“Wow. That’s gotta be your choice, right?”
“Why?” Patrick glanced up at him.
“Well, I mean, with that cute face and sweet body, you could have anyone you wanted—and don’t even try to deny it.”
Patrick laughed softly. It was aheavenlysound. “I… I don’t really think about it one way or another.”
Derek halted. “You’re joking, right?”
Pausing mid-step, Patrick smiled. “No.”
“You have guys tripping over each other to get to you—and you’ve never thought about it?”
That sexyflushagain. “I don’t have guys tripping over each other to get to me.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Another heavenly laugh. “I’m serious.”
“You must live in a blind and deaf commune.”
“No.” Patrick laughed shyly.
“It must be true,” Derek insisted. “Because I know at least thirty guys right off the top of my head who would fight each other for a date with you.”
Patrick stared at him; his lovely eyes wide. Then he laughed again. “You’re teasing me.”
“I’m not. I swear. In fact, a few of them are here today, I could introduce you and confirm it.”
“That’s okay.” Patrick averted his gaze, a small, delicious smile holding on his lips. “I’ll… I’ll take your word for it.”
Derek playfully bumped his arm. “All right.”
Silence settled between them for a few moments, then Patrick asked quietly, “Do… Do you have a boyfriend?”
A definite sign of interest. No one asks another person of their gender preference this question if they aren’t interested themselves. Derek supposed it waspossiblehe was simply asking because Derek had asked first, but…
He looked at Patrick and the young man looked back, the soft heat in his honey-sweet eyes clearing things up right quick. Derek smiled. “Nope.”
The boy seemed doubtful. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” Derek cocked an eyebrow. “Why? Do I look like someone who would have a boyfriend?” Derek was wholly aware of his own good looks, though he didn’t feel the need to flaunt it like Lucas and Royal.
“Um…” Patrick smiled and bit his lip. “Yeah.”
Derek quivered with the urge to bite that lip as well. The boy had beautifully full lips that Derek was eager to taste and suck kisses from. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do I look like someone who would have a boyfriend?” This flirtatious repartee between the two of them was turning Derek on like mad. How long until Patrick noticed the growing bulge in Derek’s snug jeans?
“I, uh…” Patrick laughed self-consciously. “Well, I mean, you’re… you’re really… good looking.”
Derek groaned in spirit, his pulse hitching and kicking up. “I am?”
Patrick grinned. “Stop it. You know you are.”
Chuckling, Derek nodded. “I don’t think I’mugly.But the real question is—doyouknow how good lookingyouare?”
