Chapter 11 Dallas
DALLAS
It’s not a long walk now that we’re on Hayden’s floor and out of the stairwell. Kay’s eating another donut, but there’s still plenty to share with Hayden. I knock on his door and he opens it with a sigh.
“Hey.” He moves out of the way and lets us in.
“Donut?” Kay offers as he takes the box from my hands. “Dallas is a beast with his fingers and his tongue.” Of course, he licks his fingers as he’s saying this.
Hayden goes red. “Yeah, don’t need to know. And by the way, I’m straight?”
Kay cocks a brow and finishes his last bite. “Is that a question?”
“No?” He looks to me and back at Kay.
Kay just shrugs and moves on. “So show me the rose. Was there a note?”
“Yeah, one sec.” Hayden rushes to his kitchen, then back to the living room. He holds the vase with the single blue rose and its note in a grocery bag. “I touched it and my fingers felt tingly, so I put it in the bag.”
“Interesting.” Kay takes the vase right from the bag barehanded and frowns. “Different flower shop.”
“How do you know?” I ask.
“The vase is different.” He gestures to the bottom. “The base is square, yours is round with a scalloped top. Plus, whoever it is didn’t dye this one very well. See all the white at the top? Yours is solid blue.” He wiggles his fingers and looks to Hayden. “When did your fingers get all tingly?”
“Oh, it was the card.”
Kay goes to grab it, but I stop him. “Maybe don’t touch the card? It could be drugged.”
He glares at me. “Release my hand.”
I do and take a few steps back for good measure.
I just asked him to date. I don’t wanna piss him off this early in the relationship.
When I asked him to go exclusive, he seemed so lost. Like no one had ever asked him out before.
He seemed terrified, if I’m honest. He’s a little feral, but that’s what makes him fun.
Has anyone ever treated him more than a toy?
Someone they can just call up for a fuck? He deserves more than that.
Kay’s poking at the card with a toothpick Hayden handed him. A bit of powder tumbles from the card. “Yep, drugged, but you should be fine if you have sensation still?”
Hayden shakes out his hand. “Yeah, never lost sensation, just felt weird. What does it mean?”
“Maybe whoever it is was hoping you’d touch the card long enough that whatever the drug is would have taken effect.”
Hayden swallows and pulls his hand to his chest and rubs it with his other.
Kay looks around the room. “Stay here unless there’s anything you don’t want me to see. I’m checking for bugs.” Then he’s on his feet and out the room.
Hayden bounces on his toes and shakes out his hands. “I’m kind of freaking out.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have fucked around before coming over.”
“No. No, I get it. I just didn’t really take in the fact we’re both getting stalked. I was freaking out when it was you and the gym, but now I’m really freaking out.”
“Can I hug you?” I open my arms and he settles in.
“It’s almost like when my brother’s ex was stalking him.” Hayden shakes his head. “I tried to push it out of my head, but now I can’t unthink it. That bitch made him kill himself to get away from her.”
Hayden clings to me and I rub his back. I squeeze him closer. “We’ll find whoever it is. Do not go down that path, okay?” I pull away and look him in the eyes. “Promise me.”
“I promise.” Hayden steps out of my hold when Kay comes back.
“Don’t be afraid to hug it out, doesn’t bother me.”
“So, find anything?” Hayden asks.
“Nope, not a camera, not a mic. Nothing, so they know where you live, but they haven’t gotten inside.” Kay taps his lips. “But I want to get you set up with security, too. It’ll make you feel safer. Unless you wanna hang out at my place, too?”
Hayden shakes his head. “I can go stay with my uncle if you think it’s unsafe.”
“I think they know where you live so if you have someplace else to go until I catch them I’d go there. But don’t be scared to live your life either.”
“I can’t be scared for too long. We have an appointment tonight with Clayton Climbs.”
I groan and rub a hand through my hair. “I keep forgetting about that.”
“We can’t cancel again, Dallas,” Hayden says.
“I know. I know and the guy’s nice. I just don’t wanna be social right now.”
“Awe,” Kay says. “Be good and do the thing, and I’ll suck your dick tonight.”
I snort. “You’d suck my dick tonight, regardless.” I want to kiss him, but feels weird in front of Hayden.
“True. True.” He looks around. “Anyway, do you want to stay here while I go grab security supplies or go to the gym? Or what do y’all wanna do?”
“Gym,” Hayden says. “You said your guys’ll be there around two? That’ll give us time to work out and do the final touches on our collab proposal for Clayton.”
“Perfect. I just need a key for this place and I’ll be on my merry way. I’ll meet you back at the gym when I’m done.” Kay holds out his hand and Hayden grabs his keys from the hook by the door. “Oh, by the way, never let anyone see your keys. A good locksmith can whip up a key on just sight alone.”
Hayden’s mouth drops open. “Is that true?” He drops the apartment keys in Kay’s hand.
I shrug. Probably. Kay knows a lot of random shit.
Kay moves to leave, but I grab his arm before he can scurry too far. “Be careful, okay?”
His lips twitch, and he looks away before his mouth morphs into a grin.
“Awe, don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” He pats my cheek, then turns on his heel and walks away.
“Wait, why am I rushing off? We’re all going down the same damn stairwell.
” He chuckles, then takes my hand and swings my arm. “Wanna carry me down?”
Hayden gives me a what the fuck look and I shake my head. “Darlin’ I think you can go down the stairs just fine.”
Kay pouts and hangs his head. “But I liked being carried.” I know he’s putting on an act, but the emotion in his voice makes me wonder.
“And you won’t be here to carry me back up these bagillion stairs when I set up the security system.
” His pout deepens and he squeals when I grab him and throw him over my shoulder again.
“Happy?” I laugh when he starts patting my bottom again.
“Very. Next time, you should just wear your underwear. Or leggings. Or naked!”
“I’m not doing any of that.”
Hayden laughs. “Can you imagine if Mrs. Norrington saw you butt ass naked walking up the steps? You’d give her a heart attack.”
“Do not put that out there! She likes to pet my arms anytime she spots me. I’m not against chatting with her, but she needs to keep her hands to herself.”
Kay growls and sinks his teeth into the globe of my ass making me yelp and almost miss the next step.
“Mine!”
“Yes, yours. Now please do not bite me while I’m going down the stairs. Please and thank you.” I swat at his bottom, but it’s an awkward angle.
“You’re so funny, Kay,” Hayden says as he runs the next several steps.
Kay goes to massaging my ass almost where he bit. “Sorry. I get territorial. You’ll figure that out soon enough.”
“I don’t think I need to figure it out. I think you just showed me.” Finally, we’re at the bottom of the stairs and I help him gently down to his feet.
“Thank you very much for the ride.” He tugs me down by the collar. “I’ll see you at the gym. My security guys are Yuri and Blake. Password is cupcake.”
“Password?”
“Yep, they’ll ask for a password to make sure it’s the right job. If I’m not there, it’s cupcake. If I am there, they know me.”
I bob my head. “Cupcake.”
“Cupcake. Now I want one.” His shoulders sag and he shuffles to his car. Again, before he can get too far, I grab his hand.
“Sprinkles?” I kiss the tip of his nose.
“Lots of icing and sprinkles is the only way to have a cupcake. Naked cupcakes are just sugary muffins. And lightly icing’d cupcakes are just weird.”
I nod. We’re going to have to get Kay at least one cupcake before the day is done.
I pull him in for another kiss. It’s slow and unlike any I’ve experienced with Kay yet.
It’s as if he’s allowing himself to take his time for once in his life.
He tastes like the donuts he’s been eating and I want to nibble his lips.
“Be careful.” I lean back and make eye contact. “I’m serious.”
“Always am.” He nods and we part ways. I want to go with him, but Hayden and I have our responsibilities to follow through with. Even if I don’t want to be social tonight, I will.
My phone buzzes when I climb into the passenger seat of Hayden’s truck. Thank goodness for more headspace. But I have to chuckle because I definitely enjoy being the passenger princess.
I pull out my phone and laugh at the text Kay sent. It’s just a picture of a pink heart background with a cat wearing a tiara. The word Princess is in bold, glittery font.
Kay: My pretty passenger princess. Kisses. Don’t miss me too much.
“What’s so funny?” Hayden asks.
I show him the text and he snorts. “Man, he’s something else and perfect for you.” There’s a tiny smile on his lips. “Did you ask him out?”
“I did, right in your stairwell before we came in.”
He snorts. “That’s weird timing.”
“That’s pretty much what he said. But it felt perfect.” I lean my head back. “He did ask if I’m prepared for the backlash of openly dating a guy. I hadn’t thought about it. Hadn’t thought about how it would affect you, too.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m mostly behind the scenes. If you’re happy, that’s all I want. It’s not like we’re ever going to hook up. Just not my type.” He shakes his head and refuses to look at me.
“You know it’s fine if you’re not straight.”