“You a hacker too? Or one of those bodyguards?”
“Neither. I’m a private investigator with The Merleau Detection Agency.”
“No shit,” Vince said, sounding impressed.
“Tanner here too?” Quinn asked like he was trying to distract Vince from whatever question he was about to blurt out next.
“Yep. Kitchen. You gonna stick around? Neither Tanner or me caught the wrestling pay-per-view this past weekend. We’ve got pizza coming.”
“Nah, I’m just grabbing my laundry. Gonna run a load at Ward while I’m working a case with Shane.”
Vince made a noise in the back of his throat. “Man, you work too hard. You gotta tell that boss of yours that he’s got to stop riding your ass.”
Quinn was saved from having to answer by the arrival of another man, who had the same massive physique. He was also in basketball shorts, but the sleeves of his T-shirt had been cut off.
“Dude! Where’ve you been? We thought you were dead!” The man who Shane assumed was Tanner plopped down on the couch next to Vince and handed him one of the beers he’d been carrying. “Wings are in the oven.”
“Working,” Quinn said with a roll of his eyes, but Shane had a feeling neither of his roommates were paying attention to him. The view on the TV panned to show a packed stadium and a squared ring with surrounding ropes.
“Go get your laundry. I’ll wait,” Shane prodded. Quinn threw him one last questioning look like he’d lost his fucking mind, but Shane just smirked. He understood Quinn’s reluctance. These two men couldn’t have been more different from Quinn if they tried. They were every bro he’d ever met at the local sports bars. Loud, crude, and possessed zero filter between their brains and their mouths. On the exterior, they could be boiled down to beer, sports, and sex.
And he could guess that for Quinn, there was nothing but the exterior. Quinn was inches smaller and didn’t possess their muscles. His survival instincts would have told him to keep his distance. All Shane could figure was that the rent must have been ridiculously low if Quinn was willing to call this place home even temporarily.
But just a few minutes of talking with Vince left Shane inclined to think that there was at least more to that man than Quinn was likely aware. He might have been loud and slightly obnoxious, but Shane was willing to bet that there was a part of Vince that had been genuinely worried about his roommate and his extended absence. Possibly even hurt.
Quinn returned minutes later with a large laundry bag slung over his shoulder like he was one of Santa’s helpers. Another messenger bag was hanging off his shoulder. It was like he had an endless supply of laptops.
“All right. We’re out,” he announced as he quickly crossed in front of the TV, heading back toward the front door.
“It was good to meet you,” Shane said with a wave toward Vince and Tanner. Vince gave him an absent nod, his eyes never leaving the TV, while Tanner called after Quinn.
“Tell that fucking boss of yours to give you a night off. Or a raise!”
“I’m not paying you more rent,” Quinn sang back to him.
“At least take a vacation day and get laid,” Vince shouted.
Shane chuckled as he closed the front door behind Quinn. “You know that’s not a bad idea at all,” he said in a low voice when they were alone in the hall.
Quinn smirked at him. “We’ll see if you’re that lucky.”Shane wasn’t expecting to be attacked the moment they closed his condo door behind them. Quinn dropped his bags and pushed him into the wood, that wonderful mouth of his pressing for entrance into Shane’s. He opened for Quinn, his eyes shutting at the sheer pleasure that swamped him when Quinn slid his tongue into his mouth. The guy may not have had many good experiences with sex, but someone had taught him to kiss. Or he was the best natural Shane had ever been with.
Quinn’s hands ran up and down his chest before he delved underneath Shane’s T-shirt. Quinn shuddered when his hands ran over Shane’s bare skin and something in Shane’s belly tightened at his response. It was just so unaffected, so honest. The man had a deep well of sexual hunger and apparently, he’d only slept with idiots before this. Shane could feel his need in every move, every ragged breath, not to mention how fast Quinn got hard—every single time they touched.
The heady possibilities of what they could do together made Shane dizzy. He wanted to explore every single carnal desire Quinn had. Fingers delved through the hair on Shane’s chest, then moved down to his happy trail, then over the abs he sweated his ass off to get.
A low, rumbling groan vibrated into his mouth and Shane felt a strange, giddy pride that his body garnered such a response.