Page 102 of Broken Obsession

“I’m not going to run.”

“I know.”

“You took care of Zonnie’s body. Daven Dephik doesn’t even know his son is dead. No one is coming after me, so it’s not like I’m in danger and need your protection twenty-four-seven.”

“Do you know what I used to think about Ransom?” Ares took the mostly empty water bottle from Eden’s hand and set it on the kitchen counter. “I wished I could keep him always. That we could be together all the time. That either I could step into his reality, or I could bring him into mine.”

“I’m not—” Eden gasped when Ares captured him by the nape and hauled him in for an aggressive, claiming kiss. He felt his bottom lip between the Black Hart’s teeth and grunted in discomfort when his skin was broken. The rich coppery flavor of blood was driven into his mouth by Ares’ tongue, and when Eden tried to shove him back, the other man clung harder.

Ares backed him up until he hit the back of the couch, and then he rolled his hips, rubbing their hard-ons together in a somewhat mocking gesture, as though he were trying to prove a point.

“I’m tired of watching you from a screen,” the Black Hart growled.

What the hell did that mean?

“Sedos is dead. You got your revenge, Paradise. Now it’s time for my reward.” He stepped back so suddenly, Eden had to grab onto the couch to remain upright. “Strip.”

He struggled to control his breathing, but the hesitation annoyed Ares.

“Strip,” he repeated sternly. “If that porcelain skin of yours isn’t on full display by the time I return, there will be hell to pay.”

“Lucifer.” Eden didn’t even know what he was trying to ask for.

“That’s right,” Ares grinned. “I’m playing the role you assigned to me. Right now, I’m your fallen angel. Be good. If you are, maybe I’ll opt to show you what heaven is really like.”

“And,” he just couldn’t help himself, “if I’m bad?”

“Misbehave,” Ares left the kitchen, “and I’ll tie you to a chair in the corner and make you watch as I have fun without you.”

He was threatening not to let him come.

Eden had had more than enough of that struggle on his own this week.

He flipped Ares the bird as soon as the Black Hart disappeared into a bedroom, then quickly started peeling off his clothing.

* * *

Ares had him blindfolded, kneeling in front of the fireplace. His wrists were bound at his lower back with leather cuffs, and a spreader bar attached to his ankles kept him from closing his legs.

“Do you prefer the Vanity intro or outro song?” Ares asked cryptically, and Eden tipped his head in the direction of the sounds he was making as he sorted through the rest of the items he’d brought from the room.

“Why?”

“Be good.”

“Intro,” he huffed.

“Me too.” Ares laughed when Eden jumped a little when something stiff tweaked his nipple. “Remember my headphones?”

“The ones with the cat ears?” Black and red and sexy as fuck. Of course he remembered them. It made no sense for those to look so hot on a grown man, and yet they added a dash of playfulness to Ares’ otherwise dangerous persona.

“I got you a pair. I’m going to put them on, and then I’m going to slip a ball gag into your mouth.”

Eden was already annoyed he’d been blindfolded, now he wanted to take away his ability to hear him as well? “No.”

In response, Ares flicked the tip of Eden’s erect dick, chuckling again when that earned him a hiss. “I can leave you here, go to the couch, and take care of things on my own, if you’d rather. Trussed up the way you are, you wouldn’t have a hope of finding release. Or you can listen to me like a good boy and tell me to take control of your senses.”

He weighed his options, a growl rumbling up his chest when he realized neither of them was favorable toward him.