Saint brought the SUV around while Gio said his goodbyes to a few people. The moment they got in the car, Joker removed his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. Finally, he could breathe.

  The ride back to the house was silent and awkward. So much so that Saint felt the need to run interference by talking about Cookie and how Gio must be excited to be bringing him home finally.

  Joker was in a foul mood, and now he kind of wished he hadn’t agreed to stay at Gio’s tonight, but he’d promised to go with Gio in the morning to pick up Cookie. He needed to chill. Tonight hadn’t been Gio’s fault. When they got inside, Joker headed to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, then chugged half of it down in seconds.

  “I’m going to do a perimeter check,” Joker said roughly, but Gio pulled him into his arms and kissed him. Damn it, all of Joker’s anger melted the moment Gio’s lips touched his. The softness of them, his taste, all distracting him to the point where the only thing his brain could process was Gio. Fuck, he smelled so good.

  Man, he was such a sucker.

  “Let Saint go,” Gio murmured against Joker’s temple. “Come upstairs with me.”

  Joker nodded. How could he say no to the unspoken promises in that quiet request? He asked Saint to do the check instead and text him as soon as he was back inside. The alarm would be set afterward. Joker let Gio lead him upstairs to his bedroom, the door closing behind them. Joker waited until Saint had texted him that he was back inside and everything was as it should be. He walked over to the wall of windows, his gaze on the ocean sparkling beneath the moonlight. It was a beautiful night.

  Turning, he stilled. Gio sat on the couch facing the windows, but his eyes were on Joker. The bright moonlight was enough for Joker to see every sinful, sexy inch of him. His eyes were impossibly dark, his lips slightly parted, and a curl of his pitch-black hair had fallen over his brow. The air in the room changed around them, crackling with the need and heat between them. Gio spread his legs, and Joker stepped in between them. He slowly lowered himself to his knees, his eyes never leaving Gio’s as he slid his hands up Gio’s legs to his thighs toward the bulge straining against his dress pants. He was so fucking gorgeous, Joker was getting hard just looking at him.

  Gio reached out to cup Joker’s cheek. He ran a thumb over Joker’s bottom lip, the touch sending a current of need through Joker, unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Never had he wanted anyone so desperately, and for more than a fuck. He wanted to keep Gio, wanted to mean something to him. If Joker knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t let himself get caught up in the fantasy of Gio loving him. It would only lead to heartache. Instead, he’d focus on their pleasure, on the moment. Joker waited patiently for Gio to tell him what to do, knowing Gio would make the wait worth it.

  “I want to feel these lips around my cock,” Gio said, his voice low and husky.

  Joker sucked in a sharp breath, his pulse racing with anticipation. He kept his gaze locked on Gio’s as he removed Gio’s shoes, then his socks. He unfastened Gio’s pants, then unzipped him, a shiver going through Joker at the sight of Gio’s hard cock straining against his white boxer briefs.

  Taking hold of Gio’s underwear and pants, Joker moaned when Gio lifted his hips so Joker could slide his pants and boxer briefs down, leaving him in his dress shirt and tuxedo jacket, his tie undone and hanging haphazard around his neck. Fuck, he was the sexiest thing Joker had ever seen. He dropped Gio’s pants to one side, then returned his hands to Gio’s thighs, the fine hair soft against Joker’s palms as he slid them up again, his eye on the prize, that thick, gorgeous length.

  Joker wrapped a hand around the base of Gio’s cock, loving Gio’s sharp intake of breath. With a wicked grin, Joker leaned in and lapped at the pearls of precome on the rosy tip of Gio’s cock, enjoying the way Gio groaned. He stroked Joker’s hair, murmuring sinful words of encouragement as Joker licked at Gio’s length, alternating between swirling his tongue around the head and sucking on it. Gio’s fingers tightened around a fistful of Joker’s hair, tugging when Joker swallowed Gio down to the root.

  “Fuck!” Gio brought his right hand to join his left, and Joker hummed with pleasure as he sucked Gio off and fondled his balls, giving the best blow job he’d ever given to please the man he was coming to see as his. Reaching down, he unfastened his pants and hastily shoved his hand into his underwear to palm his own erection. He was painfully hard, and if he wasn’t careful, he wasn’t going to last long. Gio gasped and put a hand on Joker’s shoulder to stop him. It would seem Joker wasn’t the only one in danger of blowing his load too soon.

  “I want you naked and on the bed, on your stomach.”

  Joker scrambled to do as he was told. Quickly he got naked, then climbed onto the bed and lay on his stomach. Behind him, Gio moaned.

  “You have no idea how stunning you are.”

  Joker heard rustling behind him, and then the bed dipped. He shivered at Gio’s warm hands caressing his thighs just before Gio shoved Joker’s legs open. A deep, throaty moan came from Gio, and Joker thrust his hips against the comforter in response. He was so hard it hurt. Gio’s hands on his ass had Joker arching his back. He’d been about to beg Gio to do something when Gio parted Joker’s ass cheeks and his tongue pierced his hole.

  “Holy shit!” Whatever Joker had been expecting from Gio, it hadn’t been that. “Oh God, yes. Fuck!” Gio rimmed him like a pro, using his tongue and fingers to wreck Joker and turn him into a quivering mess, begging and moaning like a porn star. Joker made noises he’d never fucking made in his life. His toes curled, and he grabbed fistfuls of the covers as Gio took him apart. Just when Joker thought he couldn’t take anymore, Gio stopped.

  Sweat beaded Joker’s brow, his breath coming out in pants as Gio went to the nightstand to grab a condom and lube.

  “Turn around. Head on the pillow.”

  Joker got onto his back and moved up until his head was on the pillow. He drew his knees up and opened his legs wide, smiling wickedly when Gio froze in the middle of tearing through the condom packet. Gio’s eyes were so dark, it was like he could see into Joker’s soul. Removing the condom, he rolled it down his cock and kneeled between Joker’s knees. He looked like he wanted to say something, his lips parting, and Joker’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest. Whatever it was, Gio seemed to decide against it. Instead, he leaned in to kiss Joker, stealing the breath from him. He lined himself up and slowly pushed against Joker’s hole.

  The burn soon gave way to delicious fullness, and Gio continued to kiss Joker as he started to move. Joker had expected Gio to pound his ass, but Gio appeared to have other ideas, moving at an unhurried pace as he made love to Joker’s mouth, their tongues dancing, embracing, savoring. Joker slipped his fingers into Gio’s hair, loving the silky softness of it. He’d never felt this raw, this open, and he didn’t know what to do with it. Holding on to Gio, praying he wouldn’t let Joker go, wouldn’t let him fall, was all he could do.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Gio moved his lips to Joker’s cheek, peppering kisses along his jawline. His hips maintained a slow, steady rhythm as he brushed feathery light kisses over Joker’s face as if he were sending Joker a message, one Joker wasn’t sure he was ready to hear. Needing to feel more of him, Joker moved his hands down to Gio’s shoulders, his fingers digging into the firm muscles of his back. He thrust his hips up to meet Gio’s movement.

  “Please,” Joker breathed.

  Gio thrust in deep, making Joker cry out. He brushed his lips against Joker’s temples, his words so quiet Joker nearly missed them.

  “Take everything. Anything you want, anything you need, is yours.”

  Joker swallowed hard. If only it were that easy. Could it be that easy? Would it be so terrible if he laid himself bare to Gio? If he opened his heart and presented it to him?

  “I want it all,” Joker whispered, his heart beating in his ears and his pulse racing. He pressed his lips to Gio’s shoulder, smiling when Gio cursed under his breath and snapped his hips forward, his thrusts growing deeper and quicker. Joker threw his head back, his eyes closed, and pleasure rippled through him as an incendiary heat flared, threatening to set him ablaze. The more Gio gave him, the more he wanted.

  “Sacha…”

  Joker’s name was a whispered plea on Gio’s lips.

  “Yes,” Joker said through a moan. “For you… yes. The answer is always yes.” He didn’t know what the fuck had gotten into him. Bullshit, he did know. Opening his eyes, he met Gio’s gaze. He wrapped his arms around Gio’s neck and met every one of his thrusts with a thrust of his own until the bed moved beneath them. Their panting breaths, moans, and curses filled the room, sweat beading both their brows as they moved together as one, their thrusts growing more erratic as they chased their orgasms.

  Gio reached down between them and wrapped a hand around Joker’s leaking cock. “Come for me, baby.”

  “Oh fuck!” The endearment caught Joker off guard, and his orgasm slammed into him, his body shaking from head to toe as he cried out Gio’s name, hot come spurting onto his stomach and all over Gio’s hand. Gio growled and cried out, his muscles tensing, glorious heat filling Joker as Gio came inside the condom. He thrust his hips erratically as he chased the last of his release, then collapsed on Joker, arms around Joker’s head, fingers in his hair. Joker smiled softly as he held Gio to him. He placed a sweet kiss on Gio’s bare shoulder, wincing briefly as Gio reached between them to hold the condom and carefully pull out of him.

  Gio tossed the condom into the little wastebasket to the side of the bed, then returned to lay half sprawled on Joker, one arm thrown over his chest and one leg around Joker’s, as if he were afraid Joker might try to slip away.

  Joker had no intention of going anywhere. At least not this very second.

  Thoughts of earlier in the evening attempted to invade his bliss, and Joker quickly pushed them aside. He was going to enjoy this right here, right now. With a kiss to Gio’s brow, Joker closed his eyes and basked in the moment, squirreling away every detail. He brushed his fingers through Gio’s hair, cataloging how soft it was, inhaling the intoxicating scent of Gio’s musk mixed with his shower gel and their sex.

  With a quiet sigh, Joker stroked Gio’s arm, taking note of the soft hair on his arm, the firm corded muscles, the weight of Gio’s leg on his, the warmth of his body pressed against his side. It shouldn’t have felt as right as it did. As if they’d been doing this for so much longer when their relationship had been so different only a few months ago. Then again, even during the times when Joker had been grumbling about Gio, the guy had been on his mind. Was it possible his head had been raging one war and his heart another?

  When Joker woke the following day, it was in Gio’s arms. At some point in the night, he must have plastered himself against Gio. It struck him then that Gio hadn’t woken up. Was it possible he hadn’t had any nightmares last night? Not that Joker believed Gio had been cured, but it was a good sign. Gio had agreed to talk to Red’s therapist, and they had an appointment for a chat to see if they’d make a good fit. At least Gio was on the road to healing.

  Gio stirred and turned with a hum, his arm tightening around Joker and a smile spreading on his face. He opened his eyes and brushed a kiss over Joker’s brow.

  “Good morning, sunshine.”

  “That’s me,” Joker mumbled through a grunt. “A bright little ray of sunshine.” This guy.

  Gio chuckled and rolled him onto his back. He pressed his lips to Joker’s, not in the least bit concerned about morning breath. Joker shook his head.

  “I need to brush my teeth.”

  “Sweetheart, you’ve kissed me after I’ve come in your mouth. You think a little morning breath is going to bother me?”

  “Charming.”

  Gio got up and playfully smacked Joker’s flank. “Come on. Let’s shower. We’re picking up my new furry partner in crime today.”

  Joker laughed at Gio’s excitement. He was like a little kid at Christmas who’d just gotten a new puppy. They kissed in the shower but didn’t get to fool around. Gio was too excited about bringing Cookie home, and Joker couldn’t blame him. His life was about to change.

  Jack had dropped Chip off on his way to work. Since they’d been in the shower, Chip had settled on the couch with Saint, which was where they found him when they came downstairs. Chip barked excitedly, his butt wiggling as he pranced around Gio and Joker.

  “We’re going to pick up your new friend,” Gio told Chip. He grinned at Joker. “So you know, there’s an epic level of boxes arriving. I’ve pretty much bought stock in lint rollers since I’m now buying them in bulk.”

  Joker snickered. “Did some research on golden retrievers, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “Welcome to the wonderful world of dog glitter.”

  “Oh, by the way,” Saint said, turning to Joker, “Jack brought your Jeep over.”

  “Great. Thanks. I need to stop by the apartment later and pick up a few things,” Joker said as he headed for the front door, Chip at his heels.

  They got into the SUV and headed over to Kendra’s place. When they got there and she brought Cookie out, Joker couldn’t tell who was more excited, the dog or Gio. They were ridiculously adorable together. Gio had already ordered more dog stuff than any dog needed. Cookie was going to be spoiled rotten. When they got back to the house, Gio took Cookie on a tour, showing him his new luxury dog bed inside Gio’s bedroom, though Joker had no idea who Gio was trying to kid. The only place Cookie would be sleeping was on the bed with Gio.

  Joker left Chip with Saint and Gio so he could quickly drop by his place and pick up some more clothes and drop off his dirty laundry. He’d taken the day off today but had to check some emails and put through a few invoices. It had been a while since he’d worked overtime, preferring to be with Gio. He was looking forward to the first whole weekend they had together. Maybe they could take the dogs somewhere.

  It was nice, sitting in Gio’s living room with his laptop, doing some work while Gio played with Cookie and Chip. Never in a million years would Joker have believed he’d enjoy just lounging around doing close to nothing with someone else. He’d always wondered how Jack and Fitz did it, spent so much time at home together. What did they do when they weren’t having sex? Not that he thought about his brother and Fitz having sex, because yikes, but he wondered how the hell they cohabited. Sounded boring as fuck.

  Gio’s loud laugh made Joker smile, and he glanced up to find him on the floor with the two furry beasts attacking him with their tongues. Joker shook his head at them.

  “Oh, I have a meeting with King on Thursday to discuss a permanent security team,” Gio said, sitting up.

  “That’s great.” Joker reminded himself he needed to talk to King about that. Until the threat to Gio’s life was over, he wanted to be working those events, but he wasn’t sure how King would feel about that, considering Joker and Gio were now involved.

  Joker’s email client pinged, and an email came through with what looked like an updated schedule. Gio’s updated schedule. Was it terrible that Joker hoped Gio had canceled an event or two? He opened the attached spreadsheet and frowned. “I thought you said you were cutting back on the number of events you were doing?”

  “I am.”

  Joker’s heart thundered as he looked over the schedule. Chill. Do not overreact. But the more he studied the schedule, the more pissed off he got. “You added seven new events to your schedule, Gio. And that’s just across the next two weeks.” He glowered at the sheet in front of him. “You’re working the whole weekend, and you don’t have a day off next week.”

  “I know it’s a little tight, but I’d forgotten a couple of commitments I’d made and had to move things around. Next week was the only week I could fit them in that worked for the organizers.”

  “Gio, you can’t work seven days a week.” He pointed at the screen. “For fuck’s sake. You have three days of back-to-back meetings. You didn’t even schedule time for lunch.”

  “I’ll grab something quick in between.” Gio took a seat on the couch across from him, his brows drawn together in a scowl. “It’ll be fine.”

  “Really? Is that supposed to happen in the five minutes between your morning and afternoon meetings?”

  “I’ve done it before.”

  “Yeah, and that’s worked out so well for your health.” As soon as the words were out, Joker regretted them.

  Gio folded his arms over his chest. “Now, wait a minute. That’s not fair.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. I’ll give you that.”

  “Not exactly an apology,” Gio muttered, one eyebrow arched.

  Joker closed his laptop a little more forcefully than he’d meant to. “Fair enough. I’m sorry for the dick comment, but I’m not sorry for calling you on your bullshit. You promised you’d start taking better care of your health. I don’t know what you think that looks like, but it’s not this.”

  “Connecting with people at events is part of my job.”

  “And you can’t do that without going to a party?” When would it end? They’d talked about this. For fuck’s sake, did Gio not realize the changes he’d have to make were permanent?

  “Of course I can, but it’s not the same as connecting with someone in person in that kind of setting. It’s more than champagne and tuxedos. It’s looking people in the eye, hearing their stories, and working through solutions. I can’t do that through an email or a phone call.”

  “Can’t or won’t? What happens next month when someone approaches you with more commitments you can’t let pass. You can’t save everyone, Gio.”

  Gio jumped to his feet. “I know that,” he growled. “You think I don’t know that?”

  “I don’t think you do,” Joker said, standing. He loved that Gio helped people, loved how selfless he was, always giving, but when did it become too much? “When will it be enough?”

  “I’ve been doing this for far longer than I’ve known you. I know what I’m doing.”

  Joker narrowed his eyes at Gio. “If you did, you wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital.”