Aaron forced himself to stay in place, facing away from the bedroom door. He didn’t need to worry—Jay was the only one who would have gotten past the doorman, and a serial killer probably wouldn’t lock themselves inside. Would they? He tried to keep calm, smoothing the wrinkles in the comforter and waiting, but he was already hard and aching for Jay’s touch.

  The air behind him shifted, a silent movement brushing up against his skin. “Don’t move,” Jay whispered in his ear moments before something cold and metal pressed against Aaron’s neck

  A knife.

  Aaron’s cock twitched in his boxers, the loose fabric tenting obscenely. Jay’s ragged breaths stirred the hairs at the back of his neck—proof that Jay was equally affected.

  “Stay still.” Jay teased the blade back and forth, traveling between Aaron’s pulse point and collarbone. It was dull, as they’d discussed, but the sensation of the dangerous metal was overwhelming his senses. Jay’s familiar scent—that intoxicating blend of sweet and spicy—filled his lungs. Everything else faded into the background.

  Aaron held his breath as Jay roughly forced his arms behind his back, then unsnapped one cuff and dropped it on the bed. Before the question could leave Aaron’s lips, the feel of soft leather was replaced with prickly fibers as Jay secured Aaron’s wrists with coarse rope.

  Oh. Jay had found a way for him to enjoy the pain and discomfort of the restraint while leaving one cuff as a quiet reminder that Aaron was still in control. It was a subtle, lovely gesture that showed just how well Jay understood him.

  While Aaron swooned, Jay wrapped a piece of fabric around his face and paused.

  “Color?” Jay asked quietly.

  “Green all the way,” Aaron responded in a whisper.

  Jay gagged him, digging the fabric into his open mouth and knotting it tightly. Aaron tested it out by trying to talk, satisfied with the muffled sounds that escaped.

  “Three quick, sharp sounds for red.” Jay trailed his hand up and down Aaron’s throat. He wasn’t applying pressure, not yet, but the threat was there. “Show me.”

  “Mm. Mm. Mm.”

  “Good boy. Now, don’t move.” Jay’s voice was back to its lower pitch. Aaron’s heartbeat thundered through him as a series of metallic snips were followed by Jay ripping through his tank top and boxers, letting the pieces fall to the floor, leaving Aaron completely bare in seconds. How did Jay do that? The question evaporated immediately, lost in the fog of lust.

  “So good for me,” Jay growled and wrapped a hand in Aaron’s hair to pull his head to the side and expose his neck. Moments later, the cool metal was back, the blunt point scratching across his Adam’s apple. He shuddered with desire and swayed on his feet.

  “You’re gonna stand here and take it while I do anything I want to you,” Jay hissed into Aaron’s ear. The cool steel glided down, making Aaron’s heated flesh crawl with goosebumps. Jay increased the pressure, massaging Aaron’s pecs with the tip of the blade, and Aaron moaned, his balls drawing tight against his body. He was glad he’d been brave enough to share this fantasy with Jay. Already, it was the hottest experience of his life, and they were nowhere near done.

  “Your body is mine.” Jay bit Aaron’s neck and sucked on the skin. “I can do anything I want to you, and you can’t scream. Can’t fight back.” He circled Aaron’s nipple with the blade, increasing the pressure until it was almost unbearable—a delicious, exquisite torture. Aaron was trapped, entirely under Jay’s control. He whimpered and pulled against the rope until it hurt, welcoming the pain.

  “Struggle all you want.” Jay licked the shell of his ear. “We both know I’ll get my way.”

  Aaron’s entire being was concentrated on the cool edge of the metal as it traveled south, scraping along his abdomen and following his happy trail until it stopped at the base of his cock. The sense of danger intensified, colliding with another wave of lust.

  Unable to contain himself, Aaron let out a shout, muffled by the gag. Jay chuckled in response, slowly trailing the blunt metal tip down Aaron’s shaft until he reached the slit.

  A strangled noise escaped Aaron’s throat, his weight sagging into Jay’s warmth. He was a captive to Jay’s barely restrained desire, helpless against the feral frenzy inside. He wanted Jay to unleash it, wanted to succumb to Jay’s power, to lose himself in the pleasure of the pain.

  The flat of the blade, slick with Aaron’s precome, slid up and down his shaft. A few more passes, and Aaron would come. Just from this. From the metal caressing him. From Jay’s erection digging into his hip. From the wet cotton stuffing his mouth. From the vague sense of danger filling his lungs and drowning him in desire.

  “You’re so desperate,” Jay moaned in his ear. “I don’t even need the knife, do I? You’re gagging for it.”

  The crisp snap of folding steel echoed around them, and then Jay’s fingers were digging into Aaron’s bicep and dragging him to the nearest wall. Aaron’s cheek pressed against the cool surface as he fought to stay upright. The sound of a zipper opening behind him sent a shower of sparks down his spine, and a moment later, Jay’s hard cock rubbed up and down his crease, its lubed tip nudging against his entrance. Without hesitation, Jay slammed himself into Aaron in one powerful thrust.

  Despite being prepped, Aaron felt like he was being split in two. He let out a pained wail and squeezed his muscles around Jay. More—he needed more of Jay, lodged deep inside him, filling him to the brim.

  “So hot and tight. Fuck. I knew you’d feel like heaven.”

  Jay didn’t give Aaron more than a few seconds to adjust before setting a brutal rhythm, snapping his hips and withdrawing fully only to fill him again with every violent jolt.

  Burning gave way to pleasure, and Aaron started moving along with Jay, rocking into him, trying to take him deeper. He couldn’t last much longer. Every thrust rubbed his cock against the textured wallpaper, rough friction bringing tears to his eyes, familiar heat building up around the edges and threatening to take him over. He was seconds away from erupting when Jay stepped back. Aaron’s hole clenched around the sudden emptiness, a pathetic whimper spilling around his gag.

  “You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you? A strange man shows up in your bedroom, and you’re too happy to spread your legs and bend over for him. You don’t even care who it is, do you? You’re just desperate for a hard fuck.”

  Each obscene word made Aaron quiver with need. Jay was tapping into a part of him that had stayed hidden for decades, somehow knowing all the perfect things to say.

  “Show me how much you want it. Go,” Jay growled and pulled Aaron by the hair, shoving him toward the bed. Aaron moved in a daze, the burn of the earlier intrusion making itself known with every step. He reached the bed and stopped, waiting for the next instruction. A brief pause, the soft snip of scissors cutting through rope, and his wrists were free.

  “On the bed, ass in the air.”

  Aaron climbed onto the mattress and spread his legs, trembling on the edge of release. He knew he made an obscene picture—his abused hole in full view, his hard cock jutting out and dripping onto the comforter.

  Warm hands circled his waist, a hint of warning before Jay drove into him once again.

  “You thought you could rub yourself off on the wall and I wouldn’t notice.” Jay punctuated every word with a thrust. “You’re mine. Every part of you is mine. I get to take pleasure from you, and you get nothing but my come dripping out of your hole.”

  Aaron arched his back and swallowed another moan. The filth pouring out of Jay’s mouth was winding him up beyond what he thought possible. He lingered on the brink, blocking out everything but the rhythmic thuds of Jay’s cock slamming into him, grazing his prostate with every move. Jay’s labored panting was music to his ears. They were both close.

  This was the best sex of his life. The most intense experience he’d ever shared with anyone. Jay didn’t just follow his script—he understood Aaron, knew what he needed, gave Aaron a piece of himself in return for Aaron’s submission. They were perfectly in sync within the scene, just as they’d been the entire time they’d known each other.

  There was a shift of energy in the air as Aaron tugged the gag out of his mouth, struggling to balance on one hand and falling forward with Jay’s next shove just as his mouth was freed.

  “Jay,” Aaron moaned and rocked back. As much as he enjoyed being restrained and gagged, he’d gotten everything he wanted out of his fantasy. Now, all he wanted was to come with Jay’s name on his lips.

  Jay groaned in response and increased his speed, driving Aaron mindless with the pleasure ricocheting through every nerve ending. The exertion left both of them glistening with sweat. Heat built up in Aaron’s stomach, each second bringing him closer to the explosion. He clamped his muscles around Jay’s cock, satisfied to hear a loud moan. Craning his neck to look into Jay’s eyes, he saw nothing but naked desire.

  “Aaron. Fuck. I’m so close.” Jay lifted Aaron’s legs in the air, as if he weighed nothing. The new angle had him hitting Aaron’s prostate straight on, ripping a wail out of Aaron’s chest.

  “You’re mine,” Jay gritted out as his movements stuttered. “Say you’re mine.”

  “Fuck, Jay, I’m yours. All yours.” Aaron squeezed his eyes shut and let ecstasy overtake him. His vision went white with the intensity of his release, but he could still feel Jay throbbing inside him, filling him, marking him.

  They collapsed on the bed, side by side, trembling as they came down from their peaks, slowly letting the real world filter in. After a few minutes, Jay carefully arranged him onto a pillow, then pulled the comforter over them—a gesture so tender, Aaron’s throat tightened with emotion.

  Aaron wanted to tell him. He wanted to tell Jay he loved him and hear Jay say it back. He wanted to ask him to stay. But Jay wouldn’t listen, not right now. He would assume that Aaron was foggy from subspace and incapable of telling what was real.

  Words wouldn’t accomplish anything right now.

  But maybe actions would.

  Jay lay on his back, eyes closed, as Aaron crept closer, inching forward until Jay could feel the hot breath on his cheek. His lashes fluttered open, revealing the bottomless darkness that threatened to consume Aaron, paralyzing him with indecision. Operating on sheer will, he dipped closer, their lips barely brushing, and paused to see what Jay would do.

  Jay went still. Every one of his muscles tensed, and he murmured softly, “Aaron?”

  “Jay,” Aaron breathed out before closing the gap and slotting their lips together.

  For a heartbeat, Jay was frozen, and a tendril of doubt crawled into Aaron. Then Jay moved, tentative at first, like he wasn’t sure what to do. His mouth parted, and his hand slid up Aaron’s side, fingers curling gently at his neck. He kissed back, slow and careful, a featherlight touch that spoke volumes of his uncertainty.

  Aaron was about to pull back when Jay made a quiet, needy sound.

  That was all it took. They pressed closer, turning the gentle connection into an inferno—sliding their tongues together, breathing each other’s air, alternating aggressive nipping with soothing licks. Aaron was finally letting loose, giving into the feelings he’d been holding back, violently plundering Jay’s mouth while melding their bodies together.

  The floodgates had been opened, and he couldn’t get enough. Jay’s flavor was just what Aaron expected—sweet with hints of spices and mint, better than any dessert.

  Aaron had never tasted anything so addicting.

  Chapter 33

  JAY

  Distant clanking dragged Jay into consciousness. He stretched without opening his eyes, pleasant soreness spreading across his body as he basked in the afterglow.

  The memories of their explosive scene and what happened afterward rushed through his mind, sending his heartbeat racing. It had been the most intense sex of his life—rough and feral—but then something changed. Aaron went off script and tugged the bandana out of his mouth to moan Jay’s name. The mood had shifted. Their carefully negotiated encounter had morphed into raw passion, and instead of standard filthy talk, Jay’s words were primal. Possessive. He’d wanted to own Aaron—body and soul. To give him pleasure. To take care of him.

  Then Aaron kissed him, and the last shreds of Jay’s control vanished, swept away in a torrent of love and bewilderment. All thoughts dissolved as the two of them melted into each other, sharing breath and kissing for what felt like hours, until exhaustion claimed him.

  He opened his eyes, disoriented, wondering if he’d passed out during sex and everything else had been a dream.

  The sheets on Aaron’s side were slightly warm to the touch, the faint aroma of oranges lingering in the air. Jay tugged Aaron’s pillow closer, burying his face in the familiar scent.

  He was on the verge of falling back asleep when the door creaked open.

  “You look good in my bed.”

  “I feel good in your bed,” Jay responded without lifting his head. “This mattress is incredible.”

  “I’m glad you approve, because you’ll be spending plenty of time on it.” Aaron’s playful voice drifted closer, accompanied by measured footsteps and the light clink of dishes. “I made something to eat.”

  The salty, greasy aroma of hash browns hit him moments before the mattress dipped, and Aaron placed the tray between them. Next to the plates of eggs, potatoes, and pancakes was a small ramekin of maple syrup, a saltshaker, and a cup of tea. Each item in the neat arrangement reflected Aaron’s adorably organized nature.

  “I haven’t gone grocery shopping in a while, so we’re doing breakfast for dinner. Hope you don’t mind.” Aaron climbed under the blanket next to him, grabbed his plate, and dunked a pancake into the syrup before taking a big bite.

  “This is perfect,” Jay murmured. A tender, vulnerable feeling throbbed in his chest. He’d never had a partner pamper him like this, never had someone cook for him or bring him dinner in bed. It was a role he thought was his to play, never even considering that he might find himself on the other side.

  Aaron made it look effortless, like taking care of Jay was second nature.

  “This is the nicest breakfast in bed I’ve ever seen. Sure beats the mess that Jasmine and I tried to feed our mom on Mother’s Day every year.”

  Aaron chuckled and leaned over to brush his lips against Jay’s shoulder. “I’m glad you like it. By the way, that’s decaf tea. I read that caffeine could be a migraine trigger, and I didn’t want to risk it.”

  Jay stared at the cup. Fuck, he was head over heels for this man. How could he not be? Aaron talked about researching migraines so casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world—as if Jay’s safety was his priority.

  For the first time in his adult life, Jay could relax and let himself float with the current, secure that Aaron would be there to watch over him.

  “If you don’t want tea, I have apple juice and wine. Well, wine isn’t great for migraines either. Oh, and water. I always forget about water.” Aaron kept going when Jay didn’t respond. “I can run downstairs to the corner store if you want something else?”

  Jay tore his gaze away from the cup and looked at Aaron, impossibly handsome even with his messy hair and wearing dinosaur sweatpants instead of his signature suit. His face radiated concern, his body tense, ready to jump up and hurry downstairs should Jay decide he wanted something.

  “I’ve never met anyone like you, Aaron. I’m so fucking lucky you didn’t give me a fake smile and tell me to fuck off that first night we met.” Jay cupped Aaron’s face, careful not to jostle the tray between them. “I want to take you out on a date and kiss you at the end of the night. And then I want to do it again the next day, the next week—as often as you’ll let me.”

  “I want that too,” Aaron whispered.

  They moved toward each other at the same time, their lips pressing together softly. The earlier wild frenzy was replaced with a cozy feeling of belonging, and Jay reveled in the sweetness of Aaron’s lips, enjoying the soft, unhurried kisses that felt like the beginning of something wonderful. After a few minutes, Aaron placed a final peck on his cheek and straightened.

  “Eat your food before it gets too cold.” Aaron pointed to Jay’s plate before digging into his own. Jay obeyed without complaint.

  They ate slowly, their bodies in constant contact, shoulders pressed together, never pulling away.

  After they finished, Aaron took the dishes back to the kitchen while Jay lounged on the bed.

  “We should take a shower before we go back to sleep,” Aaron said when he returned. “You’re staying, right?”

  Jay’s heart fluttered with nervous excitement. They’d already spent one night together, but this time would be on purpose. After they’d agreed to date.

  Their first night together as boyfriends.

  “I want to stay,” he whispered, staring into Aaron’s eyes to catch the moment they lit up with satisfaction. “But I have to get up early to go over to Layla’s and help set up.”

  “Oh, is she doing something for the Fourth of July?”

  “Family and friends barbecue.”

  It hit Jay that he hadn’t asked Aaron what he was doing for the holiday. If he had anywhere to go. Aaron was new to the city and constantly working, so it was unlikely that he had plans. “Do you want to come with me?”

  “Meeting the family already? You move fast.”

  Jay laughed and tugged Aaron closer. “I have to warn you, my sisters will be insufferable once they find out I finally asked you out.”

  “I think I can deal with that. But isn’t it rude to just show up uninvited?”

  “Nah. They make more food than we can eat, and people drop by all the time.” Jay ran his fingers through Aaron’s silky hair and pressed his lips to his forehead. “I’d love for you to come and meet everyone.”

  “I’d like that.” Aaron sighed and leaned in. “I didn’t make any plans. Kind of assumed I’d be called into the office, but they’ve been quiet all weekend.”