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"Damn it, Joey," Marco muttered under his breath, his eyes lingering on the empty bar where Joey used to serve. The ache in his chest grew, reflecting the turmoil of his emotions—regret, desire, and above all, the fierce drive to protect his boy.
He took a final swig of his beer and slammed the glass down on the bar with a sense of resolve. He couldn't change the past, but he could make damn sure Joey's future was one filled with love, passion, and the security only Marco could provide.
The heavy door to the strip club opened, and Joey sauntered in, a vision of casual sexiness. He wore a tight, white t-shirt that hugged his lean frame just right and a pair of snug jeans that accentuated his long, toned legs. His once perfectly coiffed hair was now tousled and wild, as if he'd been running his fingers through it all day.
"Damn, boy," Marco thought, feeling a twinge of lust rushing through him. His eyes followed Joey like a magnet as he scanned the room, searching for something—or someone. A smirk played on his pretty lips when he finally spotted Marco sitting at the bar.
He slid onto the barstool beside Marco, leaning in close enough that their shoulders brushed together. "Hey there, handsome," he purred, pretending not to know Marco. "Come here often?"
"Hey yourself," Marco replied, playing along with Joey's act. The scent of Joey's cologne, a mix of sandalwood and citrus, invaded his senses, making his heart race. "I could say the same for you." He let his gaze wander over Joey's body, appreciating every tantalizing curve and line. "You look like you're new here. I haven't seen you around before."
"Maybe I've been hiding in the shadows," Joey teased, a mischievous glint in his eye. He leaned in even closer, their faces inches apart, and continued in a seductive whisper, "Or maybe I've been waiting for the perfect moment to make my grand entrance."
"Is that so?" Marco asked, raising an eyebrow. He couldn't help but smile at Joey's playful banter. "Well, your timing couldn't be more perfect."
"Sometimes, perfect is what I aim for," Joey replied coyly as his fingers grazed Marco's thigh, sending a shiver up his spine.
"Keep that up, and you might just get it," Marco warned, his voice low and husky.
"Oh no," Joey said—but his hand kept on sliding up along Marco's thigh.
The sexual tension between them was palpable, like a live wire waiting to ignite. But in the depths of his gaze, there was also an undercurrent of emotion—unspoken words that couldn't be shared here, not in this place.
For now, they'd play their game of flirtation and teasing, each knowing they were dancing on the edge of something much more profound. And when the time was right, they would give into the passion and love that had been building between them since the moment they first locked eyes.
"By the way, I didn't catch your name," Marco said, his voice dripping with flirtatious charm as he played along with Joey's act.
"Let's just say I'm a man of mystery," Joey winked back. The way he bit his lower lip was almost unbearably enticing, and Marco felt an ache deep within him to claim those lips for himself. But not yet. "But enough about me. Let's talk about you."
"Me?" Marco feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow. He leaned closer, their faces nearly touching, and whispered, "What would you like to know about me?"
"Well," Joey began, his voice sultry and inviting. "I've heard some interesting rumors floating around. Something about a certain Mafia guy paying off another guy's debt recently. Quite the generous act, if I do say so myself."
"Rumors, huh?" Marco chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. "They spread like wildfire around here. But tell me, mysterious stranger, what does that have to do with us?"
"Maybe nothing. Or maybe everything." Joey paused, then dropped the act. "But why? I'm just some random guy… You barely even know me."
"Maybe so," Marco admitted, his dark eyes locking onto Joey's, filled with an intensity that sent shivers down the younger man's spine. "But sometimes, you just see something—or someone—worth fighting for, and you don't think twice about what you're giving up."
He leaned in close, looking Joey in the eyes. "I said I'd keep you safe. So I did."
If that had to mean buying out Joey's debt and giving up on his dreams of his own bar… Well, so be it.
The best things in life were expensive.
Joey stared at him, his breath hitching. "Marco," he began, his voice soft, barely audible over the pounding beat of the music. "I don't know how to thank you."
"Hey," Marco said, reaching out and gently cupping Joey's face in his calloused hand, his thumb stroking the soft skin of his cheek. "I've found something better than owning a bar. The way you make me feel is worth more than any dream I had."
Joey's eyes widened with surprise and delight, his heart pounding in his chest as the words sank in. He never imagined that he could mean so much to someone like Marco. Hearing the older man confess his feelings sent waves of desire coursing through Joey's body, and he knew he couldn't wait any longer.
"Marco," Joey whispered, "I want you. Now." He glanced around the dimly lit club, his eyes landing on the door to a private room. "Let's go in there."
A wicked grin spread across Marco's face as he eyed the private room, but then he shook his head. "Not here, Joey," he murmured, his thumb continuing to stroke Joey's cheek tenderly. "There's someplace better I have in mind for us."
"Anywhere," Joey breathed, his body aching with need. "As long as I'm with you."
"Good," Marco said, his voice warm and full of promise. As he let his hand fall from Joey's face, he leaned in close, his lips brushing against the delicate shell of Joey's ear. "Now, finish your drink. We're going to my apartment," Marco suggested, his voice low and seductive.
