“And you don’t think you could take it on?” Marcus asked. He paced from the living room into the kitchen and looked at himself in the reflection of the microwave door. Housekeeping kept the condospotless.
Eric chuckled. “I’m man enough to admit that you’re the better attorney. If we’re looking at a payoff this big, we need the best man for the job on the case. That manisyou.”
“I’ll clear out my schedule.” Marcus’ brow was furrowed. It wasn’t until he saw it so tightly drawn in his reflection that he realized he was emoting at all. Dissatisfied with how he looked, he stepped away from the microwave and made his way back into the bedroom. “When should I expect ittohit?”
“A month or two. You know how the appealsprocessis.”
“Ido.”
“It’s going to be a shit-tonofwork.”
“I know.” But if Eric wasn’t bullshitting him, the work would be worth it. High seven figures. It would be enough to pay off their legal team for the rest of the year while still generously padding Marcus’savings.
Whoever the client was, he had to be in deep shit to be willing to fork over that much money on a criminal defense team. A celebrity, Marcus imagined. He’d worked with the rich and the famous before, and he knew what to expect. The headache would be worth thepayout.
“Do you have any information on the nature of the crime?” Marcus asked. “Manslaughter, grand larceny,trafficking…?”
“I’m not at leisure to disclose that information right now, not until I get the contract signed and we seal the deal. When the case hits your desk, you’ll know. It’s nothing you haven’t dealt with before. If I didn’t think you could do it, I wouldn’t haveasked.”
Marcus knew that he wouldn’t. Eric didn’t spare feelings. If he thought that Marcus wasn’t a good fit for the case, he would have found someone who was, just as Marcus would have done in hisshoes.
“I’m going to let you go. I have another call coming in,” Eric said. “Just wanted to get your go-ahead.”
“You have it. Let me know if anythingchanges.”
“I will,” Eric promised. “Have a good weekend,Marcus.”
“Youtoo.”
The call ended. Marcus set the phone down, taking a second to let his professional facade slip away. In light of the news he’d just received, seeing tonight through felt more importantthanever.
There was time for one last game before Marcus put his nose down and gottowork.
He would make itcount.
9
Lucian
It cameas no surprise when Marcus Hayes settled on one of Lucian’s bar stools, folded his arms on the counter, and quirked one corner of his lips. Lucian saw him from the corner of his eye as he fed a pint glass beneath the tap and poured beer for a client, but didn’t acknowledge himjustyet.
No matter what his heat told him, he wasn’tinterested.
Lucian delivered the beer he’d poured, then made his way back down the bar and stood in front of Marcus. His eyes traced along Marcus’ arms, over his shoulder, and finally to his face. Marcus returned his gaze, a cunning kind of interest in his eyes that stirred Lucian in a way he’d never been stirredbefore.
It had to be the heat. Ithadtobe.
“You’re still here,” Marcus remarked as though he wassurprised.
“Where did you think I’d be?” Lucianasked.
Marcus shrugged a single shoulder, mischief sharpening his gaze. The look in his eyes lit Lucian on fire, and he clenched his legs as he grew slick. Suppression medication was a godsend, but not even it could block out all the biological consequences of afullheat.
Marcus’ lower lip parted, the points of his teeth gleaming in the light. The mischief in his eyes softened, diluted by primal forces. Lucian recognized the look well—Marcus had smelledhisheat.
“At home with your boyfriend,” Marcus replied. He blinked, and the primitive look was wiped away. Lucian couldn’t remember a time he’d seen an alpha shake off his innate arousal so easily before. “I can’t imagine he likes the thought of you working in a place like this when you could be homewithhim.”
There was no doubt in Lucian’s mind that Marcus smelled his heat. He’d seen the desire in Marcus’ eyes as easily as he witnessed the change in Marcus’ posture. He sat a little taller and held himself a little wider, like his physical size alone would be enough to convince Lucian to go home with him. But despite Marcus’ posturing, he didn’t mention Lucian’s heat, and Lucian wasn’t sure what to makeofit.
