“He’d have to be quick. He’s good with the installation,” James said grudgingly, “But there’s only so quick you can do it.”
Except an idea percolated through Kit’s mind. Very similar to a ploy they’d used before, on his very first date with James.
“He can take his time if he has an excuse to stay there.” Kit messed up his hair. Should he bring his sweatshirt? No, it was chilly outside, but looking slutty was too important. “I have an idea.”
James whipped around. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
Kit was already at the van door. “It’s a really good idea,” he assured James.
Then he jumped out of the van.
Kit’s phone buzzed like a fucking vibrator as he sped down the street. The cool spring night prickled his bare arms. Justa few blocks left, but he was already regretting abandoning his sweatshirt.
He checked his text messages on the seventh buzz. As expected, angry emoji and “get your ass back here this instant, young man!” from James.
As he read, a new message pushed the rest up.
Sexy:Stop checking your phone as you walk at night! Someone could sneak up on you!
Which meant James had him on CCTV.
Kit replied with a kissing emoji, then put his phone away. This operation would be safer with him on the ground. James was way more motivated to protect Kit than Holden.
The line at the entrance was short. Kit quickly found himself in front of the bouncer, who squinted at his fake ID.
“What’s your star sign?” she asked, holding it at an angle Kit couldn’t see. “Libra? Pisces?”
Nice try. Kit had rehearsed that one. “Christ, I don’t know. Year of the Dragon?”
She glared at the ID for another moment, then waved him in.
Heat seized Kit’s bare arms, chasing away the chill. The club’s interior felt more chaotic in person, compared to the surveillance screens. Knowing James was watching was comforting. Kit sidled between other patrons, piecing together his memory of the layout.
Searching crowds was rough at five foot three. Why the fuck was everyone so tall?
Kit floundered to the staircase and climbed a few steps for a better view. Leaning over the railing, he finally spotted Holden’s blond head.
Holden was leaving the dance floor, making an unsteady beeline towards the closet. He must not have checked his messages.
Kit abandoned the stairs to give slow, crowd-impeded chase. The dim light confused his eyes. Every other person looked like Terry, or Holden, or the photographs he’d seen of Nazario Bradach. But Holden’s form, once Kit caught him, was unmistakable. Strong, graceful, turning before Kit even said anything. Like Holden sensed his presence on a spiritual level.
Delight brightening his face, Holden snagged Kit by the shoulder.
“I knew you were watching,” Holden purred into Kit’s ear. “Were you jealous?”
They had to press together to hear each other. Holden’s touch curled like hot steam around Kit’s bare arms. Exciting. Distracting. “I was not,” Kit protested. But he wasn’t good at resisting Holden’s intense stare. “Okay maybe, but that’s not why I’m here.”
He tugged Holden toward an empty booth, where they could talk out of the crowd. Holden followed obligingly, then in turn tugged Kit into his lap. Confident hands traced Kit’s spine through his tank top, pulling him closer.
Holden’s eyes gleamed in the darkness, like he wanted to devour Kit. Right here in public, with James watching on the cameras.
“Not that I’m unhappy to see you, darling,” Holden said, cupping Kit’s ass. “But what are you doing?”
Kit rocked into the touch. This was a good act, right? Important for the mission?
Definitely important. Kit inhaled the scent of Holden’s skin, then exhaled a shallow kiss onto the corner of Holden’s mouth.“Someone else is fucking in the closet. I’m here to help with Plan B.”
Holden stopped his slow massage of Kit’s ass. “This isn’t Plan B. James and I agreed on Plan B. This isn’t even Plan C or D.”
