Thankfully the door opened, the bell tinkling, reminding Ashton a bit of the sound that ended a round of boxing. As hoped, Craig quickly took a few steps back and plastered on a smile, acting as if nothing more than a friendly exchange had been going on.
“Is everything okay, here?” Baker asked, his voice blessedly cool and even.
“Yes, I was just leaving,” Craig replied.
Ashton could hear the sounds of footsteps leaving before Craig added, “Justice, I’ll see you at the gala tonight. Your costume will be delivered to your apartment later this afternoon.”
The bell sounded again marking his departure, but Ashton still waited a few moments. Once he knew it was safe, he rushed out of hiding. Justice leaned heavily against the counter, one hand to his face. A thick trickle of blood ran from his bottom lip, the trail going down his chin and the front of his shirt.
“Shit,” Ashton breathed.
He reached out with trembling fingers to touch the wound, only to pull back when Justice let out a hiss of pain. Baker studied the scene for a moment, his flat gray-eyed gaze going back and forth between Ashton and Justice.
Ashton knew the man was taking in everything and pegging the situation. While Baker may look the part of the thug, with his large muscles and dark buzz cut, he also struck Ashton as damn intelligent. In the end, all the man did was give a slight nod.
“I’ll go get the first aid kit from the car.”
After he left, Justice stated, “You called him in here, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t figure out any other way to make Craig stop hurting you.”
“Aren’t you worried about your dad finding out about us?”
Ashton knew for a fact that Baker would be giving a full report once he got back. While it annoyed him, Ashton couldn’t fault the man. He had a job to do and one of them was to report any threats against Ashton. Call him crazy, but he felt pretty certain making nice with the enemy’s son would rank up high on the threat list.
“You let me worry about that,” Ashton said as he pulled Justice into a gentle embrace.
He just needed to hold the man. To know that, if for at least that brief moment, he had Justice under his protection. Justice tried to pull away, “I don’t want to get blood on your shirt.”
Ashton cupped him by the back of the head and brought him in for a proper hug. “Don’t worry about that, either.”
It gave Ashton a small measure of relief when Justice finally gave in and sagged into the embrace. He even rested his cheek against Ashton’s shoulder as he let out a shuddering sigh.
“I so did not want you to have to witness that,” Justice said.
“It’s not your fault, so you have no reason to be embarrassed. I just wished I’d been able to stop it sooner.”
“It’s okay. I’ve had much worse.”
That pissed Ashton off so much every muscle in his body tensed. For the first time ever, he understood the rages his father sometimes flew into. At that moment, Ashton could have been capable of just about any act due to his anger.
Justice shook his head. “I’m just shocked that Craig did it here in public. One of the unspoken rules in my dysfunctional functional family is that we always keep our problems private. This is the first time Craig ever hurt me outside of our house or my apartment.”
“He shoved you at the party,” Ashton reminded him.
Justice’s face twisted up in a grimace of pain and fear. “Yeah, I guess he did. He’s been getting worse lately.”
“If I have anything to say about it, this will be the last time you have to abused,” he vowed impulsively.
Justice gave him a crooked smile before he used the back of his hand to wipe away some of the blood. “I don’t see how we can stop it. I’ve been going through it ever since my mom was out of the picture. I don’t see it changing anytime soon, either.”
Ashton faltered as he realized Justice had a point. The DA held an iron grip over his youngest son’s life and he wouldn’t give up that control without a fight. Unless they found a way to break those chains, there was no way they could ever have a life of their own.
Baker came back in with the first aid kit, drawing Ashton from those troubling thoughts. The bodyguard/driver came over and put the kit down on the counter. As the man opened it, Justice shot Ashton a questioning glance.
“Baker has his medic license,” Ashton explained with a shrug.
“So, how come he’s with you today?” Justice asked, the slightest hint of jealousy flavoring his tone.
A thrill went through Ashton and, despite the tense situation, he found himself biting back a smile. It felt good to have somebody care about him enough to get possessive.
“My dad had some issues with an old work associate, so he decided to put a guard on me for the next couple days,” Ashton explained.
“And here I thought I was the only one with an exciting life,” Justice teased.
Baker took out a chemical ice pack and shook it to activate it before placing it to Justice’s lip. “Here, this should help with the swelling.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want my dad’s cop buddies seeing my face all bruised up,” Justice drawled as he took the ice pack.
“Given that you have that party tonight, I’m surprised Craig hit you there at all,” Ashton said.
“Me, too. Like he said, my mask should hide most of it so long as I keep it on all night.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any way you can get out of going?”
Justice snorted. “I’d have a better chance of growing pigtails and cat ears.”
Baker laughed before he moved the ice pack and gently palpated Justice’s lip. When Justice hissed in pain, the bodyguard shook his head. “I don’t think you need any stitches. You should still have it looked at to make sure.”
“I’ll be okay. I’ve had—”
“Worse,” Ashton finished dully.
His heart sank farther as he scrambled his mind to find a way to protect his lover. All Ashton came up with were more questions, none of which he had the answers to.
Later on that afternoon, Ashton sat in his father’s living room and pondered the numerous problems rushing through his head. He lay back on the leather couch and threw an arm over his face, his gut clenching as he recalled the beating and how helpless he felt to end Justice’s suffering.
His father entered the room and took the chair closest to the couch, but Ashton didn’t say anything. He understood that his father already knew about the pet store incident, so it only made sense that he’d come to talk about it.
“I’m not breaking things off with him, so you can get that out of your head,” Ashton declared, still not moving his arm to uncover his face.
“What makes you think that I’d tell you to?” his father countered.
Ashton finally moved and turned to look at his dad. The older man wore his casual clothes, which for him meant a pair of khakis and a dark polo. Ashton couldn’t recall a time where he’d seen his father in jeans or a T-shirt. He even styled his dark, salt and pepper hair conservatively, looking more like a banker rather than the head of the biggest drug operation in the Midwest.
“Are you going to try and tell me that you’re happy I’m dating the DA’s son?”
“I’m not going to lie and say I’m thrilled. If Justice’s father finds out, he’ll come after you hard.”
Ashton rolled his eyes. “He already rides my ass and not in a good way. I don’t see how he can make things worse for me.”
“Trust me, son, he can and will once he finds out about you two. Is that something you want to risk?”
“Yes, I do,” Ashton replied without a moment of hesitation.
“How long have you known Justice?”
“A week.”
“He must be pretty special for you to act this impulsively.”
Ashton waited for some sort of reprimand, or perhaps some chiding over acting like some dramatic drama king. Instead his father continued to study Ashton as i
f seeing something new in his son. Going by the wry smile on his face, his father didn’t find the fresh development lacking.
“What makes him so different from all the other boys you’ve dated?”
“I care about him. More than anyone I’ve ever dated before. In fact, in enough time I’m pretty certain I could fall in love with him,” Ashton replied simply, surprising even himself by that admission.
His dad raised a brow, but didn’t scoff at the declaration. His stoic response once again shocked Ashton. His conflict must have shown on his face, because his father asked, “What were you expecting, me to yell or maybe forbid you to ever see him again?”
“Well…yeah, I was.”
“Like I said earlier, I’m not happy about who his father is, but if that’s what you want, I’ll do my best to support you. Haven’t I always encouraged you to make your own decisions in life?”
Ashton paused as he thought that one over. Perhaps it was due to a newfound maturity in himself, or perhaps it came from watching the way Justice suffered under his own father’s oppression. Whatever the reason, Ashton realized for the first time just how much his dad always supported him.
Ashton sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. Locking gazes with his father, he said, “Thank you for once again being there for me. I couldn’t ask for a better father.”
Dad’s lips curled up into a smile that never quite reached his eyes. His gaze grew troubled and for the only time in Ashton’s memory, he noted a bit of regret in his father’s expression. Strangely, that tugged at Ashton’s chest and made him almost want to cry.
“There are a lot of people that would argue with you about that one,” Dad finally said, his voice a bit gruff.
“That’s because they don’t know you as well as I do.”
“So, what are you going to do about Justice?”
Ashton rolled that over for a few minutes, before the solution hit him. It would be the perfect way for them to finally be together without the fear of Justice being hurt again. The only catch was it would require a huge sacrifice on both their parts, plus it would be asking Justice to take a huge leap of faith. Something that Ashton didn’t know if Justice would be ready for yet. While he now realized his deep affection for Justice, there were no guarantees that the other man would return the feelings.
“I have an idea, but I’m going to need your help,” Ashton said.
“Anything, son, just name it.”
Chapter 7
*
Justice let out a long-suffering sigh as he adjusted the costume mask. It felt hot and itchy, and, even worse, he knew he looked ridiculous in the thing. He didn’t dare say a word against the monstrosity, though, since his father had been the one to pick it out and send it to his apartment.
A bright yellow contraption, with a puffy shirt and tight pants, he knew he looked more like Big Bird, than sexy and mysterious. Which always had been the image that came to him whenever he thought of masquerade parties. The sexy part that is, not the looking like a walking, living creature from Sesame Street.
He pulled at the itchy costume as he cast a jaded glance over the crowded hotel ballroom. While it was nice, it still didn’t begin to compare to the hotel where he and Ashton spent the night. Then again, Justice didn’t exactly see the local law authorities holding any kind of party at a place owned by any of Ashton’s relations.
All of the people at the party were friends of his father’s, which meant they treated Justice as a nuisance to be tolerated and nothing more. On the other hand, they all treated Craig as if he were some hometown hero or something. His brother remained glued to their dad’s side as they both pandered to the group.
“God, have you ever seen a bigger collection of suck-ups in your life?” an oddly familiar voice to his right asked.
Justice turned and stared at a man in one of the most outlandish costumes he’d ever seen. Mostly gold, with some brief appearances of white and black, the outfit looked like Aladdin meets Showgirls. A white mask, with gold accents completely obscured the man’s face, and a big feather-topped turban covered his head. It still only took Justice a few moments to recognize who it was.
“Oh, my God! Ashton, what are you doing here?” Justice hissed, as he dodged a glance from side to side.
“I had to see you.”
“So, you decided to crash a police-sponsored party. Are you crazy?”
Due to the mask, Justice couldn’t see Ashton’s face, but a warm chuckle told him how humorous the other man found the situation. Justice put a hand over his own mostly clad face as he let out a groan.
“You must be certifiably crazy. That can be the only possible explanation.”
“I’ve been accused of that more than once in the past.”
Justice peeked out from between his fingers. “You do realize that you’re going to be in a ton of trouble if somebody discovers you’re here?”
“After what happened to you earlier today, I wanted to check up on you, plus we need to talk.”
“You could have just texted me.”
Despite himself, Justice couldn’t help but feel touched that Ashton willingly took such a big risk just to see him. Justice darted a glance at his father and brother, relief flowing through him when he noted they were still hip deep in ass-kissing mode. Then again, with the way things usually went at these thing they wouldn’t notice Justice for the rest of the night period. So long as he kept to the corner and didn’t call attention to himself, he may as well have been a lamp for all they cared. So if he were to say…take off for some fun of his own, they would never be the wiser.
He ran his tongue over his torn bottom lip as he debated his next move. If Ashton could take a risk, then the least Justice could do is return the favor. Plus, hadn’t he just that day realized that he’d never get his father’s approval? So why in the hell should he keep trying so hard to please the man?
No, more! At that moment, Justice realized he needed to grow up and live life by his own terms and rules. He didn’t want to have to continue to exist under a suffocating blanket of fear.
“Follow me,” he whispered to Ashton.
Justice led him to an empty conference room. After shutting the door behind them, Justice carefully flipped the lock. Ashton slipped off his mask and turban, then set them on the enormous table, which occupied most of the room. While the lights were off, the full moon shone through the large widows. That made it so Justice could make out each and every feature on the man he’d grown to care for so deeply.
He only took his gaze off Ashton long enough to take off his own mask and toss it to the side. Ashton ran his tongue over his lips as he stared back at Justice, the desire in the man’s eyes was unmistakable.
“You look so fucking hot right now,” Ashton finally said.
Justice laughed as he gestured to his outfit. “In this? I look like a demented canary.”
Ashton slowly walked forward until they were only inches apart. “We really need to talk.”
“Later. I want you to fuck me first.”
It gave Justice some satisfaction to see the look of pure shock crossing Ashton’s face. “Right here?”
“I would prefer if you bent me over the table, but if you want to drop to the ground on this specific spot, I won’t argue. Just so long as I get your cock in me.”
Ashton blinked a few times. “Aren’t you afraid that we’ll get caught? No offense, but before now you were terrified for us to even be seen talking in public. Now you want me to take you in the conference room of a very busy hotel?”
Justice leaned forward for a wet, hot, open-mouthed kiss that left them both breathless. It hurt his lip a bit, but the pleasure was well worth it. Sill keeping their mouths inches apart, Justice said, “I’m done being afraid. Besides I care more about you than I fear them.”
One last brief flash of uncertainty passed Ashton’s gaze, so Justice decided to cheat a bit so the other man saw things his way. Darting his tongue out, he licked a lazy path
along the outside of Ashton’s mouth. At the same time, Justice reached down and rubbed Ashton’s cock.
“At least part of you thinks this is a good idea,” Justice teased.
“Okay, but you have to promise that we’ll talk after.”
Justice nodded as he continued to massage Ashton’s erection. “Anything. Just so long as you fuck me first.”
“Do you have any supplies on you?” Ashton asked with a crooked smile.
Dismay shot through Justice as he froze. “Crap. I didn’t expect to run into you here, so I don’t have anything on me.”
Ashton chuckled before he gave Justice’s nose a kiss. “Don’t worry, I was only teasing you. I have some stuff in my pockets.”
Justice laughed, his hand fumbling with the ties to Ashton’s pants. “You had me scared there for a minute.”
The laces on Ashton’s costume bottoms proved difficult, but Justice managed to get them undone. Once the flaps were open, Justice dropped to his knees. Pulling out Ashton’s cock, Justice ran his tongue up the length, a low moan coming from his throat.
“Damn, you taste so delicious,” he crooned.
He paused a moment to swirl his tongue along the crown, collecting a smear of pre-cum before he parted his lips and slowly sucked all of Ashton’s length in. Ashton let out a shuddering cry, his hands shooting out to fist into Justice’s hair.
“Shit, you’re getting good at this,” Ashton praised as his hips snapped forward.
Justice anticipated the move, so he opened his throat and fought his gag reflex. Ashton’s answering groan was his reward. Justice began to bob his head up and down, alternating the strength of his suction. He wanted this to be the best blow job in Ashton’s life. To wipe away the memory of any other encounter he may have had before they met.
All too soon Ashton gently pulled Justice away. Justice let out a small whimper of distress as Ashton’s cock slipped from his lips.
Ashton and Justice Page 6
