Page 21 of Rising Storm

“I do.”

Helix raised his gaze, focusing on Gareth hard. “Twice. And then I killed the last day when Hayrick was taken out, but those deaths don’t haunt me.”

He’d known Hayrick was dead and this was final proof. “Tell me about the ones that do.”

“Besides Judy, there are two that haunt me. Always faceless in my nightmares, but I remember when I’m awake. I didn’t have a choice with either of them. One was one of Hayrick’s men, who it turned out didn’t like the way he did things. He wanted to help the kids, not force them into stealing. God, I wish I could go back and not do it. I do.” His voice broke on the last word and he paused, then he slurred. “So many fucking ghosts.”

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Gareth stood and walked around the table, surprised when Helix stood and draped an arm over his shoulder.

“Too damn tall,” Helix muttered before moving his arm to Gareth’s waist. His fingers slipped under the waistband of Gareth’s sweats. “Have I told you I like your skin? I noticed it’s a good color when you were working out back at the house.”

Gareth barely held back a snort of laughter. Helix’s mind was all over the place and he imagined it felt like he was on a roller coaster. It had been awhile since Gareth had drunk enough to get into this shape. He hated it, so it had been rare. He preferred having all hisfacultiesintact. He wrapped an arm around Helix and helped him toward the bed, doing his best to ignore the wandering fingers on his hip.

Helix brought his other hand up and rubbed it over Gareth’s chest. “I love all this hair under your shirt.”

“Good to know,” Gareth muttered, also trying to ignore how wonderful the man smelled despite the heavy scent of whiskey on his breath. As soon as they got to the bed, Helix was on him fully. He turned and plastered their chests together, his mouth finding Gareth’s with enough accuracy to surprise him. He didn’t immediately open Gareth’s mouth, just pressed their lips together in a kiss that was surprisingly sweet. Gareth pulled back and smiled at Helix. “I’m not sleeping with you when you’re like this.”

“Why not?” Helix reached down and cupped his hard dick. “You want to.”

“I want you, don’t think I don’t. But I won’t take advantage of you tonight. You need to sleep this off.”

“Always the good guy,” Helix said, his voice low and raspy. “Too damn good.”

“I’m not that good, trust me. You want your jeans off?”

“Yeah, hate sleeping in them.” But instead of removing his pants, he sprawled back on the bed. “Make the room stop spinning.”

“Can’t do anything about that, but I am going to take your jeans off and that’s it.” He reached for the snap and nearly groaned at the feel of pubic hair against his hand. Helix wasn’t wearing any underwear and that was proved as he pulled the pants down. That glorious body was displayed across the bed like an offering and the look on Helix’s face was nothing but welcome.

“Want you to fuck me,” Helix said slowly.

“I will, but not tonight.” He helped him get under the covers, breathing a sigh of relief when that gorgeous body was covered.

Helix grabbed his hand in both of his and held on, his grip surprisingly strong. “But you will.”

“Yeah, Helix. I will definitely be fucking you at some point.”

“Good. Wanna feel you sliding into me. Been so long since I had that.”

Gareth groaned and pulled his hand away before he caved and crawled on top of the guy. He stood staring down at Helix, who stared right back before his eyes closed. Within moments, he was out.

“You are going to feel like shit in the morning,” Gareth whispered. He went and got a cup of water and set it next to the bed. He watched Helix sleep for several moments, so drawn to the man, he wanted to crawl under those covers and hold him close. He wanted to keep those ghosts away and help him get his brother back.

As Gareth walked to his own room, he realized he wanted a lot with Helix Rossington.

He’d seen a side of him tonight that had opened his eyes to the heartache the man had suffered for too many years. He couldn’t help but wonder what sort of things Helix had had to do for Hayrick Letsen. And the whole time, Hayrick had held his brother over his head to force him into doing his work. Gareth couldn’t imagine what Helix’s life had been like.

Once in his own room, Gareth grabbed a clean pair of sweats and stepped into the shower. As he soaped his body, he thought about Helix’s words, wanting to feel Gareth sliding into his body. He groaned and ducked his face into the streaming water. His attraction to Helix felt like a wild thing, tenacious and hungry. He wanted the man with a hunger that shocked him. He pictured Helix in his bed and like that, Gareth’s dick was aching and hard. He wrapped soapy fingers around it and stroked, his thumb rubbing over the tip with each swipe. Helix had a long, stunning body and he’d been unconcerned with being completely naked in front of Gareth.

He stroked harder, his mind playing over long, hairy legs and taut abs. He thought about sliding into his hot body and pounding his ass. When Gareth’s orgasm hit, he groaned long and loud as he watched his semen splash onto the bottom of the tub.

It was time he did something about this attraction. It was more than just attraction, too. Tonight had shown him the man’s inner pain went deep. Gareth wanted him for more than just sex—he wanted to know him. With a plan in mind, he dried off and crawled naked into the bed.

Chapter 9

When Helix woke late the next morning, he groaned and pulled the pillow over his head as memories of the night before assailed him. He wished he could be a blackout drunk and forget everything he’d said and done, but no, it was all there like a neat and tidy package in his brain. His angry brain that felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. He rolled over onto his back and winced at the movement.

He knew better than to spend the night with Jack Daniels, but he’d been facing another sleepless one and just needed something—anything—to assuage the constant guilt and worry. And then he’d gone and told Gareth about the ghosts.

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