“Wow.” Theo snorted. “Soundssuperpassionate.”
My eyes flicked up to meet his across the flames.
“What? If you ever told someone that our time in bed together was ‘fine,’ I’d track you down and castrate you.”
I picked up my glass and settled back into my seat. “Good thing it’s hot as fuck, then. I kind of like my cock where it is.”
Theo slid his tongue over his lower lip, his eyes falling to my lap. “So do I. But if you think for a second I’m not going to point out you said we’re hot as fuck together, then you’re crazy.”
The wine was now buzzing through my veins as I continued to eye Theo. I probably shouldn’t have said what I just did, but the fact was that King and Iweretoo much alike. Both in and out of the bedroom.
It had been hot at first, both of us coming together in a way that seemed to match the other’s energy. But eventually it got to a point where we were always butting heads, always competing for the upper hand—and with King’s being my boss, I’d always felt the need to somehow prove myself to him. Prove that I could handle him.
Turned out that wasn’t what he wanted, and neither did I. He wanted to be in controlallof the time, and I wanted to be able to turn it on and off depending on my mood.
“Just stating the facts,” I said. “King is with the people he needs to be with. They allow him the freedom to be himself in a way that I couldn’t, and now I can be myself. He did us both a favor—I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“What do you mean? How could you not be yourself?”
My eyes narrowed on Theo’s curious expression. “For instance, he never would have let me fuck him at a public event in a restroom.”
He grinned. “His loss.”
“Agreed. But he was very private. Especially with the two of us. He didn’t want there to be an outward connection made. And since I was—am—such a public figure…”
“He thought it would be smarter to bang his students? Come on, Shep. Even you have to hear how ridiculous that sounds. Everyone heard about his scandal.”
“Yes, they did. But East and Zac weren’t connected to him in business in any way. They weren’t involved with Libertine. He never wanted the two to cross. Our relationship made that difficult.”
“They’re members now.”
“But not Kings.”
“Potato, potah-to.I think you’re letting him off too easy.”
I checked on the skewers and, seeing they were done, added two to a plate and handed it to Theo. “What would you have had me do?”
“I told you, castrate him.”
I chuckled and picked up my own plate. “You mind if we stop discussing King’s cock and instead focus on eating the meat in front of us?”
Theo picked up his skewer and bit down, sliding the grilled meat up the wooden stick. After swallowing the bite, he hummed his appreciation.
“I don’t care what anyone says, you are not just a pretty face, Shepard Winchester.”
“Is that what they say?”
He shrugged. “Well, you know,somepeople.”
I swallowed my own mouthful and crossed my ankles up on the pit. “Some people like you?”
“You asking if I think you’re pretty?”
“I’m notnotasking.”
Theo started at me for a beat then said, “I think you’re pretty fucking amazing.”
I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but that wasn’t it.
