Collaring Chaz (Dante's Infernal #2) - Joel Abernathy Page 0,90
was thanking a few of the friends who’d flown in for the wedding when Raf grabbed my wrist and muttered something to our guests about needing to ask me something about the caterer.
“What’s wrong?” I asked once we were alone in the back hall. Before he could answer, he pinned me against the wall and started unbuckling my collar. As soon as it was off, he began kissing my neck in that spot that always made my toes curl. “Oh…” I purred, letting my head fall back against the wall as he sucked hard enough to leave a mark. The first of many that would be visible tomorrow morning, I was sure. “That kind of catering problem.”
His husky laugh sent vibrations through my throat as he groped me beneath my tux jacket. He had it halfway off when someone pointedly cleared his throat from further down the hall, making it clear we weren’t alone.
“Sterling?” I choked in shock to find the man standing there in a nice gray suit.
Maybe I needed different meds.
Rafael turned but kept me penned protectively with his hands on the wall on either side of me, a murderous look overtaking the lust that had been in his eyes seconds ago. “What the hell do you want?”
“Raf…” I pleaded.
He grunted in irritation, but he reluctantly pulled away, keeping his arm around my waist.
“I just came to offer my congratulations,” Sterling said, walking toward us.
He was still intimidating as hell, but I didn’t have the same kneejerk reaction to his presence I usually would have. Probably because it was impossible to be afraid of anything with Rafael by my side. Well, sometimes I was worried for anyone who crossed him, but that was different.
“And to bury the hatchet,” my ex-manager added.
“I hope you brought some excavation equipment, then, because this is a little beyond the average shovel,” Rafael quipped.
“Just let me hear him out,” I said, touching Raf’s arm, since that was usually all it took to calm him down. He scowled and kept staring the other man down, but for the moment, he relented.
“I’m aware some amends will be harder to come by than others,” Sterling said in his usual calm tone, even though the way he was looking at me had me on edge. He was in a pleasant mood, but I’d take a Chihuahua on a bad day over a cobra on a good one. “But since we’re all going to be family in a sense, I wanted to make sure there are no hard feelings.”
“What do you mean by family?” I asked warily.
“Drake didn’t tell you?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. There was something about his innocent tone I didn’t quite buy. “I suppose he didn’t want to ruin your big day. And he would see it like that.” He gave a knowing chuckle. “Your label bought out Crane Records and all its contracts, so we’re going to be merging.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Rafael asked, voicing my thoughts a bit more aggressively, as usual.
“Quite,” said Sterling, giving us both a pleasant smile I didn’t trust for the millisecond it took to settle on his face. His attention drifted back to me, and the smile took on a menacing quality I knew too well. He took my hand before I could even think to pull it away. “You know, Organic Animal is still looking for a permanent lead singer, but there’s no real replacement for you. If you get tired of sharing the spotlight, you can always come home.”
“I am home,” I said with a stiff smile. “But thanks for the offer. I’m sure you guys will find someone soon.”
“Indeed,” he said, finally releasing my hand before offering his to Rafael. Of course, Raf just stared him down until he dropped it with an amused chuckle. “Take care of my little bird. As I’m sure you know, he’s quite a rare breed.”
With that, he turned and walked off, but Raf remained in place like a statue, glowering at the spot he’d been a second ago.
“What was that about?” I asked, searching my husband’s face for answers.
He looked back at me, and his expression softened as he pulled me back into his arms. “Who knows? Just Sterling being a creep, as usual.” He tilted my chin up and kissed me. “Guess we’ll find out, us being ‘family’ and all.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, that wasn’t ominous at all, was it?”
Rafael seemed to be contemplating something for a moment before he took my hand and started pulling me toward the exit.
“Raf!” I laughed, stumbling after him. “Where are we going? The reception isn’t over.”
“They’ll be fine. I’m done sharing,” he said, throwing a devilish grin over his shoulder that still made my heart stop every damn time. I should have been physically incapable of blushing, considering all the stuff we’d done together and in semi-public spaces over the years, but every flirtatious glance and cheesy innuendo still felt like the first.
Those three words in particular always set me off. “I’m done sharing,” and “I love you” had an interchangeable effect when spoken in his silken voice.
I pretended to hesitate for decency’s sake, since I didn’t want to make shit too easy for him, but I finally gave in and followed him out into the neon candy lights of the strip. “Whatever you say, Master.”
Rafael froze and looked back at me, his eyes darkening with approval. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and the fact that he enjoyed playing with it--and pulling it, depending on the occasion--was the main reason I hadn’t cut it. “Hold that thought until we’re in the room, because I want to hear you say that again. This time, on your knees.”
I just grinned at him like the lovesick idiot I was. The only thing that had really changed was that now, I knew it was mutual.
THE END
The Dante’s Infernal series continues with Sterling and Drake’s story, Breaking Drake!
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Even though I’m in college now, I’m sure Mr. A sees me as a kid…until he invites me over for the weekend, and I find out exactly what he means when he says I need a Daddy.
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Also by Joel Abernathy
The Flesh and Bone Series
Exhale
Bleed
Shift
The Kingdom of Night Series
Pendulum
Liminality
Equilibrium
The Vale Chronicles
Puppet/Master
Enemy/Lover
The Colt Jager Series
Ghoulish
The Alpha
The Dante’s Infernal Series
Taming Dante
Collaring Chaz