Self Preservation by Ethan Day Page A

long, lean body, accented by dark hair and dark eyes. Davis estimated his age at thirty-seven, give or take. While he was impeccably dressed in a dark suit, he somehow projected an ease, a casualness. Davis smiled at him, admiring the dichotomy.
     
    “I'm…”
     
    “Yes, I know,” Alex said with a sly smile. “I asked around about you at the party.”
     
    “Really? And what did you discover?” Davis asked as he turned to move forward in the line.
     
    “I'm ashamed to report, other than your name, nothing.” Alex lightly touched Davis on the arm and added, “Which has made you all the more appealing.”
     
    Davis laughed as two guys passed through the line, knocking him face first into Alex. He caught Davis to keep him from falling. Feeling Alex's hand on his ass, Davis grabbed his shoulder, pulling himself back up. The two men laughed as they looked back.
     
    “I'm fine…thanks.” Davis shot them a nasty look as the guys walked off without so much as an apology. “Rude fuckers.”
     
    Alex laughed as he smoothed out Davis's jacket. “That filthy mouth of yours is delightfully charming.”
     
    “Well, I aim to please,” Davis said, still irritated.
     
    “Really?” Alex asked, looking into Davis's eyes entirely too seriously. “I think I'm in love.”
     
    Davis paused for a moment before laughing. “Do guys actually fall for that?”
     
    “No go, huh?” Alex asked with a frown. “Bollocks.”
     
    “Has that ever worked for you?”
     
    “Yes, actually… I've found most men find me utterly irresistible.” Alex placed a hand on his stomach and added, “Especially when I'm making an ass out of myself.”
     
    “I'll have to get back to you on that one,” Davis said, a little unsure what to make of him, even though he loved the way the word ass sounded in Alex's accent.
     
    “Wise decision,” Alex said, stepping forward as they were now only one person away from the bar. “It's good not to make snap judgments. And fear not, I have a wide range of ass-like behavior with which to impress.”
     
    “As well as a fondness for the word ass ,” Davis said, raising his eyebrows.
     
    “Yes,” Alex said with a devious grin, “and you seem partial to the word fucker . Together we make ass fu —”
     
    “All righty.” Davis scowled, patting Alex on the chest. “I think I get it.”
     
    “See how utterly perfect we are for one another?” Alex asked earnestly. “You…complete me.”
     
    Davis smiled despite himself as he turned to order a martini and cosmopolitan from the bartender for himself and Deseree. He paused momentarily and rolled his eyes before turning to ask Alex what he would like to drink.
     
    “I'll have a dirty martini as well.” Alex grinned. “Thank you.”
     
    “What's going on here?” Deseree asked, unnoticed by Davis until that moment.
     
    “Deseree, meet Alex. He's an ass man.”
     
    “I'm kinda partial to a nice ass myself,” Deseree said, smiling.
     
    Alex pointed to Deseree and ran his finger up and down in the air over her frame. “Loving you.”
     
    “Yeah, well…what's not to love?” Deseree said, staring longingly at her drink as she took it from Davis.
     
    Davis picked up the remaining two martinis and handed one to Alex. The three of them got out of line and moved over to occupy three bar stools to the right. Davis spotted Jack and Tadd walking through the bar and set his glass down in front of Deseree.
     
    “Will you two excuse me for a minute?” He left without waiting for a response.
     
    Tadd and Jack were standing in the middle of the club talking to an older gentleman. The three of them laughed as Davis joined them.
     
    “Hey, you two,” Davis said, smiling.
     
    “You made it,” Jack said, placing a hand on Davis's shoulder.
     
    “Of course, Jack.” Davis shot a wink at Tadd. “Thanks for the invite.”
     
    “No problem, Davis.” Tadd placed his arm around Jack's waist. “It'll give you two a chance to catch