Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
That wiped most of the amusement off William’s face. He nodded grimly. “Good man.”
“He is,” Oliver chimed in, sounding oddly protective. “He’s a good teacher, too.”
Matthew made a face. “Wouldn’t go that far. This isn’t boxing, bareknuckle or otherwise. It’s messy and quick, but it should get the job done.”
William scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I’ve been considering adding a self-defense class or two to promote at the opening, but with the baby coming I didn’t want to overextend. I’d be proud if you’d consider lending me a hand with that.”
Matthew’s throat tightened. When was the last time William had asked him for help with anything? “I think I could work that into my schedule. Maybe take a few shifts at the counter, too, so Nora gets a break now and then.”
His brother nodded brusquely, eyes bright with emotion. “That’d be grand, Matty. Just grand.”
Then he clapped his hands together, expression serious as he studied Oliver. “It looks like my first instinct about you was right, wasn’t it, Garcia? You came here with a purpose. Someone’s bothering you and you want him to piss off?”
Oliver instinctively started to shake his head and Matthew sighed. “Yes, someone’s been bothering him. The guy works with Oliver’s favorite cousin, Ruben, and he’s a macho arsehole that thinks his size makes him intimidating. Thinks he can make Oliver do whatever he wants.”
He ignored the glare Legs tossed his way. William was a good man to have on their side, especially if the shit-heel decided to step over the line again like he had three weeks ago.
Oliver told him the whole story—how it started with the muscle-bound Emilio showing up at the dance studio, then his grandmother’s house, each time insulting Oliver’s sexuality after trying and failing to get him alone. Then the arse had gotten drunk at a family party and snuck into Oliver’s room.
If Ruben hadn’t been looking for him, shouting from the hallway… Matthew didn’t want to think about what might have happened.
Oliver had been using the gym as an escape, as well as a place to train. The closer the bastard got to his family, the harder it was to avoid him.
Why he hadn’t told his cousin or any of his uncles, Matthew couldn’t understand. But he wasn’t going to keep it from his brother.
He responded exactly the way Matthew expected him to. With a dangerous glint in his eye. “Does he now? I think we should prove him wrong, don’t you, Matty?”
“Hell yes.”
“I should,” Oliver spoke up, quiet but adamant. “Show me how to prove him wrong.”
William’s smile was pure approval. “Good man. Now that we’ve got that settled, I saw a problem with that last maneuver of yours. I’ll try that bear hug this time, all right, Ollie? You do your best to throw me off.”
Oliver stared at Matthew with big eyes, mouthing, “Ollie?”
He grinned as his brother wrapped his arms around his boyfriend. Then William caught his eye and Matthew knew they’d be having a conversation about what he’d walked in on at the soonest available opportunity.
But there was no doubt in his mind that his brother would always be in his corner.
He’d had the love thing all wrong, hadn’t he? William loved as deeply, as passionately, as his parents had, but there was nothing selfish about his heart. He could, and did, love his friends, family and his unborn child unconditionally and with equal ferocity.
That was the kind of love Matthew wanted in his life.
He watched Oliver struggle and swear as William blocked his footwork and his smile grew.
That was the kind of love he’d fight for.
Three months later…
“Oh fuck, baby, we can’t. Not here.”
Matthew growled against the back of Oliver’s neck, the sound echoing off the tiles in the gym shower. “Oh yes, we fucking can. No cameras in the shower, I barred the door and you haven’t spent the night at my place for a week.”
“It was three days, and I was babysitting, so I suffered more than you did. But I owed Ruben and you still got off, so you can’t complain.”
Matthew spun Oliver around and gripped his biceps. “Blowjobs in the car are hot, Legs, but they’re just temporary fixes. I only have so much restraint when it comes to you. I’m not waiting anymore.”
He turned on the water with one hand, nudging his chest into Oliver’s until his back was pressed against the wall.
“I love it when you get all bossy and impatient. Have I mentioned?” he asked with a happy sigh.
Matthew kissed him hard on the lips before spinning him around again so his cheek was pressed into the tile. “I know you do. That’s why you spent the entire self-defense class distracting me. Brushing against me. Bending over right in front of me, this perfect ass begging for a ride.”
Oliver lifted his hips and arched his back, a move that made the cheeks of his ass caress Matthew’s cock. “You know me so well.”