Valon nodded. “Sounds good.” They shook hands before Bond left them alone. Valon’s sexy eyes moved back to Marc. “Back to where we left off. Why not tonight?”
Marc stood, forcing Valon to his feet. He took Valon’s hand. “I have a surprise for you.” With Valon’s hand in his, he led Valon outside to the car. “While you were getting ready this morning, I stashed a couple of things.” He popped the trunk and watched as Valon peered inside.
“What’s that?”
Marc pulled out one suit. “They’re inflatable costumes. See, they have air that blows through them, so we’re not frying while we’re dancing.”
Valon didn’t show any reaction. “We’re going dancing?”
Even though he couldn’t get a read on Valon, he didn’t backpedal. Valon loved dancing at the club, and he hadn’t been since Marc seemingly ruined it for him. It was time to fix that. “Yep. The last time we were at Affinity, Zeus pointed out it was only a matter of time before someone saw me watching you and put two and two together. I can’t let you get mobbed, but you’re allowed some freedom and fun. Let’s put these on and grab that independence for you.”
Valon still looked skeptical. “You still realize Affinity is like a sex club, right? I love you, but you don’t strike me as wanting to be in a place like that.”
Everything inside Marc was frozen with hope and fear. “Did you just say you love me?”
Valon rolled his eyes. “How did you not know that by now? Damn. I know you’re not dumb.”
Marc blinked. Valon really could be such a handful sometimes. He was definitely a brat. But he didn’t know what to call this. “Um. I didn’t know that because you’ve never said that. You know I’d never assume a damn thing. I know I’m just along for the ride and nowhere near good enough for you.”
Valon punched him.
Marc didn’t see it coming. It was a good shot too. It was just his arm, but Valon was in good shape, and he hadn’t held back. Marc rubbed his arm. “Goddamn, Valon.”
Valon looked enraged. “Stop saying shit like that. If you’re not in love with me, you can say that. You don’t have to force me to listen to some bullshit lies about you not being good enough.”
Marc knew there was a way he should react, but instead, he was actually pretty turned on. He crowded Valon’s space. Marc’s hands moved from Valon’s waist to his ass. Fuck, he was amazing and felt so good in his arms. He felt the intensity rolling off him like steam. “Oh, I’m sickeningly in love with you. I’m also fully aware that the odds of us meeting and you falling in love with me are astronomical. But you’re in my arms.” He hauled Valon closer so he could feel how hard he was for him. “I have you now, and I’ll be damned if those odds ever take you from me.” He kissed Valon. Marc felt around until he found one of the costumes. “Put this on. There’s nothing I want more than to takeyou to a sex club, dance all night, and then take you the way I’m dying to do right now.”
Valon looked dazed as hell and aroused. So fucking aroused. Marc almost abandoned his plans. Valon stared at Marc’s mouth, nearly crippling him. “Okay.”
An evil type of happiness rose inside him. He could and would be every fucking thing Valon needed. Even if that meant fucking Valon in some dumbass costume in front of a room full of kinky strangers, Marc was his man.
Valon had to admit; the costumes Marc chose were cooler for dancing. He wasn’t sweating nearly as much. Valon had neveractually seen Marc dance. It turned out, for such a huge guy, he had some moves. Valon couldn’t stop smiling. It was a hell of a lot more fun to party with someone than alone. Plus, it was Marc. Anything and everything felt healthier with him. It was crazy, and he knew his happiness shouldn’t rely on someone else. But Marc made him feel so freaking alive, and he woke up every day ready to see what happened next. His life had never been like this. Valon was almost ashamed considering that the people closest to him had tried saving him. Marc was the one. Every day, he woke up and rescued Valon from a life that choked him. He would probably drop dead if he lost this.
The music slowed. It was a bit awkward to hold each other in their costumes. Valon wasn’t about to let any of that bullshit stop him from being in Marc’s arms. That was his favorite place.
“Thank you for this.”
Marc snuggled closer. “You never have to thank me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than anywhere at all with you.”
Fuck. They felt so fucking healthy. Valon couldn’t stop thinking that. He didn’t deserve this, but he wouldn’t turn down this amazing relationship that had fallen from the sky and into his lap.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I don’t know who let you in, but you’re on our banned list.”
The loud, angry-sounding words were spoken so closely to them, at first, Valon thought they were meant for him. Luckily, hecaught a quick glance when Ry looked the other way. Security was homed in on him.
“How can I be banned from someplace I’ve never been? That’s crazy. I’m just here to find my son.”
The huge guy trying to shuffle Ry toward the door looked disgusted. “Eww, dude. You have problems.”
Ry growled. “Not like that. His car is out front. I…”
Valon didn’t hear the rest. Marc had subtly danced him away, putting some distance between Ry and them.
“Well, I guess we’d better find another way home.”
Zeus appeared beside them, dancing with his husband. He was too smooth. No one who looked at them would think they conversed. “When Judas has Ry off the dance floor and distracted at the front door, we’ll slowly dance our way to the back door. We’ll exchange keys. Take my car, and I’ll bring yours home tomorrow.”
Thankfully, Marc spoke on their behalf while Valon shut down. He didn’t even hear what was said. A chill had sunk into his bones. It pissed Valon off, but the shaking set in. He ground his back teeth. Things had been so peaceful. They’d been good. He hated the fact that Ry still made him react this way. Valon always swung wildly between furious, annoyed, and scared as hell when it came to Ry. Plus, he was just sad. Ry was supposed to love him. Valon had spent the first half of his life trying to be perfectso maybe Ry would want him around. He supposed there would always be a part of him that craved the love he just couldn’t get.
