“I don’t need a pass from you. And I’m still a very important guest, boy.”
Vars almost laughed out loud at how the prospect’s lips parted. He didn’t mind that no words followed the cute expression. He’d gladly keep the boy gagged for a while anyway after the disrespect he’d shown. Even now, he could have slipped his gloved fingers into the full lips, grabbed the tousled hair—
“Only until we get to the clubhouse, sir,” the prospect hissed out that last word and pointed in the general direction of the forest, but Vars didn’t miss the way the boy inched away nor the increased amount of steam coming out of his mouth.
The pretty thing is so out of his depth.
Vars smirked, distinctly aware of the car pulling up behind them. “I can already tell I’m going to enjoy myself.”
“Vars, who is this young man?” Magpie asked, and Vars slowly turned around to see his boss looking out of the vehicle’s window. Framed by the golden Hummer, the handsome face and shoulders covered by red fur seemed all the more impressive.
Magpie was like no other man Vars had ever met—flashy yet so confident in who he was, it didn’t feel at all like he was compensating for anything. He was who he was: a man with an immense amount of power and wealth, who lived like a king in his castle in Manhattan and didn’t have to apologize or explain himself to anyone.
Vars smiled and nodded at Magpie before standing aside to give him an unobstructed view of the boy. “He’s a candidate for a member, boss. Didn’t introduce himself.”
The boy’s eyes went wide as saucers, so beautifully blue they spoke of innocence, even if Vars knew that as a prospect, the kid had gotten his hands dirty many times over.
“Jake, sir! Jake Baker. I’m a prospect for the Kings, and I am here to escort you to the clubhouse. Sir.” The flush on Jake’s cheeks got brighter when his gaze settled on Magpie, and he held out his hand toward the window, only to quickly dismiss the gesture. After another second of hesitation, Jake gave a shallow bow. It was too cute for words and made Vars wish that he was in Magpie’s shoes just this once.
“That’s much better. Now be a good boy and lead us to your prez. My boss is surely tired. It’s been a long drive.”
“The entire night,” Magpie added, relaxing his shoulders against the leather seat.
Jake glanced at them both, as if uncertain of his place. Vars would gladly show it to him once they were alone. “Y-yes. Yes, sir!” He rushed off to his bike, and when he had his arms up, putting on his helmet, Vars enjoyed the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpse of skin between the leather jacket and Jake’s jeans.
It had been a while since someone pushed all of Vars’s buttons but there was something about Jake’s fresh-faced look and attitude that made Vars itch to be at the clubhouse already, be done with the patching process, and get his hands on the narrow hips. The eagerness with which Jake said ‘sir’, the way he’d leaned back and yet allowed Vars to invade his space, all melted together so smoothly Vars couldn’t take his eyes off Jake’s ass when the boy mounted his bike.
“You will like it here,” Magpie said quietly and rolled up his window without waiting for an answer. Had Vars been salivating all over his beard?
Regardless whether Magpie meant Jake, the unspoilt nature, or the fact that they were nine hours away from New York City was unclear, but Vars was happy nevertheless.
He too got on his precious vehicle and followed Jake through the gates and down a snow-drowned woodland that somehow took him right back to his childhood and the annual trips to the mountains his parents used to take him on. Back then, there were few things he enjoyed more than running through the fat piles of snow between evergreen trees that at the time had looked like towers guarding the secrets to the knowledge of mankind.
That was a long time ago, but Vars already knew he’d enjoy a retirement where he could take long walks without breathing in smog. Magpie was right, this place would be perfect for him after the hustle and bustle of the city.
He hadn’t bothered putting on the balaclava, so he had to make do with the scarf, and now the frosty air was licking up all the uncovered skin as he rode through the forest sandwiched between a car and the tempting ass parked on Jake’s motorbike. Time seemed to stand still until the trees cleared, revealing a vast open space and the monster of a building beyond the long stretch of the snow-covered plane.
There was something sinister about the place no matter how peaceful the soft pillows of snow covering the roof seemed from afar. Here and there, sharp edges of drain pipes peeked out from underneath the lashings of white fluff, and long, heavy icicles threatened anyone who dared walk under them. Like a monster still sleeping, the building released clouds of smoke from a chimney high above, but the creature’s sharp claws and spikes could easily slide out from under the snow at any time. A burst of light in two windows made it seem as if the monster opened its eyes to glare at Vars.