Forget having sex in the bathroom or in the alley behind the club. That was completely normal here. The main problem was drugs and the dealers attempting to peddle their wares when they thought no one was looking. And as Sean had explained, the city was always searching for an excuse to close them down. So, my priority was booting the drug dealers and confiscating narcotics to be properly disposed of. I’d also made it a habit to check the bathroom at least once every hour to make sure no one was overdosing. At my previous job, there was also a bit of a drug problem, but not to the extentThe Adonis experienced.
There was also the threat of some homophobe bringing weapons in, but ever since the terrible shooting at The Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the front security had been beefed up at gay bars and establishments all over the country, including at The Adonis. Didn’t mean someone with a weapon couldn’t slip in and anyone overdressed caught my attention. All in all, it felt like home and as I watched the go-go boys put on a performance, I missed my girls. I’d decided when Danny was a little better, I’d like to take him back home to meet Lexa and visit our old haunts. It would be good for him, I was sure. Nostalgia could be a potent medicine.
I spotted Sean standing at the bar, talking with some men, his smile infectious through his beard. He was the head of security and today was his day off, but even when he wasn’t required to be here, he tended to float about, talking with patrons, and making sure the rest of us were doing our jobs.
When he noticed me standing in the corner, he drifted this way, accepting squeezes to his shoulder as he did. By talking to the bartenders and some of the patrons, it was obvious everyone thought of Sean as the head honcho of The Adonis, despite being another employee. It said a lot about a man when others spoke of him so highly.
He came to stand next to me and bumped his elbow against my arm, which I’d learned was his version of a handshake. He asked over the music, “Settling in?”
“Not all that different from my previous job,” I said honestly.
“Were you hit on by men too?” he teased me. “It’s a different game out here and takes a little time to learn the rules. If anyone gets too aggressive with you, remind them their membership can be revoked at any time.”
“What membership?”
“Exactly,” he said with a wink. He leaned in so I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but I offered him a smirk. “I’d been meaning to ask how theinvestigationis going? The few times I visited, I didn’t want to ask Danny personally in case it upset him.”
“Don’t know, haven’t heard much.” I scratched my chin, tracking a young man weaving through the dancefloor. He was checking out the sashaying bodies and I wasn’t sure if he was cruising for a hook-up or looking for his next customer. I figured it would take a little time to train my eyes.
I turned my attention back to Sean and what he’d said. I’d been so focused on helping Danny heal, I hadn’t thought much about the investigation and the assholes. It was probably good I didn’t think too hard about the ones that had hurt my Danny, because every time I did, I got the urge to hunt them down myself and exact revenge rather than justice.
Sean clearly wasn’t happy with my answer. “Not surprised. Ya’ know, they spout equality and acceptance, but why is it taking them so long to haul these dickheads in? Amirite?”
The idea he was as pissed as I was, made me like him more.
“The detective that spoke to Danny in the hospital left him a contact. I’ll call him myself and demand an update.”
“You do that,” he said, his gaze on the crowd, but I could see something hot and agitated glowing in his eyes. “Anyway, how do you like the gym?”
The mention of the gym sent a shot of happiness into my system. I’d always enjoyed working out and developing my body. And now I had Danny to protect again so I needed to get back on track. “The pool is a nice touch, and the lockers smell good. Although, I’ve walked in on men receiving blowjobs twice.”
He threw his head back and laughed, his green eyes reflecting the flashing colors. “That’s a gay gym for you. Even upper-class establishments receive their fair share of cock sucking. My feelings won’t be hurt if you want to find another place.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” I said honestly. “I’m not a prick, I just don’t like being a cockblock.”
“You’re a rare breed, Jere. Some straight men are fragile and can't handle the gays breathing the same air as them. Besides, I don’t think the kind of guys the gym attracts would mind you watching.”
I wondered if I’d want to watch and decided I’d only want to do something like that with Danny if it were something he wanted to do.
“Listen, I have an idea I’ve floated to the bosses. They are totally in. I haven't mentioned it to Ronnie yet, but what do you think about throwing a benefit for Danny? It could go a long way to help him money-wise.”
I considered his words. Danny was prideful and I wasn’t sure how he’d handle accepting charity, but he needed more care than I could afford on my salary and Mrs. B. had rent and her own bills.
“I think it’s a good idea,” I said.
“Really? Well, we should all sit down and hash out some details. We could have games and raffles. Heck, I might even shake my ass on stage if it will lighten wallets.”
In an effort to bond with him, I said, “I’d pay to watch you shake your ass.”
His attention was on the crowd now, his brows furrowing, his mouth pressed into a tight line, my words drowned out by the music and whoops and hollers. It was probably for the best.
“Are you kidding me?Again?” he growled to himself as his body tensed. “I swear, he’s a damned chameleon. Excuse me while I go deal with abratproblem. We’ll talk later.”
He was gone before I could respond, stalking toward the dance floor with purpose. It wasn’t long before I found my own problem to deal with. I cracked my neck side to side then made for the drug dealer following a patron toward the bathroom. The crowd flowed around me like water, dozens of eyes doing once overs on me and a few handsaccidentallybrushing against my body. I’d gotten used to the constant leering and panting tongues. I didn't mind it, to be honest. They could lust, but they couldn’t have. I solely belonged to Danny.
I took care of the dealer by throwing him out of the club with an official notice of banishment and left the paperwork on the boss’s desk as Sean had taught me to do. The rest of the night went smoothly, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. At two in the morning, the drive from the heart of the city to Mokena wasn’t bad.
The gym Sean had invited me into was open twenty-four-seven and though I was craving a good workout, I made my way to Mrs. B.’s house. I wanted to be next to Danny more than I needed to develop my biceps, even if it were to hold him while he slept. We had unfinished business. The hand job in the tub was an appetizer and I was starving for more.
