Chapter 7

Nox

By the end of my first day I’m exhausted. But, it’s the good kind of exhausted. It’s the kind of tired you feel when you’ve put in an honest day's work. I’ve never felt that before.

“Hey Nox, you want to come grab a drink with us at O’Malley’s?” Royal offers as we’re all cleaning up and closing up the shop.

I duck my head in an attempt to hide my blush, but I’m sure he can see it anyway.

“I...don’t drink,” I offer the bare bones excuse that I’m hoping will suffice. I did joke to him earlier about heroin, but I doubt he thought I was serious about my problem with addiction. Or maybe he did, who knows.

“That’s okay, you can still come hang out. It’ll give us a chance to get to know you,” Royal insists. “Plus, there’s a really hot bartender who swings both ways.” He waggles his eyebrows and smirks.

“Hey, if anyone is hooking up with Beau it’s going to be me,” Dani argues.

Dani seems to be the only woman working at Heathens, but can undoubtedly handle herself among all the rowdy men who call the shop home.

I glance around at everyone looking over at me hopefully. They really do seem like a great group. There are six people working here aside from Adam. Gage seems to be the most standoffish of the group, and Adam’s best friend. Gage is tall, well over six feet, with blue dyed hair and sad eyes. He gives off the distinct impression of a piece of glass that’s full of cracks, bound to shatter at the slightest touch.

Then there’s Nash and Royal, from what I can tell they’re a couple but it seems to be fairly new, and they’ve mentioned a third man several times which frankly is pretty hot, and hopefully when I get to know them better I can weasel some salacious details out of them.

Owen was the newest employee before I showed up. He had only been at Heathen’s for six months and seems pretty reserved compared to most everyone else. I get the feeling he’s got some demons of his own.

Finally, there’s Madden. Madden has the air of someone who’s been to hell and back and lived to tell the tale.

It’s cool as hell that pretty much everyone at the shop is queer. Although, I’m not supposed to know that Adam is bi and I’m certainly not going to let that slip to his friends.

“Alright, why not,” I reluctantly agree.

Dani loops an arm through mine and begins steering me toward the door.

“Yo, boss man, get your ass out here it’s closing time,” she shouts as she flips the sign on the door to ‘closed’.

The sound of Adam’s office door opening makes my stomach flutter. I need to get a grip  on this stupid crush. Just because he was nice to me over the internet when he thought I was suicidal doesn’t mean he could ever be interested in a guy like me.

Throughout the day numerous gorgeous women came into the shop to see Adam. And, it was obvious by their blatant flirting they were looking for more than a tattoo.

“You do realize that you’re not supposed to talk to your boss like that, right?” He teases as he makes his way out of the shop, turning off lights as he goes.

“I didn’t think you’d want to miss drinks at O’Malley’s.”

Adam glances at me briefly and I let a sliver of hope into my heart that maybe he’s hoping I’m coming out with them tonight. Then again, he knows about my addiction problem, maybe he was glancing at me because he’s worried about me going to the bar.

He nods briefly before following us out of the shop.

O'Malley’s is only about a block away from Heathens so we decide to walk over. Dani loops her arm through mine once again and keeps up a constant stream of chatter the entire walk. Once we arrive at the bar Dani drags me toward the bar top and our group claims the whole row of stools.

“Beau, get us a round of lemon drops please,” Dani calls out before turning to face me. “Oh my god, I just noticed your eyes. They’re so gorgeous.”

“Uh...are you hitting on me? Because I don’t swing that way.”

Dani laughs.

“Kinda figured.”

“Are you saying I look gay? That is offensive, darling,” I joke.

After about an hour at the bar, the shot placed in front of me when we arrived is taunting me. The longer I stare at it the more tempting it looks. I never had a problem with alcohol. Would it really be the end of the world if I have one drink?

“You alright?” Adam’s warm breath on my neck makes me shiver and suddenly the alcohol isn’t so tempting anymore.

“Yeah,” I nod and push the drink away.  “I’m pretty tired though, I think I might call it a night.”

“I didn’t notice your car parked at the shop.”

“No, I don’t have a car at the moment,” or ever, “I’m staying within walking distance.”

Adam’s brow furrows. He reaches into his wallet and pulls out several bills, placing them on the bar before standing up.

“I’ll drive you.”

“You don’t have to, really it’s not far,” I argue. I don’t particularly want him to see the hourly rate motel I’m staying at.

After the incident a local domestic violence group collected money to help me get on my feet. The last thing I want to do is run through it and have to go back to my old ways of getting by.

“It’s not a problem. Gage, you staying out for a while or riding with me?”

“I’m fine for now,” Gage answers.

Without another word Adam places a gentle hand on the small of my back and steers me toward the exit. A thrill dances in every nerve ending at the brief, yet protective contact. No one has ever cared about my well-being before. Myself included.

Once outside we walk the short distance back to the shop without exchanging any words. When he leads me to a shiny, red mustang my eyes nearly pop out of my head.

“This is a gorgeous car.”

Adam smiles proudly, opening the passenger door for me. My heart skips a beat at the gesture. I thought that was something guys only did in the movies.

“She’s my baby,” he remarks, as he lovingly strokes the door while I climb in.

“Do the two of you need a few minutes alone?” I tease.

Adam gives me a sardonic smile before making his way around to the driver side of the car.

 

 

Adam

When Nox said he was staying somewhere within walking distance I was immediately suspicious. The only place I could think of close by the shop is an hourly rate motel known for prostitution and drug activity.

“It’s right up there,” he announces, pointing at the exact motel I was afraid it would be.

Instead of pulling in I shake my head and continue to press my foot down on the gas pedal.

“Adam, what are you doing?”

“You’re not staying there,” I say through clenched teeth. There’s no way in hell I’m dropping him off at that place. Might as well toss him to the lions.

“It’s all I can afford. Don’t worry I’m not doing drugs or anything,” he argues.

“I’ve got an extra room, you can come stay with me. Gage lives with me, and Madden used to also, but he lives with his boyfriend now. It doesn’t make sense for you to throw money away staying at a dump like that when I’ve got a perfectly good, empty room.”

“Adam, that would be weird. We don’t even know each other. And I don’t want to be your charity case.”

His words hit me in the chest, reminding me of Phoenix and how I let him down. I should’ve pushed harder. I should’ve offered to go there and get him instead of just inviting him to come to me. I should’ve done so much differently.

I sigh and glance over at him.

“It’s not charity. Like I said, Gage lives with me and Madden used to, also. Even Dani stayed there for a short time when she started at Heathens. I’ve got space and I like to keep a close-knit group at the shop. When one of my employees need help I’m there. Always.”

Nox huffs and crosses his arms defiantly. I almost want to laugh at him for acting like a petulant child, but I doubt that would convince him to come stay with me.

“Fine, but you need to go back so I can get my stuff.”

I nod and find a place to make a U-turn, doing a mental fist pump that I won.

 

 

 

Nox

It didn’t take me long to gather the few things I had from the motel. Now I’m standing in Adam’s extra bedroom, my new bedroom, trying to decide what to do with myself. I can’t believe I’m here in Adam’s house. Thoughts of simply meeting Adam are what kept me going through most of rehab, now I’m his roommate. How’s that for surreal?

A light knock on my door makes me realize I’m still just standing in my bedroom in the clothes I wore to work and the bar. I feel kind of grimy with stale cigarette smoke that lingered in the air from decades of patrons smoking at O’Malley’s.

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if you want to watch a movie or anything?”

A smile creeps over my lips as I break out in a little happy dance. He wants to hang out with me.

“Nox?”

I stop dancing and put a hand over my mouth to muffle the giggle that escapes me. Giggling, seriously?

“Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get changed,” I call out.

“Okay.”

I open my tattered suitcase, another donation from the domestic violence charity, and sift through my clothes. I pull out a pair of loose sweatpants and a t-shirt.

When I step out into the living room, Adam’s eyes flick over me like a caress. His gaze lingers for several seconds on how low the sweatpants ride on my narrow hips. I blush and tug at my shirt when I realize the raised scars of my stomach are showing. The motion seems to break Adam’s trance. He clears his throat and tears his attention away from me.

“What’s your favorite movie?” He asks, logging into his Amazon account.

“American Beauty.”

“No way,” he argues with a shake of his head and a chuckle.

“What, my favorite movie isn’t good enough for you?” I challenge with a mock glare, giving him a playful shoulder shove for good measure as well. I’m a little rusty with my flirting, so sue me.

“No, it’s a good movie. But a favorite movie is one you could watch every day. American Beauty is too dark, if you watch that movie too much you’d kill yourself.”

Or maybe my life is so dark that movie doesn’t seem so bad. I bite my tongue to keep from saying these words. Adam doesn’t need me dumping my shit on him.

“Fine, what’s your favorite movie then?”

“Anchorman,” he answers with a shrug. I roll my eyes and he laughs. “Alright, if you like the dark stuff I’ve got one for you.”

He pulls up a movie called Donnie Darko and quirks an eyebrow at me. I wave my hand at him to go ahead and put it on and we both settle in to watch.

 

 

Adam

I glance over at Nox out of the corner of my eye and clench my jaw against the urge to strip those low-slung pants off and run my tongue all over his cock. My attention wanders upward and latch onto the scarred skin peeking out where his shirt rides up. I’m dying to know more about what happened, but it’s probably better if I don’t launch into an inquisition on night one.

Without conscious thought, I reach out and run a gentle finger against the raised skin on his exposed shoulder. Nox shivers and glances over at me.

“I’m sorry,” I say, clearing my throat and pulling my hand back.

“No, it’s okay. It felt… nice,” he licks his lips and I have to bite back a groan. Probably best if I don’t touch him again.

“If, uh...if I have scars on my back too, will the skin be too damaged for my tattoo?”

I sit forward to get a better look.

“May I?” I ask, ghosting my fingers along the exposed skin. Nox nods breathlessly and I pull the back of his shirt up to see the extent of the damage.  “Is it your whole back?”

“Not my whole back. And, it’s not as bad as on my stomach and my arms.”

The unexpected urge to trail my lips over his vandalized skin punches me in the gut.

“It’s possible but the texture could pose a major problem and if there was nerve damage the tattooing process will be extremely painful. Not to mention, with scarring this severe there’s a high chance that the ink will bleed. There are only a few rough spots so I think we can work with it, but I want you to know what you’re getting into. “

“I’m not worried about pain and if the ink bleeds then it bleeds.”

“Okay,” I agree.

“When?”

“It’ll take a few sessions to finish, but we can start tomorrow after we close up shop if you like.”

He nods eagerly before settling back on the couch to turn back to the movie. My hopes of paying any attention are completely blown by the raging hard-on I’m sporting knowing that I’m going to get his shirt off tomorrow and have my hands all over him. I’m so going to hell.

The front door opens and I jump back from Nox like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

“Uh...hey,” Gage greets, looking between Nox and myself with confusion.

“Hey, Nox is taking Madden’s old room.”

Gage tenses momentarily but doesn’t say anything. He gives Nox a friendly head nod before heading for his room without a word.

I know it’s directly my fault, but the fissure that’s developed between Gage and myself over the past year is like an open wound, painful and impossible to ignore.