Chapter 17 Dex #2
Luc’s voice dropped lower. “How would you feel if I told you not to touch yourself?”
“What?” Dex’s eyes popped open, and his hand stilled.
“You only come with my permission. No jerking off. Nothing unless I allow it. What do you say?”
“That’s not fair,” Dex whined, yet he automatically withdrew his hand from his aching cock.
“You don’t have to obey. If you’re not interested in orgasm control, then I don’t want to push you. It was just an idea. We can take it or leave it.”
Dex should say he wasn’t interested. Giving Luc control over whether he jerked off in the privacy of his own home should be going too far. But the idea of letting Luc command him filled him to the brim.
“No, I’m interested. I want to try it. I won’t touch myself.”
“Do you promise? I won’t let you come until I capture you on Saturday night, and maybe not even then.”
Dex squirmed. “I promise. Please, Luc.”
“Please, what? Take charge of you?”
“Yeah. I like it.” This way, he could be at Luc’s mercy even when they weren’t together.
“I should have known you’d be into this, and I promise, if you’re good, I’ll reward you.”
Should have known how? Saturday was suddenly too far away. “You could hunt me tonight.”
Real amusement tinged Luc’s laugh. “No, I don’t think so. If you wanted me sooner, you shouldn’t have told me to wait until the weekend.”
“But that was before.”
“Too bad. You’ll have to wait.” Dex could imagine Luc’s red lips twisting into a smug smile.
He hated and loved that Luc wasn’t giving him his way. Forcing him to wait was better than letting him call the shots.
How amped would he be by the weekend? Finding out would be torture.
Dex held the door as Harper, Ollie, and Onyx spilled out of the restaurant and into the night. Finally. This meal had been far more relaxing than their previous one, but Dex would be lying if he said he was sad it was over.
He itched to get to the club, his mind wandering to Luc cornering him and taking what he wanted every other minute.
He’d texted Luc the details of where he’d be that afternoon. Was he there waiting? Hopefully. Dex would detonate the second Luc touched him at this rate.
He hadn’t so much as stroked his cock, and he’d been hard an excruciating amount over the last few days.
“Which way to dancing?” Harper asked, his cheeks flushed from the wine he’d had with dinner. Dex had dutifully declined a glass.
Onyx linked arms with Harper. “We’re a few blocks away. Come on. Our mates will meet us there.”
Ollie linked arms with Dex. “I’m so glad you’re out with us.”
“Me too.” Dex’s gut twisted, some of his excitement fading.
They might have mates waiting, but did he? Did he even want to be Luc’s mate?
Dex couldn’t think about it. Not now. Tonight was for fun and hopefully the best sex of his life. Nothing more.
“I can’t believe I got Dante out to a club,” Ollie said as they fell in step behind Onyx and Harper. “He’s not much of a dancer.”
“I’m sure he’d do anything for you,” Harper shot over his shoulder.
Ollie laughed.
Dex forced a smile. He wasn’t jealous. He wasn’t thinking about mates. Not about how Luc claimed he’d give him everything, and he definitely wasn’t thinking about what that might mean.
Dex couldn’t have everything. Not like Ollie and Harper.
What he could have was a wild night. And an orgasm if Luc permitted it.
They turned a corner, continuing through the busy part of the Arts District.
Bars and restaurants lined the street. Dex hadn’t spent much time in this part of the neighborhood.
It was farther from the university than he’d ventured when he’d briefly lived there at the start of college.
There was a far more upscale vibe this close to the Business District, especially compared to the Docks, where Dex usually went clubbing.
A line had already formed outside the gay club Onyx was taking them to. Of course, he didn’t have to wait. He led them inside and straight to a VIP area with its own bar.
The place was packed. Even the exclusive area seemed to be at capacity.
Dante, Ash, and Nico waited for them at the VIP bar. Nico and Ash both had their shirts off, and as soon as they all finished kissing their mates hello, Onyx whipped his off as well.
“Are we dancing?” Onyx shouted over the music.
“Drinks first,” Harper shouted back, and Ollie nodded eagerly.
Nico already had one, so he moved out of the way, allowing Harper to lean against the bar and wait to be served.
Dex scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Luc. He wasn’t in the VIP area, and tucked in the corner as they were, Dex couldn’t see most of the club. Apparently, there was even an upstairs dance floor.
“Looking for someone?” Onyx asked.
“What? No. Taking it all in.” Dex turned his back to the room.
“I haven’t been here in years, but I figured it was a safer bet than dragging everyone to a leather night.”
Dex laughed. If Onyx was talking about the same event Holt had mentioned, he was glad they hadn’t gone.
“I’d be down for that,” Harper said as he moved away from the bar, sipping a drink.
Onyx’s eyes seemed to flash. “Well, okay then. I’ll file that away for future reference.”
Nico wrapped an arm around his mate. “What are you planning?”
Onyx pursed his lips. “Nothing.”
Nico didn’t look convinced, but let it go, pulling Onyx closer. Dex tried not to stare or have any jealous feelings about how sweet and possessive the gesture was.
Ollie hurried over, holding out a shot for Dex.
He shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m good tonight.”
Ollie pulled his hand back, the clear liquid sloshing. “You want it, Harper?”
“Let’s share.” Harper took the shot and had a sip, his face scrunching at the taste. “Wow, maybe not.” He handed it back for Ollie to finish off.
Dex had another look around, finding not so much as a hint of familiarity in the surrounding figures. Luc would make him wait, wouldn’t he?
They didn’t linger by the bar. It was too loud to have a conversation, so there wasn’t any point once the drinks were done. Ollie dragged Dex to the dancefloor, pushing through the throng of people.
It was even harder to see who was around in the midst of it all. Lights flashed and the air seemed to vibrate with the beat. It would be difficult for Luc to find him. They could be five feet apart in this crowd and not know it.
Was this going to work?
Dex pushed the question aside. He had to forget about Luc and enjoy himself. He hadn’t been clubbing much this summer, only a few nights here and there, and letting loose would do him good.
He pulled Ollie close, and they danced like they had hundreds of times before. Dex relaxed into the familiarity, vowing to stop pushing Ollie away. Knowing he could rely on his best friend, he had to do a better job of reaching out.
They moved as one, no space between them. It was the first time at least one of them wasn’t single and open to hooking up. Admittedly, Ollie had no idea Dex wasn’t looking for a one-night stand.
Over Ollie’s shoulder, Dex caught a glimpse of Dante watching them closely.
Dex leaned to speak in Ollie’s ear. “Dante doesn’t mind that I’m dancing with you?”
Ollie shook his head. “He’d rather hang back, but I’m determined to dance with him at least a little.”
Dante held himself stiffly, more like a statue than anything, but didn’t appear uncomfortable. Not with that content, almost wondering expression on his face. Dex could believe he was satisfied watching his mate have fun.
He couldn’t help taking stock of his surroundings one more time. There were so many people. Harper and Ash danced like there was no one else in the room, and Onyx was almost hypnotizing as he moved. Nico certainly looked under his spell.
Dex’s heart clenched. Being around couples had never affected him before, but these weren’t couples. These were fated mates. They’d be together forever.
It doesn’t matter. I don’t want that. Dex had to convince himself.
He failed, imagining dancing with Luc along with the other demons and their mates. He imagined belonging to this group as much as everyone acted like he did.
Dex’s chest tightened. Why did he have to want the impossible? Ollie wouldn’t party with someone who’d attacked him, no matter what he said about forgiving Luc. The Devil wasn’t part of this group, and neither was Dex, so he danced like the music pulsing in his ears was all that mattered.
Eventually, they had a break, and Ollie went to say something in Dante’s ear.
Dex scanned the dance floor. “I’m getting water,” he shouted to Harper before pushing into the throng of people.
He headed toward the main bar, gaze snagging on anyone tall. He caught sight of a man with wavy black hair and his heart skipped, his insides tightening in anticipation. Dex pushed closer, and the man turned, revealing an unfamiliar face.
A weight settled over Dex. He shouldn’t have asked Luc to hunt him when he was out with Ollie and the other demons. It would have been better on his own. Then he wouldn’t be thinking about mates and forever.
Dex reached the bar. No one around even reminded him of Luc.
He pushed forward, waiting for the nearest bartender to look his way. The man moved quickly back and forth, pouring drinks and grabbing bottles of beer with impressive efficiency.
As the bartender paused for a moment to take an order, a flash of the club’s lights revealed a figure looming behind him, his face in shadow, horns curling along his head, and eyes glowing crimson. A split second later, the figure was gone.
Dex’s pulse raced, and he looked frantically around. Luc was lurking behind the bar, hiding behind an invisibility illusion.
The bartender was back in motion, flitting back and forth, meaning Luc couldn’t still be there. Magic didn’t make it possible for people to walk through you. Right? But then, where had Luc gone?
Fingers trailed down the nape of Dex’s neck. He yelped and spun around.
“You good?” the short, stocky man behind him asked.
Dex cupped the back of his neck with his hand. “Did you touch me?”