“I think you go over there and play nice, earn his trust,” Joe said quietly through the closed door. “Wear the watch. If you need me, press the button. I’ll call for backup then come get you.”
Cash opened the door, his finger to his lips as the other hand lowered the jacket he still wore.
Joe nodded, and whispered even quieter, “Let this play out. It’s the first real break we’ve had with Dev. He hasn’t responded to anyone before you. I feel like if you and I stick together, and be quiet about it, we can get this case taken care of.”
Joe wasn’t wrong. It was also the first time he’d aligned himself with Cash and not the rest of the DEA agents on this assignment. He’d look closer at Joe’s allegiance tomorrow.
He nodded and stepped past Joe, going to the refrigerator. He grabbed the six-pack he’d picked up for just this occasion and left Joe trailing after him.
“I can’t lie,” Joe said, almost silently. “I’m ready for this case to break.”
“Shh,” Cash said almost as silently. Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
He didn’t disagree, but he doubted Dev would drop secrets so easily.
Chapter 12
Dev gave himself credit. The silver platter was a nice touch.
He bet pretty boys were used to things being handed to them on silver platters. And he didn’t even mean that in a bad way. Images of meticulously styled hair and the shadows of a trimmed beard played across Dev’s mind, knocking every other thought away.
Dev blew out a breath as he relived their first meeting and immediately got lost in the memory of that powerful handshake. Cash’s hand had fit snugly, enticingly, mesmerizingly inside his.
The entire scenario splashed across his mind in full color. The way the light streamed in from the front windows highlighted the auburn in Cash’s hair, making it near impossible to resist the urge to push his fingers into its softness.
He wondered what else might fit so well inside his hand…
The assorted colors of Cash’s hair, deep rich browns, auburns, and golds, set the palette currently sweeping across the canvas in his mind.
He hadn’t painted in years. He used to love getting high and painting life as an abstract.
Dev absently worked his fingers over the condoms on the tray, fanning them out. Would it be too crass or presumptuous to lay his cock on top and serve it up to Cash like that?
Eight condoms felt ambitious. A grin split his lips. If he were lucky, he’d use about half. Maybe shoot for five by morning. But he liked the show of strength eight made.
The other items on the tray included an excess of lube, three joints, a good handful of edibles—in case that was Cash’s preferred ingestion method—ecstasy tabs, a lighter, and two bottles of water because he wasn’t a complete heathen. If nothing else, he had them covered for a really good night.
The platter was on full display on the small breakfast table, exactly where the eyes landed when the door opened. He picked up one of the joints and the lighter and kicked one of Mae’s stuffed animals to the corner of the living room with the others. After the last fucked-up forty-eight hours, he needed a solid break, and if he couldn’t get one of those, a peaceful moment would do nicely. He brought the joint to his lips and flicked the BIC to light the tip. He’d brought out the good shit. Not just any weed for tonight, he wanted something that lasted and made the moment of release that much more…intense.
He inhaled deep and held it.
The best part of his whole fucking life was access to the best stuff. His drugs were top tier. The high already edged through his system as he let the exhale go.
All he needed now was for a pretty boy with a cock as big as his wrist to be the icing on his cake.
Clearly, karma was happy with him.
Some of his best times came by way of the wealthy who wanted to slum it with a biker. They liked it hard, fast, and dirty. They got off on his coarse language as he made them ride his cock.
His body tightened, exhilaration and anticipation helped him envision Cash’s ass slapping against his groin over and again.
Dev took long, focused strides across his apartment into the bedroom, getting his sketch pad and pencils ready. He did his best work after getting off while high.
Some client was going to really appreciate his efforts tonight.
Cash’s cock inked on some unsuspecting person’s body. They’d never know it was there.
Maybe even on his own body.
