The.
Best.
But aside from that… who is he?
Who is Kade?
This is the first time he’s danced in his whole life.
Kade doesn’t reallyhavemuch of a life outside of Iron Star.
But that’s the way of professionals.Right?
Throughout his mini-crisis, Lachlan Tanner is there, watching him, eyes on but not hands.He’s stable and strong, smells of clean sweat and earth from where he dug up that fuckingmonstrosityto show Kade the truth.
Kade wants to kiss him.
As soon as he admits it, fresh hunger awakens within to fix greedy eyes on this curious man.To map him in a new way, to know him inside and out, to take, take,takeuntil it hurts, until Kade wants to beg for it to stop but he won’t because he’s a slut and no one could give it to him the way Lachlan could, no one sees him like his bodyguard does, no one else ever will because he’s Lachlan fucking Tanner, motherfucker supreme and Jules is—
No.
No, wait.
Stop.
Stop.
S T O P.
‘It’s OK, you’re good.Just breathe nice and slow.’
Kade blinks as soon as he opens his eyes because harsh neon white stabs the back of his skull, makes everything sting.He’s… where the fuck is he?
It smells of piss and bleach, thudding bass coming through the walls.
The fucking men’s room.Great.
Lachlan has him sat up on the countertop beside the sink, one hand on his shoulder, the other massaging his wrist.
‘You,’ Kade says, frowning, mind all soupy.
‘C’mon, you can do better,’ Lachlan quips lightly, seems to be taking Kade’s pulse, which is so weird.He’s so fuckingweird,this guy.Weirdo.‘What aboutmotherfucker, huh?You like calling me that.’
Kade snatches his wrist back, instantly bemoans the loss of Lachlan’s touch but hides it well.‘Don’tbabyme.What happened?’
‘You passed out on the dancefloor.’Kade casts back but has no memory of that.Lachlan is reading him.‘Whatdoyou remember?’
‘I remember drinking tequila.’
‘And?’
‘Walking here with you ‘cause you don’t have a fucking car.’
‘Do you remember us talking?’
‘I… kinda?’Kade replays events.Lachlan told him he’s a Brightling (bullshit), said Riley’s “curse” is something to do with them being bound, told Kade a little about the father of the Penhalyx kids.
Then dancing.
