by Megan Slayer
“Hey, you,” Theo said.
Matt didn’t turn around. ‘Disgusted’ was putting his emotions mildly.
“Where’d the new guy go?” Theo asked. “Aiden, right?”
“You mean Dr. Connor.” Matt kept his back to Theo. He preferred to call Aiden by his name or Doc Cedarwood, but still. He wouldn’t reveal that tidbit to Theo.
“So? Where’d he go?”
“Home,” Matt growled.
“Home? Without you? Or is he getting things ready?” Theo stood right beside Matt. “I know how you like men who prep.”
Theo’s cologne made Matt gag. “What do you care?” And why do you need to know?
“I care lots. If you’re attached, then I’m out of luck. If you’re not, then I’m making a play.” Theo bumped shoulders with Matt. “So?”
“I’m not interested.” He hadn’t fully lost Aiden—not yet, anyway.
“Come on. We had fun.” Theo stood in front of him. “Has he seen your back tat? The one inspired by me?”
“You suggested the design, not inspired.” He’d been smart enough not to do the exact design Theo had wanted. He refused to put Theo’s name anywhere on his body. Theo might have been his longest relationship, but certainly not the healthiest.
“Whatever. If he can’t handle your ink, then he’s not a good match.”
“Who said he couldn’t?”
“I assumed Mr. Uptight Doctor wouldn’t lower himself to being with an inked man.”
His disgust morphed into rage. “What he couldn’t handle was you telling him about my past. That wasn’t your business to discuss.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “He had to know, and based on him not being here, he must not have been able to handle your truth.”
“You blurted it all out.”
“Because you couldn’t tell him.” Theo rested his hands on his hips and shrugged. “Someone had to. You didn’t care about him that much. If you had, then you would’ve opened your damn mouth.”
“Oh my God. You live to fucking ruin my life.” He wanted to go. They shouldn’t be having the conversation in the parking lot. He should be begging Aiden for another try.
Theo groaned. “You’re always blaming me. I didn’t love you the way you wanted and I wasn’t willing to give you more pills.”
“Christ, you were the reason I drank,” Matt thundered. “You drove me crazy.”
“I was good to you,” Theo challenged.
“You cheated on me, plied me with booze and told me over and over how you liked me best when I was out of it.” Looking back, he knew he’d fucked up. He’d allowed the wrong person to have too much power and the right one to get too far away.
“You were nicer.”
“I was high and drunk.” How in the hell did I know what I was doing?
“Still, you were nicer.”
“I’m done. Don’t call, text, talk to me or remember my name. I’m dead to you.” He needed to go. Fuck it. He moved Theo out of the way and opened his car door. “Go.”
“And here I needed my car fixed,” Theo said. He grabbed the doorframe. “Only you can work on it.”
“Liar.” He’d wasted enough time. Screw space. He needed Aiden.
“Uh-huh. I saw your boy here in the club talking to someone else. Lucky’s pushy, but I’d fuck him—well, I would if I wasn’t related to him.” Theo shrugged. “I do have standards.”
“Aiden isn’t like that.” As much as Aiden might not believe him, Matt did trust him.
“Talk to Lucky yourself. He’ll tell you.” Theo cocked his hip. “My cousin wouldn’t lie.”
“Your cousin?” He had to be joking.
“Lucky is my first cousin. That’s the main reason I can’t get with him. That, and he’s still with Aiden.”
“Whatever. We’re done.” He hit the button to lock the car other than the open door and groaned. “I’m out.”
“Nice. Then take me with you.” Theo rounded the car and yanked on the passenger door. “Open up.”
“I didn’t invite you,” Matt pressed the button to lock the doors, despite them already being secured.
“Why not?”
A shiver ran the length of Matt’s spine. He knew that voice and it wasn’t Theo. The robber-slash-shooter spoke just like that. He forced himself to look the speaker in the eye. The moment he saw the man’s steely blue-eyed gaze and lack of warmth in his smile, Matt knew. Oh fuck.
“Well?” Theo snapped. He yanked on the locked handle. “Why not? We’re good together.”
“You,” Matt growled. “You robbed my shop.” The longer he looked at the man beside the driver’s side of his car, the more Matt knew. “You shot me.”
“Lucky? Are you kidding?” Theo laughed. “Oh my God. That’s a riot.”
Lucky’s smile widened but was still ice cold. “Right, because I go around robbing auto garages and shooting the owners.”
Matt pressed his lips together. What Lucky had said were details he could’ve seen in the paper.
“Next, you’ll say I stole the cars too.” Lucky shook his head. “Christ.”
Was Lucky that stupid? The news station hadn’t mentioned anything about stolen cars. They’d focused on the shooting and monetary theft. “I remember your voice,” Matt managed. “I can’t forget it.”
“You didn’t seem to know me when I visited Aiden.” Lucky snorted. “So it sounds like your memory is faulty.”
“Things change.” His confidence grew. He might not have been sure when he’d seen Lucky with Aiden, but he knew now. No questions.
“Maybe you should step out of that car.” Lucky inched toward Matt’s car. “I’d hate for you to have another accident.”
“Yeah, and I’d hate for your precious doctor to see the asshole side of you,” Theo added.
Fuckety fuck. Matt noticed the guard in the lot. He’d have a witness if they decided to do something stupid. “Better not threaten me. The rent-a-cop will see you and I’m not above turning your ass in right now.” He’d do that once he talked to Aiden. The name Lucky, a description and his suspicions probably weren’t enough.
“He won’t… Shit.” Lucky nodded to Theo. “Scatter.”
When the pair started away, Matt yanked the door shut. He locked the driver’s-side door and gunned the engine. Fucking hell. He needed to get out of the locked vehicle. His mind spun more than his tires as he left the club. The more distance he put between himself and Lucky, the better.
Matt drove straight across town to Aiden’s townhouse. He might not be on the best of terms with Aiden, but Aiden would understand. He should call Jordan too. He nodded. Calling the police would have to wait until he wasn’t driving. His heart hammered and he drummed his hands on the steering wheel. Nervous energy zinged through his veins. Dear God. He couldn’t contain the worry or fear—worry Lucky would try to hurt him again and fear Aiden would push him away for good.
Despite his hesitation, Matt parked outside Aiden’s townhome and rushed to the front door. He pressed the bell and tapped his foot while he waited. Shit. He couldn’t hold still. “Come on, Aiden,” he growled. Damn. He sounded angrier than he’d meant to.
The door opened, and Aiden stared, wide-eyed, at him. He parted his lips but didn’t speak.
“I need to talk to you. No fighting. Please?” Matt barged into Aiden’s place. “I’m serious.”
“Matt.” Aiden stumbled against the door. “What’s going on?”
“I know who robbed me.” His chest heaved and ached. “I remembered the voice.” Matt grabbed his phone. “Holy fuck.”
“You… Who? I don’t understand.” Aiden closed the door and clicked the lock. “Explain.”
“I need to call Jordan, but I needed to be safe first.” Matt tucked the phone to his ear. He could do this. He could talk to the cops and turn in the man who’d shot him.
Aiden sank onto the arm of the couch and reeled from Matt’s declaration. He didn’t want to listen to Matt’s end of the telephone call, but he
had little choice. Matt spoke so loud Aiden heard everything Matt said as he gave a statement. Aiden caught bits and pieces, despite Matt speaking so fast. Lucky and Theo had been in the parking lot, Lucky said something to cause trouble and Theo tried to barge into the car. He shook his head. Lucky? Sure, the guy was pushy and could talk a lot, but Aiden didn’t understand the connection. Did they know something about the robbery? Aiden hadn’t gone back to the police department since giving his initial statement. Maybe he should’ve inquired about the case.
Once he finished, Matt stopped pacing the length of Aiden’s living room and stared at Aiden. “Sorry,” Matt said. “Thanks.”
“About what?” Aiden rested his hands on his lap. “What happened? I’m confused.”
Matt recounted the incident with Theo and Lucky. The lines around his eyes deepened. He seemed defeated. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve said that. I still don’t understand why Lucky would do that, but you don’t have to apologize for it.” Aiden tipped his head to meet Matt’s gaze. “Sit and take a break. You’re wound tight.”
Matt sank onto the cushion beside Aiden. “I’m sorry I ever lied to you. Even if it was by omission, it was bad.”
Oh, so Matt wanted to deal with their relationship issues. Okay… “Matt.”
“No, I need to say this.” Matt shifted in his seat and faced Aiden. “I’m not proud of everything in my life. Trust me. I don’t think I’d like to go back to being a kid whose father hated me for being gay, but I learned from it. I don’t want to go back to cruising bars for guys because I don’t think I’m good enough for anyone to love me. But I figured out I’m worth more than I ever thought. Would I relapse and become an addict again? Not a chance. I hated myself back then. When I think about who I was, I wonder how I’m still alive. I loathed myself, but I learned from that too. I know bottom and I’m never going back. I will never drop that low again.”
Aiden didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure what to say and hadn’t gotten over his shock. He’d heard the words and understood, but the gravity of Matt’s past hadn’t really hit until now. He might have been damaged, but Matt had been in spades. He understood why Matt wouldn’t come out and boast about pulling himself up by his bootstraps. If he could get beyond the shortcomings of his past, then Aiden could do the same. Matt was pretty darn important to him.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve been honest, but I thought if I ignored what I needed to say that we’d never have to deal with it.” Matt rested his head in his hands. “Just…shit. Everything is out of control.”
Aiden rubbed Matt’s back. No matter what Matt had held back, he’d come clean now. Besides, he had bigger problems. “We’ll get through it.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do.” He had confidence.
“I feel so helpless.”
“But where did you turn when you thought you had nowhere else to go? You came to me. Did I tell you to go? No. When it’s all said and done, I’m still here and I didn’t balk when you barged past me. You’re still here too. I thought I’d look for the flaws—and I did—but I also looked for the bright spots. If you hadn’t come to me, I was on my way to you—eventually.” Aiden petted the back of Matt’s head. “We’ll get through this.”
“Aiden.”
“Right here.” He scooted onto the couch and sat next to Matt. He rested his arm around Matt. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“It helps that it’s your place.” Matt sighed and met Aiden’s gaze. “You don’t have anywhere to go.”
“I could retreat to the hospital, but I don’t want to.” Aiden shrugged. “Call me living here convenient.” He embraced Matt and kissed Matt’s temple. “So, Lucky admitted…he shot you?”
“He basically said I’d made it up when I said he’d shot me. I knew his voice. When he said things about the incident, like the stolen cars, I knew.” Matt’s voice caught. “No doubts.”
“What’d Jordan say?” Aiden asked.
“He’d handle it. He called my information a tip, which is probably police speak for he’ll bring Lucky in or something. I don’t know how he’d know exactly. I don’t even know Lucky’s last name.”
“Emmett Luck, aka Lucky,” Aiden said. “Trust Jordan. He and the other cops are smart. They’ll get to the bottom of this.” Meanwhile, he wished he hadn’t gotten involved with Lucky ever.
“Aiden.”
“What about us?” Aiden asked. Time to redirect the conversation to keep Matt from losing his cool again. “We’re going to get through this. I’ve got to work in the morning, but until then I’m yours. If you’ll take me to the hospital before my shift starts, we’ll sort out the car situation later. I’d rather you be here than alone. Besides, I love having you next to me when I sleep. I’m rather fond of you.”
“Just fond?” Tears slipped down Matt’s cheeks.
“Maybe a little more.” Aiden rested his forehead against Matt’s. “I’m in love with you, Matt Phillips.”
“You are?”
“Uh-huh.” He brushed his nose on Matt’s and smoothed his palm around the back of Matt’s neck. “I’m irritated that you didn’t tell me about your full past, but I’m not quitting. The shock’s still there, and it’ll take time to get over it, but not forever. Part of me doesn’t want to believe addiction was part of your past, but the rest of me understands and it’s not that earth-shattering. It doesn’t make me love you any less. I’m proud you overcame it.”
“Aiden.” Another tear slipped down Matt’s cheek. He wiped the wetness away and averted his gaze. “I don’t deserve you.”
“I disagree.” Aiden toyed with the tiny hairs at the base of Matt’s skull. “I hate secrets. Christmas is a bitch because I want to tell everyone what I got them and know what I’m getting in return. Drives my father crazy. But I understand. You did what you had to do. That doesn’t mean I’m not a little irritated, but I’ll get over it. I’ve got you and that’s more important.” How else could he make Matt see his truth?
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve got a good man in my life and I love him. I never thought I’d fall for anyone after the way Lucky trashed my pride. Yeah, I’m a hopeless romantic and I’ve got lots of faith—in the right people. I’m positive I love you.”
“I love you too.” Matt finally looked him in the eye. “I never thought I’d say that, either. I didn’t think I was allowed to love anyone.”
“See? We’ll get through this because we’ve got each other. Fuck Theo and Lucky.” If he never heard their names again, he’d be happy.
Matt managed to smile. “You see so much more in me than I ever did. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Although being thanked wasn’t his goal. Matt was hard not to love. He held Matt tight and breathed in his scent. Being so close comforted him. Blood rushed through his body and heat settled low in his belly. He shifted his hips as his cock pressed against the zipper of his jeans.
“I want to go to your room and fuck, but I want the thing with our exes done. Let’s go to the police department. Maybe Jordan needs an in-person statement from me.” Matt started to get up, but Aiden stopped him. “Doc, I feel so helpless.”
“I understand that too.” He sighed. “Jordan said to sit tight. He’d call if there was anything to do, right?”
Matt stood and hauled Aide to his feet. “Then fuck it is.”
Aiden tipped his head back and laughed. “Last one to the bedroom gets fucked.” He loved how he could be himself and free with Matt.
“What if I want you to?” Matt asked. He stayed behind Aiden as they raced to the bedroom.
“Be last? Sure.” He didn’t care as long as they both came.
“No.” Matt turned Aiden around in the hallway. “Fuck me.”
Aiden paused. Every instinct hit him to barrel onto the bed with Matt in his arms, but he stayed still. He couldn’t have heard Matt right. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Matt said. “I haven’t bottomed in a long t
ime, but I want to with you. I trust you… Just be gentle.”
Aiden nodded. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Chapter Thirteen
Aiden nodded. “Then let’s go to bed.” He led Matt into the bedroom. The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on him. Matt wasn’t one to give over power and he certainly wasn’t the type to bottom. If he was giving himself up to Aiden, then he wanted to make this moment perfect for Matt.
Matt removed his shirt and shucked his pants. He left the clothing in a wad on the floor. “What do you want me to do?”
“Stretch out on the bed.” Aiden yanked his shirt over his head and tossed the garment onto the pile of clothes. He noticed Matt on the bed and gasped. Damn. Matt lay on the mattress with his legs dangling over the edge. The pull of muscle on Matt’s body, along with the tattoos, made him look strong and tough, but sexy as hell. He leaned over Matt and kissed his way down Matt’s chest to his abs and lower belly. He’d never get enough of tasting Matt.
“Nice.” Matt threaded his fingers into Aiden’s hair. “You’re making my skin tingle.”
“Good,” he said against Matt’s lower abs. He slid his hand between Matt’s legs and curled his fingers around his lover’s dick.
“Oh shit.” Matt blew out a whistle. “I didn’t realize I was on this much of a hair-trigger.” He let go of Aiden’s hair. “You’re dangerous.”
He chuckled, then knelt between Matt’s knees. If he wanted to please Matt, he had to move with caution. He nuzzled Matt’s inner thigh and continued to stroke Matt’s erection. With his free hand, he pinched Matt’s nipple.
“Aiden.” Matt curled forward and tucked the pillow behind his head. “I want to watch you.” He slipped his right hand behind his head. “I’m enjoying the view.”
Aiden looked into Matt’s eyes. Now that they’d said they loved each other, he saw that passion and a new fire in his lover. He knew how special this moment was and wanted to make it even more perfect.
Matt groaned and spread his legs. He reached for Aiden again. “Please?”
Aiden smiled then palmed Matt’s thighs. He licked his way up and down Matt’s erection, memorizing every nuance of him. Pride swelled within him and his own cock throbbed. He couldn’t wait to be inside Matt. He breathed in the scent of Matt’s cologne. He needed lube.
