Page 15 of Matlock

“And this is Matlock.”

Simon looked at me. A smile spread across his lips, and when he opened his mouth, I shook my head. His smile faltered for a second before he caught it and said, “Like the show?”

I didn’t answer; Gunner did. “Yeah, Matlock’s the club’s lawyer. He’s old as fuck, like the show.”

I flipped him off.

I was only eight years older than the son of a bitch.

“Well, everyone needs a daddy, right?” Simon purred as he took a step forward. I felt my dick twitch and vowed he’d pay for that shit at the club.

Stepping back away from the man I wanted to pull into my arms, I quickly said, “I need to get to the office.”So I can jerk off. “Nice to meet you, Simon.”

I didn’t wait for his response. I nodded, then walked over to my bike and climbed on, turning the ignition and letting her roar. She was the only girl I’d ever have between my legs.

I looked back over at the group. No one paid me any mind except Simon. I saw the hurt in his eyes. We hadn’t talked much about our private lives. I didn’t know he lived in town. If I had, I would have cut things off already.

Now, I was fucking addicted to him.

“Sorry, Tony, I don’t. I haven’t heard anything about her, butI’ve been gone almost a year. Happy to make some calls if you want?”

“Nah, I’ve got Nav looking into her. Just figured I’d see if you remembered anything.”

“Think about what I said, Tony. You deserve to be happy. Fuck anyone else.”

“Thanks, Chris. I’ve gotta go.” I hung up the phone and thought about what he said. It was all I thought about every damn day since I saw Simon that first night at the club when he gave himself to me without question.

I’d known I was gay by the time I was fifteen years old. But back then, especially among the wealthy, it wasn’t something you admitted.

To anyone.

I’d taken a chance with Chris. He didn’t judge me. He didn’t walk away and tell me I was disgusting, like my parents had. He was the only person in my life who knew the truth… until now.

I never thought I would meet someone who would make me consider building a life. Not until Simon.

And I was still too chickenshit to try.

Chapter Six

Simon

I huddled in the corner of the cell on a cot that was too damn hard to lie down on. I hadn’t slept all night, plagued by thoughts of what would happen to me if I were convicted of murder.

Tony was right; I would never survive prison.

“Simon.”

I looked up into the eyes of the man who held my future in his hands. Both inside and outside the courtroom. We stared at each other, and I waited for him to say something—anything that would explain why this was happening.

“I brought you some clothes. The sheriff said there’s a shower you can use in the locker room.”

I listened to his words, looking for an inflection that changed the tone of his voice from the serious lawyer to the man I knew cared about me. But it wasn’t there. This was business, not personal. I was so fucking stupid.

I nodded and stood. Deputy Wyatt unlocked the cell, and Tony and I followed him to the locker room, where Tony hung my suit on a hook.

“Thank you, Deputy.”

Tony’s voice was cold. It wasn’t the same as the man who whispered in my ear at the club. It wasn’t warm, making me melt like butter.