Only Trick

That’s what the wealthy call slumming—pathetic!

Nana nods, squeezing my hand while pretending to be enthralled in what the woman has to say. Nana’s a saint.

My driver is summoned to the front of the hotel, and as soon as I get in I call Trick.

“Hey.”

“I’m leaving the hotel and I could use help with my zipper.”

“Hmm, you didn’t stay long.” The vibrating edge to his hum lights a fire in my belly as the butterflies take flight.

“Do that again.” I squeeze my legs together and close my eyes.

“Do what?

“That.” I moan. “God, Trick. When you talk it feels like you’re stripping me with your voice and leaving me naked—begging for just one more word.”

“Darby—”

“That’s it, keep talking.”

He chuckles. “Grady invited a few friends over. Have your driver bring you here, but call me and I’ll come get you from the car.”

“Trick, I’m physically overdressed, mentally naked, and in desperate need of a Trick fix. I’ll go home and you call me when everyone leaves.”

“Trick fix? That’s my line. You’ll be asleep before that happens. Just come here. I’ll take care of you.”

“What does that mean? You’ll have a change of clothes for me or you’ll give me what I need?”

“Just come.”

He ends the call leaving me a puddle on the seat. When the driver pulls up along the street, I text Trick to let him know I’m here.

I open the door before the driver has a chance to get out when I see Trick appear around the corner. He’s decked out in black, including his guyliner, with his arm tats on display right down to his leather wristbands. Perfection!

Tightening my wrap around my shoulders to block the wind, I clink over to Trick in my heels designed to torture my toes.

“Come.” He wraps his arm around me, leading me inside where the warm air greets my chilled body.

Before we get to the elevator I hear laughter and voices from above. “How many people did Grady invite over?”

“Fifty or so.”

“Fifty? Ten is inviting a few friends over. Fifty is a party.”

He shuts the gate to the elevator, grabs my hands pinning them behind my back, and pushes me into the wall, my chest pressed against his. “So tell me about this fix you need.” The elevator jerks into motion as his lips hover achingly close over mine.

I swallow hard then lunge for his lips, but he pulls his head back, denying me.

“Tell me.” He ducks his head, lips ghosting over the swell of my breasts. “Tell me what you need,” he whispers.

“I-I—”

We jolt to a stop and someone slides open the gate, but my eyes don’t leave his. And there it is—the lip twitch.

“Too late.” He winks.

“Darby!” Grady yells.

Trick steps back dragging his eyes the full length of my body—tempting me, teasing me, torturing me. A mob of people I’ve never seen pull him off in one direction while Grady kisses my cheeks.

“Well look who just walked off the cover of Vogue!” He holds me at arm’s length. “Remember, Trick’s mine tonight,” Grady leans in and whispers into my ear. “Now, get a drink and mingle.” He pushes me into the crowd toward the kitchen.

Trick’s mine tonight?

I catch a lot of interesting looks, some a little creepy, as I navigate to the kitchen. This eclectic gathering has it all: goth, runway model, tattoos, piercings, shaved heads, fancy hats, and even the beanie-cap-saggy-pant-rapper look. The only thing missing is an over-dressed Senator’s daughter.

Here! Let the fun begin.

“Don’t mind Grady…” I turn to a friendly smile from Tamsen “…the gay masquerade has been a symbiotic relationship between Trick and him for years. So even if Trick decides he’s ready to come out of the reverse gay closet, Grady still needs his favorite decoy.”

“Decoy?” I laugh because there’s nothing normal about Grady and Trick.

“Grady’s my brother and I love him, but he’s a man’s man-whore.”

I look around for Grady and Trick and to see who else is listening to Tamsen. “So what does that have to do with Trick?”

Tamsen loops her arm around mine, pulling me out of the congregation of people and off to the side. “Grady has a knack for falling for married men, usually ones who have lots of money and a reputation to protect.”

“Married men?” I’m feeling dense, completely incapable of following what she’s saying.

Tamsen laughs. “Yes, married men who live two lives. The socially acceptable one with the wife, three kids, and a dog, and the one that involves Grady booking fancy hotel rooms for the weekend so they can be who they really are.”

“But Trick—”

She holds up one finger. “I’m getting there. Trick … well look at him; who cheats on a guy that looks like that?” Tamsen winks at me. “So nobody ever suspects that Grady is a home wrecker and Trick gladly vouches for him whenever he gets into a sticky situation. He’s the perfect decoy and always willing to offer Grady an alibi because Trick’s fine with people thinking he’s gay, especially women.” She giggles. “However, it’s quite fun to see guys hit on him.”