Page 8 of Sin Deep
“I did too.” Harley looked where his hand had been. “Your hand is warm. I can still feel every finger.”
Winter licked his lips and tried to reply, but he didn’t know what to say. Whatever was happening here, it was time to stop it. He knew better. He just couldn’t…do this again.
“Harley, it’s been an absolute pleasure.” He stood, it was time to go home. “But, I’m afraid it’s past my bedtime.”
“Oh.” Harley blinked a couple of times, then he stood as well, holding out one hand. “Have a good night. Be careful going home.”
Winter swallowed but took Harley’s hand and shook it, pretending he could ignore the warmth in the boy’s grip. “You too. Enjoy the rest of the party.”
“Yes, sir. Goodnight.” Harley stood there by his table, expression quiet and a bit confused, picking up Drew’s mirror. “I’ll take this to the bartender to give back to the server.”
“Thank you.” Winter pushed the mascara and the eyeliner toward Harley. “Keep those. Goodnight.” He headed straight for the coat check before he changed his mind. It would be too easy to do.
He did look back once, and Harley was moving away from his table toward the bar, mask and hat back on.
He knew himself, and he knew what he could stand and what he could not. Harley would stay in New York a little longer, and like every little bird he’d fed and taught and cared for, he would fly away. It was what they did.
He’d be alone then. He was alone now. It was just better this way.
Winter pulled his coat on and left the club, the heavy doors closing solidly behind him.
4
Harley headed to the bar, handed the mirror over, bought a beer, and then found a place to prop himself up and people watch.
Obviously he’d fucked up but good. He wasn’t sure how, but he was embarrassed that he had. He thought he’d been friendly, open-minded, not bitchy at all, but maybe he had said something stupid.
Whatever it was, he felt exposed and a little like a hick, so he hoped Ollie would show up so he could say his goodbyes and head home. Take a long, hot shower, jack off, and crash.
It was a great fucking plan.
“You put your mask back on!” Oliver asked when he did finally resurface. “Lost Master Winter, huh?”
“Yeah.” He left like he’d been stung. “Having fun?”You mind if I go home? I feel stupid and ridiculous.
“He left? Well, what the hell? He’s…touchy. He’s here all the time but…nobody spends any real time with him; he’s a loner, you know?” Oliver leaned on the wall next to him.
“Ah.” So, he was supposed to pretend the dude hadn’t touched him, he guessed. “I didn’t mean to upset him, for sure.”
Still, he didn’t want to try and pretend that he wasn’t weirded out. It hadn’t been anything like anything he’d ever experienced before. It was like riding a rollercoaster, climbing and climbing and then swooping down, and then when it stopped, his heart was beating too fast, and he realized none of it had been real.
Oliver shrugged. “Actually, I hope you did a little. Maybe it will wake him up. All he ever does is sit there. They say he used to be way more interesting. More fun, you know? It’s too bad; he’s not bad-looking even if he is older. Gray hair isn’t my thing, but some guys are into it.”
“I thought he was hot.” But the mixed signals had been a lot. “I think I’m going to finish this beer and head home, buddy.”
“Aw.” Oliver gave him a pouty look. “Did he ruin your night? Are you sure? I’m sorry. I should have stopped you from going over there, it’s just…people don’t. Much.”
“Don’t pout, butthead. He just…was giving out signals, and now I feel a little like a dumbass.” He sipped his beer, letting it cool his hurt feeling.
“Well, if he led you on that wasn’t nice. I’m sorry.” Oliver hugged him. “I wanted this to be fun for you.”
“I’m having a ball. Seriously. This is the most fun. I just need an attitude adjustment.” He had misread something. He hadn’t committed murder. “This place is wide.”
“As wide as some places are tall.” Oliver winked at him. “You have your key? I won’t be late.”
“Do you want to share a car? I can hang a little longer, people watch.” He wasn’t a quitter, and he wasn’t going to go home like he was a whupped dog even I he wanted to.
“Yes, I do. How about a dance or two and then we’ll call it a night? You want to?” Oliver poked him playfully and took his hand.
