Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 51803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“Just bein’ near you is enough for me, handsome,” O’Brian replied sarcastically.
“You mind your P’s and Q’s, boy, or I’ll get a lot nearer than you want.” The goon towered over Valenti’s partner, doing his best to look menacing, but O’Brian just shrugged it off.
Valenti knew his partner was used to being underestimated by taller, beefier guys all the time because of his compact frame. Those same guys were always surprised when they ended up with their faces in the dirt and O’Brian’s cuffs around their wrists. Unfortunately, they couldn’t resort to that kind of action here. He realized that he should be playing the part of the protective sponsor, not just standing by and letting his partner shoot off his mouth like he usually did.
Stepping closer to O’Brian, he wrapped an arm around his partner’s shoulders and caressed his chest with one hand. Leaning down, he planted a kiss on the corner of O’Brian’s full mouth and gave the goon a glare that plainly said, Back off -- he’s mine. “Where do you want to go, Sean?” he asked, nuzzling his cheek against the soft reddish-blond hair.
“Mmm, I think we should check out the Viewing Room,” O’Brian answered, turning his head to return the kiss with interest.
“You can’t go there. Viewing Room’s closed since there’s no show going on.” The goon looked bored, as though he’d been saying the same thing to different men all morning. Valenti wondered if he was hiding anything. Naturally the place they weren’t supposed to go was where they probably needed to be. But maybe they should save a foray to the Viewing Room for later.
“When’s the next show, then?” O’Brian asked, never willing to let things drop.
“Don’t know.” The goon gave them a shark-like grin and adjusted his tight leather pants purposefully. “Whenever Conrad says. You want to watch yourself while you’re here, or you could be the next show yourself, twink.”
“Always wanted to be a star.” O’Brian blew the goon a kiss and nodded at the far left archway that was labeled The Dark Knight. “Let’s try in there. I checked out the Minotaur’s Lair yesterday before tall, dark, and ugly kicked me out.”
“I was saving that tight ass of yours, twinkie.” The goon leered at the anatomy in question, and Valenti found that he didn’t have to fake the possessive glare he shot the man’s way this time. “The Minotaur’s no place for a sweet little virgin like you.”
“I can take care of myself, buddy. I was doin’ just fine without you,” O’Brian said shortly, and Valenti sensed his partner’s patience with the goon’s snide remarks was running out. He pulled O’Brian closer to him, hoping to avoid a full-on confrontation. To his surprise, though, his partner’s words finally seemed to have some effect on the man in front of them.
“Yeah, I saw the way you handled those guys. Not bad for a twink,” he said grudgingly. “But you want to remember something, sweetheart. I don’t know what you are on the outside, but here at the RamJack, with your sweet little ass on display, you ain’t nothin’ but fresh meat. Got it?”
“We get the picture,” Valenti replied quickly, heading for the archway marked The Dark Knight and practically dragging O’Brian with him. “I won’t leave Sean alone again.”
“Make sure you don’t,” the goon growled after them. “Your boy made several enemies down here yesterday, and I don’t wanna have to clean up any messes.”
As they went under the archway and down another short, dark hall, Valenti spun around to face O’Brian and hissed, “I can’t believe you came down here alone yesterday. What exactly happened, anyway?”
O’Brian shrugged. “Nothin’ much. Some of the guys in that Minotaur room were interested in me. But since I’m savin’ my sweet ass for you, I wasn’t interested in them. We had a disagreement, which tall, dark, and ugly back there broke up. He’s just mad that I snuck in right under his nose.”
“Still, this isn’t the kind of place you should go without back-up, partner,” Valenti reminded him gently, deciding not to comment on the “sweet ass” remark. “From now on we stick together so I can get your back.”
“Funny,” O’Brian said dryly, “That’s exactly the part of me those guys in the Minotaur wanted to get. Or maybe a little lower, if ya know what I mean.” He winked at his partner and grinned sarcastically.
Valenti slapped his ass. “Do not get fresh, boy,” he warned in a cold voice -- a dead-on imitation of Conrad from the night before. “Your attitude leaves much to be desired.”
“Ooo, forgive me, Master,” O’Brian cracked, grinning at him and running one hand over the tight jean shorts provocatively. “Are you gonna punish me? Should I be waiting on the bed on my hands and knees for you to fuck me?”