Free The Farther I Fall by Lisa Nicholas Page B

followed her lead, keeping his hands to himself—for now.
    Lucas turned to say something to Maggie, but she was gone, threading through the crowd back to their table. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see a guy almost too pretty to be real, with a pouty pair of lips and heavy-lidded blue eyes lined in smudged black. He was wearing one of Lucas’s concert T-shirts a size too small and a ripped pair of skintight jeans. “Looks like you lost your partner,” he said with a tip of his head.
    What the hell. Lucas gave him a smile in return. “Not if you’re volunteering.” They started dancing together, and he slithered against Lucas. Lucas slid his hand around to press firmly in the small of the man’s back, keeping him there. He pulled him close and their eyes locked as they started to circle together, hips pressing. “What’s your name?”
    â€œLiam,” he said, probably lying through his teeth, but that was fine. A glance over Liam’s shoulder confirmed that Gwen had spotted them, so he turned his attention to Liam. He leaned in and spoke in his ear. “Nice name. I’m guessing I don’t have to tell you who I am.”
    Liam shook his head and grinned. Any other time, Lucas would already be looking for an excuse to drag him off the dance floor to find someplace a little more private. Guys like Liam had always been his weakness. He was pretty, probably a little bit high, and one hundred percent trouble. Lucas could smell it on him, along with the scents of clean sweat and faint cologne.
    If he got Liam alone, they’d have frantic, enjoyable sex in a corner somewhere, he’d probably offer Lucas some of whatever he’d been taking, and the whole thing would end up in a hotel room (maybe his, maybe not) with him snorting coke off Liam’s chest.
    Liam grabbed a handful of Lucas’s ass, and Lucas rested his chin on his shoulder. Sure he was turned on, but distracted too. Gwen and Lee had their arms around each other, and as he watched, she pulled him down and kissed him.
    Damn it.
She looked over, and when she realized he was watching, quickly turned away. Fine. He was Lucas Wheeler, for god’s sake—he never had to go home alone if he didn’t want to. And right now, he didn’t want to. He slid one hand around the back of Liam’s neck and tilted his head so he could kiss that full, inviting mouth.
    It didn’t have to end the way it always did before. It wasn’t like he could go through the rest of his life and never have sex again for fear of using drugs. He had to learn to disassociate the two, and he could start right here.
    The return kiss was eager but not too eager, and Lucas felt a tingle of desire starting in his belly. They parted, but before Lucas could say anything, Maggie popped around his shoulder and said brightly, “Lucas, you weren’t going to share? You greedy thing.” She batted her eyelashes at Liam, who lit up like a goddamn pinball machine, looking between Lucas and Maggie.
    Maggie had other ideas, and she pushed Lucas away as the songs changed. “Go find another partner.” Her eyes flicked over to Gwen. “I’m stealing this one for now.”
    Lucas caught her by the arm and leaned down to whisper, “Subtle, Creighton. Real subtle.”
    â€œYou are not going home with a club kid groupie. When has that ever ended well for you?” She shooed him away and turned to smile at Liam.
    The new song was slow and dark, bass and drums punctuated by the singer’s growls and gasps. Lucas made his way over to Gwen and Lee. “Mind if I cut in?”
    Gwen glanced at Lee, who shrugged. “Okay,” she said. Two bright spots of color glowed in her cheeks; she was a little drunk. He hadn’t seen her like this before, relaxed and warm and loose-limbed. “Shall we?”
    â€œSure,” he said, and she stepped into his arms. He wrapped an arm around