibes off him."
"Well, you do have the best gaydar in West Hollywood, which says a lot, considering the competition."
"Why, thank you. What an honor to have it recognized by someone whose gaydar is pretty fucking amazing." I said before bowing my head forward and making an elaborate gesture with my hand to accept his playful praise.
"He's probably here with a nice friend who'll be eager to treat that ass of yours real good." I added.
"I don't need anyone to treat it good, Kendall. I need someone to treat it bad. Real bad."
I laughed before grabbing my drink off the table beside him and taking a drink.
I noticed Carlos' gaze continually shifting over my shoulder, in the direction of where James was sitting at the bar.
"Mr. Straight Guy seems to be ogling you quite a bit. Just saying."
I turned to catch James' gaze.
As I turned back to Carlos, he said, "You're turning red."
"What? No, I'm not. It must be the lights in here."
"Yes, Mr. Easy Peasy is getting red over a guy? Really? Someone call a doctor...and they can get me one while they're at it." He teased, enjoying himself way too much.
"Oh, he was the worst type." I told him. "All full of himself and conceited...and…"
"And you haven't said anything that makes me think you're discouraged by something other than the whole straight thing."
"As if the little straight thing doesn't stand in the way of a little gay sex?"
"I don't see why it has to." He took another sip from his drink. "The gay thing doesn't stand in the way of you having straight sex."
"That's how it works when you're bi, 'Los."
"I know, I know. God's gift to mankind...and womankind. I wish he was gay, though."
"Why do you say that?"
"I think he's just the kind of man who could make you get all head over heels for him."
"Nope. No thanks. I'm very content being single and free as a bird to do whatever the fuck I want and whomever the fuck I want. Besides, who the fuck has time for head over heels bullshit?"
"Pretty much everyone else on the planet."
"Yeah, well, they're missing out on half the fun, is all I'm saying."
"Whatever. Come on. It's time for some shots."
I checked his nearly empty drink and eyed him.
"I've only had two drinks, promise."
"Okay, but I've got my eye on you. You start slurring or stumbling around, and we're out of here."
Carlos was a great guy, but when he drank, he wasn't as good as I was about realizing how tipsy he was getting.
"I'll be good tonight." He assured me.
"I've heard that before. Just remember if you get bad, the only guy in here who'll be taking you home is me."
"Well, that plan's always fun, too." He said, grinning.
It was also one we'd gone with on many nights when neither of us had found anyone we were more interested in screwing than each other. But it was just to get off. We had fun, but it was nice being able to fuck around with each other because neither of us thought much about it outside of the sex.
We drank and chatted some more about work, getting only slightly tipsy before he started flirting with another guy-the kind of guy that always made him totally jizz his pants.
I noticed myself getting a little distracted, my gaze drifting to James throughout the night.
Although normally I was good at knowing my limits and just letting things go, something about him was different.
I'd never been able to resist a macho, hypermasculine guy...because I didn't mind being submissive. If he wanted to take charge, that was just fine by me. I could play whatever game they wanted-dominate, submit. Bring in an extra guy or girl. Whatever they wanted. Within reason…
When Carlos approached me to let me know he and his new guy were heading out, I noticed James and his friends must've already bailed.
"Looks like you're not going to be scoring with anyone tonight." Carlos said.
"Eh, whatever. I'll probably wander on down to Voltage and see if I can find anything fun there. If I don't, a night by myself won't kill me."
"You gonna Uber?"
"Probably walk."
"Okay. Be careful, man."
I snickered. I understood his point, but I'd never lived my life being afraid.
That wasn't me.
Granted, I wasn't stupid about anything, but I wasn't like Carlos, who was basically scared of the dark and would Uber anywhere after eight o'clock at night.
"You don't have to worry about me." I said. "But I appreciate it."
We hugged before he headed out of the bar with his guy for the night.
I finished my drink before heading outside.
I must've been nursing my last drink for longer than I thought because I wasn't feeling particularly tipsy, which was kind of a bummer. But I still felt pretty damn good as I started down the street, heading to Voltage.
As I started across the street, I heard, "Gimme your fucking wallet, dude."
Shit.
I peered into the alley beside me, and I noticed a guy in a hoodie with a gun held up to another guy.
Not just any guy.
It was James.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I recalled Carlos' attempt at making sure I'd stay safe. I wasn't normally stupid about shit, but I went against my better judgement and headed down the alley toward them.
Some part of me knew it was a crap idea. I should have just let whoever the fuck that was take James' wallet and then dash off into the night, but by the way the armed robber bounced around, shouting while James just stood there, it was clear he was trying to put on a big show to scare James.
And with a gun involved, he wasn't playing fair. The sight evoked memories of my brother and all the tears I shared with my parents because of the bastard responsible for his death. And the pain it stirred within me caused me to set aside logic and reason in exchange for proving something to myself.
"I told you to give me your wallet." The robber demanded.
"Hey, James!" I called out. "James!"
The thief turned and said, "What the fuck?" and I was sure James was thinking the same thing.
I stumbled and put on a bit of an act, tripping on my legs and moving side to side.
The thief turned so he could face both of us but kept the gun on James.
"Dude, you need to give me your fucking wallet, too!"
I stopped and put my hands on my thighs, looking at the gun and then the guy in the hoodie.
"Oh, shit!" I said. "What the fuck?"
"You heard me, drunk-ass! Give me your damn money!"
I reached into my back pocket to pull out my wallet. I fished through it before pulling out some cards and throwing them on the asphalt.
"What the fuck are you doing?" The guy asked.
"I'm getting my money for you." I said as I pulled some cash out and dropped it for good measure.
"You dumbass. Just give it to me."
He rushed over and put his gun right to my head. As he reached for my wallet, I thanked God for my black belt as I snatched his wrist and gun simultaneously, pushing the barrel of the gun away from my head before prying the gun from his grasp and seizing control of it.
With my free hand, I slammed it against his chest, throwing him onto his back.
The kid's hoodie pulled back, revealing a young, early twenty-something-year-old. With fire-red hair and wide eyes, it was clear he was a lot more terrified than either James or I were when he'd had the gun on us. He scrambled onto his knees and crawled away, then made into a sprint.
"Yeah, fucker, you need to be more careful with these things!" I removed the bullets from the gun before taking a deep breath, my hands trembling at my side, not from fear, but excitement-the rush of having a fucking gun to my head and disarming that kid.
"Little piece of shit." James said, I turned to him. His eyes narrowed and he looked stunned-like someone who'd just had a car accident-but still really put together for someone who, moments earlier, had been held up at gunpoint.
"Straighty, you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. Fine." He took a breath before saying, "What the fuck kind of ninja shit was that?"
I picked up the cards and bills I'd dropped onto the asphalt and put them back into my wallet.
"Oh, it's just...something I learned when I was younger. Little gay kid's gotta know how to defend himself. I don't know if you noticed, but I'm not exactly the most macho thing in the world. I gotta leave that to guys like you." I joked.
I checked James' expression, hoping to make him crack a smile, but it didn't work.
He still looked so serious-like he was stuck back in that moment with the gun on him. And he looked pale as fuck.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I was heading down the street, looking at my phone, and that kid came at me and shoved me into the alley. I was ready to deck him when he pulled the gun out. Shocked the shit out of me."
"Jesus Christ, that must have been scary. I can tell it shook you up a bit."
"I'm fine. It just happened really fast." His eyes shifted about uneasily. "I think I just need to sit down."
He walked over to the side of the building and sat down next to it.
"Okay, okay, I got it, Straighty. How about I call the police so we can file a report and do something about this?" I held the gun up.
"Yeah, okay." He clearly wasn't in a talkative mood, which I totally understood, and I didn't press.
While I called the police, James rested his back against the side of Wreckage, gazing off like he was thinking hard about something. The cops arrived ten minutes later and took our statements. One ushered me into the car to talk while the other questioned James outside. Said they didn't want our stories to influence each other's.
When I told the cop talking to me what I'd done, he gave me some grief about not needing to be a hero in a situation like that, which I went along with for the sake of not getting into an argument with the guy. He was just doing his job, after all.
The cop questioning James, a woman with her hair in a ponytail, rapped on the window.
The one talking to me, Officer Baxter, rolled the glass down.
"Yeah, um…" The other cop said as she rested her arms on the door and glanced back at James, who was still sitting against the wall. "Can we get an EMT out here to check on this guy? We might have a fainter."
"Sure thing." Officer Baxter replied.
They called an EMT, and when the ambulance arrived, I heard James fussing a bit. Telling them he was fine and he didn't need anything.
"I'm okay. Let's get this over with." James said, his voice loud and clear.
"We're just trying to make sure you're all right, Mr. Diamond." The EMT said.
I couldn't help but chuckle, but I also felt bad for the poor guy. He really didn't want anyone rescuing him that night, and it seemed to be a recurring theme since I met him just a couple of hours earlier.
After the commotion died down and James finally managed to convince the EMT and cops he was fine, I assured them I would make sure he got home all right before they left us. But James was still seated on the sidewalk, not looking much better than he had right after the attack.
I couldn't tell if he was still worked up from that asshole with the gun or from the hour of being questioned by the cop and EMT.
"Glad you didn't pass out." I teased, but he just glared at me. "You know, I don't live very far from here if you want to swing by?"
"No, no. I'm good."
"Okay. Just to chill. I'm seriously a block from here, over in Skyhouse. I'm not, like, tricking you into coming over my place for a blowjob or something, just so you know. I mean, there is that saying about people who go through traumatic experiences together and all, but I promise I won't take advantage unless you let me."
Despite the cheeky grin I was making, his expression didn't shift.
"I'm sorry." I said, squatting beside him and setting my hand on his shoulder. "That was another joke. I'm just trying to get you to lighten up. But I was serious about if you needed to just chill for a bit."
He shook his head. "No, no. I'm good."
I got the feeling he wanted to be left alone. That after the attempted robbery and having to relive it with the cops, he just needed to get away and regain his bearings. He seemed like the kind of guy who had his shit together most of the time, and I could respect that, considering I always wanted people to see my A-game. I was shaken up, too. That kind of shit didn't happen to me every day, but hell, I'd been training for a scenario like that since I was eight years old, so I figured we weren't exactly in the same boat.
"Well, it's an open invite, just so you know." I said.
"I'm just going to take an Uber back to my place like I wish I would have been able to do an hour ago."
"Well, then I'll wait for the Uber with you, I guess."
"Thank you." He said. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and requested an Uber. We waited in uncomfortable silence until it arrived, and he hurried into the car.
"Guess...uh...it was nice meeting you then." I said.
"Yeah, you too."
He shut the door, and I knew that was the last I was going to see of Mr. James Diamond. I whirled around and started back to the main street. Clearly, I wasn't going to be going to Voltage. A little too much excitement for one night.
I headed back to my place and watched some Netflix instead.
Done! So, it looks like things are off to an interesting start. I wonder if these two will run into each other again. :P
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the first chapter, as well as if you happened to have a favorite part/moment!
Again, I hope you all enjoyed! I'm not 100% sure when the next chapter will be up, but I'm excited to share more of this story! It'll more than likely be up either sometime this weekend, or early next week. :)
Until then!
-Epically Obsessed