BDSM Mega Boxed Set

by Anita Lawless, C. J. Sneere, Roxxy Meyer

  Me? I’m not so lucky. I’ve been doing tats out of my small apartment to keep the income flowing, and I even started doing tats in other people’s homes, but Isaac found out and called the health board on me to launch an official investigation. They found I was operating under strict health and safety regulations, but it still hampered my work. To say the guy is vindictive is an understatement.

  Laura puts her hand over mine. “Let me pay the rent this time. I’ve got some spare cash tucked away—”

  “No,” I growl, shaking my head furiously. I’ve already put her through enough thanks to my bitter feud with my ex.

  “Bullshit, Chad,” she snaps. “I am paying, and I won’t take no for an answer. My other job pays pretty well. And you’ve always been there for me.”

  I thank her, though I shrug off the offer again. So I’m proud and stubborn. Sue me. “I’ll think about it.”

  She ruffles my dark brown short hair, like she used to when we were kids and she was once taller than me. “Think about this, too.” She slides a ticket in front of me. “You need a break.”

  With dark brown eyes narrowed, I read the ticket. “Niko: Extraordinary Reality.” I bite my bottom lip. “Yeah, I’ve heard of this guy. A magician, right?”

  She nods. “I’ve seen him a million times. His stuff’s a bit old school, but the shows are great fun.”

  Then I remember more about the performer in question from our city’s local history. Nikolai Nichvalodov is a member of one of the richest families in our small metropolis. The Nichvaldov’s immigrated from Russia in the early 1900s, and the original patriarch of the family was an entrepreneur who invested in experimental start-up companies. Through this, he, and subsequent generations, have made billions.

  “What the hell?” I force a smile at Laura and put away my anger for now. “I’ll come watch this dude pull a rabbit out of his hat.”

  She rolls her eyes at me and laughs. “He’s not THAT old school.” Before she heads out front, she turns back to me. “I meant what I said about the rent. How many times did you let me have my chair for free when I was down on my luck?”

  Laura rents a chair from me, but really she should be made full partner in my tat shop. I consider this as I look away, humbled by her words. “Thank you, Laura. I’m not comfortable with taking the money from you, but I’ll make it up to you. You should really be a full partner in this place.”

  She smiles. “We’ll talk more about that later. Now get upstairs and get ready for the magic show.”

  ***

  I live in the small apartment above my tattoo shop. Isaac, my ex, has even tried to bully me out of here, but I’m not leaving without a fight.

  I take a quick shower then clean the steam from the mirror, grimacing at my reflection after I do so. It seems I look so much older than my twenty-five years. Circles shadow my dark brown eyes. I run some gel through my short hair and work it into some messy spikes. After rubbing the stubble along my jaw, I decide I can go one more day before shaving. I’m not exactly a bear, but my facial hair does grow fast. But Laura tells me this gives me a sexy five o’ clock shadow I should work with, so I take her advice.

  In my bedroom, I pull on a pair of stone wash jeans and grab a blue and white striped dress shirt from the closet. I’m back downstairs in less than thirty minutes to help Laura close up before we head out. I’ve always been a quick to get ready and go kind of guy. Maybe it’s because me and my mom, a lead singer in a rock band, lived out of a suitcase for most of my childhood. It taught me to be ready to pack up and go fast.

  Laura wolf whistles at me after she locks the front door while I douse the OPEN sign and interior lights. “Wow, you’ll knock the boys dead tonight, Chad. I better go home and fix myself up or I’ll never be able to compete.”

  I grin at my tall, redhead friend. Despite her joke, she’s gorgeous. Laura reminds me of a young Rita Hayworth, only with more tattoos and short, brilliant red hair done in a pixie cut.

  “You get all the blonds, babe,” I say. “You know I like tall, dark and handsome. Wait.” I stop and pretend to consider this before we head out the back door. “Maybe that’s my problem.”

  She laughs. “But Isaac was tall, salt-and-pepper, and handsome, so I think you’re good as long as you stay away from the guys going grey.”

  ***

  We arrive at the Hermes Theater at 8 pm and take our seats in the orchestra area. The theater has been recently restored, and cherubs blowing horns adorn the ceiling. The beige walls are trimmed with gold, and deep burgundy curtains drape the black stage. Balcony seats draped in similar deep red jut out from either side of the stage, looming high above it.

  The lights go down and Laura grabs my hand, gives it a squeeze and gives me a wide smile. I return it, but I’m not expecting much. Maybe it’s just my bad mood lingering from the crappy news Isaac’s note delivered. Truth is, I’ve never been big on magicians. Sure I’m seen Damien Lane and Rick Seraphim, the two big ones out there these days, and their tricks are impressive. But I can be a hardcore cynic and I’m not easily impressed. From what I’ve heard about Niko, he’s a magician past his time and on his way out. If it weren’t for his family’s connections, he’d probably be forgotten by now.

  A disco ball spins above the stage after the curtains part. The lights dim and ominous music plays to get us in the mood. I glance around, finding the place is packed. So maybe Niko isn’t as washed up as I think, or maybe his family pays people off to come see the shows.

  Stop being a bitch, I scold myself. After all, the ticket was a gift from Laura and I shouldn’t be so ungrateful. So I focus forward and try to enjoy the show.

  After some flash and pageantry during the opening, Niko gets to the tricks. He does a couple with cards to warm up and get the show rolling, then does a few impressive sleight of hand illusions. Next his assistant, a pretty brunette dressed in a sparkling blue mini, wheels out a box and places it at the center of the stage.

  Niko is an intimidating and strikingly handsome man. I’ve only seen his photos on a few occasions, when the local papers have covered his shows. He’s tall and barrel-chested and walks straight and proud as he performs. He wears a trimmed, black beard that accentuates his pale skin and icy blue eyes. Now he turns to the audience in his tuxedo and begins to open panels on the box that sits atop a table.

  “You will note there are no tricks, no secret compartments.” His voice booms out as he speaks to the crowd. He raps the top of the box with a massive fist. “Once the lovely Jemma is inside, she has no way of getting out. No hidden escapes.”

  Another man also clad in a tuxedo brings out a buzz saw as Jemma, Niko’s assistant, climbs inside the apparatus.

  “Now, ladies and gentleman,” he says, sweeping his arms wide. “I will saw Jemma into three pieces right before your eyes.”

  I can’t help rolling my eyes. This trick is as old as god, if I believed in one. Thankfully Laura doesn’t notice my disdain.

  But, somehow, Niko does. Those icy blue eyes focus on me and he calls out, “Excuse me, sir. Do you doubt my claim?”

  The spotlight pins me and my eyes go wide. I hate being singled out, and my anger gets the best of me. “Not saying you can’t do it. I just think the trick is a little dated.”

  Niko arches an eyebrow. “Perhaps you’d be more impressed if you came up here and watched?”

  His male assistant comes down to escort me to the stage. I give him an annoyed look, but Laura whispers, “Get your ass up there.”

  I don’t want to piss her off. She’s been more than generous to me today. So I go up.

  Niko gives me a glare, and I’m thankful looks can’t kill. “Please, watch closely.”

  His large hand clamps on my shoulder and he positions me so I can see the box well but I don’t block the audience’s view. Sparks tingle where he touches me, and I almost flinch away from his touch. There’s instant chemistry. Probably just from our combative stances. At least that’s what I reason.

 
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stand and watch.

  Niko flips open the side of the box to show that his assistant is laying prone inside. Then he starts up the buzz saw after he closes the panels, and its mechanical whine rises above the music that accompanies his performance.

  I hold my breath, caught up in the illusion for just a moment as he brings the saw close to the box. But then I remember it’s all a trick and watch calmly.

  Until the saw bites through the wood and Jemma screams moments before blood flies. Her head thrashes back and forth, but Niko keeps cutting.

  I lunge forward to stop him, but his male assistant, a man equal to my size and quite strong, holds me back, though I struggle in his grip. My heart hammers in my chest and I breathe rapidly.

  “It’s fine,” he whispers in my ear. “It’s all part of the trick.”

  But as the blood continues to fly, I’m not so sure I believe him. The audience gasps and screams as Niko finishes cutting through her torso and moves to her knees. Jemma’s face is stained with blood, but she still breathes, her eyes still blink. More gore spews out as he severs her legs from her torso. Then he beckons his tuxedo clad assistant to come help him pull the sections apart. He does so, but not before he demands I “Stay here.”

  I watch the two men separate the boxes, twirl them around, show the crowd the sections of chopped up human. My mind is reeling, but I keep reassuring myself it has to be a trick. After all, I’ve seen Rick Seraphin pull a woman in half, and she wasn’t even in a box. Her top half lurched away afterward. But that was on TV. Not in real, up-close life.

  My eyes are glued to Jemma’s face. She looks so calm it has to be okay. Niko and his assistant, whose name is revealed as Victor, put the pieces back together. Niko does some funky hand gestures over the box then opens the side. My stomach tightens into knots. Even though I know it’s all a show, I expect bloody chunks to fall out.

  But what does emerge is a fully intact Jemma. There’s not a drop of blood on her sparkling blue dress. Niko helps her out of the apparatus and she sashays across the stage. Uproarious applause drown out the blood pounding in my ears.

  After he bows and kisses Jemma on the cheek, Niko strolls over to me. “Still think I’m too boring for your tastes?” He smirks.

  “I never said that.” Then I shrug and bluff nonchalance. “It’s still a little old school.”My eyes dart from the buzz saw Victor takes off the stage back to Niko’s blood spattered tux. “But how’d you do that?”

  His smirk widens into a smug grin. “Come backstage with Laura after the show and I just might tell you.”

  ***

  Laura and I attend a small party in the foyer after the show. Niko still hasn’t told me how he pulled off that trick, or his grand finale, but he did invite us to stick around and teased me with the promise of possible secrets revealed if we did so. The man is infuriating me already, but he’s hot as hell and too enigmatic for my own good.

  Before we left his dressing room, he did reveal one secret however.

  Once again, I asked him, “How’d you do that? That blood look real.”

  He held up a finger to my lips, while Laura grinned at my awe. Niko smeared the blood over my bottom lip. “Taste,” he said.

  Dubiously, I licked my lip, but found sweetness instead of an iron tang. “What is it?”

  “Corn syrup, food coloring, and a special secret.”

  Then the bastard just winked at me and walked away.

  I shook my head at my naiveté. “I should’ve known that.” When we were kids, it was what Laura and I used to make our grisly killer costumes look more realistic most Halloweens.

  “Don’t feel bad.” Laura patted my arm. “That trick freaked out the entire crowd. He lulls you by making you think it’s just the same old, same old.”

  Now, out in the foyer, I sip some champagne while I watch people cluster around the charismatic Niko. Reporters shove microphones and cameras in his face, fans flock to his side. I stand back from it all, observing and waiting for Laura to leave the throng so I can go home. I’ve had enough excitement for one night.

  The crowd around Niko disperses and he makes his way toward me. I look around for Laura, anxious to get out of here, since my bad mood has lingered and I’m not up for a party or more mental barbs with this sexy magician.

  Still, my curiosity lingers, and when he draws near I ask again, “So how did you do it? That and the final trick.”

  He gives a hearty baritone laugh. “I won’t reveal all my secrets. A good magician never tells everything. But I’ll tell you how I sawed Jemma in thirds.”

  He puts a hand in the center of my back and draws me away from the crowd, down the hall that leads toward backstage. Once again I feel that tingle of electricity between us.

  “The table is a trick table,” he confesses as we move closer to his dressing room. “There’s a set of false panels that open once I close off the box. Jemma slips down into this and she is replaced by a fake torso and legs. The legs and feet include motors that move them. When I start to saw through the box, little bags of fake blood burst, and voila, the illusion is complete.” He puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer. His spicy cologne and minty breath tease my nostrils, stirring a traitorous fire low in my belly. “But you do realize something?”

  I frown at him. My voice is gruff when I speak. “What’s that?”

  “Now I’ve told you the secret, I’ll have to kill you.” His deadpan stare makes me back up. Is he fucking with me or not? For a moment, I can’t tell. Then he breaks into a broad grin. “Or, I could offer you another alternative.”

  I chuckle. My bad mood finally breaks under his smooth charisma. “Could you?”

  “Come work for me. You see, Chad, I am a bit too old school, as you might put it.”

  I clear my throat and try to hide my embarrassment.

  “I’d like to modernize my act somewhat,” Niko continues. “How’d you like to be my new assistant? The job requires more than a pretty face.” He strokes a finger down my stubbled chin and I try to suppress a shiver. “My assistants are also consultants who help me develop new tricks for the show.”

  “I already have a job, thanks,” I say, sensing working with this man would be dangerous. My libido rules my head way too much, and he’s sending it off the charts.

  He stops me with a firm hand on my shoulder before I can walk away. Once again those sparks whiz through me. My nostrils flare along with my anger.

  “Laura tells me you got yourself in a bit of trouble with Isaac Gemini. If you help me, I could help you get rid of that problem.”

  Anger sears through my brain. I’m pissed Laura divulged this personal information to a man who is a stranger to me. At the same time, the opportunity grabs my interest. I know Niko belongs to a family with much wealth and influence. And I’d love to get my business back to what it used to be, have Isaac off my back for good.

  Still suspicious, but now more open to his proposition, I ask, “What kind of deal are we talking about?”

  Niko smiles a wolfish smile. “Come work for me part time. I’ll make sure you have ample hours for tattooing, also. And I’ll clean up the mess you made for yourself with Gemini. I need some more young blood in my show.”

  His crack about my mess almost sends my temper flaring again, but I tamp it down. Still I can’t resist getting my own barb in. “Maybe you’re just too old. Time to think about retirement, perhaps?” In truth, the guy looks no more than thirty-five.

  He almost chokes on his champagne. But he raises an eyebrow at my insolence and merely smirks that smug smirk. “A lesser man might get angry with your smart mouth.” Then he reaches down and cups my cock through my jeans as he leans close to whisper in my ear, “But it just turns me on.”

  He slaps my ass before turning away to stride confidently down the hall.

  As he does, he throws over his shoulder, “Be at my place Saturday by 9 am. Laura will give you directions.”

  ***


  “You told him about my situation?” I’m enraged, despite Laura’s earlier generosity. “What is this guy to you? Are you doing him or something?”

  Laura laughs as she parks in behind the tattoo shop. “No, sweetheart. Niko is as gay as you are. I haven’t got the right parts to please him.” She shuts off the car and turns to me. “You can trust Niko. Let him help you.”

  “No way am I working for that guy.” I give an annoyed sigh. “I don’t even know him. And how come I never knew you were so cozy with a magician?”

  Her lips quirk sideways in a coy smile. “What’s our code, Chad? I don’t pry into your life and you don’t pry into mine.”

  I take off my seat belt and thrust open the door.

  She blows her razor cut bangs out of her eyes and shakes her head at me. “Meeting Niko kind of happened by accident. Point is, he’s a generous guy, and when I told him about you he wanted to help out. Can’t you just be grateful?”

  “I am, but it’s tough to trust after Isaac,” I say, still sulking as I get out of the passenger seat and walk toward the stairs leading to my apartment.

  “I know,” she says, following me. “But would I tell you the guy was safe if he wasn’t? So drop the twenty questions.”

  Before I can throw another clever quip her way, a tall, slender man strolls our way from the base of the stairs. The streetlight glints off his silvery hair and I recognize that chiseled face as gray eyes pin me. Isaac Gemini wears an immaculate black suit that moves in perfect time with his athletic form as he draws near.

  My every muscle stiffens. Even the one down below flutters, and I curse myself for still having a strong physical attraction to this heartless bastard.

  “You got my letter?” he says, his keen eyes moving from me to Laura and back again.

  “Yup.” My hand clench into fists. “And you’ll have your money by Monday.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Guaranteed?”

  Laura walks up beside me. “Guaranteed. Come to the shop before noon and we’ll give you the cash.”