CLAUDE I SHOULD’VE KNOWN better. Maybe I did. Maybe I just didn’t want to admit it. But thinking Nikolai wasn’t dangerous? Yeah, that was stupid. His words last night sent shivers down my spine—less like a warning, more like a threat. Still, I wasn’t a threat to him. Hell, I wasn’t a threat to anyone here. I didn’t belong here. And that wasn’t even my biggest problem. I was changing. The pills. If I’d had them, none of this would be happening. My body wouldn’t be rebelling, shedding the beta facade I’d spent so many years maintaining. But without them, I could feel my omega surfacing, clawing its way back to the forefront. And with that came the inevitable: heat. It was coming for me, and when it hit, there’d be no stopping it. Nikolai stood behind me, his presence commanding without even trying. His hands rested on my shoulders, firm with a light squeeze and his thumbs brushing over my collarbone. His gaze pierced through the mirror in front of us, pinning me in place."You
NIKOLAI“Jonny," I drawled, crossing one leg over the other as I lounged against the railing, a cigarette dangling from my fingers. I didn't look at him, not yet. Men like him were so fucking predictable. They couldn't stop themselves from spilling everything the second the tension hit and I knew it was coming sooner.He shuffled closer, fists clenched at his sides, his face flushed red like he was choking on his fear. He thrust a crumpled piece of paper at me, the coordinates scribbled in haste. “Here. These are the coordinates for your cargo. I didn’t sell them—not yet. The buyer was supposed to meet me here on this ship, but he couldn’t make it. When I dock in New York, that’s where the exchange was supposed to happen.”I took the paper from his trembling hands, my lips curling into a slow, menacing grin. “Khoroshiy mal'chik, Jonny,” I murmured, my voice mocking as I tapped his cheek with the back of my hand. He flinched, jerking away like I’d burned him. "Don't fucking touch me,"
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.CLAUDEEVEEYTHING FELT OFF. My head was spinning, my body on fire, and my muscles too weak to respond the way I needed them to. Voices swirled around me, muffled and distant, as if they were happening in some other reality. But they weren’t. They were here. Too close. I forced my eyes open and stared up at the harsh glow of a yellow light. A groan escaped me as I turned my head and realized I wasn’t alone. Three men were in the room with me, their shadows stretching across the walls like predators.“What...the…” I tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. A wave of dizziness slammed me back down, my breaths coming in shallow pants. Heat. No, it wasn’t just that—I was in heat, but it wasn’t normal. It wasn’t right. Something was wrong.Before I could process what was happening, a camera was shoved in my face.“Smile for the people watching you, Tate,” a voice sneered. “You’ve got ov
NIKOLAICLAUDE’S BODY WAS like ice beneath my hands, his skin pale, his limbs limp. His bare feet shuffled against the carpeted hallway, and I cursed under my breath as I shrugged off my shirt and pulled it over his trembling frame—enough to cover his bits."Come on," I muttered, gripping his waist as I practically carried him down the corridor.We reached the door, and I swiped the key card. The lock beeped, the door clicked open, and I pushed us inside. Claude stumbled, collapsing onto the bed with a groan, his face twisting in discomfort as his hands clawed at his thighs. He shifted restlessly, his head slipping under the shirt, his fingers curling around his cock as he let out another broken moan.I crossed the room, grabbed his face, and forced his eyes open. They were glazed and dilated, his lips parted as his tongue darted out to wet them."You were drugged," I said, my tone flat, though anger burned hot in my chest.He groaned, his hand shooting out to grip the back of my neck
CLAUDE THREE DAYS. Three fucking days. My heat had taken hold of me, and Nikolai had been my anchor through every second of it. The heat, the sweat, the insatiable need—he had taken it all, consumed it, and matched me at every turn. A choked moan escaped my lips, and Nikolai swallowed it, his tongue sweeping into my mouth as his fingers worked my entrance with practiced precision. My hand shot out, gripping his ass, pulling him closer as if I could drag every inch of him into me. “Fuck,” I gasped, my head tilting back as his mouth found my jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin before he sucked, hard enough to leave a mark. He pulled back slightly, his lips swollen, his dark eyes hooded with lust as he looked down at me. The way he sprawled beside me, his body glistening with sweat, his cock rigid and pressed against my thigh, was enough to make my breath hitch. “You good?” he asked, his voice rough and gravelly, but his fingers never stopped their teasing. “Yes,” I w
NIKOLAICLAUDE WAS SPRAWLED across the bed, limbs slack, lips slightly parted. He’d passed out after three days of pure hedonism, and I couldn’t blame him. Even my stamina had its limits. “Claude,” I murmured, brushing my knuckles over his jaw before giving his shoulder a nudge. He groaned, stirring sluggishly before his eyes cracked open—those haunting eyes, slit and feral before they softened into something resembling humanity. Even now, I hadn’t decided if I hated or loved how those eyes unsettled me. But I had bigger concerns. “Who did this to you?” My voice was low, deceptively calm. He blinked up at me, his lips curving into a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nikolai,” he rasped, pulling me closer, his arms wrapping around my neck. Instinct took over, my hands finding the heat of his skin, the press of his back beneath my palms as I dragged him against me. I kissed the sharp edge of his jaw, my teeth grazing his skin hard enough to leave a mark—a warning for
CLAUDEThe bathroom was still warm, steam curling up toward the ceiling as I wiped the fog from the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, neck and jaw covered in hickeys and bruises that ran down to my collarbone. I leaned in closer, my fingers brushing over one of the darker marks, and something tightened in my chest. They’d fade in a day or two—I knew that—but the idea of them disappearing made my throat dry. The towel around my waist was still damp as I turned away from the mirror and stepped out of the bathroom. The bedroom felt colder without Nikolai in it, the bed still rumpled, his scent faintly clinging to the sheets. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in the shower, but the stillness was nerve wracking. I’d just pulled on a fresh shirt when the door beeped, and Nikolai walked in. The smell hit me first. Food. My stomach growled, but beneath that was something sharper, something that made me freeze mid-step. Blood.And something else. Him. Antonio. The bag in Nik
CLAUDEOur time was up. It was as simple as that. The words didn’t make it any easier. No. What I wanted, what I had always wanted, was Nikolai. Even though we barely knew each other. Even though we were on opposite sides of the world, with lives that could never truly align.My fingers gripped my bag tighter, my pulse picking up as I felt Nikolai beside me. I didn’t dare look at him—not yet. “The money’s been wired to your account,” he said, his voice low, sending a shiver down my spine. The heat of his breath brushed my neck, even as the sharp sting of the ocean wind battered us both.The account he spoke of wasn’t mine. The money wasn’t even going to me. It was going to the real Tate, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.The deck was alive with people, eager to get off the ship, to escape to wherever they were going. But me? I wanted more time. A little more of this, whatever it was.Nikolai’s voice cut through the buzz, low and amused. “What’s going through t
CLAUDEOur time was up. It was as simple as that. The words didn’t make it any easier. No. What I wanted, what I had always wanted, was Nikolai. Even though we barely knew each other. Even though we were on opposite sides of the world, with lives that could never truly align.My fingers gripped my bag tighter, my pulse picking up as I felt Nikolai beside me. I didn’t dare look at him—not yet. “The money’s been wired to your account,” he said, his voice low, sending a shiver down my spine. The heat of his breath brushed my neck, even as the sharp sting of the ocean wind battered us both.The account he spoke of wasn’t mine. The money wasn’t even going to me. It was going to the real Tate, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.The deck was alive with people, eager to get off the ship, to escape to wherever they were going. But me? I wanted more time. A little more of this, whatever it was.Nikolai’s voice cut through the buzz, low and amused. “What’s going through t
CLAUDEThe bathroom was still warm, steam curling up toward the ceiling as I wiped the fog from the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, neck and jaw covered in hickeys and bruises that ran down to my collarbone. I leaned in closer, my fingers brushing over one of the darker marks, and something tightened in my chest. They’d fade in a day or two—I knew that—but the idea of them disappearing made my throat dry. The towel around my waist was still damp as I turned away from the mirror and stepped out of the bathroom. The bedroom felt colder without Nikolai in it, the bed still rumpled, his scent faintly clinging to the sheets. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in the shower, but the stillness was nerve wracking. I’d just pulled on a fresh shirt when the door beeped, and Nikolai walked in. The smell hit me first. Food. My stomach growled, but beneath that was something sharper, something that made me freeze mid-step. Blood.And something else. Him. Antonio. The bag in Nik
NIKOLAICLAUDE WAS SPRAWLED across the bed, limbs slack, lips slightly parted. He’d passed out after three days of pure hedonism, and I couldn’t blame him. Even my stamina had its limits. “Claude,” I murmured, brushing my knuckles over his jaw before giving his shoulder a nudge. He groaned, stirring sluggishly before his eyes cracked open—those haunting eyes, slit and feral before they softened into something resembling humanity. Even now, I hadn’t decided if I hated or loved how those eyes unsettled me. But I had bigger concerns. “Who did this to you?” My voice was low, deceptively calm. He blinked up at me, his lips curving into a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nikolai,” he rasped, pulling me closer, his arms wrapping around my neck. Instinct took over, my hands finding the heat of his skin, the press of his back beneath my palms as I dragged him against me. I kissed the sharp edge of his jaw, my teeth grazing his skin hard enough to leave a mark—a warning for
CLAUDE THREE DAYS. Three fucking days. My heat had taken hold of me, and Nikolai had been my anchor through every second of it. The heat, the sweat, the insatiable need—he had taken it all, consumed it, and matched me at every turn. A choked moan escaped my lips, and Nikolai swallowed it, his tongue sweeping into my mouth as his fingers worked my entrance with practiced precision. My hand shot out, gripping his ass, pulling him closer as if I could drag every inch of him into me. “Fuck,” I gasped, my head tilting back as his mouth found my jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin before he sucked, hard enough to leave a mark. He pulled back slightly, his lips swollen, his dark eyes hooded with lust as he looked down at me. The way he sprawled beside me, his body glistening with sweat, his cock rigid and pressed against my thigh, was enough to make my breath hitch. “You good?” he asked, his voice rough and gravelly, but his fingers never stopped their teasing. “Yes,” I w
NIKOLAICLAUDE’S BODY WAS like ice beneath my hands, his skin pale, his limbs limp. His bare feet shuffled against the carpeted hallway, and I cursed under my breath as I shrugged off my shirt and pulled it over his trembling frame—enough to cover his bits."Come on," I muttered, gripping his waist as I practically carried him down the corridor.We reached the door, and I swiped the key card. The lock beeped, the door clicked open, and I pushed us inside. Claude stumbled, collapsing onto the bed with a groan, his face twisting in discomfort as his hands clawed at his thighs. He shifted restlessly, his head slipping under the shirt, his fingers curling around his cock as he let out another broken moan.I crossed the room, grabbed his face, and forced his eyes open. They were glazed and dilated, his lips parted as his tongue darted out to wet them."You were drugged," I said, my tone flat, though anger burned hot in my chest.He groaned, his hand shooting out to grip the back of my neck
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.CLAUDEEVEEYTHING FELT OFF. My head was spinning, my body on fire, and my muscles too weak to respond the way I needed them to. Voices swirled around me, muffled and distant, as if they were happening in some other reality. But they weren’t. They were here. Too close. I forced my eyes open and stared up at the harsh glow of a yellow light. A groan escaped me as I turned my head and realized I wasn’t alone. Three men were in the room with me, their shadows stretching across the walls like predators.“What...the…” I tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. A wave of dizziness slammed me back down, my breaths coming in shallow pants. Heat. No, it wasn’t just that—I was in heat, but it wasn’t normal. It wasn’t right. Something was wrong.Before I could process what was happening, a camera was shoved in my face.“Smile for the people watching you, Tate,” a voice sneered. “You’ve got ov
NIKOLAI“Jonny," I drawled, crossing one leg over the other as I lounged against the railing, a cigarette dangling from my fingers. I didn't look at him, not yet. Men like him were so fucking predictable. They couldn't stop themselves from spilling everything the second the tension hit and I knew it was coming sooner.He shuffled closer, fists clenched at his sides, his face flushed red like he was choking on his fear. He thrust a crumpled piece of paper at me, the coordinates scribbled in haste. “Here. These are the coordinates for your cargo. I didn’t sell them—not yet. The buyer was supposed to meet me here on this ship, but he couldn’t make it. When I dock in New York, that’s where the exchange was supposed to happen.”I took the paper from his trembling hands, my lips curling into a slow, menacing grin. “Khoroshiy mal'chik, Jonny,” I murmured, my voice mocking as I tapped his cheek with the back of my hand. He flinched, jerking away like I’d burned him. "Don't fucking touch me,"
CLAUDE I SHOULD’VE KNOWN better. Maybe I did. Maybe I just didn’t want to admit it. But thinking Nikolai wasn’t dangerous? Yeah, that was stupid. His words last night sent shivers down my spine—less like a warning, more like a threat. Still, I wasn’t a threat to him. Hell, I wasn’t a threat to anyone here. I didn’t belong here. And that wasn’t even my biggest problem. I was changing. The pills. If I’d had them, none of this would be happening. My body wouldn’t be rebelling, shedding the beta facade I’d spent so many years maintaining. But without them, I could feel my omega surfacing, clawing its way back to the forefront. And with that came the inevitable: heat. It was coming for me, and when it hit, there’d be no stopping it. Nikolai stood behind me, his presence commanding without even trying. His hands rested on my shoulders, firm with a light squeeze and his thumbs brushing over my collarbone. His gaze pierced through the mirror in front of us, pinning me in place."You
CLAUDE I SHOULD’VE KNOWN better. Maybe I did. Maybe I just didn’t want to admit it. But thinking Nikolai wasn’t dangerous? Yeah, that was stupid. His words last night sent shivers down my spine—less like a warning, more like a threat. Still, I wasn’t a threat to him. Hell, I wasn’t a threat to anyone here. I didn’t belong here. And that wasn’t even my biggest problem. I was changing. The pills. If I’d had them, none of this would be happening. My body wouldn’t be rebelling, shedding the beta facade I’d spent so many years maintaining. But without them, I could feel my omega surfacing, clawing its way back to the forefront. And with that came the inevitable: heat. It was coming for me, and when it hit, there’d be no stopping it. Nikolai stood behind me, his presence commanding without even trying. His hands rested on my shoulders, firm with a light squeeze and his thumbs brushing over my collarbone. His gaze pierced through the mirror in front of us, pinning me in place."You