Chapter 10
Sugar
Sugar hunched over his desk and read the document one more time.
A SIMPLE CONTRACT EVEN A DUMBASS LIKE SNAKE CAN UNDERSTAND
This Agreement is made between Snake Vinter and Sugar Constantine regarding the terms of disclosure and declarations of affection within their relationship.
With a manicured nail, Sugar ticked off each clause.
1 - Disclosure of External Sexual Activity
Snake shall be required to disclose to Sugar any and all instances of sexual activity occurring outside the parameters of their relationship.
Check.
2 - Disclosure of Crew-Related Sexual Activity
Snake shall be required to disclose to Sugar any and all instances of sexual activity involving any crew member of The Frances.
Check.
3 - Restrictions on Declarations of Love
Snake shall not, under any circumstances, verbally or otherwise declare love or romantic affection toward any individual, excepting Sugar.
Check.
As of three weeks ago, Snake had, indeed, violated every section of the contract—deliberately, without contrition.
The latest transgression cut through Sugar’s heart, deep enough to leave scars on his rib cage.
The worst part? It happened in the bed they’d shared for almost a century.
The one they’d fucked in only hours before.
Sugar had stayed up late reading, checking on his lover between pages. Lashes heavy against his caramel skin, a flush softening his carved cheekbones—sleep was the only time he looked even slightly vulnerable. Not that Sugar preferred him that way, but the contrast was… arresting.
Finally drowsy, Sugar turned off the light, not happy but content. Moments later, the sheets rustled. Snake murmured and spooned him from behind, his hard body pressed close. Sugar stirred, ready to pounce.
Until Snake whispered four words that changed everything.
“Horatio, I love you.”
Sugar staggered to Suki’s quarters and sobbed into his shirt until it was soaked. Now, fresh tears welled, but he swiped them away.
I’ve already cried enough over Snake Vinter.
He reread the contract’s closing paragraph.
“Failure to comply may result in corrective measures at Sugar’s discretion, including—but not limited to—torture or death.”
Sugar knew exactly how to kill a Vinterbourne vampire: a clean beheading with a silver blade, followed by one of three methods to keep the head from reattaching: lock it inside a titanium box, burn it to ash, or crush it to dust.
But could he actually do it? Destroy that beautiful head and the keen, calculating brain residing inside? No. Despite everything, he could never commit such an act.
But what about torture?
Hurting Snake’s new lover would cause unbearable anguish. What if he turned Horatio in for the bounty? That would ruin Snake. But imagining the smug look on Meridian’s face killed that idea fast. He bit back a scream of rage.
A shadowy hand tickled across Sugar’s heart.
He could seduce Horatio and claim him instead. Easy—he’d picked up on Horatio’s attraction the night he’d arrived. Brash and cocky, sure, but increasingly more palatable—until he betrayed Sugar’s trust by stealing the love of his life.
Still, if Sugar made Horatio his permanent mate, maybe he could learn to love him. He already loved his hot exterior.
So devilishly tempting. But even I have limits, right?
Misgivings didn’t stop him from fantasizing about sharing his life—and bunk—with Snake’s hunky boy toy.
Horatio pinned him down, hard and naked. “I love you so fucking much.” His kiss could have set the sheets on fire. “I wrote a poem about you today, but fuck words. Let me show you.” He kissed down Sugar’s body.
“How many times will you make me come?”
Horatio flashed a devastating smile. “I can’t put a number on it, but I’ll only stop when you beg me to, Sugar Britches.”
The door on Sugar’s fantasy slammed shut.
Horatio had actually called him that once and had narrowly avoided breathing through a tube.
He stomped to the bar. Only a generous amount of alcohol could remove the stain of that fantasy.
He poured a glass of Prosecco, but Snake’s face crept in before he could lock him out.
His chest ached.
I can’t live like this.
There was a third option: walk away. Leave Snake. That used to be unthinkable. He was the heart of the ship, Snake’s right hand, and his name alone carried weight in the pirate world.
Besides all of that, Sugar had left an ocean of broken hearts behind when he joined forces with Snake—he could have had any man he desired.
“Why the fuck did I pick him?” He drained his glass and poured another.
But he knew why.
Snake Vinter. Cold, calculating, with an air of haughty aristocracy. The only man who didn’t fall at Sugar’s feet or bolt after the first scowl.
Sugar liked that.
He also liked being challenged. Thrived on the hunt. After their first hard-won date, he didn’t leave Snake’s bed for two weeks. By then, Sugar was smitten. Snake was not. Years passed. After fifty, Sugar finally made a stand.
“You can’t be faithful to me,” he’d said, face set to lethal.
“Of course not. Vampires are born to seduce. I can’t be loyal—but you wouldn’t want that—I’d drink you dry and turn your bones to dust.” His tone had been so frigid, Sugar could see his own breath.
“Fine. I’m leaving.”
Snake blocked him. “No. You’re mine.”
“Do you think that romance novel alpha-male shit works on me? Please.”
“You’re second in command of the wealthiest, most notorious pirate crew in the universe. Do you want to let that go?”
Sugar needed a better reason to stay. “Tell me you love me.”
“Vampires don’t feel love!” Snake’s fury slammed into him like a lead weight. “We’ve been through this thousands of times. Why can’t you accept me as I am?” Snake punched a lamp with such force, it turned into powder.
Desperate, Sugar tried one last thing. “Then marry me.”
“You may as well ask me to wear a collar and leash!”
“My parents barely accept that I love men, let alone a vampire. After my last visit, they told me I wasn’t allowed back home without a marriage certificate. You know how much I love my family!”
“That’s your bloody problem.”
Sugar packed a bag and moved in with Suki. Two weeks later, he’d caved but returned with clearly defined parameters. And a contract.
“This is the only way I can keep some control over my life.” He pushed the parchment across the table. “Sign it, or we’re finished.”
“You’re mad if you think I’ll sign this.” Snake tossed it aside.
“If I leave, the crew leaves. Will you stay on top of the food chain without us?”
A tense silence.
Snake picked up the document. “I suppose you’ll want me to sign in blood.”
“How would that benefit me?”
“My blood binds me. If I break any rules, I’ll suffer.”
“You’ll suffer either way, but sure, use your blood, drama queen.”
Snake signed in blood—then broke every rule—and never suffered a damn thing.
Through the years, Sugar had withered under the weight of Snake’s lies. And yet—when they were alone, Snake’s cock deep inside him, hitting the target only he could—Sugar forgave him. Over and over.
But he couldn’t forgive him now.
His security notifications chimed—movement at the first border. He checked the feed: Snake, Horatio, and a young man who had to be Gunner—the college student who did the impossible. Sugar zoomed in on him and gasped.
Big, dark eyes and an easy smile—so innocent and fresh. He panned to Horatio, surprised by his expression. He looked… dazzled. By Gunner, not Snake. He switched the camera angle.
Snake wasn’t distraught. He was laughing.
What the hell was going on here?