Chapter Four
Ridge never tired of watching Shadow and Rain work together.
They moved so seamlessly. It was impressive as hell, the way Shadow mimicked every move Rain made, moving in reverse.
He knew the flexibility came from years of ballet.
That career had been meant to be his cover when they were set upon the world. Watching them, it was magic.
“Are you paying attention?”
Ridge didn’t bother looking Edge’s way. Edge was his heights-sniper partner, and basically the team leader, but Ridge wasn’t dumb. “I know my part. I always know my part.”
Edge sighed. It was a put-upon sound. “Do you need to know Rain’s and Shadow’s parts as well?”
Ridge’s gaze finally slid Edge’s way. His brown eyes flashed with irritation. That didn’t make Ridge want to back down. “Yeah, we kind of do. We’re only here if something goes wrong with them.”
Edge’s features softened. He set his hand on Ridge’s forearm. “If something goes wrong with them, Shadow needs you to know exactly how to save him.”
Goddamn it. Edge saw right through him, and he was right. Ridge couldn’t let anything happen to Shadow. He tempered his tone. “Seriously, I wasn’t trying to be an ass. I know my part for exactly that reason.”
Edge’s gaze moved over his face. He leaned back in his chair. “You’re back together.”
Ridge couldn’t help the smile that exploded across his face. “Maybe.”
The way Edge smiled gave Ridge hope. He hated the idea of anyone thinking Shadow was dumb to take him back. They all knew what he had done.
“That’s good to hear. I know how much you love him.” He should. Edge had been his roommate back in those days.
Ridge nodded. “I’m hoping he doesn’t realize what he’s done and take it back.”
“It won’t happen.” Edge sounded so certain. “There’s no way he would choose this after all these years if he didn’t want it.” Edge’s gaze slid past him. “Speaking of which.”
Before Ridge had time to decipher his words, Shadow was there.
His fingers buried in Ridge’s hair before he tugged, urging Ridge’s head back.
His mouth covered Ridge’s. Ridge forgot where they were.
He fully enjoyed the experience with no fucks about who watched.
In fact, he had never been prouder. Everyone would know Shadow was his, and Shadow was the one ensuring it.
Shadow pulled away, sounding breathless. “Hey.”
Ridge felt how big his smile was. “Hey.”
“Are you finished for the day?”
Ridge looked Edge’s way.
Edge waved them away. “Go.”
That was all Ridge needed to hear. He was on his feet.
Shadow took his hand and headed for the door. “Come on. I have to show you something Clay told me about this morning.”
Ridge’s eyebrows snapped together. “When did you talk to Clay?” He had no idea why he was suddenly so jealous. Well, he was always jealous, but with Clay? Ridge was fairly certain that guy was straight.
Shadow didn’t seem to read anything into Ridge’s question. “I saw him at breakfast.” He tugged Ridge’s hand. “Just come on.”
Shadow seemed excited, so Ridge let the Clay part go.
The dance studio where they practiced for jobs was a new building on Beau Bosi’s property, where they now lived.
Beau was a huge weapons dealer. He was rich and dangerous.
They needed that last one to keep them safe, so they partnered with Beau.
Sometimes they did his dirty work. They got his protection from the Russian government.
Shadow headed for another of the new buildings Beau had built since they arrived.
Ridge had no idea what was going on. Beau had built five new structures: the studio, Tracker’s security building, a garage, and two other buildings he hadn’t visited.
This was one of those two. Shadow pushed open the door and dragged him inside.
It was a house. Large living room and kitchen.
Huge bedrooms were on the main floor, fully decorated.
He assumed the upstairs was the same. The bedrooms were much larger than the main house where they lived.
He supposed Beau had a massive bedroom, but these were different.
They were like homes inside a home. It was actually pretty cool.
“Pick a room.”
Confusion had Ridge looking Shadow’s way. “I already have a room.” One next door to Shadow. Besides that, he didn’t relish moving again.
Shadow rolled his eyes. “Pick one for us to share.”
Ridge froze. He couldn’t look away from Shadow. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to regret me.”
Shadow laughed. His eyes danced with good humor.
He looked happy. Ridge could barely breathe.
He hadn’t thought he would ever see Shadow like this again.
Shadow’s hands rose and fell. “I only chose the main house to be close to Field, in case he needed me. Now he’s married and living with Henry.
It’s time for us to carve our own space. ”
“You’re really serious.” Ridge just couldn’t believe it.
Shadow rolled his eyes again and closed the gap between them. He wrapped his arms around Ridge. “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“Hell no. Let’s take that room.” He pointed to the left. Ridge didn’t even know if there was a room in that direction. All he cared about was accepting this future Shadow offered.
Shadow shook with laughter. “Okay. Maybe let’s find one a little more specific.
” He kissed Ridge’s chest before backing away and tugging him toward the direction Ridge had indicated.
Shadow peeked inside the first door he came to and then continued moving.
At the second door, he stepped inside. “How about this one?”
Ridge didn’t even look. His gaze stayed locked on Shadow. “Okay.”
Shadow turned his way, wearing a huge grin. “What color is the couch?”
Ridge shrugged. “Whatever color that has you choosing this life with me.”
A bark of laughter burst from Shadow. “That’s what I thought. You didn’t even look.” He reached past Ridge and threw the door closed. “There. We can make sure the mattresses are comfortable.”
Ridge shook his head as Shadow headed for the bed with him in tow. “You’re always choosing places where there’s nothing to make things easier.”
Shadow didn’t respond. He opened the bedside table and pulled out a bottle of lube. Shadow held his stare as he tossed it onto the bed.
It hit Ridge. Shadow had planned this entire thing. He had already chosen a room for them and set it up to seduce him. “I really fucking love you.”
Shadow didn’t break eye contact. “I really fucking love you too.”
That was good to know. Ridge planned to be inside him soon nonetheless, but having Shadow’s love mattered too. He would take that any day.
Shadow loved that he had gotten the drop on Ridge.
Honestly, this could have gone any sort of way.
It was possible Ridge might not have wanted to move in together.
Maybe they weren’t quite ready for that.
Shadow was, though. He had waited a lifetime to feel the way he did—free from the past. Shadow was ready to only look forward.
The way Ridge crowded his space before taking Shadow down set Shadow’s body ablaze. No one looked at him with the same intensity. His starved heart needed that insanity. The way Ridge crowded his space said that passion was about to be unleashed all over him.
Shadow didn’t have a chance to think a single thought beyond that one.
Ridge’s lips lightly skimmed his before Shadow found himself with his face pressed into the mattress and bent over the bed.
Moans rose in his throat as Ridge kissed and bit his way down Shadow’s spine.
He tore at Shadow’s pants. They disappeared with an ease that should have scared him.
Instead, Shadow already leaked pre-cum. He heard the lid pop on the lube. His entire body responded.
“I know you deserve foreplay. Right now, I don’t have that kind of patience.”
“I don’t give a shit. Fuck me.” Shadow loved quick results.
He was a lot more into pain than he wanted to admit.
He had ended up at Club Affinity for a reason.
One that didn’t completely include Zeus.
Maybe some small part of him thought he needed to be punished.
No matter the reason, he moaned from his spot in heaven as Ridge shoved his way inside, thrusting so hard, Shadow’s feet left the floor.
Ridge knew his body. He knew exactly how to make Shadow fly.
It didn’t take long at all. The thrusting at the perfect angle had him clawing at the covers and humping the mattress like a whore.
“That’s it, sexy. Take it. Show me how you can come like a good boy.”
Goddamn. Shadow would die soon.
“You’d better come, Shadow. Otherwise, I might be selfish.”
He knew Ridge only tormented him. Ridge would never leave him unsatisfied. But the threat played into Shadow’s need for discipline. He fought harder to blow. Rhythmic cries burst from him, tearing from his throat without his permission. His body was on autopilot, fighting its way closer to bliss.
“Fuck, Shadow. You feel so good. Too good. It’s almost embarrassing how fast you get me off.”
The tension inside Shadow reached its peak. The pressure beating against his crown turned to ecstasy. A loud cry fell from his lips. He broke in their new comforter, blowing cum all over it.
A strangled noise sounded behind him. Shadow savored how Ridge cried his name in pleasure. He felt satisfied in a way he couldn’t recall experiencing before. It was like they got stronger each time they touched.
“Fuck. I can’t wait to marry you and spend the rest of my life just like this.”
Damn. Shadow really wanted that too. It sounded a lot like heaven.