20. Vail

Dana had two sick kids at home and a sick wife, my sister. I hoped I wasn't the one who gave him the flu before I even realized I got it from Jordan. Dana said he could have picked it up anywhere in the club. It was winter. That was bound to happen. I still felt awful.

Tonight, I covered for him at the club, cooking dinner and upscale appetizers for the members. Being a Tuesday night, the crowd was lighter than Fridays or Saturdays. I was still dragging when I exited the building into the secure employee parking lot. Being on my feet for hours on end wasn't fun, but I loved cooking for people.

As I rounded the side of my truck, I drew up short. There was Jordan, leaning against it. One of his legs was bent with his expensive loafer resting on the tire. His arms were crossed over a dark wool coat. I knew there was a suit under there. The man wore nothing else. If I saw him in a pair of sweats, I'd probably fall over. And his eyes, well, they were on me, watching every move I made.

I couldn't resist walking toward him. No matter how much I warred with myself about whether I should want to be with him, the truth was I did. Good or bad, Jordan was who I wanted. He was dark, sinful, and kissed like he was born to do it.

Then there was Hartley, who I couldn't forget. He was the complete opposite. Sweet, caring, and gentle. They were night and day, yet I wanted to be between them, with their hands roving my body as they took me apart in the best possible way.

"Jordan," I said in greeting when I drew close.

His arms uncrossed, and his hand lifted to brush over my scruff. "You should be in bed, not working."

"I'm fine. Besides, Dana is sick. I had to cover for him."

"I can call Dexen?—"

"I don't need you trying to take over. If I didn't think I could handle it, I'd tell him myself."

"You're right." His hand dropped, but it didn't go far. It skated over my arm until it found my hand, where he squeezed it gently. It was odd holding hands with him. He didn't seem like the kind of guy who walked down the street, holding his lover's hand. Then again, I couldn't picture Jordan walking down the street unless everyone was dodging out of his way.

"Why did you come?" I asked.

"My home is empty without you and Hartley in it. I still have Tahoe's bed and his food."

"I forgot to grab it when I left."

He pushed off the truck to bring his body inches from mine. "Come home with me, Vail." The words were a plea rather than a demand.

"Why?"

"Because I miss you."

"You said you don't want me to be yours."

His eyes held mine, not wavering in the slightest. "You are though, aren't you?"

I could tell him no; say I didn't want any part of the life he led. It would be a lie. I wanted to be his, but only if he wasn't controlling me. I wanted him to call me his because he cared. Because he needed me safe and didn't want to see me hurt. Because he wanted me to fly rather than cage me. He was capable of it. He'd brought me home when I said I was leaving. Had it been Gil, I would have been slammed into a wall and paid for trying to walk away.

There was no benefit in me comparing them. Jordan wasn't Gil. They both did illegal shit in very different ways. I couldn't look past what Jordan did, but I also didn't have it in my face except when I saw the blood on his skin.

"Vail."

"I'll only be yours if you're mine too."

"Out here, in my home, anywhere except my bed, we'll have a balance. We're equals. I don't want to tame you, Vail. I want you to give me every part of you."

"What will you give me in return? I won't accept any less than all of you. This isn't a game. I don't go around staying with men. If I have an itch, I get it scratched and move on. I don't want that with you." I was already feeling far too much for it to be a one-night stand.

"I'll try. It's the best I can do. But you have to let me protect you and you have to be honest with me. The last two people I gave my heart to both needed to leave this world."

Placing my hand on his chest, I said, "I'm not going to try to kill your son. I don't hurt anyone. It's not in my nature. It's always the other way around."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You'll only control me in bed? And if I say to stop, you will."

He nodded. "One word and everything grinds to a halt."

"You need to be honest with me too. I'm not asking you to give me information about your organization, but I don't want to feel like I'm in a bubble with you. The world can be a scary place, although I'm not scared to live. I'm only afraid of what those in the world can do to me." I brushed my hand up his chest, up his neck to his beard, which was softer than I remembered from the kisses we shared. "The world has hardened you. Maybe I could soften you a little."

Jordan took my wrist in his hand and turned it over so he could press a kiss to my palm. "I can't make any more promises yet. I'm worried what will happen."

"I'll give you one night. If by tomorrow morning you want to end this before we go any further, I'll leave."

"It already is morning."

I rolled my eyes as a smile teased my lips. "Wednesday morning then. When we wake, tell me if you can't give me what I need."

"Which is?"

"All of you."

"I want Hartley too. Can you accept that?"

I leaned close until I was a breath away. "I thought I made that clear with how hot I thought you both were before you ran. I want him."

His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush to his body, pushing the air from my lungs. His nose traced along the column of my neck as he inhaled me. "Mine," he whispered.

Reaching down between us, I gripped his hard dick and squeezed. "Mine."

"I love your fire, Vail."

"I was reborn from the ashes. I won't ever let someone do that to me again."

"You're made to be cherished, not harmed."

"Then show me what it means to be cherished by you."

A throat cleared behind us. "If you two are done groping in my parking lot, I'd like to go home to my men. And you're leaning on my fucking Audi."

I turned, not realizing I'd been pushed against Dexen's SUV. "Huh. I guess I am. You're lucky I didn't leave an ass print on it."

Jordan chuckled against my neck. He fucking laughed. Oh, what a sound it was. It went straight to my dick.

"Move," Dexen bit out. "Your time on my property has ended, Jordan."

"I shouldn't kill him, right?" Jordan murmured.

"You should be nice and thank Dexen for letting you come here. He didn't have to."

Jordan's head lifted as he speared me with his sharp gaze. One of his hands moved to palm my ass. "The only person I'll be thanking is you when you finally put me out of my fucking misery."

"I'd take it, Vail," Dexen said. "That's probably as close to a confession of love as you're going to get out of him."

"If my son didn't love you…" Jordan growled.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. We'll be by for dinner Friday night."

"What?"

"Family night with the Altairs. JJ needs to get to know you again. It'll be good for both of you."

"I can cook," I offered. I wasn't on the schedule for the rest of the week unless Dana needed to call out again.

"No, I'll ask Irene," Jordan replied. "I want you and Hartley at the table with us." Apparently, Jordan was making a spot for us in his life in more than just having us in his bed.

I must have worn a weird look on my face, because he said, "Fucking you isn't all I want. I'm not a damn animal."

"That's debatable," Dexen muttered. "I was serious when I said I wanted to go. I'm fucking tired."

Jordan shot him another glare before leading me to his waiting Maserati. "Let me have your keys. Raiden will drive your truck to my building."

"I need to take care of Tahoe."

He pulled his phone out and typed on it. "Barry is sending Sheldon over to get him."

"I haven't met him yet. Tahoe won't know who he is. He's met Reghan and Raiden."

"Sheldon can tame everyone from gangs to CEOs to lions. Believe me when I say Tahoe is going to be fine with him."

I sighed. I should have known Jordan would do anything to get me back in his home. It was all or nothing with him. There was no in-between. "Is this dating? Because I'm pretty sure we skipped about ten steps."

"There's only one step, Vail. The ground to the pedestal I'll elevate you onto. I don't do things lightly."

His words sent heat through my body. In the time I'd spent with Jordan, I realized he didn't say things he didn't mean. But to think of him treating me like I'd always wanted and not like the scum on a man's shoe, like I was put on the earth to serve him, it was almost incomprehensible.

Stopping in front of Jordan's car, I pulled out my keys and handed them to Raiden. "Can't we just stop there on the way to your house? I have an alarm I don't want Sheldon to trip."

"It's sweet that you think an alarm will keep my men from your home, but fine. We'll grab Tahoe on the way through Dremest." He sent another text.

"I'm sure Sheldon will appreciate the sleep."

"He's an insomniac. He was probably welcoming the idea of going out in the middle of the night."

I had questions but kept them to myself. If things went well tonight and tomorrow, maybe I could meet some of the men Jordan employed. Maybe he'd allow me into other parts of his building. The ins and outs of his business didn't interest me. He did, and the men who worked for him. They must have meant something to Jordan for him to trust them with his business.

It didn't take us long to get to my house. Untouchable was located on the westernmost edge of the city. Tahoe's tail wagged wildly when he saw I brought Jordan and Raiden with me. He whimpered, tamping down his urge to jump on them. Raiden looked like he wanted to bend down and pet him. Jordan caught the look and waved his hand so Raiden could crouch for Tahoe to love on him. The big man laughed and roughed up the fur along Tahoe's neck until Tahoe started jumping around and barking, wanting to play.

"Good. Wind him up," Jordan said dryly. "He's riding with you and will be your responsibility when we get back, while Vail and I retire for the night."

Retiring for the night sounded far too boring for what I wanted to do with Jordan. I had visions of him filling my ass while I moaned out his name. We'd see if those came to fruition or if he was going to make me a begging mess, waiting for him to push me over the edge. I had no false pretenses we would sleep much. Thank fuck I felt better from the flu. Antiviral medicine for the win.