“Or you can get out.”
“You’d fire me?” Mac snorted. “There’s only three of us in tonight.” The bare minimum to make sure someone was always on the stage and someone was always working the punters. “What are you going to do if you kick me out? Put on a jockstrap and spin around a pole yourself?” He almost threw up at the thought.
“If that’s what it takes.”
He was pretty sure that Barry was trying to call his bluff. Even if he wasn’t, there was no chance he was going to put himself in a confined space with Remy. He turned away from Barry and grabbed his bag, pulling his clothes out of it.
“What are you doing?”
With his back turned to his boss, Mac allowed himself a small smile. “Getting changed. I’m not dancing for that jerk, so I guess that means I’m fired.”
He waited for Barry to say otherwise. One second dragged into another and then another. Before he knew it, Mac had been standing there for well over a minute, waiting for Barry to tell him he wasn’t sacked. He sighed and pulled his T-shirt over his head.
“You’d really walk out of the club because you don’t want to dance with one man?”
Mac squared his shoulders. Jeans in hand, he turned to face Barry. “Yes. He’s a nasty piece of work.”
“It’s just dancing!” Barry’s face had reddened.
Except it wouldn’t be. Nothing was ever so straightforward with Remy. “He likes to play games, and he’s very hands-on.”
Barry folded his arms. “He’s also half your size. A big guy like you can take a grope or two here and there.”
And that right there was everything that was wrong with Barry running a place like Horns. He didn’t give a shit about what happened to the guys who worked for him. Michael and Edward would care. They’d make sure all the dancers were taken care of and safe.
“I shouldn’t have to. That’s not the job I’m here to do.”
Barry laughed. “It’s the reality of it. Haven’t you figured that out by now? You’ve done it long enough to know some punters get handsy.”
Mac did know that. He hated it, but he’d tolerated it, which was nuts, really. He drew the line at letting Remy touch him. He drew the line at letting Remy see him naked. If Barry didn’t respect the fact that he couldn’t dance for Remy, then yeah, he was going to walk the fuck out.
“I can’t dance for that man.”
Barry stared at him for several long seconds before finally shaking his head and turning away. “Then you know where the door is. It’s been nice knowing you, Mac.” He wandered out of the changing room, leaving Mac alone.
Mac sank down onto the bench. He stared at the jeans in his hands. Horns had been his life for years. The guys he knew here were his second family. Hell, Michael and Edward were the best family he’d ever had. Now he was about to lose it all. He knew he could change his mind. Barry would forgive everything if he went out front and danced for Remy, but the thought repulsed him. The memory of Remy pawing at him and propositioning him made him feel physically ill. He couldn’t stand guys like that. The ones who thought they could have anything they wanted. Well, Remy couldn’t have him. Even if he and Russel hadn’t got together for real, he wouldn’t touch Remy with a fucking barge pole.
He finished getting dressed, cleared out his locker, and headed to the back door. He stopped. Michael would be working the crowd by now, and he wanted to say goodbye.
He headed to the front of house. As he’d suspected, Michael was trying to entice punters into paying for a private dance. The guy was fucking gorgeous, but he was still falling flat on his face. Mac weaved his way through the mostly empty chairs to his friend and touched him on the arm.
Michael turned and stared at him, eyes wide. “What’s going on?”
“Barry fired me.”
“What? Why?”
“I wouldn’t dance for that jerk.”
Michael rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re fucking kidding me?”
“That I wouldn’t dance or—” Mac laughed when Michael hit him playfully across the arm.
“That he sacked you.”
Mac leant in to whisper in Michael’s ear. “You and Edward had better hurry up and buy this place.”
“You know you’ve got a job when we do.”
“I know.” Mac grinned to cover up his fears. “So get a move on.”
It felt good to know he could count on them, if they were able to buy the club out. Fuck, he never should have doubted them. Together, they’d be able to turn this place around and make it a club punters wanted to come to and dancers wanted to work in. If he’d had any money to offer Michael and Edward, he’d have offered it to them on the spot. But he didn’t. He was cash strapped at the best of times, and now he’d lost one of his jobs.
He stiffened when he saw Remy step out of one of the curtained-off private dance areas. The man stared at him, lips pinched. A second later, the main door opened, and Russel stepped in, adorably wrapped up in a duffel coat and scarf. His eyebrows pulled together as he locked stares with Mac.
“I’ve got to go. Keep me updated, and I hope tonight isn’t too awful.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “I think I can forgive you for leaving me in the lurch.” He pushed Mac in the direction of the stairs. “Go on. Get out of here.”
Ignoring Remy’s cold, calculating stare, Mac jogged up the stairs and wrapped his arms around Russel, kissing him before the smaller man could say a word.
When the kiss ended, Russel spoke immediately. “What’s going on?”
“I got fired.”
Russel’s eyebrows shot up. “What? Why?”
Mac used his thumb to gesture towards Remy. “Because I wouldn’t dance for his lordship.”
Russel leant to look around Mac. “What’s he doing here?” His voice was a sharp hiss. “How did he know you danced here?”
“No clue, but no doubt he’s here to cause trouble. I’m pretty sure all his antics have been about breaking us up.”
“I don’t follow."
“I’ll explain later. Want to get something to eat?”
Russel grimaced. “I’ve got to watch what I spend too.”
Mac stared at him.
“I quit my job. Surprise!” Russel looked utterly miserable, even when he tried to force a brave smile onto his quivering lips.
Mac drew him close, hugging him tightly. “Let’s go back to your place and talk.”
Russel nodded against Mac’s chest. As he looped his arm around Russel so they could walk out side by side, Mac glanced over his shoulder. Remy was still standing there, watching them. Mac threw him a smile, drawing Russel tighter to his side. Whether it was true or not, he was going to show Remy that he and Russel were solid and that no amount of his slimy charm or money could break them apart.
18 Russel
“Well, we’re a right pair, aren’t we?” Mac pulled Russel into a hug the moment the front door was shut.
“That’s one way to look at it.” Russel wrapped his arms around Mac, taking comfort from the big man’s strong, firm muscles. “We’re both up shit creek without a paddle.”
Mac laughed. “You realise what you’ve just said is a huge fucking cliché, right?”
Russel shrugged. “What can I say? My creativity has gone out the window. Fuck. I quit my job.” He felt hollow as the realisation sunk in that he didn’t have an income anymore.
“And I just lost mine.” Mac steered him to the sitting room and onto the sofa.
They sat facing each other, knees touching, holding hands. It was really quite cute, though the moment was soured by the fact that they were both hopelessly unemployed.
Russel sighed and stared around him at his lovely flat. “I don’t have any savings.”
“Nor do I.”
“Maybe I should go crawling back to Gerald.” Even thinking it made it feel and taste like he’d drunk sour milk that was congealing in the pit of his stomach.
“Why did you quit?”
Russel blew his cheeks
out. “He said I should have let you sleep with Remy to get the interview.”
Mac’s eyes bulged. “You’re fucking joking.”
“I wish I was. He was very brazen about it too. Didn’t even try to make his demand surreptitious. So I quit.” Russel rubbed his thumbs back and forth over Mac’s hands. “I spent most of the day trying to convince myself I’d done the right thing, but taking the moral high ground isn’t going to pay my bills, is it?” He dipped his chin. “So I came to talk to you. I mean… I knew you’d be dancing, but I thought watching you would cheer me up, and then we could talk.”
“And then I hit you with the news that I’d been fired. Shit, I’m sorry, Russel.”
Russel made himself smile. “You should be. I didn’t get to see you dance.”
Mac chuckled and leant forward to press a soft kiss to Russel’s forehead. “I’ll dance for you anytime.”
Russel hummed his appreciation, but the moment was tainted when tears flooded his eyes. “I’m so sorry, babe.”
“Sorry? For what?”
“All this is my fault.”
Mac’s forehead crumpled into a deep frown. “How do you figure?”
“If I hadn’t asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, you’d never have met Remy. You’d still have your job—”
“Stop right there.”
Russel blinked but shut up all the same.
Mac cupped his hand around Russel’s cheek. “None of this is your fault. I could have said no to you, but I didn’t. I was the one who dragged you over to Remy and put us both on his radar. I was the one who decided not to give him a private strip dance tonight, even when Barry threatened to sack me.”
Russel choked on a watery laugh. “So what you’re saying is it’s all your fault?”
“I wasn’t, but if you want to blame me, that’s fine.”
“I don’t.” Russel pressed his hand over Mac’s. “I just… Oh, I don’t fucking know. This is one huge mess.”
“You’ve still got me.”
“Do I?”
Mac gently pulled Russel to him, kissing him tenderly on the lips. “Yes.”
Russel’s stomach lightened and then tightened with desire as he climbed into Mac’s lap and huddled against the big man’s chest. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” He waved a limp hand at the room. “This place costs me far too much in rent to be out of work. Plus, Gerald has probably already told every magazine in a hundred-mile radius not to hire me.” He looked up when Mac stiffened. “What?”
“Are you thinking of leaving town?”
“No!” He snuggled harder against Mac’s chest. “But I’ve got to figure some kind of job out. I can’t even ask you to teach me how to pole dance.”
Mac laughed loudly. “You’d really want to learn?”
“No. I’m pretty sure I’m too scrawny to be able to do the things you do. Honestly, I’m in awe of you, babe.” He squeezed Mac’s biceps. “You’re strong and sexy.” He sighed. “And mine.”
“Damn right, I am.” Mac lay down and pulled Russel with him. “Your sofa isn’t long enough.”
“I’ll probably have to sell it anyway.”
Mac kissed his cheek and then looked at the ceiling. “We could always move in together.”
Russel pushed up with his hands so he could stare into Mac’s eyes. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The rent would be cheaper if we split it. I mean, my place would be the cheapest…”
Russel wrinkled his nose and then gasped. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I—”
Mac’s abs crunched as he rose to silence Russel with a swift kiss. “It’s fine. My place is a dive.”
“You do realise I only have one bedroom?”
“That’s not a problem for me.” Mac waggled his eyebrows. “I was hoping it wouldn’t be a problem for you. But if it is, I can sleep on the couch, as long as you’ll waive your no feet rule.”
Russel laughed. “Well, we’ve already broken that rule a few times.” He brushed his foot against Mac’s leg. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
Mac nodded. “Yeah.”
“But…” Russel pressed his lips together. There were a hundred reasons why moving in together was crazy.
“It would give us both a bit of financial breathing space. I still have my job at the gym. They might be able to give me some extra hours. That would give you time to find a job you love.”
Russel could do nothing but stare at Mac. A lump formed in his throat, and his eyes were brimming with tears, yet again.
Mac stroked his face. “Say something.”
“I… I don’t deserve you, babe.”
“Sure you do.” Mac smiled. “I know it’s a huge step, and if that’s what’s worrying you, we can make it a temporary arrangement. It won’t be too hard for me to find another flat once you’re back on your feet. But you never know, you might like having me around.”
Russel sank onto Mac’s chest, hugging the big man tightly. He was too overwhelmed to speak. That Mac had even offered to help him out despite the fact that he had his own shit going on was astounding.
“Think about it,” Mac whispered. “The offer’s there. I’ll even make sure I pick up all my laundry.”
Russel laughed. “And do some washing up?”
“I might even dust.”
Russel gasped in mock shock. “Is hoovering too much to ask?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Well, I guess I can’t have everything.”
Chuckling, Mac rubbed his hands over Russel’s back. “Sorry.”
“It’s a shame.”
“What is?”
“You’d look sexy as hell doing the hoovering, wearing only a collar.” Russel bit his lip as Mac shuddered beneath him.
“And a leash?” Mac’s voice was breathy and husky.
“Mmm, I can definitely picture that.”
“Why picture it?” Mac pushed Russel up so they were staring at each other again. “I’m right here.”
“My neighbours might complain if we start hoovering at midnight.”
“A duster wouldn’t make any sound.”
“No… but you will when I spank you because you aren’t working hard enough.”
Mac licked his lips. “Is that an offer?”
Russel crushed his mouth against Mac’s, dominating the big man’s mouth with his tongue. The thought of having Mac here all the time didn’t feel so crazy anymore; of course, that was probably his cock talking rather than his head.
He was panting when he broke the kiss. Their heartbeats hammered against their ribs and each other. Russel’s chest swelled as he stared into Mac’s warm eyes.
“Move in with me?”
Mac smiled, his eyes sparkling in a way that made Russel feel wanted and needed. “Yes, Sir.”
19 Mac
Mac had almost fallen asleep when he felt a slight tug on the collar he was still wearing. He felt comfortable in it and, in post-orgasm bliss, hadn’t even thought to ask Russel to take it off, though they had removed the wrist cuffs and their associated chains. He opened his heavy eyes to see Russel staring at him, looking far too wired for a man who had had an orgasm a few minutes before.
“How are you even awake?”
Russel grinned at him. “I can’t switch my mind off.” He cringed. “I hate to bring this up right now, but you said you were going to explain why you think Remy is trying to break us up.”
Annoyingly, Mac felt more awake, like Russel’s words had been a metaphorical bucket of ice-cold water. “Seriously? My arse is still sore from being spanked and fucked, and you want to talk about Remy?”
Russel jutted his lower lip out. “I bet your arse is still red too.”
“Want to kiss it better?”
Russel sucked in a breath. “Tempting.” He tugged on the leash attached to the collar again. “But I really want to know what you meant.”
“Just tempting?”
Russel made an odd sound, halfway betw
een a whine and a frustrated growl. “You’re being so naughty right now.”
“Maybe you’ll have to spank me again to punish me.”
Russel pouted. “I’m not sure how much of a punishment it would be.”
Mac bobbed his head from side to side. “True.” Their flirtatious teasing was quickly getting him horny again. He definitely didn’t want to think about Remy fucking Lawrence, however he doubted that Russel was going to let it go. He opened his arms. “Come here?”
Russel hesitated but then nestled against Mac’s chest and stomach.
Mac curled his arms around Russel and rested his chin on the slim man’s head. “You remember I thought it was weird that he insisted everyone who came to his party was in a couple, when he’s single?”
Russel nodded.
“And then suddenly we’re being invited back on the pretext of giving you an interview.”
Russel snorted softly. “Like that ever happened.”
“It was never going to happen.” Mac blew out a breath. “Even if I’d slept with him, you wouldn’t have got that interview.”
Russel tipped his head up. “You think? Not that I wanted you to sleep with him,” he added hastily.
“I know.” Mac kissed Russel’s slightly crumpled forehead. “But yeah… I’m pretty sure he’d have done whatever he wanted with me and then made sure you found out about it.”
“To break us up?”
Mac nodded. “Yup.”
“But why?”
“I’ve got no fucking clue. I’ve been going round in circles on the ‘why’ myself.” He’d driven himself half-crazy trying to figure Remy out. In the end, he’d given up, not sure he even wanted to know what made that kind of man tick.
“It seems kind of…” Russel paused and pursed his lips as though he were looking for exactly the right word or phrase to use.
“Fucked up?” Mac offered.
“I was going to say controlling, but yeah, ‘fucked up’ sums it up pretty well.”
“I think he gets off on it,” Mac mused.
“On breaking couples up?”
“Yeah. And he probably gets off on the sex too.” He hugged Russel tighter. “He wanted me on my knees.”
“So… some kind of power trip?”
Unbreakable Page 16