Tied to You (Wild Side Book 2)

by Riley Hart

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  They played in the water for quite a while. Miles couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually enjoyed the ocean. Afterward, they joined a game of volleyball on the beach. Miles and Quinn had been on opposite teams, and Quinn’s team had won—the fucker. Miles had insisted they play a second game, in which his team won, so he felt better after that.

  After Miles redeemed himself, they grabbed a couple orders of French fries and were walking down the beach, which was much busier than it had been earlier.

  “This is refreshing,” Miles found himself saying. “I don’t typically do things like this.”

  “No shit? I never would have known.”

  Miles shook his head. “Good point,” he replied because obviously what Quinn said was true, and they both knew it.

  “Have you always been a control freak?” Quinn asked.

  “I resent that,” Miles replied before saying, “Yes.” Because he was and he always had been. There was no sense in denying it. “I must have driven Chance and Ollie crazy when we were younger. I was always the one organizing the games and deciding whose house we stayed at that weekend.” He chuckled, thinking back. They’d had a lot of fun. He was lucky to have them. “I used to have this obsession with pacts. I’d make us have a pact about everything—our friendship, plans for the future, how we would approach the upcoming school year.”

  “You were afraid of being alone,” Quinn said softly. “That they’d leave you behind?”

  He sighed, popped a French fry into his mouth and realized, “Yeah, I guess I was. I guess I thought if there was some kind of rules, binding us together, they couldn’t walk away.” Fuck. That wasn’t easy to admit. The thought made him sad at the same time. He shouldn’t fear these things. He had so many people in his life who loved him.

  “But they never did walk away and they never will. I bet they wouldn’t have without Child Lawyer Miles legally binding them to him either.”

  He found himself laughing. He never thought he would laugh in a situation like this—realizing how insecure he’d always been. “No…no, I guess they wouldn’t have. I’d write out contracts, and they’d sign them no matter how ridiculous they were.”

  “Oh fuck. It was worse than pacts? You really did go all child lawyer on them.”

  He sure had. “I’m lucky to have them.”

  “They’re lucky to have you too,” Quinn answered in return.

  He shrugged because he wasn’t so sure about that. “I think that’s part of the reason I struggled so much with Matt. Chance and Ollie? I knew them. I trusted them. Our parents were close. Then there was this kid who was suddenly a part of what had always been the three of us. Ollie had been in love with him from the start, and it scared the shit out of me. What if Matt took Oliver away? What if that was just the beginning, and I lost Chance too?” He rubbed a hand over his face. This was getting out of hand quickly. “Fuck. Okay, that’s enough with that. Stop your damn voodoo magic, making me admit shit I don’t like to admit.” Even to himself.

  “Change can be scary. It was for me. I never knew what to expect when I’d get placed in another home or orphanage. You were a kid. It makes sense. But the thing is, change doesn’t always have to be bad. You were scared of losing Chance and Oliver but you didn’t. All you did was gain someone else who cared about you in Matt.” And now he’d gained someone in Quinn as well. Someone who’d rocked his fucking world in the most surprising way.

  “So you’re telling me I was an asshole for nothing?” he teased.

  “Nope. It’s always smart to try to protect yourself. I learned that lesson the hard way, but you can’t protect yourself to the point where you’re missing out on the good stuff too. Take me for example. You tried to push me away and now you can’t imagine your life without me.” There was a light, playful tone to Quinn’s voice.

  “I wouldn’t go that far…”

  “Of course you wouldn’t, Counselor.” They passed a trash can and Quinn tossed his remaining French fries in it and then threaded his arm through Miles’s.

  He wanted to know how Quinn hadn’t protected himself. He wanted to know the details about why Quinn couldn’t sleep at night.

  He wanted to know every fucking thing about him that he could.

  And damn it, he wanted Quinn to know all his dark places too. Wanted Quinn to explore parts of him that no one had seen—not Ollie or Chance or Matt. Hell, maybe not even himself. “I—”

  “Oh!” Quinn cut him off. “We have to go get lemon cupcakes. They have the best lemon cupcakes you will ever eat.”

  Before Miles could reply, Quinn was dragging him to the shop where they would apparently get lemon cupcakes.

  They were so different, he and Quinn. But they somehow fit. Quinn brought a fullness to his chest he wasn’t sure he’d ever had.

  As they waited in line for what must be popular cupcakes, Quinn faced him, dropped his voice low. “I have another question for you.”

  The fact that he warned Miles ahead of time, told him Quinn’s question was a serious one. “Okay…”

  “Have you ever thought about trying to find them? You have the means…and the resources…” Miles was a lawyer as was his dad. They’d have a good chance at finding his biological parents.

  “No,” Miles answered sharply then sighed because they were having a good day, and he didn’t want to be a dickhead. He put his arms around Quinn and pulled him close. “I don’t want to talk about that. I want to talk about lemon cupcakes.”

  As silence stretched on before Quinn replied, Miles thought he might keep it going. Might ask more questions, but eventually, he just asked, “You do, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, we can do that. They’re like little bites of orgasmic heaven,” Quinn said, and Miles laughed. They got their cupcakes and then made their way back to their spot on the beach.

  “These are good,” Miles said. He was about to lick the frosting off his finger when Quinn grabbed his wrist and did it for him.

  “That was mine,” he said with a smile.

  “It’s mine now.” Quinn winked and lay down. God, he was ridiculous.

  Miles’s phone went off. He grabbed it and saw an email from work. “Let me reply to this real quick.” Before he could, the phone was jerked out of his hand.

  “No work today.”

  “Give me my phone back,” he told Quinn.

  “No. You can work later. Right now, you’re hanging out with me.” Quinn stuffed the phone under his towel and then lay down, using his towel for a pillow.

  “I hate you,” Miles told him as he fought off a smile.

  “No you don’t.” Quinn closed his eyes. Miles watched him for a moment, and when it became clear he wasn’t going to open them again, he lay down beside him. It wasn’t long before Quinn rolled over onto his stomach and it was obvious, he’d fallen asleep.

  Miles could get his phone back. He could slip his hand under the towel and take it, but for some reason, he didn’t.

  He closed his eyes for a while and rested. He didn’t fall asleep the way Quinn did but he relaxed.

  He didn’t know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes, rolled to his side, and propped his head up in his hand while resting on his elbow and looking down at Quinn.

  He examined the freckles dotting Quinn’s upper back and shoulders. Miles’s eyes traveled down to his lean waist and tight ass. How the hell had they gotten here? And why did Miles like this place he was in so much—this space with Quinn.

  He was…surprising. Unexpected. In the short time they’d known each other, he’d burrowed his way inside Miles, past all those defenses he hadn’t set on purpose but were there nonetheless. The same way Quinn was now inside of him too.

  He figured it had been a good two hours since they lay down. Quinn’s shoulders were a slight pink, and Miles found himself leaning closer. Letting his fingers dance along Quinn’s skin.

  He kissed one freckle, and then another. “Wake u
p, baby boy. You’re going to burn.”

  Quinn groaned but didn’t open his eyes. “Mmm. Do that again.”

  “What? This?” Miles asked before kissing Quinn’s shoulder again.

  “Yep,” he said in a rough, sleepy voice, so Miles did. He peppered soft kisses all along Quinn’s skin. He felt like a different man, here with Quinn. Like he’d been released from binds he always kept himself in.

  “Thank you,” he whispered before touching his lips to Quinn’s flesh again.

  “What are you thanking me for?”

  Without looking, he knew then that Quinn had opened his eyes. “For making me call off work. For dragging me here. For…I don’t know. Everything.”

  Quinn moved, so Miles tilted his head back to give him space to roll over. When he did, they were eye to eye. “You don’t have anything to thank me for. There’s nowhere else I want to be right now.”

  There was nowhere else Miles wanted to be either.

  He leaned down at that, teased Quinn’s mouth with his tongue and then kissed him deeply. Tasted lemon and thought it was somehow sweeter coming from Quinn.

  Maybe Quinn didn’t think Miles had anything to thank him for, but he did.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Quinn was actually nervous.

  It wasn’t often that many things affected him like this, but it was more because of Miles than himself. Miles was stepping outside of his comfort zone. He was pulling Quinn further into his life, introducing him to the people who meant the most to him, and Quinn didn’t take that lightly.

  He didn’t take any of what was going on between himself and Miles lightly.

  “Fuck,” he gritted out as he looked through his closet to find something to wear.

  He’d come to his apartment after work today. He’d spent a few nights this week with Miles. It was strange, becoming used to sleeping in another bed with someone again the way he used to do with Christian—only with Miles, he was naked and there was touching and spanking and coming.

  Quinn was falling for him. There was no doubt about that and it was strange and exciting and maybe scary as fuck, too, because it was so new for him. And as new as it was for Quinn, it would be even more so for Miles.

  He grabbed a powder blue V-neck shirt from his closet. He’d just gotten out of the shower and cleaned up.

  He’d just pulled the shirt over his head and dragged a pair of short, blue, mesh trunks on when the doorbell rang.

  One glance at the clock told him Miles was early.

  He didn’t know why but that made him smile.

  Quinn walked into the living room and pulled the door open. Miles was…fuck, he was gorgeous wearing a white, button-up shirt, the top three buttons left open, and black jeans.

  He hadn’t shaved—dark stubble along his strong jawline.

  His eyes scanned Quinn up and down, and Quinn saw the hunger there, the desire. It made his cock perk up and his body flush hot.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” he told Miles.

  “I didn’t say you looked good.”

  Quinn winked. “You didn’t have to. So I should skip the pants?”

  Miles walked inside, grabbed Quinn’s ass and pulled Quinn flush against him. “Only if you don’t plan on leaving this apartment.”

  “No. No way, big guy. I’m not letting you try to sex-talk me out of going to meet your friends. I’m going even if you don’t.” He pushed Miles’s hands away and went back toward his room.

  “I’m going. I don’t cancel Wild Side.”

  No, he wouldn’t, would he? He would feel as though he was letting his friends down. He was so damn noble and loyal. Did he know it, Quinn wondered? And as much as he loved that about Miles…there was a small part of him that was jealous too.

  He wanted to be that important to Miles, he realized. It wasn’t as though he would ever expect to mean to him what his friends did or to take their place, but he wanted his own important spot in Miles’s life, as well. A spot that was carved out for him, and him alone.

  “What’s wrong?” Miles asked as he stepped into the bedroom behind Quinn. He looked up to discover he could see Miles’s reflection in the mirror, which was how Miles had seen his face.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Counselor. I’m fine.” He was. He had no reason not to be.

  “You looked a little sad all of a sudden.” Miles stepped up behind him, wrapped his arms around Quinn’s waist, and lowered his mouth to Quinn’s ear. “When I made the comment about staying, I wasn’t trying to get out of going to Wild Side. I want…I want you to meet my friends.”

  He was so goddamn sweet and sentimental and he didn’t even know it. The way those words and that knowledge made Quinn’s chest swell. “You have a good heart, Miles. You love big. Your friends are lucky to have you.”

  “Nah.” He shook his head. “You caught me on a bad day.” Miles stepped back and swatted Quinn’s ass. “Oh, I really like these underwear. Get dressed before I pull them under your cheeks and spend the next few hours with my tongue in your ass.”

  “Promises, promises.” Quinn winked but then went and did exactly what Miles said.

  Wild Side first, tongue in ass later.

  *

  Miles was nervous.

  It was fucking ridiculous, and he was fully aware of that, but he was, and he thought maybe Quinn felt the same.

  He was making things official with Quinn. He was entwining the other man in his life when he’d never done that with another living soul.

  He’d been angry with Oliver when he tried to do it with Matt, and now it was his turn.

  “Is it okay to admit I’m scared?” Quinn asked after they parked and began walking toward Wild Side. It was familiar as breathing—the busy street and the sign with the silver W with a circle around it.

  “Why would you be scared?” he questioned.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because they’re important to you. Because you love them, and I kind of like you so I really want them to like me.”

  He stopped at that. Felt a wild gallop in his chest. Christ, this man turned him inside out. He put a finger beneath Quinn’s chin and lifted his head. “You only kind of like me?”

  “Sometimes. I forgot the sometimes. Other times you drive me fucking crazy.” He grinned and Miles leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. His admission that Quinn was nervous—that he cared this much what Chance, Matt, and Ollie thought about him—was exactly what he needed to hear. It made a calmness ease through his veins. Made his muscles relax in ways they hadn’t for hours.

  “They’ll like you. I know they will.” How could someone not like Quinn? And the truth was, they would love Quinn because he was important to Miles. Jesus, he’d somehow become a necessity.

  “Aw, shucks. Thanks.” Quinn’s brows pulled together. “Did you say that so you can get in my pants?”

  “Please. Like you wouldn’t let me in your pants.”

  “Oh, I see Cocky Miles is back.”

  “Cocky Miles never went anywhere, baby boy.” Miles winked.

  “Fuck, that was sexy.”

  “Let’s go inside before we don’t make it.” They stood in the line, which moved quickly. Miles put a hand at the small of Quinn’s back as they made their way through the loud, packed bar. Quinn obviously knew where they sat, since he’d seen Miles here one night, but he let Miles lead the way.

  The second they stepped up to the table, six eyes shot up at them and held fast.

  Oliver smiled.

  Chance cocked a brow.

  Matt looked…fuck, he almost looked proud. And like a light bulb clicked into place because he likely recognized Quinn from the night they’d seen him here. Chance and Oliver probably recognized him too, but they didn’t show it.

  “Oh, you’re gorgeous. What are you doing with Miles?” Chance broke the ice.

  “Fuck off,” Miles gritted out.

  “When you’re done with him, call me.” Chance held his hand to his ear like a phone and Quinn laug
hed.

  Fucking Chance. He felt like he was always saying that.

  “I like you. I think we’re going to be friends. I’m Quinn.” He held out his hand and Chance shook it.

  “Chance. Nice to meet you.”

  Quinn reached out to Oliver next. Then Matt. Miles took the seat beside Matt, and Quinn beside him, between himself and Chance.

  “Holy shit. I almost don’t know what to think. There’s new blood at the West Hollywood Boys’ table!” Dare, the bar owner, stepped up to the table and crossed his arms. “You look familiar.”

  “I’ve been here once before. I’m Quinn.”

  “I knew it!” Chance said between fake coughs. They all ignored him.

  “Nice to meet you,” Dare replied. “I’ll grab you guys some drinks. What do you want?”

  They put in an order—Miles and Quinn both getting Jack and Coke before Dare disappeared through the crowd.

  “West Hollywood Boys, huh? You’re like the ‘it’ guys here. You know I’m gonna tease you about that, right? Tell me you know it.” Quinn grinned at Miles who rolled his eyes.

  “You tease me about everything.”

  “That’s because it’s fun to see you get so ruffled.”

  “I hate you,” Miles teased.

  “No you don’t, Counselor. I already know you like me.”

  “You like me too.”

  “Yeah but you like me more,” Quinn echoed.

  Miles chuckled and Quinn winked. When he looked up, he realized his friends were staring at them, eyes wide and jaws slack.

  Chance even pinched himself.

  Oh fuck, this was going to be a ridiculous night. Yes, he was dating. It was different. He got it. They better not make a big deal out of it. “If you guys stare at me like that, we’re leaving.”

  “Quinn and Miles…” Chance said to the tune of the kid’s song that would next have them in a tree.

  “How old are you?” Miles asked him.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I’ll be good since your boyfriend is here.” Chance winked at Quinn.

  “Don’t be good on my behalf,” Quinn replied and Miles realized he was fucking in for it tonight. Quinn and Chance together definitely would be relentless…and Matt and Ollie? They’d just look at him like they knew some secret Miles hadn’t figured out yet.