Chapter 4
T he elevator’s soft chime echoed through the penthouse at 11:03 PM.
Reuben straightened in his chair at the head of the dining table, where he’d been pretending to read reports for the last hour. He didn’t need to see Nikon to know something was off—the rhythm of his footsteps told him everything as he listened to Nikon’s approach through the penthouse foyer.
Whatever had happened at the family meeting, it wasn’t good.
When Nikon appeared in the doorway, the subtle imperfections in his appearance confirmed Reuben’s suspicions. The Windsor knot of his silk tie had been loosened, his jacket bore fresh creases, and his dark hair showed signs of fingers running through it repeatedly—all details that Reuben quickly cataloged.
“You didn’t need to wait up.” Nikon’s voice carried that particular edge that always meant trouble was brewing.
“I wanted to.” Reuben shrugged as he rose from his seat, closing the distance between them. “The meeting ran long?”
Nikon hummed in agreement as his hands slid to Reuben’s waist, fingertips pressing in. The kiss that followed was hard, purposeful—all pressure and demand. Reuben kept his own hands loose at his sides, neither yielding nor resisting, while Nikon’s grip tightened enough to leave memories for the morning.
When they parted, Nikon’s dark gaze traced every line of Reuben’s face, and Reuben fought to suppress the shiver that threatened to betray just how deeply that scrutiny turned him on.
“You’ve been busy while I was gone.” Nikon’s gaze swept over the carefully arranged table, taking in the waiting plates and opened wine.
“Someone has to make sure you eat.” The words came out lighter than Reuben felt. He grinned as he gestured toward Nikon’s usual chair. “Sit. Before everything gets cold.”
A muscle twitched in Nikon’s jaw. Another tell. He released Reuben and moved to the table but remained standing, one hand curled around the back of his chair. “We need to discuss something.”
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Reuben returned to his seat, maintaining eye contact. “I assumed as much when you missed dinner.”
“Your conversation with James Donovan the other night—” Nikon’s fingers whitened as they curled around the chair back. “It’s opened an opportunity.”
Frustration crept up Reuben’s throat, releasing as a long sigh. “An opportunity for me to do more than deal cards?”
Nikon shook his head. “No. As an opportunity for us to gain intelligence on Dmitrii Miroslav.” Nikon lowered himself into the chair, spine rigid. “You’ve caught his attention. We can use that.”
Reuben’s pulse skipped. After months of being held at arm’s length from real business, this carried the sharp scent of either test or trap. Perhaps both.
“You want me to spy on Miroslav?” Reuben reached for his wineglass, using the motion to mask his surprise. “That’s quite a change from keeping me exclusively in the poker rooms.”
“It’s reconnaissance only.” Steel threaded through Nikon’s words. “Quick in and out. You’ll pose as someone frustrated with your current position. Make yourself appealing as a potential recruit.”
Reuben took a measured sip of wine, studying Nikon over the rim of his glass. “And what changed your mind about involving me in more operations? Last week, you wouldn’t even let me sit in on Grigorii’s meeting with the dock workers.”
“Circumstances change.” Nikon’s fingers lifted from the table, then settled back to tap once against the polished wood. His gaze stayed on that point of contact, avoiding Reuben’s eyes.
“Do they?” Reuben set down his glass. “Or did your brothers finally convince you to use me for more than dealing cards?”
Something dark flashed across Nikon’s face. “This isn’t about them.”
“Then what is it about?” Heat bled into Reuben’s voice. “You’re asking me to walk into a possible trap? Are you actually trusting me with this, or are you just testing me again?”
Nikon’s jaw tightened, his control slipping for a moment. “This isn’t about trust. It’s about protecting what’s ours.”
“What’s ours?” Reuben kept his voice quiet, studying the subtle shifts in Nikon’s expression. “Or what’s yours?”
“Don’t.” Nikon’s hand shot across the table, capturing Reuben’s wrist. His grip was firm but not painful—a reminder rather than a threat. “You know what you mean to me.”
“Do I?” Reuben didn’t pull away, but he let his gaze challenge Nikon’s. “You’d rather keep me locked away in your poker rooms than let me stand beside you.”
“You know that’s not true.” Nikon’s thumb traced circles on Reuben’s pulse point, the gentle motion at odds with the intensity in his eyes. “The work you did with Grigorii and Alexei these past months—it made you too visible. And it’s put you on Miroslav’s radar.”
Understanding clicked into place. “You’re not really giving me more responsibility. You’re trying to control how Miroslav approaches me.”
“You’re too smart for your own good.” Nikon’s grip tightened fractionally. “Yes, I’m trying to control the situation. Because Miroslav will come for you either way. At least this way, we’re prepared.”
Reuben leaned back in his chair, forcing Nikon to either release his wrist or lean forward. After a moment’s tension, Nikon’s fingers uncurled. “I’ve proven myself capable. The port deal with Grigorii—”
“Nearly got you killed.” The words cut like shattered glass. Nikon pushed away from the table, standing to pace near the windows. “Every time you step further into this world, you become more of a target to my enemies.”
“I’m already a target.” Reuben stood as well, keeping the table between them. “Loving you made me a target the moment we started this.”
Nikon spun to face him. “This isn’t just about us.”
“Isn’t it?” Reuben braced his hands on the table, leaning forward. “You keep me close enough to warm your bed, but not close enough to stand beside you. What am I supposed to think?”
“You think I don’t trust you?” Nikon’s voice dropped dangerously low. “You think this is about control?”
“Isn’t everything with you about control?”
Silence stretched between them like a wire pulled taut, months of unspoken frustration threatening to snap it. Nikon moved then, stalking around the table. Reuben held his ground, his anger warring with the growing arousal that thrummed through him as Nikon closed the distance between them.
“You want to know why I keep you away from operations?” Nikon’s breath ghosted across Reuben’s cheek. “Why I fight my brothers every time they want to use your skills?”
Reuben tilted his chin up. “Enlighten me.”
“Because every time you’re in danger, every time someone looks at you like you’re something they can take—” Nikon’s hands gripped the edge of the table on either side of Reuben, caging him in. “It makes me want to burn this city to the ground.”
The raw honesty in those words stripped away Reuben’s anger, leaving something more complex in its wake. Reuben’s frustration faltered, replaced by something more complex.
“I’m not made of glass,” Reuben whispered, close enough to share Nikon’s breath. “I don’t need protection. I need trust.”
“Trust?” Nikon’s harsh laugh held no humor. “I trust you more than anyone. That’s the problem.”
“How is that a problem?”
“Because—” Nikon’s hands slid from the table to Reuben’s hips, fingers digging in as though anchoring himself. “Trust makes me vulnerable. I can’t afford that weakness with Miroslav circling.”
Reuben pressed his palms against Nikon’s chest, the rapid pulse beneath the crisp white shirt betraying what his rigid expression would not. “You still think loving me makes you weak?”
“I think loving you makes me lose my mind.” Nikon’s forehead pressed against Reuben’s. “The things I would do to keep you safe—”
“I don’t need keeping.” Reuben fisted his hands in Nikon’s shirt. “I need you to let me stand beside you, not behind you.”
The air between them shifted. Nikon’s grip softened, became something more possessive than restraining. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
“Then show me.” Reuben tilted his head, letting his lips brush against Nikon’s jaw. “Stop trying to protect me and let me protect myself.”
Nikon growled low in his throat, one hand sliding up Reuben’s neck to tangle in his hair. “You’re mine to protect.”
“I’m yours,” Reuben agreed, teeth grazing Nikon’s throat. “But not your possession.”
That single word, ‘possession’ , filled the electric space between their bodies, and then Nikon surged forward, claiming Reuben’s mouth with bruising force. The kiss was all teeth and desperation, their argument now continuing in a language of touch and need. Reuben matched Nikon’s intensity, using his grip on Nikon’s shirt to pull him closer.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Nikon’s blue eyes had darkened to obsidian. “You’re everything,” he whispered, lifting Reuben onto the edge of the dining table. His voice grew rough. “And I won’t let anyone take you from me.”
Dinner lay forgotten, glasses toppled, and plates clattered to the carpet as Nikon pressed Reuben back onto the hardwood surface. The table creaked beneath them when Nikon followed after, sliding up onto the table over Reuben with a quiet intensity that sent a thrum of excitement through Reuben’s groin.
Nikon’s mouth came down hard on Reuben’s, his tongue sliding in and marking his territory. Reuben matched his intensity, his hands sliding up to grip Nikon’s shoulders.
Nikon’s lips then broke away, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down Reuben’s jaw, then his throat. His tongue flicked against Reuben’s Adam’s apple, drawing out a gasp that echoed through the room. Reuben arched into the touch, his pulse racing beneath Nikon’s lips.
“You drive me insane,” Nikon murmured, his voice a low rumble against Reuben’s skin. His hands hurried, unbuttoning Reuben’s shirt to expose his chest. And then Nikon’s mouth moved lower, kissing every inch of skin as if it were sacred ground.
Reuben’s breath hitched as Nikon’s fingers trailed down his abdomen, unbuckling his belt. He lifted his hips, allowing Nikon to slide his pants and briefs down his thighs.
Tossing Reuben’s clothes aside, Nikon’s hands moved to snatch at his own belt, unbuckling it with one swift motion. Nikon reached into his boxer briefs, pulling out his cock. Reuben’s mouth watered at the sight, his own dick throbbing in response. Nikon stroked himself once, then twice, his thumb brushing over the sensitive head, spreading the moisture.
Eyes locked on Reuben, Nikon inched forward, kneeling either side of him as his cock hung heavy and hard, just inches from Reuben’s mouth. Meanwhile, Reuben looked up, his eyes meeting Nikon’s darkened gaze, a slow smile curving his lips. Without another word, he opened his mouth, ready and eager.
Nikon guided his cock towards Reuben’s waiting mouth, the tip brushing against Reuben’s lips, leaving a trail of salty pre-cum. A low groan escaped Nikon as Reuben’s lips closed around his dick.
Reuben’s hands gripped Nikon’s thighs as Nikon began to move.
Reuben could feel every ridge, taste every vein of Nikon’s cock as it slid over his tongue, the cockhead brushing against the roof of his mouth before dipping towards the back of his throat. He fought the gag reflex, his body tensing before relaxing again as his hands slid up Nikon’s thighs, fingers digging into the tense muscles as Nikon’s thrusts grew more urgent.
Nikon’s cock was slick with saliva and pre-cum. And the wet sounds of Reuben’s mouth, and the guttural grunts escaping Nikon, filled the room. But Reuben’s gaze remained on Nikon’s face, noting every flicker of emotion, every shift in expression. The sight of Nikon above him, his face a mask of restrained need, made Reuben’s own body respond.
His own cock, now fully hard, ached with each pulse of Reuben’s heartbeat. The taste of Nikon’s dick sliding in and out of his mouth sent jolts of pleasure through Reuben, adding to his own arousal. His hips shifted restlessly against the cool tabletop, seeking friction, but finding none.
Nikon’s breath was starting to come in ragged pants, his hips moving in a steady rhythm. His eyes, now dark blue pools, remained locked on Reuben’s. “Does that taste good?” Nikon rasped the words between each thrust. “You like how that tastes?”
Reuben hummed in agreement around Nikon’s cock, the vibration drawing out another deep groan from Nikon. Reuben could feel his thighs trembling under his hands, the muscles tensing and relaxing with each thrust.
But Reuben’s own body was still a live wire, every nerve ending sparking. So, Reuben gently squeezed Nikon’s thighs, as he pushed against them, pressing Nikon back. With a soft groan, Nikon withdrew from Reuben’s mouth, leaving Reuben’s lips still feeling sensitive. Reuben looked up at Nikon, his voice calm despite his racing heart. “I want you to fuck me.”
Reuben tucked his legs up to his chest, spreading his knees to expose himself completely. Nikon’s gaze darkened as it trailed down Reuben’s body, lingering on the most intimate part of him. “I’ll get the lube—”
“No need,” Reuben interrupted, a small smile playing on his lips. “I already prepared myself while waiting for you.”
A laugh rumbled from Nikon’s chest. “Always a step ahead, aren’t you?”
Reuben’s grin widened. “Well, I had to do something to pass the time while I waited for you to come home.”
“Come here.” Nikon dipped his head down to give Reuben a quick kiss before hooking his arms under Reuben’s knees. Now face-to-face, Nikon pulled him closer until Reuben gasped at the first press of Nikon’s cock against his entrance, his body tensing. But Nikon’s gaze was steady as he pushed inside, a groan escaping both of them as Reuben’s tight ring of muscle relaxed to let Nikon in.
The sensation of Nikon filling him was incredible, a mix of pleasure and discomfort that made Reuben almost whimper. He could feel every inch of Nikon’s dick, the long hard length of him rubbing against a sensitive spot deep inside that made Reuben’s toes curl. And then Nikon began to move, each thrust slow and controlled, as if savoring the feel of Reuben’s walls around him.
Reuben’s fingers dug into Nikon’s arms, his breath coming in quick gasps that matched the rhythm of Nikon’s hips and the creaking of the table beneath them.
“You feel so good,” Nikon murmured, his voice a rough whisper against Reuben’s ear. The words sent a thrill through Reuben, his body clenching around Nikon in response.
Nikon’s pace quickened, his hips driving forward with more force. Reuben could feel the table shifting beneath them, the wood groaning in protest with each hump into his ass. Reuben’s body arched into Nikon’s, meeting each thrust with a grunt.
Reuben could feel the tension building in Nikon’s body, the muscles in his arms tightening as he drove deeper into Reuben. The feel of it was overwhelming, building to a point where Reuben thought he might orgasm just from the sensation of Nikon’s cock brushing his P-spot.
Nikon’s grip tightened on Reuben’s legs, his eyes flashing with something dark and possessive as he thrust harder. Until finally, Nikon’s body shuddered, a long groan escaping his lips as he came, hot cum spurting deep into Reuben.
A few moments later, Nikon’s body shuddered one last time before he carefully pulled out, leaving Reuben feeling suddenly empty.
But the absence was brief.
Nikon trailed kisses down Reuben’s chest until he was between Reuben’s spread legs. But it was the first touch of Nikon’s tongue against his sensitive opening that made Reuben’s hips buck.
“Nikon—” Reuben’s voice was strained, his fingers clenched tightly around the table’s edge as Nikon’s tongue explored his tight asshole. The sensation of it made Reuben’s breath catch. Unable to wait any longer, Reuben moved his hand down and grasped his own erection, stroking in rhythm with Nikon’s actions.
Nikon’s hands gripped Reuben’s thighs, spreading him wider, his tongue delving deeper into Reuben’s asshole. The sight of Nikon between his legs, the feel of his tongue, the sound of his own ragged breaths—it was all too much. Reuben’s head fell back, his eyes closed as he lost himself in the moment.
Nikon hummed against his skin, the sound heightening the pleasure for Reuben. Reuben could only moan in response, his hand moving faster on his cock.
He could feel the pressure building, his body coiling tighter with each stroke of his hand, each flick of Nikon’s tongue. His breath came in sharp gasps, his heart pounding in his chest.
He was close, so close.
Reuben’s back arched as his orgasm hit, a loud guttural groan escaping his lips. His cock pulsed in his hand, hot cum spurting onto his stomach, and his chest. His body convulsed, wave after wave of pleasure rushing over him. Meanwhile, Nikon’s tongue continued to move, gentler now, riding out the aftershocks with him.
As the last tremors subsided, Reuben’s body went limp, his muscles lax. Nikon pressed a last kiss to his inner thigh before the larger man slid up to lie atop Reuben, pressing his ear against his chest with a sigh.
“The things you do to me, Reuben. Only you.”