Page 47 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“That was about me, right? Have I overstayed my welcome already?”

Brody grasped his shoulders by the hands and forced his focus. “You absolutely have not. I don’t usually have…friends…stay more than overnight. Lex was only giving me shit because he called it.”

“He called it? Me staying for more than one night?”

Brody smiled self-consciously. “Yeah.”

Noah released a pent-up breath. The war within raged even harder. He opened his mouth to tell Brody the whole truth—but Carter walked over to ask a quick question of Brody—and his nerve was lost.

“Let’s get to work, hmm?” Brody asked with a grin.

“Yeah,” Noah said, forcing a smile. He glanced to the side and saw Lex observing him with an odd look on his face.Fuck.

Noah jumped in and helped put up the decorations, trying to ignore Lex’s stares. When he started stapling the grass skirt along the edge of the stage, as instructed, Lex came over to help him and he couldn’t avoid the man any longer.

They worked, mostly silent, for a few minutes. When he knelt to staple around some of the electrical wiring for the stage, he winced. He’d been well used over the past twenty-four hours or so.

“What’s wrong?”

Heat filled Noah’s face. “Nothing.”

He kept tacking the skirts up… and when he rose, he winced again.

Lex left him, thankfully, without any more questions. But he returned a few moments later, brandishing a tube. He handed it to Noah. “This will help.”

Noah took the tube and eyed it.Rectiv?“What’s this?”

“A prescription medicine for that little problem you’re having.”

Noah’s face burned.

“No need to be ashamed. You got a good dicking yesterday and now you’re sore. This will magically make thingsallbetter… but you should probably keep to blowing him tonight and give your ass a rest.” Lex tapped the tube with his finger. “A little rubbed up there every twelve hours until it feels better.”

Noah sighed, trying to hide his utter mortification. “Thanks.”

Lex nodded. “So… what was that expression you had when Brody wasn’t looking?”

“An expression? What expression?”

“The guilty one.”

Noah froze. “Guilty? Who’s guilty?”

Lex’s eyes narrowed. “Umm-hmmm…okay.”He grabbed the stapler Noah had been working with. “I’ve already warned you. I’ll be watching you closely, little boy.”

Once the man walked away, Noah drew in a shaky breath. He pocketed the tube and got back to work, his mind spinning.

The truth would destroy whatever chances they had. The lies would, too.

What in the hell was he supposed to do?

* * *

Jimmy Buffett played over the sound system as Brody poured another beer from the tap, but since it was luau night, the vibe was quieter. No blaring dance music. It was a chill party where mostly regulars congregated and talked to one another. He handed the drink off absentmindedly to his server. His stare was once again held captive by Chris and his barely there attire. The bottoms of both globes hung out from the bikini, showing the world how gorgeous his boy was. Jealousy flared up when he saw other men staring at what was his—and he hated it.

Chris had been absolutely right. Hewasbeing treated like a piece of meat. Brody had already witnessed a couple of ass pats and pinches as his boy made runs from the back to the bar, bringing up cases or trays of fresh glasses. It had caused his insides to churn and his fists to clench.

Excusing himself from the bar, he took a lap around, checking service and more importantly, checking out Chris. He only wore the tiny bikini, a flower lei, and a pair of Chucks—flip-flops were more appropriate for the attire, but not safe when running back and forth.

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