Chapter Text
He was sick of being the dirty little secret; the thing that only happened after a late night drinking. He desperately longed for it to be different. For it to happen in the light of day. He wanted more. He wanted it all. But for now, with everything wrapped in darkness, he would take what he could get. No matter how little it was.
He hadn;t seen Lando in a while but Max knew he was somewhere amongst the dancing bodies. He knew he wouldn’t be far: Lando never left without letting him know. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on the man he wanted to take home tonight. But Lando was dancing with a petite, scantily clad woman. The angry bubbles of jealousy began to form. This was the problem, Max thought as he ran his fingers through his hair. He so badly wanted it to be him. His jaw clenched as he walked over to Lando.He brushed his fingers against Lando’s hip and leant forwards, hot air tickling against Lando’s ear. He could smell the usual combination of beer, citrusy aftershave and the sweet scent of sweat.
“Not your type mate,” He practically had to shout it to be heard over the thumping bass. Lando’s eyes widened as he turned his head to Max,
“Jealous, are you?” his usual teasing smirk pulling the corners of his lips upward. He wore a white shirt that had started the night, crisp and pressed but was now mostly creases. Throughout the night, the shirt had become progressively more and more undone and now, Max could see a smattering of chest hair threatening to escape. He swallowed thickly as he imagined himself undoing another button. And then another. Until there were no more left to undo and Max would be able to run his hands over Lando’s taught skin, feel the thick muscles, taste the salty skin. He needed this night to be over. “My eyes are up here,” Lando’s words pulled him from his thoughts and he let out a choked noise. He would have made it happen, right here, right now if it weren’t for the hundreds of eyes and phone camera. Even with the alcohol coursing through his veins, he still had hit wits about.
The brunette who had been draped around Lando disappeared back into the dancing bodies, clearly realising Lando’s attention was elsewhere.
“Not jealous. Just giving you the facts. She’s not your type mate because she’s not me.”
Lando raised his eyebrow, clearly amused the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a smile, “Shall we get out of here?”
Lando’s fingers brushed against Max’s where he was holding the cool bottle of beer that he had been drinking. The act was subtle, just enough that nobody else would even notice but enough to stir something in the pit of Max’s stomach that this time, definitely wasn’t jealousy. He downed the rest of his beer, placing against the table behind him and followed Lando through the crowds of dancing bodies. Nobody noticed as they slipped through the darkness together. To Lando’s apartment.
The moment the door shut behind them, finally in the privacy of Lando’s home, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off Max’s body.
–
The morning came far too quickly for Max’s liking; the sun was streaming through the curtains that Lando hadn’t bothered shutting the night before. Lando had tried slipping out of the bed silently but Max missed the warmth of the body beside him; the movement jostled him awake. He let out a shaky breath before speaking, voice barely above a whisper, “Lan…”
Lando paused, half dressed and turned to face Max who was still lying in Lando’s bed. This was how it usually worked: Lando leaving his own apartment to go to whatever race was that weekend, leaving Max to make his own way home.
“Hmmm?”
Max swallowed. It was now or never.
“Lando…” he murmured softly, “I don’t want to be your dirty little secret anymore.”
“Dirty? Yes. But little isn’t the word I’d use to describe you…” Lando smirked as his eyes moved lower over Max’s exposed torso and to what lay beneath the covers.
Max snorted, “That’s not what I meant.”
Lando nodded, “I know,” he replied as he stopped to perch on the edge of the bed.
“I like you Lan. Like really like you and I don’t want it to be just drunken nights or when you’ve got nothing better to do. I want more than just being your secret fling. I deserve that.”
Lando nodded again. Max couldn’t read his face. He had no idea what Lando was really thinking right now. Usually, he could read his best friend like a book.
“Can we talk about this when I get back?” Lando asked, eyes darting to his watch, “I really do want to have this conversation but Charles is going to kill me if I’m late again.”
Max’s heart sank. He nodded as he watched Lando grab his bag and keys and head for the door. What had he done? Fuck.