Chapter Two

Three days later

Hunter

Fucking hell, there isn’t enough room to move.

Sweat glistened on bodies, and the odor that hovered somewhere between BO and cologne was almost overwhelming. Gyrating people bounced to the pounding music thumping overhead and the floor beneath Hunter’s feet pulsed with the beat.

He’d lost sight of Theo five minutes ago and fuck if he could find that curly, dark head of hair. Standing on his toes didn’t help to locate the slender man and Hunter went back to bobbing his head to the guy dancing in front of him. The man gave him a wide, toothy smile and lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.

Someone bumped into Hunter’s back, sending him closer toward his dance partner, when suddenly, he’d had enough. Although it was nice to be out, he’d reached a point where he couldn’t take the pounding noise any longer.

Jags Nightclub really wasn’t his scene, but one of his friends had asked to meet there. And here, at least, the cold, rainy February night was kept at bay and he didn’t need to think so much—besides, it beat sitting home alone.

Hunter regretted staying so long, though, and wished he had suggested the coffee bar down the street. A mocha cappuccino would taste really good about now.

Turning away from his dance partner, he searched for a way off the crowded dance floor. The man closed a hand around his wrist and yanked him around again. Face-to-face, Hunter pulled at the tight grip with a squinting frown.

When a hand came up and gripped the back of Hunter’s neck, he didn’t jerk away. This was a touch he knew like he knew there would be air when he took his next breath.

Seven.

Seven’s other hand came from Hunter’s peripheral vision and clenched on the dancer’s wrist. Even over the pounding music, Hunter heard the guy cry out. With his wrist now released, Hunter swung around but didn’t get a chance to say a word when he was pulled closer and held with only a hand on the back of his neck.

He should have been pissed that Seven had stood him up the other night, but he couldn’t bring himself to muster up the anger in the face of the man’s presence. Yeah, call him a glutton for punishment.

The dance lights overhead caught in the wet strands of Seven’s dark hair and several droplets clung to the man’s closely cropped beard and mustache. Hunter fought back the urge to run his fingers through the thick strands and brush them back from Seven’s forehead.

He wasn’t giving in that easily.

Seven leaned his head forward and Hunter eased closer to rest his own forehead against Seven’s. His feet barely moved and Hunter closed his eyes, breathing in the scent that was all Seven.

Like something dangerous and all male. Stealthy as shit because Seven was like that. He’d disappear for days and then suddenly…bam! He’d reappear out of nowhere and they’d be in this same exact spot.

Close.

Closer than he’d ever been with another living soul.

The hard grip on his nape eased and Seven’s big palm slid down his back to the top of his ass, and their hips were suddenly grinding to the music. Their hard cocks were perfectly aligned, separated only by jeans.

The hot room disappeared beneath the hungry onslaught and Hunter made a noise before he tucked his face into Seven’s neck. He slipped his hands to the man’s nape.

The world disappeared as it always did when he and Seven were in each other’s vicinity. The universe narrowed to the two of—

“Hunter?” his friend Theodore Kada shouted from behind him.

He yanked his head from Seven’s shoulder and turned to his friend.

Theo’s cute face was all scrunched up like when he was confused.

“You know him?” Theo pointed to Seven.

“No! I just dance this way with strange men,” he shouted back over the music.

“Let’s get out of here,” Seven growled against his temple, sending a shiver down his spine.

Gripping Theo by the shirt, Hunter pulled him closer.

“Theo, it’s too crazy in here. Let’s hit the coffee shop down the street,” Hunter said loudly next to Theo’s ear.

With a quick bobbing nod, Theo smiled and made a beeline for the exit. Hunter went to follow but found his hand caught and held in Seven’s grip, and he was suddenly following the man through the crowd of people. Like magic, the sea of people parted, naturally getting out of Seven’s way. Not Hunter, though, he gravitated toward Seven. He could find Seven in a crowded room. Not that Seven stood taller than most men; it was the air of mystery and danger that set Seven apart from others.

Maybe it was the color of Seven’s eyes. Sure, they were startling, changing colors between a lightish blue or green—like creation hadn’t been able to decide.

Hunter couldn’t decide either what color they were. But it was more than Seven’s eyes that gave him an unparalleled quality.

The man was pure stealth and lethal, the kind of man who would appear in the night and kill you in your sleep and wouldn’t miss a beat. Of course, Seven only killed bad guys, but the general population didn’t know that.

Danger simmered beneath Seven’s surface and it turned Hunter on—he recognized a kindred soul.

Collecting their coats from their table, they spilled out into the dark, damp night. A heavy drizzle covered the streets, making the asphalt shine. He didn’t mind the rain, but Theo squeaked and pulled his coat up to cover his head.

Seven prowled through the damp night, casing every inch of their surroundings as they walked toward the twenty-four-hour coffee shop.

Theo bounced on his toes, holding his jacket up. He’d had too much to drink and Hunter had wrapped his hand around his friend’s bicep to keep him from careening off the curb and into the street.

Seven walked on his other side and every so often—when he wasn’t casing the area—he’d send a scowl at Theo.

“That’s Theo and he’s harmless,” Hunter whispered to Seven, who gave him an I don’t believe you look.

“Theo who?”

“Theodore Kada, at your service!” Theo giggled drunkenly, making Hunter laugh when Theo danced ahead of them.

“He really is a good guy. I promise.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Seven growled.

Hunter grinned. If Seven only knew who Theo really was. He shook off the thought.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Seven gave him a flat stare for about ten seconds and then went back to surveying the area, running his eyes over the cars, other people walking, and even into the windows of closed storefronts. Always aware, always alert. Almost hyperaware, and it made him frown. Was something going on?

Hunter glanced quickly around and then shot Seven a look. “What’s got you so paranoid?”

Seven didn’t even bother to look at him that time—maybe because they’d reached the coffee shop. Seven yanked open the door and ushered him and Theo inside before snapping the door closed.

The warmth engulfed Hunter and he sighed. While the club had been overheated, the walk through the cold February air had sent a chill down his spine. Cinnamon, spice, and coffee lingered in the air and he glanced at the clock over the counter.

It was just after midnight.

Seven guided him with that controlling hand on his back to a table in the corner. Theo bounced along and snagged the aisle chair. Good thing because Hunter always sat with his back to the wall. After Hunter took a seat, he glanced up to find Seven hovering.

He smiled at the man. “Two mochas.”

Seven frowned and shot a look toward Theo, and Hunter chuckled. “Trust me, he needs the caffeine.” Yeah, his friend was already hyper, and some people might think coffee would only make it worse, but Theo needed to sober up.

Because Hunter had yet to find out why Theo had come from Chicago to California to find him.

Seven headed to the counter without another word.

Theo grabbed at his shirt and yanked Hunter closer.

“Who the hell is the hunk?” Apparently, Theo had sobered up enough to see just how hot Seven was.

Hunter stifled his laughter. “Well… we’re sort of together.”

“Sort of together?” Theo’s eyebrows shot up over his bright blue eyes.

“It’s a long story.”

And it wasn’t technically true. He and Seven weren’t really sort of together. But Hunter figured from the way Seven stalked him, they might as well be a couple. Typically, they ended up somewhere with a bed…it was rare to have Seven come to coffee like this. The only other time he could remember they’d eaten together had been when Seven had shown up at last year’s Halloween party.

Since then, Hunter had only seen Seven for several hookups, but the guy always left quickly afterward. Hunter didn’t like the fact that Seven disappeared for days before reappearing like a stealthy ghost. And he didn’t like that he was probably being used. Most of the time, he could shake it off. He’d taken a chance sending that text the other day and when Seven responded, Hunter thought he had a date.

He had been so wrong and had spent hours at that fucking bar waiting until Seven had sent him a text at 2 A.M. saying only that he couldn’t make it. Hunter grimaced and directed his attention at the large glass windows of the coffee shop; he looked over the darkened streets, wet sidewalks, and closed buildings across the road.

“Tell me,” Theo whispered.

“What?” He frowned at Theo.

“About him.” Theo jerked his head toward Seven.

“I will, but later.” He met his friend’s searching gaze before he tossed a glance at the counter.

He found Seven leaning a hip against the counter, arms folded against his muscled chest, those fluctuating colored eyes locked on him. At some point, Seven had finger combed his dark hair back, but one stubborn strand fell forward over the man’s forehead. Hunter let his eyes trace the stubble covering Seven’s unshaven jaw.

The very corner of Seven’s hard mouth tipped up and Hunter’s heart jumped in his chest, heat filling his gut.

Was this what love felt like?