Page 23

TWENTY-THREE

CALEB

“You should fire Havoc,” Earl says.

I roll my eyes. Earl is sitting on my office couch, and Grant has the armchair. Rather than be close to either of them, I’m staying at my desk.

“I’m not firing Havoc,” I say.

“He’s a liability!” Grant exclaims. His voice is still nasal, on account of the broken nose and the bandaging. Apparently he’s fit to return to work, though, and make himself a nuisance by dragging Earl into all this.

“He’s as much of a liability as you are,” I point out. I pull up the video I’d sent to Havoc, the one where he’s beating up Grant. I turn the monitor so Grant can see it and press play.

Grant flinches, and I feel a bitter satisfaction. Good. Let him suffer more for having terrorized my staff—for having dared to touch Seven.

“That’s some motherfucking justice,” the guy recording says. There are hundreds of comments underneath the video praising Havoc, and only a few that argue that Havoc’s reaction was disproportionate.

“Stop yelling at the staff,” I say. “You’re making us look bad.”

Earl scoffs loudly. “The staff is making us look bad! When I was running the place?—”

“You weren’t running it!” I snap at him. “You did nothing, and the casino was consistently in the red, and I found three different staff members who were all stealing from us! They weren’t even working together!”

Earl scowls at me. “Listen up, Caleb. Just because you’re young doesn’t give you the right to spit on all the hard work Grant and I put into the casino. We did everything, and if not for me, you wouldn’t have a casino at all.”

“Yes, because if literally anybody else had been in charge, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the casino! So thank you, uncle, for driving it to the ground and making it so unprofitable that nobody else would have touched it.” I turn the monitor back to myself. “If you don’t like how I run the place, you can fucking leave. Both of you.”

“Are you trying to fire me?” Grant asks. “I’m the general manager. I’m the heart of the casino. You can’t run it without me.”

“I can and I have,” I point out. “And as we’ve seen in the past, the casino certainly doesn’t run well with you calling the shots, either.”

Grant bristles and shakes his head. “No, fuck you. You can’t fire me.”

I glare at him. “Why not? This is an at-will state, as you remind the employees over and over.”

Grant glances at Earl, who nods to him. “Because I know all this place’s secrets, Caleb. You can find somebody to run a casino, but one who can be trusted with the other books? Who gets along with Leon? Who is happy to help you deal with negative PR in any fucking way possible?”

If he’s trying to blackmail me, he’s doing a poor job of it. Yes, that’s a valid threat, but he knows as well as I do that if he ever snitches on the casino, he’s got a one-way ticket to hell, courtesy of Leon himself.

Leon would never forgive me for allowing anybody to snitch in the first place, though.

A new email pings, and I glance at the screen. It’s from the mysterious contact who wants to know all about Seven, sent to the anonymous account I’d set up and keep refreshing.

I take a breath to collect my thoughts. “Fine. We’re all very stressed right now.” I open the email and scan it, but there isn’t much new information in there. There is, however, an offer of quite a lot of money for Seven’s safe return.

“Get rid of Havoc,” Earl repeats.

I shake my head. “No, that part’s non-negotiable. But the casino is large enough that Grant and Havoc can avoid each other. Earl, I don’t know why you’re involved at all. This is none of your business.”

“It’s my casino!” Earl protests. “I care about what happens in here.”

It’s my casino , I think bitterly. I’m once again tempted to drop Earl off a cliff somewhere. Or maybe he can get drunk and fall over the lounge balcony. Perhaps his car will run out of gas between here and Texas and it’ll be very tragic that he walked out into the desert, never to return.

Just anything to get him out of my hair.

Grant crosses his arms. “Okay, boss . But I expect compensation for all this trouble.”

“I’ll double your end-of-year bonus,” I promise easily. “And I’ll make sure Havoc isn’t working near you. But I can only do so much. Do your best to steer clear of him and Seven.”

Especially Seven, I don’t say.

I’m really not worried about Havoc.

Grant and Earl negotiate a bit more, but they’re satisfied in the end. Once they’re gone, I can finally give the mysterious email my full attention.

This is the fifth one they’ve sent, and they’re getting increasingly more insistent.

I’m pretty sure I know who I’m dealing with—and I also know I don’t want Seven anywhere near them.

Name your price, the message says.

Like I keep telling Seven, negotiations never work well for you if you give away your cards too easily. These people are desperate to get Seven back.

One million dollars , I type, and I’ll tell you what city I was in when I saw him .

If I tell them he was in south Texas, maybe they’ll assume he hopped the border to Mexico.

I need to increase security around here, though. There are too many unknown people who go in and out of the casino, and as much as I would love to confine Seven to my suites, I know that’ll end very poorly for everyone.

I text Vortex to meet me at the bar. I lock up my computer and my office so I can finally get rid of the stress of this day.

I could take it all out on Seven. I know he’d love it if I did. His back is still recovering, though, and as much as I’d like to permanently mark him as mine, I get too angry when I see the scars on his back.

Careless, sloppy marks, made to hurt him, not to love him.

I can’t believe how sentimental I’ve gotten.

I find Vortex at the bar, sitting with Seven. Vortex already ordered himself a beer, and I motion to the bartender to get me my regular drink.

“Do you hate family as much as I do?” I ask as I slide into the stool next to Seven. I have to remind myself not to clench my jaw.

Seven tenses immediately, and I hate that I’m almost certain I know why that is. I keep looking at Vortex, though, so that Seven doesn’t feel compelled to answer.

Vortex takes a swig from his beer bottle. “I’m going to need something stronger than a beer if we’re going to talk family,” he says dryly. “My sister’s in over her head with some bullshit I don’t really want to talk about.”

“We’ll save that for another day, then,” I say. The bartender brings me my whiskey, and I knock the glass against Vortex’s beer and Seven’s water. “Cheers.” After I have a sip, I let out a long sigh. “Grant and Earl showed up to complain. Can’t do anything about either of them right now. If you spot Grant and Havoc in the same room, though, do your best to ensure they don’t interact.”

Seven lets out a shaky laugh. “I don’t think I’d be able to stop Havoc.”

“I don’t think I’d want to stop Havoc,” Vortex mutters, his expression darkening. “And if he goes to lay a hand on Seven again, Grant will have me to worry about.”

The anger slams into me again. I wish I could have gotten rid of Grant when I’d taken over the casino, but friendship with my grandfather goes a long way.

I put my arm around Seven’s shoulders and pull him closer to me, my fingers digging in harshly. “I can’t legally tell you that I’d give you a bonus for that.” I catch Seven’s gaze and wink. “But we know I’m not always averse to bending the law.”

Seven’s smile is just as strained as his laugh had been, and he drops his gaze back to the bartop. “Can I get something stronger than a water?”

“No,” Vortex says without hesitation, making Seven scowl at him.

“You don’t even like alcohol,” I point out, but I lift my whiskey glass to Seven’s lips. I watch him swallow hard, then he parts his lips to sip some of the drink.

“I just don’t like vodka,” Seven says, making a face. “I don’t know how anyone does.”

“That’s because you’re not supposed to just chug it,” Vortex says.

“This is whiskey,” I point out. I sip more of it and set my glass down. I meet Vortex’s eyes and give him a lazy smile. “Since I’ve had such a trying day, I think I deserve a reward.”

I run my other hand along Seven’s stomach. His muscles tremble at my touch.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Seven says innocently. He grabs my hand, though, and brings it to his lips, brushing a kiss against my knuckles.

I kiss the bare skin of his neck, and Seven leans into my touch.

Vortex drains the rest of his bottle. “Why don’t the two of you head out?” he suggests mildly. “I can handle making sure a few people don’t get their heads knocked together.”

I’m surprised that he’s bowing out here, but I also feel Seven relax.

Interesting.

“Thanks,” I say to Vortex. “You know where to find me if something comes up.”

I keep my hold on Seven as I lead us to the elevators. Once we’re in relative privacy, I ask, “Did something happen?”

Seven shrugs. “No? Why would it have? I was with Vortex most of the day.” He wraps his arms around my neck and looks up at me. “I didn’t even look at another man. Just like I promised.”

“Did I say you did?” I say, shaking my head. “Now you gave it away, Seven. We really need to practice your negotiation skills.”

“But I just said I didn’t!” Seven laughs and presses his body closer to mine.

I grip the back of the neck and squeeze. “So what happened, if you weren’t looking at other men and Vortex was with you the entire time?”

Seven struggles for a few seconds before sighing. “If I tell you, will you hurt me? Without the talking and the hugging?”

That sounds like he’s begging for pain, and I have to admit, I want to hurt something. The stress with the whole Grant situation is piling up, and Earl certainly didn’t help.

The elevator dings at my floor.

“I’ll hurt you either way,” I tell him.

Seven presses a kiss to my Adam’s apple. “Vortex said you would be in a bad mood. Looks like he was right. And I told him I’d make you feel so much better.”

I blink in surprise. “I did not act like I was in a bad mood.”

Seven steps away from me and gives me a strange look. “Yes, you did. I can tell.”

I want to argue, but I think this is another part of Seven that I’ve known about. He knows how to read people—because he always needed to know.

I’m starting to regret having looked into Seven’s past.

No, I regret having been sloppy enough that somebody was alerted. I need to get them off the scent. Maybe I’ll have somebody set up a false trail. Or I should meet with them in person, or…

“What are you thinking about?” Seven asks. “Since it’s apparently not me.”

I inhale sharply and follow him to the suites. “The things that have been stressing me. You’re right. I do need you to make me feel better.”

The guard at the door averts his gaze and doesn’t comment on that as Seven and I walk past him into the apartment. We head into the bedroom, and I shut the door before the cats can think to follow.

Seven pulls his shirt off, revealing that body that’s so eager to be touched.

To be hurt.

A body that’s been so indelibly marked by others but somehow belongs to me more than any of them.

“Well,” he says, turning slowly in front of me so I can take all of him in. “You have me. What are you going to do to me, Master?”

Everything.

I want to feel him. I want to hurt him. I want to be the focus of his thoughts and desires.

I want to be completely in control.

I go up to him and pull him into a harsh kiss. He mewls and bends for me, allowing me to take his breath with the kiss.

“Strip,” I order. “And lie down, face up, on my bed.”

“Yes, Master,” he breathes out shakily, his pupils already blown wide with lust as his body reacts to my voice and my touch. He pulls the rest of his clothes off and discards them with as little care as he had his shirt, eagerly bounding onto the bed.

He lies there for me, his gaze going to me.

“Like this?” he purrs, spreading his legs wide.

“Exactly like that,” I say. I strip my clothes off too, tossing the suit carelessly aside. It’ll need to go to the dry cleaners anyway.

Seven watches me eagerly, but his expression falters when I grab the large pump jar of lube from the bedside table. “I don’t need lube,” he says. “Your spit is enough.”

I smirk at him. “If I were just fucking you, I’d agree. But I’m going to do more than that.”

“O-oh?” he asks, sounding torn between desire and trepidation.

I set the lube down next to him and get between his legs, pushing his thighs wider. His cock is only half-hard, but that’s easy enough to take care of.

I give his cock a few strokes. “What’s the biggest cock you’ve ever taken, pet?”

“Hmm…” Seven considers for a moment, his hips bucking up to drive his cock into my hand. “I mean, I didn’t have a ruler on hand, but it was pretty big. Vortex is up there, though, if you need someone to compare to, I guess.”

“We should work you up to taking two at once,” I say as I continue to stroke. “Me and Havoc, first, so it’ll be less of a stretch.”

A shiver runs through Seven’s body. “I… I don’t think my hole could handle that ,” he says, but he’s looking at me with eagerness, not fear.

I let go of his cock, earning myself a whine from Seven. “You could. We’d get you nice and relaxed, incredibly stretched out…” I pump lube onto my fingers and press them against Seven’s hole. “Havoc’s cock would probably be trying to fight mine inside you.”

Seven laughs breathlessly, though the laugh turns into a moan as I start to slide two fingers into him. “You think he’d agree to that, Master?”

“I think Havoc would pretend not to be into it, but he would love to see you speared open and writhing on our cocks.” I get my fingers in as deep as I can, jabbing against Seven’s prostate.

His body is soft and pliant beneath my touch, while his cock gets hard and starts leaking precum as I work him over. “I… I think it would hurt,” he says between moans, but like the little pain slut he is, that only seems to get him going more.

He must have taken two cocks before. I have no proof of my suspicions, of course, but with how scarred up he is, I know nobody went easy on him. So is he simply pretending not to know how to handle two cocks?

I don’t want him to pretend for my sake.

I pour more lube onto my hand.

“You know what’s larger than two cocks?” I say as I add a third finger.

Seven bites his bottom lip, regarding me through heavy-lidded eyes for a moment. “A lot of things, Master,” he says.

A lot of things.

He isn’t wrong, but now I can’t help but wonder about what other things might’ve been shoved inside of him.

I add a fourth finger, but my gaze is locked on him. Is his lip quivering because he’s excited or because he’s scared?

Does it matter either way?

“I’m going to fist you,” I say. “You’re going to have my entire hand inside you.”

Seven’s breath hitches, and he blinks several times before focusing his eyes on me. “Yeah?” he asks. “I…” He shudders, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.

My cock thrums with arousal, and I bend forward awkwardly to brush my lips against his. “I want you to do this for me, pet. I want you to open up and let me feel every inch of you.”

He shivers beneath me, full-bodied and genuine, and he cranes his neck so he can kiss me back. “Okay,” he whispers. “But then I’ll be too loose for you to fuck. You won’t get to feel good.”

I want to laugh at the concern. “I assure you, it won’t take much after that for me to get off.”

My doubts about his origins are gone, and I have to take a deep breath not to let the anger show. I’m not like Havoc, who can’t control himself—but if I ever meet Seven’s past owners, I will gladly let Havoc and Vortex do their worst.

I add more lube to my hand, and I slide down so I have a better angle. While I work my four fingers in and out, I use my other hand to massage Seven’s balls and get him hard again.

Seven’s eyes flutter closed, and he lets out a soft wail as his cock works back to full hardness. “Master!” he cries out. “Yes, please, please, it’s so… So full.”

His skin has reddened and his body trembles. The exertion makes him sweat and has his hair clinging to his skin.

When he looks at me, it’s with a mixture of joy and apprehension.

I groan and push against my cock. I don’t remember ever being this attracted to anyone else.

I add even more lube, and this time I press my thumb against his hole too. “My entire hand, Seven. Are you ready?”

Seven’s eyes are wet with tears, but he nods without hesitation. “Yes,” he whimpers. “Yes, Master. I need it.” He’s quivering all over, down to his hole, which feels just about ready to swallow up my entire fist.

I push my hand in slowly, reveling in how hot he is and how readily he takes me. He shouts and bucks, but he doesn’t try to force me out.

I brush my knuckles against his prostate.

He cries out sharply, his body jerking again, and he blinks several times as tears run down his cheeks in thin rivulets.

I don’t get the sense that he’s miserable, though—or upset in the slightest.

No, the expression on his face is one of awe and wonder, and even the pain seems to be spurring him on because precum is leaking down his shaft just as steadily as the tears slide down his face.

His body pulses against my hand as I curl it into a fist.

I’m holding his heartbeat.

“Should I suck you?” I ask, and I’m surprised at how hoarse my voice is. “How long can you hold back once I’ve got my mouth around your cock?”

His eyes blink open, and his mouth opens wordlessly. He makes another sound, a desperate keening noise, and he gasps out, “Can’t. Can’t wait.”

“You can,” I insist. “Don’t come.”

I don’t expect him to follow that order, but the anguish in his wail gets my cock throbbing even harder. I bend down to take the tip of his cock into my mouth.

His hips buck, and I taste his precum, but he doesn’t instantly let go.

“M-Master!” he sobs, his fingers curled up at his sides as he writhes beneath me. “Master, I can’t. I can’t wait. I?—”

All it takes is for me to lick a long line under the head of it, and he’s coming, his entire body going tense. His ass clamps down around my hand, holding me in tight like a vise, like he’s never going to let me go, and he wails out his climax as his seed spills into my waiting mouth.

I swallow it all, and I suck his cock through his climax.

Seven whimpers and covers his face with his arm. “Master—please, it’s so much.”

I relent and release his cock. “My hand is coming out now, Seven. Stay relaxed for me.”

Seven lets out another sob, but he nods. His body is lax, languid with the aftermath of pleasure, and he doesn’t even seem to notice he’s still crying.

I notice, though, and it’s all I can do to remove my hand slowly from his hole instead of hurrying through it so I can kiss them away.

I grab tissues to wipe my hands clean. Once they’re relatively free of lube, I crawl over Seven’s body and box him in. My erection presses against his thigh as I kiss him—on his cheeks, on his forehead, on the corners of his eyes.

On his lips.

Seven moans and parts his mouth, but he doesn’t participate more than that.

It doesn’t matter. I rub my cock against his skin while I make out with him, the pleasure building and building.

Mine, mine, mine.

His tears are mine.

His pain is mine.

His heartbeat is mine.

Vortex and Havoc can bruise him up and comfort him, but they’ll never have this part of Seven.

I give in to the pleasure, coming against Seven’s skin, and still my lips never stray from Seven’s.

When my orgasm subsides, I lay down against Seven’s side and wrap my arms around him. He’s still completely languid, but he rests his head against my shoulder.

I’m completely relaxed, a far cry from earlier.

Seven starts giggling.

“Hmm?” I ask, placing one hand over his nipple.

“I bet Vortex and Havoc’s cocks combined are bigger than your fist,” Seven says.

I burst out laughing and pinch his side. “You’re insatiable.”

“I didn’t say I was ready to be wrecked that hard,” he tells me, but he’s grinning at me. He buries his face against my shoulder. “That was…” He sighs. “Do you feel better?” he asks more softly, more seriously.

I smile at him. “I do.”

I wonder if he did all this just for me, if his reactions were tailored to please me. I could ask him, or reassure him.

But I don’t want to break this illusion we’re sharing.

I don’t want to hear him say that he doesn’t actually want me at all.