Page 52 of Chained By Fate (Dark Billionaires: Vegas #1)

Twenty-One

MATT

M orning light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow across the luxurious penthouse bedroom.

Matt woke with a grin stretching across his face, feeling delight bloom in his chest. He turned to see Andy, still asleep beside him, a picture of disheveled beauty and utter exhaustion.

Last night replayed in his mind like a cherished memory.

The way Andy had looked, bound and begging, completely at Matt’s mercy, had been a sight to behold.

The sheer desperation in Andy’s voice, the way his body had writhed and arched in ecstasy—it stirred something primal within Matt.

His blood ran hot just thinking about it.

Unable to resist, Matt leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Andy’s forehead.

He savored the feel of Andy’s skin against his lips, warm and slightly flushed.

But like a man dying of thirst suddenly given water, one taste wasn’t enough.

His lips trailed down, peppering Andy’s cheeks with featherlight kisses before claiming his mouth in a gentle caress.

Still not satisfied, Matt’s mouth wandered lower, tongue tracing the constellation of love bites he’d left on Andy’s skin.

Each mark was a reminder of their passion, a badge of possession that made Matt’s heart race.

He was utterly obsessed, captivated by every inch of this bewitching creature.

He wanted to map every dip, every curve, with his lips, his tongue, his hands.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ve got it bad.”

Andy groaned, turning away from Matt’s attention like a grumpy cat avoiding the morning sun. Matt chuckled, recognizing the universal sign for five more minutes . As much as he wanted to continue his exploration of Andy’s body, he knew the kid needed his beauty sleep.

Reluctantly, Matt peeled himself away from the tantalizing sight and slipped out of bed. He dressed in his gym gear, stealing one last, lingering glance at Andy’s slumbering form before forcing himself to leave the penthouse suite.

The private gym was a sanctuary of polished chrome and pristine mirrors, the hum of high-tech equipment filling the air.

Matt’s muscles burned deliciously as he powered through his morning routine.

Beads of sweat trickled down his chest, glistening like diamonds across the ridges of his abdomen.

With each punishing rep, each earth-shaking impact of his feet against the treadmill, he purged the lingering tension from his body.

The steady thump of the bass blasting through his headphones fueled his relentless pace. Matt fed off the pulsing rhythm, pushing himself harder, faster. He was a man possessed, driven by a primal hunger that could never be fully sated—not by mere exercise, at least.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips as flashes of last night’s debauchery danced through his mind. Andy’s flushed cheeks, his kiss-swollen lips parted in ecstasy… Matt could still taste the saltiness of his skin, still feel the trembling heat of Andy’s body writhing beneath his own.

He increased his speed, muscles straining against the resistance. Sweat poured freely now, drenching his tank and plastering his hair to his forehead. Just as the burning in his lungs became too intense to ignore, the doors to the private gym swung open.

“Boss.” Eddie’s gruff voice cut through the thundering bassline in Matt’s ears. “Got a minute?”

Matt slowed to a brisk walk, nodding for Eddie to continue as he gulped down water. His chest heaved with each ragged breath.

“Those blacked-out cars that tailed us last night…” Eddie’s expression was grim. “They belonged to Carlos’ crew.”

A muscle ticked in Matt’s jaw as he frowned. So the bastard wanted payback for the drug deal gone sideways. He should’ve known Carlos wouldn’t let it go so easily.

“Already got extra security deployed,” Eddie assured him, anticipating Matt’s next question. “But you might want to keep your pretty boy on a shorter leash for a while.”

Matt’s nostrils flared at the implication, his grip tightening around the dumbbell until his knuckles turned white. No one threatened what was his—especially not some two-bit cartel punk with delusions of grandeur.

“Increase patrols around the perimeter,” he growled, jaw clenched. “I want extra eyes on that rat fuck at all times.”

If Carlos thought he could slink into Matt’s city and cause trouble, he had another thing coming. Matt would bury the little prick six feet under before he let a single hair on Andy’s head be harmed.

Eddie gave a curt nod, his expression impassive as ever. “You got it, boss.”

With that, the bodyguard turned on his heel and strode from the gym, leaving Matt to finish demolishing the heavy bag with a series of bone-crunching strikes.

Next, he attacked the weights, muscles rippling as he lifted and lowered with practiced ease.

If the dumbbells could talk, they’d be begging for mercy.

After showering and changing into a pair of snug jeans that hugged his powerful thighs and a soft cotton tee that clung to his chest, Matt headed for the kitchen. He had brunch catered from one of the finest restaurants on the Strip—a feast fit for a king.

Or in this case, a king and his prince.

A fond smile curved his lips as he stepped into the bedroom, greeted by the sight of Andy still fast asleep amid the tangled sheets.

The young man was utterly spent, his features relaxed in the blissful embrace of slumber.

Not that Matt could blame him—he had given Andy a right proper ravaging last night.

A soft rap at the door pulled Matt from his appreciative ogling. He strode over and opened it to find a staff member wheeling in an impressive food cart laden with covered dishes. The aroma of fresh pastries and rich coffee wafted through the air, making Matt’s mouth water.

“Thanks for bringing this over,” Matt said with an easy grin.

The young man stammered, clearly starstruck in the presence of the infamous billionaire. “Th-that’s alright, Mr. Caine, sir. A pleasure to be serving you.” He hesitated, then asked, “Shall I bring it into the penthouse?”

Matt waved him off with a casual flick of his wrist. “No need. I’ve got it from here.

” He didn’t want anyone disturbing Andy’s slumber—or catching an eyeful of his gorgeous bedmate, for that matter.

With a subtle nod and a generous tip, he dismissed the staffer and wheeled the cart inside, closing the door with a soft click.

Just as Matt began transferring a few tantalizing dishes onto a plate, a sleepy groan caught his attention. He glanced over to see Andy stirring amid the rumpled sheets.

Matt felt his breath catch in his throat as he drank in the sight before him.

Like a newborn fawn, Andy sat up and blinked those doe eyes—large and luminous in the morning light—looking utterly adorable with his tousled bedhead and sleepy confusion.

The elegant gold choker Matt had gifted him gleamed against the creamy expanse of his throat, providing a striking contrast to the faint love bites scattered across his skin like blossoms.

Clearly, the enticing aromas had roused Andy from his deep sleep.

“Morning, beautiful,” Matt purred, drinking in the sight. Andy made quite the tempting picture, all rumpled and bare and radiating that freshly fucked glow. “Sleep well?”

Andy’s cheeks flushed a delicious shade of pink as his gaze finally focused on Matt. “I, uh… yeah,” he mumbled, still blinking away the last tendrils of slumber. “Smells amazing. What’d you order?”

“A little of everything.” With a casual shrug, Matt gestured to the overflowing cart of delicacies—fresh fruit and pastries, steaming dishes of eggs and waffles, pitchers of orange juice and coffee. “Figured you’d need to replenish your energy after last night’s… activities.”

That teasing lilt in his voice made Andy’s blush deepen. Matt watched, utterly captivated, as Andy shifted beneath the sheets, all coy and flustered and downright mouthwatering.

“You want to join me?” Matt offered, waggling his brows. “Pretty sure there are enough calories here to keep us fueled for days.”

For a beat, Andy simply stared, those gold-brown eyes going comically wide. Then, with a tiny nod, he started to untangle himself from the sheets—only to yelp and dive back under their safety as realization struck.

Matt burst into laughter at the reaction, loud and full-bellied. God, Andy was too damn adorable for words. “What’s the matter, pet?” he managed between chuckles. “Forget you’re not wearing a stitch?”

If possible, Andy turned even redder, sinking lower beneath the sheets until only a tuft of messy hair poked out.

“Aw, come now.” Grinning wickedly, Matt scooted closer and tugged at the sheets until Andy’s face reappeared, all pink-cheeked and petulant. “I’ve seen every delicious inch of you. No need to be shy.”

Andy huffed out a breath, glaring at him. “It’s different! We’re not having sex right now,” he insisted, clutching the sheet to his chest. “I’m not about to prance around naked.”

Those words hung in the air between them, sparking a wicked gleam in Matt’s gaze. A deliciously tempting idea began to take shape—a wickedly delightful one.

“Suit yourself,” he said casually, turning back to the food cart. But his mind was already racing ahead with possibilities.

He plated up some pancakes and drizzled them with maple syrup before adding crispy bacon on the side. Carrying the plate over to the bed, he sat down beside Andy and handed it to him.

“Eat up,” Matt said with a wink. “You’re going to need your strength.”

Matt chuckled as he watched Andy devour the pancakes, unable to resist teasing. “You’re certainly making quick work of those,” he purred, eyes gleaming with appreciation.

Andy shot him a withering look around a mouthful of syrup-drenched pancakes. “Well, you made me work up quite an appetite last night,” he mumbled, his words slightly garbled.