Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Zolt gave a sharp, unpleasant laugh and met Leo’s eyes. He didn’t look happy, or sad, or afraid. Just tired, as if having to juggle the various groups of interest in his life had drained him of energy. “It’s not gonna work, Leo. The Caribbean, remember? That’s my future. I want to start over, with no more enemies in sight. Where nobody knows me.”
Leo groaned. “Right. The Caribbean. But when’s that gonna happen? Twenty years from now? It’s not like you can put your life on hold for that long.” He was annoyed that Zolt had mentioned his stupid retirement plan again, but he still held Zolt’s hands, unable to let go.
Zolt offered him a sheepish smile. “Who knows? I might just leave this place alive on time,” he said and pulled Leo closer.
“So you’re not planning any future here?” Leo asked in frustration, but sat on the couch next to Zolt with one leg draped over his.
Zolt shrugged, but his arm instantly pushed its way along Leo’s shoulders. “Nothing’s keeping me here.”
It hurt to hear that, even though Leo had no claim on Zolt. He was only to stay at his place until the drugs got moved, but he couldn’t help wondering what a future with Zolt might be like. They’d have to admit the truth about their relationship to the club sooner or later. Just thinking about it gave Leo stomach cramps.
“What if there was?”
Zolt frowned, his thick fingers already playing with Leo’s hair, so close to the sensitive place behind the ear that Leo was about to groan despite the serious nature of their conversation.
“Give the prospecting some thought, okay?” Leo ran his fingers up Zolt’s muscular, tattooed arm. He didn’t like to think of a future where Zolt lived on a sunbed, even if that made him selfish. For as long as Zolt was here, Leo could still share this thing with him, but he’d be alone with his secrets once Zolt was gone.
“Only if you let me relax now. I’m not gonna open again today,” Zolt said, rolling his head back, which made Leo focus on the even shape of his chunky beard and on the way his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, as if inviting Leo’s kisses.
But instead, he thought of Mike’s new beard, and then of Mike’s words. “Did you hit on my brother?” He ran the tips of his fingers down Zolt’s neck, taking pleasure from the way Zolt’s chest stirred in response.
“Which one?” Zolt asked, a roguish smile tugging at his lips as he glanced Leo’s way.
Leo shook his head. “Okay. That’s how we’re gonna play? How many of my brothers did you hit on?”
“Two. Why? You wanna share stories with them?” Zolt asked, but his hand slid to Leo’s thigh.
“No. I do not. Did you… did you actually… did they—? I don’t wanna know. I guess three times the charm, huh?” But knowing the truth didn’t feel good at all. It was as if he were disposable.
Zolt’s hand squeezed on his thigh, and he rolled his head to Leo’s shoulder. “No, they didn’t. But I knew you might from the day I first met you.”
Leo glanced into Zolt’s eyes, unable to breathe. “How?” How could Zolt have known something Leo hadn’t even imagined about himself?
Zolt hummed, and Leo sensed him leaning forward, until more of his weight rested on Leo, and their lips almost touched. “From the way you looked at me. I hit on them to see how they’d react. Because it was fun to tease them, but I knew you might eventually say yes. You looked at my exposed arms, and don’t think I missed the way you gawked at my ass when I bent over to test you. I saw you in the mirror.”
Leo’s mouth went dry, and his face heated. He’d had no idea Zolt noticed such things. He felt like a fish on a hook, yet couldn’t wait to be eaten. “Oh. I… It is shapely. Like all of you.” And since they spooned every day, Leo sometimes wondered what it would be like to fuck Zolt, to be the one making Zolt moan and lose it. Even if a muscular ass covered in dark hairs was a world away from the soft female buttocks he was used to.
Zolt smirked and pushed that last inch forward, claiming Leo’s mouth in a kiss. “Your company is relaxing. You can’t lie. Not to me at least.”
Leo rubbed his fingers over Zolt’s beard and kissed him again. “I’m not a very good liar. And I really like you, Zolt. You don’t seem to trust anyone, but I can assure you, you can depend on me.”
Zolt swallowed against his fingers, his brilliant gaze darting to the lamp above, as if he couldn’t stand the intimacy of keeping their eyes locked. “I have good reason not to trust people. I learned my lesson every time I had. Well, with the exception of that time an MC paid me for taking the blame for murder. They choked up the cash and sent me on my way.”