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“Yeah, but mine is better. I mean,I’mthere.”

It was said with what Marco was sure Terry believed was a charming grin. The same one he used when he was trying to show off the effects of his workout routine. Or when he was talking about his great apartment. The one he decorated himself and that totally belonged in a magazine. Or the new bike he’d put together himself because, of course, he could be a grease monkey too. The list of self-praises Terry could sing was numerous, and Marco wondered if there was an actual end to the list, though he wasn’t willing to find out.

“It’s just easier because it’s where my friends go,” Marco lied, spotting the front steps to his apartment building with relief.

“Well, you should still stop in and see me sometimes. It’s not nearly as fun without you around,” Terry told him.

“I’ll think about it,” Marco said, taking the first step and freezing when a hand closed around his elbow.

He turned to find Terry staring at him with a frown. “I mean it. I’d like to see more of you.”

Marco sighed, too tired and exasperated to keep up the illusion. “I know, Terry. And I’ve told you I appreciate it. Everyone likes to be shown a bit of attention now and again. But I also told you you’re not my type, not like that. Okay? So please.”

And before he had to deal with the wounded expression that always came with rejection, he turned to walk off. His stomachtwisted when Terry’s hand squeezed his elbow harder, keeping him there.

“You haven’t even given me a shot,” Terry said, anger filtering into his voice.

“Terry, let go of me,” Marco said evenly, heartbeat thudding against his chest.

“C’mon,” Terry insisted, brow furrowing. “You don’t need to be a cocktease about the whole thing. You’ve got my interest. Stop playing hard to get.”

Marco tried to jerk his arm away. “I’m not playinganything,Terry. I said no, I mean no, now let me go.”

He honestly didn’t care what Terry had to say next, and he turned to try to fling his body away, hoping it would break Terry’s grip. As he did so, he heard a yelp behind him, and Terry’s fingers went slack. Marco stumbled away before turning to face him, heart thundering now.

Terry stood half a foot from the bottom step, back arched, his face twisted into a grimace of pain. The hand that had been holding Marco’s elbow was at his side, fingers clenched. His other arm was bent painfully behind him, and the man pushing Terry’s arm up his back bore an angry snarl.

“Carter?” Marco asked.

Carter ignored him, snarling at Terry as he didsomethingthat made Terry whimper. “I think he wants you to fuck off. What do you think?”

Terry whimpered something that sounded affirmative.

“Then what do you think you should probably fucking do?” Carter asked, eyes glittering dangerously.

Terry whimpered again, followed by a sharp cry as Carter moved his arm, twisting further.

“Carter,” Marco warned, wincing.

“I’m sorry,” Carter told Terry, voice heavy with malice. “I couldn’t quite make that out. Try again.”

“I should…” Terry gasped out, “fuck off.”

“Yeah, and I think you should stay fucked off for, I don’t know,” Another movement of his arm and another moan from Terry, “ever. Deal?”

“Deal!” Terry cried out.

“Hey there!” A shrill voice from up above called down. “You stop that! I’m calling the police!”

“Goddammit,” Carter snarled.

Marco put a hand to his brow, peering up to see one of his upper-floor neighbors glaring down at them. Well, to be more specific, she was glaring down at Carter and Terry.

“It’s alright, Mrs. Palmer,” he assured the elderly woman. “My friend was just helping me.”

Mrs. Palmer gave him a wary look but spared him her true glare, saving that for the other two. “Are you sure?”

“Carter, stop, you’re going to break something,” Marco told him