"Cheers!"
Michael led the second toast of the night, clinking glasses with James and herself. Fine wine warmed her from the inside out, lightened her body like a feather. Not too much, the perfect amount of tipsy. It empowered her eyes to wander more than usual.
Kitchen light bounced off James' high cheekbones. Michael's long fingers wrapped around his wine glass. The meat being served was not the same meat she kept thinking about.
"The two of you make a gorgeous couple. The rest of the team had a bet going, of how long it would take."
Michael grinned, mischief simmering beneath it. "I won, by the way"
"Sheesh," James ran a hand over his reddening face. "How much?"
"Enough for this well aged vintage." He swirled the wine in his glass.
It's true, getting together with James took time. Will they, or won't they? It played out obviously enough for the rest of Team Michael to bet on it. Not so obvious however, was the reason it took so long.
A phone's ring interrupted the conversation. Michael glanced away from her, and stood from the table.
"Sorry, I should take that. Excuse me for a moment."
Once she was confident Michael was out of earshot, she hid part of her face behind a protective hand.
"Oh my God, that's embarrassing."
James radiated a warmth, a soft constant, that always sent her heart racing. This time was no different, not with how he took that protective hand in his own.
"Don't hide your pretty face from me."
"Ugh," she whined.
Her boyfriend turned to her, putting his free hand on her thigh and giving it a soft squeeze. The simple contact shot warmth straight up her leg, to the space between her thighs.
"Don't do that!"
Dark eyes flicker up and down her body.
"One glass of wine made you horny?"
"It's not only that. It just doesn't help, y'know? Being alone with both of you-" she trailed off.
James flashed a smile. "Mike does look really good tonight."
"Right?? He's so hot, it's not fair."
A sigh escaped her lips, at the same time she came to a realization.
"Were you scoping him out too?"
The break of eye contact and the way his smile widened gave him away. This was what held up the relationship in the first place, confusion over a shared attraction to someone who was neither of them.
Instead of squeezing her thigh again, James settled for stroking it with his thumb.
"I was wondering how many dates he takes back here, to his house. He definitely knows how to entertain guests."
"If he takes dates back home, then-" she bit her lip, "I've heard enough rumors. He definitely knows how to fuck."
The man's reputation precedes him in multiple senses, enough that she'd heard of his charm before meeting him. James laughed, a quiet snicker.
"Do you want us to take lessons?"
The idea brought heat to her face and she rolled her eyes, if only to avoid the gravitating eye contact.
"Maybe. Like that would ever happen."
"I'm flattered, truly."
Both practically jumped out of their skin, startled by Michael's sudden reappearance. He leaned against the kitchen door frame, arms crossed and head tilted. The smile on his face was catlike, equal parts charm and ego.
If she could magically disappear, she would. While she managed an embarrassed squeak, James found his words.
"How much did you hear?"
His pink tongue darted out, swiping over his lips.
"Enough."
She looked to the floor, silently panicking as Michael's shoes came into her view. He pulled out the chair next to hers.
"I've had my fair share of experiences, if that's what you're wondering."
He sat, and she was torn about what to do. Does she go for it, how does James feel? Was Mike even interested, or was he just reveling in the spotlight?
Thankfully, James spoke. "I thought so, since you're older y'know? More time for picking up babes."
"Babes, men, it doesn't really matter. Whoever peaks my interest."
He huffed a laugh. "And I'm not that much older than you. I could show you a thing or two."
Before she could digest the offer, he reached out and lifted her chin with one pointer finger. Michael wasn't going to let her hide from the conversation.
"Do you want that?"
One shared glance of excited disbelief with her boyfriend was all it took. She looked back at Michael, swallowed by an intoxicating magnetism that's distinctly him.
"We do."
He hummed.
"Good. Let's start with the basics. Can I kiss you?"
"Please."
Long fingers tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Slowly, sweetly, Michael leaned forward to capture her lips. It wasn't needy or desperate, just a steady burn. He cupped one cheek, one kiss turning to two and then three.
"Damn," James whispered.
Despite the multitude of kisses she'd had in her life, none were quite like this. Sweet, tender, with a titillating promise of filth hidden in the way he lingered. No tongue, he didn't need it to reduce her to putty. When he pulled away he took her ability to speak, supporting her with the warmth of his smile.
This man definitely knows how to fuck.
"Is there anything you explicitly don't want, anything that makes you uncomfortable?" He addressed both.
"No bathroom stuff in the bedroom." James crossed his arms.
"And only do something up to three times or more than five."
Michael laughed after a short pause, borderline dorky enough that it startled her.
"Reasonable, alright. And you?"
"I'm not really sure. I just wanna feel good, y'know?"
"Oh, that's a given."
His hand left her face to trail down her neck.
"Let's go up to the bedroom."
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected this, and following him upstairs with her boyfriend in tow invoked weightlessness. Breathless, walking on air with her heartbeat thundering between her thighs.