Excerpt of Woven Interests by Natalie Alder

It was dark inside, as expected. James waited for his
eyes to adjust to the darkness. The music was sultry,
jazz fusion and almost soothing. This place calls for a
gimlet martini James thought to himself. Noting the bar
along the right wall he sauntered to a free stool and sat
before placing his order. The couple had chosen a small
table and were sitting with their heads close together
talking. Wall sconces and small, red, shaded lamps on
café tables casted a dim glow throughout the club. The
music was being played live by a trio of older gentleman
set precariously on a stage too small for them and their
instruments. The sound of a cocktail glass placed on the
marble topped bar got James attention. He turned to see
the bartender place his martini in front of him.

“Want to start a tab?”

“Sure, why not?”

“I don’t really give a damn whether you do or not, sonny.
What’ll it be?”

James let a smirk escape after a brief moment of feeling
insulted. “Start a tab for me.”

The bartender nodded and walked away. James brought his
drink to his lips. The smell of gin and lime filled his
senses as he took the first sip.

“Not a very likeable character now, is he?”

James held his drink at his lips as he thought to gain
recognition of the voice. Slowly he lowered his glass and
set it on the bar top before raising his eyes to see Remy
standing next to him.

“May I?” He motioned to the bar stool in front of him.

wallowing hard, James could only manage a small nod of
approval. Remy looked so f**king hot. Maybe it was
because he hadn’t seen him in a week but James didn’t
think so. The man was just simply gorgeous, no matter
what. James watched as Remy maneuvered his body to sit on
the stool. Grabbing a section of the material of his
pants leg at his thigh, he hitched the pant leg up,
giving himself more room in the crotch of his pants.

“What can I get ya’?” The gruff bartender had returned.

“Same,” Remy said pointing to James’ drink.

“Put it on my tab,” James told the bartender. And to Remy
he said, “May as well since he went through the trouble
of setting one up for me.”

Remy smiled. James dick twitched and cursed softly.

“What?”

James looked at Remy questioningly.

“You cursed.” Placing his elbow on the bar and his head
in his hand, Remy leaned forward, closer to James. From
this position, he stared into James eyes and waited for
James to reply.

Those piercing blue f**king eyes, James thought as he let
himself get lost in them. Sensing the danger of allowing
himself to do so, he answered Remy.

“You smiled.”

“My smile caused you to curse?” And still he sat smiling
at James.

“No, my dick twitching because you smiled at me caused me
to curse.”

The wet tip of Remy’s tongue came out and slid across his
bottom lip. Neither broke eye contact. James could feel
his jaw tighten in frustration. The bartender placed
Remy’s drink in front him and walked away. Still without
breaking eye contact Remy picked up his drink and took a
swallow.