Incendiary Hearts

Chapter Eight

So here's the next chapter; a bit longer this time :) Please, remember to vote/comment if you like the story – it means the world to me!

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"No, I swear to God it wasn't a dress, it was a tank top."

"No, it was a dress," Michael stated calmly, smile all devilish.

Kevin gaped before finding his words, if only to repeat himself. "No, it was a big, black tank top!"

"Call it what you want, Kev, it still reached to your knees."

Kev. How long had it been since Michael had called him that? Kevin couldn't remember. But it made him feel exactly like it used to, hearing his nickname roll off Michael's tongue. All giddy and consumed with wanting. Even in this little argument of what Kevin had been wearing that time he'd been sneaking out of his parents' bedroom after finding a longer shirt, only to be caught red handed in the corridor by the two teasing young boys he always wanted to hang out with, it still made his heart ache in the most pleasurable of ways.

"I just wanted to try a longer shirt to sleep in," Kevin grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah, it was a dress but –" Michael held up a finger as Kevin was about to object again, "don't worry bout it, you looked cute either way," Michael winked before catching himself. He cleared his throat and looked away.

When Kevin didn't say anything, he sneaked a glance at him, only to be rewarded with a bright, pink color flowering Kevin's cheeks. It made Michael's courage reignite and grow, and finally allow him to ask the question he'd wanted to ask since they started jogging together. Maybe even earlier. He let his fingers trace the edge of his third glass of whiskey, hopefully appearing nonchalant "So... you seeing anyone?"

Kevin's heart skipped a beat, and he was momentarily tongue-tied. Had he just heard Michael correctly? Or was it a sentence conjured up by alcohol and wishful thinking?

When Kevin didn't reply, Michael looked up at him, only to have them lock eyes. Intense ones met surprised ones. And for a moment, in this momentary connection and intensity, time seemed to stand still. The rest of the world, the bustling surrounding in the bar, it all seemed to blur and recede as if they were never there at all. They became distant echoes, drowned out by the palpable silence that enveloped them, until the only thing that existed was the two of them. God, if Kevin could only put into words how he felt in that moment. How the neck of his hair rose. How goosebumps travelled across his arms like a wildfire. The deep, intense suction in his lower abdomen... each second felt like an eternity, and yet, it was over in an instant. He slowly shook his head no.

"Hm." Michael hummed with a nod and let his gaze sweep over the bar. "This is a nice place."

Kevin cleared his throat. "Yeah, we come here most weekends. It has a nice atmosphere."

"Agreed." Michael's gaze landed on the bartenders. "But I think it's time for us to leave."

Kevin looked at his watch and his eyes grew to the size of saucers. It was already past three in the morning. Wow, time really had moved fast, hadn't it? It was only then that he noticed the empty bar and the bartenders casting annoyed glares in their direction. Kevin hadn't even heard them call out for the last order! "Yeah, I guess it's time," Kevin tried not to seem as reluctant as he felt.

Michael emptied his glass, and they got out of the booth. But on their way out, Michael made a detour and slipped something in the tip jar. A generous amount, it appeared, since the bartenders glares turned into grateful smiles as they uttered their gratitude.