Equation for Love

by Sutherland, Fae

  After what felt like forever, Skye took a deep breath and climbed onto the bed, turning to kneelfacing Liam. "Like this?"

  "Sir. This is the third time I've had to remind you. Why?" Skye was far too intelligent to keep forgetting without reason.

  "I forgot." But even his tone suggested Skye also knew it wasn't the whole story. Liam lifted a brow and held his gaze, and finally Skye let out another heavy breath. "It sounds silly. Like you're a principal or something."

  Liam's eyes narrowed. Skye didn't take him seriously. "Silly? You think I'm silly, Skye? This is a joke to you?"

  Skye swallowed hard, eyes widening. "I...no, I just... I'msorry, Sir."

  Liam pointed a finger at him. "You didn't hesitate there. Why, I wonder? Am I being too easy on you? Brattysub that youare, do youneed a harder hand?"

  Skye's jaw dropped. "Did you just... Bratty? I'm not a child!"

  Liam reached out, fingers sinking into Skye's hair and fisting in the thick mess. He knelt in front of Skye on the bed, looking down at him. And what he saw told him everything he needed to know. Skye's eyes were wide, dilated and burningwitharousal. His cheeks were flushed; his breath quick and shallow. If Liam bent to press an ear to his chest, he was sure Skye's heart would be racing. And, most telling of all, Skye's hardonnever faltered.

  "No, but you're certainly acting like one. I haven't asked you for anything difficult, Skye. And yet you're fightingme everystep."He leaned inand nuzzled Skye's mouth, tasting the desire, the sharp gasp of his breath. "When you fight me, it makes me think you don't want to do this. But you're here, you paid me, so you must. Tellme, Skye. Do youwant to stop?"

  Skye trembled, breath fanning against Liam's mouth. He shook his head as best he could with Liam's fingers fisted in his hair. "No," he whispered. "I don't. I want..."

  Liam's brows lifted, curiosity piqued. "Want what? What do youwant?"

  Skye whimpered, eyes closing. "You said...you said youdon't like to take. That youwanted me to give."

  Liamnodded. "Yes."He wasn't sure where this was

  going.Skye's eyes opened then, dark, almost-black gaze

  pinningLiam. "What ifI gave youpermissionto take?" Liamcouldn't hold back the moan, heart racing. His answer was a scorching kiss, hauling Skye closer, free armsliding around his lean waist to jerk the other man's body up against his own. Some part of his brain, the part not fried by the kiss, tried to remind him he shouldn't feel all these things toward Skye. That Skye shouldn't engender all these feelings in him. He didn't want to listen. What he wanted was to be able to relish the surrender of a beautiful man who made him ache with want. Ache in a way Liam hadn't in a very long

  time.This was no longer just a job...this was very, very personal.

  Chapter 6

  When the kiss broke, Liam slid his hand out of Skye's hair, cupping his chin. "You don't know what you're givingme permissionfor, Skye."

  Skye shivered, face tipped up toward him, panting. "No, I don't. I expect you're about to show me, though." His gaze flicked down to Liam's mouth, then back up to meet his eyes. "Do you often hesitate when given carte blanche?" There was a subtle, delicious challenge in his voice and his eyes. Not something Liam would have expected from him. From any near-virgin, for that matter. Skye McCord was something different and it intrigued Liam. What else about him was more thanit appeared?

  It took him all of half a minute to decide what he wanted from Skye today. He wanted his virginity. No tiptoeing around it, no easing into it. He got the feeling Skye would agree.

  He tumbled Skye back on the bed, nuzzling his mouth. "Give me your hands." Skye shuddered and obeyed, putting his hands in Liam's. Liam pulled them up to the headboard, curling Skye's fingers there.

  "Just like last time, Skye. Don't let go." He bit Skye's lower lip, brows lifting. "Can I trust you not to move them? Or do you want to lose your virginity bound?"

  Almost as soonas the words were out ofhis mouth, Liamknew the answer. Skye's reaction, the faint hiccup in his breath and the way his whole body shuddered told Liamhis answer as well. Bound, it was.

  Liam glanced around the room, searching for something to use, since he hadn't brought any of his own supplies with him. His gaze finally lit on the drapes and he grinned. "Don't move."

  He slid off Skye and out of bed, striding across the roomto unknot one of the curtain tie-backs and turned witha grin. "This willdo."He approached the bed, gaze rakingover Skye, silkybraided rope runningthroughhis fingers. "You're verybeautifullike that, Skye."

  Skye's brows knit, as if he didn't quite believe him. "Thank you."

  It was true. Skye wasn't a conventional beauty by any stretch of the imagination. But his face was clever and interesting and all the oddest bits came together in such a way that he was beautiful. Just not the way Hollywood and media said one should be. Liam didn't care about Hollywood or the media, though. He thought the geeky scientist squirming on the bed was hotter than anythingthe entertainment industryhad to offer.

  "Youdon't believe me."

  Skye lifted one shoulder. "I don't know. Not really."

  Liam set the rope on the bed and took the opportunity to strip out of his own clothes. He was gratified by how closely Skye watched as each piece dropped to the floor untilLiamwas naked.

  Skye let out a soft sigh. "You're beautiful."

  "Thank you." He climbed up onto the bed and held out one hand. Skye slowly let go of the headboard and placed his hand into Liam's. Liam smiled and bent his head, lips brushing the tender inside wrist before he looped and knotted the rope around it. He leaned forward, then, reaching up to thread the rope through the slats of the headboard and binding Skye's other wrist in the same way. Content they were secure, but not hurtinghim, Liamsat up, straddlingSkye's thighs.

  For a moment, he just looked. There was much to enjoy. The way Skye's skin almost glowed, pale and faintly golden, was beautiful and made Liam crave to see it in the moonlight, Skye wakened fromsleep, hazy and sensual. His cock thumped against Skye's lower stomachand caught the other man's attention.

  Skye licked his lips, and Liamgrinned.

  "Youwant that, don't you, darlin'?"

  Skye didn't answer at first, and Liamleaned down, one hand sinking into his hair, tangling in the dark, messy strands. "Answer me when I ask you a question,

  boy."Oh, that got a reaction. Defiance flashed in Skye's

  eyes. Liamimagined it was the "boy" that'd done it. He smirked, bendingto nip his jaw. "Answer." Skye glared at him, but at the same time arched closer, hissing in pleasure when Liam rolled his hips so their cocks rubbed together. "Yes," he gritted out throughclenched teeth. "Don't callme 'boy.'"

  Liam laughed, almost mocking him. "I'll call you whatever I please, boy. I'llcallyou mine ifyou're a very good boy."

  Skye's breath was rapid, his whole body flushed. He trembled, staringup at Liam. "Sir?" Liamshook his head, refusing to make promises he couldn't keep. Skye didn't want him; he wanted to be ready when he found the perfect man. Liam was determined to help him, so the next man, the next Dom, cherished Skye the way he deserved. "Shhh. Close your eyes."

  Skye spent too much time anticipating. Worrying. Following signs and hints to determine what came next, probably before Liam had even made his decision. He needed to learn how to mute that somewhat or he'd never be able to let go the way a submissive should. Headspace was all about freedom, and Skye was far too chained to the ground.

  Skye obeyed, thick lashes a dark smudge against his cheeks. Immediately, Skye tensed, just as Liamhad expected.

  "Stop." Skye's brows knit and his face turned as if trying to see Liam. "Stop what?"

  Liam cupped his face, bending to kiss him. "Stop anticipating. Stop working in your head to try and figure out what I'mgoing to do, what I'mgoing to say, always ten steps ahead of me like a chess game. This isn't a chess game, Skye. This is sex. If you're ten steps ahead, you're missing out on what's happeningright now." He nipped Skye's jaw and smiled. "And you don't want to miss this, darlin'."
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  Skye nodded breathlessly. He seemed to have forgottenallabout dislikingbeingcalled "boy."

  Liam slid his mouth along Skye's neck, tongue trailing, teethgentlyscraping. Without his vision, without being able to touch, Liam had Skye at his sensual mercy. Liam knew exactly how it felt--every skim of fingertips was heightened, every breath on skin was like beingzapped. He wanted to make this manwild for him bythe time he was through.

  He glanced up as he nibbled Skye's collarbone and thought he saw lashes fluttering, like Skye was trying to peek. He smiled and reached up to cover his eyes with one hand. "No peeking. Just feel. Youdon't need to see inorder to understand, trust me."

  Skye's breath hitched. "I shouldn't. I hardly know

  you."Liam's lips grazed lower to brush across one tight, peaked nipple. "I'mnot going to hurt you. I'mnot going to do anything that doesn't feel good. Why would you want to stop me?"

  Skye laughed a little, hips shifting under Liam. "Good point."

  "I can tell you still want to ask a million and one questions. By no means do I want to teach you that you shouldn't ever question your Dom, but there's a time and place for it. This isn't the time or place. Is what you have to ask me pressing enough to need to stop the scene?"

  "When is..." Then Skye sighed. "Sorry, that was another question. No, it's not. But...can I ask you after? EverythingI want to?"

  Liam slid back up over him and uncovered Skye's eyes, nuzzling his mouth with his own. "Anything you want to ask. After."

  Skye smiled, his eyes still closed. "Okay. Thank

  you.""For agreeing to answer your questions?" Liam teased.

  "For understanding my need to ask them." Skye

  turned his face into Liam's hand where it cupped his

  cheek and lightlykissed his palm.

  Liam slid his hand into Skye's hair and kissed him

  again, tongue sinking into his mouth and Skye opened

  for him readily. His mouth was soft and pliant, tongue

  following Liam's lead...surrendering. Was that allit took

  to tame this man? Promise himhe could question to his

  heart's content afterward? Probably not, but it seemed

  to have an effect and Liam wasn't going to look a gift

  horse inthe mouth.

  With Skye no longer tense and almost resistant,

  Liam could savor him at his own pace for once. It

  seemed like every other kiss had been a sort of battle

  for supremacy, a challenge Skye thought he had to win,

  and now the other man wasn't fighting him--Skye was

  offeringhimselfup. It was sexyand beautiful.

  When the kiss broke, Liam lifted his head to smile

  down at Skye. Not that Skye could see it because he

  kept his eyes obedientlyclosed. "Skye, openyour eyes,

  darlin'." Skye wasn't fighting anymore, so for the

  moment he didn't need to be denied the ability to watch

  and see.

  When Skye did open his eyes, it was easy to see

  the difference. He focused on Liam, looked right up at

  him, thensmiled. "Thank you. I like lookingat you." Liam grinned. Skye was sweet, despite his

  awkwardness. Just like he was beautiful, despite his

  supposed "flaws." Skye had given himself to Liam for

  the night, which made him perfect in Liam's eyes. Liam

  didn't let himself wonder about what that kind of

  thinking meant in the long run. There was no "long run"

  for them. He wasn't going to even try to pretend

  otherwise.

  "Well, if you like looking, let me give you something

  to watch, darlin'." He slid down Skye's body, kissing

  and nibblingas he went, headingright for his cock. Skye figured it out and trembled, lifting his head to

  peer downat Liam. "Liam...Sir?"

  Liamglanced up, brows lifting. "What is it?" Skye's brows knit, hips shifting. "I...it's just you've,

  you know, before. I haven't? Could I? Would you like

  it?"It took Liam a minute to work out what Skye was talking about. When he did, he groaned, forehead resting against Skye's hip. "You're asking to suck my cock, Skye?"

  He could feel the shudder race through the other man. "Yes." Liam lifted his head to meet Skye's gaze. "Say it. Tellme what youwant and youcanhave it."

  Amyriad of expressions crossed Skye's face as he tried to work himself up to do what Liam asked. Liam already knew Skye had trouble speaking boldly. In Liam's opinion, sometimes saying, I want you to fuck my tight ass until I can't fucking sit for a week was just necessary.

  Liamsmiled and turned his head to let his breathfan across Skye's cock. "Come on, Skye. You can say it. Tellme what youwant."

  Skye closed his eyes, shivering, then opened them againto meet Liam's gaze. "Please, Sir, mayI suck your cock?"

  Liam groaned again, moving up to claim Skye's mouth, kissing himhard and possessively before pulling back to give him a wicked grin. "Hell fucking yes, you

  may."He could untie him, but Liam liked him bound so much and Skye liked it, too, so instead, he shifted to straddle Skye's shoulders. He reached down to cup the back of Skye's head, his other hand grasping his cock. Skye was panting, his eyes anxious, and Liam stroked the back ofhis neck withhis thumb, meetinghis gaze.

  "Relax. It's not that hard." Skye let out a nervous laugh, gaze flicking down to Liam's cock and back up. "Looks hard to me." Then cringed. "Sorry, not the time for puns."

  Liam laughed and shook his head. "Don't be nervous, Skye."He rubbed the head ofhis cock against Skye's lower lip. "First things first--get used to the taste and the scent." He moved his cock away, leaving a shiny spot on Skye's pink lip. Fuck, that was hot. "Taste."

  Skye hesitated, then slid his tongue out to swipe across the spot on his lip. He shrugged as best he could. "A little salty. Doesn't taste like much, really." Then he shuddered, inhaling deeply. "I really like the wayyousmell, though."

  Liam glanced behind him and, sure enough, Skye's cock was twitching against his lower abdomen, hard as ever, tip glisteningwithpre-come. It made Liamache to taste him, but he'd promised Skye a lesson in blowjobs, whichwas hardlya sacrifice.

  "What do youlike about it?" Skye looked up at him, rubbing his tongue against his lower lip, as if he could still taste Liam there. "I'm not sure... It's musky, kind of--this is going to sound stupid, but it's very masculine. I never paid much attention to the biology sciences, but maybe there's something to the whole pheromone nonsense. It's not really mathematically sound, but..." He trailed off with a sheepishlook. "Sorry."

  Liam shook his head. "Don't be. I like watching your mind kind of explode sometimes. Here, though, next part ofthe lesson."

  "What number are we on?" Liam laughed and shrugged. "I don't know and I don't care. Do you?"

  Skye thought about it, then shook his head with a smile. "No, Sir."

  That's actually pretty huge, Liam thought. Skye lived his entire life by numbers, so to let it go and just enjoy the experience was a pretty big deal. "Good. Openyour mouth, Skye."

  Skye let out a soft sound, lips parting. Liammet his dark gaze and slowly pushed his cock into his mouth. Just the head at first, then stopped. Fuck, even that felt insanely good. Skye's mouth was soft and wet, lips deliciously pink stretched around his girth. Skye peered up at him, breath coming rapidly through his nose, eyes uncertain. As ifto say, Now what?

  "Now you suck, Skye. Not very hard, just lightly at first."He bit back a groanwhenSkye obeyed. "Just like that, darlin', that's right." Liam's fingers caressed the back of Skye's neck, feathering through his hair. "Now, lick the tip. Swirlyour tongue around it."

  Skye's brows knit, and Liam could see the questions inhis eyes, but Skye obeyed, and Liamnearly sagged when his soft, velvety rough tongue did just what he'd asked, sweeping in sensualcircles around the sensitive head ofhis cock.

  "Fuck...darlin', you're a natural."
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  Skye's eyes warmed, and if he hadn't had Liam's cock inhis mouth, Liamwas certainhe'd be grinning.

  Liam chuckled and rocked his hips a fraction, easing a bit more of his cock into Skye's mouth. He shook his head when the other man's eyes widened. "No, don't panic on me, Skye. Relax. Just like before-suck, swirl your tongue. Try not to scrape with your teeth, thougha little bit is sexy. Just a little."

  Skye made a soft sound, an uncertain cross betweena whimper and a moan, and Liamsmiled. Even that sound was fullofquestion.

  "Don't look at me like that. It's not as complicated as it seems right now. Multi-tasking, surely you're good at that, Skye."

  That got him a "Seriously?" look from Skye and Liam laughed again. Lord, the man made him laugh, even in the middle of possibly one of the sexiest moments he'd ever experienced, teaching Skye how to suck cock. "Be a good boyand do as you're told."

  As expected, Skye "Hmmph'ed," and Liam got a warning graze of teeth against his cock. Liam just grinned, and he could see the amusement inSkye's eyes as well. Something inside him twisted, like a key in a lock. Liam frowned at the feeling, then shook his head when Skye reacted to the frown with one of his own. He brushed aside the strange sensation and focused on

  Skye."It's okay. You're doing so good, darlin'. A little

  more?" Skye nodded as best he could, and Liam let go of his cock to reach out and brace himself on the headboard, sinking another inch or two into Skye's mouth. Immediately, Skye tensed, eyes squeezing shut briefly.

  "Shhh. It's not too much. Easy now." He remembered the feeling, when anything more than a couple of inches felt like you were choking on cock. "It's just because it's unfamiliar."

  Skye's eyes opened again, looking up at Liam and the amount oftrust inhis expressionwas humbling. As if to say he was fine, Skye gave a deep suck on Liam's cock, tongue flickingthe tip.

  Liam groaned. "A quick learner, as usual." He eased his hand out fromunder Skye's head. "Now you move your mouth, up and down, while still sucking and using your tongue. Don't try to take too much. Eventually, you might learn to take it all, but a good blowjob has nothing to do with how deep you can go and everythingto do withhow muchyou enjoyit."