Chapter 1
GAVIN
Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Gavin took a deep breath, hoping to calm his nerves. He knew he was being dramatic. People went on first dates all the time, but this one, he had a feeling about.
The man sounded too good to be true. He was a plastic surgeon, had a large family, was an Aries, and was just two years out of a long-term relationship, so you know he no longer holds a torch for his ex.
Everything had to go perfectly.
This guy might be the one.
They were all the one whenever he went out on a first date.
That was the problem with hopeless romantics: They never have realistic expectations. Everything has to be bigger, more over-the-top, and beyond belief.
Hopeless romantics didn’t just settle for the mundane. They wanted excitement and surprise! Something that would make all others envious.
Reaching into his pocket, Gavin pulled out his phone and switched the camera view so he was able to record his reflection in the fancy restaurant lobby mirror.
This, here, was for his fans.
“Hey, everyone, Gavin here. Tonight, I wanted to give you all a one-of-a-kind exclusive into my first date with Mr. Surgeon. You’ll be the first to hear how my hot and steamy date went… fingers crossed.”
Gavin held up his crossed fingers and said a silent prayer up to the heavens. He really needed this date to go well. He was getting pretty lonely and was so fucking horny.
It had been ages since he dated anyone, and he was getting tired of the random hookups on sex apps. They all felt the same: an awkward hello, followed by fifteen minutes of desperate humping, then a hurried goodbye with no follow-up plans to meet up again.
He just wanted someone nice to talk to and some good, old, reliable dick.
Was that too much to ask for?
“Tonight, we will be dining at Restaurante Piccolo right here in beautiful Colorado. I’m just about to head in and meet my date for the first time in person! He sounds amazing in his profile, so let’s hope that this one isn’t a dud. Wish me luck!”
With that, Gavin ended the recording and posted it on his social media. That should get his followers talking.
Gavin took a breath and slid his phone back into his pocket. He took one last look at himself in the mirror and grimaced when he saw his hair. He pushed down that stubborn piece of hair that kept plaguing him. He looked like a goddamn cockatoo.
His hair sprang back up, but this time it was not as noticeable.
“Well, here goes nothing.” Gavin exhaled at his reflection. He turned and smiled at the hostess waiting behind her podium.
“Hi there, I’m meeting someone. The reservation is under Ashford. Robert Ashford.”
“Oh, your party is already here,” the woman graciously noted.
Of course he was. Gavin was running late, once again. Would he ever be on time for anything in his life?
Gavin gave the woman a weary smile as she offered to escort him to the table.
Soft brown eyes greeted Gavin when he arrived at the table, followed by a warm and inviting smile.
The man stood, happy to see him.
“Gavin? It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the man said, offering Gavin his hand and giving it a firm handshake when he accepted it.
“Wow, good-looking and has manners,” Gavin noted, releasing the man’s hand and taking a seat across from him. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Once again, couldn’t find anything good enough to wear.”
“That’s not true. You look amazing in what you’re wearing,” the man offered, smiling at him while making Gavin feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
Perhaps this was the one, after all.
“You really are a sweetheart,” Gavin admitted, forgetting that the server was still at their table, waiting to take their drink order.
Eyes locked together, they picked up their menus and began perusing.
The rest of the night flew by in a haze of laughter and heart-shaped eyes.
Gavin had never been on a date that flowed so well.
It was as if his date could read his mind.
They both enjoyed old romantic movies—anything with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.
They preferred summer but loved a good white Christmas.
And of course, they both loved puppies! Because, let’s face it, what kind of monster doesn’t love a good puppy?
“I still can’t believe we matched on a hookup app of all places,” Gavin remarked as he enjoyed the last of his chocolate dessert.
“And why is that so hard to believe?” Robert asked, leaning up on his elbows like Gavin was about to divulge some deep, dark secret.
“I don’t know. I just find that guys on those apps are only looking to fuck, and that’s it.”
“So why were you on there?” the brilliant doctor asked, eyes still locked on his.
Gavin stared at the man. He had a point.
“Well, like every other warm-blooded twenty-four-year-old, I get horny from time to time, and that night that we chatted, I was kind of… horny.”
Gavin could feel his cheeks blush. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed about sex or felt uncomfortable even talking about it. Quite the opposite. He loved sex. He loved dick and every damn inch of it.
He was just a little embarrassed at the moment because he was really fucking into this dude. Like head over heels, matching His and His towels.
“And what about now?” Robert asked, licking his bottom lip as his eyes lowered and fixed on Gavin’s mouth.
Gavin was now licking the last of the chocolate syrup off his spoon, intentionally trying to get a rise out of the gentleman sitting across from him.
Dr. Robert Ashford was in his late thirties, perhaps early forties, and exuded confidence like Gavin had never seen.
There was something to be said about a man being confident. It instantly made Gavin’s dick hard and his legs spread open. What could he say? He was a total bottom and loved it when a man took charge and made him his bitch.
“Now… what?” Gavin asked, teasing the man in front of him.
“Are you horny?”
Gavin’s cock twitched behind his zipper. It was as if it were waiting for permission to leap forward and present itself.
Sliding his hand across the table, Gavin brushed his fingers along Robert’s soft, perfectly manicured hands.
“I could go for a second dessert.”
Smirking, the doctor raised his hand. “How about I get us the check?”
Cocky, it seemed, was another quality that added to the raging, hard pipe that was Gavin’s dick.
Thirty minutes later, Gavin was in Robert’s townhouse, sitting on his sofa, watching as the man fixed him a drink.
“I have to say, tonight was just… perfect,” Gavin gushed as the doctor sat down next to him and passed him his drink.
“I couldn’t agree more. Here’s to a night you won’t soon forget.”
Gavin liked the sound of that.
They clinked their glasses together, then took a sip of their drinks.
Gavin was just about to lower his glass when Robert placed his fingers under it, encouraging him to drink more. It wasn’t until Gavin had finished all the red wine in his glass that the doctor finally lowered his hand.
“Want another?” Robert asked, flashing him those dazzling baby-blue eyes of his.
So much for savoring the delicious flavor.
Gavin got the feeling that those powerful eyes could make anyone do anything he wanted. Even have another drink at the sexy stud’s request.
Taking Gavin’s glass, the good doctor didn’t even wait for a response before heading to his minibar to freshen up their drinks.
What a gentleman.
The doctor freshened up their drinks, then took another seat beside him so they could continue their conversation.
Gavin couldn’t believe how easy their conversations flowed. It was as if they had known each other for years.
“Here, let me refill that for you,” he offered once again, taking his glass and walking over to the bar once more.
“Sure… I—” Gavin began before suddenly stopping.
Something wasn’t right. He was beginning to feel a bit strange.
He was suddenly starting to feel a bit weird.
“I’m going to make myself another. These things always make me so thirsty,” Robert noted without lifting his head.
His back was to Gavin as he began pouring himself a scotch.
The room around Gavin began to sway. He had been drunk before, many times, but this was something else entirely.
He was starting to feel drowsy and a tad bit woozy. What the fuck was going on here?
Gavin suddenly got a bad feeling in his gut.
Something was wrong.
Something just didn’t feel right.
Slowly, he reached for the arm of the sofa, hoping to get to his feet, but missed and fell to the floor instead.
“Tsk tsk,” he heard Robert say. “Looks like someone’s had a little bit too much to drink.”
This wasn’t a case of having too much to drink; this was a case of someone slipping something into his drink!
He’d been roofied before. Thankfully, he’d had friends around to take care of him and make sure that he got home safe.
But now?
Now he was alone… in the house of a stranger… with no one here to help him.
Panic began to set in.
He spotted his empty wine glass sitting on the bar next to where the handsome doctor stood.
Why would a doctor spike his drink?
Why do you think? To get into those pants and do whatever the fuck he wants to you, that inner voice inside his head said.
He hated that voice. It always reminded him of all the stupid, idiotic things he had done in his life. Like going home with a complete stranger!
More panic.
He was having trouble keeping his eyes open.
He needed to get out!
He needed to get out of this house before… before he lost consciousness and the devastatingly handsome doctor decided to… do… whatever it was… that he was about to do.
That thought alone scared him.
Using all the strength Gavin could muster, he reached for the coffee table and managed to get up onto one knee.
He wasn’t sure how long it had taken him, but by the time he managed to almost lift himself up, Robert Ashford was by his side.
“Gavin. Stop. You’re only going to hurt yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll take real good care of you. I promise. I’ll even leave you a heartfelt card when I’m all done with you.”
Gavin’s blood went cold.
Leave him a card?
Was he…?
“They don’t call me the Valentine Killer for nothing.”
Gavin’s heart stopped.
The Valentine Killer?
Strong, warm arms wrapped themselves around Gavin’s body.
His brain was so cloudy.
And… his body… Somehow, the doctor’s hold felt so comfy and inviting, like all the world’s troubles had magically disappeared and all that was left was this warm, fluffy pillow.
Gavin’s eyes got heavy as the man behind him gently began to caress his face. His touch was so soft… so caring.
Nothing bad could possibly happen with someone so… gentle.
All he wanted to do was sleep…
His body was getting so heavy…
No. Fight! Don’t give in to this monster’s embrace, that inner voice inside him screamed.
This was now a matter of life and death!
He’d read about the Valentine Killer and what he did to his victims.
Gavin had never imagined that he might one day be one of those victims.
No! He was not giving in without a fight!
Forcing his eyes open, he reached across the coffee table. Reaching… searching… for anything he could find.
Gavin grabbed the first object his fingers came in contact with.
It was cold and solid. Probably one of those pretentious marble sculptures the man had sitting all around his house. One of those “I have money, so I’ll spend it on fancy-ass crap that I don’t need but looks fancy on display in my expensive-as-fuck Colorado townhouse” objects.
Whatever it was, he didn’t care.
Wrapping his fingers tight around the object, he lifted it quickly and brought it down hard against the back of the doctor’s head.
He heard an umph and watched as Robert’s body dropped like an anvil.
Go! Now’s your chance! that inner voice inside him screamed. Run!
With legs unstable and the world around him looking like it was underwater, Gavin ran toward the door and fumbled with the lock.
He let out a whimper as he fought against the fog that threatened to take over his mind.
His heart was pounding in his chest as his vision became blurry.
He struggled and fumbled with the lock, desperately trying to figure out how to unlock the damn door so he could escape before his body betrayed him and he passed out on the floor.
He needed to escape!
Finally, he heard a click. He had somehow managed to unlock the door.
He yanked it open and stumbled outside.
He wasn’t sure what happened after that.
There were lights and sounds and people cursing at him.
He ran toward something large and solid. It had big flashing lights and looked so beautiful.
All he knew was that he needed to get to that peaceful object. If he could manage that, then he would be safe and happy.
If only…
The sound of loud screeching made Gavin jump, just seconds before he felt something big and solid crash into his body.
He felt the wind across his skin before he landed on the cold, hard pavement below.
More screaming… and pounding.
Then…
The world around him suddenly went black.