Liam by Toni Griffin (best novels to read in english TXT) 📕

bright red when he shook hands with Kieran, before his friend headed back to his seat at the table.

Liam had a sudden thought. "Honey, do you know how to play poker?"

Declan's cheeks went even redder as he shook his head.

"That's okay, you can sit with me, and I'll teach you everything you need to know to win the game," Liam said as they headed to the two empty chairs at the head of the table.

"If he wants to win then he should be sitting with me," Brad commented.

"Bullshit." Corey fake-coughed.

"All right, all right, are we gonna play or not, gentleman?" Ben asked.

"Just waiting on the cards," Sam piped up.

"Hold your damn horses. God, don't get your knickers in a twist." Kieran huffed and started dealing the cards for Texas hold-em poker.

They settled down for a couple of rounds, Liam doing his best to explain the game in a way Declan could understand. He didn't know if it helped or not that every time he explained something one of the guys would add their own piece of advice into the mix.

A half hour later they put in a call for pizza delivery and went back to playing. Corey broke first and asked questions about where Declan had come from just as Liam expected.

"So, Declan how did the two of you meet?"

Declan waited for Corey to take a long swallow from his beer before he answered. "I turned up on his doorstep—naked—last night."

Liam burst out laughing when Corey choked and sprayed beer everywhere. Poor Ben, sitting opposite Corey at the table, got drenched in beer and spit as Corey continued to splutter, trying to get his breath back. The others all cracked up at seeing Corey completely lost for words and Ben covered in beer.

Ben growled, but Corey could only hold up a hand in apology, still unable to talk. Ben got up, and before stalking from the room, pointed to the mess on the table.

He directed his gaze towards Corey. "Clean this shit up, man."

Liam assumed he'd go wipe himself down and change his shirt.

"Man, that was fucking priceless," Brad said between gasping breaths.

Kieran chuckled quietly and got up, heading to the kitchen to grab something to wipe the table down with.

Liam glanced at his mate who sat with a satisfied look on his face. Liam pulled him to his side and wrapped his arm around Declan's shoulder. "Beautiful timing, honey."

"Thanks."

Ben entered the room a couple of minutes later and looked at Corey, raising a brow in question. "You all better now?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Yeah, man. Sorry 'bout that."

Ben huffed, crossing his arms over his chest when settled back in his chair.

"What the hell is taking you so long, Kieran?" Sam called out.

A muffled sound came from the direction of the kitchen and a moment later Kieran finally came back into the room, damp cloth and paper towels in hand. His face however, not quite as clean as it had been when he left.

"What the hell? It looks like you blew someone back there. Jesus is there a sale on naked men running around town or something that I don't know about?" Corey asked.

Kieran looked guilty as hell; his tongue flicked out and cleaned the white substance from the side of his mouth.

"It's cream, you idiot."

"Cream?" Poor Corey just sounded confused now.

"Yeah, I found a stash of desserts in Ben's fridge when I went looking for another beer." Kieran closed his eyes and moaned. "The caramel slice tasted unlike any I've ever had before, so good. And the éclairs. Don't even get me started. I think I might skip dinner altogether and go straight to the desserts."

"Since when do you stock desserts for poker night?"

Brad asked Ben.

"Since Declan is a pastry chef and brought them.

Though I haven't yet had a chance to taste them myself.

Unlike some, I have restraint."

All eyes turned once again to Declan and Liam.

Declan sat up straight and shrugged. Liam liked the fact his mate wouldn't be embarrassed about doing something he enjoyed. Liam felt a tiny bit jealous of Kieran. He had yet to try Declan's creations either.

"Man, you need to stick around and cook, they were sinfully delicious," Kieran said as he headed for the beer sprayed section of the table.

"Thanks, man. Glad you enjoyed," Declan replied.

"Now this, I have to try," Sam said as he pushed back his chair.

"Sit," Ben barked. "You can wait like the rest of us.

Don't worry, they're not going anywhere."

Kieran quickly cleaned the table and everyone settled back down again to play cards. The doorbell rang twenty minutes later, announcing the arrival of the pizza.

Everyone threw a ten on the pile and Liam got up with Brad to take delivery. Along with four large pizzas they had three garlic breads and two side serves of ribs.

Delivery paid for, they took the food back to the guys.

Setting the pizzas down, Liam headed to the kitchen, calling out on his way "Who wants another beer?"

Affirmative yells came at him left, right, and centre.

Declan followed him when it became apparent he would be getting everyone another drink. He was good but even he couldn't carry seven beers by himself.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked Declan when they were in the kitchen, pulling the drinks from the fridge.

"Yeah, you were right. They're a great bunch of guys."

"Told you." Liam grabbed the last two beers and closed the fridge, before he could be tempted to steal one of the éclairs.

He turned around and quickly kissed Declan who stood directly behind him. "Come on, we better get back out there before all the food disappears."

They headed back, handed out the beers to

everyone, and settled down to eat some pizza and garlic bread. They usually paused the game when it came time to eat dinner. Corey had just finished his third slice and reached for a fourth when he threw a sideways glance in Declan's direction.

"So, he really rocked up on your doorstep naked?"

he asked.

"Yep, I was cooking dinner, turned around and there