So, here we go with another story. I've had the idea rattling around for a while, and finally got around to writing it down. Don't know how often I'll update, but I do hope you enjoy the results.

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"What'll you have?" Isaiah heard the bartender call out next to him.

"Sam Adams." A breathless voice answered. "And quick. I'm dying here."

Isaiah couldn't help chuckling to himself over his drink. He wasn't much for dancing, himself, but he enjoyed watching the crowd of bodies move and writhe out on the floor.

"Here you go." Isaiah heard the clink of a bottle hitting the bar top. "Four-fifty."

The man let out a 'hmph' sound as he paid and plopped himself on the stool next to Isaiah. "It's robbery, I'm telling you."

Isaiah wasn't sure if the man was speaking to him or not, and so chose not to answer. He wasn't here to make conversation, anyway. A couple of drinks and he would be on his way home to his wife.

The man next to him nudged him slightly, and Isaiah glanced over to see a tall, almost gangly young man smiling at him. "I see you don't talk much."

"Didn't think you were talking to me." Isaiah answered.

The other man gestured expansively. "I don't see anyone else here, do you?" He extended his hand toward Isaiah. "Name's Sean."

"Isaiah." Isaiah returned the move reluctantly, not wanting to appear rude.

"Nice to meet you." Sean nodded before leaning in a little closer. "So what brings a handsome man like you out here alone tonight?"

Isaiah felt a flash of panic rush through him. "Just having a couple of drinks before I head home."

Sean's brow crinkled in apparent confusion. "You do know what kind of place this is, right?"

Isaiah shrugged and finished his drink. "It was on the way home. I didn't really pay attention."

"Right." Sean was clearly skeptical. "Well, hey, as long as you're here, do you want to dance?"

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry, I don't mean, you know, with me." Sean looked a little embarrassed. "I just mean…in general." He shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

"No, it's cool." Isaiah found himself saying. "I'm flattered."

"But…?"

Isaiah considered telling the truth, but decided against it. "I don't dance."

Sean looked vaguely disappointed, his eyes looking Isaiah up and down. He leaned in again, a hint of a spicy scent washing over Isaiah.

"Too bad." Sean murmured before pulling away to finish his beer.

He slipped down from the bar stool and disappeared into the crowd. Isaiah couldn't help but follow him with his eyes, almost wishing he could just get off his own stool and follow the other man out onto the dance floor.

Instead he shook his head, finished his drink, and paid his tab. Cowardice won again tonight. Isaiah would go home to his wife where he belonged. It was obvious he didn't belong here.

# # #

Sean cursed himself for his foolishness as he all but ran back out onto the dance floor. It figured that he'd find the one guy in the entire place that wasn't into guys.

"So?" His friend Erin asked when he made it back onto the dance floor.

Sean made a 'thumbs down' sign, and Erin threw him a sympathetic look. She patted him on the shoulder. "That's okay. There's plenty more to choose from here."

Sean smiled warmly at her, but in reality, he couldn't care less about hooking up with anyone tonight. Casual sex wasn't his thing.

However, his mind was still on the man he had met at the bar. There was something about Isaiah that attracted him. Whether it was the mellow, deep voice, or the easy way the man moved when he was simply sitting at the bar, or even his deep chocolate-colored skin, Sean couldn't say.

Yes, it was a damn shame Isaiah didn't dance, although Sean had trouble believing that. There had to be more behind it.

Sean tried to shake off the thought and simply lose himself out on the dance floor, but it wasn't happening tonight. He tapped Erin on the shoulder.

"I'm heading out." He told her. "See you around."

Erin frowned, but nodded. "See you."

Sean wove his way through the club and headed outside into the cool night air. He'd come here tonight with every intention of getting his mind off things, but it wasn't working.

His friend Julian had left earlier in the week after taking a new job somewhere in New Jersey. Sean had thought that things were starting to move somewhere beyond sex and friendship, but apparently it wasn't meant to be.

He sighed and started toward his car. Maybe this was just the role he was meant to play, someone who showed up to help someone pick up the pieces before they moved on to someone else. The thought filled Sean with gloom. It'd be nice if he could find someone who just wanted to be part of his life.

"No, baby, really." Sean heard the deep voice before he saw the speaker. "I'm on my way home right now…yes, I know. I love you, too."

Despite himself, Sean found himself heading in the direction of the voice, and he found Isaiah standing in the parking lot, staring at his phone.

"Hey." Sean ventured as he approached. "Everything okay?"

Isaiah held up his phone and waved it slightly. "Just touching base with the wife."

Sean's heart sunk. He had really misread Isaiah. "You're married."

"Yes." Isaiah laughed slightly.

"But you're hanging out at a gay bar."

Isaiah looked slightly offended. "I told you, I didn't know that when I walked in. It was convenient."

Sean moved closer, wanting to reach out and touch the other man. Instead he shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. "Believe me, this is the last place anyone will judge you."

Isaiah looked thoughtful for a moment before he tucked his phone inside his jacket. "I appreciate what you're saying, but it's not necessary." He gave Sean a little nod. "Nice to meet you."

"Same here." Sean managed to give Isaiah a little smile. "Maybe I'll see you here again?"

Isaiah chuckled at that. "Highly unlikely, given…the nature of this place."

"Right." Sean wasn't quite willing to let Isaiah go yet. Why, he couldn't say for certain, but there was something about this whole thing that didn't quite add up.

Isaiah made a gesture toward the parking lot. "I'm going to…go."

"Oh, yes, of course." Sean could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, suddenly grateful for the darkness.

With that Isaiah was gone, leaving Sean deep in thought. He should forget about Isaiah, he knew that. Married men were nothing but trouble. Still, the idea that he'd never see Isaiah again made Sean a little sad.

Sean shook his head and went to his own vehicle. Yes, he'd simply put Isaiah behind him. It had only been a brief encounter. No point in getting too hung up on him. It wasn't worth it.

# # #

Isaiah found himself shaking slightly as he drove home from the club. He hadn't intended to end up there. It had just sort of…happened.

He certainly had no intention of meeting anyone, at least until Sean had plopped himself onto the stool next to him. There was something about the young man's whole demeanor that had somehow gotten to him.

"I should have taken him up on that damn dance." Isaiah muttered to himself, surprised at his own admission. He shook his head. "No, no I shouldn't have. I'm married. I love my wife."

The idea that he was even having this debate with himself troubled him. He had been married for twenty-three years. He and Shari had two daughters, both of them now grown and in college. Things were rock solid between them.

So why the hell had he gone into a known gay club? He had sworn off men the moment things started to get serious with Shari. It was in part thanks to her that he was able to put that part of his life behind him.

Something was wrong here. Isaiah just wished he could figure out what the hell it was.

He pulled into his driveway and parked in the garage. The smell of Shari's cooking still lingered, and Isaiah felt a twinge of guilt for being so late as he opened the door between the garage and the kitchen.

"Shari?" He called out.

"Hey, baby." Shari greeted him with a warm smile and a kiss. "I fixed you a plate. It's in the refrigerator."

"Thanks." Isaiah found the plate and placed it in the microwave to heat. He could feel his wife's hands smooth down his back, and he relaxed a little under her touch. "Mmm…that feels good."

Her arms wrapped around his waist, and Isaiah could feel Shari's cheek against his back. "I miss you when you work these crazy hours."

"I know." Isaiah responded, that same twinge of guilt he felt in the car coursing through him. "This project is taking a lot longer than any of us anticipated."

"You know I understand." Shari told him. "I'm used to it. Doesn't mean I like it."

She squeezed him and released him, her hands drifting along Isaiah's waist. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you when you come in."

"I won't be long." Isaiah answered. "As soon as I eat I'll be ready to fall out."

The microwave chimed almost as soon as Shari left, and Isaiah took out the hot plate, turning and leaning against the stove to eat. He felt bad enough that his work hours kept him away from home. Now his little side trip had him feeling even worse.

He finished the plate, rinsed it and placed it in the dishwasher before getting ready for bed. Shari was already turned over to her side when Isaiah climbed in and curled himself around her, placing a kiss on her neck.

"Mmm…not tonight, baby." She murmured.

"Wasn't trying anything." He told her, not the least bit put off. "I just missed you, that's all."

"Mm-hm." Shari shifted and pressed against him, almost immediately falling asleep.

Isaiah closed his eyes and started to drift toward sleep, his mind wandering as it so often did after a busy day. Tonight his mind drifted toward Sean almost without Isaiah being aware of it. His warm smile, his friendly demeanor, even his long, lean body.

This was ridiculous. Isaiah had no business thinking these thoughts about anyone, let alone another man. He was married, happily so. Wasn't he?

Of course he was. He was just having thoughts. Thoughts never hurt anyone.

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Back to you, dear readers, as always. Read and review.