Page 52 of Broken Obsession

“Oh.” A knowing smirk twisted the Black Hart’s perfect mouth. “That’s what it is. If you’re horny, babe, just say so. I’m not a mind reader, and I can’t exactly see what’s going on between your thighs with the table in the way.”

Eden growled. “I asked if you were going to fuck me or not!”

“You asked if that was why I was here, actually,” he corrected.

“You said—”

“Tonight you’re mine,” Ares cut him off. “I didn’t forget. That just doesn’t mean what you’re thinking. I wasn’t only talking about sex, Eden. I wanted you to shower. You showered. Now I want you to drink your tea.”

Eden licked his lips. “And after?”

He chuckled. “Aren’t you an eager little companion. Don’t worry, babe. You’ll get what you want soon enough. Before the night is through, I’ll have you split on my cock, screaming my name loud enough to wake the neighbors.” Ares set his elbows on the edge of the table and leaned in closer. “By the time the sun rises, you’ll be begging me to stop pounding you and let you get some rest, and, Starling? I’m not going to.”

“What?” His heart leapt. Was that a threat or a promise?

“Our plane leaves tomorrow afternoon. My plan is for you to sleep most, if not all, of the flight. Bonus points if you’re already unconscious when we arrive and I have to carry you onboard.”

Chapter 11:

“Are you, like, verbally edging me right now?” Eden didn’t seem fond of the concept, and Ares couldn’t help but laugh.

His Starling really must have lived a sheltered life. Ares felt he’d been pretty clear about his intentions, but perhaps not, since all Eden seemed capable of thinking about was getting laid.

“You keep saying really sexually aggressive shit and following it up with…nothing. I can’t tell if you’re messing with me,” Eden admitted, and it was obvious it was a struggle for him to do so, that he was setting aside his pride. “What do you really want, Lucifer? Investing in the company I can understand. You’re a bored rich kid with too much time on your hands and happen to be a fan of the game. Okay. Fine. I can even sort of see why you flirted with me, considering your attraction to Ransom. But the rest?”

“Just say what you need to say, babe,” he told him. “No need to hold back.” He’d never punish him for having a mind of his own or for wanting to voice his thoughts. In fact, Ares welcomed it.

Hewantedto be let into Eden’s private world.

He wanted all of it. Every scrap. Wanted the Starling fully consumed by him, so Ares took up every waking thoughtand passionate dream in his head. The key to getting close to someone wasn’t by threats or throwing your weight around; it was in those quiet moments. The easy ones. The contemplative ones.

If he wanted Eden, first he had to make the other man feel safe. Had to make him feel like Ares was a person he could lean on, confide in, and trust.

Trust was worth more than coin or gold. Trust bred loyalty, and wars had been waged on that alone for thousands, if not millions, of years.

Trust could also be manipulated, and Ares wasn’t above working every angle to get what he pleased.

“Why are you willing to help me?” Eden asked.

“I’m not helping you. I’m helping myself. This is a transaction. You recognize that.”

“I thought I did,” he agreed. “Murder means nothing to you, and with the type of connections you have, you can easily find out the information I need and get away with enacting revenge on my behalf. I thought what you wanted in return for that was my body.”

“You thought I wanted to fulfill some sick fantasy of fucking Ransom.”

“…Is that not it?”

Ares grunted. “Aren’t you the one who spent a week trying to convince me you aren’t him?”

“If I was,” he hesitated, swallowed, “would you want to fuck me?”

“I do want to. I will. I already told you I would. It’s not my fault you’re impatient.”

Eden scowled and dropped his gaze, chugging half his tea. If it burned again, he didn’t show it, so Ares didn’t bother worrying or giving him a reaction. “This isn’t how this usually goes, that’s all.”

“This?”

“When I sign a contract or have a verbal agreement,” he explained. “We’ll set a date and have at it. There’s none of this,” he motioned at the table, “sitting around playing house, or whatever the hell this is. It’s an exchange. Business. You don’t need to care for me, you just need to uphold your end of the deal and let me uphold mine. I haven’t agreed to sign over my life to you yet. This was for one night. So, fuck me and leave, so I can finish packing and be ready to go tomorrow.”