When their food arrived, Vic ate fast, hopingto avoid blowing up his food in the process. The fries weren’t aproblem—he popped them into his mouth a moment or two after pickingthem up. The barbecue was a little trickier. He held the sloppysandwich in one hand and every so often the next bite would be sohot, he’d have to set the bun down to avoid a scene. The last thinghe needed was a small explosion at his table, barbecue and coleslaw raining everywhere, the waitress rushing over to help themwith a bevy of napkins in one hand while passersby and otherpatrons gawked. A scant few people knew of his abilities, and hedidn’t plan to put on a floor show that evening if he could helpit.
Matt watched Vic eat, chewing thoughtfully,lust shining in his eyes. He was up to his second beer alreadywhile Vic nursed a warm, watered down soda that seemed incapable ofretaining ice. Vic knew his lover had a food fetish—he enjoyedwatching a man eat, for some strange reason. He’d admitted to Vicin the past that there was something erotic about watching the jawswork, the lips open, the teeth bite. Vic couldn’t imagine what thatsomething might be, and it could grow a little uncomfortable whenthey dined in public. Matt stared at Vic with such intensity, theirserver often hesitated to approach the table. When she finally didso, Matt never lifted his gaze from Vic’s. “Another beer,please.”
“That’s your third,” Vic pointed out.
Matt grinned as the server left to retrieveanother brew. “It’s okay. I’m not driving.”
Stopping in mid-bite, Vic asked, “Then whois?” Why didn’t they take his car in the first place?
Hearing that thought, Matt laughed. Beneaththe table, his foot nudged Vic’s. “You, silly. I’m drinking, you’redriving, remember? Unless you want to fly us home.”
Flight wasn’t in Vic’s arsenal of constantpowers, thank God. He hadn’t managed to draw that one yet.Oh, he’d developed a curious lack of gravity once or twice, andcould vividly recall the time they made love floating six feetabove their bed, but actual flight the way Superman did it, up upand away and all that crap, no. Vic didn’t think he’d enjoy thatpower too much. He imagined his face would look like the windshieldof his bus at the end of a long day—bugs splattered in his teeth,eyes dried out from the wind, bird shit staining the top of hisbald head. No, thank you. Besides, flying was probably the easypart. What happened when he wanted to come down?
Softly, Vic chastised, “You know I can’t dothat.”
Their waitress approached, a fresh glass oficy soda in one hand and Matt’s beer in the other. As she set thedrinks onto their table, Matt suggested, “I’ll make you fly, babe.We’ll fly so high, we’ll never come down. When we come—”
Vic cleared his throat and nodded at thewaitress, who ducked her head to stifle a giggle.
“What?” Matt looked around as if dazed andnoticed the waitress for the first time. Grabbing the fresh beer,he hid his own embarrassment behind the bottle and mumbled,“Sorry.”
“It’s cool, trust me. We get all types.” Sheflashed them a winning smile as she bent to retrieve the plate infront of Sadie. Matt had insisted the dog get a platter of pulledpork sans barbecue sauce and Sadie had licked the plateclean. “You fellas up for dessert?”
“Just the check, please,” Vic told her,suppressing a grin.
By the time the third beer was in Matt’ssystem, he had trouble standing. Vic untied Sadie’s leash fromwhere it had wrapped around the table legs, then held Matt’s chairout of the way as his lover tried to rise. With one hand holdingthe dog’s leash, Vic kept the other firmly under Matt’s arm so hewouldn’t tumble to the floor. Sadie led the way down the patiosteps to the sidewalk, Matt leaning heavily against Vic the wholeway. “I think I might be a little bit drunk,” Mattmurmured.
His breath was enough to make Vic’s headswoon. “You think?”
Matt laughed wildly and wrapped both armsaround Vic’s waist. Vic eased his arm around Matt’s shoulders,letting Sadie pull them down Cary toward their car. Though thesidewalk was a little crowded, Matt staggered so much, most peoplegave them a wide birth.
“I want you,” Matt sighed. He leaned heavilyagainst Vic, hands fisted in Vic’s shirt, breath hot along Vic’sneck. Warmth spread down Vic’s body, a line of heat stemming fromMatt’s touch, his closeness, his desire, igniting Vic’s libido.Licking out, Matt tongued Vic’s earlobe and they both stumbled.“Right here.”
“Not here. We’re almost at the car. Can youhold on two minutes?” Vic glared at the people they passed, daringsomeone to say something, but his fearful appearance deterred anycomment. He suspected they could get it on in the middle ofthe sidewalk if they wanted and no one would say a word.
But as much as he hated an audience, it tookall the strength he had to keep Matt’s hands from drifting belowhis belt. When Matt faked a grab at Vic’s crotch, Vic caught thathand in his.
“Mine,” Matt said, reaching for the front ofVic’s jeans a second time. “Let me…”
Brusquely, Vic spun Matt around, away fromthe storefronts toward the street. Matt gasped as Vic grabbed bothhis wrists and held them out at his sides. Somewhere far away,Sadie barked, but Vic barely felt her leash wrap around his legs asshe circled her owners. His glower darkened as he pinned Matt tothe side of a car and closed the distance that separated them. “Youwant me?” Vic murmured, his face in Matt’s. “You want a piece ofme? Is that it?”
With a nervous laugh, Matt admitted, “I wantall of you.”
A slow grin split Vic’s face, marring histerrible visage and softening
