Then the dude swung. Devon dodged the drunken arc and charged. Jones hit the wall before he’d realized he’d missed, and Devon landed a solid right hook. The pain that seared through Devon’s knuckles at the contact was totally worth it to see the dazed look on the idiot’s face. Jones tried to swing back, landing a few grazing blows and one that hurt like a son of a bitch in his ribs. But Devon had the advantage being sober and taller. A crowd was gathering, and he could feel Hunter and his other brothers behind him, but he appreciated that they didn’t jump in yet. They were letting Devon handle it.
When Devon landed a punch to the guy’s gut that sent Jones sliding to the floor and a picture of the graduating class of 1993 crashing down along with him, Devon backed up and shook out his hand. “Now look who’s on his knees for me.”
The guy tossed out a few standards from the homophobe handbook as he tried to get to his feet, and Devon kicked him back down, anger boiling over.
Brad put a hand on him, easing him back. “We’ve got him.”
Devon let himself get pulled back, but he was having trouble catching his breath and regaining his composure. So much of him wanted to rail on the guy—give payback for all the times he’d been called hateful names, for all the shit people like this put him and others through, for this idiot outing Hunter. Bu
t when he saw Alice’s wide, scared eyes and some of the gazes of the crowd, he knew he’d taken it too far already.
Devon stalked back to the couch and lowered himself onto it while Brad and Mark grabbed Jones by the arms and hauled him outside.
Alice was kneeling in front of him in an instant. “Oh my god, sweetie. Are you okay? You’re bleeding.”
He tried to take a deep breath, but that shit hurt and he let out a groan. “Fuck.”
“Here, out of the way,” said a deep, familiar voice. “We have a first aid kit under the sink in the hall bathroom. Can you grab that, Alice? And everyone else, party’s over.”
“Sure,” Alice said. There were grumbles from everyone else.
Devon looked up to see Hunter shifting into the spot Alice had vacated. His eyes met Devon’s. “Where does it hurt?”
Devon could tell Hunter was fighting through the haze of the alcohol. His gaze was focused but his movements were slow and clumsy—at least in comparison to Hunt’s normal graceful athleticism. “I’m fine. He just got me in the ribs. Kinda hurts to breathe.”
Hunter frowned. “He could’ve cracked one. Which side?”
Devon put his hand to his left side, and Hunter went right for the hem of his T-shirt. He pushed it up, examining the expanse of skin beneath. Gentle fingers touched Devon’s ribs. Devon closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. There was pain, but the warm tingle that traveled over his skin from the touch was something altogether different. Hunter was here, at his side, touching him in public.
The other guys came back in, letting them know that Jones had been handled. Brad tucked his hands in his pockets, frowning. “How bad is it?”
“We might need to bring him to the ER to get checked out,” Hunter said, not moving his hand away.
Devon groaned. “Fuck that. I’ll be fine. Just give me some whiskey.”
“Or bring him upstairs, Riley, and do some of that Grade A cocksucking you were talking about. That’ll make him feel better,” Mark said with a grin.
Devon choked and Hunter stilled.
Devon recovered first. “Then you’ll get jealous, Mark. I think it’s your turn tonight. The rest of you can get in line since now we’re the fraternity of cocksucking freaks. Just don’t use teeth this time. You know I hate that.”
“Oh, if that’s happening, then I’m totally staying around to watch,” Alice said, strolling back into the room with the first aid kit. She handed the white box to Hunter and plopped onto the other couch in the spot where Hunter’s date used to be. “And I’m taking pictures, so make sure and give me good angles. A girl’s gotta have a good stock for her spank bank.”
“A girl spank bank?” Mark turned and put his hand over his heart. “I am so fucking in love with you right now. Marry me?”
Devon laughed and then cringed when pain shot through his abdomen.
“Let’s see some action first and then I’ll decide.” She crossed her legs and leaned back with a smirk. “I’m waiting.”
Mark turned and clapped his hands. “All right, Riley, out of the way. Time to dish out some man love. I’ve got a kinky girl to impress. And someone get the Listerine ready for afterward.”
Everyone laughed, and Hunter’s shoulders eased down a bit. This was all a joke. They were assuming Hunter’s earlier comment was just talking shit like they all were now. Everyone was used to Hunter and Devon play flirting, being over the top. The ball of tension in Devon’s chest unfurled a bit.
Hunter pressed a folded-up gauze to a cut on Devon’s eyebrow. “Mark, if you think you’re getting anywhere near my man, you’re crazy. I’ve got this shit on lockdown.”
The words were said in jest, but Hunter’s expression was pensive as he dabbed the blood from Devon’s brow and put a bandage on it.
“Selfish bastard,” Mark declared. “Come on, Brad. That leaves you, you ugly fucker. Let’s give this woman a show.”