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The man’s smooth chest rose and fell, a rivulet of sweat dripping from his clavicle between his pecs and down a perfectly flat stomach. He was shorter than Will, slimmer too—almost to the point of being petite—but Will had seen with his own eyes the strength those wiry muscles held. Dragging his gaze up before he could get past the low waist of those training tights, which he knew would leave nothing to his imagination, Will focussed his attention on the dancer’s lips. They were plump. Totally kissable and shiny like he was wearing gloss. Will wanted to bite down on the bottom one and devour him whole. Did he taste of berries? Or was it some other flavour?
Everything about the man before him was such a damn turn on that Will unconsciously found himself eliminating the gap between them.Who are you?Chest to chest, Will breathed him in as the man sized him up, his gaze lazily trailing a path down Will’s body. Every inch he took in was like a physical caress, lighting Will up.
Breathing deep, Will shivered as the man’s musky scent hit his senses and he barely contained a moan. The man’s eyes snapped up to meet Will’s. Instinctively, Will licked his lips, and those emerald greens darkened in response, a low growl coming from the back of the other man’s throat.Oh God.Will’s breath hitched.
“What’s your name?” Will rasped.
“Eddie.” His voice was quiet, and Will leaned closer to him, wanting to hear more.
six
Eddie
Movement in the shadows had Eddie pausing. He didn’t think anyone would go down to the warm-up room so long after the show finished. His shift had just ended—he’d danced in the main theatre performance, then on the pedestal in the nightclub, and needed to wind down. This was his time; Eddie’s chance to dance the way he loved best rather than the choreographed moves all the dancers pulled in the shows. The performances were at least as good as the West End plays he’d danced in, but over the years, pole dancing had become one of Eddie’s passions.
Eddie paused the music and called out, “Who’s there?” He cursed himself for letting the tinge of anxiety that plagued him show. He’d come a long way from that scared teenager, but knowing he was being watched and having no clue who it was had Eddie’s heart thudding a staccato rhythm in his chest.
“I-I am,” the person answered. It was a man, his Australian accent a deep rumble, and Eddie’s dick twitched.Damn. That accent.It got him every time, and the hesitancy in the man’s voice, as if he might possibly be in the wrong place even though the man clearly worked on board, was even sexier.
Eddie was hot and sweaty, and he craved a drink of the water stashed in his bag. But his visitor had piqued Eddie’s curiosity. He stepped forward, trying to coax the shy boy out. “You wanna step into the light so I can see you, rather than standing in the dark like a creeper?” Eddie taunted him, teased him in an attempt to draw him out, but the man’s voice drew Eddie forward.
The silver fox who came into the light was not at all what Eddie expected—he was so much… more. Wearing a deer-in-the-headlights expression and clothes that looked like they’d been tailored to fit him despite being deceptively casual, he was the picture of style. Broad-shouldered with thick biceps and forearms, rounded pecs, and a flat stomach that tapered down to slim hips, he was an Adonis. Mussed up grey-blond hair and rich chocolate brown eyes, with a short beard and a perfect nose, completed the package. He was beautiful enough to model for any fitness magazine, lust spiked through Eddie. Fuck me, he is gorgeous. He was tall, so tall Eddie had to look up into eyes that were piercing yet warm at the same time. He was in trouble. Big, big trouble. Eddie hated acknowledging he had a type, because differences were what made the world an amazing place, but Eddie had a type. And the man in front of him ticked every. Single. Box.
Eddie was checking him out and not being subtle about it. Who the hell could when this sexy, stacked piece of gorgeousness was standing in front of them? When the man shivered, Eddie’s eyes instinctively snapped to his. Did the guy do it because of Eddie’s inspection? Was the man feeling the same insane lusty connection he was? The silver fox licked his lips, and Eddie nearly pounced. He used all his restraint to stop himself from climbing the guy like a jungle gym, but Eddie couldn’t help the growl that escaped.
“What’s your name?” the man rasped, his voice all dark and sexy.
“Eddie.” He spoke a lot quieter than normal, but it had the desired effect; the silver fox leaned in closer, and Eddie smirked. Clearing his throat softly, Eddie added, “My, my, my, aren’t you a handsome one? And what might your name be?”
“Will,” he responded immediately, and Eddie smiled at the name. It suited him. Clean-cut like a William, but he was loose enough not to introduce himself with his full name. Eddie had only been on the ship a total of twenty-four hours, and he was generally hopeless with names, but Will was the sort of person Eddie wouldn’t forget in a hurry, and now that he was there….
“And what are you doing down here, Will? You lost, or are you looking for little ol’ me?” Eddie smiled and fluttered his lashes, touching his fingertips to his chest in an exaggerated caress. Will sucked in a breath, and Eddie took the opportunity to check him out again, this time dropping his gaze straight to Will’s crotch. He had a nice bulge, the length of his shaft clearly outlined in the shorts he wore. Either he was going commando, or he had loose boxer shorts on, because there was no way that snake was being contained by anything.
Eddie licked his lips, imagining what it'd be like to drop to his knees right there and taste him.
“I, ah…” Will shifted his weight, and Eddie noticed for the first time he was carrying something. Clothes in a dry-cleaning bag, a duffel, and a hat balancing on his fingertips. But it wasn’t just any hat. It was the same hat that the executive staff wore.
Will.
Executive staff.
No, it can’t be.
Eddie’s eyes shot to Will’s, and Eddie knew exactly who was standing before him. It served him right for missing the captain’s briefing for the incoming staff, listening to it being broadcast instead. He had a good excuse—an appointment with the on-board doctor to discuss Eddie’s severe nut allergy kept him indisposed.
“Captain Preston, my apologies. I didn’t.... How can I help you?” Eddie stuttered. Fuuuck. His first assignment on a cruise ship—Eddie’s dream after experiencing the best and worst of West End—and on the first day on board he was hitting on the bloody captain.God, could I be any more inappropriate?
“Eddie,” he murmured, looking oddly disappointed. He seemed to turn in on himself, to not stand as tall. Whatever spell had weaved itself between them, Eddie had broken it. “It’s okay. I’m just here to shower. I apologize for interrupting you. Please, continue.” He gave Eddie a small smile and took a step to the side to pass Eddie.
But Eddie couldn’t keep quiet. He couldn’t let the man pass him by without reaching for him. Brushing his fingertips over Will’s muscular forearm, Eddie swooned and asked the first thing that popped into his mind, “Why? I mean, why here? Why not your stateroom?”
“Shower’s broken. It’s only for tonight, though, I’m sure. I’ll be in and out before you know it. Please don’t let me stop you from continuing.” Will was so apologetic, and yet Eddie was convinced it should have been him begging for the captain’s forgiveness for his behaviour. Eddie may have been out of line, but there was no denying he’d acted on instinct to try to capture a moment of the gorgeous man’s time.
“No, sure. I understand.” Eddie smiled brightly and added, “I’m actually finishing up anyway. I’ll show you.” He pointed to the men’s room and moved forward, holding the door open for the captain.
“I don’t need formalities, Eddie. Not when it’s just us.” Will spoke quietly. When Eddie met his gaze again, his eyebrows furrowed, and Will shook his head and sighed, closing his eyes.
Eddie didn’t understand what he was saying. He was the captain of the ship; a position in which formalities were expected. But Will changed the subject before Eddie could ask.
