Chapter 5

The mansion was just as insanely huge as I expected, but I couldn’t make out much of it in the dark. Luther pulled up in front of a large, dark wood door at the far end of the right wing of the massive, light grey stone building and got out, opening the back door of his SUV for me before I could regain my senses enough to move. I swallowed hard as he reached out and offered me his hand.

What am I doing here? What if they’re both serial killers and this is where I die?

With all the landscape, the tall trees and hills surrounding us, it was easy to imagine bodies hidden away out there. Bodies of stupid guys like me who’d tried to mess with Xavier-fucking-Ashburne.

But Luther, tough as he was, didn’t seem like the depraved-murderer-type. Sure, he’d probably take someone out if he thought Xavier was in danger, that was his job. But looking into his warm brown eyes, patient even as I kept him waiting, I wasn’t afraid. Not really. Nervous? Damn right I was. I had no idea what they planned to do with me.

Whatever it was, I’d live through it.

I took his hand.

“Very good.” Luther’s lips slanted as he pulled me to his side, then placed his hand on the small of my back to lead me to the door. “But don’t expect me to put up with you keeping me waiting very often. Once you learn to trust me, that is.”

“Will I?” I bit into my cheek, cursing myself for voicing the question out loud. Telling the guy who’d saved me from prison that I didn’t trust him was stupid.

He didn’t seem to mind. Opening door, he motioned me forward. “When I’ve earned it? Yes. And don’t be afraid to speak your mind, Alec. Not with me. I can’t train you if I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

“Train me?”

“I took on the job when I brought you to Xavier.” Luther flicked on the lights in the small kitchen and went directly to the fridge. “This is my kitchen, by the way. Since you’ll be staying in my wing, you may use it whenever you want. But please leave a note on the fridge if you finish anything. Would you like a beer?”

“I’m not old enough to drink.”

“But you’re old enough to serve in the military or be tried as an adult.” Luther arched a brow as he pulled out a beer, standing in the door of the fridge, and regarding me with interest. “If you don’t drink, that’s fine. But you may do so here within reason.”

I hadn’t had a beer since I was sixteen. At a friend’s house, celebrating his birthday. Just a few months before I’d left home. It had been nice. We didn’t get stupid drunk, just buzzed and relaxed.

A feeling which would be more than welcome right now.

“Yes, please.” I looked around the kitchen, sleek with stainless steel and gleaming white accents. Never in my life had I been somewhere so expensive looking and clean. Even when my parents had been alive things were always grungy, half the appliances barely functioning, only one lightbulb working if there were any at all sticking out of the one outlet in the ceiling.

This room had so many inlaid lights not a single corner was dark. Which was somehow…comforting. Even in the middle of the night, I was somewhere bright. There were no sounds of trashcans being kicked. People screaming. Sirens blaring.

Just the soft sound of the wind outside. Luther’s steady steps and he came to join me at the kitchen island, pulling out a stool and motioning for me to sit in the other as he set down both our beers.

“Alec, I don’t want you under the impression that this will be easy. Now that you’ve signed the agreement, I will give you one chance to back out. Only one. After this, there will be negotiations, but I won’t let you go so easily.” Luther motioned for me to drink, took a gulp from his own beer, then continued. “The job itself will be easy. Filing paperwork, typing out Xavier’s notes, taking phone calls. You can do that.”

“But he wants more from me?”

“You have an idea of what he wants. What we both want.” Luther licked a drop of beer off his bottom lip, giving me a hooded look that sent a shiver down my spine, sweet and cool and speeding up my pulse. “What I saw in you wasn’t for him alone.”

I wasn’t sure if that should scare me. Xavier seemed to be the one with all the power, but there was something in Luther…a presence I couldn’t define. With that last look, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak.

He watched me. Waited as I finished my beer. Kept waiting until I couldn’t stand the silence anymore.

“What do you want from me?”

“Everything.” Luther finished off his beer. Set it aside. “I want to see that beautiful body exposed. I want to have you kneeling at my feet. I want to reach that moment when I tell you to come and you don’t hesitate.” Pushing off his stool, Luther went back to the fridge, grinning when I nodded at his offer for another beer. “You won’t ever have to guess with me, Alec. I don’t play those kinds of games.”

“So…” I accepted the beer. Gulped it down. Would he let me get drunk before I had to answer?

His steady look told me no.

I chose my words carefully. “So I won’t just be answering phone calls.”

“No.”

“He wants to fuck me.”

Luther spat out a laugh. “Not yet. You’re too innocent.”

“So he want you to…” This was harder. I saw Luther as larger than life, strong and…and my hero. How else could I see him? I’d be talking to cops right now if not for him. I lowered my gaze and took a deep breath. “You have to get me ready for him?”

“Yes and no.” Luther cocked his head, studying me for a moment. “You’ll always have a choice. I’m not asking you to whore yourself out for the things we’ll give you. Being Xavier’s secretary won’t be easy and you’ll more than earn your keep. You’ll be paid a salary as well, like every other employee.” He paused to take another gulp of beer. “We chose you for this specific task because, not only are you appealing, you have more reason than anyone to keep his secrets.”

“And what secrets are those?”

“He’ll let you know himself when he’s ready. The trust needs to be mutual.”

“Fair enough.” I hadn’t expected Luther to be so forthcoming with me, but I was grateful for it. Even though I still wasn’t sure I got how this was gonna work. “So I’ll be his secretary, and if I’m into it, his…boy toy? And yours?”

Luther let out a startled laugh. “‘Boy toy’? I wouldn’t put it quite that way.” His tone took on a deep, dark edge as he leaned in. He took my half full beer and set it aside, leaving nothing between us. “But if you’re willing, we will play with you.”

Blood pulsed down to my dick and I swallowed hard against a spill of lust I couldn’t ignore. There was a reason Luther didn’t sound concerned that I wouldn’t be willing. He wasn’t even trying to seduce me yet and I was ready to say yes to whatever he wanted. If he actually turned on the heat?

I was a goner. And I wasn’t even upset about it.

But I still had questions. Or more…one. I licked my lips. “Together?”

“At times. We enjoy sharing. Xavier has terrible taste in men—he’s been burned in the past, so now he trusts me to find lovers who might enjoy our lifestyle.” Luther’s tone had returned to the conversational one he’d used earlier, which made it easier to breathe. He shot me a knowing smile. “Don’t look so nervous. This won’t happen overnight. And not until you’re ready.”

“What if I never am?” My dick throbbed as though protesting my words, but I had to know he meant it about me having a choice.

Standing, Luther held out his hand, much like he had at the car. When I placed mine in his, he pulled me to my feet. Close to him, but not so close that my personal space felt invaded. Still holding my hand, he met my eyes.

“I will do everything in my power to tempt you, Alec. Not with money, or safety. When you submit to me for the first time you will come to me. You will tell me what you’re ready for.” There was a soft, lulling edge to his voice, one that had me wanting to stay right where I was, feeling his hand around mine, his thumb stroking my knuckles in a way that was much more erotic that it should have been.

His lips curved and I couldn’t help staring at them, wondering what they’d feel like on mine. Damn it, no one had ever been this gentle with me. This patient. Maybe that was why his touch felt so good. I was starved for any contact that didn’t end with pain.

“So fucking desperate for it, aren’t you?” Luther shook his head and sighed. “I could have you tonight, but it’s much too soon. Make me work for it a little, pup.”

“You’re making it very hard.” Heat covered the back of my neck and I pressed my eyes shut. I hadn’t meant to sound like I was talking about my dick, but I kinda was. He was right, it was too soon, but after everything he’d said, I didn’t want to walk away without a taste of what he was teasing me with.

A big, strong, incredibly sexy guy telling me he wanted me was almost as much of a dream come true as having a full stomach and a roof over my head. Sure, in my fantasy the guy wouldn’t be sharing me with his boss. And the romantic side of me—the one I’d never given too much attention—imagined dates and sweet words and falling in love.

But I hadn’t been holding on to my virginity until I found ‘The One’. I just hadn’t had any good opportunities.

This one was pretty damn good.

“You’re as precious as I knew you’d be.” Luther let out a soft laugh. “Look at me, Alec.”

I opened my eyes. He hadn’t moved any closer, but I could tell he wanted to.

The lust in his eyes gave me such a rush the room seemed to be swaying a little, like I’d stood up too fast and the ground was unsteady.

“I won’t fuck you tonight. But I will give you one thing.” His lips curved slightly. “Just ask.”

Shifting closer to him, I inhaled slowly. “I want you to touch me. To kiss me. And it’s fucking weird, but—”

He pulled me against him, bringing his lips to mine and smiling. “That’s two things.”

Before I could respond, his lips covered mine, the heat of them consuming me whole. I didn’t have a second to wonder if I was a good kisser, he guided me effortlessly, teasing the seam of my lips with his tongue, his hand in my hair tilting my head as my lips parted and he claimed my mouth. There was a sweetness as his tongue touched mine, then grazed a sensitive spot behind my teeth before drawing out, using the pressure of his lips to massage mine in a sensual way that had my whole body moving, as though I could feel him everywhere.

And I could. Every nerve lit up as the hardness of his body sent shivers of pleasure to the base of my spine. My dick was so hard, painfully confined pressed tight against my jeans, but the ache of it grinding his through the material was the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced.

His free hand slipped under my shirt at the base of my spine, his fingers stroking lightly, just above the waist of my jeans. I let out a rough, desperate sound and lowered my head to his chest. Holding still so he wouldn’t stop. Too fucking turned on to manage getting any air into my lungs.

“Soon.” He nudged my head with his chin and brought his lips to my throat. “Very soon.”

He held me for a moment, kissing my neck gently before easing me away from him.

I whispered an incoherent protest, but he shook his head.

“Let me show you to your room. There’s a shower. Use it and then get some sleep.” He caught my elbow when I stumbled, his eyes warm, no laughter in them, though I’d expected there to be. Just the same patience he’d shown all night. “If you’re still feeling this way tomorrow…”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I stared up at him.

“I’ll let you ask two things of me.” He brought me to his side and whispered in my ear. “And ask for one in return.”