“I can see you, you know.”

  Ace glanced at him through the rearview mirror, a shit-eating grin coming onto his face. “We see you too, buddy.”

  What the fuck? Joker glared at Ace, but all that did was make him laugh. Bastard.

  They picked up Fitz on the way to the club. Colton was getting dropped off a little later, since he’d had a meeting that ran over and he was still at the office in Jacksonville, so it’d take him a little longer to get there. Once they arrived at Sapphire Sands, they headed for the VIP area Frank had reserved for them and climbed into the empty huge U-shaped booth. It looked like they were the first ones to arrive.

  “First round is on me,” Jack said, getting out.

  Joker and Ace exchanged glances, then turned their narrowed gaze on their friend. Jack wasn’t fooling anyone.

  “That doesn’t mean you get out of it later when everyone’s here,” Joker said. The challenge coins would be slammed down at some point, and one of them would be buying drinks for all of them, including the boyfriends.

  Jack rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You want some booze or not?”

  “You know what I like,” Joker said.

  Jack took Ace’s order, and with his hand in Fitz’s, left for the bar.

  Ace snorted. “Ten bucks says they’ll get distracted making out and it’ll be at least half an hour before they make it to the bar.”

  “Do I look like a sucker to you? No bet, Sharpe.”

  Ace cackled. “Damn. That would have been easy money.”

  “Right, because you’re so hard up for cash. Oh, wait. You’re married to a billionaire.” He fiddled with the napkin on the table. “How do you do it?”

  “That’s a loaded question, buddy. You might want to be a little more specific.”

  “Ass. I meant, how do you live in Colton’s world? All those fancy parties, big spenders, investment portfolios, and stocks. It’s not you.”

  “Oh, well, that’s easy. I don’t live in that world. Colton likes having me at his galas and events to support him, to keep him grounded. I never pretend to be something I’m not, and Colton never expects me to. He loves me, and he’s proud to be with me. I’m not going to say it’s always a blast, but it’s a few hours here and there. That kind of thing doesn’t bug me, and I don’t let it bug Colton.”

  “But don’t you feel… out of place?”

  Ace shrugged. “Not really, but that’s down to Colton. He always finds ways to include me in the conversation. A lot of the time, he introduces me to people he knows I’d have a good time talking to or someone I might have something in common with, whether it’s the military or a favorite football team.” He smiled knowingly. “Not everyone is an asshole.”

  Joker grunted.

  Fitz and Jack returned with their drinks, and Joker shook his head in shame at them. As if they wouldn’t have been able to guess what the two had been up to, with Fitz’s kiss-swollen lips, messy hair, and faint beard burn. What was it like to want someone so badly all the time that you couldn’t keep your hands or mouth off them? The memory of his kiss with Gio flooded his brain, and he shifted uncomfortably. Great, just what he needed, to get a hard-on in front of Ace.

  The music was thumping, and the dance floor was packed as usual. Their crew started arriving, with everyone there except Gio. Joker turned to Laz while the guys were giving Ace shit over something.

  “Hey, was Gio getting a ride with you guys?”

  Laz smiled brightly at him. “No, Saint drove him here, but they got here at the same time we did. They’re at the bar getting us drinks.”

  The guy who didn’t drink alcohol was getting the booze. Nice. Gio never mentioned why he didn’t drink alcohol, only that he didn’t. Not that he had to explain himself to anyone. If he said he didn’t drink, they respected that, but Joker was curious. He’d heard Laz tell stories of Gio and Colton in college coming home all giggly or drunk off their asses, so at some point, Gio did consume alcohol. Knowing Gio was close by had Joker feeling restless.

  “I’ll go see if he needs help,” Joker said to Laz, not that Gio would, considering Saint was with him, but he doubted Laz was going to give it as much thought as he was. His friends moved so he could get out of the booth, and he ignored Ace’s knowing look. Joker flipped him off for good measure.

  It was like Gio had a homing beacon, one Joker was tuned in to. He spotted Gio right away, his long, lean body leaning casually against the bar as he talked to Saint. The dark curls of Gio’s hair were wild, as if he somehow knew how desperate it made Joker want to run his fingers through them. His expensive black dress shirt was tucked into his gray slacks, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up his toned forearms.

  The air around Joker seemed to change, and he sucked in a breath when Gio straightened and turned, doing a legit double take when he saw Joker. His eyes looked black as he raked his gaze over Joker, the heat and want coming from him so palpable Joker stilled. His heart pounded in his ears, his pulse doing double time as he waited to see what Gio’s next move would be.

  Gio turned and murmured something to Saint, who nodded, and then he strode up to Joker and cupped his face. “Sacha…” His eyes were impossibly dark, and Joker’s jeans tightened exponentially.

  “Hey.”

  “You’re all I can think about,” Gio admitted.

  Joker worried his bottom lip with his teeth. Was he really going to be that much of a sap? One heated look and a few sweet words and he was going to fold like a bad hand on poker night? Fuck it. He grabbed Gio’s wrist and tugged him along as he hurried toward the back rooms. No overthinking, no excuses.

  “If you don’t want this, now’s your chance to say so,” Joker said over his shoulder.

  Gio huffed out a small laugh. “Not a chance.”

  Saint appeared next to them, and Joker didn’t look at Saint when he spoke.

  “You can wait outside the door or at the end of the hall. We’re gonna be a while.”

  To Saint’s credit, his only break from his professionalism was the corner of his lips pulled up in a little smile. “Got it.”

  They stepped through the black curtains dividing the back rooms from the club floor, and Joker led him down the door-lined corridor. He pulled Gio into the last room, closed the door behind them, and turned to face Gio.

  Are you out of your fucking mind?

  No matter how many times Joker asked himself that question, he came up with nothing. This had to be the worst idea in the history of bad ideas, and he knew a thing or two about bad ideas. So why was he carrying through with it? Not only could he not bring himself to stop, but he also couldn’t even work out which way was up, all because of one smooth, handsome-faced motherfucker.

  Instead of coming to his senses, Joker climbed Giovanni Galanos like a fucking tree, legs wrapped around the guy’s waist, arms around his neck, and his tongue fighting Gio’s for dominance as they kissed like it was the only thing keeping the universe from collapsing in on itself. The more Joker tasted, the more he wanted, and that was dangerous.

  Gio cursed as his back hit the wall with an armful of Joker. “Sacha…”

  “Don’t call me that,” Joker growled against Gio’s lips. “Better yet, don’t talk.”

  “Then how am I supposed to tell you how incredibly sexy you are?”

  “Shut up.”

  Gio laughed softly, and Joker kissed him to shut him up, a hot, sloppy, incendiary kiss that threatened to ignite Joker from the inside out, though he was pretty sure he was already there. How was it possible to both hate and need someone so bad that he could barely breathe? Okay, maybe he didn’t hate Gio, but he disliked what Gio brought out in him. This sense of chaos, of not being in control of himself, of his body, of needing more. Fuck, he didn’t want to need this asshole. If only his fucking body would listen to his head—the one on his shoulders—maybe he could break whatever hold Gio had on him.

  Joker was so hard it was painful. The heat that exploded through him was incandescent, and if he didn’t get Gio inside him in the next few minutes, he’d fucking melt. That in and of itself terrified him. No matter his sexual encounter, he was in control. Always. Was he going to give Gio that kind of control? No. Gio might drive him out of his mind, but Joker was the one in control here. He was the one calling the shots, same as always. Gio was no different than any other hookup.

  Gio’s hands on his ass had Joker moaning. Damn, the man had great hands. Who knew fingers that long and delicate-looking could have such a firm grip? But then the fucker exuded strength, even with his rich-boy appearance. Everything about Gio screamed high-maintenance and expensive, from his pristine designer shirt that Joker was determined to wrinkle beyond repair to his stupidly perfect, shiny black hair, incredible cheekbone structure, sinful stubble, and that annoyingly handsome face.

  “What do you want, Sacha?” Gio whispered as he moved his lips away from Joker’s mouth to his neck.

  “Besides you not calling me that? I want you to make me come. No questions, no overthinking, no promises, just this here right now.”

  Gio met his gaze, and as tempted as Joker was to avert those intense dark eyes, he didn’t. He needed Gio to understand what was going on here. This wasn’t a promise of anything. The most likely outcome would be that they’d get whatever this was out of their systems, and that was it. They were done.

  Years of this guy getting under his skin for no fucking reason, of Joker getting annoyed by the sound of his voice, by the thought of him, it was over. The man had driven him out of his mind, and now he had Gio in front of him, he was done with all the bullshit.

  “Well?”

  Gio’s lips quirked up in the corner, and Joker narrowed his eyes. Why did he always look like he knew some secret no one else did? So fucking annoying.

  “Okay.”

  Joker eyed him. “Really?”

  Gio nipped at Joker’s jaw. “If that’s what you want.”

  Damn skippy it’s what he wanted. Joker nodded. Well, that had been easier than expected. Great! A little sex and they’d go their separate ways—though not entirely since Laz was dating Red, but whatever. Minor details. Point was, this whole thing between them could finally be put to rest. Not like Gio would want him for more than that anyway, so they might as well get a good fuck out of it and move on. Not like he wanted to date the guy or anything.

  Gio returned his mouth to Joker’s, understanding between them, meaning Joker could focus on taking his pleasure. All they had was one moment, and Joker was going to make the most of it. He allowed Gio to carry him over to the couch, ignoring the strength in the man, how easily he held Joker, and how gently he sat with Joker in his lap, despite their exploding need. Their mouths remained connected, and Joker refused to acknowledge how much he liked Gio under him.

  Without moving his lips away from Gio’s, he reached into his pocket and removed a packet of lube and a condom, ignoring the bowl full of lube packets and condoms on the small black coffee table next to the couch.

  Gio smiled against Joker’s mouth. “I see you came prepared.”

  “Green Beret. I’m always prepared.”

  Gio laughed softly, the sound going right to Joker’s cock. As if he weren’t hard enough. They brought their mouths together again, as if neither of them could spend more than a few seconds without breathing the other’s air. Gio tasted so fucking good. Forcing himself away, Joker scrambled off Gio, his breath coming out ragged at the sight of Gio’s messy state.

  “I’m going to fucking wreck you,” Joker told him.

  Gio’s eyes went wide, and before Joker knew what the hell was happening, Gio stood. He grabbed Joker’s wrist, his smile turning wicked at Joker’s wide eyes.

  “My sweet Sacha.” Gio ran a finger down Joker’s jawline. He bent closer and murmured in his ear. “You’re going to get on your knees for me and do everything I tell you.”

  Joker turned his face, his lips brushing Gio’s cheek. “And why the fuck would I do that?”

  “Because,” Gio breathed, sliding one hand down to Joker’s ass and bringing him hard against him, their erections pressing together and making Joker groan low. “We both know that deep down, you’re aching to submit—” He nipped at Joker’s jawline, making his entire body shudder. “—to me.”

  A quiet gasp escaped Joker, and he lifted his hands to Gio’s chest, ready to push him away, but he didn’t. His body was on fire at Gio’s words, his dick straining painfully against his jeans.

  “You’ve wanted to since the beginning,” Gio murmured, moving his hand to the bulge in Joker’s pants. Joker pushed his erection into Gio’s hand with a moan. He was practically panting. Gio licked at the corner of Joker’s mouth. “I want to take care of you. Let me give you what you need.”

  Gio had said something similar before, back during the bachelor auction when he’d surprised the shit out of Joker.

  No overthinking. No excuses.

  Joker gently shoved Gio away, his gaze never moving from Gio’s.

  Then he did something he had never done for anyone in the whole of his adult life.

  He got on his knees.

  SIX

  Dear God.

  Gio couldn’t help his sharp intake of breath. His hand all but shook when he placed it on the top of Sacha’s hair. He’d been dreaming of this day since they’d met, and not once had he believed it would happen. Nothing in his life had prepared him for the sight of Sacha Wilder on his knees, for him.

  “You’re going to be a very good boy for me, aren’t you?”

  Sacha held his gaze, his pupils blown, leaving slivers of blue-gray at the edges. He looked uncertain, and Gio knew precisely why. He brushed a finger down Sacha’s cheek.

  “In here, between the two of us, you do as I tell you. I’ll take care of you. Out there, you do as you please, same as you always have.”

  Something inside Sacha seemed to click into place, and he let out a steady breath, his shoulders relaxing as if he’d been waiting to hear those words from Gio. Sacha yearned to give up control in the bedroom, but that’s where his submission ended, and Gio was more than okay with that.

  “Do you want to suck me off?”

  Sacha’s cheeks flushed the most beautiful shade of pink. He licked his lips and nodded. With a smile, Gio sat on the couch and nodded his approval. Sacha made quick work of unfastening Gio’s belt, unzipping him, and exposing his rock-hard cock. A little whimper escaped Sacha as he stroked his thumb over the tip, smearing the pearl of precome. Gio sucked in a breath, groaning at the wicked smile that spread across Sacha’s face as he slowly leaned in and swallowed Gio down to the root, his eyes never leaving Gio’s.

  Gio threw his hands out to his sides, his fingers digging into the soft couch cushions. Jesus Christ! The ripple of pleasure that wracked his body was something out of his wildest imagination. Never had he felt the surge of raw desire making his body tremble. He moved one hand to Sacha’s hair, a smile tugging at his lips at the reminder that Sacha had gotten a haircut. Was it egotistical to believe Sacha’s new hair and clothes were for his benefit? He ran his fingers through the thick, soft strands, and Sacha’s eyes drifted closed, a throaty moan escaping him. The look of contentment on his face was one Gio hadn’t seen before, and his heart swelled, knowing he was the cause of it.

  Sacha sucked, licked, and laved at Gio from root to tip. He alternated between slow and teasing and fast and sloppy. When his other hand disappeared down in front of him, Gio put a hand on Sacha’s shoulder to stop him.

  “I’m afraid our first time isn’t going to last very long,” Gio informed him roughly. “Get up.”

  Sacha popped off Gio and stood, his pants unzipped. He ran a tongue over his wet bottom lip, and Gio cupped the back of his neck. He pulled him in and kissed him breathless before forcing himself away.

  “Drop your pants and get on your knees facing the back of the couch.”

  Sacha scrambled to do as he was told. He shoved his pants and underwear down his thighs, and Gio moaned at the sight of his beautiful cock leaking precome. Everything about Sacha was breathtaking. He moved to one side so Sacha could climb onto the couch, his hands braced on the backrest and his knees spread as wide as his jeans permitted. After tearing the packet of lube Sacha had brought, Gio poured a generous amount onto his fingers and knelt on the floor between Sacha’s feet.

  “You’re so damned beautiful,” Gio murmured, caressing Sacha’s left butt cheek. He had a perfect little ass, round and pert. He gave it a light smack, and Sacha jolted. Gio waited for his response, thrilled when a shiver quickly followed and Sacha arched his back with a low groan. His sweet Sacha. So responsive. Gio placed a lubed finger to Sacha’s hole as he slid a hand over Sacha’s ass up under his shirt to his toned back. He yearned to see Sacha’s naked body under him, wanted to run his tongue over every inch of him, caress the curve of every muscle.

  Pushing his finger in resulted in Sacha letting out the most delicious noises. Slowly Sacha started moving, fucking himself on Gio’s finger as Gio stroked and caressed his body, purposefully ignoring his stiff erection.

  When Gio added a third finger, Sacha looked about ready to shatter, his head thrown forward as he took his pleasures from Gio’s fingers. Unable to take any more, Gio removed his fingers, loving Sacha’s curses. He unrolled the condom onto his cock and knelt on the couch behind Sacha. Lined up with Sacha’s hole, he leaned forward as he very gingerly pushed in, his lips next to Sacha’s ear.

  “I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long, of filling you, of making you come apart in my arms. Give me all of you, your fire, your passion, your strength. I want all of you, your pain, your scars, your anger.”

  “Fuck.” Sacha thrust his ass back, impaling himself the rest of the way on Gio’s cock, forcing Gio to bury his shout in Sacha’s hair. He reached down to palm the steel rod that was Sacha’s erection as he started with small movements. Sacha groaned and let his head fall back against Gio’s shoulder. He slipped his fingers into Gio’s hair and grabbed a fistful of it. Gio snapped his hips, thrusting hard into Sacha over and over, their panting breaths, grunts, and groans filling the room as Gio claimed Sacha’s ass.