A scent of lush forest, honey chamomile, and predator assaulted Colin’s nose – Hang Ten Viking.
He turned around with a smile. “Deputy Kettil, what are you doing here?”
“West Marin asked my department to help out. They don’t have the manpower for something this big, and the money is great.”
Colin was glad for the bear shifter’s presence. He tapped his ear-bud. “We got us a friendly, boys.”
Judd’s voice: “Report?”
“Deputy Kettil is on stadium security.”
“Tell him hi.”
“Judd says hi.”
“Who else of your lot is here?” asked the berserker, trying to not seem too interested.
“Kevin and Isaac. We’re her ladyship’s bodyguards.”
“You brought Isaac? Seriously?”
Colin wrinkled his nose. “Pack reasons.”
“Good for us to know, though. Omega in a crowd like this. Could be real lucky to have around, if something goes badly wrong.”
“Our first responsibility is to our client, even Isaac’s.”
“I know, but it’s still nice to know he’s here.”
Colin smiled. “I’ll tell him you said so.” He tapped his bud again. “Isaac? Deputy Kettil says hooray for you!”
Isaac chucked in his ear. “Well, I say hooray for him. Nice to have backup that big.”
“Isaac says he’s glad we have you for backup.”
The deputy laughed. “Same deal applies, though. Our main focus is keeping the crowd under control.”
Colin nodded. “That’s fair.”
“You look different.” Deputy Kettil’s shovel-sized hands swooped around Colin’s face, not touching just indicating shape.
Colin blushed furiously. “I got makeup on.”
The deputy nodded. “Huh. Looks nice. That what Trick does?”
“Yeah, most days. He looks really pretty, right?” Colin wasn’t above a bit of teasing.
Deputy Kettil grunted an affirmative.
“They made me do this. But I’m not sure if I could, you know, keep it up…”
“Sure be a shame if you didn’t.”
Colin, feeling emboldened – someone who wasn’t Judd liked the way he looked and had noticed. “Why Deputy, are you flirting with me?”
“What? No!” The berserker raised up both hands and backed away.
Colin felt warm and powerful and weirdly proud. All day yesterday he hadn’t been certain about the look. He’d never worn makeup before, always wanted to, never had the guts. This time Jojo had done something to Colin’s eyes, so they looked enormous, a burst of gold shiny stuff on his lids. Colin also had on some kind of gloss that made his already too puffy lips look wet and bee-stung. He thought it was too much, but maybe not?
A sudden presence was next to him and Colin turned. Judd was standing there, arms crossed, glowering at the bear shifter.
“Deputy.”
“Mr Day.” Deputy Kettil dipped his head. “I suddenly believe that I’m desperately needed elsewhere.”
“I’m sure you are.”
Colin turned to Judd. “That was weird.”
“Was it?”
“I think he was flirting with me. I mean, maybe not intentionally, but still. And there was this lighting dude, too. Earlier. He kept staring at my mouth.”
Judd muttered something.
“What?”
“Just come backstage with me. I know you don’t want to be near your appalling mother, but I think you should stick close for the time being.”
“You do?”
“Most definitely.”
“Well, it seems the ear-buds are working, and they stretch all the way across the amphitheater so the pack should have full mobility without losing contact. I’m not sure I have anything else to do right now. Was there something you needed from me?”
“Yes, but it’ll have to wait.”
“You can’t do it now?”
“I am many things, Gingersnap, including an exhibitionist, but you most certainly are not. And I don’t think stripping you bare and sucking your cock in the middle of the Mount Tamalpais Amphitheater is exactly what you’re looking for from our arrangement.” Judd looked suddenly hopeful. “Is it? Because right now that’s about all I want to do. That way every dude in this place will realize that you’re mine.”
Colin’s mind shut down and he just sort of whimpered.
“Exactly,” said Judd. “So instead, I’m going to kiss the stuffing out of you. Grope your amazing ass in those obscene pants. Turn us both on in a way that is bound to be embarrassing, and smudge all that ridiculously hot lip gloss. If that’s okay with you.”
Colin nodded, dumbly. Definitely okay. All kinds of okay.
Judd immediately had Colin in his arms, and suited his actions to his words, leaving Colin breathless, and Judd licking his lips and glaring down at him, impossibly smug. “Mmm, strawberry, very nice.”
The lighting guy walked by. “Point made, big guy. Point made.”
A ping came through on the com, Isaac’s voice. “Uh, guys, there’s something wrong backstage. It’s the VIP pre-show meet and greet, and there’s some dudes here smelling like, well, not roses, if you get