Rudy had always been certain he was into women. They always seemed to flock to him, praise him, coo at him when he was young, bat their eyelashes at him as he got older. He had a reputation to uphold.
Which is why when his Colonel—tall, dark, and handsome as he is—turns to him and bats his long lashes, looking down at Rudy through them in the lights of the bar. Rudy takes a stumbling step back.
They're drunk. They both know it. That doesn't seem to stop the taller man from continuing. Backing Rudy into the support pillar in the middle of the dance floor.
"Alejandro—" his voice is drowned out by the pounding of music.
Alejandro's hand slides beneath Rudy's jaw. Alejandro says something, but it is also lost to the cacophony.
Rudy tries to prompt Alejandro to leave, to guide him outside so they can have this improper conversation properly.
Instead, Alejandro leans in and Rudy is held in place—the eyes on him, the hand at his jaw, the adrenaline like ice through his veins—the Colonel's chapped lips meet his own.
Rudy melts. How could he not? The hand at his jaw shifts, less holding, more caressing. His own hand finds purchase at Alejandro's shoulder, holding himself up as his knees weaken—to the alcohol or to the kiss or to the way Alejandro's tongue begins to press against his own, he's not sure.
Eventually they come up for air. Rudy knows the look on his face is ridiculous. Alejandro smiles, thumb and forefinger moving to hold Rudy's chin.
Alejandro's voice finds his ears between songs. "The rumors are true then, like honey and habenero."
Rudy gapes. Alejandro's thumb slides across his lip.
Then Alejandro's eyes move across the room. Rudy follows with his own. There's a woman. Pretty by any standard. She smiles sweetly, eyes undressing Rudy briefly before she tilts her head. An invitation. Sweet and warm.
Alejandro leans in as the next song starts, lips against Rudy's ear, "Go on then, Parra, do not leave her waiting."
Alejandro steps back, turning Rudy's head with his hand to start him in the right direction.
And Rodolfo Parra will, for the first time, proceed to give a beautiful woman the best night of her life thinking of a man.
