Page 10

Lucas

HE WOKE slowly, the heat, the body pressing against his, keeping him from wanting to open his eyes. A soft groan had him blinking, though, and when Akio’s black hair came into sight, all he could do was smile. Akio was asleep, face buried in Lucas’ chest. He wasn’t sure when Akio had unwrapped himself from the blanket to cover them both, but it meant that Akio was firmly pressed against him. He could barely see the side of Akio’s face but what he could see had his heart squeezing almost painfully.

He pulled his right hand out from under the blanket to run his fingers through Akio’s soft hair. He knew he had no right, but he couldn’t deny himself this innocent moment. He had to be careful when it came to Akio because the man was making his walls crumble left and right.

It hurt to know that Akio thought himself weak. He was anything but in Lucas’ eyes. He was the strongest person he knew. He’d been a kid, raised in the hell that was Yokota’s home. He should’ve been brainwashed into wanting to follow his father, but Akio had a sense of justice that Yokota had never been able to tear down. He’d fought back. He’d fought and his father had punished him even more for it.

Once Akio had gotten away from all that, he’d carefully and slowly started to thrive, living with Chris and Diesel. Despite having learned that even family could hurt you in the worst ways, Akio had opened his heart to his brother and Chris instantly. Akio had been braver at eighteen than he had his whole life.

Black lashes fluttered and then he was looking into warm brown eyes.

“We fell asleep?” Akio whispered.

He nodded. “It’s not the first time I’ve fallen asleep on this couch.”

Akio’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and he said, “I figured. It’s comfy.”

He wasn’t about to tell Akio, but he probably spent more nights on the couch than he did in his bed. It was so fucking empty in that room. So cold, and not because he kept the temperature low.

Akio froze, eyes widening, and before Lucas could ask anything, Akio was extracting himself from Lucas’ side.

“Breakfast?” Lucas asked, watching Akio closely as he stood, flustered and blushing, lashes fluttering as he blinked down at Lucas.

Fuck.

He was going to have to stay under the blanket for a while, especially if Akio didn’t leave.

“Uh, s-sure,” Akio stuttered. He pointed over his shoulder, saying, “I’ll go get dressed,” and then realized he was pointing in the wrong direction and blushed harder.

Akio took off without another word and it was all Lucas could do not to huff out a laugh. His man was nothing if not adorable.

No. Not his , he chided himself with a shake of his head.

Yet his heart whispered.

He sighed and pulled the blanket off, sparing his semi a glare before getting up. He heard the door to the guest bedroom shutting and headed for the bathroom, making a quick stop in his bedroom to grab some clean clothes.

He took a shower. A very cold one. He was shaking as he pulled his clothes on.

The door to Akio’s room was still shut when he walked past it to the kitchen, Akio’s soft voice telling him he was likely talking on the phone.

He grabbed two glasses and the juice, putting all three things on the counter. Then he found some bowls and the cereal he needed to restock soon. He made sure to add it to his grocery list along with more juice and some chocolate for Akio.

He turned to grab the milk from the fridge when he heard footsteps.

Akio was still on his phone when he walked into the kitchen, a tight expression on his face as he listened. Lucas dried his hands off and turned, leaning back against the counter to watch Akio.

Akio’s gaze met his, the dark depths of his eyes piercing, and he had to dig his nails into the palms of his hands to stay where he was.

“Sure. Will do,” Akio said before lowering the phone.

Akio put his phone down on the counter and said in a low voice, “That was Ryder.”

“What’s wrong?”

Akio took a shaky breath, then looked up and said, “He told me they found cameras in the bar. That the cops must’ve planted them there because they couldn’t get into the Rebels’ clubhouse.”

“That’s… not really surprising.”

Akio shook his head, dark eyes looking haunted.

“No, but they have video of me.”

Lucas straightened, brows snapping together.

“What do you mean?”

Akio turned, his distraught gaze clashing with Lucas’ eyes.

“The Rebels treat me as one of their own. That’ s why they arrested me, too.”

He almost laughed, though he knew it would come out completely sarcastic.

“They arrested you because the Rebels treat you nicely?”

Akio nodded.

“What a bunch of incompetent assholes.”

He had a friend in the police department looking into the case against the Rebels. They’d held most of the members on bogus charges that sure as hell wouldn’t stick in court. Why? He still didn’t know. Perhaps just because they could?

He understood wanting to remove criminals from the street. His job wasn’t much different from Detective Holland’s in that regard. But dragging an innocent college student into it? Fuck that and fuck Holland.

Akio was nibbling on his bottom lip, looking concerned with a deep line between his brows, gazing at nothing.

“Hey,” he said, reaching for Akio’s hand. “It’ll be alright.”

“Not if they find out about Diesel.”

He had to give Akio that one.

“They won’t find out if I have anything to say about it.”

He stepped closer, unable to stop himself and a relieved breath coursed through him when Akio went straight into his arms. His eyes fell closed, and his heart did a happy jump as he held the man against him, loving every second despite knowing he should only feel guilty for it.

He placed a kiss to the top of Akio’s head and instantly regretted it because the sharp intake of breath that followed had him wanting to do it again just to see which other sounds he could get out of Akio.

He stepped back, letting his arms fall to his sides as he swallowed hard. He needed to keep his hands and lips to himself. He shouldn’t have fucking touched him to begin with.

It didn’t make it any easier for him that Akio was staring at his mouth, tongue poking out to lick his lips. Then Akio raised his gaze and what he saw in those dark brown eyes had his heart stuttering in surprise.