Chapter 22
Silver stood by the window, sipping coffee with his shoulder propped against the wall.
His gaze remained on the sleeping man curled within the sheets on his bed, enraptured by swaths of exposed skin against crimson silk, and the way rich sunlight caused the thin chain on one delicate ankle to glitter like diamonds.
Nuri’s right leg was exposed up to the thigh, having kicked off part of the blanket in his sleep, and he’d been left like that in part because the view was so enjoyable, but also because…
He didn’t trust himself not to take Narek again if he got too close, which was why his distance and sticking by the bay window where daylight streamed in was his current plan.
In a rare occurrence, it wasn’t snowing, and the sky was blue and clear. The glass had been shut against the cold, but the warmth from the sun would be welcomed by Nuri. Which was good for Silver, because he needed him in the best mood possible for what was to come.
Tickets off-world had already been purchased, and he had every intention of keeping his word and bringing Nuri to Vitality to visit his siblings.
But only if he got what he wanted in return.
A soft rap on the door had him bristling, mouth thinning into a firm line as he sent Nuri one last glance before going to answer.
“What?” He stepped out into the hall and carefully sealed himself and Falc off from his sleeping mate, not wanting to wake Nuri too soon.
Last night had no doubt taken a lot out of him, and Silver wanted him well rested and of sound mind before they laid it all out on the table.
“I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed. ”
“Forgive me, majesty,” Falc said. “Your aunt has called several times and has threatened to storm the mansion if she doesn’t hear from you.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and inwardly cursed.
Fucking Brixtons. He’d set the lot of them on fire if it wasn’t socially frowned upon to commit immolation against family members.
“Tell her if I’ve found out she’s so much as stepped foot on a spaceship, I’ll slit her precious son’s throat.
I don’t care if she isn’t headed for Ignite.
She stays put, on her own damn planet, or Romeo’s blood will be on her hands.
” Silver didn’t have time for this. “She’s lucky enough that I haven’t flayed him alive already. ”
He really had wanted to slice out his tongue and chop off both hands, but Nuri had done a good job on him over the years, and reason had somehow trickled through the fury enough to stop him from doing so.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of the law, trying to steal his company wouldn’t be considered the type of offense that warranted that form of maiming.
How boring.
“As you wish, majesty.” Falc bowed, but Silver was already twisting the door handle and slipping back inside his bedroom.
Nuri was sitting up when he got there.
“Did we wake you?” Silver closed the door once more, but didn’t bother with the lock.
Nuri clearly noticed, but didn’t comment on it. He must have already realized he was still chained.
“How are you feeling?” He made his way to the bed, easing onto the side so he could press the back of his palm to Nuri’s pale brow.
He’d been worked up last night, which could easily lead to fever.
When his temperature was normal, he hummed in approval.
“Hungry? Thirsty? I’ll have breakfast delivered.
” A single press of a button on his multi-slate did just that.
“Clothes,” he didn’t say it like it was a question, but the look in Nuri’s eyes made it obvious that it was.
Silver gave a single shake of his head, then picked at the edge of the blanket currently pooled over Nuri’s lap. “I like you like this.”
“I do not.”
He pretended to consider that. “How badly do you want them?”
“Are you threatening to dismiss breakfast if I insist?”
Silver scowled and straightened. “I would never starve you, Narek. Be serious.”
“I’m naked and chained to the floor,” he drawled.
“I assure you, I’m painfully aware of the severity of this situation.
” Resting against the headboard, he sighed.
“Have you taken care of the footage from the club? What about other potential leaks? There weren’t many, but there were still hovercars in the parking lot, all with dash cams. If—”
He silenced him with a hand over his left thigh, curious over the way Nuri’s eyes latched onto it and his whole body tensed at the small bit of contact.
“Are you afraid of me?” That wasn’t what Silver wanted, but it’d be foolish to ignore how useful a tool fear could be. He wouldn’t cultivate it, yet quashing it all together might not be in his best short-term interests.
“I’ve always been afraid of you, majesty.”
That wasn’t true. Wary of him, yes. Careful, of course. But above all else, patient.
He was counting on that patience now to get them through this.
“I have a gift for you,” Silver said.
“I don’t want it.”
“Are you sure?”
Nuri’s lips pursed slightly, his silence enough to indicate he was considering it. Calculating his best options.
Silver lifted a hand and pressed his thumb between Nuri’s eyes, smoothing the wrinkles away. “You’re clever, that’s what makes us such a great team.”
“We aren’t a team,” he disagreed, pushing his hand away. “I work for you, not with you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t lie to me, Narek. I don’t like it.”
“Where was the lie, majesty?” When he didn’t get a response, Nuri glanced away. “What do you intend to do with me now?”
“Keep you.”
His eyes slipped shut, and he folded his hands in his lap, picking at the cuticle of his pointer finger absently. “In this room?”
“That depends on you,” Silver replied, waiting until the other man had composed himself enough to brave meeting his gaze once more before elaborating. “Do you remember last night?”
“Which part?”
“The part where you insinuated you only wanted me because of the Swift bond.”
“You mean the bond you tricked me into and kept secret?”
“Yes.” Since he was asking for honesty, it only made sense he offer it in return. Nuri would appreciate that sort of thing, even if he didn’t show it.
Sure enough, he didn’t push the issue. “What about it?”
“I want you to prove yourself wrong, Narek,” Silver said. “Do that, and I’ll unchain you.”
He tipped his head. “You want me to get hard for you?”
“I want you to show me you understand that this attraction between us is real.”
“And if I can’t?”
“You can.”
“If I don’t want to then?”
Silver shrugged. “Then stay here, trapped like this. I’ll confess, I like the idea of it. Of always knowing exactly where you’ll be. Of picturing you here, naked in bed, waiting for me to return so I can part your silky thighs and slip my cock back inside your tight, wet—”
“Enough.” He was blushing. “Do you expect me to conduct my role as Royal Secretary from this very spot as well? It’ll be rather difficult to explain why I’m shirtless in remote meetings.
You won’t let me quit, but you’ll jeopardize my ability to perform my duties to the best of my ability? That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t have to.” All that mattered was what pleased Silver, and that was and had always been having Nuri close.
“You may be one of the most intelligent men in the galaxy,” Nuri stated, “but you are completely, and totally insane.”
“Is this where you bring up the law again?”
“No,” he surprised him by saying. “I’ve given up on that. It was never going to work anyway.” Nuri nibbled on his bottom lip and then said in a quieter tone seemingly meant for himself, “Once you’ve made your mind up, there’s no changing it.”
He was going to give in.
“I want you.” Silver just needed to push him a little. He could tell. “I’ve always wanted you. Yes, I took advantage when you were medicated and trapped you—”
“I’m not trapped.” Nuri’s eyes flashed. “I told you. I’ll never orgasm again if I have to.”
“You don’t have to. You can come as much as you want.”
“As much as you want, you mean.”
“Our original bet still stands.” Silver had been hoping not to play this card, but he wasn’t seeing any other choice. He couldn’t allow this moment to slip through his fingers. He may never get another one.
A part of him knew more manipulation wasn’t the way to win Nuri over, but he’d find a chance to apologize for that later—If the truth ever came out, that was, and in the meantime, he’d do his best to ensure it never did.
“We have four rounds left. You still have four chances to win, and if you do, I’ll allow you to quit being my secretary on the spot. Our Swiftbond doesn’t change that.”
Nuri stared him down, clearly searching for cracks in his composure, but couldn’t find any. “You mean it?”
“Yes.” It’d be better for them to complete the game. For Nuri to lose fair and square so there was no longer any fear of him bringing this topic up again.
“If the chain comes off, what about the door?”
“It’ll remain unlocked,” Silver said, knowing exactly what he was asking. “I won’t cage you.”
“How…” His embarrassment was charming. “How do you want me to do it?”
“Move over.” Silver slid onto the bed and rested onto his back once Nuri shifted to the side. He hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pajama pants and pulled them off, exposing himself.
After a moment a hesitation, Nuri reached for him, pausing when Silver clicked his tongue.
“No.” He shook his head on the pillow. “You’re proving you want me, remember?
Not the other way around.” Pointedly, he grabbed a fistful of the blanket and tugged it off of Nuri’s body.
The corner of his mouth curved upward when he saw that the other man was already semi-hard.
“Did you secretly like it when I talked about fucking you in here whenever I felt like it?”
Nuri tried covering himself up, dropping his hands when Silver’s look turned warning. With a stubborn huff, he crawled closer, and this time he was the one to glare when Silver tsked at him again. “You want me to get off? Shut up and let me do that.”