“I’ve never been there. Is it good?”

“Steaks are good apparently. Think it’s a good place to eat. Few bar fights but we can leave if there’s trouble.” He smiled over at Liam, then concentrated on the road.

“I was a bit selfish demanding all that about the place we’re going,” Liam said to fill the sudden quiet in the car as Marcus drove.

“Not at all.”

“I only said it ’cause I thought you’d say no,” Liam admitted.

Marcus snorted a laugh. “I would have agreed to eat on the ground if it meant you’d say yes.”

“Uh huh.” Liam was noncommittal.

“You don’t believe me?”

Liam was abruptly horrified that he had offended Marcus, then equally as pissed at himself for worrying about it. “Of course I do.”

Marcus chuckled. “We’ll be there in a bit,” he said. Then he adjusted a dial and soft music filled the car, something classical and smooth. That didn’t surprise Liam one bit—Marcus was sophisticated compared to him. Stop it. Stop it now. Stop putting yourself down.

“That’s nice,” he said. God he hated the silences.

“You think? I’m trying to broaden my horizons a bit,” Marcus said and as he indicated to turn onto a new road. “Found myself listening to the radio and realizing I don’t get any of this classical stuff. Marcie gave me this CD—Marcie is my twin sister. I kind of like it too. She’s the one with the music in her soul.”

Liam chuckled. “What is in your soul, then?”

“Not sure I’ve found it yet,” Marcus said easily.

They chatted about everything and nothing for the next few miles until Marcus pulled in to a near-empty parking lot. They were early for the late crowd Liam imagined, and he was pleased. Marcus led the way in, and they were soon seated in a booth at the rear of the bar. Within minutes they had drinks. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight,” Marcus said with a smile. He lifted his Coke in salute and Liam copied him. “I feel like I want to apologize for getting you to agree by wearing you down, but I also want to tell you I don’t care how I got you here.” Marcus leaned forward and added softly, “I’m just damn pleased you are here.”

“I’m pleased I came,” Liam said in reply. Okay, so that wasn’t entirely true. He was nervous, unsure of how to be with Marcus, and shivering inside with nerves that he would fuck this up.

The steaks arrived and after both men fell on them ravenously, Marcus opened up the conversation. “So tell me what it’s like working with the horses.”

They exchanged stories, Liam about his horses, Marcus about his surrogacies, and before Liam knew it he was smiling and talking and grinning at Marcus. Full of steak and fries and in Marcus’s company he had the happy buzz, and when Marcus held his hand across the table Liam didn’t argue, he simply gripped tight and held on for the ride.

When they left the bar it was late and they had to make their way through a throng of people with beers. Groups chatted and shouted over music, and for a second Liam stopped dead in the middle of everyone. Marcus looked back and held out a hand. If Liam took that hand would he get abuse hurled at him? Would someone choose to remind Liam that he was wrong to want to be with a man? Marcus didn’t appear worried, didn’t seem to care. Liam gripped the offered hand as tightly as he had at the table and allowed himself to be led through the crowd to the front. He heard a couple of words, but nothing directed toward them, just snatches of random conversation. This was Texas, but here in the bar, tonight, no one seemed to notice him and Marcus, or even care.

Outside Liam released the breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, and Marcus pulled him in for a soft kiss.

“Let’s get you home,” Marcus said. He made to move toward the car, but Liam stopped him before he could rethink anything.

“It’s not time to go home yet.” Liam tested the water. He didn’t want to go back to the D all on his own just yet.

Marcus tilted his head. “What do you want to do?”

Liam swallowed, then used every ounce of courage he had to be honest with Marcus. He wanted to taste Marcus, to feel hands on him that didn’t want to hurt him. “I’d like to park somewhere and kiss you. Maybe some talking in the dark? I have some important stuff I need to say.”

There he’d said it. He was done. Marcus could either go for it or back off. Liam didn’t have to wait for long.

“Hell, yes.”

Marcus drove a little way from The Rusty Nail and together they looked for a runoff or a wide verge where they could stop, but everything was too exposed. Eventually they made it all the way to the D before pulling off on the long driveway and stopping on D land. No cops or passing traffic would call them on where they stopped or what they were doing here. Soon he would have his own place.

“What did you want to talk about? Is everything okay?”

Liam hesitated. Once he told Marcus what he needed to say he wasn’t sure Marcus would want to be anywhere near him. Marcus could potentially be ever so polite about it; he could very well make excuses not to see Liam then they would be done. Liam needed more kisses before that happened. They kissed for a while, but when Liam pressed a hand between them, Marcus sat back with a disappointed look on his face.

“I’m sorry I pushed too fast and kept demanding you go out with me. Does that answer whatever you were going to tell me? Am I in trouble?” Marcus pressed on like he wanted to get a huge list of apologies out of the way all in one go. “Because I really like you. There’s something about you that just keeps me perpetually horny, and at the same time I get all mushy inside. Like I want to protect you, nurture you, and that makes me sound like a mad man. I get that—”

“Shhh,” Liam said gently. He pressed a finger to Liam’s lips to emphasize the point. “I love the kissing and the date and the fact you want to look after me and even that you are perpetually horny.” He paused and smiled inwardly when Liam ducked his head at this last point. “Just, the kissing and the dating needs to come with some talking first.”

Marcus frowned. “What kind of talking?”

“You’ve been on at me for a few months to go on a date, and I don’t want to go any further until you get to know the real me. You need to understand everything that happened, what changed me and made me run from my last place. Then you can decide what’s next for us.”

“Are you sure you want to tell me? You don’t have to. We can pretend your life started when I first saw you. Please don’t feel you have to,” Marcus looked troubled. Liam instantly stepped back in his thoughts. Here he was ready to spill it all, and Marcus didn’t look like he wanted to hear any of it, in fact he looked like he’d rather be anywhere than in the car. Why would he want to know anyway? Whatever sweet talking he was capable of, he was really only after an affair. Liam wouldn’t be lulled into thinking Marcus gave a rat’s ass about him.

They’re all alike. No man actually wants to love another man. It’s all an act.

Self-pity grabbed at him and held tight, and for a second he felt aggression push to the surface.

“Never mind, why would you want to know the real stuff?” Liam snapped. He was out of the car and striding down the road before he could change his mind.

“Liam!” He heard Marcus call his name and expected to hear the engine of the car turning and leaving. Instead he heard running, and he turned to face Marcus just as the other man slid to a stop next to him. “What the hell?” Marcus asked. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Liam shrugged. It was cold in the dark, and he wished he’d brought his old borrowed jacket with him. “Nothing. Just decided to walk home is all.”

“You said you wanted to talk. I’m confused. Did I do something wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s me,” Liam said, then turned on his heel.

Marcus grabbed at his arm and pulled him to stop. He had a strong grip for a small guy.