Page 40 of Heist

Hunter waved his hand. “No worries, I own the restaurant. They’ll seat us.”

Patrick smirked. Hunter Novak owned half the restaurants and nightclubs in the country it seemed. Not to mention several Vegas casinos. Half might have been a slight exaggeration, but it didn’t feel that way sometimes.

True to his word, the upscale restaurant quickly made space when they realized Mr. Novak was one of the extra guests in the party.

Patrick held Austin’s hand and twisted her bracelet with his thumb while they waited.

As they were walking to the table, Patrick slowed their gait, so they were trailing behind the group. When there was a good distance between them, he leaned in and whispered, “You’re in big trouble for not telling me about the nightclub.”

Austin tried to squirm away from him, but he gripped her hand harder. “I’m glad you’re wearing a skirt. As soon as we get to the table, you’re going to the bathroom to take your panties off. In fact, you should probably just stop wearing them without my permission.”

Austin whimpered as he pressed a kiss to her neck. They were approaching their table now and he pulled her chair out for her.

“Actually,” Austin said, “I think I’ll excuse myself to the ladies’ room before I sit.”

Patrick packed her cheek and sat in the chair next to hers. Holly followed Austin to the bathroom and Patrick was left alone with the other men.

“No girl tonight, Hunter?” Patrick asked as the waiter poured water into all their glasses.

Hunter grinned. “I’ve got a few lined up for the club.”

“Of course you do.”

“Hey, I’ll share,” he said with a wink.

“I’ve got a date but maybe you can hook Grant up,” Patrick said for Elijah’s benefit.

The girls returned to the table then and Patrick and Elijah stood to pull their chairs out for them.

As Patrick slid back into his seat, he felt Austin’s balled up fist rest on his thigh. He held his palm out and she pressed her panties into it. He leaned back just enough to slid them into his pocket before draping his arm around the back of her chair.

The group enjoyed dinner, wine, and dessert until it was time to head to Hunter’s nightclub.

As they were getting settled into the VIP lounge area, Patrick wrapped Austin in a hug from behind and whispered in her ear. “Don’t drink too much tonight, baby girl. I need you clear headed and able to consent when I tie you up and fuck you in the ass later.”

Austin stiffened against him and Patrick nipped at her neck until she relaxed. “Is that ass mine?” he asked, his breath hot against her ear.

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered back to him.

“Good girl. Let’s have fun with our friends.”

Around midnight, after a round of dancing, Patrick noticed Holly and Grant were missing from the group. Elijah and Hunter were deep in conversation, so Patrick dropped a kiss on Austin’s cheek and went in search of them.

As he rounded the corner in the direction of the offices and bathrooms, he heard Holly’s voice.

“You need to stop, Grant. Do you know what Elijah would do if he’d caught you trying to kiss me on the dance floor?”

Patrick froze where he was and listened. “I’m sure it would involve some kind of physical abuse,” Grant slurred.

Fuck. Holly was an adult, but Patrick wanted to go get Elijah. He tamped down the urge and stayed where he was.

“What Elijah and I do behind closed doors is none of your business. I’m with him now, and you need to fucking accept that. Please don’t make me choose between my commitment to my fiancé and my friendship with you because you’ll lose every time.”

“He’s not good for you, Holly.”

“Stop it, Grant. Keep your hands off me.”

Those were the magic words. Patrick couldn’t stay in the shadows anymore. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” he said in a stern tone as he stepped around the corner.

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