“Before we left Warburton,” Wes answered wryly. “Parenthood doesn’t exactly lend itself to club nights, does it?”
Assa chuffed. “Definitely not.”
He turned and rubbed his ass against Wes’s jeans, feeling the hard ridge of his cock. The atmosphere was hypnotic,all thumping music and flashing strobes. A giant neon pink sculpture of a heart split down the middle cast a beam of light across the room, giving everyone on the dance floor a rosy glow.
Assa reached over his shoulder and pulled Wes’s head into the crook of his neck, trembling as his husband sucked on the sensitive skin there.
It was a good idea to go dancing tonight. They almost hadn’t. Even though he’d lined up a great babysitter for Ryde and had no real excuse, Assa had nearly canceled to avoid the pressure of potentially finding someone to invite into their bed.
A month ago, when Wes broached the topic in the middle of Felton’s Bakery, they’d been full of hope. They’d eagerly set up an account on an app advertising themselves as a happily non-monogamous couple looking to hook up with someone (or someones).
They met up with an alpha at a hotel near the university two weeks later. It had seemed like a winning arrangement. The man was in town on business, so it would be a onetime thing. When Wes and Assa arrived, they saw that the alpha’s pictures had not done him justice. His broad shoulders strained his suit jacket, and the scruff on his jaw was rugged perfection.
Unfortunately, Assa’s next thought was that he looked like Calder, annoying since Assa had been trying hard not to think about the beautiful alpha.
The three men attempted small talk and touched one another. It was fine, pleasant even, but something was stilloff.
After a few minutes, the alpha kissed Wes and then Assa. His technique was masterful, firm and soft at the same time. Assa felt a kernel of desire. Except it didn’t grow the way it had with other thirds they’d played with.
The alpha kissed down their torsos, removing their shirts as he went. But as the man took off his button-down and the three of them shifted onto the bed, Assa remained unmoved.
Gamely, Assa ran his palm over the alpha’s sculpted back, but the gesture was more clumsy than sensual.
The alpha raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t working, is it?”
“No,” Assa said. “I’m really sorry. It’s been a while since we’ve done this and I thought I knew what I wanted, but apparently…not.”
Wes rolled over and kissed him. “You’re not the only one shaking off the rust, sweetheart.” To the alpha, he said, “I hope you’re not disappointed. But obviously, if we’re not feeling it, we’re not going to stay.”
“Hey, no worries. Sometimes the spark’s not there.”
Assa was thankful it wasn’t awkward as he and Wes put their shirts back on. The alpha kissed them lightly before they left. The kissing was nice, but Assa was glad they hadn’t fucked.
“It’s okay,” Wes said as they made their way to their car. “The chemistry wasn’t there. It’s been so long since we did this. I’m sure we’ll get our rhythm back.”
But so far, they hadn’t.
They had messaged with dozens of men, and even met up with a beta, wondering if starting out with someone of their own gender might be easier. It had actually gone worse, with Wes and Assa apologizing and bailing the moment they started kissing.
Something just wasn’t right. But what? Were they not polyamorous anymore? Maybe they’d been together so long that now they wanted exclusivity.
Except that didn’t feel right either.
Assa knew Wes was as frustrated as he. Coming to The Cracked Heart tonight was an attempt to approach their dilemma from a new angle, to see if they could meet a man organically and test the connection before deciding to hook up.
Yet all they’d done was have a fun night out as a couple. They danced with a few men, but no one they considered taking things further with.
Not that the excursion was a waste. In their daily lives, they were busy, attentive fathers. It felt good to let loose.
“I need a break,” Assa shouted into Wes’s ear, above the noise of the speakers.
Wes led him to an empty high-top table. “I’ll go grab us water,” he said.
As his husband shoved his way through a throng of dancers on his way to the bar, Assa surveyed the room. Since it was close to midnight, most of the men looked like him, disheveled and sweaty, exhibiting varying degrees of drunkenness.
Amid the chaos, Assa felt the hairs on his neck prickle and stand at attention.
His pulse quickened at the distinct sensation of being watched.
