Page 63 of Cold Hard Cash

Jimmy leaned against him, smiling as he tried to catch his breath. “Hey... you, too.”

Chuckled softly, Cold cradled the back of Jimmy’s head and pressed their foreheads together for a few precious beats, then grunted as he began to pull away.

Jimmy reached out, trying to put his hand on Cold’s face again. He wanted to recapture that feeling from before, that intense moment when he had told Cold he was beautiful. He didn’t want this to end yet. But Cold grabbed Jimmy’s wrist, leaving him floundering in disappointment. Jimmy couldn’t hide how much the rejection stung. He knew he was getting closer to Cold, but he wanted validation.

As if sensing the need, Cold pressed a chaste kiss against Jimmy’s palm. He let it linger, sighing deeply before finally separating their bodies.

Jimmy pouted when Cold pulled out, knocking his knees together as he struggled to stay seated on the edge of the piano. Cold helped him stand up before fixing his pants. Jimmy didn’t see what Cold did with the condom, but with one quick zip the gangster looked as if nothing had happened.

Jimmy, meanwhile, was still a naked and trembling mess, grateful for Cold’s strong hands to assist him. He got dressed, blushing at the way Cold watched him and how gently his fingers brushed against him. His legs felt stronger the more he stood on them.

“Rowena put something of mine in your safe,” Jimmy said, stretching his arms above his head with a soft groan. “It’s my mother’s jewelry, and she sort of bought it back for me, and, well. Long story.”

Cold’s mouth twitched into a soft smirk. “Maury?” he asked knowingly.

“Yeah, Maury,” Jimmy said. “Can we go get it before you take me home?”

“Home?” Cold snorted, glancing at his watch. “I’ll go get it for you, but I’m not taking you home. Doesn’t seem to be five yet. You’re still on the clock, Mr. Poe.”

Jimmy flushed, gawking with his mouth hanging open. “You... you’re serious.”

“Deadly,” Cold drawled, a wicked smirk curling his lips.

Jimmy gulped.

Cold drawled with a dark chuckle, “We’re going back to my estate. I’d like to hear you sing a bit more. We have eighty-four minutes left, and I promise you that I am going to take full advantage of every last second.”

Jimmy nodded obediently, grateful when they left and he had his mother’s jewelry box in his hands again. By the time they got back inside Cold’s bedroom, there was only about forty-five minutes remaining. Jimmy didn’t think Cold could make too much mischief for him in such a short amount of time.

How wrong he was. Cold took him to bed, took him apart again, and oh, how he made him sing.

Chapter Fourteen

Jimmy’s muscles ached in the most wonderful way. Cold had used every last second of their time together to make him fall apart, bit by bit, leaving him completely exhausted and limp against the sheets by exactly five o’clock.

Jimmy smiled when he opened his eyes and saw his mother’s jewelry box sitting on the bedside table. He reached out and ran his finger over the lid, tracing the little roses. Blinking, he startled when he saw Cold suddenly walk by. He wasn’t wearing a shirt.

Cold’s right shoulder was visible for the briefest of moments, allowing Jimmy to drink in the lean muscle and sharp tone that he saw.

And the scars.

There were two that looked like twin sunbursts with a patch of white marbled tissue stretched out beneath them. Another long thick scar ran in between those and down his back. That was all Jimmy could see before Cold was pulling on his shirt, buttoning it quickly.

Cold didn’t look at Jimmy, but he spoke quietly. “I won’t be needing your services today. Take the night off.”

Jimmy couldn’t mask his disappointment at being denied an evening with Cold. He pouted, perking up and asking hopefully, “What about tomorrow? I’d really—”

“I’ll let you know,” Cold said sternly, tucking in his shirt and fastening his belt. He slid on a shoulder holster, a quick glint of silver flashing as he checked his guns. Jimmy had never noticed Cold carrying before; not until last night. He didn’t know anything about guns, but he could see that Cold’s were silver and big with pearl handles.

“Is everything okay?” Jimmy asked softly. He could sense a dangerous tension brewing in Cold as if he was preparing for battle.

“Fine,” Cold said, well,coldly. He disappeared into his closet to finish getting dressed unseen.

“Okay.” Jimmy frowned, deciding to roll back over to doze. Cold was clearly not in a talkative mood, and Jimmy was a little offended by his brisk attitude. Last night had been full of so many intimate moments, and Jimmy thought he had finally made a crack in that icy armor of his. Apparently not.

Sighing softly, he pulled the blankets up over his shoulder and closed his eyes. He heard Cold come back toward the bed, but remained as he was, intent on ignoring him.

“Don’t sleep all day,” came a rumbling purr in his ear, so close that it startled him, long fingers petting through his hair.