Page 65 of Whirlwind

“Charlie’s getting another keg from the basement,” Dakota mentioned helpfully.

“Thanks.” His voice was deep and solid, but he was looking at the door behind the bar.

Then, he turned to look at Dakota and kept on looking. No, not looking. Undressing. Eye fucking. Oh, sweet Lord, yes, please.

Dakota felt hot and cold, deliciously objectified and desired. Most people weren’t into their particular brand of non-binary fabulousness, but this guy was eating it up. Was it possible that they’d read the situation all wrong?

“What’s your name?”

It took a moment to remember. Another moment to make it flirty instead of just desperate. “Dakota. They/them pronouns.”

They looked up from under their eyelashes. Was that too much? The flirtation or the pronouns could throw someone off.

“I’m Ben. He/him. You new here?” The pronoun thing shouldn’t have been a test, but they already felt a weight lifted from their shoulders when Ben passed.

Ben moved in closer and Dakota shivered. Now they just needed to do a bit of small talk, a bit of flirting. Dakota was ready for anything that might arise, but it was better to chat a bit first.

Among other things, unless it was going to be a quickie in a dimly lit room, they needed to mention the whole intersex thing. Most people who were interested in their outer package were happy enough with what was under their skirt, but it wasn’t worth taking the risk.

Their night was suddenly getting a lot more interesting. “Just arrived yesterday. My brain thinks it’s the middle of the night.”

“Where’d you fly in from?”

“Senegal. I was doing health outreach in the Peace Corps. I’m gonna miss the sunshine and some good friends, but I’m sooooo glad to be back in the States.”

“My mother’s from Sierra Leone, but I haven’t been back since I was a kid. What did you miss about the States?”

Dakota grinned. The conversation was going well, and they could get in that important tidbit without making it sound too contrived. “Being me. I spent the past two years pretending to be a man,” they gave a dramatic shudder, “around everyone except a couple of Corps members.”

Ben raised his eyebrows. “If being a man was so frustrating, how do you prefer to identify?” He wasn’t being judgmental or pushy, just moving the conversation along.

“Intersex and genderqueer, baby. A little bit of something for everyone.”

Ben’s laugh was rich and full. He leaned in a bit closer, towering over Dakota even on the bar stool and sending a shiver down their spine. “Were you planning on sharing tonight?”

“I suppose I could be persuaded… but what about your friend over there?”

Dakota used the mirror again. The other guy was still tipped back on one leg of the chair, his position lazy and confident, but his eyes were trained on the two of them like a predator.

“You mean Parker? Oh, he’s not going to get a piece of you. I saw you first.”

That was definitely not what Dakota had been expecting. They felt a bit like a piece of meat, but it was hot as fuck.

The thought was interrupted by Charlie’s throaty voice. “What can I get for you?”

“A pitcher of whatever Dakota’s drinking.”

Now, that was interesting. Ben’s pick-up line hadn’t been subtle at all, nor had his claim. But a pitcher was enough for a table, or a longer evening. Were they going to be hanging out with this Parker guy anyway?

Charlie filled the pitcher while reaching behind her for a stack of three tall glasses. She set them both down together without spilling a drop.

Ben picked them up, his large hands easily wrapping around the glasses. “After you.”

Huh. Still confusing. Still hot. Dakota made their way over to the table where Parker sat.

Parker didn’t hide his slow perusal up Dakota’s body. “You brought a present for me, Ben?” He rocked further back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Dakota’s.

“Their name is Dakota, by the way. And I think we already know whose present they’re going to be.”

Their heart was pounding. Were Parker and Ben a couple looking for a third? Or were the two men actually going to fight over them? That seemed more likely. But they had seen the sparks flying between the two of them.

Either way, it took only a moment to decide how they wanted the night to end. “It looks like I’m going to be somebody’s present tonight.” They gave a little flounce. “But you’ll have to earn it first.”

Two pairs of eyes pinned them hungrily. Parker’s chair thumped on the ground and he leaned forward over the table. Ben matched his pose, like they were trying to out-man each other without leaving their seats.

Ben’s response was as smooth as glass. “Oh? What’s the contest?”

Dakota shrugged and looked around, as though thinking. Playing up the innocence was all part of reeling them in. “Darts, maybe?”