Top Priority (The Game 1)

She gave me a puzzled expression. “Your friend already settled the bill, sugar.”

I clenched my hand around my drink and tensed my jaw.

He had no right to do that, goddammit. I’d told him I was buying.

Colt appeared from around the corner, and my scowl was instant. Fuck, how had I not noticed the jeans before? He wore them dangerously well. So simple, jeans and a tee, yet he looked like he belonged in a catalogue or on a runway.

Refocusing on his face, I remembered exactly why I hadn’t paid attention to his clothes. That damn face. Sharp features met kind, inviting eyes, a charming, dimpled grin, and a dusting of stubble. His hair was short and dark, though still lighter than mine. It looked soft to touch.

Remember you’re angry with him, you googly-eyed fool.

Right. I narrowed my eyes again. “You paid the check,” I said accusingly.

“Oh.” He scratched the side of his head and sat down. “Huh. My bad?”

I took a deep breath and searched for the mountain of frustration. Perhaps the bourbon had drowned it, because I couldn’t find more than a small molehill.

“Finish your drink,” he told me.

I finished my drink.

“Thank you for providin’ the best shelter from this storm tonight, ma’am.” Colt turned on the Texas charm for Maggie. “I’ll be sure to come back.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet.” Maggie blushed and waved him off. “You boys take care. Get out of the rain as soon as you can.”

“Are you locking up soon?” I wondered. “We’d be happy to wait so we can walk you to your car.”

Colt nodded.

“No need,” she replied with a smile. “My husband will be here in a bit, and Carlos is still in the kitchen. You go on out of here now.”

Very well, then. I snatched up my discarded tie and aimed for the exit, where the southern humidity was waiting right outside. As was the rain, though it had slowed down significantly.

I didn’t know where we were goi—

“My hotel’s right up the street,” Colt said. “You up for a quick run?”

“Not at all,” I assured. I hit the sidewalk at a moderate pace, and I wasn’t going to push it. At this point, the heat was merely a pleasure. “I have a question.”

Colt stuck his hands down into his pockets and bunched up his shoulders. “No, we shouldn’t sing in the rain.”

I laughed. “You’re funny. But no… Why are you in Richmond? This isn’t on the way to Langley—or your parents’—if you’re coming up from South Carolina.”

“I’ve been in DC this week,” he answered. “I had some R&R with a couple buddies from base.” He nudged my elbow with his. “One of them’s kinky. A fellow Sadist—though he’s on another level. He’s heavily involved in his community. Maybe you know him?”

“Wait, you’re a Sadist?”

He flashed me a quick grin. “Forgot to mention that, huh?”

I barely resisted rolling my eyes.

He’d take you like a fucking savage. And you want it.

I gave that unbidden thought a swift kick and followed Colt across the dead street. “Can’t believe there’re two of you.” Heavens, what was I doing with a sadistic Top?

I couldn’t deny that when I bottomed, I wanted to hurt. Mentally, no one would ever receive my submission. I’d tried and despised it. I’d even been annoyed by my aversion to it. My sex life would’ve been much better had I at least been a switch. Alas, following orders and pleasing from underneath went against everything I desired.

Finding a sweet sub who also wanted to give Daddy a brutal fuck on the regular was close to impossible, though.

“Ev might be worse than me,” Colt mused. “Reckless kid with maso tendencies he hasn’t explored enough yet. I’m pretty sure he’s a switch.”

Sadomasochists were fun.

I didn’t know anyone named Ev, though. Which wasn’t strange. DC was a big city, and we had more than one thriving community.

“He’s told me some of the things he did with an ex-girlfriend.” Colt whistled.

That might explain it. “I’ve grown comfortable in my own little kink bubble. Mostly gay men.”

“Yeah, he’s dancing all over that rainbow too,” Colt said with a snort.

I side-eyed Colt, detecting an admiration he had for his friend. “Is he possibly a partner of yours?”

He frowned. “Who, Ev and me? Christ no. We’d kill each other.” He let out a laugh and wiped rain off his face. “He’s the kid brother I never wanted, and I’m…riding his ass hard in the non-fun way at work.”

I could see it clearer now. The Daddy Dom in Colt—I saw it. I could tell he was the type of Daddy who wanted to push his Little to be his absolute best.

My own approach, I supposed, had more cushion.

“Here we are.” Colt nodded at a building at the next corner, and I followed him when he picked up the pace a bit. “It was the best thing I could find within walkin’ distance of the bus station.”