"In answer to your comment about not having seen me here before," Fallon said, "I lost my partner a couple of years ago. A fire at ISP headquarters. This was a place we used to come on our nights off when we were in this sector." He sighed and took another large sip. "I figured it's about time to be getting on with things."

That must be the sadness he'd seen in Fallon's eyes. Whoever the dead man was, Fallon must have really loved him to have stayed away for so long. His fingers tightened on his own glass.

"I'm sorry," he said finally.

Fallon nodded. "Thanks, Kenji." He sipped his drink, eyeing Kenji with a thoughtful expression. "May I ask you a personal question?"

Kenji's heart thumped, but he shrugged, trying to appear casual. He didn't know what else to do in his first real conversation with someone he was attracted to. "Sure."

The other man tilted his head. "You seem...different from the usual patrons here. You're more, um, refined. Are you..." he gestured toward one of the hustlers on the other side of the bar, a guy named Pieter.

Kenji blinked. "You mean a...hustler?"

Fallon grimaced. "Sorry. That was rude of me. I'm so out of practice."

He smiled. No insult there. The hustlers were more refined looking for the most part. It was the contrast between them and their roughneck clients that got them paid. "No. I'm a bartender here. For the last few months." He glanced down into his drink before continuing. "I usually leave after my shift, but I tonight I...was in the mood to hang around."

Fallon leaned a bit closer, bringing that great scent with him. The energy of his maleness so close sent shivers through Kenji's body, all the way to his toes. "I'm glad you waited, Kenji. I wouldn't have met you, had you left."

Kenji looked up. Again, Fallon was so close, their lips were mere inches away. Kenji caught himself tilting in closer.

"Jake Fallon, hey!"

Kenji jerked away. Bud had returned from the back room and now stood right behind Fallon, thumping him on the back in a rough greeting.

"Hi, Bud. Long time." Fallon swiveled on his stool and offered the other man his hand.

Bud pumped Fallon's hand and gripped his shoulder with his other hand. "Good to see you, man! Where ya been?" Before Fallon could answer, Bud turned a bemused look to Kenji then back. "You lucky fuckin' dog, Fallon! Kenji here doesn't let anyone within three feet of his fine little body." He winked in Kenji's direction. "I should know. I been trying to get him into bed ever since he showed up in this place. He resists me like the plague."

Kenji frowned at him, his cheeks burning. "Behave, Bud."

Bud grinned. "No hard feelings, Kenji. I know you been waiting for the right guy to come along." He winked at Fallon. "He doesn't come out and say that. It's just obvious." With a final shake of his head, he added, "You are in for a treat. Mm...mmm."

How humiliating. Unbearably so. What would Fallon think of him now? He didn't want to know. Best to get away. With a quick glance at Fallon, he mumbled, "Well, I gotta go."

Without giving Fallon a chance to react, Kenji slid off the barstool and started to jostle his way through the press of smelly male bodies. But before he got more than two steps away, a large hand closed gently on his shoulder, ushering him around to press lightly up against Fallon's broad front.

The corner of Fallon's lips turned up in a sexy way. "Slow down, laddie." His blue eyes searched Kenji's, as if trying to read his thoughts. "What is it? What Bud said?" His large hand squeezed his shoulder. "The guy is a bit of a wanker but he means well."

Kenji swallowed, finding it hard to speak for a second. He shook his head, trying to convey his agreement.

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. I can't think of any bloke who'd want to take him to bed."

Kenji had to chuckle and Fallon's answering grin made the remaining tension in Kenji's body relax.

The next second Fallon's grin evaporated and his eyes took on a serious look. "But, uh, if there's any truth in what Bud said, then I'm flattered." He squeezed Kenji's shoulder again, the touch like a warm brand passing right through his thin white shirt and onto his skin.

Kenji's good eyelid fluttered a bit as heat invaded his body.

Fallon's hand moved from Kenji's shoulder to his chin, chucking it. "So, do you like me enough to get out of here together?"