Chapter 26

 

Rake

 

“Come on. We’re going out.”

They’d been holed up in his apartment for three days, and while the time alone getting to know each other better—and the sex—with Rio was amazing, Rake was going stir-crazy.

He had called Judge’s boss West and was told off for making a move without his say-so. Rake had held his tongue since he needed their help. West had to clear a few things before he could meet them in Vegas. He hadn’t liked Corsetti’s insistence of an off-the-books meeting, but he’d given his word not to tell anyone. Yet, he’d stressed.

Rio raised a brow. “Is it safe?”

“I think so. Corsetti wants my help now. Hopefully he won’t change his mind.”

Rio powered off the TV, rolled off the cushions, and stood with a long stretch. Rake salivated and reached for him, but he swatted his hand away with a laugh. “Haven’t you had enough?”

“Nuh-uh. Never.”

Rio’s smirk softened into a smile.

They got dressed, and this time he gave Rio some clothes. Dark jeans with an ankle cuff framed his ass beautifully, and a tight shirt in a deep ruby red that made his skin and eyes glow.

Rake wore a soft blue V neck shirt over faded jeans and scuffed brown boots.

Rio put his arms around him when he exited the bathroom and fitted his nose under his jaw. “God, you smell good.”

“Thank you. You look good to enough to eat.” He pretended to bite into Rio’s jugular.

Rake locked the door and led Rio out to the busy street below to flag down a cab. He lived close to The Strip on East Flamingo Boulevard, so there were cabs everywhere, and soon enough they were on their way to Hunter’s bar to get their night started.

Rake hoped Corsetti wasn’t casing the place. They both needed a night to unwind. Although the immediate threats were off the table, he didn’t trust the man.

“Have you ever been to Vegas? I never asked you.”

“A few times. Carter and I and a few other guys came once for a bachelor party. And once just the two of us, to do a little gambling. I didn’t win anything.”

Rio held his hand in the back of the cab, and his balls tingled when he ran his thumb over the sensitive skin on his wrist.

He shifted. Down, boy. “Did you have fun?”

“Yeah. I had a massive hangover, though.”

“Which time?”

“Both,” he said with a grin.

Rake chuckled. “I don’t drink much. Hunter lets me have some, usually after a match.”

“I guess you have to have a pretty strict diet and training program.”

Rake nodded. “I like it, though. Well, I did, despite the fact that my sperm donor was the one who made me do it.”

Rio gave him an understanding glance and shifted lower in the seat. He wasn’t being seductive on purpose, but the man breathed, and Rake got hard. He moved their joined hands over Rio’s knee and inched north.

Rio twitched and huffed a quiet laugh. “Where do you think you’re going?” He gasped and stifled a moan when Rake cupped Rio’s hand over his own balls.

Pressing his lips to Rio’s ear, he lowered his voice and whispered, “I’m not going anywhere. It’s all you, baby.”

A cough interrupted their stare-off. “That’ll be twenty-five.”

Rio swiped his debit card, and they got out. His sheepish grin made Rake laugh. He loved to tease the man who was always so cool and collected.

He led Rio into Hollywood and Wine and spotted Hunter behind the bar.

“I remember this piece.” Rio walked up to the bar and ran his hand over the top. “This wood was difficult to work with.”

Rake leaned into his shoulder. “I’ll give you difficult wood, Duran Duran.”

Rio rolled his eyes with a laugh. “You’ve given me plenty the last three days.”

“Rake mentioned this was your work.” Hunter rapped his knuckles on the bar. “Beautiful job. We get a lot of compliments on it.”

“Thank you.”

Hunter gave Rake a concerned look but didn’t say anything. “What’ll it be?”

“Usual.”

“Beer for me, please.”

Rio sat on the stool next to Rake’s favorite spot, but instead of sitting, Rake stood between his spread legs and nudged in closer.

An unofficial gay bar, Hunter had the rainbow sticker on his door. Anyone who gave others grief got the boot, so he wasn’t worried.

They chatted with Lila and Hunter, and a few people asked Rake for autographs.

Rio poked him in the stomach. “I knew you were famous.”

“No, I’m really not. It’s been happening more after the Championship match.”

After a few beers, they grabbed a booth in the far corner where it was dark and away from the crowd. Hunter kept junk on the table to deter people from sitting there and using the shadows to conceal what their hands and mouths were doing. Exactly what Rake planned to do.

He scooted in and pulled Rio close while he cast an assessing eye over the area. Hunter had gone into the office to deal with an absent employee, and Lila covered the bar.

No one paid them any attention.

“What are you—”

Rake kissed him and shoved his tongue in as far as he could without finesse. He flattened it against the roof of Rio’s mouth and slowly pulled out. Rio gripped Rake’s shirt to bring his lips close to his. Rake explored every inch of Rio’s mouth, licked and bit at his lips, and sucked on his smooth tongue.

“You are so fucking sexy. You drive me insane.”

Rio blinked in a daze. “Come back.” Rake teased him with tiny kisses to his face and neck. His fingers crept up the inside seam of Rio’s jeans until they reached the prominent bulge at the apex.

“Does it hurt, baby?”

Rio moaned. “So bad.”

“Do you want me to take care of it?”

Several seconds passed before Rio understood what he’d asked. He stared into his eyes, then flicked his gaze around the bar. “Right here?”

Rake’s grin was wild and wicked. “Right now.” When Rio hesitated, he leaned in. “You don’t have to do anything if you’re uncomfortable, but if you want to, you can close your eyes and relax.” Rake whispered the last words into Rio’s ear, brushing the sensitive lobe with his lips. “I’ll do all the work and keep an eye on the crowd.”

Rio let his head fall back and closed his eyes. “I trust you.”

The music drowned out the rasp of the zipper, and Rake pulled Rio’s cock out of the confining denim. Rio groaned in sweet relief. He kissed him one last time before turning to shield him from any eyes that might penetrate the shadows.

As he watched the crowd, Rake jacked Rio off under the table. He kept his movements loose and soft, so as not to arouse suspicion. Rio’s breath caught, and he writhed his hips in small circles, seeking more friction, more heat from Rake’s hand.

The calluses on his hands worked to his advantage as he dragged his rough fingers over Rio’s sensitive skin. Rake gripped the base of Rio’s cock and milked it, squeezing precome out of the slit and using it to wet the tip. He flicked his thumb on the sensitive gland and Rio’s hips jerked.

Rio was so turned-on, he bit Rake’s shoulder hard to stop a groan as he came in a hot gush over his fingers. Rake cupped his hand to catch the come before it stained Rio’s jeans and grabbed a napkin from the table dispenser to clean up.

Rio puffed, out of breath, and said, “Holy shit. That was hot.”

Rake smiled and kissed him. “Yes, it was. You were hot.”

“I can see why you like it.” Rio fixed his pants.

Rake laughed and drained his glass of bourbon. “That was way better than some shitty glory hole when I was nineteen and stupid.”

They got up to leave, and Rake made a pit stop in the bathroom. When he came out, he stopped at the sight of Hunter holding James Kairo by the shirt front.

He rushed over to help. “What are you doing here?”

“I came back with West.” Kairo coughed when Hunter gave him a shake.

“You piece of shit. You were working for both me and Corsetti!” He shook him again, but a man with a short black beard that covered the entire lower part of his face, put his hands out and tried to extract Kairo from Hunter’s grip.

“Let’s all try and relax.”

Hunter scowled as he let go. “What were you gonna do, huh? Give Rake to Corsetti and take money from both of us?”

“No!” Kairo adjusted his shirt and swiped a hand through his hair. “I didn’t know what I was going to do until I met him and Rio.” He jerked his thumb over at the man in question who sat on a stool at the bar.

As Hunter calmed down, the onlookers dispersed when they realized there’d be no floor show.

The bearded man walked over to Rake with his hand out. “US Marshal Gannin West.”

Rake shook it. “Rake.”

Rio was next. “Rio Danvers.”

West eyed the small group and said, “Is there somewhere we can get some privacy?”