Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
The unpleasant squeeze in the stomach, which often plagued him before approaching an unknown woman, was back. He was hardly shy once he got going, but starting a new social interaction with a stranger was plagued with potential for things going wrong. It was so much easier to deal with discomfort by using his trusted sledgehammer, because it required zero consent and approval.
As he came closer, a different kind of blond begged for his attention without knowing it. A man wearing head-to-toe leather approached Dex from behind and slapped his naked butt with a gloved hand. Dex turned his head in surprise, but then gave the guy a bright smile.
Hammer hated being unable to hear what the kid said to Mr. Leather, but he’d already approached the angel girl, and she noticed him, and once she offered him a smile from behind a mask decorated with feathers, it was only polite to pull her two steps away from her friends and whisper, “Great costume” straight into her ear.
She giggled, which meant they were off to a good start. “Thanks! It’s my first time here, and I worried I should have worn black, but at least I stand out.”
In the background, Mr. Leather pulled out a spiked collar from under his jacket and showed it to Dex as his hand lingered on the kid’s ass.
“No, it’s very good. It… it’ll make some people want to make less of an angel out of you,” Hammer said, taking a deep breath to calm down, because Dex’s time was his own, and there was no reason for him not to fuck whomever he wanted. And yet, Hammer’s gaze kept passing over the breasts displayed in a gorgeous corset, to the blond boy, whom the man in leather had just backed against the wall.
He should be happy to see Dex laughing, relaxed, but each glimpse pushed Hammer closer to a cold swamp. If Dex were in some kind of distress, Hammer could swoop in there like an Angel of Death and deal with the horny fucker looking to make a meal out of Dex, but instead, he was left simmering in his own impotence.
Which shouldn’t be a thing next to this cute, eager angel.
“Are you gonna be my devil tonight?” she asked with a smile, but that dumb collar was now resting around Dex’s neck, and the fucker in leather reached back to lock it.
Hammer was a dog in the manger.
He knew this yet could not stifle the urge to break up whatever was about to happen, because Dex was a wild animal, and no one should take ownership of him this way.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, but was so focused on the scene happening at the far end of the room to acknowledge the girl he’d approached moments ago. She would find another devil to strike her from heaven.
A lot of the sex was happening in rooms prepared for the occasion, but many guests were into watching and being watched, so it was no surprise that there was plenty of illicit action happening out in the open too. Yet Dex’s handsome face remained Hammer’s sole focus, like a glimpse of light for a man crawling through a narrow cave.
Why should he deny himself a tasty peach just because he didn’t yet know what he wanted to do with the pit? The party was bisexual by name, and no one would judge him here. He could figure out the details later. All he knew right now was that the collar was coming off, and Mr. Leather’s hand was about to get broken if it didn’t leave Dex’s ass.
The fact that Dex was so interested in the guy that he hadn’t even yet spotted Hammer infuriated him further. He wanted the big brown eyes glued to him in awe like they had the night they met. Like they had when Dex was folded in two while Hammer drilled him.
Like when he’d gotten angry that Hammer was no longer interested.
But fuck all that. Hammer was an outlaw, and he would do whatever he wanted, consequences be damned.
By the time he reached the corner where the two men were starting to get cozy, his skin was on fire, and he grabbed the front of Dex’s harness, taking him away from the wall. “What’s that collar?”
“Er… excuse me?” Mr. Leather said, dumbfounded, and followed them with spread arms, more shocked than angry.
Dex stared at him, blinking as if he thought he was seeing a mirage. He put a thumb under the leather collar. “This? Hank said it would mean I was his for the night. Look, it has a tag and everything.”
Hammer scowled and met the guy’s eyes. Hank was not a bad-looking guy and was even a bit taller than Hammer, but his body had been toned in a gym and he wouldn’t be able to stand his ground in a fight.