Chapter 4
Damon
Itook deep, steadying breaths as we ascended the stairs and entered the dimly lit room halfway down the hallway, determined to remain outwardly calm despite how my heart was pounding.
Thank goodness he can’t hear it!
My frayed nerves were uncharacteristic, since I knew full well how our evening would go. This was a transaction—nothing more—and that was fine by me.
Even if Max seems confused…
It was clear this man believed we were forming some sort of relationship, but I assumed his interest was only temporary.
He would eventually grow tired of his new toy and ride out of town, back to his fancy San Francisco life.
Meanwhile, I would return to the no-strings existence I was perfectly happy with.
I think…
The strange part was, I wasn’t sure how content I was with my life in Opalite, or how I felt about the singular attention I was receiving from a man I knew next to nothing about yet felt drawn to like no other.
Perhaps the whiskey’s to blame…
Other than the upscale location, and supposed courtship that was underway, this situation was no different than the quick fucks I preferred in the alleyway behind the House.
I would let Max have whichever hole he wanted until we both were satisfied.
Then, I’d simply return to my bed until he desired another round.
But there’s a bed here this time…
I’ve never shared a bed with anyone before…
And what a bed it was. A sturdy, four-poster frame that was so large, my sagging, makeshift cot could have fit on the thick mattress twice over.
What if I dirty the sheets?
“The only thing you should be thinking of is the pleasure you’re about to receive.” Max removed my duster and hat from behind before circling me to start working on my shirt buttons. “First, I need to see you, bare and ready for me.”
What?
I tensed, suddenly more anxious than a cat in a room full of rockers, causing him to immediately step back.
“I’m sorry!” I gasped, my chest heaving for no good goddamn reason. “I d-didn’t realize you wanted me unshucked.”
Max’s brow furrowed before his eyes widened. “You’ve never been naked with anyone before…”
It wasn’t a question. Of course, I’d been bathed by the doves as a child, but that wasn’t what this man was referring to.
This is so embarrassing.
Shrugging, I attempted a casual air to recover from my humiliation. “You might say clothes are a requirement when bent over in drafty back alleyways.”
I wasn’t certain what reaction I was hoping for—jealousy, perhaps—but Max simply set aside his hat with a smile and advanced so abruptly, I stumbled backward in surprise.
Good Lord, he moves fast!
“As tantalizing a mental picture as that is…” he purred, his face tilted up slightly so his breath ghosted over my lips. “I would much rather spread you open on the mattress and feast on. Every. Bare. Inch of you.”
Good.
Lord.
“Oh,” I whispered, swallowing hard as I imagined exactly that.
I don’t think I’ll survive it.
Max gave me a blessed inch of space, toying with the buttons on my shirt again while searching my face. “May I?” he asked, stifling a smile when I tried to reply only to choke on my words and nod vigorously instead. “Would a kiss help distract you from the scandal of undressing?”
A kiss?!
The sheer absurdity of the idea distracted me from the teasing, because no previous encounters of mine had ever involved kissing.
It was far too intimate an act for what the men I fucked were interested in, and I’d never felt the slightest urge to offer.
At the moment, however, I thought I might perish if I couldn’t get Max’s lips on mine.
It’s definitely the whiskey…
“Yes,” I choked out, finding my voice and my apparently dormant desire for intimacy, of all things. “Please, kiss me…”
“Gladly,” he murmured, deftly sliding the first button through the hole and tilting his face upward again.“Such a good pet.”
I whimpered when his lips brushed over mine—a sound I would take to my grave—then melted against him as his tongue pushed its way inside.
More…
He kissed me with the confidence of a man who did so often, and I buried the jealousy I felt at the thought. Steadying my hands on Max’s shoulders, I dug my fingers into his suit jacket, half-hoping I wasn’t wrinkling the fine fabric but so delirious with desire, I couldn’t find it in me to care.
“Look how needy you are…” Max murmured against my lips, gently removing my hands from his shoulders so he could relieve me of my overshirt. “So desperate for me to own you.”
I tensed again, pulling my face away from his. “No one owns—”
My words abruptly cut off as I recalled how untrue that was. Madame Roulette had made it abundantly clear she had the power to decide what happened to me—to my body—like any one of her doves. Max said he would pay her off, but now I feared that would only encourage her greed.
And she’ll only do it again once he’s gone…
“I meant, own you in the bedroom only,” Max’s calm voice broke through my impending panic, bringing me back to the present. “Now, take off your gun belt.”
“What?” I snapped, unsure which sentence I was reacting to, but none too keen to give up my defenses.
Any of my defenses…
Instead of becoming exasperated by my continued hesitation, Max’s smile only grew. Without a word, he shrugged off his suit jacket and carefully slung it over the back of a nearby chair. Then, he held his hands up in mock surrender and slowly turned in a circle, showing me the absence of holsters.
I scoffed, realizing he’d yet again identified the reason for my concern. “Mighty bold of you to travel the West unarmed.”
Bold or stupid…
“Oh, I am plenty armed.” He chuckled with a wink. When I narrowed my eyes he added, “Just not at the moment. I can be a gentleman when I want to be.”
I rolled my eyes, although I couldn’t help but smile at his antics—at his ability to set a skittish creature like me at ease. “I believe you are skilled in appearing to be civilized… but whether you’re a true gentleman is up for debate.”
The sass earned me a full-bodied laugh, and pure warmth flooded through me at causing such a reaction.
This is not good.
“So you want to learn my secrets, do you?” He smiled indulgently and gestured at my belt. “If you take that off and sit on the bed, maybe I’ll tell you more.”
He doesn’t play fair.
The truth was, I wanted to know more about this man, so I dutifully played his game—removing my belt and walking toward the bed, practically buzzing with anticipation.
“Weren’t you supposed to enlighten me on what the Two of Cups meant?” I asked as I sat, desperate not to betray my nerves.
Max hummed noncommittally, removing his vest and oddly colorful cravat before stalking closer. I swallowed hard, intimidated all over again by someone I could definitely take in a fist fight.
At least, I think I could…
Now that his outer layers were gone, I had a better sense of just how muscular he was, even if his build was on the stockier side.
I suppose he might win.
I might let him…
Max huffed as if something was funny as he reached down and pulled my undershirt up and over my head, tossing it aside. Then he carded his fingers through my hair—soothing me until my eyes fluttered closed—before gripping the nape of my neck and yanking my head to the side.
“Wha…” My eyes snapped open only to roll back in my head, because Max was running his lips—his teeth—along my neck, inhaling deeply.
“You smell…” Another greedy gulp of air followed by a gentle nip. “Absolutely edible.”
I tried to laugh, but it came out sounding more like a moan. “I… highly doubt that. In a house with so many women, one does not get a turn in the tub very often…”
Why on earth am I telling him this?!
I was finding it hard to have a coherent thought, much less form intelligent words, but Max seemed unconcerned by my confession.
“Pet…” he purred, lowering himself to his knees between my legs. “I assure you, I do not mind. I have a feeling it will be all I can do to not devour you whole.”
Please.
Please devour me.
By some blessed miracle, I didn’t say that out loud, mostly because I became distracted by how this incredibly well-dressed man had begun to remove my filthy boots.
“You don’t need to—” I began.
Max silenced me with a look. “I know. I want to. Let me take care of you.”
As astounding as his words were, there was a clear command in his tone, and even more astounding was my willingness to obey.
Just for him.
For now…
“Yes, sir,” I murmured, allowing him to remove my boots and socks followed by my pants. This left me in the loose cotton drawers I preferred over long johns and I had never felt more exposed in my entire life.
The obvious hard-on isn’t helping.
Of course, Max’s gaze immediately fell on the evidence of my desire. “Is that for me?” he murmured, sliding his hands up my inner thighs, headed for his prize.
Before I could muster up a reply, Max lowered his head and ran his lips along my aching shaft through the cotton, nearly sending me through the roof.
“Good Lord!” I exclaimed, causing him to pull back with a chuckle at my expense. “If you continue doing that, I’ll finish before you get what you want from me.”
He cocked his head, visibly confused. “What I want…?”
“Well… y-yes,” I stammered, baffled as to why I needed to spell this out for him. “Just because we are in a fine hotel doesn’t change why we’re here.”
Doesn’t it?
With a huff, he gracefully rose and removed his cufflinks, tucking them into his pants pocket before slowly rolling up his dress shirt sleeves. My gaze snagged on unusual markings running up his arms but then he gestured at his eyes, indicating that was where he wanted my attention.
“Damon,” he replied, and something about his low tone had me shivering. “What I want is for you to lay back on the bed and finish unshucking so I can properly get at you.”
That’s better.
Now that we’d reached an understanding again, I eagerly repositioned myself as instructed, though exactly why he wanted me on my back was a mystery.
Perhaps he prefers to flip me over himself…
Regardless, with the return of my footing came the return of my confidence. “You know, Mr. Luna,” I drawled, shimmying out of my drawers and smirking as he licked his lips at the sight. “I don’t believe you’re a gentleman at all…”
Max’s eyes seemed to flash silver again as he grinned wickedly. “Oh, I certainly am not. In fact…” He climbed onto the bed and began crawling toward me—like a predator stalking its prey. “I’m more animal than man nowadays.”
I believe it.
This was exactly how I wanted him, but I was still slightly confused about where tonight was headed. “Why haven’t you taken off your clothes yet?”
“Because I’m not going to fuck you,” he replied, spreading my legs so he could kneel between them, staring down with an intensity that was almost overwhelming. “Not yet, anyway. Tonight, all I want is to get my mouth on your pretty cock.”
I BEG YOUR PARDON?!
Max’s grin only grew at my no doubt astonished expression, his strangely sharp canines catching the light. “That’s right, pet. I want to feast on you until you’re satisfied. Will you let me do that for you?”
All I could manage was a nod before planting my feet on the mattress and gripping the comforter—bracing myself for what was to come.
I most certainly won’t survive this…
“You’re so good for me,” he soothed, the praise making me dizzy. “I can’t wait to learn what you taste like.”
What I taste like while he claims me…
Max lowered himself to his elbows, and any lingering doubts I had magically disappeared once again, because this man was looking at me—at my cock, specifically—like it was his favorite meal.
Please, claim me…
Before I could speak my thoughts aloud, he bent his head low and licked a hot path up my center, from my asshole all the way to my leaking crown.
“Max! Have mercy…” I gasped, instinctively reaching for him only to snatch my hands back like I’d been burned.
Control yourself, Damon!
I was shown no mercy, however, as Max immediately descended, taking me all the way to the back of his throat in a single swallow.
“SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!!!” I bellowed, uncaring that the entire hotel and restaurant downstairs—hell, the entire street—could probably hear me. “Max… I’m… I won’t last!”
Max pulled off with a satisfied hum. “Good. Because I need you to spill down my throat as soon as possible.” He paused to run two fingers over his tongue before circling my hole, tauntingly slow. “Would you like that, pet? Do you wish to claim me as well?”
“Yes,” I somehow managed to whisper, suddenly wanting nothing more.
I want my seed all over him.
Mine.
“Very good.” He licked his lips. “Now let me finish you off.”
“Yes, sir…” I dreamily replied, lightheaded with bliss as Max swallowed me down once again.
It was another first to experience sex in this way—to have my needs put first, with no obvious benefit to the other party, although something told me he was also finding just as much pleasure in this as I was.
Before long, I was spilling down his throat—just as he’d requested—begging for more as I clawed at the bedding and forgot my own name.
True to his word, Max didn’t ask for anything more.
He simply wrangled my limp body into what he referred to as a “nightshirt” before wrapping me in the blankets and cuddling me from behind.
Another first…
“You were so good for me, pet,” he murmured in my ear as my eyelids grew heavy. “Such a perfect mate.”
Mate…?
I was much too exhausted to defiantly remind him of my independence, not least of all because I was so damn comfortable.
I’ll just give him hell for it tomorrow…
When tomorrow came—with rudely bright morning light streaming through the largest window I’d ever seen—the bed beside me was empty.
Just as I predicted.
Fortunately—for me and for Max—he’d left a handwritten note on my boots, explaining he had an early morning business meeting and wouldn’t be back until after sundown.
“Be prepared for more wooing,” the note continued, and I blushed, despite being by myself in an empty hotel room.
Ridiculous.
He signed off by adding I should, “feel free to utilize the bath down the hall, with no fear of high-maintenance women,” so I did exactly that before redressing and seeing myself out.
I paused outside the door to Max’s room, feeling an odd compulsion to walk toward the door at the end of the hall rather than the stairs. I shook the urge from my head and continued on my way, eager to sneak back into the House without anyone noticing.
Unfortunately, there was a dead body waiting for me when I arrived.