Page 22 of Devil May Hunt (The Devils of Vitality #8)

“You’ll come to me for your heats.” Gunho’s gaze sharpened when Brennon scowled. “That’s non-negotiable. You’ll be faithful to me, or I’ll teach you why I’m called the God of Death and make you regret us ever meeting.”

“Too late.”

“Don’t be cruel, pretty lover.”

“Is that another one of your terms?”

“Don’t be a brat either, at least, not when we’re in the middle of a serious discussion.”

Touché. He motioned with his chin for the alpha to continue, signaling that he understood.

“You’ll lie with me even when you’re not experiencing a heat.

During my rut, and any other time I want you.

We’re a couple, not just on paper, though I’ll allow you to think that way for the time being.

Couples sleep together. They fuck. They tell each other about their days…

You get the point. I also want to know where you are at all times. ”

“Don’t be controlling,” Brennon stated. “I have a life outside of this twisted thing you’ve dragged me into. I won’t cheat on you. Despite everything, I’m loyal. So you shouldn’t have to know my every move.”

“I want to.”

“Gunho—” He stopped when that earned him a warning growl and then cleared his throat. “Be’tessi. Don’t smother me. Neither of us will like the outcome.” Brennon wasn’t used to needing to update anyone on his schedule.

The alpha seemed to be internally debating and then sighed. “You come when I call, and you don’t show up late on the weekends. So long as you keep your promise there, I won’t insist on a daily play-by-play. Agreed?”

“Okay.” As far as compromises went, that was probably the best he was going to get.

“Tell your friends you're taken. I want the whole city to know.”

“Okay.” This wasn’t something that could be hidden anyway.

“We’ll have dinner with your parents next week.”

“Ok—” He held up a hand. “Wait. No.”

“It was their request. They want to see us together. Part of the deal for Cree Cosmetics was you, remember? I paid them for the company and for their silence in case you still tried contesting. I had no way of knowing this talk would go so…well.”

“Suspicious?” Brennon could see that he was.

“I’ve never had a mate before,” he replied. “I don’t have anything to compare it to. Lovers of mine in the past either wanted me for power or were too afraid of me to tell me no in the moment.”

“So, taking advantage of people isn’t new for you.”

“It only ever happened during my rut,” Gunho defended himself. “I’ve never fucked anyone outside of it before. You’ll be my first.” He held out a hand. “Come here.”

“Right now?” Brennon couldn’t help the burst of anxiety that shot through the analytical calm he’d been feeling.

The bastard that he was, Gunho noticed.

“Reality is different than words or an agreement on paper, isn’t it?” He grinned. “Prove to me you meant everything you said just now, and perhaps I’ll agree to go easy on you.”

There was no way out of this, and yet he hesitated.

He’d never slept with the alpha clear-headed. There’d always been a chemically induced lust spurring him on, helping to gloss over what he was doing, and who with. Giving him an excuse for how good it felt or how hard the alpha could make him come.

What would it be like without that security net?

He’d just talked a big game, but could he really handle this?

Was he ready to find out?

Brennon slid back a single step. “I have to get to class.”

“Losing your nerve already, pretty lover?” He curled his fingers. “Come. Don’t disappoint me now. You handled the negotiations so well. I’m proud of you.”

“I don’t need your praise.”

“Tell that to yourself when I’m balls deep and you’re begging me to call you my good boy.”

“I never—” Well, fuck him. He had, hadn’t he? Brennon covered his face and groaned. “Good Light.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. I found it sexy.”

He was torn. On the one hand, having sex with the alpha would help solidify their agreement, and it would help drive home what they really were.

Gunho only wanted him to help sell this picture of a perfect mated couple, after all.

He wanted him because they had sexual chemistry, and the second that chemistry wore off, he’d most likely realize this was a mistake.

So long as Brennon could get in writing that the company would be passed to him, it wouldn’t matter.

Especially if he was really made the guy’s Royal Consort. There was no going back from that, even if Gunho woke up one morning bored with him.

On the other hand…

“Can we…” Brennon glanced away, hating how vulnerable he sounded, but unable to contain himself. “Can we wait? It’s just…I’m sort of…I mean…” Damn it. Why couldn’t he just say it?

No, he knew why. Because explaining this to Gunho made it seem like they were a real couple.

The terms had been set—real relationships didn’t come with clear-cut terms. He’d just agreed to have sex with him whenever he wanted, but he already wanted to back out?

And worse, he wanted the alpha to understand why and care enough to keep it in his pants?

How contradictory of him. He was the one who didn’t want attachments. He wanted this to be an exchange, cold and calculated. Nothing more.

“Never mind.” He reached for the waistband of the sweatpants he was wearing.

“Stop.” Gunho walked around the counter but didn’t reach for him. “Finish your sentence, Brennon.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Tell me. Now.”

“My ass hurts, all right?” he grumbled, glaring when Gunho leaned in closer.

“What was that?”

“I said, you tore through my hole with your monster dick yesterday, and now I hurt all over,” he snapped loudly. “Happy?”

“You’re in pain?” Gunho rested his hands on his arms and pulled him in closer. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? I applied sun cream last night and thought that would be enough.”

“Well, it wasn’t.” It sort of was, since he’d fibbed a little. The rest of him felt fine, but his ass…He really didn’t think he could sleep with him again right now and not feel it.

The alpha hummed. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

“To the bathroom,” he said. “From here on out, I’ll earn your affection. Allow me to tend to my mate.”