Page 4 of Distant Heart

“Interesting,” a cool voice drawled, snapping Rexton out of it, “you seemed to handle deep-throating that just fine.”

Rexton coughed, choking for a second on a bite. When the man next to him placed a hand on his back to help, he shook him off.

The man with the mismatched eyes, the one who’d been watching him in the foyer, frowned, but before he could voice his confusion, a shadow fell over them.

“Having trouble with your prey, Illya?” Another man with the same black heart pin as the first tipped his head in Rex’s direction and gave him a lengthy once over. “Cute.”

“He’s—”

“Ellery’s cousin,” Rex cut off whatever Illya had been about to say, ignoring the look that earned him. “I came here with him.”

“No shit?” the new guy let out a low whistle. “I never would have guessed. We’re your cousin's besties, practically family, really. I’m Nyoka, and this intimidating weirdo is Illya.”

Rexton glanced between them. “Nice to meet you.”

“It doesn’t sound like you mean that.” Nyoka grinned at him and then took a step closer, pausing when Illya thrust an arm out to block his path. They stared at one another for a moment in clear silent standoff, but then he threw up his handsand retreated with a chuckle. “Relax, Ill. I’m not one to step on other people’s things.”

“I’m not property.” Rexton glared. “We just met and you’re already insufferable. No wonder Ellery told me to avoid his friends.”

“Did he?” Nyoka placed a hand over his heart. “I’m wounded. What about you, Ill?”

Illya was staring at Rex. “I’m assessing.”

Rexton had seen pictures of all of his cousin's friends on the social media platform Inspire, but he hadn’t paid much attention to any of them.

Other than Illya Carmine.

The Black Harts, of which Ellery was a sworn member, were internally governed, though there was no official leader. From the way his cousin had explained it, certain people just had a knack for things and fell into certain roles. Illya was one of the unofficial heads of the group, always scowling or looking blankly into the camera in photos captured of him on Inspire, and supposedly a snooty control freak.

But, damn, was he alluring.

He had a couple of inches on Rexton, and this pretty shade of hair, like mulberries. His eyes were intense and bold, one a bright gold, the other a warm, copper brown. Even though the room was packed and he wasn’t the only Black Hart currently in it, he somehow demanded presence in a way no one else did.

Whatever assessment he’d been running in that sexy head of his concluded, and he ended up slipping his hands into the front pockets of his black silk pants and asking, “What’s your name?”

“Not interested.” Not a complete lie. Rexton hadn’t come here for a quickie with a Black Hart. He licked his lips and added, “I know what tonight is.”

“Yet you came here anyway?” Nyoka sounded impressed. Though, it didn’t seem like it took much to impress a guy like him.

Rexton ran his gaze down Nyoka’s chest. He was wearing a complicated twist of dainty gold chains studded with pearls beneath his red university jacket. The getup certainly helped put his washboard abs on full display, Rex would give him that, but the weather outside had him wondering how the man wasn’t half frozen.

“Leave,” Illya ordered, the word low and clipped, leaving no room for argument. He didn’t even bother removing his gaze from Rex, completely ignoring his friend.

“Should I?” Nyoka had, unfortunately, noted Rexton’s momentary interest. “Doesn’t seem like Ellery’s cousin wants me to.”

Rexton quirked a brow. “Whatever gave you that impression?”

“Sassy. That’s my favorite flavor.”

“Leave,” Illya repeated, “or I’ll tell my mother to cut the business deal your father has been so desperately working on creating.”

Nyoka’s mood soured instantly. “Seriously? Asshole.”

“This one is mine.”

“This one,” Rex practically growled, “is named Rexton, and no. No, he isn’t. I’m not here to be some bored rich kid’s one-night stand.”

“You claimed to know what tonight was,” Illya moved closer, almost imperceptibly so, but Rexton felt it more than he saw it, “but you have no idea, do you? A one-night stand? Baby, any Black Hart here who gets his claws into you would eat you alive.”

---