Chapter 3
NATHAN
Afine tremor buzzed just below the surface that took all my strength to squash. Of all the hotels and all the bars.
I couldn’t believe I ran into him. I never thought I was going to see him again, but there he was right in front of me.
Living. Breathing.
Wanting me.
Every instinct in me was screaming to take him and make him mine. To claim him and never let him go.
To keep him or kill him, that was the question.
I wasn’t used to wrestling my instincts when I found someone and I had to squash the urge to fidget in my seat.
He shouldn’t have been different than any of the others, but all my wires were getting crossed when it came to him.
This boy was unraveling me and I reveled in it while it also made me want to tear him apart for making me feel.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Duncan, who was barely a blimp on my radar, though my senses and instincts wouldn’t let me forget him for long.
The part of my brain that took one look at a person and categorized them as prey, a threat, a fuck, or nothing had claimed Duncan as prey.
It wouldn’t be happy until his blood was on my hands, so I needed to make it happen. And soon.
Especially since he was also pinging as a threat—a threat to my beautiful boy who sat in front of me with wide, blue eyes that stared up at me like he couldn’t believe I was real.
Join the club, baby.
My focus zeroed in on Aiden, as I could sense his hesitation when I asked him if he wanted to leave.
Maybe I had pushed too hard, too fast. The way he looked at me made me think otherwise.
But if I had to, I’d stay and chat with him for a bit first. Something told me he was looking for a good fuck just as much as I was, though.
Still, the wariness rolled off him in waves.
His eyes darted back to the mirror and my gut twisted, knowing he was looking at the woman on the dance floor.
Despite his rushed admission that he was gay, I knew I’d have to look into her, and him, and find out just what their connection was and make sure she wasn’t a threat to my boy.
Nothing was going to get in between us. He was mine and he would be until his body was food for the worms deep in the earth. Even then, he would still belong to me.
With a smile tugging on the corner of my lips, I stood and reached my hand out to him, giving him the illusion of having a choice. When he placed his smaller hand in mine, my heart felt like it had started to beat for the first time in my life.
My eyes never left his as I raised our joined hands to my lips and left a soft kiss across his knuckles. The way he blushed and nibbled on his bottom lip left me desperately wishing I were the one who had that lip between my teeth.
I reached up with my free hand and cupped his cheek before I slowly leaned in and claimed his lips in a kiss, ignoring the crowd of the party—and Duncan—around us.
No one else existed with him in my arms as the feel of his lips against mine seared itself into my soul.
My heart kicked in my chest, almost causing me to stumble back, it was so unexpected.
Then again, everything about Aiden Cooper was unexpected.
“Come on, baby,” I urged as my hand caressed his side.
He shuddered and when he looked back up at me, his eyes dark with lust, I knew I had him.
With a smile, I tugged Aiden’s hand and led him out of the ballroom.
When we got to the door, he hesitated and glanced behind him.
My hand clenched and I needed to glance away from him so he wouldn’t see the jealous monster that lurked beneath the surface.
When he took another step, tugging my hand this time, I let out a silent sigh of relief. The soft chuckle coming from Aiden let me know I wasn’t as put together as I thought I was and he had seen through a crack in my armor.
It should have scared me, but it oddly eased something within me.
When we made it to the elevators, I pressed the button, then slid my hand to the small of his back.
I needed to touch him, to know he was real and was with me.
A low groan caught in my throat and it took all the restraint I could muster not to push him against the wall and devour him while we waited for the elevator to arrive.
My body was taut like a wire, ready to snap at any moment. I needed him close to me, but I also needed to keep him away so I didn’t get arrested for public indecency. Because the things I wanted to do to my boy, they were definitely indecent.
I watched him out of the corner of my eye as we waited. He kept fidgeting and tugging on the sleeve of his shirt. Every couple of seconds, he’d sneak a look at me from under his long lashes and bite his lip.
My hands were itching to reach out and touch him, more so than I already was. But I had to behave. We were in public after all. Anyone could see us. There was a buzzing spreading through my body in anticipation.
It had been too long.
“Nathan.” My name was a whimper on his lips as he cocked his head in my direction. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking or feeling, but his eyes were pleading for salvation as he shuffled closer.
A salvation he knew only I could give to him.
“Shhh, little bird. I’ve got you.”
Aiden’s eyes widened before narrowing for a brief moment. A myriad of emotions flickered across his face, but I couldn’t decipher any of them. But then a naked look of need settled over him and he gazed at me as though I had the answer to all his prayers and I let out a relieved breath.
The elevator finally opened and with my hand still on his back, I guided him closer, so he was flush against my side as we entered the car.
“Where’s your room?” I breathed the words into the top of his head as his arms instinctively went around my waist.
He stared at me, wide-eyed, tugging that irresistible bottom lip back between his teeth. With a look at the number panel and then back at me, he straightened his shoulders. “I’m on floor twelve.”
I nodded and offered him a reassuring smile as I reached over and pressed the button. His arms tightened around me and he didn’t let go for the entire elevator ride. When the doors finally opened to his floor, I kept him close as we made our way to his room.
He hadn’t said a word since we’d gotten off the elevator.
I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking as his fingers held tight to mine and he led me down the hall to his room.
Despite his obvious nervousness that I didn’t understand but attributed to the fact that I was a stranger, there was blatant desire painted across his features as we stopped in front of what I assumed was his room.
“Key?” I whispered as I gazed down at his face that was tilted up to look at me, afraid to break whatever spell we had found ourselves under.
Without a word, he slid his hand into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. It didn’t escape my notice that his fingers were trembling as he pulled out the key and reached out in front of him to unlock the door.
The moment we were across the threshold, I descended like a madman, taking what I wanted.
What I needed.
“Nate.” My name left his mouth in a gasp as my lips caught his in a bruising kiss. I pushed him against the closed hotel room door. My heart thudded as I let out a low growl. It had been a long time since I heard anyone call me that.
Usually, I hated being called anything but Nathan. But hearing it fall from his lips was like a balm to my tattered and corrupt soul.
“My little bird,” I said, nipping at his ear as my hand wrapped around his delicate throat. “I’m going to make you fly.”
A low groan escaped from Aiden as his head fell back at my words. The movement gave me the access I needed to lick a stripe up the side of his neck.
“Yes.” He let out a hiss as my teeth sank into his tender flesh, marking him as mine.
I took a step back and tugged him forward so he would follow me as I led him over to the bed. As he stood there, I took a step back, admiring him like a piece of art. He had a blissed-out look on his face and I was sure the room could catch on fire and he wouldn’t even notice.
My hand flew up and pushed against his chest when he tried to take a step toward me. He frowned, his confusion almost palpable.
“Strip.” I leaned back and issued the command, my eyes locking with his and refusing to look away.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and hastily nodded at my directive. My drifted down, taking in his body as he slowly started to shed himself from the confines of his suit.
“Aren’t you going to undress, too?” His voice was unsteady and I wasn’t sure if it was from horniness or nerves. He paused, eyes still on mine, but I gave him nothing but a raised eyebrow, silently commanding him to continue.
With a deep breath, Aiden shrugged out of his dress shirt and kicked off his shoes. A slow smile spread across my face and he flinched as my eyes dropped to where his hands stopped for a moment before fumbling with his belt buckle.
“Don’t worry. I will. First, I want to watch you.” Without looking back, I sat in the chair that was behind me and faced the bed. Aiden’s nerves were on full display once he realized he was the only one getting naked and putting on a show.
But I needed to see all that delicious flesh on display just for me. He was mine. And I always got what I wanted in the end. It was a lesson he’d do well to learn early on and remember. It would make things much easier for him.
Aiden bit his lip before he pulled the belt free and dropped it to the floor.
My eyes raked over the skin and muscle that he was offering up for me to feast upon.
He was much more defined than the frumpy, ill-fitting suit indicated.
The urge to reach out and touch him was strong, but I stilled my hand as he stepped out of his pants.
When Aiden went to bend to take his socks off, I surprised us both by sliding to my knees in front of him. After a moment, I brushed aside the confusion that swirled in me and placed my hands on his thighs and pushed back, indicating I wanted him to sit on the bed.
Thankfully, he complied without comment.
I slid my hands down his thighs and caressed his legs until I reached the top of his socks.
Slowly, I slid his socks off, and he let out a soft gasp.
Clanging up, the frown between his eyes made me pause.
A feeling I wasn’t used to made me want to surge up and press my lips to his.
I wanted to climb on top of him, drive into him, and claim him, wiping that frown away.
My boy should never frown.
I’d never been one to want to be the one to make someone else smile. To demand their happiness, to be the reason for their joy.
That wasn’t who I was.
“Nate.” My name was almost a question, bringing my attention back to my boy, as I fought the primal urge to fuck and claim. I promised to make my little bird fly and I was more determined than ever that he would soar.
Instead of responding, I pressed a soft kiss to the first one, and then the other knee that I was bracketed between.
My eyes never left his as I worked my way up until I met the fabric of his boxers.
Aiden let out a whimper and his head fell back as I teased the band before I slid my fingers in and pulled them down, releasing his leaking cock.
A soft hiss escaped from my lips as I watched it bob against his stomach.
I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Never before had I felt so impatient, so ready to fuck. But I didn’t want that with him. Not with Aiden.
My little bird.
He was mine and I wanted to make him feel good.
The opposing needs warred within me. But I didn’t get to where I was in life by being sloppy or careless. And I wasn’t going to start with Aiden.
“Turn around,” I ordered, practically grinding my teeth. “On all fours.”
The wary look he gave me set off a low-sounding alarm in my head. But too many things were already in motion for me to turn back now.