Ben walked out of the cigar lounge at the end of the hall. He lifted the brim of his cap and bit down on a candy bar. “What?”
Niko hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. Seth leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. “Nothing, just talking To Nik about a new design. He’s stoked to help me get right into it.”
Ben took another bite. “Let me know if you need any help. I’ve got a client in fifteen, but I can help after if you want to brainstorm.”
Seth patted Niko on the shoulder. “Great.” Ben passed and Seth tugged Niko toward the door. “Box of condoms in the second drawer of the file cabinet. Lube’s in there, too, if you need any. Have fun, big guy.”
Seth walked away as if the next fifteen minutes of Niko’s life was going to be a no brainer. Fuck. That. The club had become the only real home he’d ever known. He’d do whatever it took to protect it and his family.
Niko opened the door and thank God the woman was bent over the table facing the wall. Take one for the team. Right. “Come on, baby. Brad said you were built like a stud.” Niko imagined her Botox pouty lips pushed out. “Show me.”
Ugh. Fucking ugh. As soon as he spotted the file cabinet in the corner, his feet couldn’t move fast enough. Thank God the damn thing wasn’t within her line of sight. Niko coughed into his fist then rubbed his forehead. “Close your eyes.”
“Oh...sexy play time. I promise not to look.”
He slid the drawer open and grabbed a condom. Forget the lube. Her pussy looked like a leaking faucet. Killing the lights was going to be the only way this deal could be sealed. He flipped the switch on the wall and tore open the small square package.
“Kinky. In the dark. I love it! Come on, big guy, let me have that hot cock. Fuck me hard just like you did Brad.”
As he walked behind the table and over to the wall he unzipped his jeans and pulled his dick out. A few strong strokes, not all the way hard, but it’d do. The moment he bumped up against her soft ass, she wiggled, pushing back against his waist. There was no way this was going down with her hands all over him. He pressed his palm onto the small of her back.
A couple more strokes and he pushed inside her wet heat. Even though the room was painted in darkness, he squeezed his eyes shut and drifted his thoughts to the time he came out of a night class The Professor had set him up in to get his GED.
The guy had given him a side wink and Niko, naive and unsure, had no idea what the gesture meant, but when he went into the bathroom to take a piss before heading out, he fucking found out.
The huge guy shoved him into the stall too damn fast. Before Niko knew what was up, his cock slid down the guy’s throat and he came so hard he collapsed onto the toilet. His mouth had been so hot, so tight.
“Get it, big boy. Take me. Oh...oh...yes.”
Niko wasn’t dicking around. The squeaky sound of the woman’s voice annoyed him, and he didn’t have time to play with a warm up. Mess around. He took one for the team so it was okay to think about it. Anyway, the fantasy would speed up this train wreck.
Taking both sides of her round hips, he pumped. Hard. When she out in the darkness, his erection started to go soft. Focus. The guy’s mouth. The way his rough hand had slid up and down. Jesus, the way he drank every ounce of cum shooting—
“Yes! Yes! I’m coming.” The walls of her cunt spasmed as her legs flailed next to his thighs. Well, that was easy enough. The moment her breathing eased, he pulled out and slipped the condom free. He hadn’t come, but who cared. The deed was done.
He tugged up his jeans. Since he’d done the favor, he figured Seth could clean up the mess. He slid the condom off and tossed it into the trash can by the door. Zipping his pants, he headed out into the hall. He vaguely heard her say something about the light and wanting to see him, but Niko didn’t care. The door was closed behind him and it was yet another experience he’d bury.
Niko looked up in time to see a glimpse of sandy blond hair as Ethan stepped into his studio. Fuck. He walked into the room and tossed the blueprint on the drafting table against the wall.
“I…I can’t keep our appointment next week. I’ve had something come up. I really appreciate you taking the time—”
“Keep the appointment,” Niko grumbled and before walking over to close the door. Scarlet was lingering in the hall, smile on her damn face as she stared at him. Without blinking, he shut the door.
The chair squeaked as he sat down across from Ethan. No skinny jeans today. The striped T-shirt tucked into a pair of tan cargo shorts made his waist look leaner than Niko thought it was before. Damn, did the kid ever eat?
“I wish I could, but, honestly, I don’t have the cash to spend. I kind of…kind of got kicked out of where I was living.” His hands disappeared below the table, but Niko could tell he was wiping his palms on his thighs. The slight flinch went unnoticed and he rested his hands back on the table.
“Listen,” Niko started. “I spent my time working on this tat and I’m not about to throw it away.” Ethan looked over at the wall of artwork. Damn, where was his mind? Niko wasn’t into charity cases, but...well, just but. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”
Ethan shook his head. Niko stood and rounded the table, picking up the backpack Ethan had set by his feet. “I need you to do me a favor.”
Ethan looked up, his cheeks red. “Sure.”
“A guy just opened a place next door. Can you run over there and get me something?”
“Um, okay, what do you want?”
When he stood, Niko’s heart thudded, a warning sign to back the hell up. That moment before the hit, the second before the sting of a fist connecting with his jaw, yeah this felt the same. Fuck, this kid was taking him down and didn’t even know it.
Not now. Shit, his dick swelled in his boxers and all he could think about was, instead of the woman bent over the table, it was Ethan in the dark, his tight ass held open, hot, and ready.
Niko mumbled his frustration and turned around. “Grab two burgers and a soda. You’re going to have to wait there so get yourself something.
Ethan slipped one of the straps over his shoulder. “I’m good, but I can run over there for you.
“Here.” Niko gave him a fifty. The place was one of those new swanky cafes so the prices were inflated, but the food was great. “I said, get yourself something to eat. Then come back and talk to Scarlet.”
The tips of his fingers slid across Niko’s palm as he took the bill. Damn, the smooth skin felt like silk, clean, and innocent. “I really am sorry for cancelling the appointment. I know how hard it is to get in with you.”
Niko could give two shits about the boost to his ego. He wanted to put the tat on Ethan’s pale skin. Fuck all—he wanted his mark letting the asshole in the Jag know he’d had his hands on his vanity toy.
Did his thoughts make him a pussy if he didn’t act on them? It wasn’t like he was some pansy ass drag queen running around with a rainbow flag sticker on his car. Ethan may not have the muscles—hell, he obviously used some kind of gel to get those strands to stand up just right at the front of his hair, but that didn’t make him a flamer either.
He was a regular guy. A fucking hot guy. A way too fucking young guy.
Niko stepped aside and shoved the wallet into his back pocket. “I mean it. Get something. I’ll see you next week.”
Without a word, Niko left Ethan standing in his studio and headed back down the hall. “Hey, Niko,” Knox called out, walking by with an icepack on his temple. “What’s with the twink?”
Niko looked over his shoulder as Ethan stopped in the hallway, his timid gaze falling to his feet as he started toward the lobby. “Nothing. What the hell happened?”
“Late night.”
When he lifted the ice, Niko smiled. He’d had plenty of black eyes in his day. “Damn man, he gotcha good.”
“Yeah, but I kicked him in the nuts so it all worked out.”
Nothing really surprised Niko. He’d seen everything
from a gunshot wound in his father’s leg—Niko’d never forget that night—to watching his best friend being stabbed. Basically, violence had always been a part of his life. But, this guy, Knox, lived up to the letters across his fingers. HARD KNOX.
Scarlet passed, slapping Knox on the ass and saying, “Late night again?”
Knox pressed the icepack back to his temple. “Damn, people, can’t a man have some peace?” Niko shook his head and left Knox to explain the situation to the plump receptionist. “Lookin’ good there, prego.”
Scarlet’s smile lit her apple cheeks. She rubbed her swollen belly. “This is hot. I need to be on the cover of Maxim.”
Knox shook his head. Niko was running late and needed to pack up to get to the center. After checking in with The Professor to confirm a club meeting, he stopped by the front desk to find a Styrofoam container and a pile of bills and change sitting on the glass.
Shit, the damn kid had every cent lying there, which meant he hadn’t gotten anything to eat for himself. Niko tried to shrug the concern, but this time the feeling ran too deep. He cared if the guy ate. He even cared that Ethan didn’t have a place to live.
Niko knew how to fix things. If he could do anything right, he could fix shit. Whether with a fist, con, or smarts—he could fix fucking anything.
CHAPTER THREE
Ethan stretched, releasing the tight coil in his neck. He’d had to move around several times during the night, but thank God the library was virtually empty, making it easy to hide behind the miles of bookcases to get a few naps. At least he managed to get homework done so he’d be ready for his sociology exam.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, a sink bath, and run to the sociology building, he slid into a seat just in time for the tests to be handed out. He may have failed miserably in his personal life, but at least he was an A student and had even managed to finish a couple of projects early before leaving Charles’s.
Yesterday, he’d taken the train to scout a couple of efficiency apartments that would allow him to take the L to get to school. The neighborhoods were less than perfect. Hell, who was he kidding, they were downright ghetto, but he had no right to judge. He couldn’t steal naps in the library forever.
He had an hour to get over to Tattered and that meant bumming a ride. Luck had finally landed his way when Jenny walked out with him after the test. “That was brutal. I hope they aren’t all like that.”
Ethan didn’t think the exam was too awful, but didn’t want to make her feel bad. “Yeah, it’s got to get easier.”
“Hey, you want to go get something to eat?”
He’d love to have more than coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches. “I can’t, but thanks for the offer. I need to get across town. I have an appointment.”
“Oh, wait! Today is tattoo day! Wasn’t he gorgeous? When I went to get mine, he barely said two words to me, but after it was done, I was amazed at how quickly he’d worked. I guess when you don’t chit chat you can get a lot done.”
Ethan smiled. “Yeah, he didn’t say much to me either.” God, he wanted those soft lips to saying anything, he didn’t care as long as he could stare at them and imagine sweet kisses in places no straight guy wanted to go. “I guess artists can be funny like that.”
“Hey, I can drop you off. I’m doing a community service volunteer thing for a social work class.”
Ethan almost audibly sighed. “Really? That would be great.”
“No problem,” she said, and headed toward the parking lot. “So you think he’s straight?”
Ethan had no reason to think otherwise. Well, except for the way those emerald eyes shadowed to a shade darker than a moss-covered tree whenever their gazes met. Like he was mad—no pissed—no...dazed. Hell, Ethan had no idea what was going on underneath that gorgeous hair, but whatever the thoughts, they had nothing sexual to do with a nineteen-year-old broke college student.
Jenny talked about everything from how she thought the guy she was dating had cheated on her to a new pair of boots she’d bought last week. Ethan was fine with the lack of space for him to share anything going on in his life. He was embarrassed that he was homeless and the reason was because he refused to let a fifty-six-year-old sugar daddy suck his cock.
As the car pulled up to the curb, Ethan looked down at his phone. He was five minutes early and hoped Niko would be willing to do the tattoo in small sessions so he could pay for each time individually. Maybe he’d hear back on the applications he’d left and have a second job by the time he needed to come back.
Jenny didn’t put the car in park. “Have a good time. Let me see it when you get done. I can’t wait to see what he came up with.”
Ethan nodded. “Sure. Thanks again for the ride.” He pulled a five from his pocket. Will this be okay?”
“Seriously, Ethan? Keep your money. I’ll see you next week.”
He was actually grateful she didn’t take the money. If he didn’t use it for something to eat tonight, he’d have to grab some cash from his apartment money. This week’s check hadn’t been much help. He’d been sent home early two days because the evening had slowed down to a halt and he was the part-time employee who had to go home first.
Trying to stuff his anxiety deep in his gut, he opened the door and waved as he watched Jenny pull away. Taking a deep breath, he turned around. People were walking around inside the lobby. Once again, it looked packed.
“You going to stand out here or get some ink?” Ethan turned so fast, he almost tripped over his feet. Niko. “Seriously, man, you’ve got to stop being so jumpy. Come on, skinny jeans. Let’s get you on my table.”
Ethan felt his throat ripple with a hard swallow. Forget the tattoo, he really...really wanted to be on Niko’s table—ass up and panting. “I have to talk to you about that.”
He had to take two steps at a time to keep up with Niko as he walked through the door and past the lobby. When Ethan saw the table set up in the middle of the studio, he set his backpack on the floor next to a chair. The most talented tattoo artist in the city was ready to put a permanent mark on his skin. “Before we start—”
“Sit down.” Niko set a Styrofoam container on the table. “Eat.”
What the hell? “I’m good. You didn’t have to get me something to eat. I can get something later.”
“Eat,” he repeated as if Ethan hadn’t protested. “I can’t have a client passing out because he’s hungry. You need sugar to do this. It’s going to be a long two hours.”
“Two hours? It’s only going to take two hours?” The aroma of whatever was in the container made Ethan’s mouth water. It’d been four days since he’d had anything to eat that would remotely fill his stomach.
“Three two-hour sessions. I didn’t think a guy—” Niko looked over his shoulder then back to the tattoo gun he was prepping. “Like you could handle more than that at one time.”
Ethan wanted to take the food and shove it in Niko’s face. The asshole had no idea the amount of pain he’d endured over the last two years. First, his dad throwing him out then Charles knocking him around for over a year. Who was this guy to think he could judge? Besides, if he could do the one thing to himself that caused the most pain, he could stand a six-hour tattoo.
“Thanks for the insult, but a guy like me can handle more than you could ever know.”
Niko didn’t turn around. “Sit down and eat.”
Damn the guy to hell, but he was hungry and this might be the last chance he’d get to eat a full meal for a couple of days. “Fine, but I’m going to pay you back for the food. I don’t want anyone’s handouts.”
Now that made Niko give Ethan more than just his back. “Neither do I, so do me a favor and let me put my art on you. Don’t pussy out on me because of money. Here’s the deal. You wear my tat and tell your friends, the guys you work with, hell anyone you talk to where you got it and we’ll consider it even.”
Ethan stopped unwrapping the sandwich. The foil warmed his palm. His stomach growled and heat bur
ned his face. Being desperate didn’t look good on anyone, but he wasn’t in the position to argue. “I can do that, but I’m still paying you back for the sandwich.”
Niko walked to a long wooden desk and picked up a bright green neon can. Ethan never understood how people could stand the taste of energy drinks. He turned up his nose at the cough medicine flavor. “What?” Niko took a long sip.
Ethan didn’t mean to be rude. He focused on the grilled chicken sandwich and took a bite, almost choking as he frantically chewed. Niko looked away and, back to organizing the equipment on the small metal table next to the massage table.
Scarlet came through the door with a can of soda in her hand. “Sorry, I forgot to drop this off.”
“It’s for him.” Niko tipped his head toward Ethan.
Ethan rubbed his palms on his jeans and flinched. The cuts were still fresh. “Thank you.” He waited for Scarlet to shut the door then turned his attention to Niko. “So, what did you come up with?” He stuffed several fries in his mouth at one time. “This sandwich is amazing.”
Niko spun the stool around and rolled over to the drafting table. “You’ll see. Trust me.”
“But, don’t I get to see it first?”
Niko grabbed a bottle filled with green liquid. “No.”
With nerves already sparked from the ordeal of needing to find a place to live ASAP, the last thing he needed was getting a tattoo he might not like. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Niko finally looked up. Ethan stopped chewing. The fine layer of dark shadow on his cheeks meant Niko had been running late this morning. The last time they’d met, the smooth contours of his face had accentuated the pink tones on his cheeks, but not this time. This Niko was rugged, handsome—not quite so intimidating.
Sliding their lips together would leave evidence on Ethan’s face. With such sensitive skin, he’d wear the burn as a reminder every time he looked in the mirror that Niko’s mouth had been on him. Ethan wiggled in the seat. His Aussie Bum underwear had been already snug, now they were downright tight. The bulge pushed against the zipper of his shorts.
Savior: A Tattered Club Story (Tattered Social Club Series Book 1) Page 4