Page 145 of Naughty Dreams
“Oh fuck,” DJ whispered.
Those two relationships Roy had mentioned, DJ had never really learned to trust them. So even if they hurt and disappointed him, he couldn’t be destroyed by them.
He trusted Roy. He wanted to give Roy everything Roy wanted from him. His submission was a total, frighteningly unconditional thing. He was willing to take the risk of letting Roy destroy him, and he’d regret nothing.
He’d write that down later.
Was he writing songs or love letters? Did it matter?
When Roy released him from the X-frame, he had DJ sit down and gave him some time to recover. DJ couldn’t focus on anything around him. He felt overstimulated and foggy at once, and all he saw was Roy.
So it was no surprise when Roy told DJ it was time to leave. “I’ve let Madison know you’ll call her to set up the meet with Julie later.”
DJ nodded. As they made their way back down the stairs, he hoped Roy had told Madison and Logan good night for him, but he expected they understood his state.
Roy had DJ sit down on the bottom step as he went outside to scope out the parking lot. While he did that, DJ regained enough brain power to recall Roy’s mention of the masseur. After the demands of a show or the rigors of studio work, Franz targeted the muscles needing the most attention. He knew DJ’s body better than DJ knew it himself. Like Roy, but for different reasons.
Roy held the door for DJ to come out. They bid the bald man a good night and moved along the rows of cars, Roy’s hand at DJ’s elbow. “You were so official,” DJ said. “That first time you saw me getting a massage in my dressing room.”
“And you were being a damn flirt. Shifting enough that the towel over your ass was slipping.”
A variety of people were hanging out in the parking lot, chatting and laughing. DJ was sure Roy’s eyes had landed upon every one of them and done a risk assessment.
“It was because I was getting a hard on. You were staring at me like you wanted to give me a spanking for driving you crazy.”
Roy chuckled. As they reached the passenger side of the Suburban, shots rang out.
DJ considered himself decently strong, but what surged through him was superhuman, mother-picking-up-a-car-off-her-baby strength. He caught Roy by the shirt front and hurled them both down to the pavement, landing on top of him, trying to cover every part of him he could.
Because Roywasway more than decently strong, in a blink he’d shoved DJ off of him, and he wasn’t gentle about it. But it wasn’t because he was shielding him. Roy yanked DJ to his feet, and pushed him against the SUV, his arm braced against his chest. He looked like he was going to beat DJ unconscious.
“Don’teverdo that again.” He took a harsh breath and directed DJ’s glance upward. Fireworks were raining diamondglitter in the sky. “It’s the nearby mall. They do a fireworks show on Friday nights at closing time.”
“Oh.” DJ felt stupid, and Roy’s cold stare didn’t ease the feeling.
“What the fuck was that?” he demanded.
His anger changed embarrassment to something more important. “He’s after anyone between him and me. You said that. We’ve put Marjorie where she’s protected. So that leaves you. I’m not going to let you die for me. Your mom needs you. Lots of people need you.”
I need you.
For the first time in their relationship, DJ could see he’d really pissed Roy off, because Roy was visibly struggling to get a grip on it. Not that Roy was an abusive bastard, and his foster father had never made that kind of effort to rein it in, but DJ recognized the warning signs of an anger that strong. It came with a flashing neon sign that saidTread Carefully.
“Dying for you is part of my job description,” Roy said at last, in a stone flat voice. “Not my preference or first choice to handle your protection, but if it requires it, the reason you pay me so much is Iwillmake that choice if it comes down to it.”
“Which is why I should have fired you.”
DJ tended to ignore signs.
Roy screwed his hand in DJ’s shirt and jerked him close to a face that was hard and mean. “You standing in the way of me doing my job is as much of an insult as me standing between you and your music. You don’t do that. Not now, not ever.”
The million emotions behind his eyes were like a city skyline. Then it went dark, the power cut.
“Get the fuck in the car.” Roy opened the door to the row of seats behind the driver. “It’s time you remember I work for you,Mr.James. Familiarity breeds stupidity.”
DJ recoiled, stung. Roy was as remote as he’d ever seen him. He’d stepped in it. But he couldn’t say he was sorry. He was mad at Roy for reacting this way, but the terrible contrast between what they’d just experienced inside the building, and how it had become this in a blink, paralyzed his response with anguish. He got into the car. As Roy started the vehicle and left the parking lot, DJ untied the mask and removed it, but he kept his eyes down, feeling suddenly too naked to look up.
They rode the next few miles in silence. If Roy decided to sleep on the couch, or asked for a different room with two beds, DJ wasn’t sure what he’d do. He felt miserable and cold. Was even shivering, though he tried to cover it. He didn’t want Roy going mother hen on him while he was pissed at DJ. It would send DJ over the edge. Then he couldn’t stand it anymore.
