It was true that Scott Hunter Night seemed to mostly consist of Scott being in the building, but still. It was nice.
“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” Scott said to Kip. “Be right back.”
A few minutes later, as he was making his way back to his friends through the throngs of people, he glanced to his left and noticed a tall, fit man leaning elegantly against a pillar, just outside the VIP area. It took Scott a moment to recognize him, and when he did, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Rozanov?” he asked. Ilya Rozanov grinned lazily as Scott headed toward him.
“What are you doing here?” Scott shouted over the music.
Rozanov shrugged. “Wanted to see what Scott Hunter Night was. Is not as bad as it sounds.”
Scott snorted and shook his head. “Did you really come to a gay bar in Vegas just to make fun of me?”
Rozanov ignored his question, and instead swept a hand through the air and said, “So. This is you now?”
Scott wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, but he nodded. “This is me. I mean, this has always been me. But now I’m…better at being me.”
Rozanov seemed to consider this. “Is good. What you did. It will be good for…others.”
There was something in Rozanov’s eyes that caught Scott’s attention. He hadn’t ever seen that look on his face before. Was it gratitude, maybe?
“I hope so,” Scott said.
Rozanov held his gaze for another second, and then looked away.
“I’m here with some of the guys,” Scott said. “From my team, I mean. You, uh, you wanna join us?”
Scott knew Rozanov was trying very hard to look like he didn’t care one way or the other, but, as Scott expected he would, he accepted the invitation.
“Hey! The star of Scott Hunter Night is back!” Carter whooped. “And what the fuck isthat guydoing here?”
Rozanov smirked and gave a little wave.
“I invited him to join us,” Scott said. He shot Carter a pointed look that he hoped saiddrop it.
Carter did drop it, beyond a few suspicious glances at Rozanov. They all sat and talked as well as they could over the music. Carter ordered some fancy bottles of various things, and it wasn’t long before Scott was feeling very loose and relaxed. Within an hour, Kip was snuggled against Scott on the couch and talking to Bennett, Gloria was perched on Carter’s lap and talking to Huff, and Matti was chatting animatedly with Rozanov.
“Let’s go downstairs,” Kip murmured in Scott’s ear. “I wanna dance with you.”
Scott nodded and stood. “We’re gonna…” he said to the group, but no one seemed to care at all that they were leaving.
Downstairs, they stood on the edge of the dance floor, the beat of the music thrumming through Scott’s body. Kip leaned against a pillar, hands behind his arched back and his head tilted up, offering himself. He looked so fucking sexy, peering up atScott with those dark-ringed eyes as the colorful lights of the club played over his face.
Scott braced a hand against the pillar and leaned in, pressing Kip against it and devouring him. Knowing that they were in public. Knowing his dick was swelling in his pants, creating a bulge that anyone would be able to see. Knowing that Kip was getting hard too.
“Can’t control myself when you look like that,” Scott breathed into Kip’s ear.
“Come dance with me,” Kip murmured back. Scott kissed him under his smooth jaw, and Kip shuddered. Kip had shaved tonight, and the smooth skin added to the soft innocence of his look. Feminine, almost, except for his gravelly, Brooklyn drawl, and for the hardness that pressed into Scott’s hip.
The music was loud, pulsing, and relentless. The massive dance floor was packed with men, many of whom were probably attractive. But Scott wasn’t looking anywhere but at the man who was leading him by their joined hands.
He was terrified and excited, mentally preparing like he was about to play a game, shutting everything around him out. Focusing on the goal.
Kip found their spot in the sea of bodies, and turned to face him. It was so crowded that they were pressed together, and Kip wrapped his arms around Scott’s neck and smiled at him. Scott smiled back and placed his hands on his waist, then awkwardly tried to match Kip’s slow movements.
It didn’t take long. After a minute, Scott was lost in the way Kip rolled his body, the way his fingers found their way into Scott’s hair, and the intense heat in his eyes. Scott moved with him, and it was easy. He let go of his nerves and just allowed himself to feel his way.
Scott had never been high in his life, but he imagined it had to feel something like this. The onslaught on his senses of swirlinglights and pounding bass, the sweltering heat of the club, and the strong scent of sweat and dry ice filling his head. The dulling effect of the alcohol, smudging his thoughts and giving him a feeling of relaxed euphoria. The rush of arousal coursing through every part of him. The thrill of possibility.