Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“Dex. You’re on thin ice already,” Frank said in a frosty voice. “Can you not read the room? Stop it.”
There, Ezra’s knight in a T-shirt and jeans, coming to his rescue. Maybe he shouldn’t like it so much, but he did.
Dex sighed and his shoulders sagged. “I was just jokin’… You have to admit that the idea of you getting a face mask is very funny.”
The rumble of more motorcycles outside ended this farce, and Ezra got up to pack the remaining pancakes for Frank’s lunch. He added a small can of peaches, as well as the leftover bacon, some ham, and the sample-sized bottle of maple syrup he’d found in the almost-empty spice drawer.
Frank approached him, and Ezra leaned in, eager to get a taste of the masculine aroma he carried.
“Thanks,” Ezra said softly, packing all the food in a canvas bag. “He’s a handful.”
Frank’s chest rumbled with a hum, and he kissed the side of Ezra’s head, no longer shying away from showing that they were... something in Dex’s presence.
“Don’t take it too seriously. He’s harmless at the core.”
“I am not harmless,” Dex said, ticked off as if not being a menace to society was a bad thing. “I’m literally—”
Someone banged on the door, which opened as soon as Frank shouted for them to come in. A tall man entered, stopping in his tracks when his gaze settled on Ezra. At first glance, he looked stylish, and handsome enough to be a cover model for the bad boy romance novels one of Ezra’s acquaintances consumed en-masse in his free time. But the simple outfit composed of jeans, a pale T-shirt, and a leather jacket was marked with real MC patches, and the shiny dark hair couldn’t divert Ezra’s attention from the large scar cutting through the stranger’s cheek and lip. He also wore some sort of harness to strap a large item to his back, and Ezra stiffened, worried it might be a machine gun.
“You have a guest,” the man said in a low voice, shutting the door behind him. He let his arms hang at his sides as he stepped toward the table, staring Ezra’s way as if he were considering whether this particular spider was worth squashing.
Frank nodded. “And you might need a shorter leash on Dex, Hammer.”
Dex spread his arms. “What? I was just being friendly!”
Oh. This was interesting.
Also, what kind of name was Hammer?
The tall stranger squared his shoulders, sturdy like a human battering ram. “What is he talking about?” he asked, settling his cool gaze on Dex, whose jokes died like fire during a storm.
He rolled his eyes. “I was just sayin’ Ezra’s pretty. Nothing wrong with that. We all have eyes.”
“Last time I checked, eyes can’t flirt,” Hammer said, squinting at him.
Ezra swallowed, because the last thing he wanted was for Dex to blame him for relationship turmoil. “It wasn’t serious.”
Frank seemed happy with this development as he packed tools into a duffel bag.
“I figured,” Hammer said, cocking his head as Ezra finished Frank’s lunch with a water bottle and a thermos with what was left of the coffee. “He knows I'd drop him like a hot potato if he goes behind my back.”
Dex was back to grinning and slid his finger into a belt loop at the front of Hammer’s jeans. “And that’s why I never will. It was the pancakes. They were so good I lost my mind.”
Hammer shook his head and leaned in, kissing Dex’s lips so gently Ezra looked away, feeling like an intruder, even though the two men knew they weren’t alone.
Ezra turned to Frank, who smiled at him, seemingly ready to go, and oh, he was so handsome. Ezra was by no means small, but next to a tank like him, he felt like the frailest twink, and kind of liked it. He’d rather not wait for him all day long, though.
“Can I come with you? I promise I won’t be a bother,” he said, handing Frank the food.
Hammer and Dex exchanged glances, then Hammer patted Dex’s shoulder. “We’ll wait outside.”
Frank sighed as soon as they were out. “It’ll be extremely boring to you. Just motorcycle parts and a bunch of bikers spending far too much time ogling them as they drink beer and waste my time.”
Ezra cocked his head, letting his mouth curl. “Come on, Frank, I know exactly what you all are doing out there.”
Frank stalled. “You do?”
Ezra sighed. “Duh. It’s obvious those parts are stolen. You’re moving cars and other goods, right?”
“Y-yeah. I didn’t want you to know.” Frank stroked Ezra’s hair with an unreadable expression.
Ezra offered him a smile and reached for the warm hand hanging at Frank’s side. “It’s okay. And I’m just so bored. I cleaned everything twice already. There’s nothing to do!”
Frank leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ve got something for you.”