Hell To Pay: Hellhound Champions Book Two, page 7
“Why don’t you live here?”
If it belonged to him, he would. But then again, if it belonged to him, he would never leave it.
Sol pushed open the double doors before turning to look at him. He shrugged his shoulders and looked out at the view.
“Because I’d never leave.” Sol’s voice was low and deep, full of some emotion Cody couldn’t quite name.
Cody gulped as their eyes met, and the weird tension he’d felt before ratcheted up another notch.
“My bedroom is through here,” Sol said quietly.
Cody’s heart did a funny little dance at the idea of seeing Sol in his bedroom. It was so intimate. But they were just friends…less than friends, really. Coworkers. Acquaintances.
Sol pushed open another door and walked through into a very cozy room with a gigantic bed. Sol opened one of the windows and breathed in the fresh air. Cody tried not to swallow his tongue. He wished he didn’t think Sol was so fucking gorgeous. It didn’t help matters at all.
“Bathroom. I might have gone a little crazy in here.”
Cody couldn’t wait to see. He hurried over and bumped into Sol when he stopped inside the door.
“Sorry.”
Sol winced but caught him before he bounced into the wall. “No worries.”
Cody scowled up at him. “You’re really hurt.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“What happened?”
Sol laid his hand on Cody’s shoulder before gently squeezing it. “I’ll be fine. Look. I put in a Jacuzzi.”
Cody didn’t look. “Sol, I don’t know what you guys do, but I know it’s dangerous. Please, just…if you aren’t okay, just…let me help or something, okay?”
Sol squeezed his shoulder again before releasing it. He lifted his T-shirt, revealing his ribs. His extremely bruised ribs.
“Sol.”
“Doc says it’s not bad, and I’ll be fine in a couple days. I promise.”
Cody reached out to touch but quickly pulled his fingers back. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Sol grabbed his hand and placed it over the bruises. He let out a little noise that Cody didn’t quite understand. It wasn’t a noise of pain, but it wasn’t like he enjoyed it either. But Sol’s eyes were closed like Cody had some magic gift to make him feel better. Cody rolled his eyes at his own ridiculousness. His hands were probably cold and felt nice against the bruises. It made sense.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Cody asked.
“I am. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Cody bit his lip and looked up again. “You guys don’t tell me the truth, though. I know the difference.”
Sol’s hand came up and gripped his shoulder. It shouldn’t be comforting, but it was. Cody found himself leaning closer, even though he shouldn’t. Sol didn’t even like him. He needed to remember that. Coworkers. Acquaintances.
“Sometimes, a secret isn’t yours to tell.”
“Something is going on, though. Something changed, and it’s more dangerous.” Cody held his breath, waiting for the lie. A lie that didn’t come.
“Yes.”
“Sol.” His heart caught, worry filling him at the idea of someone hurting any of his friends. Coworkers. Whatevers.
“I told you I wouldn’t lie. Now, look at the tub.”
Cody looked. And gasped. “Sol.”
Sol gave him a little push that direction, and Cody couldn’t resist. He hopped into the tub and spread his arms out. “We’d both fit in here. Holy… crap, I just said that out loud. I meant—”
Sol laughed and held his ribs. “I know what you meant.”
“I’m an idiot, but you only have yourself to blame because of this awesomeness.”
“And the shower. Nice, right?”
Cody climbed out of the tub, pretending his face wasn’t bright red even though he could feel the heat pouring from his cheeks. “So nice. You weren’t kidding. You totally splurged. Your secret life of crime must pay very well.”
Sol coughed.
“Dammit,” Cody grumbled. “I keep saying shit I shouldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’d really like to know what goes on in that head of yours.”
“So much,” Cody said with a sigh. “So much.”
“Come on. Let me show you my actual favorite spot in the house.”
“Wait, there’s something better than this?”
Sol held out his hand and Cody grabbed it without thinking. He froze for a second. So did Sol. They looked down at their clasped hands before looking back at each other. And something in Sol’s eyes… it melted a piece of Cody that he’d kept holed up for a long time.
“Sol.”
Sol squeezed his hand and tugged him along, walking backward out of the room. He didn’t let him go but led him through the main living area and through a closed door. Cody couldn’t help the noise he made after Sol pushed open the door and led him inside. It was perfect. A little reading room with a fireplace and a big over-stuffed chair with an ottoman that looked out over the same amazing view as the living room.
“Holy shit,” Cody gasped.
“Yeah,” Sol said. He released Cody’s hand and went to the fireplace, kneeling and shuffling a couple logs around.
“You keep a fire ready?”
“It’s nice, you know?”
“Yeah.”
“Walt and Shelly will like it. It’s double-sided, so they can start it from the main room, too.”
“No way.”
Sol looked over his shoulder at Cody and nodded.
Cody ran into the other room and squatted down in front of the fireplace. “I didn’t even notice.”
He tried not to stare at Sol’s muscular thighs through the screen. He failed. But he did try. He jumped up and hurried back into the reading room. Sol stood and gestured toward the other side of the room.
“The other guest rooms are down the hall.”
“Sol, it’s amazing.”
Sol grinned and Cody’s breath caught in his chest once more.
“Sit. I’ll warm us up some food.”
Cody couldn’t resist the call of the chair and ottoman. He sank down in it and pulled the blanket off the back. He settled in and listened as Sol moved around in the kitchen. He should offer to help. Sol wasn’t supposed to be doing anything. But he didn’t. He listened and waited. It was a big deal that Sol had asked instead of told. He wanted to give him that moment and see if it helped tear down the weird wall that had developed between them over the past couple of years.
It didn’t take long before Sol returned and handed him a plate. “Teriyaki chicken and vegetables.”
“Wow,” Cody said. “It smells amazing.”
Sol sat down on the ottoman and balanced his plate in his lap. He let out a breath and looked out the window.
Cody took a bite of chicken and smiled. He loved teriyaki. “Thanks, Sol.”
Sol turned to him and let out another long breath. “You’re welcome, Cody.”
They ate, each of them looking out the window and letting the beauty wash over them. When he was finished, Sol took the plates to the kitchen. Cody forced himself to crawl out of the chair, even if he really didn’t want to. He grabbed the towel Sol had gotten out and began to dry the dishes as Sol washed them.
“You don’t have—”
“Shut up, Sol.”
Sol looked at him for a moment, clearly surprised that Cody had argued.
“Yeah, okay.”
Sol handed him the dishes, and Cody got them dried and stacked up neatly. Sol put them away while Cody went and shut the opened doors and windows. Cody waited by the door while Sol locked up and put the key back beneath the swing. They climbed in the Jeep and when Sol started the engine, Cody turned to look at him.
“I know you didn’t want me to come, but I’m glad I did. Your place is perfect, Sol.”
Sol took his hand from the gear shift and put it on Cody’s leg. He didn’t look his way, though. He kept his eyes on the cabin. “I never know what to say to you. But I’m glad you came, too.”
He moved his hand and turned the Jeep around. Cody leaned against the window and watched the trees go by. He didn’t know what had changed, but the wall had begun to crumble. Sol wasn’t as intimidating as he had been only days before. He was still hot as the sun, or maybe even hotter now that Cody had sneaked a peek at what he was like behind the scowls and frowns. And Sol was trying. Cody wasn’t entirely sure what he was trying for, but he could feel the energy between them changing…almost as if…He caught a glimpse of his own wide smile in his reflection, and wondered what anyone would say if they saw it. But it was for him to know, wasn’t it? The drive back passed too quickly, and before Cody realized it, they were pulling into the parking lot of Hair of the Dog. The very, very packed parking lot.
“What’s going on?” Cody asked.
“Cosmo,” Sol growled in reply.
Sol marched for the door, and Cody ran behind him. Shaq was behind the bar, looking frenzied and desperate. Cody hurried back and began grabbing orders. Drew came over a few minutes later with one of the serving trays in his hand.
“Don’t ever leave again,” Drew said with a laugh.
“No kidding. Is someone having a party or something?”
Shaq made a grumbling noise, and Drew grinned at him before turning to Cody.
“Or something. Just a bunch of old friends of Shaq’s who dropped by to hang out for the night. Not a big deal, is it, honey?”
Shaq tossed back a shot of whiskey and glared at his boyfriend. Drew waggled his eyebrows at him in reply. “Cody, can you make me a fuzzy navel? I was telling one of the guys about it, and he wants to try one. I didn’t dare ask Shaq to try.”
“Fuzzy navel, my ass,” Shaq huffed.
“Sure,” Cody replied. He was trying really hard not to laugh. Drew had a way of getting Shaq out of his grumpy, gloomy moods, and it was fun to watch.
“Hey.” Drew lowered his voice and leaned in. “Everything go okay with your mission?”
Cody nodded. “Everything’s taken care of.”
“And… you’re okay, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Just making sure,” Drew said.
Cody put the drink on his tray and smiled. “It’s for Walt and Shelly.”
And if it happened to spark something between him and Sol, well that was for him to know as well.
Drew nodded and walked away. The next few hours passed in a blur of beer and booze. Cody finally took a break and caught a glimpse of Sol in his usual spot. His face looked a bit pinched, and Cody wondered why the hell he was sitting on a stool with messed up ribs. Cody snuck into the kitchen, only getting a glare from Walt and not yelled at, so he considered it a win. He filled a bag with ice and wrapped one of the bar towels around it.
“You eat?” Walt snarled before he could escape.
“Yeah.”
Walt glared.
“I ate! Sol made me chicken.”
The glare faded. “Well, okay then. You want something else?”
“No, I’m good. But maybe before I go home? We’re so busy I don’t think I’m going to get to take a break.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Walt said. “Get out of my kitchen.”
“I’m going.”
Cody carried the bag of ice to Solomon’s spot.
“Shirt up,” he ordered.
“What?”
“Shirt. Up.” Cody repeated the order with an added glare.
Sol lifted his shirt, and Cody pressed the towel-covered bag to his ribs. Sol made a low hissing sound, but leaned against the wall a little more. “You need to get off this stool. Lay down or something.”
“I’m—”
“Fine. Yeah, I know. Ice them, tough guy.”
“Okay.”
Cody nodded and gathered up some empties from the table next to Sol. Izzy was off for the night and Shelly was running around trying to keep up with orders. Even with Drew pitching in to help, they were still slammed.
“Cody?”
Cody turned and found Sol giving him the tiniest smile. “Thanks.”
“Sure.”
Cody got back to work at the bar before Shaq got too far behind again. Something niggled as his mind, though, and he glanced toward Sol. And then it hit him. A tiny black and white strip of elastic showed above the edge of Sol’s jeans.
It couldn’t be. It was a coincidence for sure.
Cody made his next few drinks and cashed out a couple customers before pulling out his phone. He made sure no one could see him as he thumbed through the pictures HellBent had sent him. And there it was. The very first one. With the same black and white elastic band on his boxers.
“Cody?”
Shaq frowned at him so he put his phone away.
“Sorry. Needed to check something.”
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
Shaq didn’t seem convinced.
“Hey, can you make a tray of snakebites for table six?”
Shaq glanced that direction and made another face. They were a group of younger guys who came in a lot and seemed to like Shaq quite a bit. It was so funny. Shaq was nearly twice their size and always scowled at them like they were annoying gnats, but they ate up his attention. The grumpier he got, the happier they were. So weird. Of course, Shaq seemed to have a weird effect on most people.
“Why?”
Cody tried not to laugh at the scowl Shaq had now turned his way. “Because I need to make screaming orgasms for table two.”
Shaq shivered. “Why?” His revulsion with the drink choice was clear. Why he’d decided to run a bar when he only wanted to serve shots and beer was beyond Cody.
“Because that’s what they ordered. I can do the shots if you don’t want to.”
“I got it. I didn’t know they ordered them, though.”
“Oh, they didn’t. But they always do after they get their nachos, and Shelly just put the nachos on their table so…” Cody shrugged.
About that time, one of the guys at six waved Shelly over. Shaq pulled out a stack of shot glasses and lined them up next to where Cody was mixing the drinks for the other table.
“You sure you’re okay?” Shaq asked.
Cody tried to school his expression, unsure of what he was giving away. He hadn’t even had a second to process and his heart was still racing a little while he thought the impossible might be true. He didn’t want to spend too much time thinking about it. He did want to know the truth, though.
“I’m okay. You mind if I take a quick break?”
“Go ahead,” Shaq said.
Cody finished up the drinks he was making and slipped into the kitchen. Walt glared but didn’t yell. He seemed to realize Cody needed a minute. Cody positioned himself at the window where he could look out and see the back of the bar. He took out his phone and sucked in a breath. It was probably a coincidence. That’s all. Lots of guys had skin the same color and wore the same boxers. No way would Sol have done that to him. He’d said earlier he’d never lie to Cody, and if hooking up with him wasn’t a lie….
He needed to know.
He put his phone on silent and chewed his lip nervously.
He opened Bear4Me and sent a message.
GoldiLad: Thinking of you.
He waited. A moment later, Sol reached for his phone. He glanced around the bar before opening it. He smiled—a barely there smile but it was a smile—and tapped his phone’s screen. He put it away a second later, and it didn’t escape Cody’s notice that Sol glanced to the bar and frowned when he realized Cody wasn’t there.
Cody sank into the shadows of the kitchen and opened his phone.
HellBent: I have plans for you later.
Cody’s breath caught. It wasn’t a coincidence. It was Sol. It had to be.
“Cody?”
Walt had somehow managed to get right in front of him without Cody noticing. He blinked up at him and fought to keep his expression bland. It did nothing to fool Walt, but he tried. He pasted on the fakest smile he’d ever faked. “Sorry. Just saw something that upset me. I’ll be okay in a minute.”
“I can get Shaq—”
“I’m fine, Walt. There’s nothing Shaq can do. We’re too busy, anyway. Don’t worry about me. I’m going to get back to work.”
He grabbed a case of the fancy beers he’d talked the cute twink guys into trying and went back to the bar. Shaq glanced at him, did a double-take, and put down the half-full mug he’d been filling. “What’s wrong?”
He really needed to work on his fake smile. He obviously had lost his touch. Part of being a great bartender involved stuffing your own dramas down so you could successfully deal with others. No one wanted a morose bartender. They were depressed enough on their own. Hair of the Dog’s customers were a little different from the other bars where Cody had worked, but he’d still kept his personal life separate.
At least he thought he had. He snuck a quick peek at Sol and found him scowling Cody’s way. He ignored the look and got to work. Nothing to see here. Nothing at all. No need to think about the fact that he’d seen Sol’s dick. That he’d shown Sol his own. That he’d talked to HellBent like there might be something there, only to find out he’d been playing some sort of game with Cody.
The thought stopped him in his tracks. He grabbed the tequila bottle and poured himself a shot. After tossing it back, he shivered as the booze hit his stomach. Drew came over, a concerned frown on his face. Cody plastered his fake-smile on. “I’m fine. Just let me work.”
Drew didn’t seem convinced, but the bar was too busy for him to settle down at a stool and twist Cody’s arm to get him to talk. “I’m here if you need me.”
“I know.”
Solomon
Sol had plans for Cody. Big plans. And he couldn’t wait to get started. It had taken forever to get the herd of fauns out of the bar, and even longer to get everything cleaned up and shut down for the night. Sol got home a couple of hours later than he normally did and wanted nothing more than to message Cody and see what kind of fun they could have. He’d felt the itch again after showing Cody his cabin. The itch that made what he was doing not so horrible. The connection was there in real life as well as online. He wanted to find a way to merge what he was doing with Cody online to the connection he’d felt earlier. To take him back to the cabin, but this time with Cody knowing who was on the other end of the app. He wanted to make the spark he’d felt earlier burn.
