Page 20 of Edge

The waiter went behindthe counter and looked down at the dining register. “Hmm,” he saidthoughtfully. “I don’t appear to have the name down here. Could itbe in another person’s name perhaps?”

Damianswallowed. Please don’t tell me I’ve beenstood up in some sort of hoax. “Um, try myname. Damian Foyle.”

Again he waited and againthe waiter shook his head, looking up at him with an expressionfilled with sympathy, clearly empathising Damian had been letdown.

“I’m sorry,that name isn’t here either.” He ran his finger down the list.Damian took a deep breath.

I’ll give ita little longer, see if my date pitches up.

“Okay. I’m alittle early, I’ll wait at the bar. Thanks.”

He sauntered over to theright of the entry, trying to look nonchalant and not as if he’dbeen ditched. He ordered a beer, took a gulp, and watched thepeople lingering at the bar, talking quietly, laughing softly, andin one corner a couple was making out, a man cupping a woman’scheeks gently.

Damian looked away andpeered down at his watch. His glasses were steaming up from thewarmth of the restaurant, but he could make out it had turnedeight. He removed his glasses to polish them, then heard a familiarvoice from behind him.

“Good evening.I have a table booked in the name of Jasper Langenstein. Has myother party arrived yet, do you know?”

Damian turned in relief,then stood stock-still at the vision in front of him. Jory wore awhite rhinestone fedora and a pair of the tightest white chinosDamian had ever seen. His collared shirt was a startling royalblue, partially covered by a casual white rhinestone jacket thattwinkled. When he looked up and met Damian’s gaze, Jory grinned andthe world ceased to spin.

Fuck, he’swearing makeup on his eyes and he looks incredible. Jesus, how thehell did I get so lucky?

Jory waved a hand inDamian’s direction. “Don’t worry, I see my date lurking in the bar.I’ll fetch a drink then you can show us to our table.”

Jory swaggered over. “Youmade it. Hope you haven’t been waiting too long. I had to evade mybodyguard and half a dozen other people worried about my safety.”He made a delightful moue, his pink lips glistening with lip gloss.Damian could smell the sweet fruity scent. He wanted to kiss orlick the stuff off Jory’s mouth as an appetiser.

Jory chattered on as hegave his drink order to the bartender. “Tequila sour, please.” Hereached out a hand and brushed something off Damian’s shoulder.“Honestly, you’d think the whole fucking world was out to kidnap meand take me to their private dungeon.” He winked. “I mean, it allsounds pretty sexy, and I wouldn’t mind, but they worry about thewhole serial killer thing.”

Damian could imagineplenty of things to do to a sexy, captive man in a dungeon.Handcuffs and a whole lot of naked sprang to mind.

“Come on,let’s go sit down. I’m famished.” Jory took Damian’s hand as Damiangrabbed his drink and was pulled through the tables after thewaiter who’d mysteriously appeared as Jory got his tequilasour.

Their table was set backfrom other diners, giving a wide view of the restaurant whileaffording them a degree of privacy. Damian guessed Jory knew therestaurant setup and had specifically requested this corner so hecould be out of the public eye.

Damian sat down with Joryopposite him. The table was beautifully decorated in shades ofburgundy and rich cream with bronze and gold accents. In the middleof the table there was a delicate bouquet of mixed flowers matchingthe décor. Damian felt as if he’d stepped into an alternatereality. He’d never been to such a classy restaurant before andfelt rather out of place.

“You lookstunningly sexy,” Jory murmured as he toyed with his glass betweenhis long fingers. “You clean up well.” He removed his fedora andlaid it on the empty side of the table.

Damian cleared histhroat. “These old things? Pah.” He flashed a return grin at hisdining partner. “But thanks for the compliment. I would return thefavour, but I’m not sure I could. You look too fabulous to be real,and here with me.”

Jory’s eyes flasheddangerously. “I hope you’re not putting yourself down, honey.You’re a man anyone would love on their arm. If they don’t, theyhave no taste.” He waved a dismissive hand, showing artfullypainted dark blue fingernails. “Let’s get the food sorted then wecan chat properly.”

Damian nodded and pickedup his menu. Ten minutes later, their food ordered and a freshdrink in front of each of them, Jory leaned back in his chair andregarded Damian with sultry eyes.

“Sorry if Iforgot to tell you the name I booked the restaurant under. I use mymiddle name and birth name so it doesn’t stand out to potentialpaparazzi and the wankers who call them to tell them where I’llbe.” He shrugged. “Someone will eventually cotton on, but untilthen my nom de plume comes in handy.”

“JasperLangenstein?” Damian chuckled. “So you anglicised your surname toLongstone? And Jory Jasper, huh? Does anyone ever call youJJ?”

Jory narrowed his eyes.“Not if they want to live,” he retorted silkily. “JJ was for when Iwas a little kid. Not suitable for an adult.”

Note to self.Never call him JJ.

“So, I believeDave told you all about my hobbies.” Damian took a roll from thebasket and pinched off a bit. “What kind of things do you likedoing when you aren’t making music?” He popped the piece of breadinto his mouth and chewed. It was delicious, an herb-flavouredmorsel of heaven.

Jory pursed hisdelectable lips. “Not as exciting as yours apparently. I mean, comeon. Martial arts and motorbikes?” He grinned. “You’re a gay man’swet dream.” He sucked butter off his finger suggestively, finishingwith a pop. “Perhaps I should call you Daddy.” His eyes shone withamusement.

Damian’s face flamed, hisgroin warmed, and his pulse hammered at the look of appraisal inJory’s eyes.

“Oh no, pleasedon’t. I’m nobody’s daddy.” The waiter chose that moment to comewith their food and Damian blushed even more at the sly,speculative look in her eyes. “I mean, I love doing both things,they’re more of a passion than a hobby. In fact…”Time for a little payback of my own.He leaned into the table and reached over tocaress Jory’s cheek. “I’d love to take you for a ride sometime,feel you behind me as we corner, feel you lean into me and hold mywaist tightly. Perhaps you’d like that?” He relished the suddenlust that flickered in Jory’s eyes and pushed. “There’s somethingabout having a huge, powerful beast between your legs, thrummingdeep through your body that’s almost better than sex.”