But before they could get far, a light tap on her shoulder brought her around. Her smile faded fast when she saw who it was. Domino.
Diamond arched a brow. “Do you need something?”
“I’m taking Fiji to the hotel,” Domino said, not looking the least bit concerned. “She’s toast.”
Sayer glanced over, still holding Diamond’s hand. “Hang on. We’ve got some private rooms in the back. She can sleep it off here.”
“Works for me,” Domino said with a smirk. “She’s laid out on the meeting room table.”
Diamond couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped her.
Still gripping her hand, Sayer led them back through the crowd, clearing a path with quiet authority. Diamond let herself be pulled along, shoulder-checking a guy who got a little too close as they passed. The music pounded, the party raged, and somewhere behind them, someone shouted out the start of a drinking contest.
Diamond shook her head, arms crossed, as Domino gently tucked FiFi under a blanket like she was putting a toddler to bed after a sugar crash. The sight of the fierce, fire-mouthed Harlot passed out cold on a borrowed mattress made her smirk. When she glanced up at Sayer, she caught him biting back a laugh of his own.
“Do you have a prospect who can be put on this door?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” he said, already pulling out his phone. “I can scrounge one up for you.”
They lingered outside the room while Sayer fired off a quick message. A few minutes later, a lanky prospect wandered into view. The kid looked like he hadn’t quite grown into his limbs—tall, a little awkward, definitely not the intimidating type. Diamond eyed him like a mechanic sizing up a cracked wrench.
“This is Stretch,” Sayer said with a smirk, clearly amused by the name. “Stretch, see that girl in there? Where she goes, you go. And remember—she’s a full patch. You’re a lonely little prospect.”
Stretch straightened, trying to look tough. “Got it. But… uh, Sayer—if she rolls into the main party…”
“As long asyou’renot drinking and you’re only babysitting, you’re good,” Sayer replied.
Stretch gave a slow nod, like he was still catching up. “So… what you want is for her to sleep off some of her party?”
“Exactly,” Diamond said, already stepping away. “If she so much as sneezes too loud, you call him.”
Stretch nodded again, wide-eyed and serious. “Yes, ma’am.”
Domino didn’t wait around for a debrief. She turned and quickened her pace down the hall, tossing a casual wave over her shoulder before disappearing around the corner. Diamond started to follow, already thinking about that drink she still hadn’t gotten—until Sayer caught her by the wrist.
He turned her gently, guiding her away from the noise, down the dim hallway. She gave him a curious look, but let herself be led.
“You wanna spend some quiet time with me,” he murmured, “or go back to the party?”
She smiled, slow and sly. “I can’t say it’ll be quiet, but I’d love to spend some alone time with you.”
That earned her a full grin. He kept her moving, one step at a time, until her back pressed against a door. His hand braced above her head, and he leaned in, close enough the smell of smoke, leather, and cologne hit her in waves.
With the other hand, he reached around her, found the knob, and twisted it open.
The door clicked open behind her, but Diamond didn’t move. Not until Sayer’s mouth was on hers again. His kiss was heat and hunger, no hesitation, no games. She pushed into it, grabbing the front of his cut with both hands and yanking him closer as if she’d been waiting all damn night.
He walked her backward into the room, their mouths never parting, until the backs of her knees hit the bed. He broke the kiss just long enough to shrug off his cut and toss it over the nearest chair. His eyes glued to her like she might disappear if he blinked.
The lights were low, the room cast in warm gold and shadows. Outside, the thump of music and party noise pulsed through the walls, but in here, it was just them. Rough hands, heated breath, that buzzing static of tension finally snapping.
“You gonna behave?” he asked, voice low and teasing.
Diamond smirked, sliding her hands up under his shirt to feel the heat of his skin. “Never.”
He groaned as she raked her nails down his chest, then over his abs. “Didn’t think so.”
Clothes hit the floor in a messy trail—boots, belts, layers of leather and denim. When he laid her back against the mattress, her body arched to meet him. His mouth was on her neck, handsfirm on her thighs, and for a minute the whole world blurred—until?—
