Haven 1: How to Save a Life (4 page)

“You trust this club owner?”

“I do. He’s a friend.”

Walter leaned in closer to the monitor.

Kevin sat back in the chair and slid down into the seat more. Forcing himself to relax?

“Your friend lied to you.”

Vargas reached for the video controls and zoomed in closer. Most likely trying to see what Walter had.

Then everything changed. As if Kevin slipped on a mask over the nervous, innocent expression. His features hardened, his posture went tight. A persona he’d obviously assumed a lot in his life. Hiding who he really was? What he felt?

“Why would he go to all that trouble?” Vargas asked. “You think he’s involved in all the shit that’s been going on? Or in whatever happened to Seth Fisher?”

“I doubt it, but he’s definitely hiding something. He’s not here for the men.” No matter how in or out of the closet he was, no matter how nervous and turned on he was, he’d come to the Haven for a different reason.

“Should I have someone in security question him?”

“I’ll take care of it. See what I can find out about him.” Walter’s instincts said this guy wasn’t involved, but if there was even the slightest chance Kevin knew something, Walter had to find out what. He put Kevin Dennison on his list of people to check into.

A waiter passed the table where Kevin sat. The waiter wore tight black dress slacks that left nothing to the imagination, dressed for the best possible tips. The beer Kevin had been clutching slid from his grip. He grabbed for it before it tipped and spilled the remainder of its contents onto the table. He fidgeted now. Anxiety radiated off him. The mask had slipped. Definitely new to being around other gay men.

Had he ever been fucked? Touched? Kissed?

“Oh, I see why you’re interested in talking to him.” Vargas’s playful tone was hard to ignore.

“Not interested in the way you’re implying.”
Right
. Vargas didn’t look like he bought that either. Walter gave up on the monitor—and the man on the screen. “Tomorrow I’ll have someone here to put up temporary cameras in the hallways on each floor.”

Vargas rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know.”

When they’d talked months ago about putting up the cameras on the first floor, Vargas had been reluctant. He’d said he hated the idea of recording his members conducting their private business.

“For our eyes only,” Walter added.

“All right.”

Walter allowed himself another glance at the main monitor. Kevin Dennison stood and headed for the dining room, moving out of the camera’s range. With a quick scan of the smaller monitors and their various views of the Haven, Walter spotted him.

Kevin hurried toward the restrooms on the other side of the club, passing by the ones closer to where he’d been seated. He darted down the hallway leading to the employee locker room. He was looking for something.

Walter had a hunch about him, and if he was right, Kevin Dennison had definitely lied to get into the club. But why? What was he after?

Walter stood and said, “I’ll start at Seth’s apartment tonight. It’s only been a day. I might find him watching TV at his place, crying his eyes out over some guy who dumped him.”

“God, I hope that’s all this is.”

“First”—Walter pointed to the monitor—“I’m talking with your newest member before he takes off. I’ll give you a call later after I check out Seth’s apartment.”

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

“Hardly.” The scales were firmly tipped to Vargas in that respect.

Vargas stood. “You need to come back when you have time to make a night of it.”

“Your crowd looks a little young these days.”

“They’re always young, but they’re not all
too
young.” More seriously Vargas added, “It might do you good. You never know, you might meet someone special.”

“I’m not looking for anyone special.”

Chapter Four

Kevin paused at the doorway to the restrooms and peeked into the dining room. Most of the diners were busy eating, talking, and flirting with the man—or in some cases, men—seated at their tables. He rounded the corner of the next hallway. At the far end stood a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY. This wasn’t the busy doorway leading to the kitchen where he’d seen the waiters head in and out carrying trays of food.

He leaned against the wall where he could hide behind the door as it swung outward. Even though none of the men in the dining room or in the bar could see him, he tried for casual as he waited.

Less than a minute later the door swung open, and a young man exited. Busy tucking his shirt into his pants, he didn’t notice as Kevin grabbed the door before it closed.

Please let this be an employee lounge where they dress for work, and not where the waiters go on their breaks for sex
. He took a last glance down the hall and slipped inside.

Three rows of lockers filled half the room, each row with a long wooden bench before it. A wall of showers made up the far side. Water ran in the showers, but he couldn’t see around the dividing wall to know how many men were inside. Maybe he’d have enough time to get a look around before whoever was showering cranked off the water.

Maybe he wouldn’t have to watch a wet, naked man walk across the room.

A locker to his right sat open. He quickly got to work and peered inside. A change of clothes, deodorant, a box of condoms, a purple plastic bottle. Kevin picked up the latter.
Slick It. Lubricant specifically designed for pleasurable anal sex.

Of course. The employee locker room was exactly where they went to have sex on their breaks.

He flung the lube back inside the locker and wiped the palm of his hand on his pant leg, which proceeded to send the leather pants up his ass again.

The water in the showers turned off at the same time as a metal bang sounded behind him. He jumped, hitting the door to the open locker. He barely caught it before it smacked closed. He checked behind him but spotted no one.

A voice rang out from around another row of lockers. “Hey. I didn’t know you were working tonight.”

“Yep,” a second man said. “You just getting on?”

“Yeah. I’m here until close.”

“Me too.”

Kevin slid to the end of the lockers he’d been examining to get farther away from the voices. Wrong move, though. He could see one of the guys now.

He would’ve hurried to get out of sight, but he couldn’t seem to make his legs work. The naked and dripping wet man stood less than ten feet from him. He was stunning. Where the hell did the Haven find these guys? His skin had a rich bronze hue, and a thick, flaccid cock hung between powerful legs, his every muscle pronounced. Then the man turned and presented the tightest ass. Like that of a sculpture Kevin had once seen on a field trip during his college art class. He’d stared at that statue for ten minutes while the other students wandered from painting to painting. He’d been captivated, trying to convince himself it was an admiration of the artist’s craftsmanship and not the male form he admired.

Two months later he’d had his first—and only—taste of a man’s dick.

He crept along the lockers to the opposite end closest to the door, trying to pretend his breath wasn’t coming in heavy pants.

“What is Simon doing back?”

Was that Naked Guy talking? The deep voice fit the body.

“He’s helping Vargas with security,” the other guy answered.

“He’s not hooking up, then? Damn. I’m never getting a shot with him.”

“Nope.” The other guy laughed. “He rarely goes up the stairs anymore. Only when he comes to talk to Vargas.”

“Is he here about that guy? The one who’s sometimes wearing that blue cowboy hat… Seth? I heard talk when I got here tonight that he went missing or something.”

“Yeah. I overheard Vargas talking to a couple of the guys in security. They’d been looking through the footage from last night. Guess something might’ve happened to him. Better Vargas has Simon looking into it than the cops.”

Another missing man? Now there were four. All members or employees of the same club. The police had to be ignoring the connection.

Kevin wanted to approach these men, see what else they knew, but the thought of getting close enough to talk to Naked Guy had Kevin too turned on to even think about doing an interview. He had to get out of there.

The door stood closer than the men. Two sets of lockers separated him and them. He could make it without getting caught. He took off, then opened the door and slipped out into the empty hall. He faced the door and slowly, quietly drew it shut.

What the hell was wrong with him? Lusting after a total stranger. And not some porn online. A real flesh-and-blood man he could’ve reached out and touched. He let his forehead fall to the cool surface of the wood door.

He took a deep breath. A rush of warm air hit the back of his neck. Then a deep voice came from behind him.

“What are you doing?”

Kevin swung around. His shoulder smacked the guy in the chin. The same dark-haired vampire guy from earlier.

“Ouch.” Vampire Guy backed up, rubbing his chin with his palm. “What the hell?” The guy sounded pissed. Well, that’s what he got for standing so close and whispering in a stranger’s ear.

“What are you…” Kevin didn’t get more words out. He couldn’t stop taking in the details. The dark hair just starting to gray at the temples in that sexy way some men could pull off. Those serious eyes. The intense way the man stared at Kevin. The strong jaw and smooth skin. Like he’d just shaved and put on aftershave lotion.

“I’m wondering what you’re doing sneaking out of an employee area.” The guy stepped closer. He had full lips. They were almost…pretty. Did vampires have pretty lips?

What would it be like?

Just one kiss.

It wouldn’t mean anything. Didn’t mean Kevin was going to date a guy. Or fuck him. Didn’t mean he’d be breaking the promise he’d made years ago. Bending it, maybe.

Vampire Guy leaned in, their bodies almost touching. “Looks like you found something you liked in there.” His gaze shot to the door of the employee locker room, then down to the bulge in the tight crotch of Kevin’s pants.

Kevin covered himself with his hand. Stupid. Fucking. Leather. Pants.

Yep, it was official. He was going to kill Myles.

He backed up. His right heel banged into the closed door behind him. He chose a different exit strategy and slunk by Vampire Guy. Not such a great move. He tripped over the man’s shoe and went sailing face-first for the floor. He caught himself on his hands and knees before his face smacked right into the floor. “Shit.”

Vampire Guy was laughing at him.

Jerk.

Asshole with a sexy-as-hell laugh.

He gripped Kevin by the upper arm and hauled him up. They were face-to-face now, closer than a moment before. Vampire Guy’s lips parted. His breath blew across Kevin’s lips. What would the man’s mouth feel like pressed against his own? Would he use his tongue? Would he pull Kevin close? Grind their bodies together like the men dancing in the bar?

Vampire Guy finally let go of Kevin’s arm and took a step back. “Are you going to answer me?”

“Huh?” Kevin leaned in, then forced himself to stop. “I got lost.”

“Okay. We’ll go with that. For now.” The man reclined against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “The name’s Simon. Walter Simon. I help out with the club’s security.”

The man the two guys in the locker room had been talking about. So maybe he wasn’t here because he was involved with Vargas. At least not sexually. Did he just say his name like
Bond, James Bond?
That almost had Kevin laughing. He held it in.

Simon
. Sounded like a name for a vampire. But… “Walter?” He realized too late he’d spoken the name aloud.
Walter
did not sound like the name for a vampire.

Kevin did laugh at that.

Walter Simon raised his eyebrows, and Kevin bit his lower lip to cut off the sound. Not a great idea to laugh at a potential source’s name.

“I’m Kevin. I wasn’t in there for sex.” He squeezed his eyes shut. How lame could he sound? So much for fitting in.

Walter laughed. A deep, long chuckle.

“I, uh… I mean… This is my first night here.”

“Well, have at it, then.” Walter gestured for Kevin to continue down the hall toward the dining room.

He was being dismissed.

Not sure why he felt the need to do so, Kevin stood his ground.

Walter dropped his arm. “Why are you here? At the Haven?”

Time to sound convincing. Kevin couldn’t get kicked out. He needed to find someone who knew the truth and would talk to him.

Like Walter Simon. If anyone knew what was going on, it would be someone who worked security.

Kevin just needed a minute to clear his head. Then the smart thing to do would be to grill Walter and find out what he knew about the missing men.

“You know, I’m here for”—Kevin shrugged and glanced down the length of the hall toward the dining room—“the good stuff.” If Walter hadn’t been staring at him so intently, Kevin would’ve smacked himself in the forehead. He sucked at this. Where was the confident persona he used to interview sources and talk to the cops?

Walter’s sexy laugh was back. It didn’t last as long this time, though. The employee locker room door swung open. The naked guy from earlier—now fully dressed—exited. Former Naked Guy stepped around Kevin and nodded at Walter. “Simon. Heard you were back.”

Walter returned the nod and said, “I’m not back.”

“That’s disappointing. I thought maybe you were here to play.”

“Not my scene anymore.”

Former Naked Guy shifted closer until he had his chest pressed to Walter’s shoulder. “I’m here all night if you change your mind.” He held the touch for a moment more, then moved back.

Without looking away from Kevin, Walter gave another nod, and Former Naked Guy walked down the hall. The clothes he now sported didn’t stop Kevin from staring at that perfect ass covered in the black dress slacks. When the guy turned the corner, Kevin found Walter still studying him, eyebrows raised, and this time he had a smirk on his lips.

Guys like him didn’t smile, did they? They made you kneel before them as they stared down at you, fisting your hair in a tight grip while you blew them. Just like in all the porn he’d watched.