The Apprentice (The Killough Company #4)

Chapter 5

5

DAIRE

I exhaled, extended my arms, and then inhaled, dropping toward the floor as I finished another push-up, muscles straining and skin soaked with sweat. It was freezing outside, and I had my penthouse’s heater set to seventy-five degrees, the steamy air fogging the floor-to-ceiling windows that usually looked out at Manhattan’s skyline. I kept exercising until I hit four hundred push-ups, my arms shaking before I shoved to my feet. My chest rose and fell in fast, sharp breaths, and my heart raced, thumping loud and hard against my ribs.

“Are you done?” Aodhan asked in a bored tone.

I rolled my eyes and my gaze landed on my brother lounging on the couch in front of me, one leg crossed over his knee and arms lying across the back. Sinead and Oona sat on either side of him, both curled up and snoozing. I wasn’t surprised that they’d been captured by Aodhan’s charm, even though they hadn’t seen him in years.

“What has you worked up? The little kitten? You know, Sloan’s nephew?”

“Don’t call him a kitten.” I raised my chin and ran my hands over my arms, gathering the sweat that beaded there, then wiped it on my shorts. “He’s the boss’s apprentice and the future of the Company.”

“And?” Aodhan grinned. He bent his fingers like claws and made a high-pitched hissing noise. “Kitten.”

I decided it was time to change the topic.

“Do Cillian and Aspen know you’re here?” I asked instead, referring to two of Sloan’s best killers. They worked directly under Jamie Shannon, Lieutenant of Illegal Operations, and were some of the most brutal soldiers the Company had. Their work was top-notch, and if Sloan ever wanted answers from someone, he would send them.

Aodhan’s smile slid off his face, and for the first time since he’d arrived back home, his expression turned furious. “Why would I tell those traitors I was back? They’ll run to their boss and lick his ass like they always do.”

I smirked and raised my arms up over my head, then rocked my body side to side to stretch before dropping my arms again. “Sounds like you’re jealous of Sloan.”

“Jealous?” He laughed abruptly. “That piece of shit?—”

“Aodhan,” I warned carefully. “He’s still my best friend.”

He made a noise of irritation and moved his leg so both his feet were on the floor before leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He wore a simple pair of workout shorts and a plain black T-shirt with no shoes, but he still looked like he’d walked off a runway. I’d always been envious of my brother’s charisma.

“Cillian and Aspen chose to betray me to Sloan. I was stupid enough to trust them, but it won’t happen again.”

“He’s their boss. You’d gone off the rails and were doing things on your own without consulting him. Killing people without Sloan’s permission, then expecting the Company to stand behind you if the shit hit the fan. The only thing that saved you was that you’re my brother.” I shook my head. “Cillian and Aspen didn’t have that luxury. They did what they were supposed to do—be loyal to the Company. When anyone joins this business, Sloan comes first. Always.”

“I’m aware. Even my own brother chose him over me.” Bitterness filled his tone. I ignored it. “From what I heard, he has a new pet.”

I groaned. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Aodhan’s cockiness was back, and he winked. “What do you say I test this pet’s loyalty, too?”

I pointed at him. “The last time you did that, I had to beg Sloan for your life, and you got yourself kicked out of this city. You’re lucky he was in the mood to show mercy. You aren’t even allowed on this coast.”

“Worth it. Adrian had a nice, tight hole.” He chuckled.

“You were never interested in that weasel.” I threw my hands up. “You were only concerned about fucking over Sloan by having sex with his pet. Adrian is lucky the boss sent him to Mexico and didn’t kill him.”

“Eh. Sloan was done with him by that point anyway. He was bored and was going to send him away with or without my intervention.” He shrugged. “And Sloan couldn’t kill me, even if he wanted to, little bro. I’m fucking unstoppable, and he knows it.”

“He hasn’t sent Ardan after you yet. You know Ardan’s good at killing.”

Aodhan laughed. “Ardan Murphy is as much of a pussy as Fionn. These ghost stories about him are fucking stupid.”

“Tell that to the hundreds of people he’s killed,” I muttered, taking a step forward. I scratched behind Sinead’s ear, and she perked up, tongue lolling out. Crouching in front of her, I bopped a kiss on her forehead. “You’re a good girl.”

Oona sat up on Aodhan’s other side, head cocked and waiting patiently, and I laughed, rising so I could do the same to her. When I was done giving love to my girls, I left Aodhan in the living room to head up the steel stairs to my bedroom. I went directly into the connecting bathroom and shucked off my shorts before stepping into the shower and switching on the lever.

Hot water shot from the silver showerhead, kneading my sore muscles and shoulders. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against the black tiles that lined the inside of the shower. While I relaxed under the water, I thought back on the morning I’d spent with Fionn. I’d been telling Sloan for a couple of years to give Fionn more control, and only in the last week had Sloan finally let me know Fionn could start making decisions. Sloan had confided in me that with the escalating war with the Reyes Cartel and other gangs and mobs, he needed Fionn to be ready in case anything ever happened to him. It was a sign of a good leader that he was preparing for the worst.

While I hated the idea of Sloan no longer being boss—mostly because that’d mean he was dead—I thought that given the chance, Fionn would shine. He’d learned a lot from Sloan over the many years of his apprenticeship, and I didn’t think he would absorb any more unless it was through real-world experience. By the time Sloan was Fionn’s age, he’d controlled the most powerful mafia in the country. Fionn needed the opportunity to make the same decisions that Sloan dealt with every day.

I grabbed the loofah that hung from a hook on the wall and soaped it up. Running the rough sponge over my aching body, I closed my eyes in ecstasy. There was nothing better than a shower after a hard workout.

Fionn had been perfect today, a boss anyone could respect, even someone as drunk and stupid as Pellegrini. While he’d not directly given us the book we needed, he had told us a crucial piece of information that would help us get it. I hadn’t stayed around for Sloan’s return because I trusted Fionn to give his uncle the rundown of what had happened, and if anyone deserved the praise, it was him. He’d done an amazing job showing his power while not letting the retired detective get anything over him. I believed Fionn was ready, and I’d never been prouder of him than I was today.

Seeing Fionn in his element had done something to me, more so than what his tears had. I didn’t like to put a name to it, but desire swirled inside me the entire time Fionn spoke to Pellegrini. And knowing I was at Fionn’s side, guiding him and instructing him, was another surprising element that turned me on in ways it shouldn’t. I didn’t know why.

What was sexy about controlling a future mob boss?

Everything .

Then, there was Fionn, beautiful and delicate, like a dainty piece of china, but below that porcelain fragility was a leader who demanded loyalty.

Over the years, Fionn had reminded me of Eoin in a lot of ways. From the way he stood, to how he smiled, and even the deep hazel of his gaze, which was why sleeping with Fionn on his eighteenth birthday was an unforgivable act.

Eoin had trusted me and Sloan to take care of his family if anything happened to him... and I had lusted after Fionn instead.

Sleeping with him since then was beyond inexcusable. I repeated the words of shame through my mind every time I let it happen, yet I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to. Fionn was a dangerous obsession for both my physical and mental health. His body called to me, even when I’d convinced myself once again that I couldn’t do this. Eoin would certainly never condone my relationship with Fionn.

I sighed and slapped my hand against the soapy tiles.

Eoin.

I turned my back to the wall and raised my chin, letting the water cascade over my face. I ran my fingers through my hair and grabbed a handful, tugging. Eoin was a man I’d once loved, not that Eoin had ever known. Sloan had no idea, either, and I wanted to keep it that way. Eoin’s death had been a knife in my heart, shattering me in ways I’d never expected. As a result, I’d kept my distance from Fionn for a very long time.

The first time I ever really spoke to him, Fionn was around sixteen or seventeen, though I couldn’t say what age for certain. From that moment, I was met with strong conversation and a bold personality. He was smart and articulate and reminded me a lot of Sloan, making it easy for us to get along. I was the only one Fionn was nice to, even back then.

“Fuck.” I opened my eyes and tickled my fingertips across my abs, heading downward toward my twitching cock. The thought of Fionn, with his tight hole, was enough to send every ounce of blood rushing south.

I grabbed a bottle of conditioner and tipped some into my hand before replacing it on the shelf and wrapping my palm around my cock. I stroked and leaned back against the wall, thinking about the night that started our sexual relationship. Fionn had looked beautiful, an innocent bird in a room of predatory carnivores searching for who to devour next.

Fionn’s 18 th Birthday Party

Gentle music vibrated from the massive speakers in the corners of Sloan’s formal dining room, which he’d cleared out to make space for a large group of guests. The songs playing were traditional Irish music with fiddles that had me scrunching my nose up in distaste. I’d always preferred a good old rock song, with deep, rough vocals and a thumping bass.

I stood beside Jamie Shannon—who was working his way up the Company ladder—near the right side of the room, a beer in each of our hands. We were watching Ardan Murphy, assassin extraordinaire, by the refreshments bar as he sipped Coke timidly. Once upon a time, not too far in the past, he would’ve been downing alcohol, but Sloan had stepped in after a mistake that nearly cost Ardan his life. Even though we were both staring at Ardan, Jamie had been jabbering about the Exotic Virtue and some guy he saw there.

“So, the Virtue’s run by these two wee brothers, right? The youngest, can’t remember his name if I’m being honest, has an arse like this.” He waved his hands in the shape of an hourglass. “I told the boss about him. Said he was sexy. Boss said he might have to visit there one day and see for himself.”

“Mm-hmm.” I wasn’t interested in some guy from the Virtue or what Jamie had to say about his ass. Jamie had a lot to say about everyone’s ass, and it wasn’t anything new.

“Shite. This is some birthday. Though can’t say this is the kind of music I had at any of my parties.” Jamie laughed, taking a sip of his beer. I had long forgotten about my own, not really interested in drinking, even though I’d told Jamie to get me one when he’d gone to the bar. “Do ya remember what ya did for your eighteenth?”

I snorted and grinned. “Fortunately, I got too drunk and forgot most of the night. But I did remember how I woke up.”

Jamie waggled his eyebrows and nudged me with his elbow. “Tell me more.”

I finally took a sip of my beer, humming when the warm liquid met my tongue, and placed the bottle on a table nearby. “Eoin and Sloan took me out to party. They got me a fake ID and used their own, and we got into clubs and caused trouble.”

Most of the bouncers would’ve let us in without a fake ID anyway because everyone knew Sloan, son of the Irish mob boss of New York City, but Sloan wanted to be safe, in case we ran into any cops who sought to cause issues.

“Toward the end of the night, we went to the Genie. Sloan commissioned every whore in the brothel, and when I woke up the next morning, I was bare assed with a spent cock.”

Jamie let out a loud laugh, slapping his chest as he spat some of his beer from his mouth while he choked on the rest. “No fucking way. Mr. Killough did that?”

I shrugged. “He wasn’t always the boss, you know?”

Most people didn’t know the real Sloan, and I was glad Aodhan and I had the chance to grow up with him and see his softer side. We’d all known there would come a day when we’d have to mature, so as teenagers, it had been our mission to have fun whenever we could. Sloan and Eoin always got me into more trouble than I would’ve without them.

I caught sight of Fionn in the corner of the room, hitting on one of the Company’s soldiers. I didn’t know the soldier’s name, but he was a low rung on the Company ladder, nothing more than a hired gun and a loyal Irishman.

Fionn had his back against the wall, and even from where I stood, I could see the sly smile he gave the soldier. It was the kind of expression that said everything about what he wanted, and that was only confirmed when Fionn tugged at the soldier’s tie, pulling him toward the door at the back of the room that led into a hallway near the kitchen.

I moved without thought, striding forward with determination. Fionn could do what he wanted—he was the future of the Company, and he deserved to live his life before responsibility slapped him in the face—but I wouldn’t allow him to sleep with a soldier.

I followed them out through an archway that led into another hallway beside the massive stairs near the entrance. Fionn pressed his back against the wall and dragged the soldier in closer than what he should’ve in public. He smoothed his hand over the soldier’s shoulder, laughing, and that’s when I saw it—Fionn glancing toward me challengingly. He’d wanted me to follow him.

I let out a surprised breath. I hadn’t expected that from Fionn, of all people, but I supposed it made sense. Fionn was a Killough, after all. He was... Eoin’s son, and that was a very good reason why I shouldn’t go over there.

I needed to leave.

I didn’t.

“Hey!” I called out, voice strong and commanding.

The soldier spun around to face me, and I took him in carefully, making sure to remember this man so that I could reprimand him later. The man Fionn had lured into the hallway couldn’t have been much older than him, with short brown hair and wide blue eyes. He had a narrow nose and a pouty mouth and was only inches shorter than Fionn. The soldier was attractive, but he wasn’t worthy of Fionn. No one was.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Liam, sir.” He shuffled away from Fionn and hooked his fingers together in front of himself, head bowed to me. At least he knew when to respect his superiors, unlike Fionn, who sighed and crossed his arms as if he was bored. I hadn’t seen this side of him. Yet, defiance was as pretty on his face as lust.

“Liam, leave us.”

“Liam, don’t go anywhere,” Fionn said immediately, making Liam freeze, uncertainty crossing his face. He glanced between me and Fionn, confused.

Fionn stood straighter and ran a hand through his bleached sandy blond hair, which I didn’t like at all. I hated that he was trying so hard to be Sloan. “This is my party.”

“And you can cry if you want to?” I smirked.

Liam chuckled, but Fionn’s confused frown confirmed that he’d never heard the old song.

“Liam.” I nodded toward the archway we’d come through, and Liam shot forward, leaving us alone in the hallway.

Fionn glared. “You can’t do that.”

“Do what?” I matched his posture, crossing my arms. If anyone would win this battle of wills, it would be me. “Ruin your fuck session?”

“I can fuck who I want,” Fionn muttered, dropping his arms as though he realized how stupid he looked now that I was doing it.

“No, you can’t.” I sighed. “Fionn, your uncle put together a birthday party. The least you could do is not leave it.”

Fionn grunted. “He doesn’t care about me. He did it to show off. You saw the people he invited. The Italians. What do the Italians have to do with me? Nothing. And what the fuck was that music? I’m not turning a hundred.”

My heart ached for him, and I understood both sides. I’d seen Fionn’s desperation from the moment I’d met him. Fionn wanted Sloan to tell him he was proud, and he desired Sloan’s approval. Sloan raised Fionn the only way he knew how—exactly how Sloan’s father had raised him. Both Killoughs were stubborn, though, and they wouldn’t listen.

“You can’t fuck your soldiers.” I took a step closer to Fionn and laid a hand on his shoulder. “That’s a line you don’t want to cross. You don’t shit where you eat. Trust me.”

Fionn’s gaze slipped to my hand, then slid up to my face. He smiled, so sweet and soft, and my anger dissipated. It was difficult to stay mad at Fionn. “What about my uncle’s second-in-command?”

My breath caught, but I kept my face neutral, even as my gut squirmed in excitement. No. No! Fionn Killough was out of bounds, but my cock didn’t get the memo. Blood headed south. I stood too close to Fionn, and I could smell him—the gentle aroma of sandalwood.

Fionn moved away, resting his body against the wall. A teasing smile curved his supple lips. “Kiss me.”

Leave, my mind screamed, but I didn’t. Instead, I stepped in closer until our chests met.

Fionn raised his chin and that grin enticed me to stay.

Even though Fionn was seducing me, he still looked innocent and too sweet for this world. He was the epitome of virtue, and here I was, about to corrupt him because my cock couldn’t listen to my brain. Pleasure simmered low in my stomach and heat filled me as I cupped Fionn’s cheek and stroked my thumb over soft skin.

“Kiss me.” Fionn’s lashes fluttered.

“I shouldn’t.” A harsh breath left me. I slid my fingers beneath Fionn’s chin and raised it, staring at the bow of his lips—beautiful and tempting. Fuck . I wanted to kiss him so bad, and my mental fortitude was losing to my physical needs. “You’re too young.”

The last attempt to reason with Fionn was useless.

“I’m eighteen.” Fionn grabbed the back of my neck and dragged me in a little closer, our mouths inches apart.

“I’m too old.” I was losing to my desires.

“You’re Sloan’s age. That isn’t too old.” Fionn’s gaze flicked to my mouth and his teeth came out to gnaw on his bottom lip.

My cock twitched, half hard and trapped in my briefs. “You’re Eoin’s son.” If anything should’ve brought us back to reality, it was that. Like everything else, though, it failed.

“You have a father, too.” Fionn’s nails dug into my neck, and a delicious bite of pain stoked the desire inside me. “Any more excuses or are you going to kiss me?”

I smiled, and any concerns I had temporarily disappeared, along with my resolve. I kissed him, hard . Our mouths collided in a war of need, and Fionn tasted just as I had imagined—both sweet and spicy.

Fionn hauled me closer, and he was stronger than I’d expected, but I grabbed his hips, grinding my trapped cock against his, causing both of us to moan. Laughter from the party made me freeze, though, and I ripped my mouth away from him.

He whimpered in disappointment.

My chest rose and fell, and I stared down at Fionn’s excited flushed face. This was another chance to walk away. I could go back to the party and pretend this never happened.

Useless .

I would never be strong enough to leave Fionn, not when another man could take my place. No , if someone was going to fuck Fionn on his eighteenth birthday, it was going to be me. But nobody could see us like this, especially not Sloan. He would kill me for touching Fionn.

“We need to take this upstairs,” I whispered.

Fionn’s eyes lit up and he flashed me a toothy smile. “Come with me. We’ll go to my room.” He slid his hand into mine and dragged me down the short hallway to the wide split staircase. We ascended the marble steps as quickly as we could, not giving me an opportunity to reconsider going back to the party, but by this point I was committed. Only an act of God could ruin what was about to happen.

When we finally got to the door of Fionn’s room, I grabbed him by the back of the neck before he could open the door and spun him around, slamming him against the wall. A gasp escaped Fionn as I closed in on him, our mouths ghosting against each other in a teasing dance that had us both breathing hard.

“Do you want this?” I whispered, raising my thumb to pull on his bottom lip. “Because once we go in that room, there’s no turning back. I’m going to take you apart, boy.”

Fionn grinned and grasped my wrist, holding my hand against his mouth so he could suck my thumb between his lips. He moaned around the digit and nipped at the tip, and my cock jerked. My heavy balls drew a little closer to my body, and I cursed him for having a talented mouth. Now that I knew what his lips looked like wrapped around my flesh, it was burned into my memory.

“Please, Daddy Daire.”

I tensed in surprise. The words were uttered with the kind of naivety that I had only seen Fionn pull off, and I fumbled with the name in my head.

Daddy.

As if I was the replacement father he’d craved, an older man who would tell him what to do and throw him over my knee and spank his ass red when he needed to be punished.

Fionn stared up at me, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. “Are you mad?”

I broke out of my thoughts and stared down at him, unsure what to say. No, I wasn’t mad. If anything, my cock grew harder than ever. I thought I might explode in my underwear. The warmth that swelled in my body went from mild to a lava that had me ready to burst. I wanted Fionn so bad it fucking hurt.

“No.” I smiled and tucked a piece of Fionn’s sandy hair behind his ear, which earned me a sweet pout. “You’re beautiful.”

Fionn’s eyes widened. “I am?”

His words broke my heart. It was as though he’d been waiting his entire life for someone to pay him a compliment, and now that someone finally had, he didn’t know how to believe it.

The expression on his face had my chest clenching. He wanted to be loved, but I couldn’t be that person. It wasn’t fair for him. He didn’t know that I had once been in love with his father. I refused to use Fionn as a replacement.

“Maybe we shouldn’t?—”

“Don’t say that,” he whispered harshly, desperation overtaking him. “Please. It’s my birthday and I want this. I want you.”

How could I say no? Only an idiot could deny Fionn with that attractive face. I leaned my forehead against his and sighed. I wasn’t that idiot.

Clearly taking my silence as a yes, Fionn tilted his chin and slanted his mouth over mine, pulling me into a desperate kiss that ignited my desire to devour him. I cupped his face and shoved him back against the wall again. He moaned, weaving his arms around my shoulders and dragging me closer.

I slid my hand down to his neck and grasped it, holding tighter than necessary, but by the sounds he was making, he didn’t mind.

“Oh, fuck. Daddy. Choke me more.”

The second time hearing Daddy wasn’t as shocking, and my cock twitched even more fiercely than before. I didn’t think I could grow any harder, but my cock was damned well trying.

I didn’t want to hurt him. If Sloan saw any bruises on him and Fionn admitted where he’d gotten them, Sloan would come for my head, and my cock, too.

I couldn’t help but nip at Fionn’s jaw, though, before laying a kiss where my teeth left a mark. If I had my way, I would give him hickeys all over his body to claim ownership—a deep desire that I had always fantasized about—but I couldn’t go that far with him. It was out of bounds.

“Daddy Daire?” He tilted his head and smiled. “Tell me I’m beautiful again.”

With the hand not holding his throat, I caressed his face gently, running my thumb over the sharp cheekbone that pointed to Fionn’s soft lips like an arrow directing me toward what to claim. My heart gave a hard tug at the words that left my sweet boy’s mouth.

“You are the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen,” I murmured, sliding my thumb over Fionn’s bottom lip. If I thought about it long enough, it was true. He was even more striking than Eoin. “And you’re going to make an amazing boss for this company. Sloan is proud of you. I’m proud of you, and I know your dad would be, too.”

Fionn shuddered and his eyes grew watery, but no tears slipped down his cheeks despite beading at the corners. He smiled gently. “Thank you.”

I didn’t like the emotions clumping together in my gut. A mixture of guilt, desire, and sympathy was a horrible combination, but still, I couldn’t make myself walk away, even though my mind screamed at me to get out of there. I wouldn’t leave Fionn now. This was more than sex. I couldn’t quite put a name to it, but I had something he needed .

I gave him a kind smile. “Come on, boy. Let’s go into your room.”

He exhaled and slid to the door, grabbing the handle and opening it before dragging me in by my blue tie. I went willingly and kicked the door closed, then flipped on the light. Seizing him by the neck again, I spun him and shoved him against the wall near the door. He let out a grunt at the rough treatment but grinned, eyes darkening.

In slow, purposeful movements, I yanked him forward to grab the lapels of his charcoal suit jacket and slip it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. The deep purple tie went, too. His shirt was next, and I undid the first button, then leaned forward to lay a gentle, teasing kiss against the base of his neck.

Another button was undone.

Another kiss.

My mouth followed the unbuttoning, nibbling and kissing every inch of skin exposed for my hungry gaze.

When I finally had Fionn’s shirt open, I slid it off his shoulders with his jacket and pushed him against the wall again. I stepped back to appreciate the sight of his bare chest, which was mostly smooth except for a trail of hair between his small defined pecs and below his belly button. His abs were tight, and he had the build of a swimmer—slim yet muscular. My mouth watered. I wanted to take the time to press kisses across the entirety of his flesh. I’d stop only to suck on his small nipples and add my teeth marks to them so he was reminded of who he belonged to every time his shirt rubbed up against them.

Fionn watched me closely, intrigue and desire clouding his eyes. He stayed still and didn’t reach for me like I thought he would, and that gave me a control I’d never had before. Sure, I was second-in-command of the largest mafia on this side of the country, but this was different. Fionn trusted me. Wanted me .

“Turn around,” I ordered, my voice strong and dominant. “Put your hands on the wall and spread your legs.”

Fionn’s eyes went bright, and he spun around, slapping his palms against the wall like I had instructed. He slid his knees apart, rocking his hips backward to give me a perfect view of his cute bubble butt. I paused for a moment to appreciate the way his cheeks looked in the custom-fit suit pants.

Perfection.

I smoothed my hands over each of Fionn’s cheeks and slapped them, watching them wobble underneath the expensive clothing, and then licked my lips. “Boy, take your pants and underwear off. Now.”

He whimpered and slid his hands to his belt, unbuckling and yanking on it, while I took a step back and watched him, happy to enjoy the show he was about to put on. But he didn’t get the message, merely shoving his pants and underwear down quickly and attempting to step out of them after his shoes went flying. He nearly tripped in the process.

I would’ve laughed if I hadn’t been so turned on. My cock throbbed, straining against my briefs as he slapped his palms back against the wall and spread his legs, resuming his previous position.

Some have said that Fionn wasn’t the kind of man who could run a mafia. He was too innocent, too much of an “order taker,” and while I’d understood why people thought that, I knew better. He was Sloan’s nephew. Given the time, he would learn to grow as fierce as his uncle. Sloan had the same doubts as Fionn when he was a teenager.

“Am I just going to stand here, Daddy?” Fionn whispered. “Is this... a punishment?”

I shifted closer and laid my hand on the middle of his pale back.

He tensed and shivered under my touch.

“No. You’re doing good, boy. So good.”

He gasped. “Thank you, Daddy. I want to please you.”

“But you’re the one who’s going to be the boss eventually, aren’t you?” I asked, dragging the nail of my index finger down his spine, heading south toward his round ass.

“Yes?” He sounded uncertain, and his breath caught when my finger reached the top of his cheeks, where I stopped.

“I should be serving you, boy.” I smirked and went to my knees behind him, laying my hands on his ass, spreading it.

He froze, spine going stiff. “I . . . .”

“What, boy?” I kissed his right cheek, then his left. “You got something to say?”

He trembled harder. “No, Daddy Daire.”

“Are you sure?” I squeezed that delectable bubble butt and dipped my thumb into Fionn’s crease, rubbing the pad over his hole, not quite pressing in but teasing. “Because I’m going to eat you out, boy, and I’m going to make you ready for my cock with my tongue alone. Do you want that?”

He bent his fingers and scratched the wall. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes filled with tears, and nodded. “Yes. I do.”

That was all I needed to hear.

I moved forward and brushed my tongue around the edge of his pucker before dipping into his hole. Nails digging into Fionn’s cheeks, I took the time to open him good, all the while listening to the moans and whimpers that left his pretty lips. The noises were everything and more, and my cock throbbed.

There were too many reasons why having sex with Fionn was a bad idea, but now that I’d had a taste, I worried I would become addicted. The moans and the way he trembled under my hands and tongue were alluring, and I couldn’t remember a time when I’d been overwhelmed with a fiery need like I was now. I wanted to sink into his tight heat and come, balls deep inside him.

I used my fingers alongside my tongue, because while I’d told Fionn I wouldn’t, I had a feeling Fionn wasn’t as experienced as he pretended to be. And I was okay with that. The thought of other men touching someone so beautiful, so innocent , and so mine made my hands itch to hurt them. Another warning sign of how dangerous this all was.

“Please. Daddy, please. Fuck. Your tongue feels so good. I need you. I want you.” Fionn was mumbling, tremble after tremble sliding through his body, until I thought his knees would give out completely. I had no choice but to hold his hips in case he collapsed.

“Is that what you want, boy?” I rose to my feet and grabbed Fionn’s shoulders, turning him around. Hooking a finger under Fionn’s chin, I raised his head so that we stared at each other. “Do you want me to fuck you?”

Fionn shoved forward, latching on to my mouth with his in a rough kiss that had me hungry for more. Grabbing Fionn’s hips, I hauled him closer as we ate at each other’s lips, starving and desperate and needy.

When we finally broke away for air, Fionn licked the corner of my mouth. “Please fuck me? I’ll do whatever you want.”

This boy— man —needed my orders. Begged for them.

I would be stupid not to give Fionn what he desired. I turned us and slowly led us to Fionn’s bed, which was wide and took up a lot of space in the huge room. Decorated in deep blues, Fionn’s bedding was neat as a pin—but not for long.

When I managed to get Fionn to sit on the edge of the bed, I smirked and spread my arms. “Undress me.”

Fionn’s mouth popped open for a short moment, and then he grinned and did as he was told. He took his time, but I didn’t mind. With every piece of my suit that Fionn got rid of, he stopped to appreciate the skin that appeared beneath it. He ran his fingers over my body like I was a god to be worshiped. He mapped my chest and abs, then my hips and thighs. He stared at my exposed cock, hard and long and thick, and swallowed visibly.

“You’re so big, Daddy Daire.”

I smirked. Compared to average, I was huge, and while most people assumed that was a good thing, finding guys who liked a thick piece of meat in their holes wasn’t easy. Some men took one look at me and started stammering out excuses, not willing to attempt to take the chance. Not Fionn, though. Like with every other challenge he was presented with, he squared his shoulders and looked at me.

“I want you.” He rested his hand on my chest, combing his fingers through the short dark hair spread across my pecs. “Please. I fucking need you so bad.”

This was my last chance to back out of the room and stop myself from doing something stupid. The reminder that Fionn was my future boss wasn’t doing a damned thing, and neither was the fact that he was Sloan’s nephew. Sloan . My best friend since we were kids. What the fuck was I doing?

I glanced toward the door, my chest heaving in anticipation. I could write this off now before it went too far.

“Daddy?” Fionn laid a palm on my pec and squeezed. “Please?”

His voice was so gentle and sweet, contradictory to the person he was outside this room. Everyone knew Fionn was snarky and rude and a brat, and I liked each version of him. Fionn’s wittiness had always secretly amused me, especially when he aimed his ire at someone I didn’t like. Lorcan Lee, for example. Fionn made it known he didn’t enjoy the general’s company one bit.

Hesitation passed over Fionn’s face, and he pushed me gently so he could stand. He went to step away, but I grasped him around the waist, dragging him closer. There was no way in hell I was going to back out of this. I wanted Fionn, and for a night, I could ignore who we were and why it was a bad idea.

I kissed him, hard. My mouth melded against Fionn’s roughly, and I grasped his face between my hands, holding him still so I could devour whatever innocence he had left. By the end of the night, there’d be none.

I pushed Fionn toward the bed, and he fell onto it, eyes wide and excited as he shuffled back farther.

“Lube?” I asked.

“In my closet.” Fionn waved his hand toward the right side of the room, and I strode over to the closet he’d pointed out, opening it. After a few directions from Fionn, I found the lube, along with condoms. I didn’t want to think about Fionn using the rubbers because it didn’t matter. While I’d fuck him, Fionn didn’t belong to me.

I shoved the thought out of my head. We had tonight, and I was going to make the most of it. I was going to show Fionn what it was like to be taken care of and have the best sex he could imagine. Hell, I’d ruin him for every other man in the future.

When I got back to the bed, I dropped the lube and condoms on the mattress beside Fionn, and he stared at them.

“Do you need the rubber?” He nodded toward the condoms.

I stared down at him seriously. “Yes.” I fell forward, knees and hands digging into the bed on either side of Fionn’s slim body. Eyebrows drawn in concern, I pursed my lips. “You must promise me that you’ll never have sex without one unless it’s someone you trust with your life.”

“Daire—”

“Daddy,” I said sharply, making Fionn jump. “You will only call me Daddy or Daddy Daire tonight.”

Fionn’s gaze clouded with lust and need, and his kiss-bruised lips curled into a sensual smile. He tilted his chin and the light above him cut across his cheeks like glittering diamonds. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Good. Now, promise me.” I nuzzled Fionn’s throat and nipped the skin there, intending to leave a small mark as a reminder of what we’d done. I wanted Fionn to remember it always. At least, that’s what I wanted now . Tomorrow, I might come back to my senses and realize I’d prefer Fionn to forget all about it.

“What if I don’t?” The challenge in his tone and the way he stared at me had the skin on my back prickling with a mixture of excitement and the desire to teach him a lesson.

I smirked and grabbed his neck in a firm grip. He gasped, head falling back to expose more flesh for me to press my fingers into, and his submission was a beautiful sight. His back arched and his cock jerked, precum already beading at his slit. He was so receptive to my touch, entire body shaking under the pressure of my control.

I licked a stripe along Fionn’s jaw, then nibbled on his ear. “Promise me or I won’t fuck you. I’ll lock you in this room so you’ll only be able to get off with your own hand.”

He whimpered, the muscles in his throat working against my fingers. “Daddy, please.”

“No.” Pleasure knotted inside me, tangling ropes of lust, and my chest grew heavy with need, making it difficult to breathe. My cock throbbed, stiff as a nail and ready to hammer into him. “You know what I want to hear.” I nibbled on his ear and tugged at it before kissing back down his jaw again. “Say it.”

His whimpers grew louder and he arched back so far that his cock tapped against my abs, leaving behind precum. “I promise.” He moaned when I squeezed his neck a little tighter but not enough to trap the air. “I promise, Daddy Daire. I won’t let anyone have sex with me without a condom unless I trust them.”

“How much do you have to trust them?” I nuzzled his chin.

“With my life.” He gasped.

“Good boy.” I released my hold on his neck, and Fionn sucked in deep breaths, falling back onto the bed.

He looked up at me, eyelids half open and stare filled with uninhibited desire. “Why does it matter?” he whispered, voice croaky. “You’ll be the only one?—”

I slammed my mouth over Fionn’s, effectively shutting him up before he could say something that would make me walk out the door and not come back. What we had right now couldn’t be permanent.

It was one night.

Only one.

Fionn groaned into the kiss, and when I broke the lip-lock so I could reach over to grab the lube and a condom, Fionn grinned and spread his legs. His eagerness twisted my insides, reminding me of just how innocent he was.

“I’m going to prep you,” I whispered, dropping a kiss on Fionn’s shoulder, then his chin. “We’re going to take this slow.” He opened his mouth, but I shook my head. “You will not argue with me, boy. You said it yourself. I’m big. I refuse to hurt you.”

He hesitated and sighed, nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeated.

Flicking open the lube, I smiled down at him comfortingly. I took the time to prep him, using one, then two, and finally, three fingers. I scissored and stretched him, and Fionn grunted in pain at first before he began to relax and the sounds morphed into needy moans.

When I was sure I’d be able to enter him without hurting him, I grabbed the condom and slid it on my rock-hard cock. I spread more lube over my erection and settled between his parted thighs.

Fionn tilted his head, eyes hooded and a blissful expression dancing across his sharp features. “Please, fuck me, Daddy?”

How could I say no to that? There was no other word for him but pretty, even if it sounded feminine. I had never seen anyone as beautiful as him, but he was more so now that he was dazed with lust, naked with a sheen of sweat covering his compact muscles, and with a full cock.

I grabbed his legs, hooking them over my shoulders, and lined up to his hole. “One last chance, boy. You sure about this?”

Fionn whimpered. “Please, Daddy. Fuck. Please.”

I shushed him gently and smoothed my palm over his forehead, pushing his hair away from his face. I thumbed his cheekbone, mapping the softness of his skin. “Good boy. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

I slowly pushed in, careful as the head of my cock opened him. I watched Fionn’s expression, noting the flickers of pain. His nose twitched and his mouth twisted, and I stopped when the head made it past his ring. I placed my palm against his cheek again, caressing it.

He winced. “Sorry, Daddy Daire.”

“Shh.” I leaned down to lay a kiss on the opposite cheek. “You’re fine. It’s fine. Tell me when you’re ready.”

It took him a few long seconds, but I stayed patient. I kept still, body tense as I waited for his go-ahead, and the moment he nodded, I began to push in again. I eyed him carefully, but he kept nodding when I gave him a questioning look, until finally I was balls deep inside.

Fionn’s breaths came quick and shallow, and his legs shook against my shoulders. “It feels so strange, Daddy.”

I smiled, then kissed him. I cupped his face, and we kept our mouths mashed together in what started out as a soft meeting, then began to get rougher. He moaned into the kiss, his legs trembling fiercer.

“Please, fuck me, Daddy Daire? Fuck, I need you so bad.”

Positioning myself on my knees, I bent him forward in a way that would lessen the pain and began to thrust. I started slow and didn’t pull all the way out. It was more of hip rocking to get him used to the feeling of my width and length inside him, but when he began to hump back against me, I knew what he needed.

I picked up speed, spearing my cock into his hole harder and faster. The moment I pegged Fionn’s prostate, he threw his head back and yelled, entire body shuddering.

“Oh my fucking God. Daire. Fuck.” He kicked my shoulder with his heel in a spasm of pleasure. “Please, harder.”

The sight of him losing control was absolutely fucking stunning. This stoic man , usually so restrained and blunt to people, other than a select few, came unraveled like a bow on a Christmas gift, and the result was the kind of present I had always wanted from a man. Pure, utterly abandoned bliss. He was milking my cock like the best boy, and I couldn’t get enough.

He was practically riding me, even though I was on top, rutting into him.

“Please, please, please.” The mantra leaving Fionn’s lips had my blood pumping hot as it rushed south. If he kept pleading so prettily, I would lose it too quickly. His hole constricted around me, putting the perfect amount of pressure on my sensitive cock.

I gripped his knees, nails digging into his skin, as I focused on thrusting faster, hammering into Fionn’s prostate with every stroke forward.

His whimpers grew louder, music to my ears. He grabbed his cock and jerked it along with my tempo, and it didn’t take long for his spine to stiffen, his moans turning into cries of pleasure as he arched up and came. Spunk jetted from his slit and covered his stomach and chest. He trembled through the throes of ecstasy, his hole tightening around me.

The orgasm-inducing sight was all it took for my release to hit me like a bullet straight to the heart. Desire wielding enough power to make me breathless weaved its magic, and I froze balls deep inside Fionn as I came. I groaned, leaning my forehead on his leg as every drop of my cum filled the condom until I had nothing left to give.

Exhausted, I pulled out gently and took off the rubber, then tied it and threw it into the trash next to Fionn’s bed. I collapsed beside him.

Fionn had his eyes closed, the biggest smile that I’d ever seen on his face. “Wow.”

I kissed his shoulder and whispered, “You’re so fucking perfect.”

He gasped and trembled, eyes snapping open so he could stare at me. “Thank you, Daddy.”

My heart ached. Fuck.

I tugged harder at the memory, jerking my cock as fast as I could.

That night, I’d slunk from the room after Fionn fell asleep. I’d tried to pretend nothing had happened, but he hadn’t let me. He was relentless, and I discovered that when he wanted something, he’d stop at nothing to get it. I was weak when it came to him, and after a night like that, I couldn’t resist the temptation of his body. Like a rubber band, my ability to reject him snapped.

Even so, I refused to be anything more than fuck buddies. Fionn wanted more—I saw it in the way he looked at me, eyes begging—but I’d set down my rules. Fucking only . Fionn always treated me much better than everyone else—minus Sloan—but his attitude had become more hostile recently. His anger at me and my refusal for anything more than sex had exploded.

I clenched my eyes and threw back my head as my orgasm ripped through me, making my spine straighten and my muscles tense. I called Fionn’s name under my breath, cursing the man for controlling my thoughts. Regular sex didn’t dwindle my desire for him. He was the only man since that night that had captured my attention.

Cum shot from my slit, spraying to the floor and washing away with the hot water as it circled the drain. I shuddered through my pleasure, and when my balls were empty, I finally managed to pry my eyes open again and stare down at myself. My tattoo-covered abs continued to quiver, and my cockhead was red, still caught by my white-knuckled fist.

“Fuck.”

Sex with Fionn was honestly the best I’d ever had.

Groaning, I dropped my head forward. I was doomed. Spending time with Fionn was killing me. I had no idea what I’d done to deserve this torture, but what sweet , sweet agony it was.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and I grunted. “What?”

“Get out of there, little bro. We’re hitting the clubs like old times.”

I cursed. Going out was the last thing I wanted, but Aodhan would never let it go if I said no.