Here," Dirk said, startling Jake by shoving an unwrapped candle against his arm. "Climb back up and put this one in."
Jake dipped down to set his glass on the floor before doing as he was told, making a quick trip back up the ladder. Together, they moved the ladder and took turns positioning the candles, until every holder had one. There was minimal conversation, mostly questions about how straight the candles were or special events the club had planned for the following days. Dirk stuffed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a lighter, motioning Jake to stay still. Jake raised a brow and silently observed Dirk walk around, lighting each of the candles. The flames flickered before drawing still, and by the time Dirk had made a round around the room, the soft scent of roses was beginning to permeate the air. Near the door, Dirk flicked the lights off.
The room grew considerably darker, the candles sending dark shadows across the rich red walls. It took a moment for Jake's eyes to adjust.
"Full effect, almost activated," Dirk said smoothly. Jake took note of the change of tone, that lower octave so common when he teased, and that coupled with the new atmosphere sent Jake's nerves on high alert. He watched as Dirk crossed the room again, to a small keypad on the wall above a table. With the push of a button, music came through speakers in the ceiling Jake hadn't even noticed, a pulsating beat that sent vibrations through the floor and up his spine.
"Damn," Jake breathed, a weak laugh following. "All you're missing is a stripper's pole."
Dirk ambled over, hands in his pockets, until he was a foot in front of Jake. In the dark atmosphere, it was even harder trying to see through those pointed shades, but the devilish upward tilt to the corner of his lips was unmistakeable.
"Only if you're gonna perform," Dirk proposed, raising a single eyebrow. Jake swallowed thickly, determined not to shy away from eye contact. Now would be the time to back out, to turn it into a joke, to continue playing this little game of cat and mouse. Instead, he felt the giddy urge to flirt right back.
"Do believe you'd like that too much," Jake responded boldly, swaying on his feet just to give off the appearance of nonchalance. He held his breath as Dirk stared him down, expression unchanging.
"... that a no?" Dirk finally inquired. He reached up to take off his shades, revealing those tangerine eyes that flickered to life in the candlelight. Even better than those fiery irises, though, was that calm determination, that look of desire, so raw without obscurities. Heat spread through Jake like a wildfire.
"A no for the pole, yeah... but I'm open to other suggestions?" Jake managed, his confidence fading under that intense gaze and the bass thrumming through his bones, rattling him more than his own nerves.
Dirk tapped his glasses against his own thigh, contemplating. His lips finally curved upwards as if he could no longer help it, and he turned his head to chuckle. Jake was momentarily confused and for a second, mortified at the thought of being laughed at. He knew he wasn't as suave as a Strider, but he hoped his attempts at flirting weren't that bad!
"You drive a hard bargain, English," Dirk said, catching his gaze. "Candlelight and music needed to sweep you off your feet? Pretty high maintenance."
The worry in Jake's chest fizzled out and bloomed into amusement.
"Who says I've been swept off my feet yet?" Jake challenged, jutting his chest out just so, a grin on his face. That strong stature easily crumbled as Dirk stepped forward, hooking his thumbs through the belt loops of Jake's jeans and tugging him close. Jake saw the blond tilt his head, watched in a sort of awed excitement as he drew closer, and then everything went black and lips landed on his own, moving across them hotly. Sighing into the kiss, heart making his entire chest pulse, taking a deep breath through his nose, arching into the hold, Jake brought his hands up to Dirk's shoulders and slid them down his arms, feeling the muscles beneath that taught pale skin. The man was all kinds of warm, all kinds of amazing, both qualities punctuated by the rough tongue that invaded Jake's mouth.
Dizzy in the best of ways, Jake still managed to give back as much as he was receiving, raking a hand up the nape of Dirk's neck and into his hair, nipping at his top lip, pushing himself forward as if they weren't already close enough. He shivered as Dirk's hands ran up under his shirt, ran back out, down to his ass where they cupped and squeezed. Jake made a little sound of surprise that melted into a moan, tightening his grip in Dirk's locks. Dirk tenderly sucked on his bottom lip before letting it snap back into place. Jake slit his eyes open when those lips did not return, meeting the darkened gaze of the other male.
"Now?" Dirk breathed lowly. It took Jake a moment to realize what he was asking, and another moment to grasp at the front of his shirt and start tugging