Chapter Nine #2
With those brotherly words of wisdom, he left me standing by myself, and it reminded me of the rare high school parties I’d been invited to, where I’d stood alone in the corner, resentment building as I’d watched all the kids talking and laughing together, excluding me.
I finished my beer and decided the hell with it.
I’d shown my face, and now I was done. Grady was the only one I owed anything to.
I set my bottle down and was halfway to the door when a hot breath hit my neck.
“Leaving so soon?”
With a half smile tugging my lips, I turned to face Bailey, whose blue eyes sparkled with laughter.
“You looked busy.”
He leaned against the wall, and I liked what I saw—a thin black sweater stretched across his muscular chest and faded jeans hugging powerful thighs. I couldn’t decide whether I liked him more in a suit or casual, like this.
“And you look like you’re sneaking out without even bothering to say hello. And I was busy. Busy waiting for you to come over. So why didn’t you? You’re exiting stage left, when you’ve only been here less than fifteen minutes.”
“Does it matter?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn he looked hurt.
“I mean…kind of, yeah. Not so much for me, but how about your brother? Why wouldn’t you want to be here for him?
He’s having this party for his new place, and you barely show your face before you slip out without a good-bye? That’s kind of shitty.”
Chastened, the hot flush of embarrassment made me defensive as hell, and I wanted to snap at him to mind his own damn business about Grady and me. But I didn’t because he was right. Bastard.
“All right, it’s just…I’m in a room full of lawyers, and that always makes me antsy.”
“Why?”
I huffed and raked a hand through my hair. “Maybe because I’ve never had a good experience with them. I told you I didn’t have the best childhood.”
Bailey’s face softened. “I know it was rough. But not everyone here comes from wealth and privilege.” He slipped his arm through mine. “Come on and say hi. You’ve met Weston and Brenner at least once or twice. And there’re some other folks too.”
I could hardly pull away from him without drawing attention to myself, so I allowed him to lead me to the small group.
Weston Lively, the son of a senator-slash-failed-presidential-candidate, and Brenner Fleming, both partners at the same law firm as Grady.
Definitely not people I had anything in common with, so I had no clue what the hell Bailey was talking about.
Also in this group were two other men, wearing matching wedding bands.
Bailey’s hold on my arm tightened. “Hey, guys, this is Keston, Grady’s brother. West and Bren, you know, but you haven’t met Manny and his husband, John. Manny’s a partner at the firm, and John is a doctor.”
“Finally. Someone who’s not a lawyer,” I muttered—quietly, I’d thought, but everyone heard me and laughed.
“Yeah, we’re a pretty sickening bunch, aren’t we?” Bailey snickered. “For those who don’t know, Keston owns a thriving tattoo shop that’s pretty awesome.”
“Oh, yeah? Where’s it located?” John asked. “I was thinking of getting some ink.”
“East Village,” I answered, and Bailey gave him the address before I could.
“You didn’t give me a chance to say it,” I grumbled, but Bailey ignored me.
“He’s also got a great new-client special. You should check it out.”
“Bailey’s always a step ahead,” Weston remarked. “Get used to it.”
I caught Bailey’s eye, and he winked at me. “What can I say? I’m a lot to handle.”
I knew that from personal experience and was hoping to get a chance to handle him again later.
More people entered the apartment, and I took the time while everyone else was talking to scope it out.
The building was a sleek high-rise with windows that gave a view of the harbor and a slice of the Brooklyn Bridge.
A far cry from where Grady had grown up, in the projects of Fort Greene, not far from here.
Grady had done damn well for himself. A nice apartment, a great high-paying job, and at his side, a beautiful, sexy lady casting adoring looks up at him.
Surprising me, Bailey took my hand. “Keston’s had a long workday, so we’re gonna say good night.”
“See you soon, guys. Maybe we’ll all do dinner,” Weston called after us.
I muttered, “Not likely.”
Bailey tugged on my hand. “Don’t be a dick. Weston’s a nice guy, even if he’s worth a hundred million, give or take. You can find plenty to talk to him about.”
“Oh, sure, he and I can sit and compare bank statements.” Weston Lively and I had zero in common aside from both of us having XY chromosomes. “Every time we’ve met, he’s tried to make me feel like we’re friends.”
“Oh, my God.” Bailey put a hand to his chest. “What a horrible, terrible person.” He poked me. “How do you walk with that huge chip on your shoulder?”
Why couldn’t anyone understand what I meant?
We made our way toward Grady and Lauren.
“Dude, you’re leaving already?” Hazy-eyed, he waved his glass at me, and despite my annoyance, I couldn’t help grinning. I’d never seen Grady this buzzed and not being his serious psychologist and lawyer self. “Did you meet Lauren yet?”
“Dude.” I cackled. “I’ve met her a bunch of times. How trashed are you?”
He continued babbling as if he didn’t hear me. “She’s an ADA in Manhattan. Gonna make Bureau Chief one day. Lauren, this is my brother, Keston. He’s a tattoo artist and does the best work.”
Lauren was sweet-faced with big brown eyes, high cheekbones, and a banging body that promised passionate nights for my brother. With a roll of her eyes, she got up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.
“Hi, honey. Yes, baby, I know Keston and his work. I’ve seen it up close.” She winked at us with a saucy smile. “I may have to visit your place and get one myself.”
Grady’s eyes brightened, and he traced her collarbone with his fingertip.
“Yeah. Right here.” He bent to kiss her, but she held him off.
“Okay, lover boy. This is a PG party. Save it for later.”
“Give her the family discount, bro,” Grady slurred, and Lauren plucked the glass out of his hand.
“That’s it. You’re getting cut off. It’s water for the rest of the night.”
“Baby,” he protested.
I had to admit it was fun watching them. “I’ll talk to you next week, Grady.”
He slung a heavy arm around me. “Yeah. Go home with Bailey and have a good night.”
Not that I needed his permission, but I had every intention of doing that. Bailey’s hand in mine, we left the building. Bailey had his phone out.
“Mine or yours?” He leaned in and bit my ear, sending my dick into overdrive. Then he kissed me, and I had the crazy idea of dragging him back upstairs and into Grady’s spare bedroom.
“Mine. It’s closer.” In between him sucking my tongue, I gave him my address.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” In the car, he continued to press kisses to my neck, and by the time we reached my place, I was ready to fall apart. I pulled him into the darkened apartment and kicked off my sneakers.
“Get naked.”
“You have such a sweet way with words. Be still my heart.” Bailey had his sweater off and his feet were bare. “Halfway there.”
I tossed the rest of my clothes to the floor and led Bailey into my bedroom.
Lying with him, with my nerves dancing on edge, I thought I’d give it to him hard and fast, but having Bailey spread under me, I found myself kissing his lips slowly, with purpose, tracing their fullness with my tongue as if memorizing their shape.
Bailey panted, and his dick poked me in the stomach.
“Come on, do it. Do it,” Bailey demanded, but I ignored him.
“Nah. I’m gonna take it nice and easy. Wanna hear you scream for me.”
“No. I need—”
“Quiet,” I ordered and touched my lips to the jumping pulse at his throat.
“That’s better.” I licked a wet path down his chest, pausing at the hard tips of his nipples.
Biting them resulted in Bailey writhing and moaning, and my dick ached as I watched the play of emotions on his face.
“You like that, huh?” I sucked on them and nibbled at the tips.
“Oh, fuck me,” Bailey cried out, his dick dripping precome on his stomach. “Come on already.” His face flushed bright red, he slapped the bed.
“Mmm, not yet.” I licked the sticky mess, then swallowed his cock whole.
I loved giving head, tasting the bitterness.
It was a turn-on, all that control and power over someone.
“I might keep you like this all night.” I held Bailey’s thighs as I rose and fell on his shaft, tonguing the slit, getting off on his groans and whines.
Bailey was such a mouthy fuck that seeing him reduced to a puddle of pleasure was hot as hell.
“Bastard,” he gasped, hips thrusting. “Keston, please.”
“Nuh-uh,” I teased, sucking the wide crown, flicking my tongue along the smooth surface. I pushed his legs up, released him from my mouth, and plunged my tongue into his hole.
“Oh God, oh shit,” he yelled and grabbed his dick, his hand a blur. My thumbs held him open, and I tongue-fucked him while he fell apart. “Fuck me. I need you. Keston, please. Need you so bad.” He was almost crying in his desperation.
I’d been with enough guys who’d said they wanted me, but none had ever said they needed me.
My dick throbbed, and I couldn’t hold out any longer.
Rolling the condom on was painful, but I managed and gritted my teeth against the ache.
Inch by inch I entered him, trying to move nice and slow, but Bailey wasn’t in the mood to wait.
He grabbed my waist, locked his ankles behind me, and took me deep.
“Oh God, that’s it, that’s it. Now move. Fast and hard.”
I grinned. “Bossy bastard, aren’t you—oh shit,” I hissed as he squeezed me tight, sucking me farther into his heat.
“You want it fast and hard, you got it.” I slammed into him, and he clung to me, nails digging into my skin, but the sting only added to my lust-filled frenzy.
Every time I was inside this man, I lost my self-control.
Bailey brought me to the edge of wildness, and I wanted to mark him, possess him. Make him mine.
“Right there. Right fucking there.” He had one hand on his dick and one clamped on my arm. I slammed into him, and he arched off the bed and came, splattering everywhere. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed.
I pumped fast and furious, his walls clasping me like a hot velvet glove, milking my dick. I swelled and came, my vision blurring.
“God, you’re even more fucking gorgeous when you come.” Bailey pulled me down on top of him, and we lay together, hearts pounding, a sweaty, sticky mess.
Eventually I rolled off him, tossed the condom into the garbage, and examined the damage.
Sheets half off the bed, pillows on the floor…
but I was more interested in the naked, sleepy-eyed man lying in my bed.
My bed. Having a guy come home with me wasn’t something I did, but from the first, everything about Bailey flipped me in a new direction.
That must’ve been why I picked up the pillows, slid in next to him, and nuzzled his neck.
“Stay.”