Cowboy Gangster 02 - Gunnin' for Love (CMS) (MM) (7 page)

Kane gripped the door knob to steady himself against the tremors suddenly rushing through him as the man raised his stare to Kane’s face. When he moved, Kane flinched –which caused a squint of amusement in the Egyptian’s eyes as he reached out and casually rubbed at some residue of shampoo from Kane’s temple.

“You missed some.” His voice was low, deep, and scraped the surface of Kane’s skin like the fingernails of an intense lover. He dragged his thumb against the towel wrapped around Kane’s neck, slowly wiping away the soap. “Now about last night’s phone call…”

Oh God.

♦

His heartbeat was a freight train barreling through his head, reigniting his headache. Though he hardly noticed the throbbing pain up above when all his focus was on the pulsing throb below his waist.

Now about last night’s phone call.

The Egyptian had the advantage, as Kane had no clue what had transpired over the phone last night.
No clue?
Kane didn’t want to consider that possibility –not with the man standing right here, fully aware of Kane’s raging erection. He needed to gain control of the situation now.

“Look,” Kane murmured and cringed inwardly at the tremor in his voice. “I’m sorry about the call. I was having a bad night, I was drunk. I don’t…” he swallowed thickly, much too aware that his arousal was holding strong. “…I don’t remember anything.”

Cochise stared at him with no indication that he meant to back off and leave. “So if a drunk driver causes an accident,” the Egyptian asked in a low, casual tone. “He shouldn’t be held accountable because he was drunk?”

“What?” Kane frowned. “Of course he should. But-”

“As should a man who gets drunk and
phone fucks
another man.”

Until this moment, Kane had been clinging to the tiny shred of hope that
that
hadn’t happened. “I…I apologize for my inexcusable behavior,” Kane shuddered, his heart pounding harder.
Shit
. That sounded lame and not at all strong enough to appease a man like this. “It won’t happen again.”

The Egyptian shifted and Kane flinched again, not meaning to but at the same time recalling how quickly the man had grabbed him and kissed him in the parking lot. “I like to be fucked,” Cochise said, his words rolling up his throat in a low growl. “But I don’t like to be
fucked with
.”

Fucked with? Shit, what had he said to the man last night? “I really don’t remember…”

“Maybe you do,” Cochise suggested with a cool edge. “But think you can get out of it by saying you don’t.”

“Get…get out of what?” Kane stared at him. Pound for pound, they were equally matched, or damn close, but there was just something exceedingly intimidating about the Egyptian that convinced Kane he didn’t want to test their brute force. But the man didn’t seem too happy with Kane. Would he try to force his way into the apartment if Kane told him to leave?

Maybe the real question was –did Kane really
want
him to leave? Perhaps the answer lingered back there in the shower where he had been thinking about the man and…

The answer to that question hadn’t been left in the shower, though –it remained with him, barely concealed beneath his towel.
How the hell did I get myself into this? Mixed up with this man?
Kane thought he understood the rules of a one night stand. Did the Egyptian
not
understand them? What did he want with Kane anyway –he’d already stated that Kane was weak, by the “mobster” standard?

You contacted him, dumb ass. Maybe he would have left you alone otherwise. You going to stop the fucking drinking now?

“You don’t remember?” Cochise stared at him skeptically.

“No,” Kane whispered.

The man’s eyes crawled up and down his body. “And the text?”

Kane shivered –
‘I can’t get you out of my head. I want to fuck you so bad right now. How soon can you get here?’
–he shook his head. “No.”

The Egyptian’s thumb was sliding across Kane’s lower lip before Kane had a chance to flinch or withdraw. “Then I guess I need to refresh your memory…remind you what you promised to do with these lips.”

Kane’s mouth went dry momentarily –then began to salivate at the prospect.

Cochise continued to drag the pad of his thumb along the path of Kane’s mouth, tracing up over his top lip then around again to the bottom. Kane swallowed thickly and fought the urge to open his mouth and taste him with his tongue.

“A man’s word is his bond. He tells me he’s going to do something, he damn well better be prepared to do it.”

“I…” Kane’s lips brushed the man’s thumb as it lingered. “I was drunk,” he whispered unevenly. “I don’t always…act responsibly when I drink.”

“When a man starts drinking,” Cochise said. “He also needs to be prepared to take responsibility for his actions. Otherwise…” He pressed the tip of his thumb between Kane’s lips. “…He shouldn’t be drinking at all.” He raised an eyebrow as if to ask –
‘Don’t you agree?’

Fuck.
Kane did agree. He had done the occasional irresponsible thing in the past while intoxicated, and he had always owned up to it, taken responsibility and dealt with the aftermath like an adult. Was this any different? He had made the initial contact in sending the text. And God only knows what he said over the phone…or
did
. This was not a man who liked to be toyed with. And clearly, he wasn’t to be reasoned with, either.

The Egyptian meant to collect on whatever
services
Kane had promised him.

So get it done and over with, then get rid of every fucking drop of liquor in the apartment –and never touch the shit again!

A sudden thought struck Kane and he frowned. “I am a man of my word,” he murmured. “But how do I know that you are, too? I don’t remember anything about last night. How do I know you’ll tell me the truth –and not just use my lack of memory to…take advantage of me?” He swallowed hard. “I mean…how will I know if I actually made
suggestive
conversation with you?”

The corner of the man’s mouth twitched. “You want proof?” There was a confidence in the Egyptian’s gray eyes that unnerved Kane. Honestly –considering the content of the text –he was pretty sure the phone call went from bad to worse. But even so, his reservations were legitimate. The man
could
say anything, and Kane wouldn’t know if it was the truth or not.

A shiver raced through him. “Yes,” he rasped. “I-I would like some proof.”

What “proof” could the man possibly have –that didn’t require Kane simply taking him at his word?

Maybe you’ll get out of this after all.

Yet the confidence behind the Egyptian’s cool gray eyes remained steadfast.

♦

Axel approached the bar where Clint sat with the three men. Angel followed and immediately sidled up to his boyfriend, slipped his arm around his waist and accepted a kiss from the man. A twinge of envy pricked Axel’s heart; he didn’t yet feel the freedom to publicly express open affection with Clint. When they were alone, Clint welcomed it and Axel was comfortable and secure. But out here…would it make Clint uncomfortable? Would Axel himself feel uneasy about it?

“You can set your pup on the bar, if you want,” Gabriel spoke up. “Maybe Riley can get him some water, if he’s thirsty.”

The pup squirmed in his arms. Maybe being held so long was causing him discomfort. Axel nodded, hesitated, then stepped between Clint and Gabriel and placed Jonah on the bar. The pup hunkered down and wriggled around, ears laid back as he cautiously explored the bar. Axel rested his hand close to the small animal, occasionally scratching his fur to let him know he was nearby. His hip brushed Clint’s knee and a full-body tingle swept through him. Would the man always have this effect on him? The thought of it fading filled him with dread. He didn’t want it to go away.

“Here ya go, little guy.” Riley placed a shot glass before the pup, brimming with water.

Gabriel chuckled. “Already giving him shots.” He clucked his tongue. “You’re a bad influence, Riley.”

The others laughed as Jonah eagerly lapped the water.

“He’s a natural,” Cole quipped. “Bet he could drink us all under the table.”

Axel smiled and continued to lightly ruffle the pup’s fur.

“He’s adorable.” Riley stroked Jonah’s head.

Clint grunted. “Don’t let his cuteness fool you.” His lips quirked. “He’s an ornery little cuss.”

“What?” Gabriel chuffed and shook his head. He ran his hand down the pups back and spoke to the animal. “Aww he’s just an old grumpy ass, that’s what it is, isn’t it? Yeah, we know. You just bite his ass if he gets too gruff.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Clint muttered. “He’s already got a vendetta against me, it seems.”

Axel cleared his throat and struggled to suppress a laugh, recalling the “wet spot” on Clint’s side of the bed. Clint hooked his fingers in Axel’s belt and nudged him. “That wasn’t funny,” he growled low, apparently catching on to Axel’s thoughts.

“It kind of was,” Axel mumbled and laughed softly.

“What wasn’t funny?” Gabriel grinned with interest. “Do tell.”

Grunting, Clint shook his head and lifted his glass to his lips.

Gabriel looked at Axel expectantly. “Come on, spill it.”

“He, uh…” Axel chuckled quietly. “He kind of…peed on Clint’s side of the bed.”

“Kind of?” Clint snorted.

Laughter sifted through the others. “I’m sure he had a good reason,” Gabriel smirked. The pup plopped his rump on the bar and looked at them with his innocent “puppy dog” eyes. Gabriel grinned. “Look at that face. This is not the face of a vindictive animal.”

“Yeah,” Clint muttered.

“Maybe he wouldn’t have done it,” Axel murmured, smiling. “If you’d let him snuggle with you.”

Another grunt and Clint released a hard breath. “Yeah. Don’t really appreciate a cold nose drilling into my armpit.”

“You either?” Cole chimed. “Gabe does that to me. Hate it.” He grunted as Gabriel’s elbow caught him the gut.

“I’ll show you drilling,” Gabriel smirked.

“Fine,” Cole chuckled and rubbed his stomach. “Just don’t piss on my side of the bed.”

Angel pressed his lips in a tight, amused smile and leaned against Dane. “Not sure what that says about a relationship when you have to tell your boyfriend not to piss in the bed.”

“Smart ass,” Cole snorted and grabbed Angel, tickling him relentlessly.

“Stop!” Angel choked on his laughter.

Cole kissed him hard on the neck and released him. “You little brat.”

“He really is,” Dane confirmed, a teasing smile quirking his lips.

“Hey,” Angel scowled. “You’re the incorrigible one.” He snickered and shot a look at Cole and Gabriel. “Just like those two.”

Gabriel cocked an eyebrow. “Hey, what’d I do?”

“Fuck,” Cole chuffed. “What
haven’t
you done?”

Axel watched them, amused. His heart warmed at the sight of Angel so happy and surrounded by those who loved him and who would forever protect him. It felt good to think that maybe one day he himself might be a real part of Angel’s new family.

I want you to meet my brother, Axel.

Not
step
brother, but just…brother. In that simple introduction, Angel had
claimed
him.

Clint’s fingers tightened around the belt and drew Axel a fraction closer. He glanced at the cowboy. Clint gazed back at him, his jade green eyes heavy with affection and want, and that hint of a smile playing again at the edge of his lips. Axel ached to kiss him, but Gabriel nudged his arm before he could seriously consider the notion.

“Hey,” Gabriel flashed a sheepish smile. “I want to apologize for the way I acted when we first met.” He chuckled. “Didn’t mean to freak you out.”

Axel licked his lips slowly and nodded. “It’s okay,” he said quietly, then smiled. “I…overreacted.”

“Trust me,” Cole grinned. “You’re not the first to have that reaction.” Dane laughed and agreed.

“Shut up,” Gabriel scolded. “I’m trying to apologize here.” He looked at Axel and smiled. “So…we good?” He held out his hand.

“Yeah,” Axel nodded and shook on it. “We’re good.”

Clint stood up and uncurled his fingers from the belt, his palm flattening against Axel’s lower back. “I actually have a couple things to take care of,” he said and looked at Axel. “Do you mind waiting here?”

“Uh…no, I guess not…” he glanced at Angel.

“Of course you can wait here,” Angel smiled.

Clint cleared his throat and stepped away from the bar, his hand dropping away from Axel’s back. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be.” He cast a quick look at Gabriel and the others that Axel couldn’t quite interpret. “If I get delayed, could someone give Axel a ride back to his apartment?”

“No problem,” Gabriel nodded.

“Thanks.” Clint hesitated then lightly touched Axel’s arm. “I’ll…see you later.” He dragged his hand over his mouth, hesitated again, then turned away.

Axel stared after him, his heart sinking a little that Clint didn’t kiss him. He pursed his lips and glanced at the others who were clearly reading him like an open book.

“You know,” Gabriel spoke up, with relative volume. “If Cole ever walked out without kissing me, I’d kick his ass.”

Cole smirked. “He would
try.
But even so…”