Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Not here,” Hop said. Christ, it was embarrassing enough talking to him. He didn’t want witnesses to his lack of dignity.
He should have remembered, though, how poorly Craig reacted to being denied—like a spoiled fucking child. He certainly should have remembered how mean he got when he felt his masculinity threatened. Craig’s fingers dug into the bare flesh at Hop’s waist, hard. His expression transformed in an instant from dazed by lust to frigid malice.
With an uncompromising grip on Hop’s elbow, Craig dragged him toward the hallway that led to the public bathrooms. Hop spared one last glance over his shoulder, up into the rafters.
It was fine. Just a blow job, not the first and not the last one he’d perform for guys who didn’t deserve them. He wasn’t crossing any lines. No matter how his feelings had changed for Rafe, they were still just employer and employee who happened to have a long and tumultuous history.
He’d suck Craig’s dick and solve a problem.
Simple.
Afterward, Craig would be too insecure to open his fucking mouth about seeing Hop anywhere near Rafe’s club.
Rafe needed time and Hop could buy it for him.
Chapter Thirteen
Hop was nervous.
Rafe had seen that stance so often it had become etched in his memory. Every time he’d found Hop shaking in a corner of some stranger’s bedroom high on whatever they’d given him, every fucking time Hop put himself in harm’s way, his shoulders would hunch in a sort of crooked pose. It was the defiant shield hiding his secret dread.
Seeing it now blinded Rafe to everything else but the need to save him.
Again.
He raced down the stairs from the VIP section, leaping two at a time, and still wasn’t fast enough. Trepidation turned his movements shaky as Craig pulled Hop away from the crowd. When Hop glanced toward the office, Rafe lost his goddamn mind.
The crowd was too thick. His breath came too fast. If he didn’t get through it, he’d have a panic attack right there in the middle of his own damn club.
Trying to stop the sensation of being trapped, he shoved unapologetically at bodies until they parted to let him through. By the time he reached the men’s room, it felt like a year had passed instead of a few minutes. His hands shook as he pushed the door open.
There were two guys at the urinals. He tapped them on their shoulders and glared until they took the hint, wrapping it up quickly and fleeing. Two stalls were closed, but they were on opposite ends of the row. Shaking with impatience, Rafe barely held on to his sanity as he ducked his head to look under the door of the closest stall.
“Down on your knees.” It came from across the room and was followed by a grunt of protest.
That tiny sound maddened him and turned him into a savage. Blind with territorial aggression, he stormed across the room and slammed his foot into the hollow metal door. It swung open with a bang.
Rafe took in the scene in the time it took for the door to bounce once and fall from the top hinge. The bastard Craig’s hands were on Hop’s shoulders. Hop was on his knees, defiance in his eyes, his lipstick was smudged and his hair was knotted. With a deafening growl, Rafe punched Craig as hard as he could. Craig’s head snapped back and he fell into the corner. Rafe pulled Hop to his feet, took his hand, and led him out.
The only reason Craig was still alive was because he hadn’t had the chance to unzip his pants. Fuck, he was a lucky bastard. If Rafe had seen a single pubic hair, he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from beating the shit out of the guy. Instead of taking Hop back through the club, he headed toward the emergency exit at the end of the hall.
Hop tugged his hand. “Rafe, for fuck’s sake.”
Rafe spun. “Is that what you wanted?”
“What? Craig?”
“Do you want him?”
Hop blinked. “No.”
It was the answer he expected, but it didn’t put him at ease. Rafe tightened his grip on Hop’s hand and kept moving until they were outside in what passed for fresh air in the city. The blast of cold wind brought clarity.
With gentle fingers on Hop’s chin, he examined the damage. No bruises, thank God. But he still looked harassed.
“I should have killed him,” Rafe gritted out.
Hop grabbed his wrist, trying to dislodge his hold. “What the hell have you done? You idiot.”
Rafe stepped closer until Hop was pressed up against the rough brick, caged by his body.
“Calm down.” He used his Dom voice, the deep commanding tone that demanded obedience. He didn’t think about it, it just seemed natural to put Hop at ease.
To his great surprise, Hop stilled. Crazed eyes blinked up at him, those swirling blue jewels brighter and more mysterious than the ocean.