Chapter 24

 

Rake

 

Rake tried to tear the door off the hinges to get it open. “Rio?” He grabbed the beautiful man by the shirt front and hauled him to his chest. Rio’s bag dropped to the floor, and Rake buried his face in Rio’s neck and held on.

“What are you doing here?” he mumbled against his silky skin, inhaling the welcome scent of his shower gel.

“I followed you after you left without a word, you jerk.” Rio punched him on the back of the shoulder.

“I left a note.”

Rio moved a few inches—Rake wouldn’t let him go far—and looked him in the eyes. “I saw it. I ignored it.”

“How did you know where I live?” He blinked hard at the wetness in his eyes.

“I saw your license and memorized the address. I figured you’d do something stupid like this.”

“When did—”

“Are you going to let the man in, Rake?” Hunter grinned like an idiot.

“Oh, yeah. Come in.” Rake moved aside, Rio stepped in, and he shut and locked the door. “Rio, this is Hunter Camp. Hunter, this is my boyfriend, Rio Danvers.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard him use that word before,” Hunter said with a chuckle as he shook Rio’s hand.

“What word?” Rio asked with his head tilted in that adorable way.

“Boyfriend.” Hunter still grinned like an idiot as he studied Rio.

“Oh.” Rio flushed a little, which Rake loved. Rio didn’t embarrass easily. “Yeah, that’s new.” He slanted a look at Rake, who shrugged.

He plucked at Rio’s shirt tail. “Seriously, babe, what are you doing here? You know it’s dangerous.” Rake took his arm, turned him around and latched on to his waist.

“Why don’t you two go in the bedroom for some privacy? I’ll order some food, and then we can talk about Corsetti.” Hunter, ever the organizer, shooed them away.

Rake led Rio by the hand, closed his bedroom door and waited as Rio studied his bedroom. He had more stuff lying around in there than Rio did in his entire house, not counting his studio of course. Books sat in various piles on the nightstands and dressers. A smaller flat-screen sat on the long, brown dresser against the wall along with several scattered DVDs and Blu-rays. A few clothes lay on the floor around the laundry basket, which he scooped up and threw in.

Rio sat on the edge of the bed, and Rake balled his fists to stop himself from attacking the man. Only a few hours had passed, but he already missed the shape of Rio under his hands. Fuck, he looked so good in his faded blue T-shirt and jeans.

He sat on the bed with one leg folded to face Rio.

“I decided I wanted to be here with you.” Rio frowned. “I’m not sure how to explain it.” He paused and licked his lips. The gesture made Rake hungry for a taste.

“I came to the realization,” Rio tried again, “that I’d go with you for you, not because of you.” He stopped and met Rake’s eyes. “Does that make sense?”

“So, you’re saying you’re here because it was your decision, not because you thought you had to come?”

“Exactly. I’d rather be with you than waiting at home, worrying.”

Rake blinked, stunned at the words. “What about your work?”

“Grandad and Grams are handling the last of the barn doors for me. My sisters will watch the house. The rest can wait.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Rake’s voice cracked. “No one’s ever…no one’s—”

Rio reached out and dragged him closer. He kissed the side of Rake’s head and held on tight. Rake slid his arms around him and clung. He’d never clung to anyone before, but he needed Rio’s strength.

“I’m here for you, Rafael.”

A small gasp and sob escaped Rake, and he held on to Rio tighter. He squeezed too hard, he knew, but couldn’t stop. “Thank you.” He breathed deep. “Thank you for being here for me.”

Rio kissed his ear, jaw, chin, and lips. Rake returned them as he tried to settle his thumping heart. He kissed harder, overcome, unable to restrain himself. He sucked Rio’s tongue into his mouth as his hands rucked his shirt up to touch the skin of Rio’s broad back. The muscles bunched and shifted as he moved.

Rio pushed him to the mattress and hovered over him, one hand braced by his head, the other slid down his chest to his stomach, and lastly, his cock. It strained against the confines of his jeans. Rio opened the button and lowered the zipper, not wasting precious time, and pulled Rake free. He fisted the hard length and pumped several times to get him harder, until he writhed on the bed.

“More,” Rake moaned. “Rio, I want you to fuck me.”

Rio paused as he lowered his head and smiled, then sucked the swollen head of Rake’s cock into his mouth. He cried out and speared his fingers into Rio’s unruly hair. He’d never been so hard in his life. Who knew grand gestures could be such a turn-on?

He pumped his cock into that eager mouth as Rio kept pressure on the base of his shaft and suction on the tip. He came in a flurry of curses and groans and collapsed. Rio moved to lie beside him, and Rake reached out to massage the rigid length trapped in his jeans.

Rio kissed his lips. “Later. Hunter is waiting.”

He scowled, but Rio was right. His friend had heard them fooling around, no doubt—not that he cared. Rio went to the bathroom to wash his hands, and Rake buttoned up and attempted to tame his hair.

Hunter lay sprawled on the couch, watching Rake’s last fight on the DVR. He smirked at Rake and bounced his eyebrows.

Rake rolled his eyes and sat beside him. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No worries. I was making mental notes about your training.”

“Don’t know if I’ll be up for that anytime soon, man.”

Hunter gave a slow nod. “You need to call Luis. If Corsetti still expects money from you, you’ll have to keep fighting.”

He heaved a sigh. “I know.” Another headache for Rake to deal with. “He’s going to be pissed.”

“Who’s going to be pissed?” Rio asked as he came in and sat in the chair. Rake missed his heat, but he’d endure.

“My manager, Luis. He’s been blowing up my phone, threatening to drop me if I don’t answer.”

“Why don’t you call him?”

“Because I don’t know what to say. He’ll be on Corsetti’s side. My dad was the one who hired Luis for me in the first place.” Rake leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Rio, I need to tell you something, and ask you for help.”

“Anything I can do. I told you that.”

Rake nodded, and Hunter nudged him with his elbow. “I like him.”

He acknowledged that with a smile and gathered his courage before saying, “Corsetti and two of his men were here when I got back.”

Rio started. “What? How did they find out? What did they do?”

“They probably got a neighbor to watch for me. He wants me to get him in touch with Judge. He says he wants help getting out from under his bosses.”

Rio straightened his spine, eyes wide. “Judge? I can’t—”

“I know, babe. I told Corsetti he wasn’t available right now.” Rake hesitated with his next question. “Have you heard anything about him?”

Rio frowned. “No, not yet.”

“Who’s Judge?” Hunter asked, eyes pinging between them.

“He’s the Marshal I told you about on the phone. I met him when I was with Rio. They’re family. He’s on another case right now, out of reach.”

Rio gave him a grateful half smile for his careful words. “I can call West. We need to anyway, to tell him you’re here.”

“Yeah. That’s on my list.”

“Listen,” Hunter said, “I’ll talk to Luis for you. I’ll tell him you need a break.”

“Thanks, man. He won’t be happy.”

Hunter scoffed. “Since when have I ever cared what he thought? I’m your trainer. I say you need a rest.”

They stood and Rake walked him to the door.

He pulled Rake into a hug. “Be careful. Nice to meet you, Rio.”