Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Amir stared into the eyes of the big brute that made the first move. He told him his stage name, and that was as far as it was going to go. He’ll use him to get his tips, and then be on his way.
Though—there was something else in those dark, black, golden-rimmed eyes that made Amir believe he wanted something else. Something…more intense. The big oaf was good-looking, though. Had a killer body, with the most lush black hair, and he could see the shadow of a beard coming in.
His eyes were the color of molten gold, and his jaw was rounder but set tight. His shoulders were squared off, as if he was ready to attack at the slightest movement. Amir could smell the scotch on his breath, and it gave him that air of mysteriousness that made his stomach flip.
“Hey, hey. No touchy unless you’re going to pay—”
The man breathed against his lips, “I’m going to pay, don’t you worry your fine little ass off, I have plenty of money.”
There was a darkness about this man that made the hair on the back of his neck stand. This darkness gave Amir the feeling of unease, but with this made him want to do whatever he said. “Fine. Take your hand off me, and I’ll take you to the backroom.”
The man removed his hand and followed Amir with his eyes. He sashayed his hips just the right way to show off his curves and his legs. Running ten miles every day is worth it.
“What’s your name, you big oaf?” Amir fixed the skirt around his waist.
“Tell me yours.”
He gave him a harsh glance. “I told you. It’s Diamond Rose.”
They entered the backrooms, where soft music could be heard playing from other doors. Amir took out his keycard from the dress pocket and swiped it. The door unlocked, and he showed the man in. The motion sensor turned the rest of the lights on when the door opened.
There was a single bar in the far back, a queen-sized bed, and a couch with a table in front of it.
The floor was made of plush dark red carpet, and the bed had a canopy that was a soft pink.
“What’s your poison?” Amir closed the door, and it locked behind them.
“You can have me for however long you want, as long as you can pay.”
The man took off his leather jacket and placed it on the arm of the couch. He sat down and relaxed against the black leather. “Tell me your name.” He repeated.
Amir let out a slow sigh. He placed his hands on his hips and turned to him. “I told you, it’s Diamond Rose. And you’re not going to get my real name. I don’t give it out for customers.”
“Even repeat ones?” The man questioned.
Amir rolled his eyes and made a face. “This is your first time here.”
“Won’t be my last.” The man crossed his arms, “Names Lionel. People call me Lion.”
Amir made another snooty face. “Good for you. Now what would you like? A more…intimate dance? Lionel?” He approached Lionel, sitting on his lap, straddling him.
He traveled his fingers down Lionel’s chest, feeling the strong muscles underneath his shirt.
He reached up and took his wrist. “Diamond Rose is not your real name. If I’m going to be paying for your time, I want to call you by your actual name.
Not some stage name…” He grasped Amir’s other wrist and flipped him over.
Lionel was in between his legs, as he stared him down, “Tell me, little one, what’s your name? ”
Amir shrunk down into the couch, a deep blush crept over his face and cheeks. “H—hey now. Let’s not move that fast. I like to be wined and dined before—”
Lionel crushed his lips against Amir’s. The sudden kiss took his very breath away, and the resistance he once had. “Are you going to tell me your name now?” The man growled against his lips.
“What do you take me for?” Amir grunted; underneath Lionel, he was small, weak even. His fight was futile. “A submissive pet?”
Lionel reached into his pocket and pulled out a large wad of money. “I have a deal for you, Diamond. You’re a stunning, elegant young man. The best looking one out of all of them I’ve seen tonight. And I want you on my arm as eye candy. You do that, and I’ll pay you well.”
He took a quick glance; he saw the hundreds and fifties in Lionel’s hand. “You expect me to just be your little piece of ass on the side? Look, sweetie, I’m sweet, but I do have a sour side. And if you want eye candy, Diva is the best way to go. He—”
Lionel took hold of his face, staring into his eyes, “I don’t want him. I want you. You’re pretty to look at, and I don’t give a fuck what you say. You’re going to be mine; do you want the money to make it better and soothe the wounds?”
Trembling in place, he reached out and took the money from his hand, “Alright. I’ll do it. But I don’t kiss, and I don’t do rim jobs.”
He let Amir’s face go before sitting up straight and fixing his shoulders. “I don’t expect you to. What I do expect is you to be there when I call on you, work or no work.”
Amir’s brows came together, as his nose crinkled. “Uh? How about no? I have work, and I need to help my best friend. I can’t be at your beck and call. I’m not your boyfriend.”
“You are now, whatever price you can think of I can afford it.” He reached over and took his jacket, putting it on. “You want ten grand? I can give you ten grand.”
Amir’s eyes took on a surprised shine. “Dude, the fuck do you do?”
“Come to 78th Street, on Canaby, and you’ll see. Don’t leave me waiting.” He fixed his jacket, “And if you don’t show up I’ll come looking for you.”
“What are you, some kind of stalker?” Amir got to his feet, counting the money in his hand. He was already at three grand by the time Lionel was ready.
“No. But I get what I want, when I want it. Understand me?”
Amir rolled his eyes, “Sounds like a momma’s boy to me.” He shoved the money in the waistband of his fishnets.
There it was, the smallest grin on Lionel’s thin lips. “Tech, far from it, pretty boy. Where I’ve come from, you had to fight for what you want, or you die. There is no in between. Now, when is the end of your shift?”
He crossed his arms and tapped his foot. “Why? You gonna walk me to my car or something?”
“Yes.”
Amir rolled his eyes, “Jeeesus, why?”
“Because I can.”
He groaned before flopping down on the couch.
He crossed his legs and rolled his head.
“Who the fuck are you anyway, you big oaf?” His molten gaze lay on his skin, and he felt a tremor through him.
Amir wasn’t sure if it was fear, or intimidation.
Either way, he wouldn’t allow him to win, he lifted his chin in defiance.
“Well? Are you going to tell me or not? Or do I have to scream for big Tasi?”
Confusion touched Lionel’s eyes. “Tasi? Who the hell is Tasi?”
“Oh, the big scary she wolf outside. There’s an intercom; all I have to do is push it, and she’ll be here within two seconds.” He bounced his foot, looking at his manicure.
Lionel grunted, “That she wolf’s bark is worse than her bite.”
“Oh really?!” His pitch went up a notch, “You haven’t seen her throw grown-ass men—like you—out of our wonderful establishment.”
“I don’t need to. I never said she wasn’t strong, Diamond, but because of the law she is not allowed to do anything else but throw me out. Even then, she wouldn’t be able to do anything else.” He cocked his head. “Now, since I paid, tell me your real name. Diamond doesn’t suit you anyway.”
“Mm…nope. Not happenin, big guy. You keep askin, the answer is never changin.” He crossed his arms, “I get off in twenty minutes. Pay me an extra hundred, and I’ll leave early.”
Lionel, without hesitating, pulled out another hundred and slipped it in Amir’s waistband. “Here. Now go clock out. I want to make sure you get to your car safely.”
He got up from the couch and stretched. “Kay. Let’s go.”
“You don’t clock out?”
He waved, “Nope. I just gotta go change. Meet me at the front, and we’ll go.” Amir opened the door, his hips swaying with each step. “Now that you’re my sugar daddy, I guess I’ll listen to you.”
“Boyfriend.”
“Sure. Sure.” Amir stretched his arms and yawned. “Can’t wait to get home.”
* * *
He was there, alright. Waiting for him, just as Amir told him.
Well, looks like this is going to be a hard one to dump.
He had his duffle bag slung over his shoulder and the money shoved deep in it underneath his clothes.
He just made the rent, plus the next few months.
Maybe my girl Maeve will stay home and stop taking so many damn shifts.
The second he stepped out, Lionel was there.
His eyes full of black fire. Amir swallowed hard but lifted his chin and kept moving.
The man reached out and placed a hand on the back of his neck.
He was about to say something, but the feeling of being pressed against his massive body made his cock twitch.
Outside was just starting to get bright; he walked in silence next to Lionel. The man was massive, and it made him wonder what else is massive on him.
Amir immediately regretted the thought.
His ears warmed, and he rolled his eyes at himself. Gods, get a grip.
He adjusted the duffle bag higher on his shoulder and kept pace with Lionel. The man walked like someone who expected the world to move around him. Broad shoulders. Hands shoved deep in his jacket. Long black curls tied back low now. There was dried blood still at his temple.
Amir finally noticed it. Not makeup. Not a costume.
Blood.
His brows pulled together. “…You get jumped or something?”
Lionel glanced at him. “No.”
Amir stared. “That’s all I’m gettin’? No?”
“No.”
Amir clicked his tongue. “You’re not very conversational for someone who bought himself a boyfriend.”
Lionel looked ahead again. “I fought tonight.”
That made Amir pause. “Oh.”
His eyes traveled over him again. The split brow. Bruised jaw. The slight limp. Suddenly the body made more sense. Not gym muscles. Functional muscles. Like someone built from hauling bricks and bad decisions. Amir slowed a little. “…You a boxer?”
Lionel shrugged. “Something like that.”
Something like that. Not a yes. Interesting. They reached the parking lot. The cold air bit through Amir’s fishnets and made him shiver. Most of the lot had cleared out now. Just employees and a few lingering customers. His pearlescent pink Chrysler sat under the flickering light.
Lionel stopped.
Amir turned. “What?”
Lionel looked at the car. Then looked at him. Then back at the car. “That gaudy thing yours?”
Amir lifted his chin. “Yeah? And? I get paid good, and I bought what I’ve always wanted.”
Lionel stared another second. The corner of his mouth twitched. A laugh. Not loud. Not mocking.
Just wasn’t what Amir was expecting. Amir pointed at him. “Excuse me? Did you just laugh at my car?”
Lionel rubbed his mouth. “No.”
“You absolutely did.”
“It doesn’t fit you.”
Amir gasped; his hand flew to his chest. Before raising a finger, “First of all, rude.”
Lionel crossed his arms. “You dress like a forest fairy and drive something that belongs to a divorced oil executive.”
Amir stared, barking out a loud laugh. His entire body folded. “Oh my gods.”
Lionel blinked.
Amir pointed. “That is the funniest thing you’ve said all night.”
Lionel looked confused. Like he genuinely hadn’t meant to be funny.
Amir walked backward toward the car. “You know what, Lion?”
Lionel looked at him. “For someone who threatened to stalk me and buy me like furniture.” His hand found the driver door. “I hate to admit…you’re growing on me.”
Lionel’s eyes stayed on him. That strange intensity settled back into place. “…Good.”
Amir opened the door. Then stopped. His stomach twisted. There was something strange. Something he hadn’t noticed before. Lionel wasn’t looking at him. Not exactly. His eyes were fixed, past him.
At the dark tree line behind the parking lot. His shoulders had gone tight. Still. Too still. Amir followed his gaze. Nothing. Just shadows.
Then Lionel quietly spoke, “Get in your car.”
The playfulness left Amir immediately. “Why?”
Lionel didn’t look at him. “Get in.”
And for the first time all night, Amir realized. Lionel wasn’t staring at him like prey. He was staring at something else. Something in the dark. Something he didn’t like.