“As if I could ever do that,” Scott said letting go of Tim and pulling the other man into a hug, as well.
“It’s good to see you, old friend,” the man said stepping back.
“You too,” Scott said.
Quintus shifted feeling a bit out of place, and Scott must have noticed. “Tim and Rodney. I’d like for you guys to meet Quintus.” He stepped beside Quintus and placed a hand on the small of his back, calming him just a little.
Both men studied him, and the feeling of being new meat on a rack waiting to be eaten crept up inside of him.
“Why do you always find the pretty ones?” Rodney said.
“I’ve told you before. I’m blessed by the gods,” Scott said with a smile.
“Bullshit, they don’t exist,” Rodney said.
“Keep telling yourself that, my friend.”
Quintus looked at Scott. For some reason, he had an “I know something you don’t” expression on his face.
“Are you going to let us go inside or keep us hostage out here?” Scott asked his friend.
“In a minute,” Rodney said, then scratched the back of his neck. “So, um…word got out you were coming and a few of the subs requested to do a—”
“No,” Scott said, stopping whatever else Rodney was going to say.
The hand on his back slid to Quintus’s hips. Both Rodney and Tim saw the movement, and Quintus wanted to purr in the declaration but held back. They were among humans that didn’t know they were standing in front of a vampire and a shifter.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” Rodney protested.
“I don’t need to,” Scott told him. “We’re here for a different reason.”
“Is this your way of saying you’re taking on a twenty-four-seven submissive?”
“If I need to make a proclamation, then I will,” Scott told him.
Rodney sighed and cursed under his breath. “People are going to be really disappointed they aren’t going to be touched by Master S.”
“Tough,” Scott said with finality in his tone.
“Understood,” Rodney said resting a hand on Scott’s shoulder but looked at Quintus. “Your master is pretty popular.” He looked at Scott. “I hope you trained him not to attack anyone.”
“But that’s the fun of it all, my friend.”
The cocky grin on Scott’s face took away all apprehension he had, and Quintus held his head high.
“Fucking bastard,” Rodney said, then chuckled and stepped back. “Welcome back, you cocky fucking bastard.”
“I’ve told you for years, my parents were married when they had me,” Scott said with a smile and Rodney chuckled.
“Get your ass inside and show off your boy.”
“Eager to see what drama will unfold?” Scott asked Rodney.
“Maybe,” Rodney answered.
“Don’t mind them,” Tim said to Quintus. “They do this all the time. They are both dominants and feel the need to get the last word in. But Master S always wins.”
Quintus nodded and smiled, hoping that it didn’t show how nervous he was. Scott got his attention by guiding him over to the large silver and black double doors.
