The Pretenderby Maude Zbornak@kyluxpositivity - Kylux Positivity Week #4 - Meet Me at the CantinaDra

The Pretender
by Maude Zbornak

@kyluxpositivity-Kylux Positivity Week #4 - Meet Me at the Cantina

Dragged to a bar after work, Armitage buys the first round and gets something off the “secret menu.”

Rated E

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Preview:

A name like Cantina evoked images of the Southwest. Margaritas in wide-rimmed glasses bordered with thick flakes of salt. Baskets of tortilla chips on every table. Lively tejano music. Cantina, across the street from their headquarters, offered a different vibe–Eighties steakhouse meets college locker room.

It was a gentleman’s club, basically, for gentlemen very much into other men. Hux watched two servers strut past in tight tank tops and shorts, then leaned into Pryde. “Half the tables are empty,” he said, “yet you’re worried about losing your reservation?”

“I reserved Kylo’s table,” Pryde said, and beckoned them along when the hostess led them deeper into the bar. “He’s the reason people come at all.”

Peavey grabbed the chair with the view of the bar. “I hear Saturday night is the worst,” he said. “You have to book his station a month in advance.”

“All to be served overpriced drinks by some waiter?” Hux snorted out a laugh. “The world is full of handsome people one can gawk at for free. What is so special about this Kylo?”

“See for yourself.”

Hux had the chair facing the back restrooms, the doors of which were adjacent to the kitchen. Out from those shadows stepped a gorgeous traffic stopper of a human being. As with the other servers, his white tank and black short shorts fit him like a second skin. Hux caught the outline of the man’s dark nipples and the ridges of his pecs and abdomen as he approached the table.

And the rest of him… bless the horny gods for drawing up his blueprint. What was it Blanche Devereaux had said of her ideal man? Thighs that could choke a bear. Well, bring on Smokey.

“Gentlemen, good evening.” Kylo set three thin coasters down on the table, casting each of them a broad grin. The dimples popped and added a new level of sexy to his countenance. “I recognize one or two of you, so welcome back.”

Hux felt a breeze as Kylo slowly rounded the table. Or maybe that was from Peavey and Pryde sucking in their guts in a last-ditch effort.

Small flirt-talk followed. They arrived just in time; they were Kylo’s last customers before his shift ended in an hour. Good day at work? Just drinking tonight or thinking of dinner? How about that sports team? Pryde and Peavey lapped up every pout and preen.

Kylo then hunched in a pseudo kneeling position between Hux and Pryde, and rested his forearm on the table. “You’ll find tonight’s appetizer and dinner specials on the menu insert. We are currently out of Blue Moon on draft but we still have bottles. What are you gentlemen drinking?”

Pryde and Peavey smirked out their orders plus fries for the table. Hux watched his co-workers and first bit his lower lip to keep from laughing. His eyes are up there, darlings. When Kylo turned to him, though, Hux felt the tug. He regarded the server’s warm brown eyes, tied for fifth with the man’s best feature, and asked for a gin and tonic.

“Let me guess, are you a Bombay Sapphire man?”

“If I ask for something else, dial 911 because something is dreadfully wrong,” Hux said with a smile.

“I got your back. No worries.” Wink. Kylo met each of their gazes again, but returned to Hux a second time. “Get that right out for you gentlemen.” He stretched to his full height and sauntered to the bar. Hux focused on the menu left behind while Pryde and Peavey presumably eyed the show their server gave on while putting in their order.

“Forget the appetizers. I just want to faceplant on that ass,” Pryde said.

“Ask him out,” Peavey said. “You saw how he was looking at you.”

Hux withered at that. “You mean the way every server here is looking at every customer?” he asked. “Standard of procedure, it’s called. He wants us to tip well, so naturally he’s treating us like we’re the handsomest men he’s ever met.”

“Us?” Pryde arched an eyebrow at him. “Hux, you’re a slip of paper. You think that delicious boy would look at you sideways?”

“Fine thing to say to the person you strong armed into buying the first round.” Pryde’s words stung, yes, but Hux took off points for lack of originality. Pryde stood between Hux and Hux’s father in age but was friendlier with the latter. No doubt he’d heard Brendol’s signature insult for him regularly. “How exactly are you ranked higher on dear Kylo’s list of creepy old men to fuck?”

Pryde righted his suit coat, brushing away lint, and leaned forward. “Confidence is sexy, Hux. Confidence takes you places,” he said. “I guarantee you before the night is over it will take me directly to that young man’s apartment.” He leaned back with a predatory smile when Kylo returned with their drinks and food.

“Everything looking good, gentlemen?”

“I’ll say.” Pryde punctuated his affirmation with a light brush of his hand over the back of one of Kylo’s thighs. Ballsy move. Hux imagined some kind of retaliation, if only a dirty look to warn the old man off, but Kylo quick-stepped to Hux’s other side and bent over.

“How’s that G&T tasting?” he asked, his voice low, and waited for the first sip.

It went down smoothly, tasting how he’d mix it for himself. He said as much and got a warm smile in response before the agreed on the same drinks for the second round.

“I’ll be by in a little while to check on you gentlemen. Enjoy.”

The leering and dirty talk resumed when Kylo distanced himself. Pryde and Peavey spent all of the first round and part of the second exchanging their fantasies of Kylo, none of which sounded hygienic or titillating to Hux’s ears.

His second drink finished, Hux had enough. “I have no idea what the man’s armpits might taste like,” he said when Peavey attempted to drag him to their level. He stood. “But hold that thought while I freshen up.”

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