Darwin's Natural Selection (6 page)

Anne laughed. “Please. He was barely able to keep from climbing into your lap during dinner.”

“Fuck,” Tom groaned under his breath.

Grabbing Darwin’s hand, he hauled him away from the table, tossing a final “Bye!”

over his shoulder. Darwin allowed himself to be towed out of the restaurant, amused by the siblings’ interaction and enjoying the press of Tom’s palm against his for the short time it took for Tom to realize what he was doing and drop Darwin’s hand.

They collected their coats and Darwin linked his fingers with Tom’s again.

Although he allowed it for a few moments, once they stepped outside into the dark chill of the evening, Tom pulled his hand free.

Darwin reluctantly let the contact disappear.

“So…”

Tom’s panic was building again. Darwin could see it in the way the corners of the other man’s mouth tightened, the way his eyes went wide and dark. He looked hunted, waking Darwin’s instinctual need to chase, to pounce and devour.

Shoving down that urge, ashamed that Tom’s fear brought out such primitive hunger in him, Darwin took a deep breath and tried to regroup. “You okay to drive?”

he asked, his voice roughened by need.

Tom must have caught the hungry edge in Darwin’s tone, because he swallowed and his breathing sped up. Darwin bit back a groan, closing his eyes for a moment to get his body back under control.

“Yes,” Tom answered, rushing out the word. “I…ah, only had a glass and a half of wine and a lot of food so…um, well, yes.”

The quick patter of his words matched Tom’s heartbeat and Darwin leaned closer, wanting this man more than anything.

“I don’t… I-I mean, I can’t…” Tom stuttered, leaning away as he stared at Darwin’s mouth.

“Right.” Darwin ran a hand over his face in a brisk sweep, bringing himself back to reality. “Where are you parked?”

Tom stepped back as his eyes went even wider. His mouth opened but nothing emerged,and Darwin knew he’d unintentionally scared the words right out of his date. Again.

“I’ll just walk you to your truck,” Darwin reassured him. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I promise.” He gave the man a smile, hoping to get one in return, but Tom flushed and dropped his gaze instead.

“Sorry,” Tom muttered. “You must think I’m a freak.”

“Nope.”

After a quick glance at Darwin’s face, Tom relaxed enough to give him the slightest ghost of a return smile. “My truck’s over there.”

“Well then…” Darwin gestured toward the vehicle. “Shall we go? Unless you’re waiting for me to cover that puddle with my cape or something.”

“Yes, actually.”

Darwin did a double take and then laughed out loud. “Sorry. I’m capeless.”

“Never apologize for that,” Tom said.

“Capes are creepy.”

“You don’t like capes?” Darwin debated throwing an arm around the other man but decided not to press his luck.

“Hate ‘em,” Tom admitted. Although there was a remaining trace of shakiness in his voice, he sounded almost back to normal.

“I think because they remind me of magicians.”

Darwin gave an exaggerated shudder.

“Magicians…ugh. There’s something just not right about some guy pulling a rabbit out of somewhere a rabbit shouldn’t be in the first place.”

At that, Tom actually laughed, showing off his dimples again. Darwin resisted the urge to kiss that tempting, happy mouth.

With great effort, he tore his gaze away from Tom’s face and focused on a streetlight pole.

He cleared his throat.

“Capes make
me
think of superheroes.”

Despite his best efforts at sounding casual, Darwin’s voice had gone growly again. He could almost feel the other man’s nervous glance.

After a pause, Tom responded, “That’s better than a magician, I guess.”

They reached the truck and Tom pulled his keys from his pocket, playing with them nervously. Darwin knew their date was coming to an end, so he hurried to say something to delay the moment he had to walk away from this man.

“I think you’d look good in a cape, Super Cooper,” he teased. “You could have a ‘C’

embroidered on it and wear your underwear over some tights.”

“When you put it that way,” Tom said dryly, “a superhero doesn’t sound any better than a magician.”

With a laugh, Darwin said, “Oh c’mon. I bet tights would really accentuate your quads.”

Tom groaned. “Great. And what’s my super power? Freezing in the face of danger?

Snapping at innocent restaurant employees who try to take my cape? Running away while shrieking like a girl?”

Taking a step closer, Darwin lowered his voice. “Your power is making Construction Man—that’s me—powerless to resist you.”

Tom inhaled, hard and suddenly. It must have sucked all of his words down to the deepest part of his chest because, except for his thundering heartbeat and the fast push-pull of his breathing, he was quiet. Darwin couldn’t tell how much of the other man’s reaction was desire and how much was flat-out fear, especially since his own blood was roaring in his ears.

When he realized that a small part of him didn’t care, he jerked out of his lust-filled trance and took a half step back.

His movement must have startled Tom, who dropped his keys. Darwin automatically bent to pick them up just as Tom did the same and the back of his skull connected with Tom’s forehead. They both yelped and popped up, rubbing the contact points.

“You okay?” Darwin asked, pulling Tom’s hand out of the way so he could examine the man’s forehead.

“Sure,” Tom said, allowing him to look.

“It didn’t really hurt. Just startled me.”

“Sorry.” Darwin brushed his lips against the red spot above Tom’s right eyebrow. He didn’t even realize what he was doing until he heard Tom gasp as Darwin’s lips made contact with his skin. He allowed his lips to linger, finding even just this innocent touch incredibly arousing.

Forcing himself to pull away, he crouched down and picked up the keys.

Standing up again, he placed them in Tom’s hand and curled his fingers around them gently.

“Thank you,” Tom rasped and then cleared his throat. “For everything. Tonight went much better than I’d expected.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Darwin said, keeping his hand wrapped around Tom’s fist. “I had fun.” He stroked his thumb over the fingers holding Tom’s keys.

“Would you…” Tom nibbled on the corner of his lip, bringing all of Darwin’s blood rushing to his head. “I mean…” He trailed off again, looking around. “Here.”

Tom led him to the back bumper of his truck. “Would you mind sitting there?”

Darwin had a feeling he knew what was coming and the anticipation dried up all of his words, so he just obeyed quietly, perching on the edge of the bumper and bracing his feet against the asphalt.

Tom stepped between Darwin’s legs, moving closer until their faces were only inches apart. In this position, Tom was the taller one, for once.

Darwin couldn’t look away as Tom shifted even closer, until his quick breaths brushed Darwin’s parted lips. When Tom’s lips met his, barely touching, Darwin’s hands closed into fists as he fought the urge to yank the man against him and take over the kiss. He knew if he did that, however, this incredible moment would end, so he managed to remain still.

His restraint was rewarded as Tom pressed closer, his lips parting just enough for a shy flicker of his tongue against Darwin’s mouth. That almost broke him, and a faint groan escaped. He started to lock his hands around the underside of the bumper but caught himself in time.

Wouldn’t do to rip off Tom’s bumper with his bare hands. Instead, he dug his fingertips into his palms and allowed Tom to kiss him.

The pressure of the kiss increased as Tom grew braver. His tongue explored Darwin’s mouth and one hand curled tentatively around his neck. Unable to remain still, Darwin met Tom’s tongue with his own, touching and playing, caressing and then retreating, until Tom followed his lead and was kissing him in earnest.

It was too much.

Darwin locked his hands on Tom’s hips and yanked him against him, lifting the other man off his feet as he stood and turning to pin Tom against the back of the truck. He leaned in to kiss him—but stopped before their mouths could connect.

Tom looked as if he was going to puke.

Even in the bad parking-lot lighting, he was a greenish shade of pale.

“Shit.” Darwin detoured away from his goal of Tom’s mouth and rested his forehead on the other man’s shaking shoulder instead.

“I just fucked that up, didn’t I?” He could hear Tom’s teeth chattering. Closing his eyes for a second, he groaned as he stepped back and carefully lowered Tom to the ground.

“Okay?”

Tom just stared at him, the brown irises of his eyes lost in the black holes of his dilated pupils.

“Sorry, baby,” Darwin said, unable to resist caressing Tom’s cheek. The other man flinched back from his touch. Although he wanted nothing more than to hug the terrified guy, Darwin knew that wouldn’t help matters. Instead, he forced himself to take another step back, ready to catch Tom if he fell over. He watched him closely, hating feeling so helpless.

“I’m…I’m fine,” Tom finally said, his voice shaky enough to give lie to his words.

“I need… I mean, I should go.” He sidestepped, sliding his back along the truck while watching Darwin closely.

“You sure you’re okay to drive?” Darwin asked, staying back in order to give him some room.

“I’m fine.” That came out as more of a snap.

Darwin nodded, not believing it for a second. “How about I follow you home, just to make sure you make it?”

“No.” The look Tom shot him was so terrified, it made Darwin’s stomach twist.

“Okay.” He had no idea what he should do. Everything he said seemed to make things worse. “I’ll call you tomorrow then.”

“No.” Tom was fumbling with his key fob and the driver’s side door.

Swallowing back the sting of rejection, Darwin took a step toward him. “Let me help.”

Tom whirled toward him, pressing his back against the door and holding out his key as if it were a weapon. “Just stay back!”

Darwin retreated a couple steps and stood with his hands raised, as though the key really were a gun. “It’s okay, Tom.”

He didn’t answer. Finally managing to get the door unlocked and opened, Tom scrambled into the truck cab and slammed the door. Darwin could see him inside, gripping the steering wheel and staring straight ahead. He waited for what felt like a long time for Tom to finally start the engine.

He watched as his date backed out of his parking spot and drove away, not even glancing at Darwin. As the red lights of the pickup disappeared around a corner, he sighed.

“Nice going, D,” he muttered. “Your first date in who knows how long and you scare the poor guy off. You’re never getting laid again.”

*

“Fuck!”

Closing the door to his condo, Tom fumbled to lock the deadbolt and fasten the chain. Turning around, he leaned back against the door and shut his eyes. This confirmed it. He was completely nuts.

With a groan, he shoved away from the door. It had gone so well until that moment.

His sister was already half in love with Darwin and the guy had played along, covering all of Tom’s stupid lies without hesitation. And he’d loved kissing while
he’d been in control. It had been as hot and sweet and terrifying as he’d imagined.

None of that had mattered when Darwin pushed him up against the truck. The ease with which Darwin had lifted him and the cold press of the truck against his back, even through his coat, had brought everything back in fresh and vivid detail, so fresh and vivid he’d thought he was going to hurl his recently eaten dinner all over his date.

With a groan, he tossed his coat over a kitchen stool and made his way into the living room, where he toppled over the arm of the couch to land facedown on the cushions.

He hadn’t expected it to be this hard.

Even after his terror on the construction site, Tom had figured he’d eventually settle down, that looking at and talking to and touching Darwin would become commonplace…easier. Instead, as the night progressed, Darwin had gotten more beautiful, scarier and more intimidating.

When all that awesomeness was erect and pressing him against the truck, Tom had lost it.

Flipping over onto his back, Tom sighed.

He’d lost it, all right—he’d lost any chance he would ever have with Darwin.

He frowned. Did he even want a chance with the guy? It was a whole lot safer and more comfortable alone on his couch with takeout and a shark show.

“A whole lot lonelier too,” he muttered.

Determined to forget about the humiliating date, he shoved himself into a sitting position and turned on the TV. He flicked through the channels, staring blindly at the screen until he gave up trying to watch. Turning off the TV, he slouched to bed, feeling completely and utterly miserable.

His own scream woke him.

Breathing hard, Tom propped himself on an elbow in order to look at the glowing numbers of the clock on the nightstand.

“Fuck,” he groaned, flopping onto his back. It was just after midnight. There were hours left before the sun was up and he could get out of bed without feeling like a freak, hours of flipping from side to side, pretending to try to sleep when he was actually desperate to stay awake and out of reach of his nightmares.

He rolled onto his stomach and bunched a pillow beneath his face. Thoughts of Darwin began to drift into his mind—the soothing stroke of his thumb across the back of Tom’s hand, his teasing smile and heated eyes, the taste of him when he’d allowed Tom to kiss him, before Tom had ruined everything by acting like a crazy person.

That was it, then. No more dates, no more kisses, no more Darwin…

With a frustrated huff, he sat up and grabbed his cell phone. Not allowing himself to think about what he was doing and chicken out, Tom called Darwin’s number.

I can at least apologize
, Tom decided.
The poor guy was nothing but polite and sweet and incredibly hot.
The picture of Darwin in a suit popped into his head and he started to actually drool.