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people, right?”
    Yena chuckled at him. “ Now you’re drunk.”
    “Hey.”
    “Come on.”
    “Okay, I’m drunk. Please drink more so I don’t feel alone.”
    “Oh, I’m getting there, don’t worry.”
    “Can I help get you there any faster?” Justin couldn’t resist waggling his eyebrows. Luckily it had the desired effect and made Yena laugh.
    “You’re nuts.”
    “What about them?”
    It took Yena a moment to catch the joke, and he laughed harder. “I so walked into that one.”
    “Yeah, you did. Now, what do you want to know about my nuts?”
    “Nothing! Oh, my God.”
    “Then why are you smiling.”
    “Stop it.” Yena reached across the table to bat Justin’s arm. Justin nudged him back.
    “You have a great smile, Yena.”
    The compliment wiped the grin off Yena’s face, and he looked away shyly. A bloom of color on his cheeks and the smallest curve of his lips betrayed what he felt. “And you’re a real charmer, Justin.”
    Justin didn’t bother with a comeback; he was too busy studying Yena’s reaction. Am I actually in with a chance? Oh, please . “Mmm.” Justin grinned back. “Is it working?”
    Yena looked away again, trying to hide his smile. “You should be so lucky.”

Chapter Four
     
    A FTER A rocky start, Justin was relieved the date had actually gone well. Wine loosened their conversation, and neither of them seemed as nervous as before. Justin was feeling a hell of a lot more confident, especially when he caught Yena looking at him more than once.
    It was barely ten. The sky was an inky blue outside, and the River Thames was lit up by restaurants on its banks and leisure boats on its water. Justin went for broke. He suggested a walk along the south bank. He was only a little surprised when Yena said yes.
    Although he hadn’t discovered a whole lot more about his date, Justin was enjoying their banter—mostly about work and bartending. Now that he’d relaxed, Yena was easygoing and laughed at most of Justin’s jokes. In response to the bad ones, he nudged him in the ribs. Justin didn’t mind, he was used to that. He just wanted to make Yena laugh, and he liked the reactions he produced.
    He also liked the way they walked close together, arms and hands occasionally brushing.
    Justin was about to suggest going for a coffee, or even another drink, when a dark shape loomed in front of him. He excused himself and made to step around the person.
    Laughter bubbled out of Yena. “That’s a tree, Justin!”
    “Oh.” Justin blinked in the gloom, drunker than he’d realized. “Well, excuse me anyway,” he said to the tree.
    Yena was cracking up. He moved over to the stone balcony and held on to it for balance. Justin joined him. They were in the shadow of another bridge, although in this light Justin didn’t have a clue which one it was. Down below, a boat glided past.
    “I really enjoyed tonight,” Justin admitted. He felt Yena should know that, if he hadn’t already guessed. Justin was dying to touch him.
    Surprisingly, Yena’s hand found Justin’s in the dark. Electric sparks jolted over Justin’s skin.
    “Me too.”
    “I’m glad you said yes,” Justin babbled. He was so nervous, his head was spinning. Yena stepped up to him, snaking an arm around Justin’s neck. He pulled him down, touching their lips together.
    Justin was stunned for a moment before his body responded for him, his arms wrapping around Yena’s body, drawing him close. Justin closed his eyes and opened his mouth, twisting his face to deepen the kiss. Yena hummed into his mouth. Justin delved in with his tongue, loving the taste of his sweet mouth, those soft lips.
    All too soon, Yena pulled away, but he whispered in Justin’s ear, “Take me home with you.”
    Hell, yeah . Justin nearly groaned with want. Was this really happening, or was he dreaming now?
    Dream or not, they were nowhere near Justin’s home. “But, uh… I live up in Chalk Farm.”
    Yena was silent, still hanging on to