“Okay, give me a second.” Danny went quiet and started sketching again.
While they waited, Aiden rested a hand on Mike’s knee. Without even thinking about it, Mike put his hand on top and laced their fingers together. Someone coughed. Someone else cleared their throat. A soft laugh was quickly cut off. Mike looked up at the noise. Several members of the team were staring at him and Aiden with various expressions of amusement on their faces. He realized he was sitting there holding hands with Aiden in front of everyone. Heat scorched the back of his neck.
“Uh...”
Aiden looked up too. “Oh, yeah. I guess we should tell you guys that we’re seeing each other,” he said with total nonchalance.
Caleb snorted. “Yeah, we kinda figured that out,” he said with a pointed look at their entwined hands.
Mike straightened his shoulders and addressed Strong. “I apologize, sir. We should have done an official disclosure of our relationship.”
Strong shook his head. “It’s not that kind of team. I don’t have a problem with what you do in your personal lives, as long as it doesn’t affect the ability of the team to do its job.”
“You hear that?” Aiden asked, leaning into Mike’s space. “We’re free to smooch away anytime we want.”
“That’s not what he said actually,” Frost said.
“Funny, that’s what I heard,” Aiden teased, leaning over to smack a loud kiss onto Mike’s cheek.
Frost rolled their eyes. “Anyway. It’s about time you guys came clean.”
“We figured something was going on with you two with the way you went from constantly sniping at each other to being the perfect partners,” Ignite added.
Danny glanced up from his tablet. “You guys make a cute couple.”
Mike was glad that the team was taking finding out about him and Aiden well. He looked at Helios. The team leader seemed okay with it too—going by the way he was good-naturedly ribbing Aiden. Once everyone finished teasing and congratulating them, the tall sun-powered hero reminded them of the other reason they were there.
“Danny finished the team logo and we had the patches made for everyone to attach to their suits.”
Caleb passed their leader a box. Helios went around and gave each team member two patches with the logo Caleb had sent last night of the red and blue shield with ACG in gold.
“Thanks,” Mike said to Helios as he accepted his patches. “I guess it’s time for me to get an official super suit to attach it to. Where do people go to buy superhero costumes?”
“We prefer the term gear. There’s a couple of gear makers in the city but I can take you to the one I use if you want,” Aiden offered.
Bulldozer leaned forward in his chair to get Mike’s attention. “Watch out going gear shopping with Stardust. If you’re not careful he’ll have you covered head to toe in liquid latex.”
Mike laughed. “Thanks for the heads up.”
“What’s wrong with latex pants?” Aiden asked with an eyebrow raised.
Mike choked off his laugh when he realized he might have put his foot in it. “They look great on you,” he assured his lover. “It’s just not the style for me.”
Aiden didn’t say anything, he simply continued to stare at Mike.
The blush from earlier returned to the back of his neck. “I love the way you look in them,” he added.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Hmmm.” Aiden crossed his legs, a sultry smile curling his full lips. “Maybe I’ll let you tell me exactly what it is you like about me in those pants later on.”
“As much as I hate to interrupt wherever this is going,” Caleb loudly cut in. “Mike, I have something for you that hopefullyisyour style.”
Although he had to force himself to look away from the sensual gleam in his lover’s eyes—he was glad for the change in subject Caleb had given him. He wasn’t used to such blatantly sexual flirting in front of other people. “What is it?”
Caleb had another box on his desk, which he passed over to Mike. Leaning back in his chair, he folded his arms behind his head and waited, a smug look on his face.
