Play Dirty (Wages of Sin #2) - Neve Wilder Page 0,40

Madi to want him, to feel regret about how they’d parted, but he hadn’t anticipated it. In fact, he’d imagined just the opposite, and Az’s plan only worked with Madi’s indifference. Az understood that. But not this.

Az had imagined Madigan would be his usual cocky self. Az was almost certain Madigan would be angry that, somehow, they’d once again seemingly gone after the same target, but he hadn’t expected to see him…contrite, even vulnerable.

“I missed you.”

Three words…hell, three syllables…had pierced through the armor around Az’s heart with the same catastrophic precision as one of Madi’s bullets. How could he sit there and look at him and say he missed Az just weeks after saying he couldn’t be trusted?

Az finished his drink in one gulp and shot to his feet. He reached into his pocket and opened his wallet, pulling out money and the extra key to his room. “I’m not discussing this here. If you want to continue this conversation, meet me at the hotel. Room 410.” Madi blinked at him before giving him a stilted nod. The waiter advanced on them, probably to offer another round of drinks. “Bring the food with you. I have the booze.”

Did Madi’s shoulders sag just a bit? Did he think Az’s hunger was for more than just the food? Was he right? Of course, he was right. Everything about Madi was sexy, from his button-down shirt showing off his well-defined chest and deep tan to the way his big hand closed around his glass, his thumb drawing lazy strokes through the condensation. Az wanted Madi to be drawing patterns on his skin, biting his lips, fingers clenching at his shoulders.

Christ, he needed to get the fuck out of there. Az turned on his heel, forcing himself to stroll out and take one of the many cabs lined up outside the restaurant, grateful his hotel was only a stone’s throw away.

“I missed you.”

The words rattled in Az’s head and in his heart. Could he even believe them? If he’d missed Az so much, why had he waited until he saw Az to contact him? Things might have been much different if Madigan had just picked up a phone instead of being a stubborn asshole. Now, he’d fucking ruined everything.

Once Az was back in his suite, he poured himself a tumbler full of whiskey, taking deep swigs as he paced the room. The alcohol wasn’t helping. Nothing was. This wasn’t like him. He didn’t get nervous. No matter how dangerous the situation, he’d always managed to channel his fear into adrenaline, and adrenaline sharpened his focus. But this wasn’t anything like that. He wasn’t afraid of Madi.

Az had known this moment was coming. He’d girded himself for this situation. He could do this. It was just sex, just a job. They had just gotten too close before, but it wouldn’t happen again. Guys like them didn’t form attachments or connections. Nothing in Az’s past had conditioned him to trust another human being, but, somehow, Madi had gotten past every defense Az had.

At first, Az had convinced himself it was just a game they played, that the feelings he had for Madi were congenial, friends with benefits, a little excitement in the monotony of murder. But he’d been lying to himself, and, for reasons Az couldn’t even fathom, it now made him furious…at Madigan, at himself. This wasn’t who they were.

Az threw his glass against the wall, watching with satisfaction as it shattered somewhere across the room, far from where he stood.

Madigan was right; they were weaker together. They created blindspots for each other. Az had made peace with it weeks ago. He’d drunk himself into a few stupors, killed some lower level targets, jerked off to memories of Madi more than he cared to admit, and then he’d just accepted that they didn’t work and when they saw each other again, Madi would pass right by as if Az didn’t exist. At first, he had, but then came the message…from his husband. The words were sharp, like a knife jutting through his ribcage, making it hard to breathe. It was an inside joke they’d had from the start, but, somehow, using those words now felt almost like rubbing salt in a wound he’d thought was closed.

Az was a little drunk by the time the door beeped and swung open. Madi made a noise of surprise when Az dragged him inside by his tie, slamming him against the door. Madi dropped the bag of food, and