Havoc (Tattoos and Ties 1)

“I said meetin’ you made me feel that way. Because you’re fuckin’ gorgeous and refined and too good to be true.”

Okay, Alec liked hearing that. He let that sit between them, committing everything about those sweetly muttered words to memory while his battered heart healed from the inside out. “Without saying I’m fishing, what does too-good-to-be-true mean to you?”

Key stayed quiet, finishing off his sandwich and taking another long drink while holding Alec’s gaze with an all-knowing smirk on his face.

“You aren’t going to answer, are you?”

Key just shook his head no. Alec sighed, accepting defeat on getting that answer. For now. Another point added to the long list of reasons Key was perfect for Alec. He challenged him at every turn. He had to work at understanding this smart, complicated man. Boy, did that turn him on.

The electricity blinked on. Alec lifted his gaze to make sure the lights stayed on then reached for Key’s empty plate before turning to place it in the sink.

“What other rules you got?” Key asked, wiping his napkin over his mouth then over his beard.

“I can’t think of anything more but reserve the right to add as we go,” Alec answered, switching off the flashlight, grateful for the granite barrier between them, because more than anything, Alec wanted to climb up on that big strong guy and make out like he had when he was a teenager. He wanted to do that a lot when Key was around.

“So once a week even though I gotta get up for work?” Key said, resting his elbows on the counter, leaning in like Alec had done before.

“At the very least once a week. Twice is better, and if you show up for a quickie, I’ll count that as three times in a week, and that’s fine too,” Alec amended.

“And more communication, like textin’,” Key clarified, wadding up the napkin, moving it back and forth between his hands as he stared at Alec.

“Yes.” He nodded his confirmation to that stipulation. “And to add to the quickie thought, if you need a quickie, you call me first, and vice versa, I’ll call you.”

“Are you fuckin’ other people?” Key asked. The seriousness was back on his handsome face as his gaze pinned Alec to his spot.

If he said no, absolutely not, did that scream clinger? Well, he had become a serious clinger to this man still staring him down. It took maybe as long as a full minute before Alec could respond. “I don’t think I want to answer that.”

Alec turned back to the sink to rinse off the plate. In his peripheral vision, he caught Key’s shadow passing around the bar until the length of Key’s body pressed heavily against his, boxing him in against the sink and counter as he leaned into his neck and, with a possessive growl against his ear, asked, “Are you doin’ anyone else?”

Alec just kept his head lowered, eyes closed, and what had to be a goofy smile spreading across his lips. His heart was so happy and full. “I’m not doing anyone but you. If that changes, you’ll be the first to know. Now say it back.” Alec turned, and the hands resting on the counter on each side of him moved, pushing between Alec and the counter, sliding down to cup his ass.

“It back,” Key teased, squeezing his ass.

Keyes pulled Alec tightly against him. Even though he was playing, he made the commitment with zero hesitation. As much as Alec continued to say the last several weeks were hard on him, Keyes had been going insane. He got they weren’t boyfriends, that this arrangement was based on the hot sex they shared, but it was more of a relationship than he’d ever had with anyone in his entire life. Honestly, he could see how he might work out all of these feelings of inadequacy by focusing on how Alec truly seemed to want him. Keyes had been alone his whole damn life, even surrounded by his loud and rowdy MC family, he was still alone. It was nice to share these simple moments with someone else.

Yeah, maybe he was in a little over his head, and agreeing to monogamy wasn’t the best idea so early in their deal, but things he’d never considered for himself before were beginning to take shape, and it was more than just sex with Alec that he wanted. This moment right here wasn’t a strip off your clothes and fuck like rabbits on the kitchen floor moment. They were talking, communicating, getting to know one another, and he wanted to be right here, spending this time with Alec.

Alec’s fingers ran through his hair and slid along his scalp, pulling him down to those fleshy, parted lips. The kiss felt binding, a sweet, warm assurance, like a signature on a promissory note. Something he’d never experienced before.