Stripped Bare Read Online Free PDF Page B

palpable.
    “Don’t play the bloody innocent with me. You know exactly why I’ve put up with you over the past three years since your father died.”
    “Put up with me?” Matthew’s voice rose. “I’ve worked my backside off for you, Walter. Believe me, I’ve earned every bloody penny you’ve ever paid me. But I draw the line at cover-ups where I believe you, or more likely, this piece of shit from the look of his hand.” He gestured to Roy. “Beat your own son senseless and then expect me to help you protect yourself. And I’ve no bloody idea what the hell you’re talking about as far as the thing with my dad is concerned.” His voice broke.
    He hated the emotions building up inside. He wasn’t good with emotion.
    Walter was looking at him knowingly. “You really don’t know about it, do you?” he said, almost to himself. “All these bloody years and I was worried about nothing.” His voice was almost wondrous, his face relieved. He turned to face Shane. “How in the hell did you know David was down here anyway? Who told you? And how did you get my home number?” His face turned rosy with anger.
    Matthew noted he didn’t contradict his accusation about letting Roy beat his son.
    Shane regarded Walter, a sneer on his face. “There’s this fag club I go to in the city. I was in one of the toilets the other day and lo and behold on the back of the door was your name and number. It said you sucked dick really well, so I wrote it down in case I needed it. But now I’ve met you there’s no way you’re going anywhere near my dick.” He shot out a quick, hungry grin. “But I bet he’d like you to blow him.” He motioned at Roy.
    The other man went white, his eyes murderous, and he regarded Shane with a deadly gaze. Matthew closed his eyes in dread at Shane’s snark, even as he wanted to snigger out loud at the man’s quick wit. Undoubtedly he just made things worse.
    Roy stepped forward, his face full of hate, his hands balling into fists that had already done violence that night.
    Shane inched closer to Roy in defiance and Matthew could sense the suppressed violence in the man.
    Much as Matthew would like to do the same thing, this was neither the time nor the place. Walter’s face was thunderous, his lips white, and he was probably a minute away from punching Shane himself.
    Matthew moved forward swiftly and pulled Shane to one side, stepping in front of him as he faced his soon-to-be ex-employer. “Walter, this is a hospital. We don’t need another beating victim. That would shoot your little story all to hell. Just leave it alone.”
    Walter glared at him, but his face said he knew. He couldn’t afford a scene if he wanted to play out his own version of the truth.
    “Luckily I’m a gentleman,” he blustered. “So I’ll let that comment pass me by. I also don’t want to soil my hands with your blood. God knows what I could catch. But you are a little shit, aren’t you, pretty boy.” He was looking at Shane with utter dislike.
    Shane growled beside him. “You’re just a damned bully, Debussy,” he snarled. “David was petrified earlier to go home. Now I know why, you bastard.”
    Roy moved forward toward Shane, his hands balled into fists. He hocked up a wad of phlegm and spat it on Shane’s shoes.
    Shane’s face whitened and Matthew grabbed his arm. It took all Matthew’s strength to hold him back. “Leave it, Shane. He’s not worth it.”
    Roy smiled like a shark. “Your little pretty toy-boy fuck, is he, Matthew? You want to watch him. He’s a real little slag.”
    Matthew wanted nothing more than to punch the smirk off Roy’s face himself, but that wouldn’t help the situation. He was still struggling to hold Shane back, the violence in the man’s body simply oozing the promise of the pleasure of pain to Walter’s factotum.
    Walter shook his head, looking amused by all the male testosterone in the air. “Just because you’ve both had your cock up my son’s arse