I rose through the layers of unconsciousness like I was on an escalator going up through the clouds. The bright piercing light of morning burned against my closed lids, but for once I didn't feel like something scraped off the bottom of someone's shoe. No. I was almost...happy. Which was weird. I couldn't actively recall the last time I was truly happy. "Stop thinking so loud," Nia mumbled next to me. Her arm was across my stomach, her face smashed into my shoulder. "It's too early to be thinking that hard."Since I still hadn't gotten permission to touch her, I just relished the feel of her body against mine. Last night hadn't gone at all how I thought it would. For one, there was zero sex whatsoever. For two, I'm pretty sure I'd been on the edge of crying like a little kid at least a couple of times. "Last chance, Raphael," she muttered. My dick jumped at the threat in her voice. Even as my bladder twinged, I felt my belly jolt. Last night rushed over me again. I'd neve
I hurried through my shower. By the time I got back into my room and into some clean clothes, I was almost giddy. My body still sent little aftershocks through my system. I've had some good partners in my day. But none quite so eager as the man I'd just had between my legs.And while Raphael's technique could use some polishing, the gusto and emotion he put into devouring me...I waved a hand in front of my face to cool it. The man could eat me any day. It was my own dumb fault for not getting through the rest of the interview process last night. I could have talked to him after I cuddled him for a bit. Now I was going without. But those were the consequences. My rules, my actions, my outcomes. I needed to make sure I was in control. Could exert that control with a firm hand. Not get lost in the emotions and sensations. That didn't make a good Dom. That made me someone with a power trip and no staying power. And we both deserved better. The smell of bacon and butter and me
I watched her drive away in Mas' car. And got punched in the belly-again-for the distraction. "Son of a bitch, Ivan." I yelled as I bent at the waist, struggling to find some damn air. He snorted. Bounced on his toes. "Stop googling for her."I laughed. "Googling?"He nodded. "Yes. Stop. Fight." He smashed his fists together. "Fight."Having learned what I needed from Nia, I asked him, "What's my goal?"He stopped dancing, gave me an odd look. "Goal?"I nodded. "What do I need to do?"His face screwed up into an expression that had me doubting my sanity, but I persevered. "Put you on the ground? Knock you out? Chop your neck? What's my goal?"A lightbulb went off in his eyes. "Knock me out." He nodded, started dancing again. He curled his fingers at me. "Come knock me out, little boy."In my mind, I ran through all the medical training that would most easily lead to making someone else lose consciousness. Hard blows to the neck. The temple-Nik's roundhouse kick to
"Your destination is on the right," my phone said. I pulled up to the curb. Got out of the car. Not even ten minutes from the safe house, but it was secure. Or as secure as Ivan could make it in such a short time. I walked up to the door, pushed it open. There was a single person in the room. And a familiar computer setup along the back wall. "Klara?" The person nodded. While the person had what I would consider a female name, nothing about the person in front of me looked to be a girl. Not my business and I didn't care as long as Klara could help me reach my contact. "Yes. You Ms. Petunia?" Klara asked.I nodded. "Ivan sent me."Klara nodded. "You have this space for twenty-four hours." Klara lifted a hand, tossed something through the air at me. "Only twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours and one minute, I'm coming back in to clear it out."I nodded. "Thank you, Klara. I'll make sure my business is concluded in twenty-four hours."Klara nodded again. Walked out the do
I stood at the corner of the wall. Eased my head around so I could see down the hall. It was clear. But that didn't mean they weren't hiding up here. With my softest walk, I moved into the hall. Stayed up close against the wall. My ears perked for any noise that shouldn't be there. A scuffle of a foot on the floor. A sigh of breath. A thump of a throat as someone swallowed. Coming up to the first door, I stopped. Listened for any sounds on the other side. Playing Cat and Mouse with Ivan had been a bloody nightmare. But playing it with Mas and Ivan? This was what horror fests were made of. I settled my hand against the doorknob. Prayed it didn't squeak as I turned it. SQUEEEEEEAK.I hung my head as I punched the door open hard enough to swing back and hit the door. Or it should have hit the door. Rather, it hit Ivan. His low grunt made me chuckle as I smashed against the door again. Lifting my gun, I angled it behind the door. Shot him over and over again until he whine
I was so freaking pissed I wanted to draw and quarter this stupid man. He'd ripped my heart out of my chest and I had been so sure I didn't have one of those anymore. To find out that I did have one and that he could hurt it was enough to make me neuter him. Then force him to eat his dick."Why would I keep you?" I knew why I wanted to keep him. But he better have a damn good reason for wanting to be kept. He jerked and something deep in his eyes broke. I growled low in my throat. "Not like that. Why do you want to be kept?" The varied insecurities of this man were baffling. He was strong and sure when he could be an asshole. But take away his façade and he was nothing but a big gooey mix of sensitivity and emotionality. I tightened my hand in his hair. "Last chance, Raphael. And I mean it."He licked his lips. Swallowed. Or tried to. He winced. Pointed to his throat. I eased the angle I held him at. "Speak."He licked his lips again. "Because I know who I am with you
With my heart as full as I ever remember it being, I looked at my brother. "I still don't want to tell Nik though. Not anyone back home. Not until we finish this." There was a possibility that I didn't come out of this. Didn't actually make it home. Mas stared at me for a long, quiet moment, but then he nodded. Ivan cleared his throat. "I know I not involved, but this much better than dying with Petters. They scum. You not." My mouth dropped open. I closed it. "How the hell did you know what I planned to do?"Ivan snorted. Rolled his eyes. "I not stupid. You try to die a lot." He widened his eyes. "A lot, a lot."My cheeks heated as I remembered my first month with Ivan. I'd done everything I could to make him kill me. Then, when that hadn't worked, trying to get myself killed by other assholes where I could find them. "Oh really?" Nia asked, her voice a particular texture of silk that boded poorly for my release tonight. Ivan laughed. "He not dead. But close." He he
Massimo winced as he tried to adjust the position of his leg.Raphael jumped into motion. "I need to stitch that closed. Hold still. Do you want something? We don't have anything in the kit, but I'm sure Ivan has some vodka you could take a belt of."Ivan sighed heavily. "Yes. I have vodka, but you don't drink it all. I need a warm belly to sleep."Massimo chuckled. "I'm good. The stitching shouldn't be too bad. Just get it done. I want to get off this granite slab."Raphael nodded. He got the suture kit out, laid it out just so. Before he got started, he wiped away all the blood off his brother's leg. Switched into a clean pair of gloves. "Don't move your leg. I like my stitches neat," Raphael declared, a threaded needle poised over Massimo's leg.Massimo nodded. "Just make it fast."Raphael nodded, took the first stitch. I had to look away at that point. I didn't mind cutting into flesh, but the whole needle thing threw me off. Made my belly twist and turn. Ivan