Crossed Lines

Chapter One - The Perks of Consuming Alcohol

Dylan was already pretty buzzed when he saw him.

And then he couldn't stop staring.

He could blame it on the alcohol, pretend the drinks had blurred his judgment and made an otherwise ordinary man look irresistible. But deep down, he knew the truth.

His own lack of self-control was no one's fault but his own.

And, God, the guy was gorgeous.

His honey-brown hair fell just past his shoulders, slightly tousled in a way that looked entirely intentional. His light brown eyes matched it perfectly, warm and inviting, with a hint of mischief that made Dylan wonder what he was thinking. He wore a black lace button-down shirt paired with tight black jeans, the delicate pattern of the fabric offering glimpses of skin beneath without revealing too much.

But it was his smile that did the real damage.

There was something undeniably seductive about it. The way the corners of his lips curled as he chatted with the bartender, the playful glint in his eyes, the casual confidence with which he leaned against the counter. He didn't seem to be trying to attract anyone's attention.

Somehow, that made him even more attractive.

Dylan took another sip of his drink, his gaze drifting back to the stranger for what had to be the tenth time in five minutes.

Get a grip, man.

He was a grown adult, not a teenager with his first crush. He knew how to talk to attractive people. He was usually pretty good at it, actually.

So why was he sitting here like an idiot, watching a complete stranger smile at someone else?

As if sensing the weight of his stare, the man suddenly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Dylan froze.

The stranger's smile didn't disappear. If anything, it grew a little wider, his gaze lingering on Dylan's face with unmistakable interest.

Then he raised his glass in a small, almost teasing salute.

Dylan stared for half a second before lifting his own drink in response.

The stranger turned back to the bartender, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Dylan exhaled and dragged a hand down his face.

Oh, he was in trouble.

Dylan sat there for another five minutes, slowly nursing his drink.

He stole a few more glances toward the bar, hoping to catch another glimpse of the gorgeous stranger. Unfortunately, the man seemed to have disappeared.

Feeling a little disappointed, Dylan finally decided to call it a night.

He downed the rest of his drink, set the empty glass on the counter, and reached for his jacket.

"Going somewhere?"

A voice spoke from behind him.

Dylan turned.

Oh.

Oh.

It was him.

Up close, the man was somehow even more attractive. Dylan could see the subtle golden flecks in his light brown eyes, and his honey-brown hair framed his face in soft, unruly waves.

Dylan was beginning to think the universe had a rather cruel sense of humor.

"I'm Levi," the man introduced himself, offering a charming smile. "What's your name, cutie?"

Dylan felt heat creep up his neck.

"Um. Dylan."

"Dylan." Levi repeated it slowly, as though testing how it sounded on his tongue. "I like that."

Dylan had absolutely no idea what to say to that.

Levi seemed perfectly content with his silence. He stepped closer, close enough for Dylan to catch the subtle scent of his cologne.

"Well, Dylan," he murmured, leaning toward his ear. "How about we find somewhere else to chat?"

Dylan swallowed.

"I, uh..."

Say something. Anything.

"I have a girlfriend."

Levi pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes.

"Do you?"

Levi tilted his head. "Well, bring her."

"She's, uh... she's not here."

"Too bad." Levi shrugged, seemingly unbothered by that information. "I guess it's just you and me, then."

Before Dylan could come up with another excuse, Levi slipped his arms around his neck.

Dylan went completely still.

Levi was close. Way too close. The delicate lace of his shirt brushed against Dylan's arm, and those warm brown eyes were fixed on his with an intensity that made it difficult to remember how breathing worked.

"You're awfully quiet all of a sudden," Levi teased.

"You're standing very close."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Levi's smile widened. "Want me to move?"

Dylan opened his mouth.

He should have said yes.

He had a girlfriend. He was supposed to be going home. He had absolutely no business entertaining the idea of leaving a club with a man he'd known for approximately thirty seconds.

Instead, he looked into Levi's eyes and forgot every sensible thought he'd ever had.

"...No."

Levi's expression softened into something almost triumphant.

"That's what I thought, handsome."

And just like that, Dylan's plans for an uneventful night went straight out the window.

Somehow, Dylan found himself pressed against the brick wall in the back alley of the club.

He couldn't quite recall how they'd gotten there. One moment, he'd been standing at the bar, talking to a ridiculously attractive stranger. The next, Levi had taken his hand, flashed him that irresistible smile, and led him outside.

And now?

Now, he was kissing him.

Well, making out with him would probably be a more accurate description.

Levi's hands rested on either side of Dylan's face, his fingers slipping into his short brown hair as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Dylan barely had time to process what was happening before Levi's lips claimed his again.

God.

He was a good kisser.

An unfairly good kisser.

Dylan had expected a little flirting, maybe a kiss or two. He certainly hadn't expected to forget how to think the moment Levi's lips touched his.

The kiss began slowly, almost teasingly. Levi brushed his lips against Dylan's, pulling back just enough to make Dylan chase him before meeting him halfway again. There was a playful confidence in the way he kissed, as though he knew exactly what he was doing to Dylan and intended to enjoy every second of it.

And Dylan, apparently, had decided that self-control was a problem for another day.

He slid one hand around Levi's waist, drawing him closer, while his other hand settled against the small of Levi's back. Levi made a soft, pleased sound against his lips, and Dylan felt something in his chest give way.

That little sound was going to haunt him.

He kissed Levi harder, pouring all the attraction he'd been trying to ignore into the kiss. Levi responded immediately, one hand curling behind Dylan's neck as he leaned into him.

The music from inside the club throbbed faintly through the walls. Somewhere beyond the alley, cars passed and people laughed, carrying on with their ordinary Friday nights.

Meanwhile, Dylan was busy making what might have been the worst decision of his life.

Or the best.

He wasn't entirely sure anymore.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing a little harder.

Levi's hair had fallen across his face, and his lips were slightly swollen. He looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

Dylan stared at him.

Levi smiled.

Then he leaned in and stole another kiss.

And Dylan, who had already made a spectacular mess of his evening, kissed him right back.

Dylan was beginning to realize that kissing Levi had consequences.

Rather inconvenient ones, as it turned out.

With Levi pressed close against him, Dylan was painfully aware of just how little space remained between them. Levi seemed to notice his predicament, too, judging by the mischievous smile spreading across his face.

Then Levi's hand slipped beneath the hem of Dylan's shirt, resting against his waist.

Then, with one swift movement, Levi slipped his hand beneath Dylan's waistband.

Dylan let out a startled, embarrassingly breathless sound.

Levi immediately pulled back to look at him.

For a moment, he simply studied Dylan's flushed face. Then his eyes flicked downward before returning to Dylan's.

A slow grin spread across his lips.

"Look who's happy to see me," he teased.

Dylan's entire face went red.

"Oh, my God."

Levi tilted his head, his shoulder-length hair falling across one cheek.

"You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?"

"I'm not flustered."

"Of course not."

"Stop smiling like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know something I don't."

Levi's grin widened.

"Oh, Dylan." He leaned closer, his lips brushing the corner of Dylan's mouth. "I think we both know exactly what's happening here."

And before Dylan could come up with a suitable comeback, Levi kissed him again.

Naturally, Dylan forgot what he'd been about to say.

They kissed again, Dylan's hands settling on Levi's waist as he pulled him closer. Levi's hand remained beneath Dylan's waistband, keeping him deliciously distracted.

Every time Dylan thought he might finally regain some semblance of composure, Levi would tilt his head and kiss him a little deeper, and whatever coherent thought Dylan had managed to gather would promptly disappear.

Levi began moving his hand, and Dylan's brain promptly abandoned him.

Whatever thoughts he'd been attempting to hold on to vanished without a trace. He could barely remember his own name, let alone the perfectly reasonable arguments he'd had for going home alone tonight.

Levi pulled away from the kiss just enough to look at him.

"Where'd you go, handsome?"

Dylan stared at him, utterly speechless.

Levi's lips curled into a wicked smile.

"Oh, this is going to be fun.”

They kept at it for what felt like forever.

They kissed, Levi worked his magic, and Dylan repeatedly forgot how to function like a normal human being.

Every time Dylan thought he was getting his bearings back, Levi would flash him that infuriatingly beautiful smile before stealing another kiss, and just like that, Dylan's brain would clock out all over again.

At some point, Dylan had stopped pretending he was capable of resisting him.

Levi pulled back, brushing a strand of honey-brown hair away from his eyes.

He picked up the pace, and Dylan's head fell back against the brick wall.

"Levi—" Dylan gasped, his fingers tightening around Levi's shoulders. "I'm gonna—"

He never finished the sentence.

For one dizzying moment, the world seemed to dissolve around him, leaving nothing but sensation and the sound of Levi's name caught on his lips.

Then his vision went white.

Levi stayed close, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Well," he murmured, brushing Dylan's messy hair away from his forehead. "That was quite a reaction, handsome.”

Dylan leaned against the brick wall, trying to catch his breath while Levi took a moment to straighten his shirt and smooth his shoulder-length hair back into place. He looked entirely too composed for someone who had just thoroughly scrambled Dylan's brain.

Dylan, meanwhile, was still trying to remember how to function.

"So, uh..." He cleared his throat. "Do you... need me to... you know?"

Levi glanced at him.

For a second, Dylan wondered if he'd somehow managed to embarrass himself even further.

Then Levi chuckled.

"Nah. I'm too drunk for that."

"Oh."

Levi stepped closer, his expression softening into something less teasing. He cupped Dylan's cheek and leaned in for one last kiss.

Dylan kissed him back without hesitation.

This one was different. Slower, gentler, lingering just long enough for Dylan to forget that they were supposed to be strangers who'd met less than an hour ago.

When Levi finally pulled away, Dylan found himself following him unconsciously, reluctant to let the moment end.

Levi smiled.

"Nice meeting you, handsome."

And just like that, he turned and headed toward the club's back entrance.

He didn't even look back. He simply raised one hand and waved over his shoulder, his honey-brown hair swaying with each step.

Dylan remained against the wall, watching him disappear through the door.

He didn't know what to say.

He wasn't even sure what he was supposed to feel.

All he knew was that a man named Levi had just walked into his life, turned his brain to absolute mush, and left without even asking for his number.

Dylan stared at the closed door.

Then he let his head fall back against the brick wall.

"What the fuck just happened?”