There was a cellphone on thetable.
Absolutely no recording devices were allowed inside The Shepherd at any pointintime.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lucian hissed. “If youdon’t—”
Adrian turned the screen on, and Lucian shut right up. On the screen was an image of Lucian on his knees in front of Marcus. The picture had been taken from far enough away that the details were hard to make out, but Marcus’ sagging pants spoke louder than impeccable quality evercould.
Lucianblanched.
On the night of the thunderstorm, the flash of a camera had blended in with the lightning. There was no telling how many pictures Adrian had snapped of him on his knees, suckingMarcusoff.
“I’ve been sitting on this for a while now,” Adrian admitted. He slid the phone back into his pocket and leaned forward, eliminating some of the distance between them. Lucian knew what was coming, and it made him feel sick. “I thought maybe he was paying you for sex and it was a one-time deal, but the last few days, you’ve been showing up reeking of him. Did you think I wouldn’tnotice?”
Lucian’s cheeksheated.
“Staff isn’t supposed to play.” Adrian spoke low, his voice sharpened with threat. “You know it and he knows it. I know it, too. Do you think that Sterlingknowsit?”
“No.” Lucianmouthed.
“You don’t think Sterling knows his staff isn’t supposed to be playing with club members?” Adrian asked. His eyes had sharpened into slits. “Do you think I should go tell him right now? You don’t need that bartending job of yours when you’re getting paid to suck dick,doyou?”
“No.” Lucian’s voice shook. He glanced desperately at Clarissa, but she was too busy to notice what was going on. Lucian leaned across the counter until only a few inches separated his face from Adrian’s. His heart clogged his throat, and when he spoke, his words were hoarse with its impact. “That’s not what I mean. I mean, don’t go to Sterling. You don’t need to tell anyoneatall.”
“Of course I don’t need to, but I want to.” Adrian arched a brow, meeting Lucian’s eyes. There was no sympathy in his gaze. “And do you know why? It’s because it pisses me the hell off that men like Marcus ignore available, interested men like me for forbidden, slutty fruit. I’m sick of it. So I’m going to go to Sterling and I’m going to let him know what kind of game you’ve been playing. But don’t worry.” Adrian’s eyes flashed. “Do you know why Clarissa only hires omegas? It’s so that when they inevitably open their legs and put out like they’ve been told not to do, Sterling can swoop in and offer them a plea deal. Maybe you’ll lose your job, but if you bat your eyelashes and pout your lips, Sterling might let you join his harem. I hear he takes astounding care ofhisboys.”
“Please don’t do this.” Fear billowed through Lucian’s chest, diffusing far too quickly. He couldn’t lose his job. Not now. He barely had two months’ experience. Nowhere else would hire him if it looked like he couldn’t commit himself. “You don’t have todothis.”
“And you don’t have to see Marcus ever again. Do you understand?” Adrian stood, but he kept his eyes locked on Lucian’s. “I have an album full of pictures to share with a certain someone, and Iwillshare them if I have reason to believe that you’re still doing what you’re not supposed to bedoing.”
The injustice tore Lucian to shreds. Tears burned behind his eyes, but he did not let them fall—he wouldn’t give Adrian thatpleasure.
“Cut him loose and no one will ever know your secret. Then you can keep your shitty job.” Adrian turned. He shrugged a single shoulder. “Or you can keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. The choice isyours.”
It was a choice, but it was a terrible one to have to make. Newly liberated and enjoying life on his own for the first time, Lucian didn’t want to lose the security and independence that holding down a job brought him. On the other hand, for the first time since he’d been freed from The White Lotus, Lucian had found someone he cared for—someone who made sex so soul-shaking that Lucian could never think of it in the same wayagain.
Would there be other jobs? Yes, but at a detriment to Lucian’s way of life. He’d parted ways with the florist’s shop, so The Shepherd was his sole source of income. Over the last few months he’d been frugal enough to set a percentage of his earnings aside, but even those funds wouldn’t last him forverylong.
There would be other jobs, but there would be other lovers, too, no matter how much his heart thoughtotherwise.
27
Marcus
Marcus barreledthrough The Shepherd’s lobby before Stephanie had time to make small talk. The soundproof door barricading the lobby from the pulsing beats of the dance floor was wrenched open, and Marcus stepped inside as Stephanie squeaked out something he didn’t quitecatch.
The dance floor was close to empty. The DJ was still setting up, leaving simple, pre-recorded dance floor hits to fill in for him. Marcus dodged the few people who’d already arrived and made his way to the stairs. Each of his footfalls thudded in his ears, louder and more urgent than usual, driving home a single word with each impact of his sole against thetread.
Lucian. Lucian.Lucian.
Marcus couldn’t bring himself to slow down. It felt like if he stopped, he wouldn’t be able tocontinue.
If he’d known, he never would have pushed Lucian to do the things they’d done. He would have been more understanding. Hewouldhave—
Someone bumped into Marcus’ shoulder. Marcus reeled to a stop, grasping the handrail to keep from falling. He turned his head too quickly, and it took his eyes a moment to understand what they were looking at. Adrian had braced himself against the back wall, looking like he might topple over. Marcus braced him with a sturdy arm, but his feet were already telling him to abandon Adrian and get back to moving. Marcus’ nausea built, threatening to drag him down into crippling self-loathing andoverwhelmingrage.
“Marcus.” Adrian sounded pleased. “You’re here early tonight. Why don’t I buy you a drink? I don’t have anything elsegoingon.”
“I’m not staying.” Marcus didn’t have time for conversation. He took a few steps toward the upper landing, but before he could get far, Adrian latched onto hiswrist.
