“Shh….” Patrick pressed a finger to his lips and had to lean up against the wall to stop himself from toppling over. The guy with him shook his head and looked considerably more sober than Patrick.
“Sorry, I tried to get some water down him, but he’s a very stubborn drunk.”
Patrick giggled and batted at the man’s shoulder, almost sliding down the wall, until Will grabbed his arm. “This’s Christian.” He waved vaguely inChristian’sdirection. “He thinks I’m hot.” Patrick giggled again as Christian groaned and covered his face.
Will raised an eyebrow, bristling a little.
“For fuck’s sake, Patrick.” Christian shot Will an apologetic look. “I take it you’re Will?”
“Yep.”
“Look, I may have hit on him a little when he first came into the shop, but he already told me he was spoken for.”
Will couldn’t help the flare of smugness he felt hearing that, even if it wasn’t strictly true. He glanced over at Patrick, who had been watching them quietly, a dopey grin on his face.
“Do you need a hand getting him to bed?” Christian looked as though he was about to come in, so Will quickly shook his head.
“No, that’s okay. I’ve got it from here.” He managed to return Christian’s smile and hooked an arm around Patrick’s waist. “Thanks for bringing him home.”
Patrick chose that moment to turn his head and bury his nose in the crook of Will’s neck, inhaling loudly. “God, you smellsooooogood. Want to stay right here forever.”
Will felt the wet lick of Patrick’s tongue and sighed in resignation.
“Good luck with that.” Christian laughed as he turned and walked back out onto the path.
“Thanks.”
Will managed to lock up one-handed, while Patrick clung to him, still nibbling at his neck and now groping his arse too.
“Come on, Patrick. Let’s get you to bed.”
“Excellent idea,” Patrick slurred, and then began to pat his pockets as though searching for something. His eyes lit up suddenly, and he pointed at the small table behind Will. “Oh. There they are. I forgot my keys.”
“No shit.”
“Sorry. Was waiting at the pub ’til you got home from work, then sort of forgot.” He slid his other hand down Will’s chest, and Will caught it before he could go any lower. “You’re no fun tonight.”
“I’m tired, and you’re drunk.”
Patrick huffed but didn’t complain when Will steered him into the kitchen and propped him against the counter. “Stay.”
Patrick managed a sloppy salute but didn’t move as Will pulled a glass from the cupboard and stuck it under the tap.
“This isn’t my bedroom, you know. I don’t want to sleep out here. S’cold.”
Will looked over his shoulder at him, smiling when he saw the exaggerated pout on Patrick’s face. Patrick batted his lashes for good measure, and Will laughed softly before turning off the tap and thrusting the glass at Patrick. “Drink this, and I’ll let you sleep in your bedroom.”
Patrick frowned at the water but took it from Will’s hand, eyeing it dubiously. “S’gonna make me puke.”
“It’s not gonna… well, it might.” Will hoped it wouldn’t anyway. “Trust me, you’ll thank me in the morning.”
Patrick’s eyes flicked up, and he stared at Will from under his lashes. It shouldn’t have looked as hot as it did—Patrick was far too wasted—but Will felt a jolt of heat deep in his belly.
“I could thank you now?” Patrick said, leering as he glanced down at Will’s groin and wobbled a little.
That was definitely not hot, and Will shook his head, nudging the glass toward Patrick’s mouth. “Just drink the bloody water.”
Patricktskedbut dutifully drank the whole glass and placed it on the worktop beside him. “Ugh, I feel all sloshy now. If I’m sick, s’all your fault.”
