Shayne pushed to his feet. “Oh, there’ll be begging involved, but not from me, and not for meds.” Before Lincoln could respond, Shayne caught Grady’s attention. “I’m going to catch a ride home with Lincoln. My ribs are killing me.”
A hint of worry clawed at Lincoln. He searched Shayne’s features for any sign he was in more pain than he let on. Other than the frown marring Shayne’s brow, there was nothing.
“Yeah,” Grady said, pulling Lincoln’s attention his way. “I think I’m about done with this too.” He cast a quick look around, adding, “If I can find Henley, I’ll be right on your heels.”
Lincoln skimmed the crowd with his gaze, as well, before realizing how fruitless an endeavor it was. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure if he could recognize Henley if he saw him again. He’d barely spared a glance for either man earlier in the evening. If it hadn’t been for meeting Grady once before, he might not have recognized him either.
“Oh, fuck.”
Shayne’s low curse sent Lincoln’s brain into overdrive. His gaze snapped to Shayne’s face. Instead of finding a pained expression, as he’d been expecting, Shayne’s features were tight. Following the line of his stare, Lincoln spotted a scuffle taking place at the edge of thebar. Lincoln’s first thought was of Henley. It turned out he did recognize him after all. Horror stopped him from being too pleased with himself. Henley had some guy in a headlock. Shayne’s curse didn’t do the scene justice.
“That’s one big bastard.” Lincoln didn’t mean to say it. Henley was holding his own, but damn. Apparently, when Henley picked a bar fight, he didn’t mess around. The guy’s arms were the size of tree trunks. Lincoln’s observation seemed to snap Grady and Shayne out of their shock. They both sprang into action before Lincoln had time to react.
For someone plagued with injuries, Shayne was fast on his feet. Flipping his gaze to the ceiling, Lincoln sent up a quick prayer before going after Shayne. If they got out of this without going to jail, it would be a miracle.
Only the factthey’d played together foryears and practiced alongside one another several times a week, explained how Henley held Alex in check. On a good day, Alex outweighed Henley by a good sixty pounds. Every one of those ounces was solid muscle. Even though alcohol and rage fueled Henley, it was only a matter of time before Alex wore him down. No way in hell was Shayne going to let that happen. Pain slowed him, and Grady beat him across the room. Shayne was almost thankful since Grady took a solid elbow to the ribs as a way of thanks for his interference. If Shayne didn’t know better, he’d think Henley did it on purpose. Two hefty bouncers tried interceding, but the combined strength in this confrontation was having none of it.
Shayne hadn’t seen what started the fight. He didn’t need anyone to explain it to him. In his heart, he’d known coming here tonight would lead to this. When Alex hadn’t shown,Shayne had hoped they’d actually pull through without incident. He’d gotten distracted. Henley and Alex had been poised on the edge of explosion for a while. Adding Grady to the mix made the situation volatile. The way Grady looked at Ryker…Well, that shit was downright confusing. It was also a lit match to a pile of kindling brewing too long.
Grady pulled Henley off Alex before things escalated to murder. Seeing his chance, Shayne snagged Alex, lifting him off his feet while pinning his arms. The curse leaving Shayne’s lips had more to do with the massive pain shooting through his midsection than the situation. Players were a hotheaded bunch. Any other bar fight would’ve landed most people a night in jail. Luckily, Grady’s badge smoothed their exit. It did nothing for the tempers of the two men they were muscling out the door.
“Bastard was trying to slip something into Ryker’s drink,” Henley spat the moment they hit the sidewalk outside. It was possible he’d made the claim more than once, but Shayne was having a hard time hearing anything over the pulse pounding in his ears. Even with Alex somewhat compliant with Shayne, he wasn’t making things easy. When his vision darkened around the edges, Shayne realized he was in real danger of passing out due to his protesting ribs.
“Don’t be fucking stupid,” Alex shot back. “Ryker knows damn well I’d never pull something like that.”
It wasn’t until everyone’s head swiveled in Ryker’s direction that Shayne realized the man had followed them outside. His closed expression didn’t bode well for Alex’s defense. Rocking back on his heels, Ryker shoved his hands in his pockets as he eyed Alex in silence. Therewasn’t an ounce of emotion marring the man’s beautiful features. Shayne wondered what it said about him that he was more concerned with checking out Lincoln’s reaction to being within touching distance of one of the world’s hottest men. Lincoln stood shoulder to shoulder with Ryker. His gaze never left Shayne’s face. The concern etched in the other man’s features somehow made Shayne feel guilty and ecstatic at the same time. Shayne forced his eyes away, focusing on Grady instead. The guy looked furious, making Shayne uneasy. Grady was always the one in control. He was the level-headed one. Right now, he was staring at Alex in a way that had Shayne stepping away from him in case Grady sprang.
For a full minute, the world fell silent as if drawing a breath and bracing for a storm. It was obvious Alex understood his predicament. Other than spitting some blood on thesidewalk, he didn’t move. Grady’s posture didn’t relax even as he turned his attention Ryker’s way. When their eyes met, Ryker showed the first sign of life. He shook his head. It was a small gesture—one Shayne would’ve missed if he hadn’t been watching the pair, incapable of blinking.
“Go home.”
To his surprise, Ryker dipped his chin at Grady’s demand and headed for the parking lot. The moment he moved so did Alex. It was a mistake. Grady snapped, becoming someone Shayne didn’t know. In one move, he had Alex pinned to the ground, shocking Shayne to the point of paralysis. His feet were frozen as he stared down at Grady and Alex at his feet. In the back of his mind, Shayne knew Grady took down men twice his size all the time in his line of work, but he’d never seen it in action. Grady didn’t even break a sweat as he rolled Alexonto his stomach and pulled his hands behind his back in one motion.
“Make another move, motherfucker,” Grady growled. “You might not live to regret it.” Shayne didn’t doubt him. Obviously, Alex didn’t either. He went still. “Here’s the deal,” Grady said the moment it became apparent Alex wouldn’t fight him. “I’m sitting on a warrant for your arrest. Being as how we’ve been down this road before, you know I’ll eventually catch up with you again, but as long as you cooperate, I’ll let you turn yourself in tomorrow when you’ve sobered up.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Shayne saw Ryker turn away. Before he made it five steps, Lincoln interceded.
“It’s Ryker, right?” At Lincoln’s inquiry, Ryker eyed the man curiously but held still.
“Yeah.”
Lincoln smiled, becoming the capable doctor right before Shayne’s eyes. It was hot. He shot a quick glance around, checking their surroundings. “Do you mind if I walk you to your car?”
It was more than obvious Ryker didn’t know what to make of Lincoln. He motioned toward a nearby Harley. “I’m right there, but knock yourself out, doc.”
Shayne couldn’t figure out Lincoln’s game, but the moment they were out of earshot, Ryker paused, and let Lincoln shine a pen light in his eyes. A chuckle rose in Shayne’s throat. Pride swelled in his chest. Lincoln cared about people. He wasn’t sure if Lincoln hoped to stop Ryker from driving after drinking or making sure he hadn’t consumed whatever Alex tried slipping into his drink. Either way, Ryker seemed to pass the test. With a final nod atLincoln, Ryker threw one leg over the Harley, firing the bike to life. Instead of immediately pulling away, leaving his mess behind, Ryker glanced over his shoulder. Shayne didn’t follow the line of his gaze. For sanity’s sake, Shayne didn’t want to know who the man’s heated stare was meant for. If it was Alex, Shayne’s current pain level had been for nothing. But Shayne had a bad feeling, deep in his gut, Ryker had joined a long list of the hopeless—people who craved and couldn’t have Grady.
Chances were better than not Shayne would’ve passed out from the pain if Lincoln hadn’t urged him toward his truck the moment everything died down. Shayne would never recover at the rate he was going. With the barroom brawl at an end and the danger averted, Lincoln wasted no time forcing Shayne into the truck. That’s as far as Shayne allowed him togo before snagging the front of his shirt and hauling Lincoln forward. Their lips collided and nothing else mattered.
Even for so late at night, humidity hung in the air, coating Shayne’s skin and making it harder than usual to draw a breath. At least, that’s what Shayne told himself was causing the heavy feeling in his chest. For much longer than he cared to admit, Shayne lived for his career. He loved the feeling of the ice beneath his skates. The roar of the crowd inside the arena drove him and kept him complete. With Lincoln’s tongue stroking his, Shayne conceded his life had been lacking in a few aspects.
One example of what he missed the most was the sensation of another man’s hands drawing him closer, holding him tighter, stroking his skin…keeping him mesmerized. Jacking off to some faceless fantasy passed the time and kept a man sane. But the way Shayne felt now with Lincoln consuming him, that was something his fantasies couldn’t mimic.
He was hyper-aware of Lincoln’s hands at all times as well as his own. For some reason Shayne couldn’t explain, Lincoln had begun an odd pattern during their kiss. As beer and mint coated Shayne’s taste buds, Lincoln’s fingers massaged Shayne’s inner thigh. Each time he found his bottom lip between Lincoln’s teeth, Lincoln moved his hand higher. When their tongues met again, he stopped the ascent. Shayne couldn’t figure out why the man was so hesitant to take what he wanted. By the third pass, Lincoln was mere inches from Shayne’s weeping cock. It was attempting to climb from inside his jeans. Most likely a nice wet spot was growing where his dick leaked in anticipation of Lincoln’s touch.
The entire situation was beyond ridiculous. They were out in the open, in danger ofgetting caught any second, and Shayne didn’t give two shits if anyone witnessed their encounter. In his haze of lust and happiness, all Shayne cared about any longer was touching Lincoln, and having the man touch him in return. He felt invincible. As Shayne’s bottom lip found its way between Lincoln’s teeth once more, a roar of triumph ran through his mind. He didn’t give Lincoln time to pause again. Shayne snagged Lincoln’s hand and held it against the bulge in his jeans. Lincoln shaped Shayne’s erection with his fingers. A shuttering breath left his lungs as the pressure beat at his crown. With his fingers buried in Lincoln’s hair, he held the other man in place, deepening their kiss. He wanted to memorize Lincoln’s taste and ensure this delicious man never forgot him either. Being with Lincoln was a power trip.
Shayne tried slowing the rapid beating ofhis heart. Against his will, Shayne’s hips left the seat as he ground himself against Lincoln’s palm. A spike of pain caused lights to pop behind his closed lids and an involuntary hiss left his lips. At the sound, Lincoln jumped away. The other man’s hands shook as he brushed them through his hair, leaving it standing on end.
