Zeus chuckled. The laugh sounded every bit as sexy as the man. Marc wasn’t immune. Zeus simply didn’t hold a candle to Valon, as far as Marc was concerned. No one did.
“Fair enough. But you should take into consideration how badly no one here wants to lose their membership. They absolutely would if they did anything to harm anyone here or their reputation outside this club. You read the contract.”
He had. When it came to someone as famous as Valon, all it took was one picture. One whisper. The damage would be irreparable. His only saving grace was his outfit, which kept his identity pretty hidden.
“I think I’ll stay, nonetheless.”
Zeus nodded. “You pay your dues to be here like everyone else. I’d never suggest you leave or not protect your client. I’m only pointing out that if people recognize you, and all you do is stare at him, one night, someone will put two and two together.”
Fuck. He hadn’t considered that. “Well, fuck.”
There was no judgment in Zeus’ eyes. It was obvious he truly to only meant to help. “Maybe you should find a way to join in around here. If you only plan to watch, maybe spend some time enjoying a bit of voyeurism. People will assume that’s just what you’re into and ignore you.”
He honestly hated that idea. Marc didn’t know if that made him strange, but he wasn’t a watcher. Even as the thought ran through his head, Valon mesmerized him as he danced. Arms in the air, adorable booty moving to the music. A lion’s tail swung behind him, making Marc incapable of looking away. His full pajamas, hood and all, did nothing to hide him from Marc. God, he was sexy.
“I see.”
Zeus’ quietly spoken words had Marc looking his way. “I’m sorry. What?”
Zeus shook his head. “Have a safe night.”
Marc watched Zeus move to another man hiding in the shadows. The huge, muscular, dark-haired guy screamed danger, but he smiled the moment Zeus approached. Marc’s attention returned to watching the way Valon’s body moved to match the music. He looked to be in his own world, dancing alone and ignoring everyone. Beautiful. Marc’s whole world.
A few minutes passed. Marc didn’t even notice. But his attention went on high alert when the same man Zeus had spoken with headed Valon’s way. Marc straightened away from the wall. Every sense he possessed screamed danger. He watched as the behemoth ran his hand across the small of Valon’s back, touching him unnecessarily to get his attention. Valon visibly stiffened. Marc took a step in their direction. Valon shook his head. The guy didn’t leave. He was all smiles. Fuck.
Marc closed the distance between them and hauled Valon backward against his chest. “Is there a problem here?”
Laughing eyes met his question. “None at all.” Mr. Flirtatious walked away still smiling.
Marc got the feeling the guy enjoyed Marc’s reaction. With a crisis averted, the truth sank in. His clandestine guarding was at an end. There was no going back now.
The instant Valon had found himself in Marc’s hold, he melted. It didn’t even seem odd that he knew Marc’s arms without looking. Then his persistent stranger walked away, and Valon didn’t know what to do. How long had he known? Why was he here? Then, his body just moved. Valon went back to dancing, letting the music fill him with peace. He held on to Marc’s arms, stopping him from getting away. It didn’t take long for the peace he sought to have a different goal. Marc felt wooden pressed against him. He kept backing the lower half of his away, stopping Valon from finding out if Marc was hard for him or not. Valon needed Marc’s desire. If Marc wanted him, then he would forget he saw Valon here. He wouldn’t ask questions.
Marc untangled himself. His warmth disappeared.
Valon didn’t look to see where he had gone. All joy seeped from him. He looked around, taking in the place that had brought him freedom. So many people lived their true selves around him. He walked away. One more thing lost to him. He would call Zeus tomorrow and cancel his membership. As he crawled inside his car without Marc guarding his back, the hole inside him opened. He didn’t know if he had simply slipped away before Marc noticed or if Marc chose to stay the invisible tail Valon hadn’t noticed before tonight. Either way, it didn’t matter. There was no keeping him safe from the poison inside him.
Less than two miles from the club, Valon veered off the road and parked. He lit up a laced cigar and reclined his seat. Valon smoked while he stared at the gray surface above him. He saw nothing. Valon had found a healthy way to vanish, but it seemed he wouldn’t be allowed to keep that. So here he was, getting high to escape. Valon recognized how low he had gotten. He wanted to claim this was rock bottom, but he knew better. For now, he still had his music, reputation, and fans. Damned if his lowest point didn’t always also have a basement. Each time he felt the flames of hell licking his skin, it turned out to be just Ry breathing too hard down his neck wanting money. No one seemed to care or notice he was slowly dying.
Everything around him swam.
A hysterical laugh escaped him.
Valon finished his cigar, ensuring his brain couldn’t function. With nothing else to do, Valon rolled onto his side. He grabbed the tail of his pajamas as he curled into a ball. The material felt extra soft as he stroked it, soothing himself. One of these days,he would simply pass away from the drugs. They would find him just like this: dead in his car, hanging on to a lion’s costume with no comfort but a fleece tail. The entire world would shrug when the coroner announced it was an overdose. Another rock star going out like a typical celebrity. Tears rolled from Valon’s eyes, immediately carried away by his leather seats. He wondered if Marc would miss him. His dad and Kash had each other. Who did Marc have? Why hadn’t he asked? Because, like always, he had been too self-absorbed. Maybe if he lived, Valon would dig into his life. It seemed like something a friend would do.
Valon’s eyes closed. The cloud where he floated carried him to a dreamless sleep. Nothing penetrated the inky void the drugs had created for him. Peace at last.
Chapter Three
Valonstretchedandsavoredthe soft sheets surrounding him. He burrowed deeper under the covers. Since he had nowhere to be, Valon settled in for a few more hours of sleep. The scent of pancake syrup and coffee was the first thing to pull at his senses, clearing his head. Something tickled the back of his mind. Fuck. He had gotten high again. Dumb.
Wait.
Valon shot upright. He blinked at his surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. His heart tried crawling into his throat. From the center of a full-sized bed, Valon took everything in. The walls were blank. Yet the longer he looked, the more he sensed he had seen these walls before. It was like a hazy memory trying to form before slipping away again. Everything was soft, including the unfamiliar pajamas he wore.
French toast sticks and orange juice waited on a round table that looked as if it was meant for kids. There were toys stacked in the corner, along with coloring books. Valon lost the ability to see any of that. His gaze was locked on the man sitting in a nearby rocking chair. Marc watched him in a way Valon hadn’t seen before. A sense of peace washed over him. The reaction seemed like the most foolish one he could land on, but it was Marc. He was safe.
“Where am I?”
