Page 5

Despite his best efforts, Austen’s bitterness grew on the way to Beau Bosi’s home.

Beau was a deadly weapons dealer and Austen had done a lot of patching up around his place.

He had hoped when Beau had married the love of his life, he would stop needing Austen quite so much.

At least this time, it was a sick guard who was apparently at death’s door from some mystery ailment and not a gunshot wound.

Still, Austen just wanted to be home in bed with Rain.

Damn, he really hoped Rain truly meant to wait. He needed this in his life.

Austen pulled into the circular driveway of Beau’s compound and parked at the bottom of the front steps. The front door flew open as soon as Austen jogged up the stairs.

A frazzled-looking Henry waited for him. That turned Austen’s blood cold. Beau’s longtime guard was as ruthless as they came. Austen had never seen him out of sorts. His light brown eyes were filled with terror.

He waved Austen inside. “Come on. He’s upstairs.”

“Tell me what’s going on. What are the symptoms?”

Henry spoke as he jogged up the steps. “I found him on the bathroom floor this morning when he didn’t show up for his shift.

He was barely lucid and apparently had passed out after puking.

” He threw the door open to one of the rooms. Another of Beau’s guards, Mickey, was curled into a ball on the bed naked.

His skin was bright red and sweat covered his body.

A bad and irritating feeling washed over Austen. Beau and Kylo sat next to the bed.

Austen pulled a mask from his pocket and put it on. He touched Mickey’s leg as he moved closer. His skin was on fire, and he shook. “Hey there, Mickey. It’s Austen. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Green eyes focused on him. His blond hair was plastered to his face. “It’s a damn virus or the flu or something. I told them not to call you. This’ll pass.”

Austen had to agree. It was flu season and had been going around hard. That was exactly why he had a few tests in his bag. “Let’s do a quick flu test, then we’ll work on this fever.” Austen spoke as he went through the motions. “Have you kept any liquids down?”

“I’ve been forcing water in him,” Kylo said, looking scared.

He was such a sweet guy. His big blue eyes and blond hair made him look innocent as hell. Today, he had bows in his hair and wore one-piece pajamas with unicorns all over it.

Austen nodded and set the test aside to do its thing.

“Let’s get some fever reducer in you.” He pinched a small piece of skin on Mickey’s hand, checking for dehydration.

Austen’s aggravation grew when he looked fine.

He wasn’t unsympathetic. This just wasn’t an emergency.

They had called his emergency line for a virus.

It was obvious they didn’t respect his time.

They thought they owned him. His bedside manner turned shittier and shittier by the second until he was simply going through the motions. The flu test came back positive.

Austen whipped out his prescription pad with more force than necessary. “I’m writing a prescription for an antiviral medication.” He scratched out the script. “I’ll also go ahead and write one for each of you to start, so you hopefully won’t catch this.” Even his handwriting looked angry.

He ripped off the papers and put them on the bedside table. “There. I hope you feel better soon.”

Without as much as a goodbye, Austen headed for the door.

Beau was in his path before he made it five steps. “What’s wrong?”

Austen’s eye twitched. “It’s nothing.” He stepped around Beau, and Beau stepped back into his path. This time, Beau looked like the crime boss he was. “No, really. What’s wrong with you?” His hard tone said Austen wouldn’t be leaving there without answering.

Austen opened his mouth to give a half-ass excuse so he could get out of there. That wasn’t what happened. “None of you respect my goddamn time. Emergency phones are for emergencies. Not the flu.” He looked over his shoulder at Mickey. “Not that I don’t care.”

Mickey nodded. “I know.” His voice sounded scratchy.

Austen focused on Beau again. His anger hadn’t lessened.

“I’ll always show up when you need me, but I have a life too.

I let you spend time with your family. Your man.

Why can’t you call the non-emergency line when I’m off so I can write scripts from home, and I can spend some time with my fucking man?

Goddamn.” He recognized he practically yelled, but Austen was so over it.

He was literally one wrong word away from walking away from this career and letting the chips fall. Austen was so fed up.

Beau’s expression was blank. His dark eyes held the same glint of danger they always did. Beau possessed something absolutely terrifying that couldn’t be described. It was felt.

Kylo appeared at Beau’s side. “I’m sorry we called you away from Rain. Why didn’t you tell us you need help? Surely we can figure out something so you’re not overworked.”

Austen was so taken aback by Kylo knowing he meant Rain that his brain froze.

Beau’s obviously didn’t. “You’re dating Rain? Rain Agafonov? The assassin?”

Austen pinched the spot between his eyes. “That’s the one.”

Beau nodded, looking entirely too thoughtful. “I’ll put the word out tomorrow. With my connections, it won’t take long to find a couple of passable physicians who can help carry the load in this town. You should’ve said something.”

The offer felt suspect. Beau didn’t do nice things for people. That didn’t mean Austen wouldn’t accept the offer. He took a calming breath. “Thank you. I’d appreciate the help if you think you’ll still be safe. I’d never want to do anything to expose you.” There. He sounded like their doctor again.

Beau squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’d never let anyone live long enough to take us down. But I’m glad to know you feel that strongly about our safety.”

Austen nodded. He did care. Maybe he was upset, but he was strangely attached to them. “I should get home. Hopefully, Rain is still waiting.”

A bright smile lit Kylo’s face. “He texted me like five minutes ago saying his foot was elevated and he was thinking of ordering you two dinner.”

Austen realized he smiled like an idiot. “That’s good to know. For once, I’d really love not to ruin things because I always have to work.”

Kylo linked arms with him and headed for the door.

“Oh, you won’t have to worry about that with Rain.

If Rain understands nothing else, it’s hard work.

In fact, I’m surprised his strict regimen hasn’t driven you insane yet.

Rain doesn’t rest. He was taught failure wasn’t an option.

In his world, failures die. He’s honestly a bit intense.

Rain has always acted like there’s a knife at his throat when it comes to ballet. One missed step and it’s over.”

Austen felt like there were so many layers behind Kylo’s words. Was there a knife to Rain’s throat? They honestly didn’t know that much about each other. Austen’s attraction was so strong, it made him feel closer to Rain than they actually were. He needed to dig deeper. Austen would start tonight.

Warm lips brushed his nape and moved to the side of his neck.

Rain drew a shaky breath as he reached over his shoulder and buried his fingers in Austen’s hair.

He should have startled and gone into fight mode at being pulled from his sleep.

Instead, it was like he smelled Austen’s cologne in his dreams and knew he was safe. He didn’t have to fight.

“I brought you dinner.”

“I know you did.” Rain rolled, using the element of surprise to pin Austen beneath him.

He took the kiss he wanted while going to work on Austen’s jeans.

The moment he had them torn open, Austen’s dick was in his mouth.

Rain skipped all spots in between. Austen kept getting away from him. Not this time.

Austen tolerated the blowjob for half a minute before Rain found himself on his back and blinking at the ceiling. He tore at Rain’s clothes. “Sorry. I’ve wanted you for too long to blow in your mouth.” He kissed Rain’s stomach as he ripped off his pants. “I need to be inside you.”

A loud moan dropped from his lips before Rain could stop it.

Just the image of Austen fucking him was enough to have him on edge.

He didn’t recall being this obsessed and hot for anyone before Austen.

In fact, Rain bordered on frigid. He didn’t make space for others.

Rain wanted Austen to take everything from him.

He watched through a haze of lust as Austen fought his way from his clothes.

Austen had a condom and lube so fast, Rain didn’t see where he got it.

In his defense, the body Austen always kept hidden was beautiful.

He had a chest Rain wanted to sleep on and arms he wanted holding him.

The backs of Rain’s eyes burned at the thought.

No one held him. He wondered what that was like.

Before he had time to fall down a rabbit hole inside his mind, Austen’s slicked fingers stretched his asshole.

Rain grabbed the headboard and held on. His hips left the mattress, seeking more. He was desperate.

Austen’s crown pressed against his hole, and time froze.

They held each other’s stare as Austen slowly pressed inside.

He was so pretty. The flush making his blue eyes pop had Rain twisted in knots.

He looked turned on in a way that would sear into Rain’s memory of the moment.

In that second, Rain feared his heart. Not for what Austen could do to it, but for the way that stupid organ proved he was still weak, and for the all the ways he could break himself.

Austen was good. No matter what he thought, Austen was pure.

Rain was a weapon of controlled chaos and destruction.

Then Austen thrust hard, and Rain forgot everything.

All he knew was pleasure. Age definitely brought experience.

Austen kept Rain held at the perfect angle as he pumped inside him.

All Rain could do was cling to the headboard and get fucked.

He was a mess. Rain had no idea how he looked because he couldn’t do anything but fight his way toward the ecstasy Austen promised.

He babbled and writhed. Whimpers and pleas tore from him.

The experience was more than he could have dreamed.

Austen kissed every place he could reach, biting and sucking as he took Rain.

Rain wasn’t an active participant. He was an instrument at the hands of a master.

The pressure was right there, threatening what little sanity he possessed.

Rain open-mouth fought for air as he strained toward release.

Everything went silent. He held his breath.

His muscles clenched and then an almost painful gasp ripped from him as he blew.

His body jerked as cum jetted from his cock.

With his face pressed against Rain’s shoulder, Austen’s cries matched the rhythm of him taking Rain’s ass.

Rain realized his body moved with the sound, matching Austen.

Dancing to the music they made. His muscles turned to gelatin when Austen’s mouth covered his in a searching kiss.

He heard the way Austen struggled to breathe, and pride filled him alongside the glow of satisfaction.

Austen’s mouth moved to Rain’s ear. He kissed its shell. “I really did bring you dinner.”

A laugh burst from Rain. He was happy. For the first time, he was absolutely ecstatic, and Rain wouldn’t let anything take this from him. Austen already knew he was crazy, but he didn’t actually know a thing.