Page 149 of A Quick Buck

“At the time, I thought it was very poetic.” Alistair rolled his eyes as Noah kept snickering. “Yes, go on. Enjoy yourself at my expense.”

“I’m sorry.” Noah grinned. His eyes were still stinging from crying so hard, but he was feeling better joking around with Alistair. “It’s really bad, though. Like, so bad.”

Alistair smirked. “There are worse ways to remember someone, dear boy.”

“Are you gonna name a club after me someday?”

“Maybe I will,” Alistair mused. “I’ll call it Stubborn Little Brat’s.”

“I like it.” Noah beamed.

Alistair playfully smacked Noah’s leg. “Hmmph, you would.”

“You could hang a picture of me in the lobby.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” Noah poked Alistair’s hip. “I’m very photogenic.”

“Of that I have no doubt, but I’ll pass, thank you.”

“Your loss, old man.” Noah shrugged.

“Feeling better now?” Alistair reached out to stroke his fingers through Noah’s hair.

“Kinda. Yeah. Thank you.” Noah leaned into Alistair’s touch, closing his eyes. “I just have so much built up inside of me. All this anger and pain and terrible shit, and it wants to, like, explode all at once.”

“I understand. You need to work on resolving your pain instead of trying to bury it.”

“I don’t know how.”

“I am going to help you, if you’ll let me.”

“Yeah?”

“Right now we certainly have the time should you be interested.” Alistair took a drink of soda. “And we still have to discuss your appalling behavior last night.”

“Last night?” Noah scoffed loudly. “You mean when I almost died?”

“Yes.”

“Are you for real right now?”

“I understand the circumstances were exceptionally poor, but you were still rude, and your cursing was extremely offensive. I think it would be appropriate for us to talk about it. See if we can find more productive outlets for all of that negative energy.”

“Is this the kind of discussion that’s gonna end with me gettin’ my ass spanked?” Noah’s cock twitched in his pants.

“Most likely.”

“Bring it the fuck on, old man.”

Chapter 21

“Where do you wanna do this? Right here?”

“As good a place as any,” Alistair coyly replied. “There is such a spectacular fire in you. It’s a shame you use it to fuel your little tantrums.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen a tantrum yet. You’re really all bent out of shape because I was cussing again? Seriously?”