Blue Moon: Too Good to Be True (14 page)

once Max learned a few more how-to-have-gay-sex lessons he was going to be a force to reckon with in the bedroom.

He was expecting Max and his older brother Ryker at the club tonight.

Just because Angel was in love didn’t mean that he could play hooky every night from work. He knew Max probably thought he’d forgotten about their bet on the nine ball game, but he hadn’t. He planned on cashing in on his win tonight.

He walked into the back entrance and all heads turned to watch him. He couldn’t get the stupid-assed grin off his face. He made a quick left to the conference room to prepare for their daily meeting. Everyone followed suit.

“Well, well, well, boss.” Bass looked at him quizzically. “You sure as hell look revived. Is it safe to say that last night was a moist end to your long, sexless drought?”

Bass didn’t have the oral filter most people were born with. Angel just looked at him and quirked one eyebrow as he studied Sam’s last bar report.

“So when do we meet him?” His chief of security continued to study him. “Come on, he’s got to meet the family for approval. If he’s got you smiling like that already I’m sure he’ll be around soon.”

“Yeah, Bass, actually he will be here with a guest tonight in the deluxe VIP Room.” He paused as everyone rang out their whistles and catcalls. Still smiling, he continued. “Listen, I want you to behave yourselves.” He kept talking over the boo’s and protests. “Don’t give him any bullshit speeches about his intentions with me. I know you all mean well and enjoy seeing me happy, but trust me, this is very new with me and Max.”

“Don’t worry, boss, we won’t embarrass you…much.” Jazz let out a loud laugh at her own joke.

“Whatever. You assholes…get back to work.”

By nine o’clock the club was packed. Angel kept inconspicuously glancing at the main entrance. He was expecting Max and his brother any minute.

“Relax, Angel,” he heard Jazz say softly into his earpiece. “He’ll be here.”

Angel thought it might be best to wait upstairs in his office. Obviously he wasn’t being as inconspicuous as he thought. He detoured to the VIP section

to do one final check. He wanted everything to be perfect for Max, and he sure as hell wanted to make a good impression on his older brother. Max said that Ryker has always been superprotective of him, and he was completely supportive of Max’s new life change.

“He’s here!” He heard about ten members of his staff in unison in his earpiece. He couldn’t help but chuckle. They seemed almost as excited as him.

“Guys, relax,” he said in his deep drawl. “I know it’s been a while,
actual y
never,
since I’ve been in a relationship, but I’m also not a sixteen-year-old cocktail waitress with a crush, so stop acting ridiculous.”

“Who the hell is he with?” Bass’s deep grumble was loud in his ear.

Angel took a few calming breaths and got up from his desk to look out the glass wall surrounding his office. He looked down to the lower level and caught sight of the strikingly handsome man who had to be his man’s protector…Ryker.

“That would be his older brother Ryker,” he replied to his security manager.

“Fuck, Angel, is he gay too?”

“Yes he’s gay…and off-limits, Sebastian. The last thing I need is for you to try to mount and dominate his brother,” Angel replied smoothly. “Not every gay man is into BDSM.”

“Sure they are, they just haven’t met the right person to introduce them to its wonders,” Bass replied.

Angel ignored his manager’s rhetoric and continued to track his man through his club as they made their way to the bar. Many eyes were on them, but for some odd reason they seemed oblivious. At slightly over six feet Max and Ryker towered over a lot of men in the club, both of them oozing charm and confidence. Angel puffed with pride as he noticed that Max never acknowledged the obvious attempts to get his attention. Max flanked his brother, walking a little behind him on his right side. Ryker was like a tackle protecting his quarterback. Angel swallowed nervously.
Time to face the music.

Angel came out of his office, his long black hair flowing freely down his back the way his man liked it. He descended the stairs, taking each step

deliberately slow, wanting to see if his man could sense his presence. Heads turned as he moved but he was only interested in one face. He was midway down his stairs when he saw Max pivot slowly and stare wide-eyed in his direction. He also saw when Max nudged his brother to turn around and feast his eyes on what was now his.

Angel wore a midnight blue Yves Saint Laurent blazer coupled with an ivory and blue cashmere vest. The Dolce & Gabbana dark denim jeans hugged his thighs and ass to perfection. He completed the outfit with his most expensive Kenneth Cole midnight-black boots. Angel looked like he’d just stepped off a runway and decided to go clubbing.

He made his way to the bar after rebuffing a few men himself and extended his hand to Ryker while smoothly looping his left arm around Max’s back. Angel’s smile was easy and natural.

“Angel DeLucca, you must be Ryker, heard a lot about you. Nice to finally meet you, man.” Angel felt Ryker hold his hand in an extra tight grip before he pumped it once and let it go. Ryker didn’t respond to Angel’s greeting but he watched him menacingly when Angel placed a chaste kiss on his baby brother’s lips. Ryker’s vibrant green eyes bored into Angel’s dark ones without wavering. He was challenging Angel already. Max seemed to be ignorant to his brother’s discomfort, or he ignored it, or was just plain used to it. But Angel wasn’t. He wasn’t used to getting approval from the family of men he’d dated. He didn’t date before.

Angel cleared his throat. “You guys can go up to the VIP lounge, it has an open bar and separate sound system.” Angel pointed to the upper level on the far side of the club. “I think you’ll be a lot more comfortable up there.”

“Are you going to join us, babe?” Max nuzzled his neck and pressed his lips to his ear, giving him goose bumps all over.

“I have a little business to handle and I’ll be up later,” he whispered and kissed the smooth skin of Max’s neck, relishing the delicious scent of fresh cologne.

Max didn’t speak, just nodded once, licked Angel’s lips, and turned smoothly to walk away.
Damn. I love him so much already.
Angel cut his eyes to Ryker and noticed the man still glowered at him. His smart eyes were full of

skepticism. He tucked Max behind him and again took the lead as they made their way through the thick crowd.

Dammit. This might be harder than I thought. If Ryker doesn’t approve of Max
dating me, I wonder if he’l break it off.
That thought almost made Angel drop to one knee.

Fuck,
his mind screamed.

Chapter Twelve

“I must say, little brother, you sure can pick ’em. He is one hot piece of ass.”

“Watch your mouth, Ryke,” Max warned.

“Just saying is all. Damn, so fucking sensitive. I didn’t say I wanted to sample it.” He paused for about twenty seconds before stating, “You know what they say though…it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.”

“Fuck no, what the hell?” Max laughed at his brother’s obvious joke.

“I definitely make him nervous though. I can see it in his eyes.” Ryker smiled demonically.

“Give him a chance, Ryker. We’ve talked about this already,” Max warned his brother. They’d hashed it out on the baseball field for several hours. Max told Ryker exactly how last night’s events went, and how he felt for Angel already. Ryker expressed concern about Angel taking his brother to bed on the first date and tried to persuade Max to tread lightly. Max insisted he come with him tonight to see for himself that they truly were in love. “I know your antics, Ryke, and don’t think that I missed the way you were glaring at him. Now knock it off.”

They made their way to the VIP room, pulled back the royal-blue curtain, and were blown away by the glamour of the room. Max felt like he was walking into the Green Room at the Grammys. Everything was so plush, from the sky blue low-back loveseat and chairs to the checkered cloth-covered bar stools around the silver and glass bar. The floor was blue-and-white checkered as well, without one single scuffmark on it. In the center of the lounge sat a huge marble white bottom, two hundred gallon lagoon style saltwater aquarium. Its lights illuminated the entire room in a sexy sheer blue.

The base of the tank housed a large rock-styled electric fireplace that didn’t pump any heat. Its sole purpose was decoration.
Damn, my man has fucking
style.
Large speakers were suspended from the ceiling operating off a separate sound system. The music was good, but not overly loud and thumping like on the bottom level. Customers could still carry on a conversation in this room.

“Shit, he really spares no expense, huh.” Ryker let out a low whistle.

“I guess not.” Max hooked his arm around his brother’s neck. “C’mon let’s get drunk. I don’t have shit to do for the next three days but fuck and have fun.”

“Fuck yeah, little brother. It’s about time you joined the right team.”

They laughed together for a few seconds before spinning around to the sweet female voice.

“Max, Ryker, can I get something for you to drink? We also have a full-service kitchen if you boys want to see a menu. I’m Jazz, and Angel says to get you gentlemen whatever you want.” She looked at them expectantly.

“Is that right…well it’s a pleasure to meet you Jazz, Angel has had wonderful things to say about you…actually about his entire staff…I mean family.” Max gave Jazz his most charming smile. His cheeks pinked slightly when he remembered the ass he made of himself the last time he’d been in Angel’s club. He cleared his throat. “This is my brother.” He pointed at Ryker, who was giving the beautiful woman the once-over.

“Yes, Ryker. I know,” she cut him off.

“We’ll both have a Corona with lime, beautiful.” Ryker was standing very close to her, towering to his full height to look down at her seductively. Max had seen him use that technique on men too, it always worked. Ryker’s bright eyes were so green that they sometimes appeared emerald.

“Oh boy, I bet you two were some real heartbreakers.” Jazz laughed, her bright red lips stretching wide across her brilliant smile.

Ryker laughed along with her. “I think baby brother’s out of the family business of breaking hearts now.”

“He’d better be,” Jazz hissed, but kept her lips curved up slightly. Max got a strange feeling that she wasn’t kidding.

Ryker put his arm around her shoulders and leaned in even closer, whispering to her. Max saw her tilt her head giving him the access he wanted.

Max tried to suppress his smile.

“Rest assured beautiful, your precious Angel’s heart is safe. He has Max’s nose wide open.”

“You never could keep your damn mouth shut,” Max growled.

Ryker winked at him. With his lips still close to Jazz’s multipierced earlobe he said, “Bring him a double Jack and Coke on the rocks.” He turned to Max. “By the way, is Angel cashing in on his bet tonight brother?” He grinned mischievously at Max.

“I don’t doubt it,” Max replied not so enthusiastically.

“Follow the Jack with two shots of Cuervo Gold and three limes.” He winked at Max.

“You fucker.” He winked back at his brother.
Damn I love that asshole.

It was after midnight and he and Ryker were stone cold drunk. He’d lost count of the number of drinks that Jazz kept coming. Of course Angel didn’t allow them to pay for a thing. They were both standing in front of the aquarium while Ryker held him from behind. He had his heavy arms wrapped around Max’s narrow middle. When Ryker and Max would hold each other or kiss each other on the cheek, it sometimes baffled people.

Ryker always showered Max with affection, he always made sure Max felt loved, no matter how bad things were.

“I luv you, bro, I want you to be careful with this sex god of yours,”

Ryker slurred. “If he hurts you I’ll kill ’im.”

“You always get mushy when you get trashed.” Max laughed at Ryker.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, staring at the small jellyfish and other cool aquatic creatures in the large tank. Max let his head fall back onto his brother’s shoulder. Ryker rubbed his cheek against Max’s hair, like an alpha wolf marking his scent on his cub. Max knew his brother was feeling a little sensitive about possibly losing Max to Angel. He noticed that several times when Angel came in and sat on Max’s lap his brother would get up and go stand somewhere else or grab a girl and start dancing with her. Max would have to reassure him later. Their bond was unbreakable, nothing could sever what he and Ryker had together.

Max let his mind drift to a memory of his brother and him when they were fourteen and ten. Their dad had come over, drunk as usual on a Thursday night. Ryker was in the kitchen trying to fix Max some dinner.

Their mom was at her second job, which was the late shift at the diner around the corner. They usually ignored their dad. As long as they were quiet

and didn’t come into the living room interrupting whatever sport he was watching on TV, they were fine. Most times he would doze off into a stupor after a couple of hours.

After Max ate his grilled cheese and apple, Ryker checked over his homework. Ryker was really smart, even at fourteen. He was in all honors courses through middle and high school. He didn’t get any praise for it because his mom was always too tired and his dad didn’t give a damn.

“Come on, Grunt, time for bed.” Ryker kissed him on the forehead.

Max remembered begging Ryker for five more minutes of his favorite cartoon before bed.

“No, Grunt. He’s in there with the TV now. You can have thirty extra minutes tomorrow, I promise.” Max pouted but he obeyed his brother like always. On the way to the small closet that they shared as a bedroom, Max knocked a glass off the table. When it crashed onto the floor it startled their Dad out of his sleep.

He jumped up off the couch and barreled toward them, screaming and spitting out curses. “You little shit, look what ya done did! Clumsy little fucker. You and your little faggot brotha better figga out how you’re gonna pay for dat vase.” His hands flailed wildly as he spoke. “Go out front and mow the yard, and do da back too…ya’ll need to learn how to earn ya keep round here. All ya’ll do is eat up all the food and mess up shit,” he slurred heavily. It was 8:30 p.m., and they didn’t even own a lawn mower. Ryker kept his body protectively in front of Max.