Page 36 of Wicked Games
Dev looked at Lucien with desperate eyes. “I need to get this cast removed and get moving again before I gain fifty pounds. Sweet tea, Lucien. Who drinks that amount of sugar in a beverage? I do now. I’ll pack on the pounds from eating takeout food continuously, and I’ll have no teeth from sugar rot.”
“According to Percy, your cardio game is on point,” Lucien responded. I lightly jabbed him in the ribs for saying such a tacky thing.
“Yes, well, I do the best I can with what I have to work with,” Dev said, winking at Lucien.
“You haveplentyto work with, dear,” Percy added, smiling at his lover.
“Behave, pet,” Dev said, dropping a kiss on top of Percy’s head.
Percy and Deverish were a study in contrasts. Looking at them individually, you couldn’t fathom these two men fitting together. Dev was tall, dark, and handsome with nearly black hair and dark eyes. Percy was much shorter, lean, and shamelessly beautiful with his blond hair styled in a modern pompadour and twinkling, mischievous blue eyes. Where one was elegant and suave, the other was bold and brash. Seeing them together, leaning into one another, they formed a beautiful work of art. Deverish was the neutral canvas allowing Percy’s bold splashes of color to shine. In return, Percy could flourish without fear because he had the assurance of Dev’s sturdy support. Separately, they were attractive, but together, they were stunning.
“So, Lucky,” Percy said, breaking into my thoughts, “you’ve been in America for what? A month?”
“Give or take a few days,” Lucien replied. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re just looking more casual than usual,” Percy said, eyes appraising Lucien’s choice of clothes.
“I don’t want to hear it from you,” Lucien said. “The two of you are living in pajamas and bathrobes.”
“We’ve been infected also.”
“Infected?” I asked, feeling a bit insulted.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Percy rushed to say. “Casual clothes are fine, but I’m not used to seeing Lucky dressedthatcasual.”
“What does his casual wear usually look like?” I asked, intrigued to know how Lucien had changed over the years.
“He dresses like he just stepped off a Ralph Lauren runway,” Dev added.
“And you don’t?” Percy countered. “While I admire both of your taste in quality clothing, I would prefer you wear something a little bolder. Our pal Lucky has gone too far in the opposite direction.”
“Really?” I asked, turning to look at Lucien. “Polo shirts and khaki pants? What happened to T-shirts and jeans?”
“He does wear jeans, but only dark denim,” Percy said.
“I don’t wear fussy stuff all the time,” Lucien told them. “Normally when I run into you guys, I’m playing a part. This,” he said, gesturing to his—my—shirt and sweatpants, “is what I wear when I’m not on a mission.”
“So, you’ve given up the hunt then?” Deverish asked.
“No,” Lucien replied quickly. “I just don’t see the need for business casual wear when I’m working from my hotel. I don my Inspector Somersby suits when I need to.”
“I can’t believe people fell for the phony title and fake mustache.”
“Not all of us fell for it,” I told Dev. “I did admire the size of his balls for walking into my parents’ home wearing the pitiful disguise.”
“You like my balls.” Lucien stated.
“This conversation is going sideways,” Dev said while Percy rubbed his hands together in glee.
“Right,” Lucien said, pulling his mind off his balls and back to the conversation. “About the case, Ryder pointed out something I’d overlooked.”
“Do tell,” Percy said, sitting up straighter and lowering his feet to the ground.
“I think there’s more going on behind the scenes than we know about,” Lucien said, then recalled that portion of our conversation for them. “How in the hell did Banks even know about Ryder and me? I used my money to pay for our trips, dinners, and gifts. I never missed a check-in or failed to provide him with updates.”
“Something he heard in your voice, maybe?” Percy asked.
“No,” Dev said with a faraway look in his eyes. “Lucky’s too well-trained to make a rookie mistake like that.”