In Arrears

Published by: eXtasy Books

Author : Morgan Hawke

ISBN :978-1-4874-4287-3

Page :88

Word Count :24400

Publication Date :2025-01-13

Series : #

Heat Level :

Available Formats :

Category : Coming Soon , LGBTQIA+ , BDSM

Product Code: 978-1-4874-4287-3

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Handsome, smart, and dangerous, Lieutenant Colonel Roth Jaeger of the Black Rose Company is a highly skilled mercenary. Unfortunately, he’s also a playboy extraordinaire with a nasty habit of not paying his debts. Jaeger is about to discover that karma can be a really cunning Fox.

“Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger, please tell me that I don’t need to pack our gear to flee yet another city?”

Roth turned to smirk at the young man. “Whatever do you mean, First Lieutenant?”

The young First Lieutenant scowled openly. “I mean, sir, do you actually plan on sticking around and paying your bills this time, or are you planning on leaving me behind to clean up your wine, women, and gambling debts again?”

Roth smoothed away his smirk and lifted a slender red brow. “You know, you could quit the Company and find gainful employment elsewhere…?” He abruptly winced and snapped his fingers. “Oh, wait, my mistake, you can’t.” He smiled brightly. “No honest merchant will hire someone with that kind of sword scar.”

The young man’s gaze narrowed into an open glare. “And who put that scar there?” He curled his lip in a snarl. “Sir.”

Roth shrugged and looked away. “Not my fault you didn’t dodge the practice sword fast enough, Ash.”

“I was eleven!”

Roth turned just enough to shoot a corner of the eye glare at the blond youth. “Are you saying I should have left you to starve to death in that burned-out town? That I shouldn’t have brought you into the company, fed you, clothed you, and taught you how to be a halfway decent fighter?”

The young man turned away, scowling ferociously. “In addition to how to cheat at cards, dice, and mahjong. All while dodging debt collectors in town after town when you remembered to bring me with you.” He glared at the windshield. “Sir.”

The deep, sonorous bell bonged out from the hilltop church on the other side of the city. The tones echoed long and loud, once, twice, thrice.

Roth looked up at the darkening sky and nodded. Ah, there… The day was officially over, and night had begun. He turned to face the immense gate and the iron-studded plank doors that barred it. “You are dismissed, First Lieutenant.”

Behind him, the car’s engine started. “You are a total bastard, Jaeger.”

Roth nodded. “Comes with the job, Ash.”

The two-story tall doors rattled, clanked, and opened outward.

Roth strode beyond them without hesitation, his blood surging in anticipation.

In the deeply shadowed alleyways, unpainted wooden shutters were pushed back with a rattle to reveal barred windows with frames and lintels of bright scarlet. Cast-iron gates were opened to allow access to brightly painted doors. Strings of lights suspended over doorways and under eves bloomed to multi-colored life. Tall, slender flags were unfurled to proclaim the names of wine shops, bars, restaurants, gambling dens, smoking shops, and all the other various adult establishments. Lights, chimes, music, and honey-sweet musky incense filled the alleys, calling out to those who sought pleasure in all its many forms.

They called this the Floating World, with denizens as beautiful and ephemeral as butterflies, yet as subtle and poisonous as spiders. It was a world outside of cold reality, a world of dreams…and nightmares. It was a place in between, where gods and demons walked among the mortals who tread its mysterious and ever-changing pathways.

Roth grinned. As far as he was concerned, Floating World was where one ended up after a whole night of drinking, gambling, smoking, and sex.

Not that he minded.