#26 or 60 for Loch/Kaidan~
60. âIf I didnât know any better, Iâdsay you were trying to seduce me.â ⺠Lachlan x Kaidan
The crowds are lapping up every gilded word falling off the stage, setup in a gaudily decked out Silver Coast Casino. Itâs a charity event, needlessly framed for publicity, and filled to the rafters with corrupt politicians. All in all, not the kind of place Lachlan Shepard particularly wants to spend his shore leave. Drink firmly in hand, Lachlan slips through a group of marines crowding the staircase, and given the way theyâre struggling to stand upright, they passed the point of caring a while ago.
In all honesty, heâs just here for the free drinks while Cade deals with being the main Shepard for the night. And maybe the view, Lachlan thinks as he lands eyes on a familiar figure by the bar. Kaidanâs shoulders are sharply lined by the crisp, dark blue suit, pulled together with the slightest hint of chrome plated insignias, the Spectre and Alliance embellishments betraying his rank. He looks tall and solemn the way he is, quiet confidence brimming under his whiskey-fired gaze. Lachlan smirks to himself as he takes in the sight, but he presses on and through the rest of the crowd to slip into the spot next to Kaidan with ease, setting his drink down on the bar.
âThere you are.â Kaidan hums contentedly as he feels Lochâs familiar warmth at his side, Lochâs arm slipping around his waist as Kaidan turns to face him. Loch smiles up at him, small and quiet, golden gaze intense in the way it always is.
âHere I am.â Lachlan says lazily, letting the room fade out of mind. Kaidanâs all he cares about tonight, and itâs about damn time he had a chance to do that without feeling guilty for it. He reaches for his drink with his free hand and finishes it, not quite remembering what heâd ordered, but not caring enough to dwell on it. Setting the now-empty glass aside, Lachlan feels Kaidanâs breath on his neck as words tumble out. Loch knows Kaidanâs talking, but heâs so quiet, and the music is so loud, he struggles to place Kaidanâs voice in it.
Glancing around, Loch can see Ashley lingering by Brooks on a nearby staircase, and figures the situation is completely in hand. Itâs not like anybodyâs stupid enough to pull something here, anyway. Loch satisfies himself with his own logic, allowing himself that peace of mind he needs for tonight, and turns back to Kaidan, whoâs leaning into his grip now.
âKai,â Loch finds Kaidanâs hand with his own free one, squeezing it gently, âLetâs get out of here.â
Kaidan looks surprised for a moment, but his expression smooths out into a crooked smile moments later as his amber eyes catch the lights just so. Loch can feel the heat rising in his cheeks as he makes sense of his own words, but he knows he doesnât exactly mean anything else. Smirking again, Loch stands upright, just taller than Kaidan at full height.
âAlright, soldier.â Kaidan grins, squeezing Lachlanâs hand in his own before he links their fingers together. âWhat did you have in mind?â
Lachlan doesnât reply straight away, instead choosing to press lazy kisses to the corner of Kaidanâs mouth, denying him the real thing. Kaidan turns to change that, but Loch moves away, forcing Kaidan to follow with a low whine that turns into a laugh when they find their way down the stairs and out into the main Silversun Strip. The neon catches Lachlan in blinding blue for a moment, and Kaidan stops to stare.
âWhat are you doing?â Lachlan feels the tug on his hand when Kaidan stops and he turns to look, still smiling.
âI should ask you that,â Kaidan smirks then, cocking his head slightly as his gaze roves over Loch, deliberate and slow. âFirst, you show up looking like this--â
Kaidan steps closer, hands gentle as they land on his shoulders to move down, the soft fabric of Lochâs suit doing nothing to help matters. Loch just watches, still smirking, but he canât take his eyes off Kaidan. Not when heâs like this, and this close.
âThen you have the gall to buy me a drink.â Kaidan chuckles, hands slipping down to Lochâs waist where they settle as Kaidan meets Lochâs gaze again.
âMore than one.â Loch grins brightly, bumping their noses together as his own quiet laughter joins Kaidanâs.
âMore than one. And then you insist on getting out of there, but youâre still teasing.â Kaidan quirks an eyebrow, and Loch fiddles with Kaidanâs lapels, nimble fingers tracing the line of chrome embellishment.
âYou are.â Kaidan sneaks in a kiss to Lochâs cheek while his gaze is turned, bringing his attention back with ease, âSo, all Iâm saying is... if I didnât know any better, Iâd think you were trying to seduce me.â
Lachlan laughs, head dropping to rest on Kaidanâs chest for a moment before he pulls back, eyes molten gold now, and he finds Kaidanâs hands again.
âDo you know any better?â Loch challenges, tugging on Kaidanâs hands to get him to walk a few paces with him, but Kaidan slows as he considers Lochâs question.
âTonight? Nope.â he answers with another lopsided grin.
âThen, you know,â Loch glances over his shoulder and back at Kaidan, âMy brotherâs not the only one with a place on the strip.â
Kaidan licks his lips, nodding, smile growing as Lachlan shoots him an easy wink, before pulling him into an eager walk down the strip and into the neon haze.