***
“Just let me know whenever you need me to punch his lights out, bro,” Ty muttered to Chris. “You know I won’t hesitate.”
Chris couldn’t suppress his amused chuckle at Ty’s words. “No offense Ty, but this guy can beat you to a pulp within seconds.” The pride in Chris’ voice couldn’t be masked.
Ty sniggered, turning to look in Shane’s direction with an impressed glint in his eyes. “A badass huh?”
“Gentle, but deadly,” Chris murmured.
Ty nodded. “My kinda guy. I like him, Chris. And it’s obvious he’s crazy about you. Alright, how about waving my gun in his face?” Ty turned back to Chris. “Surely that can work.”
Chris laughed. “Yeah right. As if a SEAL would threaten a civilian. Besides, I know you’re partial when it comes to your ‘black brothers’.” Chris said, giving the phrase quotations with his fingers.
“Ow come…”
“Dude, you’re a white boy who decided to call himself Ty instead of Tyler, your God-given name…just to blend in with your ‘black brothers’ on a basketball court. Go figure.”
Chris shook his head in amusement at Tyron. Ty would never try to intimidate someone like Shane.
“Wait till he hurts you, Chris,” Ty growled. “Then you’ll see a totally different side of me.”
“At ease, soldier.” Chris chuckled. “He’ll never hurt me,” Chris said with all confidence.
“Good. He had better not.” Ty said, standing up. “Going for a beer. Want one?”
“Sure,” Chris said turning to watch Aaron make his way to his side.
They were in Damon and Tristan’s house for their usual Saturday get-together, which Chris hadn’t attended in a while because he’d wanted to spend time with Shane. Damon’s huge basement had been converted into a plush fun room for the squad’s enjoyment. Talk of a posh state-of-the-art game room! Not too loud music, pool table, video games, a well-stocked bar with a professional mixer behind ready to give anyone what they requested, a huge projected screen on which the Champions’ league was showing, and a lavish spread of assorted food on a long table. It was the place to be.
So far, Shane had hit it off with the guys which thrilled Chris to no end. Though there was a subtle show of respect when the guys interacted with Shane, they treated him like ‘one of the guys’ and that was something Chris was very happy about. He didn’t blame the guys for showing Shane some respect. The guy commanded respect without making any effort so it was only to be expected.
“Hey,” Aaron said flopping down beside Kyle on the couch. “Someone must have blown someone’s mind with mouthwateringly good sex.” He murmured.
“What?” Chris turned to look at Aaron’s face which had a smirk in place.
“He can’t stop looking at you,” Aaron stated the obvious, making Chris automatically turn to look at where Shane sat, playing poker with Damon, Matt, Cole, and Michael. “If only he could concentrate, he would take those assholes to the cleaners.” Aaron continued in a teasing voice. “But he can’t keep his eyes off you so he’s losing. I know that look. You must be doing a really good job, boss.”
Chris almost groaned when his eyes clashed with Shane’s. “Fuck.” He muttered.
“I know right,” Aaron said dryly. “But by that suggestive word…do you mean you wanna fuck him or he wants to…”
“Shut up, Aaron,” Chris growled just as Ty got back to their side with two bottles of beer.
“There you go.” Ty handed over a bottle to Chris but before he could get a good grip on the bottle, Aaron snatched it and started drinking it to Tyron’s amusement and Chris’ annoyance.
“Why did I give you that raise again?” Chris asked with a mock scowl on his face.
Aaron turned to look at Chris as though he’d suddenly sprouted horns. “You know why,” Aaron murmured cockily. “And also because you love me.” He added confidently, drawing a snort from Chris. “Shane is gorgeous, man.” He added, licking his lips suggestively just to get a rise out of Chris.
“Hey, go check out your own man and leave mine alone, dickhead.” Chris growled, smacking Aaron upside the head and drawing laughter from Tyron.
“This idiot has always had an eye for good things, Aaron,” Ty smirked, turning his gaze on Shane. “You can never go wrong with that face. Listen, guys, when you want a relationship with someone, the trick is to make sure you can get off just by imagining their faces when they’re nowhere near you. The look on a beautiful face when the owner is in the throes of passion is just…” Ty moaned as he shook his head. “Some faces sure look downright ugly when they’re coming, trust me.” By then, Chris and Aaron were screaming with laughter. “Trust me guys, I know what I’m talking about,” Ty added joining in the laughter.
“Care to tell the rest of us what has you idiots in stitches?” Dean bellowed from his spot behind the pool table where he was playing against Kyle.
“Now, that’s a face you’ll definitely wanna cover-up during sex,” Ty muttered, looking at Dean.
Aaron laughed so hard he started coughing. “Fuck you, Ty. That’s so not true.”
Ty shrugged. “He called us idiots.”
“Yes he…”Chris started but trailed off when Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ blasted through the speakers. “What the…”
Everyone turned to see Tristan, wielding two microphones and dancing his arse off. Chris shook his head in amusement when Ty stood up and started dancing too. Then of course Dean had to join in, using his stick as a microphone.
“Okay guys, I’ll be Pharrell today,” Cole shouted, leaving the poker table to snatch a microphone from Tristan. And when he started going… “hey, hey, hey”, everyone erupted into laughter.
***
Shane looked at the scene unfolding right before his eyes and couldn’t help the laughter that tore out of his throat. “Damn, you guys are crazy.” He gushed, making Damon laugh.
“I like to think Chris, Kyle, and myself are the only sane people amongst this squad.” Damon chuckled. Almost all the guys were dancing. The only people who were still seated were himself, Shane, Chris, Aaron, and Kyle who was sitting on the pool table, bobbing his head to the song. “And trust my silly husband to turn it into a karaoke.” Damon drawled when the instrumentals of the song started blasting out even louder. “Get ready Shane. They’re going to rope you into it any moment from now.”
Damon groaned when as if on cue, they saw Tristan making a beeline for where he and Shane still sat around the poker table, watching what looked almost like a dancing competition. And when Tristan got to them and flicked his forefinger back and forth, indicating that Shane come to him, Damon burst into laughter.
“Dude, you better go.” Damon told Shane. “My husband doesn’t take no for an answer.”
With a pitiful moan, Shane stood up and started towards Tristan. Much as he couldn’t dance to save his life, he knew how to sing most songs from beginning to end… ‘Blurred Lines’ included. He knew his safest bet was to sing…to avoid being made to dance. Shane reached out and took the microphone from Tristan and started singing the second verse…
“What do they make dreams for
When you got them jeans on
What do we need steam for…”
All the guys shouted… “You the hottest bitch in this place”
Shane shrugged and smoothly sang the next line.
“I feel so lucky
You wanna hug me
What rhymes with hug me?”
Chris couldn’t believe what was happening. He couldn’t believe Shane was being such a good sport. The guys were obviously having a ball. And when Shane turned in his direction and sang in a deep voice… “I know you want it”, the place was in an uproar.