Page 18 of Play Dirty

Madi snatched the keys from Az and stomped his way to the driver’s side, getting in and turning over the engine. Az had no choice but to get in on the passenger side or get left behind. Madi remained silent the rest of the ride home, leaving Az to stare out the window. He had no idea how to bridge this stupid gap between them, but maybe that was for the best.

* * *

Weekendwas more than a club;it was a huge LGBT hotspot with blue lasers sweeping a near black dance floor and a DJ in a neon-embellished facemask playing music loud enough to make Az wish he’d brought earplugs. He didn’t think it was a coincidence Ryan wanted to meet there. He clearly thought Az might want to mix business with pleasure as they’d done so many times before. Az wasn’t sure if he wanted that or not, but it felt like there was an ocean between him and Madi, even though he was close enough to brush Az’s shoulder as they moved through the crowded space.

Az left Madi at the bar, doing his best to squeeze through the throng of people, who seemed to move on the dance floor as one amorphous figure to the throbbing swell of music. The stairs to the VIP section sat against the far wall, guarded by a man with a gold chain, who stood with his arms crossed over his muscular chest. Az had to lean in close to be heard over the roar, but the man nodded, removing the rope so he could pass.

Upstairs, Ryan sat in a booth surrounded by scantily clad barely legal twinks. When he saw Az, he grinned, waving the boys away before gesturing for him to sit. Az slid into the booth, attempting to keep his distance, at least until the business portion of the conversation was complete.

It had been a long time since Az had found Ryan’s company pleasant. Approximately six weeks before he’d had his first encounter with Madigan, if Az were being honest. Ryan had never been Az’s first choice. He had always been an afterthought, a why-the-hell-not on a lonely night, but he’d never been a friend. Hell, Az wasn’t even sure he could consider him an ally.

Colby Ryan was a mercenary in every sense of the word. He cared about power and money, in that order. If he was selling Az information, it was strictly because it benefitted him to do so. Which made Az somewhat leery, but he was also out of any other options. Bennington and DiMarco were well hidden behind a solid brick wall, both literally and metaphorically. Ryan had once been an assassin, like Az and Madi. Unlike them, Ryan had started as a black ops soldier, a highly trained shadow, who slipped in and out undetected, leaving nothing but corpses to show he’d ever been there at all.

Now, Ryan had traded in his lucrative merc lifestyle for a fancy suit and a steady paycheck as a hired gun for Bennington. Az had no idea why Ryan was choosing to sell out Bennington by giving him this information, but he imagined Ryan had a plan that would have him moving up the ranks somehow. Az didn’t care about Ryan’s promotion opportunity, since he and Madi planned on taking Bennington and DiMarco’s operation down to the studs and putting them out of business for good.

Ryan leaned forward and brushed a kiss across Az’s lips. “Long time, no see, sexy,” he shouted, as if trying to be heard over the music.

“It’s good to see you, too, my friend,” Az lied, his gaze shifting to the bar where Madi lingered, wondering what he thought of Ryan’s friendly greeting. “I don’t wish to be rude, but I’m afraid I’m under a bit of a time constraint. Do you have the address, as we discussed? I’ve already wired the first half of the payment.”

“Azrael, you are no fun. You are here in Rio, the party capital of the world.” He raised his arms, gesturing wildly, eyes glassy. “You need to relax. I can show you a really good time. So could they,” he said, nodding towards the two boys he’d dismissed moments ago.

The boy’s waved, their eyes snagging on Az and lingering. He knew, if given the option, they’d much rather entertain him than Ryan. Az was the more attractive option between the two of them. It wasn’t conceited to say so.

Ryan was beautiful in that way that caught a person’s eye but then made them quickly look away. There was something in his gaze that seemed to repel others, an emptiness that no charm could hide. He was pretty like a doll and equally as plastic, making him both repulsive and forgettable, valuable assets for any killer.

“I wish I had the time. But I’m afraid that’s in short supply when it comes to this information.”

It was clear from the look on Ryan’s face he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. “Dance with me. One dance and the address is yours. Promise.”

Az sighed, his gaze cutting back to Madi, who stood at the bar, a drink sweating forgotten on the counter beside him as he glared upwards in Az’s general direction. Could Madi see Az as well as he could see Madi? It was the notion of Madi watching that had him sliding from the booth, saying, “Fine. One dance. Then I get the address and I’m leaving.”

Az allowed Ryan to drag him out into the sea of people, bodies coalescing together like ocean waves. Ryan’s arms went around Az’s neck, and he placed his hands on Ryan’s waist, closing his eyes and letting the beat take him, his hips moving smoothly to the pounding bass rhythm.

Ryan attempted to close the distance between them, and Az let him, his hands sliding into his pockets, smiling when he felt the piece of paper folded within. He slid the paper free, flashing it at Ryan, who rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Az was about to go look for Madi when a stranger plastered himself against his back, hooking his face over Az’s shoulder. “Hi.”

“Hello,” Az responded, a little breathless at the feel of the stranger’s hands wrapping around his hips.

Az didn’t have time to adjust because the man was suddenly gone, a muffled exclamation following in his wake, and then Madi’s arms came around him. Az knew it was him without even looking over his shoulder, and he smiled, his hands trailing over Madi’s bare forearms. Was he jealous? Good. Az arched his back, rolling his ass against Madi’s cock until he could feel the bulge forming behind his zipper.

Madi walked them toward the stage where there was no light. Before Az could ask questions, Madi’s mouth was trailing harsh bites along the column of his neck, his hands sliding beneath Az’s t-shirt.

“Fuck,motek. What’s gotten into you?”

“This is what you wanted, right?” Madi breathed into his ear, his hand fondling Az over his jeans, thumb tracing the outline of his erection behind his zipper. Az sucked in a breath, canting his hips into Madi’s palm to grind himself against the pressure. “You like that?” Madi taunted, his hand stroking Az until he was leaking through his underwear. “I think you do.”

“Fuck. Are you just going to keep playing with me, or are you going to touch me?” Az asked, looping his arms around Madi’s neck, leaving his whole body open to him.

“I could make you beg,” Madi said casually, sliding his hand inside Az’s pants. He teased over the flared head and rubbed his thumb along Az’s slit, gathering the fluid there and working it just over the crown of Az’s cock until Az bucked desperately into his grip.

Az rested his head on Madi’s shoulder so he could speak directly into his ear. “Is that what you need,motek? My submission?” He couldn’t stop the words falling from his lips. Madi didn’t speak, but his hand constricted around Az’s throbbing hard-on. “Does the thought of my begging for your cock turn you on? Is that what you need to cease this ridiculous ground rule?” Madi’s other hand trailed upward, twisting Az’s nipple until he hissed at the pleasure-pain that sent shocks along his spine. “Is it not enough I let you fuck me when nobody else can or that I surrender my flesh to your blade? Do you need the words now, too? If I beg, will you fuck me right here? Hmm? What if I call your bluff?”

Madi didn’t answer, letting Az work himself up into his tightened fist while his fingers closed around Az’s throat, squeezing just enough to make him dizzy.

“Fuck, that’s good,” Az muttered, edging toward his release.

Then it was gone. Madi was gone, leaving Az rock hard and two minutes away from coming in his jeans. Az’s hands shook as he confirmed the slip of paper from Ryan was still in his pocket before following Madi from the club.