Kinzer tightened his fist. He should have just decked the dumbass flit.
“That’s all you fucking flits think about. Kill, kill, kill. No rhyme. No reason.”
“Kinzer,” Maggie said, stepping beside them. “He was just trying to help.”
Kinzer’s fist hurt as he clutched it, restraining himself from attacking. He raised it and slammed it against the wall beside Hayde, unleashing a loud grunt, hoping to project all his rage through it.
This was all for nothing.
***
“Ah, fuck!” Kinzer exclaimed.
“Just relax for a second,” Maggie said. “Please.”
They’d returned to the factory he and Maggie had made their temporary hideout before heading over to Feinstein’s. On the way back, they’d stopped by a convenience store and grabbed some first aid supplies. Maggie patched up Kinzer’s shoulder wound—the one he’d received from Raya.
Kinzer had agreed to let Hayde come with them, as he needed to get patched up as well, though his injuries were already starting to heal.
Kinzer ground his teeth as he endured the pressure Maggie applied to his shoulder.
Hayde leaned against a concrete column, his arms folded. After Maggie had tended to him, he’d started to put his shirt back on, fastening the cuffs, but to Kinzer’s delight, he hadn’t bothered with the placket, leaving a dark happy trail and stacks of abs exposed. He looked at Kinzer, seemingly amused.
“You enjoying this?” Kinzer asked.
“I mean… a little bit.” He smirked that same smirk, like the one Kinzer had seen when he’d first encountered Hayde at Kryler’s. He was being a dick, but it didn’t change how fucking hot he was, especially with his shirt open like that.
Maggie’s glance shifted to Kinzer’s crotch, then to him. She smiled at him, clearly knowing exactly what that length was about.
“So, where you heading tonight, Hayde?” she asked, continuing to apply pressure.
Hayde shrugged. “Not sure yet. I was probably gonna find something like this… I don’t know. I don’t really have a plan. I texted my contacts, but I haven’t heard anything back yet.”
“You should stay here.”
Kinzer couldn’t help but smile. It was sweet she was trying to help him get laid, but he wasn’t all that confident Hayde would be interested. He was on a mission for the Leader, one that had just blown up big-time, and he was sure he’d have to get back and clean up the mess they’d made.
Hayde stared at Kinzer—a coy, predatory stare. Kinzer knew that stare, and he liked it.
“Yeah, I’ll stay,” he said, not taking his eyes off Kinzer.
Maggie grinned. When she finished bandaging up Kinzer, she headed to the room she’d set up for bed.
Hayde’s eyes lit up, like he was glad she’d finally left them alone. Kinzer was pleased Hayde was just as eager to play as he was. He’d been stressed for so long, without any moment of ease to savor amidst all this dark drama. He needed something to give him some relief.
Kinzer led him into his poor excuse for a room and flicked on the overhead fluorescent lights.
He’d laid an old sheet across the air mattress he’d brought from the factory he and Maggie had squatted in for the past few months.
He was embarrassed by how little he’d cleaned up the room, covered in screws and wood chips, which he’d recklessly dusted away from where he’d set up his mattress. Maggie had given him shit about it, stating firmly, “Don’t come crawling into my bed when yours busts.” He assumed Hayde, being primarily a warrior, understood why he didn’t give many shits about his living quarters or a night on the hard floor.
“Remind you of paradise?” Kinzer asked as he set his sword beside the mattress. Hayde dropped his daggers and approached him quickly. Hayde pushed him against the wall, pressing his torso against Kinzer’s.
“So aggressive,” Kinzer muttered.
“I’m just trying to encourage you,” Hayde said. His sly smile captured Kinzer’s attention. It was beautiful, fun, erotic.
Kinzer couldn’t hold back. He kissed him, savoring the taste of his lips.
