Torcher scooted by the motorcycle with a skeptical expression, but his eyebrows rose as he ran his fingers over the underside of the fender. “You’ve done real good actually.”
Dex stood a bit taller. “You learn all about the best products when you clean up crime scenes.”
“No shit,” Torcher said, but his voice was like a blot somewhere on the edge of the page that had Dex’s handsome face in its center.
“And you’re saying you made all those lazy asses work for what is essentially a cosmetic change? What did you do to convince them?” Hammer asked, but his good humor was disturbed when the dark recesses of his brain came up with answers, which all featured Dex on his knees, sucking biker dick.
Dex led the way inside, but he put his hands into his pockets and held his arms close to his body, as if wanting to avoid accidentally touching Hammer at all cost. Which made for a confusing mixture with the way he held Hammer’s gaze for a prolonged time when he spoke.
“Oh, it was super easy once I explained to them how many hot women will come here if the bar is cool instead of a rundown janitor’s shed that smells of piss.”
Hammer chuckled, surprised. “I’ve told them before. I suppose you’re more convincing with your—” He smiled, and moved his hand in a frantic fashion before realizing how awkward that was and stuffing it into his pocket. Why the fuck had he done that? “I suppose the animal shelter might be another draw. Women love pets.” And now he was talking about pets instead of kissing Dex’s soft lips and grinding him into the wall. Why was he denying himself again?
Right. Reason.
“Just look at Cora. She’d die for her cats. Doyouwant pets? I planned a party tonight, for after we wrap up the renovations, but maybe you’d rather go get a puppy for your birthday?” Dex asked as if adopting a pet on a whim made any sense.
“Is it an either or kind of situation? Or can I have both?” Hammer asked, lacing his fingers on his nape as he took in the massive change in the clubhouse’s main room. Sure, the sofas and chairs were as ratty as they’d always been, but the new bar, made with big chunks of wood Dex must have brought from the junkyard, was already taking shape. The stained relic from thirty years ago was no more.
“Youcanhave both!” Dex’s enthusiasm only rose, to the point where Hammer considered getting a dog just to see Dex smile so widely. A pet would come with a built-in excuse for the prospect to stay with the dog at Hammer’s home. He could thenaccidentallycome back a day too early, slide into bed next to Dex and—
No. Hammer didn’t need to have an excuse to do any ofthat. Dex could be his without all that bullshit, but he’d made a conscious choice to assess things reasonably instead of getting sucked in by eagerly spread thighs.
“Both of what?” Finn asked, rising from behind the bar with a screwdriver in hand.
Hammer’s lips sealed. Because what was he to say? That he now wondered if it made sense to have a dog when he sometimes disappeared for days at a time? And since he wasn’t sure about cats either, would any rodents suffice? He wasn’t a bunny rabbit kind of guy, even though his home did come with a small garden.
He shrugged.
Dex grabbed a chair and some sandpaper. “Hammer’s thinking about getting a pet for his birthday, but I'm, like, why not go big and get a tiger?”
Finn cocked his head, slightly tense. “Is that so you canfeedhim people?”
The other guys had always been wary around Hammer, but Dex’s happy-go-lucky attitude toward the club enforcer-slash-executioner, was rubbing off on everyone.
Wasp, who’d descended from his ivory tower of sergeant-at-arms to hammer in nails, rubbed his mustache and stretched. “Why would Hammer even want a pet tiger? Instead of a dog? Overcompensating something?”
Hammer’s muscles stiffened further, and his throat was blocked as he analyzed the comment. If he went after Wasp too hard, he’d make himself look overly sensitive, but he didn’t want to be seen as weak either. Once again, he chewed on what was being said, stuck in the hell of allusions and context.
Dex grinned and licked his top lip as he started sanding down the edge of the bar counter. “Tigers are awesome! Have you ever seen a tiger’s dick? They have these spikes.”
It was a weird way to change the topic, but it triggered the memory of Dex’s hole stretching over cyberskin nubs as Hammer teased the tiger dick dildo in. He’d been such a pretty mess, moaning, humping a pillow while his face burned with arousal until it looked as though the red blots might never go away.
Was Hammer reallythatangry about Ryker escaping because of Dex?
What if Hammer was denying himself those sweet lips over a one-time lapse of judgment because he couldn’t get over—No. He knew damn well that hadn’t been the first crazy situation Dex had rushed into.
Wasp and Finn laughed. “Are you trying to tell me you fucked a tiger?”
“No, but I remembered some people eat dried tiger dick. Apparently it’s supposed to help with virility. Not something I need to worry about.” Dex stuck his tongue out at them.
Wasp shook his head. “Gays have it too easy. Look half-decent and you get laid at will.”
“Yeah, unless you want that one guy who doesn’t want you back.” Dex stole a quick glance at Hammer, but that brief moment was enough for thorns to sprout in Hammer’s chest.
Finn laughed. “Are you about to tell us a sob story?”
Dex shrugged. “No, I’m still talking about tigers. Did I tell you about the time Hammer saved me from Bandit? I was thinking I had some true connection with him, and I almost got into that overgrown cat’s cage. What I didn’t know was that this guy was watching me on the security camera.” He turned to Hammer. “Are you glad I didn’t become cat food?”