“Cheers,” Finley and Kage said in unison.
A brush against his ankle brought Finley’s gaze up.
“How are you keeping up with meeting so many new people?” Kage asked and took a sip of his drink. What even was it? Finley knew his whiskeys, but he was still learning the complicated drinks the club offered. Thank fuck the club’s patrons rarely ordered intricate cocktails.
“For now, I know everyone’s name, but I’m sure Latif will tell me their life story soon enough. I’ll know who’s who then for sure.”
“Yes.” Latif clapped his hands. “I’ll spill all the tea. Besides, we’re due for another shopping spree.” He drummed his fingers on the table.
“No, we’re not.” Finley laughed, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “I have all the outfits I need for now.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean the clothes.” Latif elbowed Kage. “Maybe you’d want to come with us, you’re the expert on instruments of sexy torture.”
Finley being surrounded by sex toys as Kage picked them for him? Damn, he’d be hard throughout the whole thing.
Kage lifted his eyebrows, giving Finley the option to confess to what they’d been up to.
“Actually, I’m good on that front too. Kage already suggested some… stuff.” A blush crept up his cheeks at the memory of using them while thinking of the sexy Dom.
Latif whistled low. “I see how it is.”
“Oh shut it.” Kage laughed. “It’s not like that. We’re colleagues.”
Being referred to as a mere ‘colleague’ stung like a motherfucker, but Finley had no idea what they actually were. Friends? Yeah, that would sit better with him.
“Mmmhmm, right. So tell me, Finley, did Kage sweep you off your feet?” Latif accentuated his question with a dramatic hand gesture.
“Stop meddling, Latif. You know I don’t date.” Kage crossed his arms and sat back, but his expression remained playful.
Finley bristled.Were his hopes of asking Kage out doomed to fail?
“Oh. No, Sir.” Latif said in his Lucy voice. “I asked about the scene but I see there’s more tea to be had.”
Kage shook his head, a smirk forming on his lips. “I should put you over my knee and spank you until my hand stings.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Latif fanned himself with his hand.
Finley chuckled. The guys were friendly at the club, but their banter today was something special. “How long have you two known each other?”
“We met at work about six years ago. Damn, how the time flies. We’ve formed a tight community with those who’ve been with us a while, and Kage is such a good bloke beneath the black leather, my kids call him uncle.” Latif propped his chin on his hands and batted his eyelashes at Kage, who rolled his eyes in dramatic fashion.
“Aww, how are Cloe and Matilda?” Finley asked. Whenever the bar was quiet, Latif would talk about his daughters, how they cooked together and went to museums nearby. He shared custody with his ex-wife so he had the girls when he wasn’t working at the club in the evenings.
“Fantastic. They did these nails.” Latif presented his long fingers adorned with all the colours of the rainbow at the tips.
Finley leaned closer to take a look. “Are these dog-shaped stickers?”
Latif nodded. “Paw Patrol. The girls are great at doing nails, but sometimes I have to compromise. It’s their favourite show, so I’m wearing these with pride.”
“Speaking of your family—Sadie is here,” Kage said, and waved to someone behind Finley.
Latif’s ex-wife?
Finley turned around. A gorgeous black woman sashayed towards them, her chestnut hair falling over her shoulders in shiny curls.
Finley had heard the story of how she and Latif met after one of Lucy’s shows and ended up getting married soon after. Their daughters were still small when they’d decided to go separate ways. The pictures Lucy had shown Finley of her and the girls putting on makeup on each other were heart-meltingly adorable.
“Hey babe, you invited the best crowd.” Sadie kissed Latif’s cheek. “Long time, Kage,” she said, then eyed Finley. “Is this Finley?”
