Chapter 3
Peter was not having a good day. He’d been looking forward to ending work early—or at least earlier than had been his habit while Chad was away—and going home in time to greet his mate with dinner from his favorite restaurant and a bout of animalistic sex.
Realizing that Chad was in the process of getting kidnapped and didn’t even know it had not been part of the plan.
It was insane. Peter didn’t understand why Chad had just gotten into the car with an unfamiliar, armed alpha when Peter had explicitly said he was sending a driver. It blew his mind. Chad would be lucky if Peter let him out of the house ever again, much less let him go back to work.
Exiting the highway, slowing down as he drove into the city, Peter could still feel the adrenaline surging through his body.
He was on edge and amped up, and he had no idea how he was going to deal with Chad.
It wasn’t like he could chain the younger alpha up and force him to stay in the penthouse where he would be safe… could he?
Taking a deep breath, Peter forced himself to come off the edge he’d been hovering on for the past hour.
Chad was safe on the back of his bike, and Merchant would find out who had tried to take him and why.
Fantasies of locking Chad up at the top of his tower like some maiden from a fairy tale would have to stay just that.
By the time they reached their block, Peter zipping through traffic at a speed that had Chad clutching him tight for dear life, he felt like he had himself and his instincts under control. At least enough so that he wouldn’t fuck things up with Chad.
Steering his bike off the street and through the gate to the garage under his building, he parked in his usual space and waited for Chad to get off the bike.
For a few seconds Chad didn’t move, but with a small nudge from Peter he started to dismount.
He was unsteady on his feet, stumbling slightly as he stepped off, but he reached out and grabbed Peter’s shoulder to steady himself.
“You’re okay,” Peter said, dismounting the bike while Chad still clutched at his shoulder.
When he was on his feet next to Chad, he reached out and grabbed the younger alpha by the arm to steady him.
Chad looked at him through the visor of his helmet, a cautious smile on his lips, but Peter couldn’t bring himself to smile back.
Now that Chad was safe and Peter could stop worrying, his instincts to protect and coddle under control, he was furious.
“Let’s go,” he said, putting his hand on the back of Chad’s neck and pushing him forward. His hand rested under the edge of the helmet still encapsulating Chad’s head, his fingers pressing down just a little too hard where they rested under Chad’s ears.
Chad swallowed, suddenly looking nervous, allowing Peter to maneuver him without objection.
It helped calm Peter’s rage, and he reminded himself that Chad hadn’t really done anything wrong.
It wouldn’t have been out of character for Peter to send extra security if he thought Chad was in danger, though Chad should know that if that was the case he would have told him in advance—or at the very least sent someone familiar.
“Are you mad?” Chad asked when they were in the elevator, his hands reaching up to remove his helmet. He held it in front of his chest like a shield, looking at Peter out of the corner of his eye.
“No,” Peter said, lying through his teeth. “I was just worried for you.”
Chad let out a long breath, and he looked relieved. Peter couldn’t help the rush of affection that coursed through him, and he pulled Chad in for a hug. He held the younger alpha tight in front of his chest, and Chad relaxed into the embrace like there was no place he’d rather be.
Peter was almost disappointed when the elevator reached the top floor.
“You’re really not mad?” Chad asked again when Peter pushed him forward. He looked over his shoulder, staring at Peter like a guilty puppy. Peter could see the self-recrimination written all over his face.
“I’ll get over it,” Peter said. He moved his hand up to Chad’s neck and pushed him into the foyer, moving him along until they were inside the apartment with the door firmly locked behind them.
Letting go of Chad’s neck, Peter removed his suit jacket and stepped out of his shoes, watching as Chad hung his leather coat in the closet and arranged his boots by the door.
They walked into the apartment. Peter thought they were headed for the bedroom, but Chad came to a halt in front of the double doors leading into the dining room. Peter had almost forgotten about the dinner he had planned.
“Oh, wow.” Chad turned, grinning at Peter. “You really went all out, huh?”
Peter rolled his eyes. He hadn’t done much more than make a phone call to the staff.
“I thought it would be nice,” he said, following Chad into the room.
The table was set for two, the lights dimmed, the flickering glow of candles reflecting off the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.
Peter wasn’t really in the mood for a sit down meal, but Chad looked so happy that he didn’t say anything.
Taking a seat, he was pleased to see that the food set out was still hot. When he checked his watch, he realized they were sitting down to eat just five minutes behind schedule.
They must have just missed the staff exiting the apartment.
“This is my favorite,” Chad said, scooping rice and lamb vindaloo onto his plate. He looked so pleased, like it was a coincidence that Peter had ordered his favorite food for his return.
“I know,” Peter said with a small laugh, serving himself when Chad was done. Chad blushed and ducked his head, but he didn’t look too embarrassed. Feeling pleased that Chad was happy, Peter pushed his foot forward under the table and let it rest next to the younger man’s.
“Wine?” he asked, picking up the already opened bottle standing on the table. Chad nodded, swallowing loudly, and Peter poured him a glass. When he was done pouring he moved his foot up the outside of Chad’s leg, stroking it up and down.
Chad’s breath quickened.
“I’ve missed you,” Peter said, projecting a calm he didn’t entirely feel. Chad took a clumsy gulp of wine before nodding.
“I missed you, too,” he said.
Keeping his foot still against Chad’s ankle, Peter started eating.
Chad took a deep breath and followed his lead.
Peter ate slowly, keeping his eyes on Chad and observing the way every twitch of his foot made the younger man jump and blush.
By the time they were both done eating, Chad was flushed and breathing hard, his eyes glazed and his pupils blown wide open.
The tense anxiety from earlier was gone, replaced by hot lust.
“Come on,” Peter said, standing up. He loosened his tie and pulled it off, wrapping it around his hand suggestively before tucking it in his pocket. Chad was still sitting down, watching him with wide eyes and a massive tent in his pants. Peter tilted his head. “What are you waiting for?”
There was an edge of warning in his voice.
Chad jumped up like he’d been shocked, coming to stand awkwardly next to the table. Peter grinned, the smile sharp and dangerous, turning around and heading out of the room.
He could hear Chad scramble to follow.
When they were in the bedroom, the door closing behind Chad with a loud click, Peter started stripping.
He could feel Chad watching him, and he took his time as he slowly peeled off his shirt.
When he turned toward Chad the younger alpha looked almost hypnotized.
His breathing was fast and labored, and his eyes were dark with arousal.
Unbuckling his belt and pulling it off his waist, Peter folded the strip of leather together and pulled it tight. The resulting snap made Chad jump, and Peter chuckled softly.
Chad would be hearing that sound again before the night was over.
“Take a quick shower and clean yourself out,” he ordered, letting the belt drop to the floor. “I want you on the bed and ready to go in ten minutes.”
Chad licked his lips, the command taking a second to process, but then he nodded slowly and headed into the bathroom.
Peter admired his ass as he walked away, allowing himself to reach down and grope his bulge in appreciation.
There was just something about Chad following his orders—obeying him without question—that made his balls pull up tight like he couldn’t believe.
Chad was his—owned and claimed—and they both knew it.
The bathroom door closed behind Chad, and Peter realized he was still fondling himself. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, consciously lifting his hand and leaving his cock alone.
He needed to get a grip.
It would be a mistake to think that he wasn’t still affected by the kidnapping attempt—or that he had his instincts as firmly under control as he would like.
He didn’t.
The only reason he was able to stay calm at the moment was the fact that his penthouse was a veritable fortress and that he had someone he trusted going after the people who tried to take his mate. Remove either of those two conditions and he would lose it.
He had to be careful. Chad was submissive in bed, but right now Peter’s instincts were telling him to claim him as thoroughly as possible—to show both Chad and the world that Peter owned him.
He wanted to bite, bruise and mark him. He wanted to smother Chad in his scent until the only thing anyone who came within ten feet him could smell was Peter.
Planning. That’s what Peter needed. He needed to have a plan for how he was going to fuck Chad, and then follow that plan with the same ruthless focus and control he demanded of himself in every aspect of his life.
The sound of the shower turning on jarred Peter into action.
He walked into the closet next to the bathroom, closing the door behind him, and looked at his collection of toys and fetish gear.
Sliding his hands over his newest uniform, the gleaming leather soft and buttery to the touch, he debated with himself whether or not he should dress up.
He loved the way he felt when he was all decked out in leather, but there was also something to be said for skin-to-skin contact.
He pulled his hand away, deciding to forgo the uniform.
There would be plenty of time to play games and dress-up with Chad later.
He walked past his remaining uniforms and outfits, coming to a stop in front of the shelf where his favorite toys were laid out and waiting for him, the drawers beneath stuffed to the brim with restraints, hoods and all manner of fun things.
Peter didn’t spend long deciding what gear to use. He already knew what he wanted: Chad, on his back with his legs in the air, wrists and ankles cuffed to the headboard, and a muzzle covering the lower part of his face.
Peter’s cock throbbed at the mental image. He gathered up the cuffs and muzzle and turned back toward the door, stopping when he spotted his leather dress gloves lying on the dresser by the door. Peter hadn’t bought them with sex in mind, but the impulse to put them on was impossible to ignore.
Chad on his back, legs lifted up and spread wide, Peter fucking into him while he curled his fingers around the younger man’s throat… Peter nearly came at the thought of it.
Slipping the dress gloves on, Peter picked the cuffs and muzzle back up and headed into the bedroom, the pronounced bulge in his suit pants leading the way.
“Are you ready to show me your belly?” Peter stepped out of the closet and into the bedroom, ready to fuck Chad’s brains out, only to find his mate lying on top of the sheets, towel still wrapped around his waist, snoring like a bear.
His cock wilted, a soft and fuzzy feeling in his chest dampening his earlier arousal.
Peter watched Chad for a few seconds, gloved hands still clutching the muzzle and restraints, marveling at the fact that he didn’t want to wake Chad up and berate him for falling asleep.
His younger self wouldn’t have batted an eye at waking Chad up with a slap to the face and a blunt cock in his ass, but those days were behind him.
He was glad Chad had never known that version of him.
Putting the muzzle and restraints down on the bedside table, gloves following a second later, Peter stripped Chad of his towel and pulled the sheets down under his body.
He lay down next to his tired mate and pulled the sheets back up to cover them both.
Chad opened his eyes briefly, a confused expression flitting over his features, but Peter pulled him into his arms and shushed him back to sleep.
Burying his face in Chad’s hair, breathing in the smell of him, Peter closed his eyes and listened to Chad’s slow and even breathing until he too fell asleep.
***