Page 122 of Bulls and Their Boy

“Damn. That’s…okay I’ll call him.”

Eli took off and promised to be back in time for us to open the doors of the club. I was about to hunt down my men when I spotted Roland over by the club, waving an arm there, like he was showing off the place. He had every right to.

“Roland,” I called, and he and his friend turned. His friend was a cute, younger guy, about Joel’s age, and with the same glasses as Roland always wore. “Hey, there he is,” Roland said, then came up to hug me quickly before introducing his friend. “This is Chad. He’s a friend from college, and the one I went to my first kink club with.”

I shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you and welcome. I was wondering who Roland’s plus one was.”

“I’m him. He’s bragged my ear off about this place. Said I had to get here for the opening.”

The guy was eyeing me hard, and his cute little nose twitched before he slid his glasses back into place. Oh, possibilities. “Well, enjoy yourself. You guys are camping out tonight, right?”

“Joel showed us to a great spot, yeah. Chad had the camping equipment so we’re making a weekend of it,” Roland said, then moved into whisper, “It’s very close to where we…you know.”

“Joel brought you there, you said.”

“Yeah,” he said, laughing. “And he was grinning the entire time. Did you tell him?”

“He saw.” Roland’s jaw dropped before I could say, “Long story, but don’t worry, our secret is safe.”

The last one I greeted that day was Hud. Hudson MacLeod, the big Scot with dancing eyes and arms as big as most men’s torsos. He pulled in cursing a storm, and I met him before he could get out of the car. “Car troubles?”

“I’m going to get the owner of that gas station and wring him out like a wet rag!”

I hugged him once he got out of the Lexus and felt like a little kid. The guy was massive, 6’6”, muscled like a wild ape and handsome as hell, blue eyes, reddish brown hair that was pulled back into a short ponytail.

“I’ll help you. I’ve heard only tourists get suckered, but you’re no longer a tourist.”

“No, I’m moving in. Where is the pain in the ass, and where are we living?”

“I don’t know. Javi told me he had a place for you, but he wouldn’t tell me where. Said, and I quote, he made the guy an offer he couldn’t refuse .”

“Oh fuck,” Hud said and laughed in that booming way he had. The man even laughed and spoke big. “Well, wherever it is, I’m here now, so where’s all the fine ass? Or am I on duty right now?”

“Enjoy yourself tonight. Keep an eye on the pain in the ass…sorry. I guess we should start using his real name.”

“Theological or whatever the fuck it is?”

“Thiago,” I said, though I enjoyed his version. “He’s here with some friend, but the driver left them right after dropping them off. I’ll introduce you, but like I said, Damon and I are working security along with hosting, and a couple bouncers from a club I used to frequent are coming to help. I needed them because we’re taking the stage with our new boy.”

“Oh? Good for you. You’ve been looking a long time. Who knew you’d find one in the last place you looked?”

“Not me, my friend. Not me.”

When it was time to get cleaned up and dressed, Damon and Joel met me back at our house, the house that had been remodeled and finally looked like home and didn’t just feel that way.

The kitchen was done in white subway tiles, big block tile on the floor that had a vein of gray running through the brilliant white. The cabinets were new, oak and sleek, with shining new circular knobs of clear glass.

The bathrooms were retiled and floored, and the walls painted muted but soothing colors of light greens and blues, and the living room had shining wood floors thanks to a good sander, and the walls were painted sage green except the navy blue accent wall.

On the big wall with no windows hung Joel’s belt buckle and pictures of his rodeo win and a few more he’d given us.

It was finally home.

In the bedroom, with Joel’s cage hidden away under an extended dust ruffle of black and white stripes, we met to change, and I got to show Joel his clothes at long last. Of course, not immediately. I had to fuck with him first.

“Wha’ is it? A pair o’ pan’ies?”

“Close,” I said, teasing him with the bag. “Keep guessing.”

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