Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

This time Jesse was the one being played. He knew it even though he couldn't find anything in Omar's manner to suggest it. Either the guy was super-smooth or he really was as naïve as he made out.
    "Oh, I should apologise if I didn't make much sense yesterday." The way he looked at his shoes, rocked back on his heels just a little, made Jesse think maybe, just maybe, he was as nervous as Jesse. "I've acclimatized a bit more today."
    "What, did you fly in from a higher altitude or something?" There was that smile again. It punched the air from Jesse's lungs and left him with his mouth hanging open. The world shifted around him, went hazy, then reformed brighter and clearer than before.
    "Something like that. Should we take our seats?"
    Swoon, he made me bloody swoon like a freaking princess. "Tickets are for the stalls. It means you get to see me dance again." Jesse winked, was rewarded with yet another blinding smile, and he was in big trouble. The first fluttering of something skittered across his chest making breathing difficult. He'd been worried since yesterday that he'd imagined the whole thing, that some old troll was going to turn up, but no, here was his Omar the Impossible, dressed to impress and tweaking the edges of Jesse's heartstrings.
    Jesse had spent far too long fretting that maybe Omar hadn't taken the hint that this was a date. Seeing him in tight leather trousers, a loose black linen shirt and artfully kohl-lined eyes, long black tresses mussed up to just the right degree to make him Ruben Cortada rather than Russell Brand made it very clear the message had been received and accepted. To test the point further, Jesse took hold of Omar's hand and squeezed. Omar stared at his hand in Jesse's as though it was somehow magic.
    "Is that okay?" Jesse asked.
    "It feels good." Another smile, the shy edge looked odd on such a hot creature.
    Jesse gulped. So much trouble . It was like high school all over again and his first date with Justin Murphy. So many feel good moments to that date. Jesse blushed just thinking about it. "It feels very good."
    ****
    Amazing didn't cut it. Having a date with Omar was better than the best. Every now and then, Jesse was sure more people were looking at them than the band on stage, and yet Omar's attention never wandered. Jesse felt wrapped up in his eyes and it made him bold. He writhed and shimmied and twisted his body to the music, and Omar smiled his breath-stopping smile, his eyes bright and intense. But the failsafe plan of dazzling the beefcake with radical dance moves didn't go quite as anticipated. Jesse sucked in a breath. A tired, achy breath. He'd imagined coming across as cool sexy, rather like Omar; instead, he was a hot, sweaty hyperventilating mess with a pinched sciatic nerve.
    "Jesse, are you okay? You look like you're in pain."
    "Thanks for that. Nothing like speaking your mind." Jesse regretted the sarcasm when Omar's brow wrinkled. "Hey, d'you have fun?" He tried to mop his brow artfully with the sleeve of his shirt but it crinkled and stuck to his skin.
    "I did. I like this music, and I like watching you dance."
    The smile was back, and Jesse's heart skipped. He reached out and twirled a finger in Omar's pristine locks. "Look at you, not a hair out of place. I look like a wreck."
    "I think you look great."
    He thinks I look great. Jesse launched himself at Omar, locking his lips to those rosy, plump… "Ow, what was that for?"
    Omar released the arm lock. "You tried to bite me." He looked shocked and a little shaky, a strong arm kept Jesse at bay.
    "I tried to kiss you. I think you broke my wrist." Jesse glanced around to see if anyone had noticed his faux pas. Only a few stares accompanied by whispers but his pride was still bruised.
    "A little warning might have been nice," Omar said, grabbing for Jesse's wrist and giving it a rub. "What on earth were you… wait, you were trying to…" He tilted his head to the side, looking a mixture of coy and confused. "Why?"
    "You stand there looking like the god of seduction and you're asking me why?"
    Omar stared. He looked genuinely mystified. So much for having taken the hint this was a real date. Jesse's cheeks burned. Acid flooded his throat. Tired, he was suddenly very tired. He pulled his hand away and took a step back. Where was a hole in the ground when you needed one?
    "You're upset," Omar said, reaching for Jesse's shoulder. "Is it me?"
    "My mistake." Jesse wrapped his arms tightly around his chest.