Are You Ready?

Jayden's eyes widened the moment he looked between Xavier and the handsome stranger.

“Oh, finally,” he said with a grin. “Rule number one done.”

Xavier's face immediately heated. “Jayden, stop it.”

“What? I'm just saying. He's exactly your type—decisive, and straight to the point.”

“Get away from me.” Xavier awkwardly pushed at Jayden's shoulder. “Aren't you supposed to be leaving with your boyfriend?”

Jayden laughed. “I can't just leave you here looking like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like you're about to get yourself into trouble.”

Before Xavier could respond, Jayden grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

“Jayden, what are you doing?”

“I'm getting you a proper introduction.” Jayden pulled him toward the stranger's table before Xavier could protest.

They reached the table, and Jayden took a seat. Xavier reluctantly sat beside him, rubbing his damp palms against his trousers as he tried to calm his nerves.

Jayden, completely unfazed, smiled at the man.

“Hi. My name is Jayden, and this is my friend.” He pointed toward Xavier. “Xavier.”

The stranger's gaze shifted toward him as he lifted his milkshake. “I’m Raul. I hope you didn't mind me paying the bill.”

His voice was deep and smooth, carrying an effortless allure that made Xavier instinctively lift his head.

Their eyes met again, but Xavier immediately looked down.

Raul extended his hand toward Jayden, and Jayden shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Jayden glanced at Xavier, then back at Raul, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. “My friend here is looking for a gigolo.”

Xavier's eyes widened. “Jayden!”

Jayden ignored him. “So, would you mind taking him for a ride?”

Xavier pinched Jayden's arm.

“Ouch!” Jayden shifted away from him, rubbing his arm. “What? I'm helping.”

“You're embarrassing me.”

Before Jayden could say anything else, his phone began ringing again. He glanced at the screen and winced. “Ah. I'm being summoned.”

He turned toward Raul with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I'm going to leave my friend in your hands.”

Xavier stared at him in disbelief and narrowed his eyes. “You're enjoying this way too much.”

Jayden rose from his seat and leaned closer, lowering his voice so only Xavier could hear. “Good luck with your love night. Remember, it's only a one-night stand. Cut off every tie afterward.”

Xavier's cheeks turned even redder. He gave a small, awkward nod.

Jayden patted him on the back. “That's my boy.”

Then he turned and walked away, leaving Xavier alone at the table with Raul.

Xavier watched Jayden disappear into the crowd before turning back toward the stranger.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Xavier shifted awkwardly in his seat before clearing his throat.

“Hi. Raul, right?” The smile on Raul's face deepened. “What can I do for you?”

“Nothing.” Xavier immediately looked away.

Silence settled between them again.

Why was he making this so difficult?

He had already decided to go wild tonight. There was no point backing out now. Besides, what harm could there be in doing something once and never thinking about it again?

Xavier gathered his courage and turned toward Raul. “Are you single?”

Raul raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

Xavier swallowed. “I was just wondering.”

Raul laughed.

The sound was unexpectedly warm and contagious, making Xavier's cheeks heat up again.

“Yeah,” Raul said. “I am.”

“Oh.” Xavier nodded, pretending that answer hadn't affected him.

Then, before he could lose his nerve, he leaned closer and pressed a quick kiss to Raul's lips.

He immediately pulled back, his face burning.

Raul stared at him for a moment before laughing softly. “You're quite bold.”

“Yeah, I just…” Xavier hesitated, then forced himself to meet Raul's eyes. “I just want one night. Are you interested?”

Raul studied him for a few seconds before smiling. “Sure.”

Xavier's heart skipped. “Then let's go.”

---

The hotel was only a short distance from the bar, and Xavier was the one who suggested they go there.

By the time they stepped inside, his confidence had begun to disappear.

What was he thinking?

He was actually walking into a hotel with a man he'd met less than an hour ago.

Yet the thought of this possibly being his last chance to do something like this before his parents forced him into marriage gave him enough courage to keep moving.

Whatever happened tonight, he would never have to regret wondering what he had missed.

They walked down the corridor until they reached their room.

Raul swiped the key card, and the door clicked open. He stepped inside, with Xavier following close behind.

“You can sit here,” Raul said, gesturing toward the bed. “Would you like to take a shower?”

“No, no. Thank you. I'm fine like this.”

“All right.” Raul nodded. “I'm going to take one, then.”

He slipped off his glasses and set them on the edge of the bed before disappearing into the bathroom.

Xavier released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He walked toward the enormous bed and sat down, his hands pressing lightly into the mattress as he looked around the luxurious room.

His gaze eventually landed on the drawer beside the bed.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened it.

His eyes widened when he saw a bottle of lubricant and several condoms neatly placed inside.

His entire face turned red.

“Okay, that's enough.”

He quickly shut the drawer, slipped off his shoes, and settled back onto the bed, leaving himself in the tight shirt and shorts Jayden had chosen for him.

He picked up his phone and immediately opened his chat with Jayden.

Xavier: You are the worst friend in the world.

A reply came almost immediately.

Jayden: You're welcome.

Xavier rolled his eyes. He continued typing insults, occasionally glancing toward the bathroom.

Xavier: I'm never listening to you again.

Jayden: You say that every time.

Xavier stared at the message before shaking his head. He was about to type another reply when he heard the water stop.

His fingers paused above the screen.

For some reason, his heart began beating faster. He locked the phone and placed it beside him, then looked toward the bathroom door.

A few moments later, the bathroom door opened.

Xavier looked up.

Raul stepped out, his hair still damp and water glistening across his toned skin.

Xavier's gaze slid over the water still clinging to Raul's shoulders, down the lines of his chest, and lower, to where the towel sat far too low on his hips.

He picked up his phone again, pretending to be interested in the screen.

“You okay?” Raul asked.

Xavier shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled awkwardly. “Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.”

Raul gave him a knowing look but said nothing. He adjusted the towel around his waist and walked closer.

Xavier stared at his phone without actually reading anything.

For a brief moment, he considered distracting himself with Jayden's messages.

Then he looked at Raul again.

There was no point hiding behind his phone. If he was really going to do this, he needed to stop overthinking everything.

Xavier reached for the power button, ready to turn his phone off. Before he could press it, the screen suddenly lit up.

His mother's name appeared across the display. Xavier stared at it.

For a second, the familiar anxiety returned.

Then he pressed and held the power button until the screen went black.

He placed the phone on the bedside table.

Tonight, he had made his choice and nothing was going to stop him.

Raul quietly picked up his glasses from the edge of the bed and placed them on the nightstand before sitting beside him.

Xavier's heart began beating faster again.

Raul leaned slightly closer, and Xavier instinctively shifted farther back on the bed.

Neither of them spoke until Raul asked quietly, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Xavier looked at him. “Yeah.”

He took a breath. “I'm getting married anyway. My parents are forcing me into it. So this is probably going to be my first and last chance to do something like this.”

His voice softened. “I just want tonight to be something I remember.”

Raul watched him closely before nodding. “I understand.”

He paused. “My sister is getting married soon too. There are a lot of things happening in my family right now.”

A faint smile crossed his face. “I never expected to meet someone like you tonight.”

Xavier smiled nervously. “So… are you ready?”

“Yes.” Raul moved closer. Their eyes met for a lingering moment before Raul leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss began slowly, tentative enough for Xavier to realize that Raul was giving him every opportunity to pull away.

Instead, Xavier stayed.

His eyes closed as he relaxed into the kiss, and the nervousness that had followed him from the bar slowly faded.