Under Pressure (No Pressure, No Diamonds Book 1)
Page 24
His sense of time fucked out of him, Sebastian has no idea how long he lies there. He vaguely remembers turning around and staring at the ceiling with London draped half over him, idly tracing the lines of his tattoos, switching between soft murmurs and softer humming. He turns his head and gets a mouthful of hair. London looks up as he sputters, chin resting on Sebastian's chest, soft smile on his face.
Sex makes London agreeable, his face softens in a way Sebastian has never seen it around anyone else. That thought spikes something in his chest and he smiles back just as dopily, brushing London's fringe out of his eyes. It's getting long, not that he's complaining. He knows they need to finish talking about this, but Sebastian just needs a moment.
"Will you teach me how to get out of the handcuffs?"
"I'm sure we can come up with some sort of exchange," London says before leaning down for a sweet kiss. "But maybe not right away. Maybe I want you in them once, knowing you can't get out."
A delightful shiver runs up his spine. Maybe he wants that, too. He drifts off a bit, listening to London's soft murmurs, telling him about his day. It’s not the story he’s concentrating on but the soft cadence of London's voice, slightly scratchy after sex, content. After some time, Sebastian plucks up his courage, knows it needs to be said. "Any sort of flirting with the mark, that's just for the end result. You do know that, right?"
London's finger draws circles on his chest, idly playing with his piercings until Sebastian gently catches his hand. He unties the scarf from around London's wrist while London gathers his thoughts.
"I know," he says finally.
Sebastian nods and drops the untangled scarf over the edge of the bed. He motions for London's other wrist and starts loosening that scarf, too. He's stalling, maybe because he understands the importance of the next question. He watches London's wrist become unveiled, small – dainty even.
"Do you want me to stop?"
He doesn't look at London, doesn't have the guts for it. Instead he concentrates on the last two loops of the scarf, before it too flutters to the ground, joining the other.
London clears his throat. "I wouldn't ever want to ask you to stop being yourself."
Sebastian sniffles a bit, because of course London would understand. If anyone on this earth understands their way of life, the need to do what they do, it's London. He lets out a shaky breath, gathering London up in a hug.
"Thank you," he whispers against his temple, rolling them over in one quick movement. He settles between London's thighs, looking down at him intently. "Tell me what I can do to make you feel less bothered, then."
London's smile is still gentle as he reaches up to trace the contours of Sebastian's face. "Think you made it quite clear earlier."
"I can do more. I want to."
London shrugs, eyes following his finger trailing over Sebastian's skin. "Maybe – I mean, maybe we can just pick the cons according to the mark? I mean the last ones were fine, but this one, this Arran guy –" London doesn't bother keeping the distaste out of his voice. "I can't stand the way he looks at you. I want him to know."
Sebastian frowns. "Know what?"
London wraps his legs around Sebastian's hips, arms like a vice around his shoulders. Finally, he searches out Sebastian's gaze, burning and intense. "That you're mine."
The following evening, they're back at the mark's nightclub.
For the past half hour, London has been driving him insane, leaning over the bar to get the bartender's attention, his arse getting the attention of absolutely everyone else while doing so. He's wearing skinny jeans again, combined with flat-soled vans that somehow accentuate the curve of his legs even more. The tank top is kind of useless too, showing almost as much nipple through the armholes as Sebastian's own half-unbuttoned shirt.
Jealousy would be churning inside of him at every stranger's look, if it weren't for the simple fact that London shows interest only in him. It's amazing really, how distant London can be to people that hit on him. A guy comes up to London at the bar and Sebastian can make out his disinterested scowl from across the room. A few words and a nod to where Sebastian is sitting have the guy looking over once before retreating.
The moment he's handed his drink, London comes over to Sebastian's booth. There's plenty of space but London still climbs into his lap, letting Sebastian try the fruity concoction. It's sweeter than the stuff London normally drinks and he grins when Sebastian smacks his lips before leaning in and licking the taste out of his mouth.
"The guy at the bar asked me to dance," London says when he's done with the kissing. He wraps his lips around the straw and looks at Sebastian innocently. "Told him I already promised the hottest guy in here I'd dance with him."
Sebastian looks over at the mass of people, guys mostly, sliding and grinding against each other to the deep bass beat. His dick's been hard since shortly after arriving and he's not sure what would happen if they actually did go onto the dance floor together.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
London wriggles in his lap, sucking on his straw. Sebastian has to bite his lip to keep from moaning. "But what if someone touches me without my consent? I need my big, strong boyfriend to protect me."
While London keeps a straight face, Sebastian chuckles at the absolute absurdity of that statement. The day London needs anyone to protect him is the day Sebastian stops analysing people’s reactions for his own gain. London might be small, but he’s a force to be reckoned with. If people underestimate them, they don’t deserve better anyway.
Of course he lets himself be pulled onto the dance floor, grips London's hips when he plasters his back to Sebastian's front.
The next ten minutes can't really be considered dancing. It's foreplay with a dash of exhibitionism.
London's fingers intertwine at the back of his head, pulling Sebastian's ear close to his mouth by tugging his hair. He arches, his round bum rubbing Sebastian's erection. "Would you stick your hand down the front of my jeans? Wank me off right here?"
Sebastian spares the people around them a quick glance, not really surprised to see a lot of them surreptitiously watching their little spectacle.
There's very little in regards to sex he wouldn't do with London. But others seeing London's face when he comes is one of them. "No."
"Well then," London says and grabs his wrist, yanking him along. "We better find somewhere more private."
Sebastian stumbles behind him, past everyone on the dance floor. On the way to the club's bathroom he catches Arran's gaze from his private booth overlooking his club. Sebastian knows he's the kind of mark that's easily manipulated with the mere promise of sex. Arran is exactly the type of guy to get off on the idea of fucking someone like Sebastian, he’d count him as a personal trophy. He'd be more than agreeable beforehand, malleable until he got what he wants. He'd be all too so easy to con.
Sebastian looks back at London, dragging him through the throng of people and into the bathroom, small fingers wrapped tightly around Sebastian's hand. And suddenly he doesn't care one bit that it will be more difficult to get Arran to trust him, he doesn't care that conning him without any sexual undertones will be that much harder. He's Sebastian Ford. He's known for the most complicated cons.
London pushes him inside a stall and locks the door behind them. They look at each other for a moment, hunger an almost physical force between them. They move at the same time, meeting in the middle for a heated kiss, hands scrabbling over trouser buttons.
Life might be more difficult like this, but London is worth it.
A self-proclaimed 21st century nomad, Kara never stays in one place for too long, always looking for greener pastures. So far, Europe, Australia and Africa have been her chosen homes over the years. And while she has to yet experience the feeling of homesickness, fernweh is a well-acquainted friend.
Writing stories brightens her days and can thankfully be done anywhere around the globe. Still, she makes sure to never travel too far out of wifi ra
nge. Her debut novel Under Pressure will be available from February 2017, while a sequel is already in the works.
twitter: @kara_greenan
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Copyright © 2017 Kara Greenan.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at the address below.
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Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Layout © 2017 Beth Bolden
Book Cover © 2017 T.M. Franklin
Ordering Information:
Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity pur-chases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact Ink & Smith Publishing at the address above.
Under Pressure/ Kara Greenan. -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-0-9986210-0-5