Havoc (Tattoos and Ties 1)

Keyes should have ended this the second he saw Alec in the parking lot. Kicked Alec off his property for just being associated with such a douchebag organization as the DA’s office, but he hadn’t. Oh no, he’d done the opposite. He was too attracted to Alec, and based on the pulsing in his jeans, it had been far too long since he’d had sex.

He crushed the heel of his palm against his aching, rigid length, willing it to calm the fuck down. Unsure what his next move should be, Keyes cleared his throat and looked at Alec over the stacks of tires he’d been organizing earlier. “Are you fuckin’ here to spy on us?”

“No, I’m not.” Alec looked him directly in the eyes and answered in a very reasonable tone. “I’m here to repay your kindness. That’s all.”

Shit, that sexy voice smoothed over him like a rich piece of melted chocolate and a warm, welcoming blanket on a cold night. There was nothing in Alec’s eyes or his body language that hinted at a lie. The lawyer’s excuse could be valid. Keyes’s face twitched. He turned away and closed his eyes, trying to live up to his hard-ass reputation. He didn’t take shit off anyone but his old man, and obligation or not, that shit wasn’t going to last too much longer.

Lust, attraction, stupid nonstop thinking about the drop-dead gorgeous lawyer with great hair, a hot firm body, and an intoxicating scent wasn’t Key. He fucked nameless people in less than desirable motels and money usually changed hands. That was just what he did.

“It’s hard to believe,” Keyes finally answered truthfully.

“I’m in a small division of the office and not involved in any way in your or your club’s current situation. I saw your picture on the news this morning.”

Not one customer had come in since he’d opened. No souls brave enough to venture over after the nightmare of negative press. Yet, Alec had. Moreover, if he told the truth, he had to be risking trouble with his job for being there, right? And Keyes needed the money. He had bills to pay. His savings wouldn’t last forever.

Keyes let out a pent-up breath, staying silent as he went against what his brain so clearly told him to do. He reached for the tires, carrying one under each arm as he walked through the shop, bypassing Alec as he headed back to the car.

He heard the shuffle of Alec’s footsteps behind him. Making sure to keep a healthy distance between them, Keyes picked up his pace. It wasn’t until he deposited the tires by the car and started for the lifts that Keyes looked over at Alec and spoke again.

“You know why the DA’s got such a fuckin’ hard-on for us?” God, he’s gorgeous, but he’s so out of my league.

Alec shook his head and sighed. “What I can confirm is what you’ve heard on the news. Truly, her primary goal seems to be focused on cleaning out this city. She accuses the Disciples of Havoc of many misdeeds,” Alec explained, following behind him. Keyes’s gut told him that was an honest answer. As Keyes situated the jack and started to lift the car, Alec asked, “You sure that won’t damage anything?”

Keyes didn’t say a word, just raised his gaze enough to look at Alec. I’m so screwed, he thought when their eyes met. He tried hard to steel his spine, change the course of the pure lust vibrating through his veins. He maintained his gaze, a clear indication of how he felt about being questioned about the only thing he truly knew anything about. Every other time he looked at customers with a scowl on his face, people backed off, but not Alec. Instead, that sexy grin widened as he lifted his hands in surrender. “I only asked because I’ve never seen them changed without putting the car in the air. That’s it. Continue. Please.”

Keyes did. He worked diligently, careful of the expensive car while aware of the man, standing directly behind him, who shifted with Keyes so there were never more than a couple feet separating them.

“You’ve never told me your name,” Alec said as a hand extended over his shoulder, handing him a lug nut. He took the nut, closing his eyes at the subtle scent of Alec’s cologne drifting over his senses. He kept his eyes shut and willed his body to calm the fuck down.

“Key,” he muttered. Images of him and the hot lawyer breathless and sweaty vanished as he opened his eyes.

“Hmm,” was Alec’s response. Key had no idea what that meant and forced himself to screw the lug nuts on. Maybe as much as a minute passed before Alec spoke again. “Is that because you’re the gatekeeper of something? Or perhaps you hold the answers to something important?”