Painted On My Heart

“No, I sleep in your bed every night,” Kellus said quietly. He almost couldn’t make out the words over the music.

“Right. That’s right where you need to be. No one else.” When he thought he needed to continue to explain, Kellus surprised him, reaching both hands up, tugging him forward to lick his way between Arik’s lips, dominating him in a slow, steady, seductive exploration of his mouth. Arik wasn’t sure he’d ever been kissed so thoroughly. He opened for Kellus, allowing his guy to deepen the kiss as they rutted against each other.

The sudden presence of someone at his back had Arik pulling away from the best kiss of his life. What was it with people’s lack of boundaries? Since he’d plastered himself along Kellus’s body, he felt when it stiffened from head to toe—and not the kind of stiffening Arik had in mind.

“Hey, Kelly. So this is what you’ve been doing?” He didn’t even need to look behind him to recognize that voice; it grated on his nerves. Arik was still a little dazed from the rush of desire, but he knew who it was the instant he heard it.

“Fucking hell,” he grumbled as he spun around and found John standing behind him. John eyed him up and down as he slithered into the open space beside them. He was clearly skitzing—dilated eyes shifting ninety to nothing, and he constantly clicked his jaw as he leered at the both of them.

“Move along, asswipe. Haven’t you caused enough trouble this week?” Arik said. He extended an arm to keep John from getting to Kellus, but Kellus pushed around him, expanding his frustrating.

“You shouldn’t be here. How did you know I was here?” Kellus growled, his voice dripping hostility as he turned his body into John, shielding Arik from his view. It was a nice gesture, but he wasn’t having it. He’d had just about enough of this guy’s shit. He slid his arm possessively around Kel’s waist.

“Bartender’s a friend of mine. When he sees my guy all huddled up with someone else, he makes sure I know. I see you went and got yourself a hot piece of ass, Kelly. I’d like to find out just how hot he is.” John cocked his head and licked his lips while assessing Arik from head to toe. “He’s got money, huh?”

“Not any of your concern. You need to leave,” Kellus said and stepped into John, bumping against his shoulder, moving his ex back a step. Just when Arik thought it was over, Kellus surprised him and John both by reaching out, using both hands to shove John toward the door. Arik lifted his brows, his eyes growing wide at the force Kellus used. Shockingly, John stayed on his feet, but launched into some kind of spasm, his arms flailing as the move drove him farther backward. Kellus was hot as hell as he forced John toward the door. “I’m done.”

Somehow, John busted out with a ducking maneuver, dodging Kellus’s shove, but lunged forward, gripping on to Kellus’s shirt, getting right in his face. John’s excitement was clear. “He’s exactly what we need, Kelly.” John’s crazy stare slid to him. “I’d be happy to get in the middle of you two.” The guy turned his attention back to Kellus. “Can’t you see. That’s what was wrong with us, Kelly; you were too predictable, too vanilla. How do you think you can keep someone like him happy by yourself? I could blow his fucking mind.”

“You’re sick.” Kellus’s fingers twisted in John’s shirt before thrusting him away with such force it startled even Arik. To his credit, John tried to stay on his feet but couldn’t hold his balance. He landed hard on his ass and slid across the dance floor. Kellus stalked after him, angrily hauling him back to his feet. Clearly, all that muscle wasn’t for show, and this Kellus wasn’t docile and meek where John was concerned. He was a force to be reckoned with, and it took Arik a second to realize what had happened.

Kellus had John up, almost carrying him toward the front door. John couldn’t find his footing, reaching out for anything that might stop what was happening. Arik jogged forward, fighting his way through the crowd forming between them. He got to the front about the time Kellus slung John past the bouncer who had the doors wide open.

The momentum from the toss Kellus gave John propelled him out several feet, and again, he ended up on his ass, staring up at Kel. Kellus advanced quickly, sticking his finger out, bending forward so he could get right in John’s face. His other hand was fisted, arm flexed. Kellus was fighting to maintain control.

“You stay away from him. Do you hear me? You don’t deserve to even look at him.”