Ah well, at least he had Orlando to keep him amused. Even if dancing with him was its own special brand of torture. "You two looked good on the floor together," Sean commented, nodding his head in Orlando's direction. Orlando was now slow-dancing with Ian, both of their heads bent close together as they swayed gently to the bluesy tune the band was playing. Karl took a sip of his drink, hoping his blush wasn't too evident. "I'm sorry. I hope I wasn't stepping out of bounds." Sean chuckled, the sound low and rough, and took another drag from his cigarette. His fingers, long and graceful, tapped the edge of the table. "No worries, I'm not the jealous type. I trust Orlando." "He's devoted to you." Everyone knew how besotted Orlando was with Sean, and vice versa. It was impossible not to be happy with how happy they seemed with each other, no matter how Karl sometimes wished that things were slightly different. "But you are attracted to him." It wasn't a question. Karl found himself inwardly squirming under the weight of Sean's cool, measured stare. Had he been so obvious? "I...well..." This time, Sean didn't bother to hold back his full-throated laugh. "Karl, relax, mate. I said I wasn't jealous and I meant it. I was merely curious." "Orlando's a very good-looking man," Karl carefully replied. His gaze drifted, almost of its own volition, to Orlando. Lingered on the way Orlando's expensively cut suit emphasized his slender, muscled frame, and how delectable the long line of his throat looked when he threw his head back, laughing at something Ian said. Good-looking was a safe enough, if bland, word. "The perfect politically correct answer," Sean answered, with another flash of white teeth. "No wonder you've come so far in your career." "I'm not always so careful," Karl bristled. Had he really become so boring? No wonder Orlando preferred Sean's more dangerous and unpredictable company. "God, I hope not." Karl paused, glass halfway to his lips. "What do you mean?" "I think I'll let Orlando fill you in on the details. He's been dying to do the honors since he saw you in that gorgeous suit you're wearing," Sean said, and crushed his cigarette into the ashtray before standing. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I might go and claim a dance before Ian whisks Orlando out from under my nose." His eyes darkened with some indefinable emotion when he smiled. "When you feel like joining us, you're more than welcome." Karl watched as Sean crossed the room and tapped Ian on the shoulder. Ian, for his part, good-naturedly placed Orlando's hand in Sean's, then stepped away. Instantly, Sean and Orlando melted into each other in perfect harmony, each step across the floor seamless, graceful, and in-tune. They were a study in masculine beauty – Sean with his rugged body and blond good looks, and Orlando with his lithe body and dark mop of curls that begged for hands to run through them. And they looked so good together, so right. Right in a way that spoke of familiarity and love and respect and a thousand other tiny things that made up a relationship that would last. There was no way on earth Sean meant what Karl thought he meant. Then Orlando looked over at Karl's table, and he gave Karl a small wink. Instantly, Karl's entire body flushed with heat. Was there? Onto Tango Redux
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