Burning Bright Read Online Free PDF

then?”
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    He closed his phone and got some water, then the doorbell rang. He buzzed Marty in and opened the front door. Marty appeared with two large Corner Bakery bags that emitted enticing aromas of eggs and toasted bread. And coffee. Definitely coffee.
    Sasha’s stomach growled.
    Marty looked good, dressed in a dark amethyst Henley and jeans. His curly russet-brown hair brushed his collar and always made Sasha want to bury his hands in it. Marty’s brown eyes widened, and he gaped at Sasha. “Jesus, you look like shit.”
    “Thanks, man. That’s what I want to hear the day before an interview.”
    Marty blushed and set the bags on the counter. “Vince wanted to come, but he’s got a big pitch meeting today. He’s worried about you too. How are you?”
    “Good, actually,” Sasha said. He turned away to get plates and glasses. “Thanks for bringing over food. It smells fantastic.”
    “I’m really sorry we didn’t go to get your wallet with you, man. Vince is beside himself.” He paused. “Now tell me what happened.”
    Sasha sighed and sat down and Marty joined him, pulling boxes out of the bags. After telling Marty about his attack in the alley he changed the subject. “How’s work?”
    Marty shrugged. “I wish I could open my own spa, but it’s not bad. I get enough massage clients that I keep busy, but you know how it is.”
    “Yeah.”
    Marty stayed in the business after they left massage school, even after he hooked up with his partner, Vince Miller. Sasha wasn’t jealous of Vince, but he missed messing around with Marty. Things might have gone better if Sasha had been older, or Marty more pushy, or something…
    Besides, Neal seemed interested… He glanced at the card, sitting on the table next to the salt shaker.
    He looked up to find Marty watching him. “Does your eye hurt?”
    Sasha shrugged. “Yeah. My ribs hurt worse, though.” He lifted his shirt and showed him the bruising.
    “Fuck. You’re lucky they didn’t kill you.”
    A chill shocked through him. “I know.”
    Marty flushed and looked down at his plate. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” He hesitated. “I think I met someone.”
    Marty’s slow grin lighted his brown eyes as he played with his food with the fork. “Oh?” His tone sounded too casual.
    “Yeah.” Sasha took a bite of egg. “He’s really hot.”
    “Is he in the scene?”
    Hmm. Would owning the club be “in the scene”? Sasha smirked. “You might say that, yeah.”
    “And does he like you?”
    “I think so,” Sasha admitted. “He seemed to, anyway.”
    Marty sat back. “You did not let someone top you after getting assaulted. Tell me you didn’t.”
    “Sorry.”
    “Holy shit, man. How was it? How do you get spanked with broken ribs?”
    “It was short,” he admitted. “We couldn’t do much actual play. But he has really strong hands and likes to control the situation.”
    Sharing the details of his encounter with Neal took up the rest of the breakfast. Marty helped him carry their dishes to the sink.
    “I still have to go back and get my truck.”
    “You left it there ?” Marty put his hands on his hips. “You really want me to call your aunt?”
    Sasha gaped at him. “For leaving my truck there?”
    “You don’t even know these people, Sasha.” Marty waved his hands around. “They could be into really weird shit, you don’t know.”
    “Like the scene?” he snapped, stuffing the plate into the dishwasher.
    “I… Sasha, I didn’t mean that, come on. Be reasonable. You meet this guy, he drugs you up and drops you at home without once being seen by a doctor? And that doesn’t sound strange to you?”
    “I don’t have insurance. Besides, Steve was a medic in the Corps.”
    “The ‘Corps’?” Marty echoed. “You sound like one of them now.”
    “I had a really good time, dammit.” Sasha glared at him. “We can’t all have steady boyfriends and