Chapter 5
NICO
“Go on,” Kai says. “Get out of here.”
“And go where?” I ask, eyebrow raised.
“Who fucking cares? Just get out of the house.” He leans against his desk, arms crossed over his chest. “When was the last time you had a night off?”
“Every night. We live together.”
He gives me an unamused look. “Let me rephrase. When was the last time you stayed outside of the house without me?”
I look up toward the ceiling. “Remember your wedding night?”
Kai laughs. “Exactly. You need a break. Gavin is here and so are twenty other men that will lay down their lives for me and Carter. Gavin got sent away last week. It’s your turn. I don’t want to burn you out.”
“It’s my job, St. Clair. I don’t—”
“You don’t need to be cooped up in this mansion every night, regardless of its luxury. You gotta go. I’m kicking you out one night every week. Got it?”
Rolling my eyes, I say, “Yeah, I got it.”
I grab my keys on my way out and drive around the city. I don’t dwell on the fact that I feel antsy and out of place not being near Kai. He’s safe at the mansion with his husband, Gavin, and all the guards Declan assigned to them, but I don’t like not having eyes on him.
There have been times when I was off the clock and away from him—we’re not that codependent—but that was before he ran off on me twice.
The first time, after getting falling-down drunk at a nightclub, he got mugged and beaten up in an alley, leaving him with a concussion.
The second time, he was so drunk that a twink from a damn sex club had to call Carter to come pick him up.
If it weren’t for that twink, there’s no telling what could have happened to Kai.
Maybe he’s right. I need to stop worrying about him so much. But he’s my best friend. After seeing what a wreck Declan was after losing Hendrix, I don’t want that to be me.
Declan tried to hide his pain, even fooling his own brother, but I saw through that shit.
He was hurting and no one bothered to ask if he was okay, if he needed anything.
He pushed us all away, but that didn’t mean he didn’t need someone.
The flowers I sent were pitiful as fuck, but the look in his eyes showed me everything I needed to know—Declan wanted someone to tell him everything would be okay and mean it.
When I told him he’d be okay, that I was there if he needed someone to talk to, he gave me one of the most confused looks I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s not used to me talking to him without me needling him into an argument, but after losing his friend, it wasn’t the time.
Fuck, why am I thinking about Declan? I don’t even like him. But losing his best friend stirred something in me, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s really okay.
In this business, we don’t show our pain; we push past it. We don’t show weakness; we don’t show our feelings. I can only imagine what he has pent up inside.
As I’m driving downtown, my gaze flicks over to the alley that leads to the back entrance of The Devil’s Den. Now that I think about it, I haven’t gotten my dick wet in like four months. I’ve been so focused on work that nothing more than my hand has been close to my cock.
“No time like the present,” I murmur as I make a U-turn and head to the club.
Since I had to guard Kai at all times, I have my own membership for The Devil’s Den. Not like I’ve used it for myself, though. When Kai was single, I’d wait for him to finish his exhibitionism, sipping on a Coke, and making sure no one fucked with him.
I skipped out on actually watching Kai fuck. I love him like a brother, but we don’t need to know what the other’s dick looked like.
The parking lot of The Devil’s Den is packed, people coming to explore their kinky sides.
I’m not sure I have one, but I know this place is safe for our family.
Security here is tight, what with all the guards walking around to keep workers safe and the camera mounted in just about every corner.
I don’t have to worry about if someone will try to pull some shit that will get me hurt.
I’ve had to ensure everywhere Kai traveled was safe and The Devil’s Den passes with flying colors.
After I get scanned through—I’m allowed to keep my gun since the bodyguards here know who I work for—I beeline to the bar, order a Coke, and watch the scantily clad men and women walk back and forth. Some people are touching and kissing in the open, moaning and thrusting against each other.
I watch, enjoying the view before I find someone to fuck into the mattress.
I can’t believe I’m really doing this, but it’s far better than downloading an app and hoping to find someone that interests me.
I’m just about to get the attention of a twunk with a bedazzled thong on when I spot a man with white-blond hair and sharp forest green eyes walking through the door.
Declan.
Huh, I didn’t know he was a member here.
His steps falter when he sees me sitting at the bar, before he walks with more confidence and sits beside me.
“What are you doing here?” he asks as the bartender slides him a glass of water.
“Same as you, I guess.” I peer over at his stoic face and clenched jaw. “Who you here to see, young Whitlock?”
Declan glares at me, fire dancing in his eyes. “Don’t call me that.” I tick up an eyebrow, not letting his normal shitty attitude get to me. “Why do you care?”
I shrug. “I don’t. But you’re here alone and that’s not safe. You should have brought someone with you to watch your back.”
“I can take care of myself. I’m not helpless like Kai.” He knows Kai isn’t helpless, but Declan enjoys taking digs. That doesn’t bother me. I grew up with worse than Declan. His attitude is more annoying than infuriating.
Turning on my stool to face him, I stare at his profile. I won’t lie; Declan is handsome. Even with his permascowl, he’s a good-looking man. I wonder what he would look like when he came, when his features were relaxed and he was sated. He’d probably go from handsome to fucking beautiful.
He glowers at me, making my grin widen. “What are you looking at, Nico?”
“You.”
His expression is deadpan. “Obviously. Why? You know that’s super fucking creepy, right?”
I scoff. “Whatever. What are you doing here?”
He slams his empty glass on the bar. “I’m here to find someone to take to the back. Gonna go tell my brother I’m not being safe because I want a random on my dick?”
“No. I don’t report to Carter. It isn’t smart, though. Anybody here could try to hurt you to get to Carter.” That’s technically true, but I don’t think there is anyone here that wants to get at the St. Clair-Whitlock family.
So why did I mention that?
Declan glares. “Fuck off, Nico. You don’t fucking tell me what to do.” He turns around and scans the crowd, his eyes landing on the same twink that Kai and Carter have escapades with. Guess they have the same taste in men.
“See something you like?” I needle him.
He blows out a dramatic breath. “Why are you still here?”
I turn and look at the room, checking out some of my options. The people walking back and forth are hot as fuck, but they’re not a scowling blond that would look beautiful coming on my dick.
Declan nods toward a Hispanic guy about my size. “I’m looking for someone that can fuck me into a coma. Or who will let me rail them until my balls are empty.”
I roll my eyes. “And you trust one of these assholes to do that for you? What if they hurt you to get to the St. Clair-Whitlock family? Did you think about that?”
“I’m not worried about any of that. I’m tense and I need a release.” He looks over at me with a sneer. “Now leave me alone before you drive away any of my prospects.”
“You want some dick tonight?” Declan narrows his eyes at me. “Come on. I’ll fuck that attitude right out of you.”
Declan stares at me. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him speechless. “You don’t even like me.”
“Don’t gotta like you to have you touching your toes. You down or what? It’s been a while since I’ve deep dicked someone.” I adjust my cock in my jeans, and I’m not at all surprised when Declan’s eyes drop to my hand.
“You’re not gay,” he blurts out.
I raise an eyebrow. “No, I’m pan. Is that a problem?” Declan shakes his head slowly. “Are you gay?”
“Yes,” he whispers, shocking me. I’ve never known his sexual orientation, so I’m not sure why I’m shocked. Maybe it’s because he’s telling me at all.
Standing, I hook my finger into his belt loop and pull him toward the hallway where the rooms are. Declan drags his feet for a moment but gives in and comes willingly.
We search for an empty room—the ones in use have a red light above the door—and slip into the first free one around the corner from the bar. I lean back against the door, watching Declan walk around the space. “Nervous?”
He scoffs. “No. It’s sex. Not like I’m giving you my fucking hand in marriage.”
I don’t touch that statement. “Come here.”
Declan looks at me, his eyes roaming my body. They lock on my dick, which hardens in a flash. What is it about that blond asshole that has my attention so stuck on him?
“One time,” he says as he walks over to me. “This one time and no more. I don’t want you to catch feelings or some stupid shit like that. I don’t like you.”
“Fine by me.” I push off the door and meet him halfway. Our chests brush together, sparks dancing over my skin. I trail my finger down his abs, smiling when he lets out a shuddering breath. “You been thinking about fucking me, young Whitlock?”
He shoves me away, anger clouding his expression. “I said don’t call me that. If you want to fuck, let’s do it, but don’t fucking call me that.”
I throw my hands up. “You got it. Now take your clothes off.”
Declan looks at war with himself, like he wants to tell me to fuck off, but wanting to get fucked.
Jerkily, he peels his shirt over his head, showing off his beautifully tanned skin, tattoos all over his chest. His abs stand out in sharp relief, that V cut fucking taunting me.