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trying to hold back his laughter, but he couldn’t control the way his body shook. Micah glared at him, but the man turned away and the shaking increased.
“I take it back, you’ve got the advice thing down,” Micah huffed, shoving the glass back toward Ty. “But you need to work on the bartending part. I’ll take a beer.”
Ty didn’t even try to hold back his laughter as he walked away.
“No disrespect, sir, but how do you put up with him every day?”
“I’ve got a very big paddle.”
“Can I borrow it?” Micah asked, still glaring in Ty’s direction.
“Not even for a minute.” Blake gave up on trying to suppress it and laughed heartily.
“Didn’t think so, sir.” Micah took a sip of the water and turned on his stool. “So, about Tackett Austin?”
Chapter 3
     
    T
HE DOOR opened and Bobby’s smiling face appeared. “Tackett! I was beginning to worry you were going to stand us up. Come in.”
    “I’m not that late.” An hour wasn’t that bad. Tackett gave Bobby a strong hug, patting him on the back. “I wouldn’t have missed it,” he said, and then he released his old friend and stepped into the foyer.
    “That’s because you knew I’d come drag your ass out of your cave. You’ve been spending way too much time alone these days. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“Just been busy, Bobby. Don’t take it personal.”
    Actually, he had been hiding. Taking some time off from friends to do a little self-evaluating, or rather, trying to figure out what the hell his plans were for the future. Three months after he’d gone into self-imposed isolation, Tackett still hadn’t come to any conclusions and still had no plans.
    “Bullshit. You’ve been avoiding everyone since your birthday. As soon as I get back, we are going to be talking about it,” Bobby said adamantly.
    Tackett followed Bobby through the house and out to the pool area, smiling when he spotted Rig. “Maybe I can talk Rig into extending your trip to Florida, say, by a couple of months,” he deadpanned.
    “Don’t even think about it,” Bobby grumbled.
Bobby wasn’t a big fan of Florida; he complained the humidity was the breath of the devil himself. Rig, on the other hand, loved the steam-bath weather. Tackett ignored Bobby’s grumbling. Laughing, he headed over to the small group around the pool.
Bobby and Rig’s going-away party was a small, intimate affair, and Tackett recognized everyone. Blake was lying in a lounge chair, Ty on his knees next to him with his head on Blake’s thigh. Blake was stroking Ty’s long blond hair lovingly as they spoke to each other. The sight inflamed the morose feelings Tackett had hoped he’d left back at his penthouse.
Also in the group was Max, another Dom Tackett had known for many years. In fact, he’d been the man’s mentor when Max first began exploring the lifestyle. Christ, how many years ago had that been? Max was reclining on a lounge chair too, but he had a slim man Tackett didn’t recognize lying half across him with his head on Max’s chest, teasing at the thick patch of dark hair on his stomach with his fingers.
A prickling sensation began at the back of Tackett’s neck as he took in the rest of the partygoers: Isaac and his new boy, Darren, and two men whose names he couldn’t quite remember but who were quite obviously a couple. Bobby and Rig, both Doms, were for all intents and purposes a couple who had been together for many years and looking for a sub to complete their threesome. The one man who didn’t have a date, like himself, and who held no interest for Rig and Bobby, was Micah.
Micah sat in a lawn chair in nothing but skimpy swim shorts, his tanned body oiled and glistening in the bright afternoon sunshine. Dark shades covered his baby-blue eyes, but Tackett felt Micah’s gaze on him, wandering down his body, and judging by the way Micah licked his lips, he appreciated the view.
“Hey, Tackett. Glad you could make it,” Rig said, stretching out a hand in