Page 24 of Colin

Colin slid in close to me, and I put my arm around his shoulders. He’d left his hair down, but unlike the last time I had seen him in the club, he wore better clothing. Jeans and a leather top that had a mesh strip across his chest, above his nipples, so nothing showed. I nuzzled in close. “I approve of this outfit. Delicious and teasing, but still tasteful.”

He leaned back. “Thank you.” I kissed him softly and gently. Just a peck, but a sensuous one.

Then Braxton peeled Andy off of him. “Hey, I have drink tickets for you all.” He handed each of us two. When Andy turned to say something to Colin, Braxton winked at me andwalked away. I couldn’t blame him. Andy was harmless and sweet, but he sometimes came on too strong. I was glad Colin wasn’t like that.

“Come on. We’ll get a drink later.” Andy grabbed Colin’s wrist. “Let’s dance.”

Colin turned to me with a questioning expression. I gestured for him to go. “Have fun. I’ll be here.”

He gave me a nod and let Andy pull him out to the dance floor. I didn’t think he loved dancing, but he seemed more confident than before.

The music was something electronic that I wasn’t familiar with. Colin danced, but not lewdly. Unlike Andy, though, he didn’t cross any lines. Colin did a few weird moves and laughed at Andy, then they shimmied together and leaned back and forth. He actually looked like he was having fun. The smile that cracked my lips felt natural for once.

Then that douche-nozzle, Vick, showed up. He rubbed me all sorts of wrong ways. I didn’t know enough about him and, until recently, hadn’t had a reason to. But when he put his hands on Colin’s shoulders and did a grind move into his backside, it infuriated me.

Colin turned and put someone else between them. Thankfully. Andy stomped over in his thick combat boots, glared at Vick, and then danced closer to Colin. That should have been enough to deter the fucker, but no. Vick circled around and got between them. He reached around Colin and pulled him against his chest. Colin pulled back, and the look on his face said all my heart needed to hear.

No way was Vick going to continue to hit on my boy. Even if he wasn’t yet all mine, I had claims on pursuing him. I was practically growling when I got onto the floor, not entirely aware of having moved there. That old saying aboutseeing redwas an understatement. I shoved Vick’s shoulder and yelled, “Mine.”Vick scowled and flipped me off, but he turned away and danced with someone else. Fine with me.

I turned back to make sure Colin was okay, but he scowled at me. “What the hell, Rourke?”

“You didn’t want that.” I flung my hand up in the general direction Vick had gone.

“Not for you to say. I can handle myself.” Then he stomped off, heading for the bathrooms. I watched to make sure Vick didn’t follow him.

“Hey, Rourke.” An old friend, Phillip Stryker, beamed up at me. “You’re looking good.”

“Thanks. Long time.”

“Yeah. Not the place to talk, but I can go make sure your friend is okay for you.” I trusted him. Even though we hadn’t seen each other in a while—we were often on different continents—But I truly knew him. Plus, he was a one hundred percent bottom/sub.

I didn’t see Andy around and figured he had gone after Colin, but he wouldn’t give me eyes and ears on a tentatively sensitive subject. “Yes. Please. I think we had a misunderstanding, and I don’t want to piss him off.”

“I get it. You go back to the bar and take a moment. Breathe. I’ll fix this.” Phillip patted my shoulder, directing me back. “We’ll catch up later. I’ll be around a while this time.”

Phillip slinked off the way Colin went. He had a way of walking that was full of confidence and sexy yet open and welcoming. He would make someone a great sub if they could get over who he was. I wished him the best and hoped he could feel Colin out and get him back to me.

I ordered another drink and sighed.

“I’m sure Mr. Stryker will be able to help you out, sir.” I glared at the impeccably dressed young man. He didn’t look like he fit in a BDSM club but would better be seen in a corporate boardroom. “My apologies. I didn’t introduce myself. You can call me Ramson. I’m Mr. Stryker’s assistant.”

“Phillip has an assistant now, huh?”

“Yes. It was imperative, given the situation.”

“Hmm… Have a drink, Mr. Ramson.”

“No, thank you.” He held up a bottle of water. “And it’s simply Ramson. No Mr.”

And the nice conversation was over as Colin shoved his way up next to me, and oh, he was pissed off. “Look, Rourke. You do not own me. Do not send your dogs after me. I may live on your property, but I’m not your property.”

I held up my hands. “I understand that completely and didn’t mean to imply—”

“Well, fine. Good. Don’t send your friends to talk me down.”

I glanced over Colin’s shoulder and saw Phillip talking to Andy. He caught my eye and shrugged, but then Andy turned to see who he was looking at and glared at me.

“Colin, please…”

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