Chapter 10
I can’t blame Finn for not wanting to move here after meeting this new guy, but I’m disappointed he kept it secret from me, so I’m feeling a bit lonely.
Being in a hotel is getting old; I want something more.
I want my own things around me again. I want more space, and however nice the hotel room is, it’s still just one room.
I drag my iPad across the bed and open up a property site and enter the town and flats for rent.
I don’t want a house; it’s more than I need, with more responsibility.
There are a few worth looking at. I call the agent to arrange viewings for them.
I also make the decision to find an Airbnb place for now.
That’s easy, and after sending my payment over, I pack up and drive across town, berating myself for not doing this first.
I’m quickly bored again and get dressed in something gay bar appropriate and hit the first club on the google list. I haven’t done this alone for a very long time.
Simon, of course, hated clubs, so it was only something I did when Finn managed to persuade me to have a night out without him.
Something I now recognise as a massive red flag of Simon’s control over me.
It’s three deep at the bar, making me squeeze through the wall of hot men to reach the front.
The barman finally sees me and saunters over as if he’s a gift from the gods.
“A Peroni, please.” I smile sweetly at him
“You got it, sweetheart. Want my number as well?” He winks as he pulls out the bottle from the fridge.
“Hmm, tempting, but the beer is fine.” I pause, enjoying the opportunity to flirt. “For now.” I hand him a twenty when he puts it in front of me. “Keep the change.”
“Let me know when you change your mind.” His eyes slowly roam over me.
I pick up the tall bottle and squeeze my way out, managing not to bump into anyone and thereby spill the bottle.
I look at the broad back of dark-haired man—his navy T-shirt is taut over the muscled skin that leads down to an arse you could bounce a coin off—blocking the only empty high table.
As I squeeze past him, the man looks at me.
My feet falter as I look into the eyes of a man I know.
“S…Saint,” I say, hating that I hear the stutter.
But instead of another glare full of anger and spite, he looks pleased to see me. I put my drink on the table next to his half-gone pint.
“Memphis, god, look at you. You look great. Royal said you were back. It’s great to see you.” He leans over and hugs me. “You should go and see my dads. I know they’d love to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too. I’m surprised Royal said anything.” My mind is spinning. This is not how I thought he would react to seeing me again. I wonder what Royal said to him and their dads, because I doubt it was good.
“Yeah, well we both know he’s a stubborn wanker when he wants to be. I think you surprised him. You should come down to the gym, say hi to Drake and Knox.”
I nod. “Okay, thanks, I will. I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome, but I’d like to see them.”
“Of course, you’re welcome. You’re one of us.” He hugs me again, then looks back at a bench seat, a soft smile I never thought I’d see on the serious man sweeps over his face. “Come and sit with us. I’d like you to meet my boy, Noah.”
I recognise the young man from the first night at Bound, witnessing his collaring from a distance. Noah has almost as many tattoos as Saint and is incredibly pretty—yet he exudes sex appeal. He looks adoringly at Saint and happily lifts his head for a kiss as Saint bends down.
“Babe, this is Memphis. He lived with us for three years. And is the reason Royal is stomping around scowling at everyone.”
Noah laughs a deep laugh and looks me up and down. “I like you already. Take a seat, and we can get to know each other.”
“I should’ve thought this through,” Saint laughs. “You two are going to be trouble.”
Noah gives Saint a wink. “I like getting into trouble, the punishments are worth it.”
“Brat.” Saint shakes his head but sits down and pulls his boy into his lap.
I watch them, knowing they have exactly what I want, and it hurts to see it. I tell them I’ll be back and put my beer down and hit the dance floor. I may have to wait for my chance at a relationship, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get my groove on with some hot guy on the dance floor.
The Scissor Sisters blare out of the speakers, and I squeeze through the mass of hot, sweaty men and dance.
It doesn’t take long before I’m surrounded by men who scream ‘Top’ at me.
It’s the usual crowd of leather clad and harnessed bears, the muscled, overly handsome self-assured men all trying to join in.
I smile at the first one and move in closer, turning my back to him so I can grind my arse into his groin.
Yep, this is what I need. His hands roam down my ribcage to grip my hips.
He leans in closer, his mouth to my ear.
“You are the sexiest man in here.” His teeth graze my neck, making me shiver.
I haven’t had a man just come onto me for a very long time.
I was with Simon for over two years, and he wanted a permanent BDSM lifestyle.
One where he was supposed to be my Daddy, but twisted it to being my Dom.
He spins me around to face him, and he really is gorgeous. “Why, thank you.” I flutter my eyelashes and let him lead me from the dance floor to a dark corner booth.
He sits first, so I straddle his thighs and settle down with a wiggle.
I lean into him and press my lips to his.
They are soft and warm, and when they part, it’s his tongue that touches mine first. He tastes faintly of beer, but I don’t think he’s had much to drink.
The rest is all him, hot and eager as he slips his hands round to my bum and pulls me in closer.
I can feel his erection and rub against him, moaning as his warm hands slide under my shirt, and his nails scrape over my skin.
We kiss for a long time, coming up for breath only to dive back in again.
I don’t know how much time has passed, but I feel someone sit next to us and an extra hand slips under my shirt. I break the kiss and look to my right.
“You want something extra?” the new guy asks and leans in to kiss the guy I’m sitting on. He doesn’t seem surprised by the addition, but it’s not what I want for tonight.
I shift and stand up. “You go for it.”
I turn away without either of them saying a word. I’m annoyed, but it’s not a big thing. Of course, I look over towards Saint, then silently curse. Sitting at the table next to him is bloody Royal. He stares at me, his face expressionless, then he turns to Saint and says something.
I weave back out and to the door. “Goodnight,” I say to the massive bouncers at the door. It’s a warm night, so I decide to walk instead of getting a cab. It shouldn’t take me too long. I remember the area; the town I grew up in hasn’t changed too much.
When I reach the corner and look around to check if it’s safe to cross the road, I see Royal a dozen or so steps behind me.
He halts and crosses his arms over his broad chest but doesn’t say anything.
I’m really not interested in playing his games, so ignoring him, I check the road again and cross over.
He’s the one having issues with me, if his reaction to the party at the club is anything to go by.
I know I’ve come back to see if there is any way we can work things out, to explore the feelings I have for him.
If he’s this affected by me, I’d put money on him feeling the same way, but with less understanding of why and when it happened.
Time is something I can give him, if he can find the way to talk to me without being a total knob about it.
Preferably not tonight, I’ve had enough of this Foster brother for tonight.
As I turn the last corner to the flat I’m renting from Airbnb, a hand touches my shoulder, and even though I’m pretty sure it’s Royal, I still let out a very loud shriek and spin around. “For fuck’s sake!”
“What? You knew I was behind you,” he says, his hands out in front of him.
“You’re kidding me, right? I guess with your height and being all muscled up, you’ve never worried about being jumped. No, of course you haven’t. But as a short, obviously gay man, I worry all the fucking time. Now, what do you want?”
“You grind up on strangers a lot, do you? Tease them, then walk away.” He looks pissed off, and I have no idea why.
“Fuck you,” I snap. “What I do, or don’t do, is none of your fucking business.”
He does at least have the decency to look abashed, but I’m not interested. “Look, I don’t know what Saint told you, but I think you should leave me alone. You made your opinion of me crystal clear in the club. I don’t think there’s anything for us to say.”
Something crosses his face, it’s not anger or even frustration, it’s something more, like sadness or maybe loss. Either way, it’s not going to work on me tonight. I want a hot shower and my bed. I can’t stop the sad smile on my face, even knowing he’ll see it.
“Good night, Royal,” I tell him, then turn back and walk away.