Page 7 of Sin Deep
“I have to…touch you. If that’s all right.” His fingers hovered in the air, the eyeliner in his right hand, and he refused to let them shake even a little.
“I’m not scared. I don’t bite.” Harley eased right into his hand.
He liked to, but this was hardly the moment to say so. He cupped Harley’s jaw in one hand and carefully—reverently—drew a simple line under each eye and blurred it just a bit with his thumb. He took his time adding the top line as well, extending it just a little beyond the corners, just enough to frame those dark eyes properly. To his credit, Harley didn’t move, or even blink much, and when he was done, Winter sat back and had a look at his work.
He was captivated. And he wasn’t even finished yet.
“Would you like to see?” Winter picked up the mirror, holding his breath as he handed it to Harley.
“Oh, wow.” Harley turned side to side, eyes huge. “I look like a…like someone from a magazine.”
Winter pretended not to notice all the eyes on them. He was the one being watched for a change, and it felt strangely right for once. The eyeliner felt like it belonged in his fingers, and his mind was suddenly filled with images of Harley with smoky eyes, winged liner, mermaid shadows…it had been such a long time. “I think it’s beautiful. You were made for makeup. Are you ready for the mascara?”
Harley’s cheeks warmed, and it was a lovely expression—a mixture of pleasure and arousal. “I am. Eyes open or closed?”
Harley’s question proved the boy was more than just along for the ride. Harley was curious. Interested. His heart sped up a bit as he opened the mascara. Drew had found a nice thick one that should make those long lashes pop. “Open, please. It’s probably difficult with all the lights and dry air but try not to blink.”
He worked a little faster this time so Harley didn’t have to keep his eyes open for long. “I don’t have a blotter, which would make this look a little cleaner, but this looks very nice. I think you’ll like it. I hope you do.” Winter finished up and closed the mascara. “Go ahead, pick up the mirror.”
Harley did as he was told, looking closely, blinking as he did. “I don’t hardly look like me, but I totally look like me. How cool is that?”
“It’s possible you look more like you.” Winter put the mascara away. “More like you know yourself privately. Inside.”
Harley nodded, and Winter didn’t think he even realized it. “Like if I was in the Matrix movie, right? Less moving guy and more—fancy.”
“That’s right. The way you’d look if someone hadn’t taught you what was expected…if you could just wear whatever made you feel good.” A little voice in the back of his head told him to be careful, but he hadn’t had a night like this in a long while and it felt so good.
“Yeah, I hear you. Like if you don’t have to stress it, you could be anybody.” Harley seemed hypnotized for a second, pupils huge in those dark eyes, then he shook himself, licking his lips. “That’s a sweet little fantasy.”
“It is. You can indulge in those fantasies here, Harley. That’s what this club is for. Something to think about.”
He glanced up to find Oliver standing a few feet away. “Come on over.” He gave Ollie a wave. “Come see.”
Oliver leaned on the table and looked at Harley. Winter was enjoying the look of awe on Ollie’s face. “Look at you, sweetheart. Wow. You’re beautiful.”
“Mr. Winter here did it. He gets all the credit.” Harley lifted his face so Ollie could see.
“No, indeed. You were beautiful before I talked you into eyeliner.” The words were out before he knew it, bypassing his better sense.Damn it.
Harley blinked at him, blushed a deep, deep rose, and then he got a smile. “Well, thank you, sir. That’s…sort of amazing to hear.”
It’s rather amazing I said it. If only you knew.
“Do not put your mask back on and smudge that gorgeous look,” Ollie said, then took Harley’s hat off and fixed his hair. “Keep that in your pocket too. Oh, you look so good!”
“Let me see!” Jesse bumped hips with Ollie and looked Harley over. “Oh. My. God. Cowboy. That is amazing.”
Harley looked down, and for the first time Winter saw a hint of nerves, but it was forced away with a bright smile. “Winter did it. He made me up.”
“All right. Shoo. It’s gotten much too loud over here.” Winter waved his hand at Ollie and Jesse.”
“Sorry, Master Winter. We’ll be at the bar, sweetheart.” Ollie squeezed Harley’s hand and as they left, all the other curious eyes moved on too.
“We lost our oasis for a moment there, hm?” He dared to touch Harley’s knee, just gently. “I apologize. I certainly didn’t intend all that attention.”
“That’s just fine. I did sorta forget that there was a party going on. It felt like you and me and nothing else.”
“It did, didn’t it? What a wonderful experience.” Winter pulled his hand back reluctantly. “I enjoyed it very much.”
