Riley crossed his arms, eyes locked on Leo's face without a flicker of hesitation. If Ethan, the guy whose name he'd caught, was gorgeous, then this man in front of him was a full-blown Greek god carved to tempt mortals. Ethan gave off a dangerous vibe wrapped in sugar, tempting in a sweet way. But Leo? Leo looked like pure fucking trouble. Temptation itself.
Those smoldering eyes could catch you in their net and burn you alive. And those lips, Christ, lips that dared you closer, lips that promised you'd regret not tasting them. His vibe wasn't angelic–it was the kind of vibe that fit the devil in a tailored suit. Riley's gaze drifted down to Leo's hands. Hands that looked like they could make a man promise to beg for more.
He craved Ethan, sure. But Leo? He was obsessed with Leo. Not in a romantic, soft-focus way. No, this was the dirty kind of obsession, the one rooted in lust. The kind you knew damn well wouldn't be satisfied with a glance across a room.
Leo, on the other hand glared at Riley, wondering why the hell this guy was grinning at him like that. Every part of him was infuriating. That smile in particular made Leo's blood boil. He couldn't take standing there another second, couldn't stomach the smug look on Riley's face.
So, shifting half his body toward his friend, he snapped, "Ethan, let's go."
Ethan looked between the two of them knowingly. "You two… know each other?"
"No." Leo's reply came fast.
Riley chuckled at the abrupt refusal, shaking his head. "That's cold, sweetheart. We literally just met–what? An hour ago? Or have you already forgotten?" He raised his hands like he was gripping a steering wheel and made the sound: "Vroooom!" His grin stretched wickedly. "I defeated you on the track, remember?"
Leo's face darkened instantly. His jaw clenched so tight a vein pulsed down his forehead. His hand was twitching like he was one breath away from smashing it straight into Riley's smirk.
Behind them, Ethan's lips quirked in amusement. "So this is him? The guy you were talking about?"
Leo didn't answer, but his silence screamed yes.
"Oh?" Riley drawled, his grin widening. "Were you talking about me, sweetheart?"
That snapped Leo's last thread of restraint. He stepped forward, with his eyes blazing invisible flames, warning clear in every inch of him. He was already pissed from losing earlier, but this cocky bastard acted like they were friends, and now he was pushing it by flirting? Leo was seconds from violence.
But Riley only smiled wider, sweet danger meeting cold danger, the air thickening with heat neither of them was willing to back down from.
And then Riley tipped the balance. Boldly, he leaned in fast and pressed a kiss against Leo's temple, chuckling as he pulled back.
Leo went crimson with fury. He jerked his arm back, ready to strike, but Riley moved quicker. He caught Leo's wrist, spun him effortlessly, and exchange their standing positions.
Close to his face, Riley murmured, "I like your type…" He paused deliberately, letting tension hang heavy between them, before leaning near Leo's ear. His voice dropped, dripping with a taunt. "...the kind I get to tame."
Leo's breath came hot and harsh, a snarl twisting his lips. He lashed out with a kick, but Riley slipped away smooth as a devil recruiting a fresh soul.
Lastly, Riley shot a playful smirk over Leo's shoulder at Ethan.
"Find me later, love," he said with a wink before walking off, satisfied.
Leo stood there his chest burning with the need for revenge. "Asshole," he spat.
Ethan, however, was staring down the hall with parted lips, caught between awe and desire. "Yes… his asshole," he muttered, dazed. "Bet it'd be fucking good."
Leo spun around, disbelief flashing in his eyes at his so-called best friend. "That man just made me lose thousands of dollars, and you want to fuck him? Some friend you are."
Ethan shrugged, biting his lip, completely unrepentant. He placed a hand on Leo's shoulder. "Hey, man–it was just a race. You and I both know it's not about the money. You're pissed because you lost, not because of the cash." Ethan smiled knowingly, glancing back down the hallway. "And admit it, he's fucking hot. Irresistible. Daring. Exactly the type we both like. If you hadn't barged in, I'd probably be bending him over that sink by now."
"He doesn't look like the type to bend," Leo muttered before cursing himself silently for the slip.
"Oh?" Ethan teased. "So you admit he's charming and irresistible?"
"Shut the fuck up!" Leo roared his face flushed. "What's so charming about him? He's an arrogant bastard, full of himself. I don't want to see you with him. Otherwise, we're done being friends."
With that, Leo stormed off, muttering curses. "That asshole… targeting my friend deliberately. I'll make sure he fucking tastes his own medicine."
He walked back to the center of the club. The place had two floors: the upper for those who needed privacy and rooms, the lower for wild animals like Riley who thrived in noise and chaos.
Just as Leo was halfway up the stairs, chants roared from the lower floor.
"Riley! Riley! Riley!" Cheers and jeers followed.
Leo stopped his gaze snapping down. As he'd guessed, it was the same Riley again, of course. The bastard who never wasted a chance to rile him up since they met.
Now, surrounded by a circle of admirers, Riley was downing glass after glass of liquor, laughing like the world belonged to him.
Unconsciously, Leo gripped the railing with both hands, as his eyes locked on Riley. From above, he studied him, unwillingly captivated. If not for the feud between them, he might've admitted the truth. That Riley was desperately and maddeningly hot. He was good. More than good.
Leo frowned at the thought and snapped himself back. Then he spotted Ethan making his way toward Riley's group. Then Riley's last words in Leo's head: Find me later...
"I'll kill you today, Ethan," Leo muttered under his breath, anger rising hot.
He pushed through the crowd, trying to reach Ethan before he got there, but the crush of bodies slowed him. Ethan slipped through and reached Riley's table first.
At the table, Riley smirked the second he saw him. "That was fast," he said sliding space open.
Ethan grinned, replying, "Couldn't wait to see you again."
The guys at the table whooped. Tony whistled. "You're bad, Chen. When the fuck did you charm a hottie like this? I want one too." He looked Ethan up and down, already half gone.
"Just close your eyes and dream. You'll see him there," James snorted.
"Who says I can't? Woah... someone hold me!" Tony exclaimed as his eyes caught something behind Ethan. "I think I'm dreaming already. Is that freaking hot guy looking at me? Oh shit! He's coming here."
Everyone turned toward the direction. All their expressions shifted to mirror Tony's. The only ones who didn't gape were Riley, who raised a brow with interest, and Ethan, who looked stunned if not shocked.
Leo had arrived. He slipped in between Tony and James, a smile cutting across his lips. He greeted the guys smoothly, but pointedly ignored Riley and Ethan. "Hello, mind if I join the fun?"
Tony nearly fainted on the spot, but managed to stay upright long enough to hand Leo a shot. They clinked glasses and tossed them back. "Name's Tony."
Leo's smile widened with a glint in his eye. "You can call me…" He paused, leaning close enough Tony could feel the heat of his breath. "…Leo."
Tony swayed, dizzy, but Leo's arm wrapped around his waist and steadied him. "Careful, you might hurt yourself," Leo murmured.
Tony gulped his face red and hot as hell fire. The man was a flirt by nature, but faced with Leo openly turning the heat on him, his legs went jelly. Who the fuck wouldn't?
"Thank you… Leo," Tony whispered with a low and shaky voice.
"Leave the poor boy alone, Leo," Ethan cut in, laughing.
Leo didn't even glance at him. "He doesn't look like he wants to be left alone. Do you, Tony?"
Tony froze, trapped in Leo's gaze. Like hypnotized, he whispered, "Whatever you want, Leo. I'm yours tonight and... forever."
James groaned. "Fuck's sake, he's drunk again. I wanna go home, Riley." He already knew he'd be the one stuck babysitting Tony later, and it wasn't easy work.
"I don't mind taking care of him tonight," Leo said, eyes sliding toward James.
Tipsy James grinned, bowing slightly. "Then I'll leave him to you."
He turned to walk off, but Riley's voice cut off his happiness.
"James."
James shut his eyes, face twisting with dread before turning back. "No, Riley. Not tonight."
"Take him," Riley ordered anyway with a serious gaze, though his lips were still curved up.
James pouted, lips pushing out in defeat. "Fine. But if I die, my death's on you." He sighed at Leo. "Some other time, man."
Leo just smiled, steadying Tony, who was now lost in some drunken fantasy.
Wrapping an arm firmly around him, James led him off.
Meanwhile, Riley glanced at the remaining guys. "Next time." They nodded and trickled away, leaving only Riley, Ethan, and Leo.
Riley's grin twisted, not amused this time, but somehow dangerous. Without a word, he grabbed Leo by the collar and dragged him off, leaving Ethan standing stunned.