The rectangle is designed so it looks far too small to hold all it conceals. I’m mildly impressed. “Not bad, for a warm up.”
He shakes his head at me, but still wears that smug grin. “Have you ever worked as a magician?”
“Nope.”
“Then can the critiques, unless I ask for them.”
Remembering I need this guy’s help, whether I like it or not, I button my lip. Niko and I work through a few more starter tricks before he offers me coffee and we take a break. He tells me we’ll start on the larger illusions next session.
Squirming in my seat, I don’t meet his eyes as I say, “I hate to ask this, but—”
“You want an advance?”
I raise my eyebrow as he sips his coffee. “You’re psychic too?”
“Hardly.”
Annoyance burns low in my gut, because I know how he knows. “Laura’s been talking again.”
He shrugs. “She’s worried about you. She told me about Isaac’s recent visit.”
“I need to pay him this month’s rent asap or I’m out on my ass.” I sigh, hating I need to ask anyone for help. It’s not my strong suit.
Niko strokes his well trimmed beard. “How about another job? I’d pay well. Enough to keep Isaac off your ass for awhile.”
I sip my coffee, not trusting the glimmer in that calculating gaze. “What’ve you got in mind?”
He leans over the breakfast bar, strokes a finger down my cheek, and smiles. “Spend the night with me.”
I suppress a shiver at his touch. Electricity zips through my body, going right to my traitorous groin. Suddenly my jeans are too tight. “So you want me to whore myself out to you?”
He laughs that thunderous laugh. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Prostitution is the oldest profession, after all. Goes back as far as Mesopotamia. There’s no shame in selling pleasure.”
My nostrils flare in time with my anger. This bastard is just like Isaac. He has me right where he wants me and he’s enjoying it. But I need that cash or Isaac will toss me and Laura out.
“One night. That’s it.” I drain my coffee and steel my nerves.
Niko grazes a thumb along my stubbled chin. “If you enjoy yourself, we could turn it into a full-time position.”
“One night.” I like sex a lot, but I’m nobody’s boy toy. Not after Isaac treated me like I was disposable.
As I walk from the breakfast bar, Niko comes up behind me and slaps my ass. “We’ll see.”
Part of me wants to whirl around and slug the guy, but that wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to my new boss. Instead I follow him to another area of the penthouse.
He opens up floor-to-ceiling double doors and says, “Welcome to my dungeon.”
My heart speeds up. I know exactly what he means by ‘dungeon.’ Isaac was into BDSM too, and at first I enjoyed the play, until Isaac grew cruel and started punishing me even after I’d used our agreed upon safe words.
I back up. “No thanks. You said spend the night. No spankings included.”
His face changes, showing compassion. I figure my fear shows. Niko massages my shoulder. “He hurt you, didn’t he?”
I twitch under his touch. This guy is too damned perceptive. Looking away, I confess, “I liked the play, at first, before Isaac changed.”
His arm trails down my side and he pulls me into a quick hug. I resist, so he breaks contact. He takes my chin between his thumb and finger. “No dungeon tonight then. Will you allow scarves? I’d love to tie you up, tease you, and fuck you.”
I shiver again and my cock grows harder in my pants. Niko notices, for he reaches down and strokes me through my jeans. Bastard knows he has a primal effect on me and I hate him for it.
“Yes,” I say, annoyed by how ragged my voice is.
He leads me to his bedroom. It’s not as lavish as I expected. The theme is clean and modern, and the walls and furniture are the same crème color as in the great room and kitchen. A massive bed with curly, interwoven rails dominates one wall. Niko sits on it as he pulls his sweater over his head.
Before I join him, I say, “How about you show me some cash first?”
His nostrils flare, but he still wears that perma-smug expression. He gets up from the bed and moves to a nightstand. “You’ll have to settle for a check.” He takes out a bank book and pen and scrawls a number. “I’m good for every cent.”
I scan the amount and have to stifle a cough. The amount will more than cover the overdue rent.
“That enough?” He sheds his pants as he studies me.
I nod, soaking in his fine, muscled physique when I look up. “That’s great. Thanks.”
I join him in shedding my clothes. Once we’re both naked, he tells me, “Get up on the bed so I can tie you up.”
Fear prickles between my shoulder blades, but briefly. After all, I agreed to this. I’ve got my payment. Now I have to put out. I crawl up on the wide mattress, sinking into its softness as I make my way to the railings. Once there, I lay my wrists against the cold golden framework, wondering again if it’s the real thing as he pulls some black silk scarves from his nightstand.
He lays these luxurious strips of cloth across my stomach in a row that stretches from my hips to my chest. The sleek material strokes my skin and makes tiny hairs on my body stand up from hyper-awareness. Slowly he plucks one, then two, of the satiny tethers from my flesh and uses them to bind my wrists to the bed. He ties his knots tight, but his deft fingers handle me with care. Already my cock hardens from this contrast of soft and commanding.
He notices, for after he brushes his lips across my cheek he whispers, “It appears a part of you is pleased, at least.”
Lips, and the bristly stroke of his beard, skim over my neck. His hot, wet tongue flits out to taste my flesh, and he adds teeth as he nips and licks his way to my nipples. He teases these, gentle then rough, before he picks up two more scraps of material and devours my skin in a trail leading to my belly button. I arch up beneath him, unable to stop myself from responding to this firestorm of sensation.
He stops and looks up at me, eyes glittering with lust. “I should punish you, but I’m playing nice since it’s your first time.”
I snort at this.
“First time with me.” He gives my quad a sharp slap then sinks his teeth into my inner thigh.
I hiss out a breath and try to remain still, as I know my dom wants me to.
He flits his tongue over the head of my erection, lapping up a pearl of pre-cum before he moves to my feet. I moan in disappointment when his mouth leaves my dick all too soon.
My dom places my ankles together and winds two scarves around them, binding them tight. This leaves me helpless, and he takes advantage of my vulnerability, continuing with light torture. He positions my balls, moving them from where they had gotten tucked between my legs.
The final scarf slides from my stomach and he slips it over my cock, sweeping the cool, soft fabric over my taut, heated skin. I bite my lip, stifling a groan in case he decides to punish me for another outburst. Then he twines the material around the base of my penis and ties it tight.
I gasp at the pain / pleasure sensation that zips through me. My cock throbs and I want to demand he touch it, suck it. His makeshift cock ring will keep me hard until he lets me cum.
“Are you all right?” His gruff voice flows through me. “Not going too fast, am I?”
“No.” I hate how thin my voice is. “I’m fine.”
Low laughter rumbles out of him. “Good, because I’m dying to torture you for that smart mouth.” He cups my chin and roughly kisses me.
And torment me he does. He pinches and tugs at my balls while blowing on the head of dick, but denies me his mouth. His tongue presses into the soft skin covering my sac and he bites this tender flesh, yanking at it until I whimper and jerk in my bonds.
He licks between my cheeks and bites them too. His large hands cup my ass and urge it up, then he uses his broad thumb to spread my crac
k apart so his tongue can lave my asshole. My eyes flutter shut and I moan loudly this time, unable to hold back. The head of my cock pounds with the need to cum already. My shaft tingles, on fire with a yearning to be stroked, satisfied.
Fingers explore my rectum after he lubes them up with some gel he also finds in the nightstand. This gel adds a heated sensation that makes my cock spike harder, if that’s possible. It feels as if the taut skin will soon split if I don’t get release.
A lot of guys don’t like teeth on their dick, but since I enjoy some pain I like canines raked up my cock. Niko gives me this bliss after deep throating me. He drags his pearly whites up my shaft, making it burn from the orgasmic electric shock. I growl and thrash in my bonds.
His teeth tug at a tender flap of skin just beneath the glans and I squeeze my eyes shut tighter. Every thought zones in on my penis and the wild stimuli assaulting it. Tender laps cover my glans as his tongue savors it, slurping up more pre-cum. I buck my hips up, trying to bury my shaft in his mouth, but he pulls away, chuckling at my neediness.
“What do you want, hmmm? Let’s hear you beg.” He practically snarls the command.
“Let me cum, you bastard.” Sweat beads my brow. “Please.”
“I’ll let you cum, but not until you’re buried deep inside of me.”
His mouth descends on my shaft once more. He twirls his tongue around my shaft while he pumps up and down, up and down. In time with his skilled mouth, he tortures my balls, yanking on the soft flesh, pinching it until I squeal. The makeshift cock ring keeps me ramrod hard, and I’m desperate now to spill my load.
Finally he slips a condom on my long, thick cock and positions his ass over me. He makes a show of lubing up his ass while he watches me with that intense gaze. Then heaven sinks down around me as he shoves my dick in his tight, slippery ass. I sigh and close my eyes, letting myself get lost in this bliss.
Pressure releases when he unties the scarf at the base of my cock. I let out a guttural groan as he does so. He rides me fast and rough and it isn’t long before my dick twitches deep inside of him as I reach climax and spill my seed.
Once I’m done, he climbs off and slips a condom on his own cock, lubes up my ass, and then fucks me roughly before reaching a swift release. We stare at each other, sweat dripping from our foreheads, as he pulls out.
“Next time, we’ll use toys, and I won’t be so gentle,” he says.
I shrug. “Could’ve used them this time. You were too tender anyway.”
He slaps my thigh. “I won’t be so easy on you when we fuck again.”
I give him a sideways smirk. “Who says they’ll be a repeat performance?”
He slides off the bed. “I have a feeling there will be.”
***
After a trip to the bank, I head over to Isaac’s downtown office with a huge grin on my face. I can’t wait to slap this cash on his desk and tell him to suck it. The money will pay our overdue rent and cover this month, which will keep him off our backs for a while. I’m thankful to Niko for the respite he’s provided. And I’m over the fact I had to sell a piece of ass to get the funds.
With his hands behind his head, Isaac reclines in a high backed office chair when I walk in. I slap the envelope of money down on his black walnut desk.
“Here,” I say. “Get off my ass.”
“But it’s such a fine ass.” He rips into the packet. “I enjoyed riding it.” He quickly counts the money then looks up at me, raising an eyebrow. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” I ignore his sexual innuendo. “Just guarantee me I won’t have to see your face until the next time rent is due.”
He smirks at this, strokes his clean shaven chin. “I hear you and Nikolai Nichvaldov have become good friends.”
My back stiffens. My stomach sours. “Now who might’ve told you that?”
He shrugs. “I have my sources.”
The sourness in my stomach builds, becoming full blown dread. Are Niko and Isaac working together? How well does Laura really know the Russian magician? Could he be hiding an affiliation with Gemini, and is Isaac spiteful enough to go to this well connected billionaire just to seek further revenge on me?
We stare each other down. Isaac places his elbows on his desk and tents his hands. “Niko and I go way back. We were lovers once, a long time ago. Why don’t you ask him about it?”
I fake a stance of nonchalance. “Maybe I will.” Then I walk out of his office, my blood raging through my veins as my temper kicks into high gear. If Niko is playing a cat and mouse game with me on Isaac’s behalf, I’ll lay that asshole flat. He’s not only screwing with me, he’s screwing with my best friend, and that’s simply not cool.
***
Later that day, after I shut up the shop and Laura drives away, I head out to Niko’s. I have a few questions for him that I want answered asap. I wasn’t supposed to train with him again until tomorrow, but I need to confront him about Isaac now.
When I walk in the great room of his penthouse, he looks surprised. He sets down the coffee he was pouring and turns toward me. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”
I stalk closer to the breakfast bar. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“Ah, well your timing is perfect. I have something I want to talk to you about as well.”
He disappears from the room for a moment and returns with a sheaf of papers that he slides toward me, across the breakfast bar. My eyes meet his.
“A proposition,” is his only answer to my unspoken question. “Read the details and see what you think.”
I scan the first page of the document and my anger grows. These fuckers must be playing a game with me, and this proposal only heightens my suspicions. It’s a contract inviting me to become Niko’s sex toy, courtesy of some place called Surrender Inc. Considering how Isaac tried to own me during our relationship, I now have no doubt he’s using Niko to get even with me.
“What the fuck is this?” I snarl, pushing the papers back to him.
“That other job offer.” His lips quirk in a sideways smile. “I like the way you performed the other night.”
I scoff. “Thanks, but I’m not interested in being anyone’s property.”
He sighs heavily and rolls his eyes toward the ceiling. “Look, Chad, this isn’t about owning you. Think of this as paid companionship.” He leans on the breakfast bar, bringing his face close to mine. “Let me be honest. I’m a lonely man, but I don’t like a lot of people. Most humans either bore the shit out of me or annoy me. You, I like. You challenge me. That’s rare. I’m not looking for a relationship, with all its petty trappings, but I would like to spend some time with you, and fuck your brains out. You need money. I need friendship and sex. Simple as that.”
Narrowing my eyes, I continue to study him. I’m not convinced, and before I sign anything he’s going to answer my questions. “I paid off Isaac today. Funny thing, he says he knows you. That you two were lovers. So how do I trust you, hmmm? Somehow, he knew I started working for you. For all I know you could be in on this with him to get revenge on me. Isaac likes to make me suffer.”
Niko looks shocked and pissed off. He scratches his bearded cheek and I can tell he’s searching for the right words. “Okay, more truths. Yes, I know Isaac, and yes I had a relationship with him, but that was a long time ago. I have no idea how he knows you’re working for me. Maybe the bastard’s watching you. From what Laura has told me, it wouldn’t be surprising. But I swear I am not working with him to screw you over. And I’ll prove that to you.”
“How?”
He lays a big hand over mine. “Trust me.” Then he pushes the contract back toward me. “Take a few days to think it over, read it in full. You’ll be treated well. I guarantee it. And I’ll help you keep that Gemini asshole off your back for good.”
Then Niko backs away, as if he’s giving me permission to leave and do as I will. I don’t take my eyes off him as I move from the breakfast bar. His stunning blue gaze en
snares me. I want to trust that handsome face, but I won’t get trapped by the whims of another wealthy guy with a mean streak.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say over my shoulder as I head to the door. “And I’ll let you know about this by Friday.”
He nods as I turn to glance at him at the door. “Sounds good.”
Those icy eyes never leave mine. Not until I shut the door and break our intense stare.
***
After Laura finishes up a tribal tattoo on a client, I motion for her to follow me in the back room.
While pouring us some coffee, I say, “Did you know Isaac and Niko had a past?”
She sits in one of the recliners we keep in this area. Her bright blue eyes dart away from mine and she focuses on some commercial blaring out of the laptop we often watch TV programs on.
Laura sighs. “Yeah, I did.” I open my mouth, but before I can unleash a tirade, she stops me with a hand raised. “Don’t go ballistic. When you and Isaac were together, I happened to mention his name to Niko. He told me then Isaac could be erratic, but he didn’t go into details.”
I clench my jaw in irritation. “They were lovers.”
She nods. “Yeah, I found that out after you and Isaac broke up.”
Now my irritation climbs into anger territory. “What the fuck, Laura? Just how much do you know? I’m starting to wonder who I can trust.” I run a hand through my short dark spikes.
She gets up and walks over, placing a hand on my arm to give it a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, Chad. You know you can trust me. I was afraid if I told you upfront that Niko and Isaac had been lovers, you’d be gun shy when he offered you the assistant job.”
My eyes go wide. “So how long have you and Niko been scheming?”
She bites her lips while giving me a guilty look. “I told Niko Isaac was giving you a hard time and he said to bring you by one of the shows ’cause he might be able to help you out. That’s how it went down. Promise.”
Surrender Boxed Set (Surrender Series Volume 1 - 7. BDSM romance with man love, bad boys, and billionaires.) Page 48