Savior: A Tattered Club Story (Tattered Social Club Series Book 1) (13 page)

“I thought you said that wasn’t part of the deal.”

Ethan’s hand itched to smack the smirk off Niko’s face.

“Listen, calm your ass down. That’s not what I meant. You can pay me back. Get on your feet first.”

Ethan eased into the seat. “I can agree to that.” When the car came to a stop in the lot behind the shop, his heart thudded so hard against his ribs he thought he might pass out.

“Good, now can we get you moved in without all the drama? I’ve got the key. There’s two ways in. You’ll have the key to the front. The door is kind of hidden at the edge of the shop, next to the big window. Open the outside entrance and the stairs go up to a landing. Your apartment’s on the left. The other door is in the back of the shop. This key…” He dangled the red sparkle heart on the small metal ring. “I know. Scarlet picked it out. This key goes to that door, too, but you won’t have a key to the club so you can’t get in unless someone lets you in.”

The key looked like the X on a map he’d been following for two years. “Okay.” He grabbed the key. The anticipation of staying the night in his new place dissolved. He didn’t even have a sleeping bag. Niko had already done so much, he couldn’t ask for another night in his bed. “I’ll make it work until I can get some furniture. I work tomorrow and I’ll see if my boss can give me my paycheck a couple of days early.”

Niko opened the car door and started tapping his finger on his phone. “What do you like on your pizza?”

“Seriously? You’re not buying my dinner again. There’s a convenience store down the road. I’ll pick something up there.”

“Supreme sounds good.”

Ethan cringed. He was a sausage and pepperoni kind of guy. “Can I pay half?”

Niko’s finger stopped. “No, you can’t. I’ll get a large, pepperoni and sausage too.” He glanced over. “That okay? You can put the left overs in the fridge. There.” He pressed the green buy button. “Done.”

“You have these places on speed dial? You must never eat at home.”

Niko paused, shoved his phone back into his pocket then leaned out the door. “I live alone. Sometimes it’s easier than cooking.”

Ethan’s stomach did a flip-flop. For a moment, he didn’t feel sorry for Niko. Living a lie bought a person a one-way ticket to loneliness. Ethan had experienced it and learned the hard way. “You have Casper.”

With that, Niko smiled. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

Niko opened the trunk and Ethan swallowed. “You bought a microwave?”

“You’re going to need one,” he said like the word
duh
would naturally follow the statement.

Ethan slid the backpack off his shoulder and carefully set it down. He fisted the front of Niko’s T-shirt and tugged as hard as he could. Not waiting for the shock to wear off, Ethan crashed his lips against his parted mouth. Quieting the almost protest with his tongue, Ethan tilted his head and closed his eyes.

Niko’s grip bit into the flesh on Ethan’s waist, but he didn’t care. He’d felt much worse. He moved his head again, hating the space when Niko retreated. His knees weakened when warm, strong hands, cradled the sides of his head as Niko feasted.

“Fuck,” Niko growled before leaning in again taking a slow wipe in Ethan’s mouth. “Grab some bags.” Both were panting as Ethan loaded up both arms with plastic sacks while Niko grabbed the microwave.

Ethan bumped into Niko’s back as the key slipped into the lock. “Hurry up. I have to pee.”

Niko laughed, a sound he could get used to. “Hold on, skinny jeans.”

He stepped through the doorway and gasped. “Niko, it’s perfect.”

“It’s not very big, but it’s comfortable and it has everything you need. The loft has the bed and a dresser. The bathroom is right there.” Niko pointed to the door at the base of the short staircase

“God.” He stood in the center of the studio apartment knowing the smile on his face made him look like a twelve-year-old on Christmas, but he didn’t care. This place was safe and
his.

“You get settled in and I’ll grab the rest of the bags.”

“Wait.” Ethan realized Niko had mentioned a bed. “The Professor said the apartment was unfurnished.”

“Yeah, he didn’t know there was stuff left up here. It’s all good.”

Ethan felt like he’d won the lottery. “That’s awesome!” He was going to sleep in his new place.

By the time he got out of the bathroom and explored the loft, Niko was hauling two armloads of plastic sacks. “Hey, bright eyes, wanna grab a couple of these?”

Ethan laughed and ran over to unload an arm. “Sorry.” He set the bags on the floor beside the open staircase. “God, Niko, you thought of everything. I like the coffee cup dish towels.”

Niko blushed. “You said you work at a coffee shop.”

So, that was a total boyfriend thing to say. Ethan turned away, hoping to hide his smile. This part of Niko didn’t want to run. This side wanted to laugh and kiss boys. Ethan liked the vulnerable Niko. They set plates on shelves, plugged in a single cup coffee maker, put silverware in drawers then took several bags to the loft.

“I didn’t know what color you’d want so I got white.”

Ethan unfolded the fitted sheet, clutched it against his chest, and fell backwards on the mattress. “I don’t care if the sheets are yellow, red, or rainbow. I have a bed!”

Niko laughed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “You’ll always have a bed, Ethan. I’ll make sure of it.”

Ethan rolled onto this side. “Come here.”

Niko turned away, planting his elbows on his knees, letting his hands dangle. “I never thought I’d be here. You know? Like this.” Ethan scooted closer, needing to be the net when Niko took this plunge. “When I was sixteen, I did something to protect someone I cared about, someone who ended up not giving a shit about me. Jesus.” He rested his head in his hands. “I fuck women, Ethan. A lot of them. I never sleep over and I’ve had only a couple to my place. We fuck on the couch, in the shower, on the floor. Never in my bed.”

Ethan closed his eyes, remembering the soothing warm liquid in his palm. He was special, finally. To someone, he meant something.

“This is wrong for so many damn reasons. You’re young, hell, you’ve been someone’s slave for money—basically.”

Ethan opened his eyes, turning his cheek to lay rest it on the uncovered mattress. Maybe he wasn’t so special after all.

“And, if anyone found out I want to sleep with—Jesus, you—they’d take me for a fucking fool.”

“Do you look at me like I’m a fool?” Ethan’s stomach hurt with Niko’s hesitation to answer.

Ethan felt the weight of his hand on his hair. Long fingers threaded through and massaged all the way to his temple. The sensation lulled him, made him like he was home again with his mom, before all the shit happened, when he was still human in her eyes.

“No, I don’t.” Niko continued the tender massage. “We’re just different. You’re gay and I’m not. I’ve had sex with women. Have you ever had sex with a woman?”

Ethan turned up his nose. “No, I can’t do that.”

“Come here.” Reaching down, he grabbed the back of Ethan’s T-shirt and tugged. “I need you on me.”

Ethan got up and straddled Niko’s lap, draping his arms over hiss broad shoulders. “But I thought you weren’t gay.”

Niko smiled. “I’m not. I just like the way your ass looks in those skinny jeans.”

Ethan leaned in and nipped hiss lip. “I like you naked. You have the perfect ass.”

When he bit back, Ethan gasped. “I want to taste you.” Niko slipped his tongue inside Ethan’s mouth, searching for Ethan’s tongue. “Will you let me? I know Charles did that to you. Would it freak you out?”

“No,” Ethan said, before licking Niko’s top lip. “I’d like it very much.”

Ethan looked down, between their stomachs, watching Niko unzip his jeans. “Take these off, your shirt, too. I want to see you.”

For a second, Ethan panicked. Not only was his stomach laced with scars, but his right thigh wasn’t in much better shape. There was only one that was almost healed, but the pink tinged line still looked raw.

“Can I leave my shirt on?” At least he’d have some security.

Niko grabbed the hem of Ethan’s designer T-shirt and tugged. “Nope.” Niko grinned. “Everything off. I’ve never done this and always thought about it. I want you naked. It’s not fair, anyway. You got to see me naked.”

“Yeah, but your body is killer. Mine isn’t.”

“Fuck that.” Ethan squeezed his eyes shut, letting the warm breeze slide over his torso. “God, Ethan, you’re beautiful. I’m sure you’ve heard that from every lover you’ve ever had, but they were right. You’re…perfect.”

Warmth slipped slip against his lashes. He didn’t want to ruin the moment, but Niko was wrong. His lovers, all three of them, had been horrified when he’d taken off his shirt. Eventually, they tolerated the scars, but it was always with a quick glance and indifference. They hadn’t cared if the marks were bright red and angry. They never considered slowing down, or not flipping him on his stomach while they fucked him. Every wince went ignored.

“Will you take your shirt off? I don’t want to be the only one without clothes on? Or—or will you get naked?”

Niko palmed the back of Ethan’s neck and drew him down for a slow kiss. Slipping his tongue inside, licked the tip of Ethan’s tongue, played then retreated. “I can do that. But…”

Ethan flattened his palms on the two hard mounds of Niko’s chest.

Niko lifted his hips, dropped them down, lifted again, this time gripping Ethan’s narrow hips to grind his stiff cock between his thighs. “I can’t guarantee what’ll happen if I’m naked and you’re in my mouth.”

Ethan felt the tip of his cock brush the wetness on his underwear. He was leaking, wetting the inside of his jeans, and only one thing was going to ease the heaviness in his balls—Niko’s hot mouth.

“God, Niko, it’s ever been like this. I’ve never wanted someone so much. Are you sure you want this?” Ethan tried to remind himself how it hurtful it had been to be hidden, kept in a closet because his lover was too embarrassed to face the truth, but it was hard. The warmth of Niko’s chest radiating through his palms, his heart pounding beneath his hand told him the truth. Niko was gay. He could deny the fact with every ounce of his soul, but Ethan was smart. Fighting who you really are only makes you miserable.

“Fuck, I have no clue what I’m doing. All I know is I can’t stop this. You’re too young, too pretty, too… Goddamn, too sexy.” Niko’s grip on the back of Ethan’s neck gently tightened as he brought him to his mouth. “I want this. I have to have it. Please don’t deny me. You can tell the whole world. I’ll deal with that later. Jesus, I have no idea how to figure out any of this.”

“Don’t worry about it now. This is our place, our secret.” Was he really saying this? Was having an orgasm worth losing his heart? That, Ethan feared, was happening. He sighed and tilted his head, giving Niko’s exploring mouth access the sensitive skin on his jaw. Niko was getting his dream. Ethan closed his eyes praying he wasn’t going to lose his.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Every muscle in Niko’s torso clenched then released. Over and over the rhythm danced as Ethan stood in front of the bed slipping the jeans over his narrow hips. Not until he waited there in his red boxer briefs with the white band did Niko take a real breath.

He fisted his hands so tight he felt his short nails dig into his palms. “Does that hurt?” he asked, hoping Ethan wouldn’t shut him out. Niko looked at the bright-pink line on Ethan’s pale thigh. He wasn’t sure if the wound stood out because Ethan’s skin was so milky or if it Ethan had just made the cut a couple of days ago. Either way, he wanted to erase the gash. The mark was going to leave a scar. It was going to match the others above and below it. Niko took the moment to count them. Seven. Every last fucking one.

“Not now.” Ethan reached down to cover the slash with his hand.

Niko didn’t want a girlfriend. There was no way he wanted a boyfriend either, but Ethan—he wasn’t a friend. He was, shit, he was more. Niko stood, reaching behind his neck, he pulled the T-shirt over his head. “You have scars. So do I. You chose to do that. I chose to do these.” He ran his palm over his chest. “Ethan, we’re not so different when it comes to some things.”

Ethan looked up. “We’re not so different in a lot of ways.”

Without giving Ethan’s words time to grip his neck like a noose, he unzipped his jeans, stepped out, and tossed them on the floor. “Are you going to stand there and look pretty or come here and let me suck your cock?”

With a cute smirk, Ethan sat on the edge of the bed. “I think I’d rather sit here so you’re on your knees.”

Niko spun around, “Really? Never gonna happen. I don’t get on my knees for anybody.”

Ethan teased the waistband of his underwear with his thumb. “Well, maybe I shouldn’t let you eat this.”

Niko growled. What kind of fucking game was this kid playing? “Get your little ass back on that bed, Ethan. I get what I want and right now your cock is mine, so I suggest you crawl up there or I’ll have to tie you down.”

Ethan pulled and the soft fabric slid. “Promises—” He tugged harder. “Promises.”

“Jesus, Ethan, you’re fucking nineteen.” Niko slipped his hand down the front of his underwear, teasing the slick head of his stiff cock. A few strokes and he was going to blow. “How in the hell did you learn to do this?”

“Fantasies,” Ethan said, this time more innocently, pulling the underwear to his ankles. “There’s no strings with us so I can be whoever I want.”

Niko didn’t like the matter-of-fact way Ethan pled his case. “Yeah.” Niko realized he was doing the same thing. Ethan’s long cock bobbed as he scooted up the mattress. “God, your dick is amazing.”

Ethan stretched his arms over his head lengthening his lean torso. Niko pulled his hand out of his underwear. “Yours is nice, too. Maybe one day you’ll let me put my lips on it.”

Niko definitely could get down with that idea. He tossed his underwear and crawled onto the bed. When Ethan looked up, he stopped. “Wanna do this together?”

“Suck cocks?” Damn, he’d thought about it more than once, okay a thousand times, but never imagined he’d be in this situation. “I’ve never done it, but I’ve always wanted to try it.”