by Faith Ryan
What is wrong with me? I had sex with Rafe only a few hours before, and it was good, but not like the night before. It feels as if my body hasn’t had its fill, it isn’t satisfied with the release Rafe gave me. My cock is jumping for this man, begging for attention.
Then there’s my reaction to Jess and his guard. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from their lovemaking. Or more accurately, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sight of Jess, his reactions, his sounds. If my dick was twitching for the man in front of me, it’s damn near leaping at the thought of Jess splayed out for the taking. Fuck. My body and my mind are working in tandem to mentally place myself in Jess’ guard’s place. The imaginary vision of him before me, my hard length deep inside his body while he makes those sounds as he comes between us, causes a tortured moan to escape from my lips.
“Hmm, that’s interesting.” The nameless man pulls me from my fantasy, and a red blush forms on my cheeks. “What were you thinking just now? Was it about Rafe? Me? Or perhaps someone more unattainable?”
I feel my eyes widen. How can he know? He can’t know. He’s just trying to play me, to learn the answer without my being conscious of giving it. I press my lips firmly together and refuse to fall for his trick.
“Fine. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. I’m just going to—,” he’s cut off by the opening of the door, followed by Rafe’s surprised voice.
“Nero, what are you doing here?” Rafe is charming when addressing the man, then he notices me. “Boy, what did you do?”
He charges me before I can answer, tackling me to the ground. I know he can feel that I’m hard, my erection never having fade after my Jess daydream. Anger spills like venom from his eyes as he wraps a hand around my throat and squeezes. “He is mine. Just as you are. Do not think this means he is yours too.” I can’t process his words; my vision is spotting with darkness as he continues to apply pressure until I feel myself fading from consciousness. “I’ll deal with you later.” Rafe whispers and gives one more firm squeeze.
10
Rafe
I step away from Alek and face Nero. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you I had things under control.”
“Is that any way to greet an old friend, Rafe?” Nero gestures toward Alek. “Who’s the fuck boy?”
“Nobody.” I shrug. “Just some thief I picked up to use for my own ends.”
“A thief?” Nero is too observant for his own good, and I see the moment he realizes just who Alek is. “He’s the descendant, isn’t he? You’ve found him, and you weren’t going to tell me? I’m hurt, Rafe.” He pounds a fist over his heart. “It hurts right here.”
“Oh, fuck off!”
“Relax, Rafe. So now we need to find the lamp. Does the kid know where it’s at?” I don’t miss the salacious leer he gives Alek. I shake my head and grab Nero’s bicep to steer him out of the living area.
“The kid knows nothing. Probably doesn’t even know who he is. I think it’s best we leave it that way, don’t you?”
I stroke across Nero’s chest, loving the way his muscles flex at my touch. I grip the edges of his shirt and pull it from him, before falling to my knees and shoving his pants down just enough to get to his cock. I need to distract him and there’s only one thing I know of that will keep Nero from thinking clearly.
I swallow him down. My hands grip the back of his thighs and use them for leverage to move myself up and down his length.
“Fuck, I’ve missed your mouth.” Nero’s large hands pet at my hair, his thick fingers massage my scalp, and then he tugs on the strands just to hurt. He comes down my throat after a few more thrusts then falls back onto the bed.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the boy, or noticed the fact that I don’t see Ian anywhere. What did you do with your favorite fuck toy?”
“I tired of his parroting everything I did. The sex was good, but he was constantly flitting about me. I couldn’t breathe. I sent him to help on one of Salib’s excursions.”
“That won’t keep him away forever. What if he comes back while the boy is here?”
“So what if he does?”
“You know as well as I do, if Ian returns, the boy will know everything. Are you prepared for that?”
Am I? No. But I’ll deal with it if I need to. I glance back at Alek, assuring myself that he is still out. “Well, it was nice of you to stop by, but as you can see, I don’t have the lamp yet.”
Nero laughs. “Oh, that’s lovely. Are you trying to get rid of me, Rafe?”
“What? No. I would love for you to stay,” I lie.
“Good, because I’m staying here until we find the lamp and finish things.”
Nero takes a shower and I go back out to the living area to wait for Alek to wake. I need to do something with the boy until I can convince Nero I have things under control.
A soft knock comes at the door and when I open it, I think I’ve found the solution to my problem. “Jess, to what do I owe this pleasure?” If I’m not mistaken a blush reddens the young man’s cheeks and neck while he tries not to make eye contact with me.
“Uh, is Alek here? I mean, can I speak with him?”
“He’s indisposed at the moment. Anything I can help you with?”
Jess’ eyes widen at the suggestion before narrowing at the sound of Alek’s pained groan as he wakes. He doesn’t hesitate to push me aside and run to Alek’s side.
“Are you okay?” Alek nods at his question and coughs. I’m sure his throat feels scratchy from the deprivation of oxygen at my hand earlier.
“And what do we have here?”
Fuck. I forgot about Nero. The man is standing beneath the archway that leads to the bedrooms, naked as the day he was born. Alek chokes and descends into a coughing fit, and Jess turns away, ever the gentleman.
“For fuck’s sake, put some clothes on. Jess is here to take Alek to his room. I’m loaning him out for the night.”
Jess looks at me with his head cocked, trying to figure out my motive. I keep my face blank. Nero is too perceptive, and it won’t do anyone any good if he catches me deceiving him.
“That’s right. I came to borrow Rafe’s slave for the night. I believe he owes me for this evening.” Jess grabs Alek under his arms and helps him to stand, before ushering him out of the room.
“Salib’s son is quite pretty isn’t he?” Nero walks over to me, stopping just shy of touching. His cock is hard again and I know I’m in for a rough night. “Think you could be as pretty as him?”
“I have no desire to be pretty, Nero.”
Nero reaches out and grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back painfully. “I didn’t ask if you desired to be pretty, Rafe. I asked if you could be as pretty as Jess. I’m in the mood for something a little more feminine tonight.”
Nero gets like this whenever he visits. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s only here to dress me up and pretend I’m Jess for the night. I don’t fancy the silk and lace like Jess, but I keep some on hand for Nero’s visits.
“Whatever you want, Nero.” The words have trouble coming out because of the angle of my neck, but he hears me.
“That’s right. Now go get ready.” He releases me with a shove toward the bedroom. “I’ll be there shortly.”
I don’t question him. I’ve learnt my lesson on that time and time again. But now I have the lamp and Alek, I hope that soon I can be rid of him for good.
11
Jess
I came to apologize to Alek and by some weird turn of events orchestrated by Rafe, he is now following me down the halls to my suite of rooms. I hope Jairo doesn’t mind that I brought him back. The hostility between Rafe and his guest was palpable, I couldn’t leave him there to suffer because of it.
“Why am I going to your rooms?”
Alek rubs at his neck and the reminder that something bad had happened to him makes me glad that Rafe sent him with me.
“It was Rafe’s idea. You heard him.”
I shrug and A
lek’s gaze follows the motion from my shoulder to where my clavicle is visible in the low-cut shirt I’m wearing. He quickly turns away, a blush covering his cheeks, and I notice him swallow hard. His Adam’s apple juts out with the motion, enticing me to give in to my want for him. I keep myself in check, barely.
“I heard him, but I don’t know what game he’s playing. There’s always some consequence to his maneuvering of me. Just trying to be prepared for when it comes.”
Rafe and all of his damn games and manipulations. The man is constantly trying to place others into positions that will most benefit him. But there’s no denying the fear I saw in his eyes when he said I was taking Alek with me.
I recognized the enormous man in Rafe’s rooms as his friend, Nero. He’s visited Rafe many times and even dined with us at my father’s table. Rafe is a vicious and unwavering man, unhesitant to put another in their place. But during Nero’s visits he becomes as vulnerable and submissive to the hulking beast of a man as I’ve ever seen a man become.
“Rafe likes to play games, I won’t lie, but I think you’re safe for the moment. With Nero here, he’ll be too preoccupied to even remember you exist.”
Alek is quiet as we reach my suite of rooms, I wonder what he’s thinking and why he’s here doing Rafe’s bidding. He strikes me as a man with a strong sense of dignity; a polar opposite to Rafe and his twisted intentions.
I open the door to my rooms, and I’m met by Jairo’s sad, accusing eyes. I expect him to tell me how big of a mistake it was to bring Alek back with me, but Jairo surprises me. Standing from the bed, he walks toward us and stops just inches from me.
“I’ll just be outside. Let me know if you have a need for me.”
Jairo sounds resigned, but to what I don’t know. Does he think Alek will replace him as my friend? I barely know the guy. He’s cute and there’s a definite spark of something between us, but I don’t believe he’s a threat to the bond we have.
“Jairo,” I say his name softly, afraid of losing my best friend.
“Shh, don’t Jess. It’s all right.” He smiles at me then leaves, closing the door behind him.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to come between the two of you. I can go back to Rafe’s rooms.”
“Don’t be silly.” I hope I sound as cheerful as I’m trying to feel. I’ll worry about Jairo later. Right now, Alek needs to be my focus.
I usher him into the spare room. It’s between mine and Jairo’s with the bathroom directly across the hall, and I feel better knowing there is no way for Rafe, or Nero, to get to him without alerting my bodyguard first.
“You should rest. I’m sure you must be exhausted from whatever tasks Rafe has set upon you. I’ll get you some tea for your throat,” I ramble as I turn down the bed. “The bath is across the hall if you want to soak first. I’ll get you some fresh clothes to wear when you’re done.”
Alek’s “okay” is small and unsure as I propel him across the hall. Turning on the taps to fill the tub, I set about getting the water to the right temperature and pour some calming oil into the water.
I grab a few towels from the cupboard by the sink and place them on the counter. Once that’s done, I look around the small room to assure I haven’t forgotten anything.
“Okay, I think that’s everything. There are some extra toothbrushes in that drawer. Take your time. I’ll have your tea waiting for when you’re finished.”
I leave Alek to it and quickly close him away from my sight. I’m a nervous mess around him and I need a few minutes to calm myself before I have to see him again.
Walking back into the living area, I run my hands over the silky material of my skirt; the feeling comforting me.
“Jairo,” I call out as I open the door. “Can you have someone bring up some chamomile tea? I think it will help Alek’s throat.”
“What’s wrong with his throat?”
“Rafe or his friend Nero did something to him, I think. I’m not sure exactly, but he was coughing and choking when I got to Rafe’s rooms. And he keeps rubbing at his throat as if it hurts.”
“Fuck. Nero is here? That man will go too far one day, and your father will have no choice but to discipline his most trusted advisor over his friend’s actions. I’ll call down for the tea, but I think it would be best if I stayed inside your rooms with you.”
“I think you’re right.”
Rafe and Nero are up to something, they always are, but I don’t like how they seem to have their sights set on Alek. What do they want with him? He’s just a thief that Rafe took as a slave as punishment for attacking me with a book, but it seemed orchestrated on Rafe’s part. The hardness of Alek’s life is obvious, but there is also an innocence about him. He’s streetwise, he had to have been in order to survive, but I wonder what exactly his street knowledge consists of.
My thoughts drift to the possibility of Alek fucking men and women just to eat, and my heart aches at the thought while my mind screams in denial of anyone touching him in such a way.
Fuck. I need to get myself under control where Alek is concerned. Maybe with Jairo by my side, I can focus on saving Alek rather than trying to get into his pants.
12
Nero
Rafe thinks he’s clever, ushering the kid out the door with Jess. He’s the key to ending this charade and Rafe knows it. So why is he protecting him? It’s been our end game from the beginning, and now he’s jumping off track. He’s up to something and I will find out what.
As soon as he had Alek out the door, Rafe made the excuse of needing to talk with Salib and left. If I hadn’t wanted to explore his suite for hidden items, such as a particular lamp, I wouldn’t have let him go. Rafe is top dog when it comes to Salib’s men. But when it comes to me, I’m the one who’s on top in every sense of the word.
I leisurely stroll through Rafe’s suite, picking up and discarding books and knickknacks. He wouldn’t leave whatever he’s found in plain sight for me to find, but it gives me a sick pleasure to disturb his meticulous world.
I hear Rafe enter the entryway and smile. Time to have some fun.
“What the hell are you doing?” he yells, flitting around the living area, taking the items I’d displaced and putting them back in their proper homes. His huffs of frustration amuse me, and I don’t bother holding back my laugh. “Having fun? Why are you still here Nero? I told you I don’t have the lamp yet.”
“But you do have the descendant. Or you did before you sent him off with the pretty boy. Why did you do that?”
I move across the room to stand at his back as he pretends to be engrossed in rearranging his bookshelf. Placing my hands on his hips, I use my grip to pull him back until his body is flush with mine.
“Quit your stalling and answer me, Rafe. Why don’t you want me near the boy?”
I slide one hand up over his chest, caressing the planes of his abs and stopping to pinch at a nipple and I relish the gasps he makes before wrapping my hand around his throat and squeezing just hard enough to be painful. My other hand grips his cock and mirrors the grip I have on his neck. He bucks into my hand slightly, chasing the pleasure to outrun the pain, but I don’t allow him enough freedom in his movements to claim relief.
Pressing my mouth to his ear, I suck the lobe into my mouth and bite down. “Tell me, Rafe.”
“Unh, no reason other than I wanted you to myself for a while before we search for the lamp. The boy may be the descendant, but he is naïve and a distraction. I thought we should prepare before giving him direction.”
What an interesting speech while I have my hand on his dick. And one hell of a lie. I don’t call him on it though, not yet. I’d rather see how he’ll let this play out. Rafe has the lamp already, I can see it in the tension he’s carrying around me, only he doesn’t want me to know he has it.
“So let me get this straight. You wanted me all to yourself, and to make that happen you sent your new boy toy, who also happens to be the descendant, off with the pretty heir to Salib’s empire.�
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Rafe nods as he pulls his bottom lip into his mouth and bites down. I grind myself against him, letting him feel how hard I am at the thought of taking his ass.
“And what did you want to do with me once you had me alone, with no distractions? Were you picturing my cock down your throat, or maybe you want to ride me until you come all over yourself?”
Desperate grunts fill the air as I whisper into Rafe’s ear and ease my hand into the waistband of his slacks. Gripping his shaft, I stroke in a long, slow glide. My palm is rough against his sensitive skin from the lack of lube. The small punishment makes me smile as Rafe whines and tries to shift away while simultaneously thrusting into my hand.
“Yes.”
“Yes what? What do you want, Rafe?”
“All of it.”
“Hmmm, you’re desperate for it, aren’t you?”
I twist my hand over the head of his cock before removing my hands from his body. Rafe lets out a keening sound as I step away, putting distance between us.
My cock throbs in response to me denying myself the use of Rafe’s tight hole, but it’s only a temporary delay. I unbuckle my slacks, and as I push them down my thighs, I give Rafe a pointed stare. He sheds his clothes quickly and lowers himself to the floor on all fours.
Unhurried, I remove my clothing as Rafe’s eager noises fill the room while he waits for me. Naked, I drop to my knees and line myself up with his hole. Shoving my cock inside his body viciously, I feel him tear and the blood that comes from the injury lubricates my shaft as I continue to piston into him with fast, hard thrusts. His scream of pain fuels my lust, amping it up until all I need is the release that’s barreling toward me.
As my orgasm comes over me, I yank my cock from Rafe’s ass and flip him around so I can shove my cock down his throat. He gags at the intrusion and tears fall from his eyes. When I’m finished and his belly is full of my cum, I pull out and slap my cock on his cheek then push him away. He falls back onto the floor, his still hard dick bouncing from the movement.