Chapter 9
9
LUCA
I watch the dark gray clouds move across the sky as I blow the smoke from my cigarette up into the air.
Vik lit it for me as we lay there in bed.
His body is bruised, his hair in disarray. So fucking wrecked. Ruined.
I did that. I owned him at that moment.
I lean back and sip at my coffee.
I didn’t bother getting dressed. I’m naked on my porch, the one overlooking the golf club.
The cool breeze on my skin makes me feel alive. Like I’m not suffocating in the heat of the fire.
Last night, I slept well, cradled against Vik’s back, the thrum of his heart calming. But when I woke, overheated and overwhelmed, I panicked and found myself out here.
I called my aunt and spoke with her for a while, processing what happened.
“I want to meet him,” she said. “He’s special. ”
I couldn’t admit it, but he is.
I knew it three years ago and I know it now. I told her I’ll bring him when I visit. She told me she’d have a room waiting.
Footsteps have me turning my head, and I see Viktor standing there, a blanket around his shoulders, his hair still a wild mess.
Fuck, he’s hot.
He doesn’t move toward me. Something between us shifted last night. I can feel it. He can too.
Mine , my body thrums as I stare at him, owning him with my gaze, marking him with my body.
“Come here,” I say, spreading my legs slightly.
He hesitates a moment before walking toward me, lowering himself to his knees between my spread thighs.
My free hand moves into his hair, threading my fingers through those soft strands. His cheek lands on my thigh as I pet him. I swear I can almost hear him purr.
“You’re such a good boy, aren’t you?” I say huskily.
He peers up at me, a cute little scowl on those red lips. The bottom one is swollen from the way my teeth sank into it last night.
“You won’t admit it, but you love it, don’t you, kitten?”
I take a drag of my cigarette and exhale the smoke, watching it disappear into the air around us.
A golf cart drives by in the distance, just as it starts to sprinkle.
“You think they’d see us if I stuff your mouth full?”
He shudders and peers up at me with those pretty eyes.
“You think they’d stop and watch?” I ask.
His face moves slightly toward my dick, which is lengthening just from him being nearby. It seems he owns me just as much as I own him.
I told myself I’d never be beholden to another, and yet, here I am…giving in.
Viktor shuffles even closer and my hand guides him to it, watching as that pretty mouth engulfs me. He’s so fucking good at this. My body starts relaxing almost immediately, letting him work me toward the edge. Effortless. He hums happily around me, and I stroke his face while he takes me.
And when I come, it’s slow, a gentle rolling of my hips, a small gasp as he swallows my release.
Then he lays his face on my thigh and licks his lips.
“This doesn’t change anything,” he says softly.
I don’t stop touching him.
“Oh, kitten, this changes everything .”
“What are you doing down here?” I ask Anthony when I find him beneath the house in his secret little photography studio. He’s hunched over his equipment in the darkroom and doesn’t even look over at me as he pulls a piece of film from the solution and begins hanging it on a drying rack.
“Just working on developing some pictures I took of Tatum.” He peers at me now, his eyebrow arching. “And you?”
“Was trying to find you,” I say, moving over to the pictures he has displayed, eyeing a completely naked Tatum splayed out in each of them. They’re beautiful, the angles, the lighting. Anthony has a great eye.
I’m glad he’s back to doing this, despite losing Laura all those years ago. I thought this hobby of his died with her.
I move around the room and see a wall dedicated to her. I make an appearance there too.
I remember those days. The three of us.
Together in many ways.
“Do you ever think of her?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. Of course he does. I do. Not as much as I used to when she died, but she appears sometimes in my mind when I least expect it. Almost as if to remind me she’s still around in her own way.
“Yes. It helps that Tatum likes to talk about her. He brings her up quite often. ”
“You’re lucky,” I say, moving my gaze away from her piercing smile.
It always made my heart flutter. In much the same way Viktor’s seems to do.
When he smiles at me, that is. Which isn’t often.
Or ever.
I huff, and Anthony asks, “What was that for?”
“Just thinking.”
“Of who?”
“Why do you think it’s someone?”
“Because I think it’s Viktor.”
I don’t say anything, and Anthony moves up beside me, his arm brushing against mine.
“You’re obsessed with him.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. You have that same look in your eyes. You want to chase him, want to overpower him. You want to take him.”
My skin tingles at the thought, but I just stay silent.
“I’ve never wanted a man before.”
“Who says it matters? Male, female. If it works, it works.” I peer over at my best friend, and he smirks at me. “And the sex is fucking nice.”
I think about Viktor, his tight ass, his clenching hole, the way he begs for it.
“Anyway,” Anthony says, disrupting my fantasies. “How is the club coming along?”
“Should be ready to go for the re-opening Saturday. Are you and Tatum coming?”
“I’d rather stay home but he wants to attend. Will security be enough?”
“It will be better than enough. No one is getting in without verification and the guards have been doubled, both in uniform and those in plainclothes.”
“Good. Are you bringing Viktor? ”
I shift on my feet. “He’s my bodyguard now, isn’t he?”
“I meant as a date. If he’s sucking your cock, you might as well make a gesture.”
“Fuck gestures. I take what I want.”
Anthony nods toward the door, and I follow him. As we move, he eyes me. “Just don’t forget the romantic parts. Sex is good, but you also need to remember most people need more than that.”
I’m not sure Vik does. He’s a horny slut, but the way I stroked his face this morning, the way he nearly purred against me, makes me think I should do a little better. It’s been so long since I’ve even tried that I don’t know what to do.
I’ll think about it later , I tell myself as we make our way through the tunnels with the lights flickering above us as Anthony leads me to Bane’s lair.
When we arrive, we find Bane in his cluttered office, his dick out, his hand stroking it.
Anthony clears his throat, and Bane looks over, a grin spreading across his face.
“Hey, Boss. I’m just looking at porn right now. Georgiy is avoiding me. I think he’s afraid of commitment, which has just led me to being very horny.”
I huff a small laugh and pull out a cigarette, feeling slightly forlorn that Viktor is topside right now and not able to light it for me. Fuck, I should have had him follow me down here, but he was busy, so I made my way below by myself.
“Put your dick away, Bane. I have a job for you.”
He sighs but does as Anthony says. While he’s zipping up his pants, I take in the jars of human remains littering his bookshelves. I’m pretty sure that jar of ears is new. I haven’t seen that one yet.
“How can I help you, Boss?” Bane asks, standing up. His dick straining at the front of his pants. “I have a nice dick, huh? Dicks are just all-around amazing. I have a jar of them somewhere in here.”
Anthony clears his throat, and Bane turns back toward us, shifting on his feet. “Oh yes, right. What is this job? ”
Bane eyes me, but I don’t say anything, because I have no fucking idea what Anthony wants from him. This is as much of a surprise to me as it is to him.
“The re-opening of the club is on Saturday. I’d like you to attend.”
“Oh. Oh, a club! Like with dancing? Or a sex club? What do I wear?”
“Not a sex club and I’ll have Tatum handle your outfit. But I’d like you to watch over Tatum when I’m not around. Luca has assured me security will be tight, but I need several people watching him specifically. We all remember the fire there several months ago.”
Bane huffs. “I do remember that and I’m telling you it was Henry behind it. But anyhoo, I can do that. But I was hoping you’d be suggesting something with those back rooms Luca had put in.”
He’s pouting now, and Anthony arches an eyebrow at me. “You can have sex, Bane. When Tatum is with me , you’re free to do what you like.”
“Oh, goodie.” He pulls out his phone and taps on the screen. “I’m just going to let Georgiy know, so he can be very jealous that my ass is going to get it. Probably. Most likely.”
He waggles his eyebrows at his phone and then sets it aside. “Oh, and I almost forgot.” He shuffles to the back of the office and reappears with something dangling from his hands.
“I made this.”
He hands us both what look like leather bracelets.
I take it from him, and he wiggles slightly, obviously excited. “It’s from the skin of our enemies.”
He beams as Anthony holds it up to his face. “Thank you, Bane.”
“You’re so welcome. Now put it on.”
We both do, snapping them into place and listening as Bane giggles. “Oh, that looks nice. Next time, I’m going to embroider something onto it. A design of sorts. What do you like? Oh, don’t tell me! I’ll surprise you. ”
“Thank you. And get in touch with Tatum. He would like to help you pick out an outfit, I’m sure.”
Bane nods, bouncing on his feet. “I’ll go now. I want one with no fabric over my nipples.” He pulls his shirt up, showing us his lean and extremely pale torso. “Besides my dick, I think these are my best assets.”
We stare at his small, puckered nipples, and then Anthony sighs. “Right. Luca and I have business to attend to. Thank you, Bane.”
“Anytime, Boss.”
We turn and make our way out of Bane’s office, through the tunnels, and into the house. Tatum is waiting for us in Anthony’s office, perusing the library there. Since getting together, Anthony has made sure to have multiple of Tatum’s favorite authors present. The only thing is that Tatum has to find them. Like a hide-and-seek scavenger hunt.
“I found one special edition,” Tatum says and then launches himself into Anthony’s arms, placing a long kiss on his lips.
I turn away and move to the table with the alcohol on it. I pour myself a glass and take a sip, waiting for Anthony and Tatum to finally peel apart. When they do, several minutes later, they appear, looking flushed and horny.
“Viktor was looking for you a few minutes ago,” Tatum says with a sly grin. “Or should I say your boyfriend ?”
I don’t correct him. After last night…well, what would he be other than that?
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Just that he looked irritated at your sudden disappearance.” Tatum’s eyes move to Anthony and to his arm. “Oh, what’s this?”
“Bane made it,” Anthony says, and Tatum’s hand retracts.
“Oh god, that’s human skin, isn’t it?”
“From the bodies of our enemies,” I add and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.
“I mean, it’s sweet. In theory. ”
Just as he says that, the secret door opens and Bane appears.
“Hey, we were just admiring the gifts you gave Anthony and Luca,” Tatum says.
“Oh, isn’t it pretty? Would you like one?”
Tatum grimaces and then schools his face, nodding as Bane bounces over to him. “Oh, and did they tell you? I need you to help me get ready for the club on Saturday.”
“I did know, but now that I get to dress you? I am even more excited.”
Tatum tugs Bane out of the office, the two of them chattering endlessly as they go.
Anthony stares at me, and I shrug before swallowing the rest of the alcohol.
“Well, I’m off to find Vik.”
“Wait, I need to discuss the issue of the bodies with you first. Do you think I should call Diablo and his friend Lex in to help?”
“I know you don’t like involving them if you can help it.”
“I know, but they could put an end to this once and for all.”
“Sit on it. Let’s see what we can gather on our own. We don’t need to involve Diablo and put him in more danger.”
Anthony nods, scrubbing a hand over his face. “He’s a little shit.”
“He is.”
“He’ll get himself killed.”
“Skylar will protect him.”
“That’s true. He’d die for him.”
We’re silent a moment and he glances up at me. “You’d die for Viktor too, right?”
I don’t say anything, not sure how to answer that.
“I need to find him. Unless you need me for anything else?”
“No, I’m good. I’ll decide on Diablo and Lex later. Give it a little more time.”
Before I’m able to leave his office, he stops me. “And don’t forget romance, Luca. Consider it. Open up and let him in. You’re not so bad, deep down. ”
“Fuck off.”
His dark chuckle follows me out into the hallway.
I find Viktor with a few other men on the perimeter of the estate as they patrol. This isn’t Viktor’s job, but he always helps out when he can. And he seems to be chatting happily with his friend Jax.
I don’t like how he’s smiling at him.
Far too many teeth are showing as he laughs.
Those teeth slip behind those full lips as I make my way toward them, my eyes intent on him, on the way he stiffens, the way his eyes flick over to me. I feel that gaze through my entire body, from the tip of my ears to the bottom of my feet.
“Viktor,” I say as I approach. “I need to speak with you.” Jax nods at me and then scuttles away, moving to the other side of the perimeter to keep watch. He glances back at us a few times, so I don’t touch Viktor the way I want.
The way I want to possess him.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Tatum said you were looking for me.”
“I wasn’t.” He folds his arms across his chest and then adds, “I mean, I just asked where you were. That’s all.”
I take a step closer to him, my arm hitting his.
“It’s okay if you were worried.”
“I’m not fucking worried.”
I lean forward, my nose brushing against the shell of his cold ear. I hear the intake of his breath, the way he shivers slightly, and that’s when the first raindrop hits us.
“Come on,” I murmur, pulling him forward as it starts coming down in droves. Our hands link, fingers entwined, and I can’t help but squeeze him roughly. The way his hand fits in mine, the feel of it.
I like it more than I thought possible.
I pull him under the covered gazebo at the far end of the gardens, surrounded by wisteria, smelling so sweet, enveloping us both. In this space, we’re hidden, just the two of us.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he breathes as I let go of his hand and we stand facing each other. He has raindrops on his face, dripping down from his hair to his cheek. My hand reaches out and brushes them away, dragging my thumb to his lips in the process.
His teeth surround the flesh of my finger and he bites down, pupils dilating.
I can’t help the growl that exits my throat as he sucks on it, dragging his tongue over the tip and down the side. I want to push him to his knees and slide my cock down his throat.
Fuck, he’s good at that.
I drag my finger from his mouth and he lets out a long exhale right before I slant my lips over his, our bodies colliding, cocks hard, fingers grasping.
He moans into my mouth, and I swallow the sound, my nerve endings firing, my entire body alight with need. He fucks me up, twists me around. I don’t know which way is up, down, or sideways. I’m in a spiral.
My fingers thread through his hair and pull roughly, making him gasp, his tongue tangling with mine. I drag my hands down his back to his ass, pulling his hips into me, over and over. He whines, like an animal in heat, in need.
I want to lower him to the ground and fuck that right out of him.
I want to own him. Want to possess every part of him, inside and out.
I’m feral.
But before I can rip his clothes off and do what I want, a scream has the two of us pulling away from each other, both of us moving our hands to our guns.
Fuck.
“What was that?” Viktor asks, moving to the entrance of the gazebo, adjusting his cock, and swiping the back of his hand across his swollen lips .
“We need to get to the house. Now.”
We move in tandem, our adrenaline high as we make our way forward, guns drawn. I can hear the sawing of my breath as I think about everything that could go wrong. Is it Tatum again? Anthony?
Fuck, don’t let it be either. Anthony because he’s like a brother to me and Tatum because Anthony would never recover.
But when we approach the house, we see Tatum zipping past us, his mouth turned up in a laugh as he skids around the corner, his arms windmilling dramatically as he tries to catch his balance.
Anthony appears on the porch a moment later, his cheeks flushed, his tie undone.
Seems they’re playing that infernal game of cat and mouse.
Viktor swears and flicks the safety on his gun, meeting my gaze for a second before looking away.
Our adrenaline is still high, our hearts still racing.
It only makes me want him more.
I want to fuck right into that tight ass.
And I would have if these fuckers hadn’t interrupted.
I turn to look at him, all wet hair and flushed cheeks. My heart patters in my chest in time with the rain hitting the ground.
“Saturday,” I say gruffly, finding my voice. “You’ll come with me to the club.”
He nods. “I know.”
I grind my teeth and fiddle with my cigarette in my pocket. “I mean, you’re coming. With me.”
He stares, confusion crossing his face. “Yeah, I fucking know.”
My hand reaches out, clutching his neck tightly, feeling the thrum of his pulse under my thumb.
“With me, Vik. As mine.”
His eyelashes flutter and he glances away, those red spots on his cheeks making an appearance.
“No.”
I brush over his pulse lightly and press my forehead to his. “Yes. ”
He doesn’t say no again, just lets that command sit between us, heavy and insistent.
The way he looks at me the rest of the day and into the night, sneaking small glances, does something to my heart, makes it expand and crack, reshaping itself into something new, something different.
Possession fills me, feral and greedy.
Mine, it says.
All mine.