Raising the ante the kin.., p.8
Raising the Ante (The Kings: Wild Cards Book 2),
p.8
“Believe me, I haven’t forgotten.” Frank brushed his lips over Joshua’s. “I also haven’t forgotten my promise to you.”
Joshua couldn’t help but smile against Frank’s lips. “I might need a little reminder. First tell me what you said before your promise.”
With a soft laugh, Frank cupped Joshua’s face, brushing his thumb over Joshua’s cheek. “You mean how I was a fool for letting you walk away? How I was scared because for the first time I was falling in love with someone who held so much power over me? That?”
Joshua met Frank’s gaze and sighed dreamily. “Yeah, that.”
“I’m falling hard for you, Joshua. Have been from the day we met. You’re amazing, beautiful, and I like who I am when I’m with you.”
Joshua’s smile couldn’t get any bigger. “I feel the same about you, Frank. That day we met, when you opened your arms to me, my heart was yours.” He slipped his arms around Frank’s neck and kissed him, laughing against his lips at the cheers and catcalls from their friends at the table behind them.
“About damn time,” Ace called out. “I knew he was your love dove.”
Joshua frowned up at Frank. “Wait, that’s what you said before you passed out that night.”
“Don’t ask,” Frank said through a groan. “Don’t encourage him.”
“Love doves are your person. Your soul mate.”
Joshua eyed Ace dubiously as the guy did something weird with his hands. Were those supposed to be wings? Why were they interlacing? What was happening right now?
Leo snickered from beside King. “You know doves are basically just smaller pigeons.”
“Only Ace would equate a flying rat with love,” Joker said, shaking his head.
“Doves are not flying rats,” Ace argued. “But then I shouldn’t be surprised. You wouldn’t know love if it—”
“Shit on his head,” Jack teased. Fitz smacked his boyfriend playfully on the arm. “Leave poor Ace alone. He’s a romantic.”
“Is that what we’re callin’ it?” Mason asked, his arm around Lucky, who tried and failed to hide his laughter.
They were a goofy bunch, but Joshua loved them. He lifted his gaze to Frank’s and cooed. “And you’re my love dove.”
Frank’s groan made everyone laugh. He was so never going to live that down.
“Why don’t you join us?” Red asked, his arm around his boyfriend, Laz.
“Maybe later,” Joshua said. “Someone promised they’d take it easy and have been doing everything but, since the club opened.”
Joker’s eyes suddenly went huge, and he shoved at Jack. “Move.”
“What? Stop pushing me. What’s the matter with you?”
“I need to get out,” Joker said through his teeth. “Move your fucking ass, Constantino.”
Joshua searched the floor around them. There was only one thing—or rather person—who would have Joker ready to cause bodily harm if they didn’t let him escape. Spotting the tall, elegant dark-haired man heading their way, Joshua held back a smile. Frank cocked his head in question, and Joshua motioned behind him. Frank turned, his frown turning into a wicked smile.
Giovanni Galanos.
Laz’s big brother, Gio, was a handsome philanthropist and billionaire. He was also the man who’d won Joker in the bachelor auction. No one knew what happened on their date, and no one dared ask Joker. He might be the smallest of the group, but like the Kings and Jack, he was a former Green Beret. Joker was as volatile as the explosives he and his best boy, Chip, were trained to deal with.
“So help me, Jack, if you don’t move, I will climb over your ass.”
As Gio approached the table, Joker scrambled over Jack and Fitz, ignoring their protests. He fell forward, only to be caught by Gio.
“Hello, Sacha,” Gio said with a smile, his voice smooth and sexy. “So good to have you in my arms again.”
Everyone’s mouth dropped open.
Again?
“I thought you wanted me to take a nap,” Frank whispered in Joshua’s ear.
Joshua waved a hand at him. “In a minute. This is better than reality TV.” Someone had to know what happened on the date. Why had Joker changed his mind? The whole thing had been called off, and then suddenly it was back on, but Joker wouldn’t say a word about it, and he was still avoiding Gio like the plague. What the hell was going on between these two?
Gio placed Joker on his feet, his smile never leaving his face as Joker glowered at him.
“I told you not to call me that,” Joker spat out.
“Yes, you’ve been telling me that since we first spoke.”
“And yet?” Joker threw his arms up. “Why are you here?”
“Because you’re here.”
Joker stared at him. “Bullshit.”
“Such language,” Gio tsked.
“Like I give a fuck. Why are you here?”
It was like the most fascinating tennis match in existence. Their eyes were glued to the two, and Joshua for one couldn’t wait to see what gave, because something had to give with them.
Gio opened his mouth to answer, but Joker put a hand up to stop him.
“You know what? I don’t care. I’m leaving.”
“Running away again?”
Joker stopped in his tracks. He turned, and Joshua took a small step behind Frank. If looks could kill, Gio would have been reduced to nothing but ash.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m going to get a drink.” With that he turned and headed for the bar.
“Excuse us,” Frank said. “Gio, everyone, it’s good to see you. We’ll be back in a bit.”
Before Joshua could say anything, Frank ushered him toward the back of house.
“But it was just getting good,” Joshua said with a huff.
“Security feed in my office, remember? We can watch from a safe distance.”
“Ooh, good idea. Should we make some popcorn?”
Frank threw his head back and laughed. He opened one of the double doors for Joshua, then followed him into his office, where he closed the door behind him.
“Gio is a brave man,” Frank said, walking to his desktop. He tapped a few keys and the screen showed their friends’ table. Gio had taken a seat at the end next to Fitz, leaving only one spot open for Joker. The one next to him.
“I blame the Kings,” Frank muttered.
“Why?”
“There’s something about them that seems to spread the madness.”
It was Joshua’s turn to laugh. He couldn’t refute it, though. Life had certainly become more colorful since meeting the Kings. But right now, he was focused on the one man who’d made the biggest difference in his life. He took Frank’s hand and led him over to the couch. They sat down, and Joshua’s heart skipped a beat when Frank pulled him close against him.
“Thank you,” Frank said, kissing Joshua.
“For what?”
“For taking a chance on me, risking your heart.”
“I could say the same. You’re such an amazing man, Frank.”
Frank took Joshua’s hand in his. “I promise to always listen and to share my worries with you, to never shut you out.”
The joy in Joshua’s heart overflowed, and he wrapped his arms around Frank, bringing him in for a kiss. He’d wanted this for so long, dreamed of Frank’s kisses, of his arms around Joshua. Now that Joshua had him, he intended to never let go.
It had been a gamble for both of them, but in the end, they’d followed their hearts and found their love dove.
Looking for the next explosive romance in The Kings: Wild Cards series? Check out Joker and Gio’s love story, Sleight of Hand, The Kings: Wild Cards book three, now available on Amazon and KindleUnlimited.
Read where it all started. Love in Spades is the first book in the Four Kings Security series and Ace and Colton’s love story. It’s also where Frank and Joshua first met. Available on Amazon and KindleUnlimited.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for reading Raising the Ante, the second book in The Kings: Wild Cards series. I hope you enjoyed Frank and Joshua’s story, and if you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Reviews can have a significant impact on a book’s visibility on Amazon, so any support you show these fellas would be amazing. Ready for Joker and Gio’s book? Check out, Sleight of Hand, book 3 in The Kings: Wild Cards series, available on Amazon and KindleUnlimited.
Haven’t read the Kings? Start with Love in Spades, available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
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Thank you again for joining The Kings: Wild Cards on their adventures. We hope to see you soon!
ALSO BY CHARLIE COCHET
Shifter Scoundrels Series
Co-written with Macy Blake
FOUR KINGS SECURITY UNIVERSE SERIES
Four King Security
Four Kings Security Boxed Set
Black Ops: Operation Orion’s Belt
The Kings: Wild Cards
The Kings: Wild Cards Boxed Set
Runaway Grooms
THIRDS UNIVERSE SERIES
THIRDS
THIRDS Beyond the Books
THIRDS: Rebels
TIN
THIRDS Boxed Sets
OTHER SERIES
Paranormal Princes
Soldati Hearts Series
North Pole City Tales Series
DID YOU KNOW?
If you own a book or borrow it through Kindle Unlimited, you can get Whispersynced audiobooks at a discounted price. Interested in audio? Check out the Charlie Cochet titles available on Audible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.
Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a highly opinionated sable German Shepherd and a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Website: www.charliecochet.com
Email: charlie@charliecochet.com
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Charlie Cochet, Raising the Ante (The Kings: Wild Cards Book 2)
