An Unexpected Win by Jenna Byrnes Page A

the sofa next to him. “Been a bad week?”
    “You don’t know the half of it. I called you. You never answered.”
    “I’m sorry. We’ve been busy.”
    Carter glanced at him and snorted. “I can imagine. Fucking twenty-four seven, I’ll bet.”
    “Of course not. Hawk has a job, and I’ve been going with him. To a children’s hospital. It’s a pretty amazing place.”
    He didn’t seem to hear, or, for that matter, care. “Hawk’s the bastard who stole my sub.”
    “He didn’t ‘steal’ anything. You lost me in a card game, remember? He gave us the chance to back out. I didn’t have ten thousand dollars so I had to agree to the barter you’d made.”
    He snorted. “Ten thousand dollars? Shit, we don’t seem to have one thousand dollars. Have one helluva stack of bills, though. They’re just piling right up, aren’t they?”
    Trey sighed. Besides missing him, Carter had been looking into his finances. That was enough to drive anyone to drink. “Yeah, I’m afraid they are. I was going to talk to you about that when I got home.”
    Carter stared at him with glassy eyes. “Is this still your home? Or are you moving in with those Indian bastards and their big dicks?”
    “Kel is gone. It’s just been Hawk there all week.” For some reason he thought the comment would be reassuring. He instantly realized that it was not.
    “His slave left? Oh, for flying fuck’s sake! No wonder he wanted you so badly. He needs a new submissive, and has set his sights on you.”
    “That’s not true, Carter. Hawk is a good man. Give him some credit. He’s been very caring and loving this week.”
    “ Loving ? Is that so?” Carter wiped drool from his chin. “I suppose you think you love him now? A few rolls in the hay with the man and his super-sized dick and you’re seeing stars, is that right?”
    Trey’s heart lurched. There was no reasoning with him in this kind of mood. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    “Are you home to stay, then?”
    He hesitated before answering. “I have three more nights with him, to fulfill the deal you made.” He tried to put the blame where it belonged. It didn’t assuage his guilt, though, for wanting every minute of those three nights that he had coming to him. Trey couldn’t imagine leaving Hawk. He didn’t even want to think about it.
    Carter scowled. “Then what the fuck are you doing here now?”
    “I got your voicemails. It sounded like you needed me. From the looks of the house, I was right.”
    Carter stumbled to his feet. “I didn’t leave you any voicemail.” He wobbled down the hallway and as he mumbled “I don’t need you” he fell into the wall.
    Trey rushed to his side. “No, I can see you don’t. Where are you going?”
    “Take a piss.”
    He helped Carter to the bathroom then stood back to give him some privacy. When he heard the toilet flush he said, “Why don’t we stick you in the shower? You’ll feel better once you’ve cleaned up.”
    He tried to brush past Trey. “I need a drink.”
    “I’m sure you do, but you’re not having one. Shower first, then some aspirin. I’ll make you something to eat.”
    His eyes, red and bloodshot, blazed with fury. “Drink!” He shoved Trey against the door and stomped out.
    Undeterred, Trey hurried after him. “No drink! Shower.” He reached for Carter’s arm.
    The man spun around and punched Trey directly in the eye. “No shower! Drink.” He stumbled to the kitchen.
    Trey held his face, and turned to look in the mirror. His cheek swelled instantly. He was going to have one hell of a shiner. “Fuck!” he swore, more concerned about Carter than himself. He needed to try a different tactic.
    In the kitchen, Carter had found a new glass and was filling it with ice.
    “Baby, I have something better in mind.” He moved behind the man and slipped his arms around him. Fighting back the urge to gag at his smell, he proceeded to grope his chest with one hand, his crotch with the other. “I’ve missed