Ty

 

He checked himself one last time in the full-length mirror in his hotel room. He peeped down at his cell phone lying on the bed, wondering if he should text Kell. He didn’t really have anything to say besides he missed him. He hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning, now it was almost eleven at night. As far as he knew, Kell had spent most of the day with Quick’s son, “handling business”, he’d said. What kind of business does he have? Maybe he was working on his own surprise like Ty was.

He felt ready to do this. He’d come up with a plan that was gonna make his bosses realize that he and Kell were valuable assets. They were doing things differently but not necessarily wrong. He wanted to keep Duke’s reputation of being a fair and successful agency, while making sure safety remained top priority. Anytime he could come up with a plan that’d put Kell in the least amount of danger would be his ultimate goal with every retrieval. With Brian still in his ear giving him advice, he knew he’d be great at this job.

Ty walked through the hotel lobby, and already he could tell his outfit was working. Heads were turning in his direction and eyes were lingering on him. When he got in the back seat of the car service he’d rented for the night, he texted Kell and told him he’d be there in twenty minutes. When the driver turned onto Kell’s street, his stomach finally started to react from the nerves. He had his second gift in his coat pocket, waiting for Kell’s approval.

Ty was just about to get out of the town car when Kell came through the door dressed to fucking kill. All he could do was sit there and gape as he descended the stairs. Everything slowed down as his beautifully layered hair theatrically caught the wind. He’s mine. Kell was dressed in tight leather pants that had a few chains woven haphazardly into the legs. His tunic was new and fierce. The bottom half, the sleeves, and the oversized hood were all genuine leather, but the entire top half was black mesh. Ty imagined the frigid weather would keep Kell’s nipples flushed and hard tonight. Ty palmed his dick.

The driver opened the door for Kell. When he got inside, he took one look at Ty and was in his lap. Ty plunged in hands into Kell’s glossy hair and slammed their mouths together. He liked the way Kell admired him—all heat and want. His dick tried to stab through his black Kenneth Cole jeans.

“You look good as hell,” Kell said, between wet kisses.

“So do you. I like seeing you in my ice, shorty,” Ty said, caressing the gold around Kell’s neck. It looked dope as hell against the black leather. Ty smoothed his hand over Kell’s toned chest. “If I’d known you were gonna look this hot I would’ve had a contingency plan.”

“Your coat will stop traffic alone. You look like a superstar.” Kell stroked the velvety black and gray chinchilla fur that made up the wide collar and lapels of Ty’s leather coat. “Is it real?”

“Yes.” Ty laughed lightly against Kell’s throat. He just couldn’t seem to drag his nose anywhere else. Kell had the audacity to have on cologne. And from the way Ty’s dick was pulsing and his hips flexing, the fragrance worked perfectly with his body chemistry. “This was my eighteenth birthday gift from my father. He had it made for me when he was in Dubai. It was the last gift delivered to me.”

“You wear it like a king.” Kell smoothed his hand down the butter-soft leather of his sleeve.

“Thank you.” Ty squeezed Kell’s waist, closing his eyes at the lust consuming him. His lips found Kell’s again. He tasted fiery tonight.

“This is definitely gonna work,” Kell moaned as the car rocked and shifted his ass on Ty’s lap.

Work? Shit. Work. Damn. That’s what his sexy knight did to him. Work. That’s what they were supposed to be doing. Ty brought their passion down and eased Kell next to him, setting his ripe ass on the seat and not on his dick. Ty texted Duke to make sure he had everyone in position and to let him know they were on their way. 

“Did you get everything handled yesterday and today?” Ty asked, licking his kiss-tender lips.

Kell’s eyes followed Ty’s tongue.

“Yes. I got my apartment pretty much packed up.” Kell’s smile was wide. “Surprisingly, it didn’t take long, and Vaughan helped me too.”

“Good.” Ty pulled a slender box from his coat pocket. Kell was looking through the window, distracted by a late night road crew working on Piedmont. When he turned his head back around, Ty had his gift on display.

Kell sucked in a sharp breath. He stared at the exquisite jewelry glistening in the dark. It was what Ty had specifically designed it to do.

“Ty,” Kell gasped.

“Are your blades only on your left hand like I asked?”

Kell nodded stiffly, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Give me your right hand,” Ty told him. “This is the last of my gems, baby.”

Moisture formed in Kell’s eyes but no tears fell. “I never thought I’d see a watch I wanted to wear. Always hated them.”

Ty knew Kell didn’t pine for fancy jewels, but this was something Ty had waited all his life to do… for himself. To be the man, the husband, his father had groomed him to be. Damn any other traditions or customs. He watched Kell run his hand over the two-toned black opal band. The black diamonds in the knight’s helmet behind the crystal window face shimmered radiantly. It was all black on black on black except the red rubies that made up the dial. It was the perfect complement to Kell’s red and black daggers. His fiancé may not have been one for watches, but Ty felt every man should have a time piece for his wrist, even if he only wore it on special occasions. 

He clicked the double-press closure together, glad the watchmaker got the size correct. His jewels looked stunning. Just like its new owner.

“How did you…?”

He liked that Kell was speechless. “Brian took me to a jeweler he knew last week. I was hoping it could be made in time. It took me a while to find someone. You can’t just take jewels like this to any watch maker with good Yelp reviews.”

“Why?” Kell said, still staring at watch. The knight’s helmet was wicked sexy.

“Because they’d probably swap my jewels for fake ones.”

“Oh.” Kell’s eyes widened. “Are you rich?”

Ty laughed fondly. “No. Not even close. I just made wise decisions with the insurance money my father left me. The jewels all came from him as well. The gold, the stones were all he’d bartered, bought, and traded over his years traveling the world.”

“I can’t imagine having a dad like that.” Kell reached for Ty’s hand and squeezed it. “You were very blessed.”

“I was.” Ty kissed Kell’s hand and looked deep into his eyes. “I still am.”

“How was your mother’s reaction?” Kell asked touching his hand to his necklace.

“She could already see how happy I was when I walked through her door. I told her I gave my proposal gift and I’d be committing tomorrow.”

Ty remembered his mother didn’t have just one but several reactions.

He took her hand in his. “I know he’s the one. Without any doubt. I’m not hesitating.”

She watched him for a long time. Her warm eyes didn’t hold an ounce of judgment but plenty of confusion. “A man? You’ve never mentioned you cared for men, Tyrell.”

Ty shrugged, “Okay. True. But, I never mentioned to you that I cared for women either.”

She popped him gently on his knee. “Don’t get clever with me.”

“I don’t know mother. Maybe I was predisposed to looking towards females, so I always have, but none of them touched me. No one has loved me as deeply as Kellam and I don’t believe anyone could.” Ty held his mother’s gaze. “I’m not the same man I was four weeks ago. I’m better.”

His mom beamed at him. “Of course you are. You’ve found your soul’s other half. Love upgrades a man.” She lightly touched his cheek. He knew it wouldn’t be difficult for her to accept his choice. His mother’s nephew was gay, and she loved him more than she did her other five.

“When I come back from visiting my sister in Tampa you’ll have to bring him right over. We’ll have a formal dinner to celebrate your commitment.” She squeezed his hands as tight as her little one could, as moisture formed in her eyes.

“I’ll be there with you in spirit. And your father…” A large tear fell down her cheek.

“I know.” Ty whispered. He took a Kleenex off her end table and wiped the sadness away. It’d be too much for her heart to stand there with him, without her husband at her side like they’d always envisioned. He understood that. He just wanted her to be happy for him. “I do.”

“He’s always with you.” She touched the dog tag close to his heart.

Ty leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Let me tell you more about him.”

“Yes.” She sniffled, straightening herself. Her eyes sparkled. “And don’t leave out a single detail on giving your gifts.”

“And,” Kell urged, breaking him out of his reflection.

“She was quiet for a moment. When I told her about you she simply said that God blesses all unions and for me to continue being a good man and I’ll continue to be blessed. Then she went into a lengthy story of how she felt when my father first put his diamond, bangle bracelets on her arm to propose.”

“The world needs more men like you, Ty Jenkins.” Kell caressed his cheek then kissed him there. He got lost in his partner’s affection the rest of the ride.

“We’re here,” The driver told them.

Ty noticed they were parked on the curb directly in front of the club entrance. There wasn’t a line, thank goodness, but the parking lot had a few people lingering about. He texted Duke and told him they were coming in. If Ty did this right, they should be in and out in less than thirty minutes.

He tucked a piece of Kell’s hair behind his ear, “You ready to do this?”

“I’m following you,” Kell answered.

That’s what I’m talking ’bout. Ty let the driver open his door. Heads turned when he stood to his full height. He stopped the driver from walking around the car and instead opened Kell’s door himself. He reached in and let Kell take his hand. When he was out of the car, Kell glanced around with his nose in the air, as if deciding if this place was worth his time. Playing the part. With his decision made, he slipped his arm inside Ty’s elbow and strolled up to the bouncer waiting out front.

“Ya’ll want the VIP tonight?” the bouncer asked, looking them up and down. “It’s available. Not too packed in there tonight.”

Ty smiled. Even better for his plan. He pulled out a money clip and flipped off two big face bills and handed them to the bouncer, “VIP sounds good.”

The beefy man gave Ty a one-armed hug like they were boys now. “Cool. I’ll walk you guys in.”

Ty hadn’t anticipated being upgraded, but that was what happened when someone came to the club ’flossin. He had a dime-piece on his arm. Everything they wore was designer and their diamonds were genuine. That was all they needed to get offered VIP status.

He could already see his boss shitting bricks.

Kell

 

Kell fingered the small device in his ear—ensuring it was in place—before the bouncer opened the door. The thumping bass rattled his chest and the smell of men, lust and funk slapped him in his nose before he was even fifteen feet inside. He fought to stay in character and not look around for his team, who he knew was somewhere inside, watching his every move. All of the hunters were there, shrouded in the dark corners of the small club.

He touched his earlobe, hoping his earpiece was working. They didn’t have the fancy communication watches that the rest of them had, but they were wired in to hear if their bosses spoke to their device.

“Relax, Kellam. It’s working.” Quick’s voice was so clear it was as if he’d whispered it in his head.

Kell nodded slightly and stayed close to Ty. The bouncer led them through the throng of bodies as heads swiveled in their direction and hands reached out to touch. The bouncer walked up a couple of steps to a small corner sealed off by a red velvet rope, and unlatched the hook. He gestured with a sweep of his tattooed arm for them to go in. The club was too small to try to have a VIP section. There was nothing but a tiny cocktail table in front of a white pleather love seat and a potted four-foot ficus in the corner.

Ty gave the bouncer another bill and had him signal one of the male waiters over. Ty leaned against the railing overlooking the packed dance floor and pulled Kell against him. They had to make sure they stayed visible.

The waiter wore latex-looking, bright yellow boy shorts and an intrigued smile. “Good evening. What can I do for you two?” He stood close to them. Very close. “Anything you need, just ask.”

Ty put his other arm around the waiter and smoothed his hand down the side of his hip.

Kell tightened, but he kept up his appearance of being part of a couple open to some fun.

Ty was whispering something close to the server’s cheek that made him squirm and nod eagerly. He motioned like he was telling the waiter a sexy suggestion. More eyes turned their way. People were wondering who they were. There were a lot of celebrities in Atlanta and at any moment one could pop up. Or Ty could be a music producer, a talent scout for Arista Entertainment, a record label executive, anyone. As long as you looked important, people treated you important. That was one lesson Kell’s father had taught him.

After wiggling and giggling some more on Ty’s other arm, the waiter caressed Ty’s cheek and said he’d be right back. He grinned smugly at his fellow servers as he sashayed toward the bar.

Kell turned his face into Ty’s freshly shaved cheek, settling himself between his legs. He leaned in to whisper a deadly secret to his fiancé, while keeping a charming smile on his lips, “If he touches your face again, I’m going to throw him out that window.”

The music was too loud for him to hear Ty’s laugh but he felt it against his chest.

Ty drove his hand into Kell’s hair and kissed his throat. He let his head fall back as Ty towered over him for the whole club to see.

“What the fuck?” Duke’s stern voice cut into their lust but neither of them broke character. Instead they kept touching and putting on a show. “That’s your damn plan? To come in here like goddamn SuperFly. How is this “zero attention”?”

Kell felt Ty smile behind his ear. He was enjoying this more than he thought. When Ty had first told him his plan in the hotel room, he’d had to kiss Kell and reassure him for twenty minutes that he could do this. At first, he’d been all nerves when they’d walked in the club and attracted all the attention they thought they would, plus some. He wasn’t used to being the center of attention. It was another reason he’d stayed covered most of his life. Until Ty had shown him how handsome he was inside and out. And all those bullies hated Kell’s beauty for one reason. They didn’t possess it.

“Calm down, Duke,” Brian said next. “You’re distracting them.”

He and Ty couldn’t respond, their device was only for listening. None of the bosses told them abort, so they were staying on point.

“Spotted him,” Ty said in Kell’s ear. “One o’clock at the bar.”

Kell turned in Ty’s arms and rested his back against his chest. He moved his head to the music and surveyed the club, making suggestive eye contact with several of the men before averting his eyes. He saw Alexander Donovan sitting at the end of the bar, talking to one of the bartenders. He was dressed in a hunter-green suit with no shirt under the jacket and black loafers. A smattering of hair covered his chest and tapered down over his abdomen. Kell thought he looked like a creep. Because he was. He was a drug-dealing cretin. They’d spotted him, but of course, Alexander Donovan was staring right at them, too. No one had missed when they’d come in.

Their server arrived with their drinks and set them on the table. When he was finished, he wasted no time coming back to stand between Ty’s parted thighs. There wasn’t enough room for him, only Kell. He narrowed his eyes at the server but caught himself when Ty pecked his lips. The waiter glanced at Kell, inching closer to him.

“Hi,” he said, gazing softly into Kell’s eyes.

“Hey, sexy.” Kell’s voice was throaty.

He pulled the man away from Ty and wrapped his arms around his waist and began to sway with him to the music. They were about the same height as Kell leaned in and placed his lips on the waiter’s ear. He trembled in Kell’s tight hold as he told him what he wanted him to do. Told him how grateful and appreciative he’d be if he helped them out. The server nodded periodically as his body moved to the beat. Kell took a one-hundred dollar bill out of his pocket and tucked it into the boy’s shorts, then gave him another long caress over his bare chest. “So, you’ll do this for me?”

“Mmhmm.” He practically moaned, pushing the bill deeper into his shorts. He walked away to, hopefully, do the job he’d been paid for. By the time Kell stood next to Ty again, everyone was trying to get their attention to see if they could come into the VIP area and get handled by them next.

Kell immediately pointed out another hottie server and gave him a provocative come-hither finger. The guy wasted no time ditching the man he’d been talking to and hurrying over to them. Kell let him past the red rope, giving the ripped waiter a good once over like he wanted him for a late snack. Ty licked his full lips as if he approved and pulled the server to him. Now he had two sexy men on his arm. Alexander, their jumper, had none.

Their other server went to the bar as if he was waiting for more drinks. Kell held his breath, praying their jumper took the bait. When Ty had come up with their plan, he’d said he believed Alexander was a man who hated to be showed up. Usually, he was the most important person in the club. Always with an entourage and people vying for his attention. How dare he and Ty come in there and steal his thunder. That was probably the reason he was hiding over there behind the bar.

Alexander turned in their direction again. Ty stared back at him. Two alphas squaring off. Just as they’d hoped, Alexander leaned toward their cute waiter, who was supposedly waiting to fill Kell’s drink order and started to flirt mercilessly. Alexander couldn’t be in VIP, couldn’t fuck with Kell and Ty’s status, so he’d take whatever he could from them. The man pulled out a thick bank roll—drug money—and flashed it at the young server. The kid licked his lips and glanced over in Kell’s direction. He gave him a slight apologetic shrug and took the multiple bills Alexander was offering. The smug-as-hell grin Alexander threw at Ty was classic.

Alexander pulled the server onto his lap and kissed him madly, trying to put on a bigger show than Ty. It wasn’t working. Alexander noticed everyone was still enjoying the music, watching the writhing bodies on the dance floor… enjoying watching Kell and Ty.

“Ready?” Ty whispered to Kell.

Kell nodded and let Ty lead them out of the VIP area to the dance floor to execute the last part of their plan. The DJ switched up the pop to a sensual, reggaeton song by Rihanna. Ty stood taller than most of the people on  floor. He was still wearing his thigh-length leather coat with that sexy fur draped around his neck. Platinum jewelry rested on his chest. If Kell had been partying in the club when Ty walked in, he would’ve tried to get close to him too. The floor suddenly got tighter as more people crowded on. It could’ve been the hot beat of the music or it could’ve been Ty’s confidence that ’amp’d shit up. The club-goers were clearly captivated by them.

Ty turned him around and put Kell’s back tight to his chest. His body was blazing. Ty looked dark and delicious in the dim club lighting. He moved his hair to one side and let Ty bury his face in the crook of his neck, so he could hear him speak his instructions. Standing in the center of the dance floor, Kell seductively moved his body against Ty’s. Grinding his ass against his pelvis as if he was in a music video. His partner groaned in his ear, as he stood almost still, letting Kell hypnotize him with his hips. Maybe Kell was enjoying the character he was playing a little too much.

“Damn, you’re sexy as hell, shorty. You got my joint so hard moving on me like this,” Ty said in his ear, pressing his hard dick against Kell’s back.

“Hey! Ebony and Ivory,” Duke snarled angrily in their ear. “What’s the goddamn plan? Watch you two get the whole club off?”

Still ignoring Duke, Kell stayed focused. Rihanna’s song was almost finished and a similar one followed. Kell reached behind him and clasped his hands behind Ty’s neck. Ravenous hands touched his chest, his sides, his hair, and they weren’t always his fiancé’s.

“Looks like he’s about to move,” Ty said.

Kell glanced up and saw their ex-server moving Alexander toward the bathroom by the fire exit like he’d instructed him to do. The skipper’s eyes were glued to the bubble ass in those little shorts, as he was pulled away. Kell quickly gave Ty the signal. He didn’t want the server to have to put up with that creep in the bathroom for long.

“He’s in there now,” Kell said, spinning in Ty’s arms.

Ty tilted his head to his right. Kell hadn’t known where Brian was, but that wasn’t his job to know, it was Ty’s. His job was to get their jumper into that bathroom while his posse and the rest of the club was distracted… by them. Kell watched as the other hunters seemed to appear out of thin air, while he and Ty still ground against each other. Dana and Ford dipped into the bathroom after their skipper. Quick and Duke stood outside, making sure no one else went in. Five seconds later, the restroom door burst open with Dana and Ford dragging Alexander by his arms. His pants were unbuckled, and his mouth was wide open yelling something, but no one could hear him over the music and absolutely no one was looking at him.

Brian threw open the back door, setting off the alarm. The DJ brought the volume down as heads swiveled in that direction. The back of the club, by the restrooms, was practically empty. All anyone saw was a couple of men with wide shoulders and broad backs filing out and slamming the door shut behind them. The music started blaring again. When people saw it was nothing to be worried about and turned back to where Kell and Ty had been dancing.

Their spot was empty.

There one minute, gone the next.

Powerful.