Roped (18 page)

“Aww, c’mon. I was gonna give you a celebratory fuck in honor of your new job,” Jamie teased and bumped Tek’s shoulder.

“Oh, we’ll be celebrating all right,” Tek agreed, grinning widely. He slapped Jamie on the butt and added, “You can bet your sweet ass on it.” Tek’s grin grew impossibly wider at the indecipherable curse Jamie mumbled, but Tek got the gist of the complaint.

The subway cooperated for once, and they arrived at the club twenty minutes early. “Better early than late I always say,” Tek announced and opened the door for Jamie.

“Since when have you said that?” Jamie countered. “I swear you’re going to be late for your own funeral.”

“Damn right, I am,” Tek sniffed. “By about fifty years if I can help it.”

The club was a mix of modern sleek and dark gothic, not exactly what Tek had expected. Come to think of it, he really didn’t know what he’d expected. He’d never been in a leather daddy club, but this was nothing like he’d imagined. High-gloss black tables and chrome mingled with old, heavy, leather couches and wrought-iron hanging lanterns. The few men in the club weren’t what Tek had expected either. Not a single piece of leather. The couple of men at the bar were dressed in sports coats and those sitting at the tables were sporting a preppy college-kid look.

“Nice place,” Jamie commented.

“Yeah, it is,” Tek responded.
Real nice
, Tek mused with a frown.
Maybe too nice for a dumbass ex-biker
like me
.

Tek nodded to the men at the bar when he approached, then held out his hand to the bartender. “Hi, I’m looking for Ty.”

The bartender shook his hand and smiled warmly. “You found him. You must be Tek?”

“Yes, nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind I brought my partner along,” Tek said, stabbing a thumb over his shoulder at Jamie, who was flanking him. “This is Jamie. He’s just gonna sit in the corner and wait for me.”

“Don’t mind at all,” Ty said and held out his hand to Jamie. “Nice to meet you. And you’re more than welcome to sit in on the interview.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Jamie replied, accepting Ty’s handshake. “But I don’t want to impose. I’m just here to take Tek out to celebrate his new job,” Jamie teased.

“I like your confidence,” Ty chuckled. “But really, it’s no imposition. Trust me, if Tek here takes the job, my partner will be sitting in on the final interview,” he said with a wink.

Tek instantly liked Ty. He had a warm smile and a laid-back attitude. Tek could picture the short, stocky man with his longish blond hair and clean-cut look catching a wave.

“Have a seat. Can I get either of you a drink?” Ty offered.

“No, I’m good, but thank you,” Tek said and took a seat at the bar. Jamie declined as well and took the stool next to Tek.

“Hope you don’t mind, but I have to work the bar while we chat. My bartender is running a little late.”

“Not at all,” Tek assured him.

“Okay, cool. So Tek, you have any experience bouncing?” Ty raised a brow. “Not that you would need any with your size.”

“I did a little a couple years ago.” He glanced around the room. “Doesn’t look like you have much need for a bouncer,” he noted. Damn sure nothing like the rowdy crowd they had at the MC every night.

“Doesn’t get busy until later, but it’s the weekends that can get insane. Do you have a problem with working weekends?” Ty asked him.

“Nope, prefer it actually,” Tek commented. And so would Jamie. Jamie didn’t work weekends, and knowing his lover like he did, Jamie would want to be somewhere in the crowd when Tek was working.

They spent the next half hour talking and laughing, nothing too serious or personal, more about how crazy drunks can get than anything else. Tek’s initial impression of Ty as being a nice, friendly man only intensified over the course of their chat, and by the time the late bartender showed up, Tek was feeling pretty confident he had the job.

“About time you got here,” Ty said as a dark curly-haired man joined him behind the bar.

“Don’t be bustin’ my ass, boss,” the bartender sniffed. “Tackett already did that.” He giggled as he tied an apron around his waist. “Whoa,” he exclaimed when he took in Tek and Jamie. “If I didn’t already have a man, I’d be crawling all over those mountains,” he commented to Ty with a flirty smile on his full lips.

Tek felt Jamie stiffen next to him, so he placed a reassuring hand on Jamie’s thigh and squeezed.

“Oh please, Micah,” Ty told him drolly; then an evil glint ignited in his eyes. “Why don’t you hit on that one?” he suggested, pointing to Tek. “’Cause I’d really, really love to see your scrawny ass tied into a pretzel by that one,” he said, pointing to Jamie.

“Jesus H. Christ!” Micah barked. “You two are a couple?” he asked, mouth agape and eyes wide as he looked back and forth between Jamie and Tek. “Which one of you is the boy?”

“The what?” Tek asked in confusion.

“You know, the submissive. I’d really like to know, because….” Micah whistled and brought his hand to his chest dramatically. “That would make the other one one badass mega-Dom.” He poked Ty with an elbow. “Not to mention a scary son of a bitch, huh, Ty?”

Ty grunted and shoved at Micah. “Would you behave,” Ty chastised. “Tek, Jamie, this is Micah Slade, soon-to-be ex-bartender. Tek is thinking about coming to work for us.”

Micah stuck his tongue out at Ty and then turned his attentions back to Tek. “You sure you want to work here? The boss can be a real Debbie downer sometimes.” Micah leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “And a bit of a drama queen.”

“Micah,” Ty warned.

“I mean, he’s the best boss ever,” Micah said with a wink. “Better get to work. Welcome aboard, Tek. Nice to meet you, Jamie,” he tossed over his shoulder and wiggled his way down to the customers at the end of the bar.

Ty sighed heavily, but the twitch of his lip was evidence he was used to the small man’s antics. “You have to excuse Micah,” he said to Tek and Jamie. “He’s a bit of a fruit cup, but he’s a lovable one. He flirts like the dickens. Makes him popular with the clientele, but don’t let him fool you. He’s head over heels in love with his man and loyal to a fault.”

“I think he’s adorable,” Jamie chuckled as he continued to watch Micah.

“And taken,” Tek grunted. “And so are you,” he reminded Jamie. But Tek could easily admit the little shit was adorable.

Ty and Jamie both laughed.

“So, Tek,” Ty asked, still chuckling. “Interested in the job?”

“Yes,” Tek said with a nod. “I’m very interested.”

“Good! You’ll have to pass the scrutiny of Blake, but I’m sure you’ll do just fine. And I’ll put in a good word for you. Can you start Friday?”

“I’ll be here, and thank you, I really appreciate it,” Tek said sincerely.

“So do I,” Ty said, holding out his hand out again. “Welcome to the Guards of Folsom.”

“I told you you would get the job,” Jamie said proudly as they walked out.

Feeling damn good about the interview, Tek slung his arm over Jamie’s shoulder. “I think it’s going to be great working there. I really like Ty.”

“Me too,” Jamie agreed. “And that Micah guy would be fun to work with. He’s cute.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” Tek grumped.

“Maybe,” Jamie teased. “But you are cuter, especially when you get all possessive,” Jamie chuckled.

“Wait till we get home, I’ll show you how possessive I can be of your ass.” Tek smirked.

“Well, you do deserve a celebration.”

“Damn right, I do,” Tek said happily. He was really looking forward to working at the club and relieved they wouldn’t be homeless come winter.

As they made their way to the subway, Jamie suddenly asked, “What did Micah mean about one of us being a boy and a mega-Dom?”

“He probably assumed we were members of the club,” Tek informed him.

Jamie was silent for a moment and then admitted. “I don’t get it.”

“It’s a BDSM club, Jamie. You know, Dominants, submissives, leather, bondage, spankings, that kind of stuff.”

Jamie stopped dead in his tracks. “You’re shittin’ me.”

“Nope, dead serious.”

“Wow,” Jamie said, sounding shocked.

Jamie started walking again but kept glancing at Tek with a strange look on his face. “What?” Tek asked.

“Bondage, huh?”

“Yeah, you got a problem with that?” Tek inquired.

“Kinky.”

“Yeah, so? I’m just going to be working the door, Jamie, not tying anyone up and spanking them.”

“I know.”

“So what the hell is that weird look for?” Tek demanded.

Jamie ignored his question and raised his brows, lip twitching. “I think I should be the mega-Dom.”

“Oh hell no,” Tek snorted. “You are definitely the boy tonight. This is my damn celebration.”

Jamie’s smile turned into a roughish leer. “For tonight.”

Jamie took the stairs down to the subway, and it was Tek’s turn to stop dead in his tracks when he heard Jamie mutter something about “I’m gonna need a really thick rope.”

Life has a strange way of steering you directly down the path you were meant to travel, ending up at a place you were meant to be. I don’t know if I ever believed in the whole destiny, fate, mumbo jumbo or if it was simply a coincidence. All I know is that behind the door of a BDSM club in New York City, I found a job, amazing friends, and discovered a whole new side of me. Damnedest things, those coincidences.

Tek Cain

L
EANING
BACK
in his chair, legs stretched out, Jamie tapped his finger against the tabletop in time to the techno beat blaring from the speakers. He had a perfect view of the crowded club, the bar, dance floor, seating areas, and most importantly, he had a clear view of the door where Tek stood arms across his chest, looking imposing as hell. And fucking hot. Tek’s hair had grown back out, curling up against the collar of his black dress shirt. He’d also allowed his goatee to grow back in, although he now kept it closely trimmed after Jamie discovered what that prickly stubble felt like against the insides of his thighs and against his stomach. Tek was also wearing black dress pants; the soft material clung to him like a second skin, highlighting his thin waist, muscular thighs, and perfectly sculpted ass. Jamie had never been big into fashion, but after seeing Tek dressed up, he had a new appreciation for tailored clothing.

Jamie’s admiration of dress clothes wasn’t the only new discovery he’d made within the walls of the Guards of Folsom. He also found he was very, very appreciative of a man in leather. The way leather clung to a masculine form, the way it smelt, the feel of it, and thick strips of it across a broad chest was a major fucking turn-on. Another thing he’d discovered was that after years of hiding his affections for Tek, being in a place where men touched, kissed, and danced openly was a freeing experience. He no longer felt like a freak, no longer angry. He was finally at peace.

“Please forgive my forwardness, but are you Jamie?”

Jamie stiffened and turned toward the voice. He frowned at the older man with salt and pepper hair at the next table. He was dressed in black leather pants and his black T-shirt was tight against his broad chest. He was smaller than Jamie but still an imposing figure. Jamie wasn’t used to anyone but Tek calling him that, and it also unnerved him a stranger would know him.

“Who wants to know?” he asked warily.

“Tackett Austin,” the stranger said and held out his hand.

Jamie’s frown deepened. He didn’t know this man, and he hated being at a disadvantage. He slid his left hand into the pocket of his jacket, fingers wrapping around the butt of his gun, and shook the man’s hand with his right.

“Can’t say as I ever heard of you.”

“We’ve never met,” Tackett said with a smile. “But I couldn’t help but notice the way you were watching Tek.”

Jamie tensed and slid his finger against the trigger. How the fuck did this man know Tek?

“My boy came home all in a flutter of excitement telling me about the two mountain-size men he’d met. I put two and two together.” Tackett’s grin turned smug. “I think I should thank you for that,” he chuckled. “Micah can be… a challenge when he’s wound up.”

Jamie relaxed and pulled his hand from his pocket. “I can imagine,” Jamie snorted. “I met him when Tek was interviewing for the job. He’s a spitfire.”

“You have no idea. Do you mind if I join you,” Tackett asked, pointing to the empty chair next to Jamie.

“Be my guest.”

Tackett brought his bottle of water and slid into the chair. “Enjoying the club so far?”

Jamie nodded. “It’s a lot different than the clubs back home.”
Fuck!
That was the understatement of the century, although there was almost as much leather.

“Really? Where are you from?” Tackett asked.

Shit!
“Out west,” he responded vaguely and changed the subject quickly. “I meant, I’d never been in a BDSM club before.”

“Really? How long have you been in the lifestyle?”

Jamie felt his cheeks heat, and he hid it behind his bottle of water, tipping it up and drinking half of it down. “I’m… we’re not in… we’re not….” Jamie waved his hand weakly, trying to find the right words. He’d never discussed his sex life with anyone but Tek, and even they hadn’t discussed kinks. “This is a new experience for both of us,” he finally settled on. “I didn’t even know what a mega-Dom was.”