Page 23 of The Assassin
Kirby huffed. “Yes? Do you have something to say, sir?”
Gabriel didn’t think Darcy deserved asir, but he had a feeling Kirby really didn’t get a choice.
Darcy’s pretend act disappeared and he crossed his arms over his formfitting suit, sniffing like there was shit beneath his nose. He reminded Gabriel of some of the assassins in the Society, but not even Ardan was that stuck up. He said something to a woman next to him, a pretty redhead who wore a black pencil dress with a shiny gold name badge, before he walked around the reception desk and headed toward them, arms not moving from his chest.
“Mr….” He snorted delicately, or as delicately as a guy like him could. “Jester, as you call him, has offered to buy your contract on multiple occasions, with sums of money that’d be considered three times the amount you’re worth. It’s you who refuses to accept those offers.”
Kirby glanced at Gabriel out of the corner of his eye, almost like he wanted to say something, but then shrugged. “I don’t want to be bought. I’m not a possession.”
Darcy made a noise and spun on his shiny black shoes, storming away from the foyer completely. Gabriel watched him go and glanced at Kirby.
“You’re happy staying here?” he asked, securing Kirby against his side by curling his arm around his shoulders. “I brought you here to keep you safe from Leo. He’s dead now. You can leave any time you want, bug.”
“I know. I don’t want to though. It’s not bad.” He smiled at Gabriel and cocked his head. “What about you? You look too fucking happy. Come on, share it. As the ladies and guys say around here, share the dick goss.”
“Dick goss?” Gabriel’s chest rumbled with laughter.
“Oh, come on, most of the gossip around here is about dick. Are you going to share it with your favorite whore or not?” Kirby asked.
Bambi sidled up in front of them from somewhere to the left, his big doe eyes wide. There was a reason he got his nickname. While he looked innocent with those eyes and the young, round face and unruly brown hair, Bambi was anything but. “I thought I was the favorite.” He winked at them. “Hey, Gabriel. Are you going to share the night with me? I’m available tonight.”
Gabriel crossed his leg and leaned back into the sofa, taking a moment to give Bambi a onceover. Usually when Gabriel came to the Courtesan to visit Kirby, he spent the night with Bambi, and was never disappointed. Today was different. After a taste of Ardan, he didn’t crave anyone else’s skin but the assassin’s. “Actually, I’m not. I just want a room to sleep in.”
Bambi’s eyes widened. “Are you sick? Bliss is right. There’s definitely some dick goss there. Who’s caught the attention of our beloved hitman?”
“No one.” Gabriel smirked, though.
Kirby wiggled away from his hold and leaned forward so he could twist and look at Gabriel. “Is it that assassin? You definitely look like you’ve been in a few fights. I admit, I’m not usually surprised by injuries on you, but this time you look like you’ve been through a war.”
“I went to Pleasant Beach and spent some time with the Lords.”
Kirby rolled his eyes. “Those guys again? They’re trouble.”
“So are the Kings,” Gabriel said with a smug grin.
“Whatever.” Kirby waved his hand. “So you got into one of their little fight rings again, huh?”
Bambi clearly realized he’d been left out of the conversation. He waved his fingers at Gabriel as he left with an extra sway of his hips that might have caught Gabriel’s attention a few days ago.
“Me andthe assassindid, yes. The pres gave a no-kill order to Ardan, so he couldn’t touch me. Well, at least not a kill shot anyway.”
“Ardan is it now? You fucked, didn’t you?” Kirby bounced on the couch, excitement dancing in his eyes. Gabriel knew he’d been caught, so he stared at Kirby without saying a word. “Oh, don’t give me that look. I’m a whore. Or, you know, they call themselves professional sex workers around here. Whore is much easier to say. I know when people have fucked.”
Gabriel’s mouth turned upward and he shrugged. “Not killing me didn’t include not fucking.”
“Oh. My. God. Gabe!” Kirby punched him in the arm. “Are you serious? Did you and he have sex?”
“That’s what I said.”
His mouth dropped open and he bounced on the couch harder until the female hotel clerk cleared her throat and sent him a narrowed stare. Kirby didn’t seem to care. “How was it?”
“It was… rough.” The thought of having Ardan over that bathroom basin, then again in the guest bedroom, made his dick twitch. Everything about the other man called to an animal inside Gabriel, one that wanted to fuck, suck, and breed. It was ridiculous, but even thinking about Ardan had his face hot and gut churning in desire. “I left my marks on him.”
Kirby’s blue eyes widened. “So it was hate sex?”
“Is there any other kind of good fucking?” Gabriel leaned farther into the couch and laid his arm along the backrest.
“Yes… Public sex is awesome. I like it when Jester takes me over the bar at his clubhouse.” He grinned. “But hate sex is pretty damn good too.”
