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“I do.” Tyler grinned. “And you’re doing perfectly, Alexander.

Better than I expected. I like that about you – you’re a quick learner.

You’re doing exactly what I need to reel Harper in.

I approached Parminters because I know his tastes – particularly his liking for rebellious, hot-headed young men. ”

“I’m… leverage?” Alex asked, feeling his cheeks burn with humiliation. “I thought?—”

“That I wanted you to work on the designs again?” Tyler laughed.

“Nah. Like I said, I’ve got that sorted.

You’re here to whore the money in for me, Alex.

Harper’s right, I am overstretched. I may be one of the richest men in the country, but you borrow here, you invest there, you build this, and you sell that – and sometimes, your cash flow isn’t so good, and investors won’t give you more until they start to see some returns.

I spent a lot on you – now you’re going to give me a return on that investment by securing the finance I need to start producing the Destiny range of ducks you so kindly designed for me. ”

Alex stared at him helplessly, wondering how he could have allowed himself to be duped again. Maybe it had been desperation, or the blind hope that finally he could be part of making his designs happen the way he’d always wanted.

“Harper’s tastes aren’t pretty, but I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a price worth paying to get your designs made,” Tyler said. “Now, go back in there and whore me my money.” He grabbed Alex’s arm and shoved him back into the boardroom.

Harper looked up as they entered, his eyes gleaming.

“I’m sorry, Jake, but it seems this troublesome young man has the hots for you. He knows he behaved badly, but he wanted your attention,” Tyler said, throwing Alex towards him.

“Really?” Harper stood up, his gaze fixed on Alex as though he were prey.

“Yeah, but you’re a good-looking guy – you must be used to that. Now, I need to make a holocall. I’ll leave this badly behaved young man here for you to deal with in any way you see fit. Don’t go easy on him, Jake; he doesn’t deserve it.”

Tyler left the room, closing the door emphatically behind him.

Harper stepped forward, gazing at Alex wolfishly. “I followed your trial,” he said. “You’re a disgrace. If I were your father, I’d have taken a belt to your arse years ago. ”

“My father wasn’t like that,” Alex said hoarsely, looking around desperately for a way out.

“That’s why you turned out so badly. You’re a brat.”

“And you’re a sucker,” Alex retorted. “Tyler is using you. He just wants a deal.”

Harper laughed. “Oh, I know that, but I’ll never get offered someone like you again.”

“I’m sure you can have anyone you like, looking like you do,” Alex pointed out.

“I can have young men on their own terms; I want someone on mine,” Harper told him sharply. “Specifically – I want you. You’re quite a celebrity, and I’ve never fucked a celebrity before.”

“Piss off,” Alex said defiantly.

Harper’s lips quirked appreciatively. “Oh, that’s good. You press all my buttons, boy.” He stood up, slowly, his eyes dark with arousal.

Alex made a run for the door and tugged on it desperately, only to find it was locked.

“There’s no way out. You’re Tyler’s gift to me,” Harper crowed. “Nobody cares what I do to you in this room.”

Turning, he found Harper leaning back against the table, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

“And in return you give him the money he wants? What does that make you?” Alex asked.

“Someone who knows the value of what he’s getting,” Harper said dismissively.

“I looked at those designs – they’re good, and they’ll work.

Tyler wouldn’t be pursuing them if he didn’t believe in them.

Sure, they’re a punt, but he’s right that it’s a risk worth taking.

I always intended to make him work for it, though.

I wondered what he’d give me to sweeten the deal; I had no idea it would be you.

Tyler has surpassed himself. There’s no way I’d pass on a chance to fuck your sorry arse. ”

“Please… you don’t have to do this,” Alex begged.

“No, but I want to.” Harper gazed fixedly at him. His tongue darted out and moistened his lips. “Now, get over here.”

Alex didn’t move, so Harper started to advance on him. Alex considered his options. Maybe he could sweet-talk the man – cajole him into something more pleasant than he suspected Harper had in mind.

“Let’s talk about this,” he said as Harper drew close.

“Talk? I’d prefer to hear you scream.” Harper smirked.

“You want sex. I can do that. How about I just…” Alex sank to his knees and tried to open Harper’s fly, but the man shoved him away.

“I’m in charge, not you,” he growled, grabbing Alex’s arm.

He tried to pull away, but Harper was strong and put an arm around his neck, pushing him towards the table. He kicked back fruitlessly, missing his target. Desperate, he sank his teeth into Harper’s arm, making the man yelp in pain and release him.

It wasn’t a wise move. The bite made Harper angry, and he seized Alex and pushed him face down over the table.

Alex struggled, but Harper was tall and fit and seemed to be made of pure steel.

He was also determined. He leaned over Alex, pushing his weight on top of him, and slammed Alex’s head onto the table.

“The more you fight, the more turned on you make me,” he hissed into Alex’s ear, pressing his erection against Alex’s buttocks to prove it.

Then he pulled Alex up by the neck and unzipped his trousers.

Alex hung in his grasp like a kitten, unsure of what to do next.

Maybe if he just let the bastard fuck him…

it wouldn’t be nice, but at least it’d soon be over and done with.

The alternative was to fight him off, but for how long?

It wasn’t as if Tyler was going to let him out of this room until Harper was satisfied – and what would happen to Solange if he refused?

“I can hear the cogs turning… you’re thinking too hard.

” Harper ran his free hand over Alex’s body, caressing his chest through the expensive blue shirt.

He undid his tie and drew it away. “It’s too late for that.

There’s no escape. I’m taking what I want, whether you like it or not.

” He found his left nipple and pinched it hard.

Alex growled and kicked backwards, trying to break free.

“Naughty… very naughty…” Harper gathered his hands behind his back and secured them tightly with his tie. “I’m going to punish you for all the biting and kicking,” he said, yanking Alex’s trousers down.

Alex didn’t like the sound of that. He remained torn between complying to get it over with and fighting, both impulses warring with each other.

Harper took advantage of his indecision and grabbed his bound wrists, pushing him face down onto the table, holding him there in a vice-like grip.

Alex heard a whooshing sound and looked over his shoulder to see Harper whipping his belt out from his trousers and doubling it over.

“I want to see your bare arse,” he barked, yanking Alex’s boxers down to his knees. He pushed Alex’s head back onto the table, angling it sideways. “This is how I want you when I beat your arse. Hold still for me.”

Alex couldn’t do anything but obey. His trousers were around his ankles, his boxers around his knees, his suit jacket flicked up, leaving his backside fully exposed.

He squirmed, but Harper mercilessly pressed one hand into the small of his back, keeping him in place, and then drew back his other hand, which held the belt.

Alex heard a cracking sound, and then felt a wave of shocking pain. He struggled frantically to twist out of Harper’s grasp, only to be pressed firmly back into place. “Please… no… fuck, that hurt… please,” he begged. He wriggled, trying to get free, but it was useless.

“First, I’m going to tenderise this prime piece of arse meat, and then I’m going to fuck it hard,” Harper said with relish. “Scream all you like – Tyler won’t send anyone to stop me.”

“He’ll be recording all this. He always does,” Alex panted. “He’ll use it to blackmail you.”

“I don’t care. I’ve got Alexander fucking Lytton on the table, bare-arsed in front of me, and that’s a once in a lifetime deal. You have no idea how often I wanked off to your pouty little face going to court each day and whining about your sad life.”

“I didn’t whine,” Alex protested.

“Well, you can now. Whine, beg, pout, and plead with me to stop. I’ll enjoy that.” He drew back the belt and cracked it down on Alex’s buttocks again, drawing an involuntary scream. Alex didn’t want to give Harper the satisfaction, but the pain was so sharp he couldn’t help himself.

Harper got into his stride, slamming the belt hard against his arse and upper thighs over and over again, until his screams were one long shriek of pain.

He looked over at the smartwall. Was George Tyler watching this right now? Was he even enjoying it, because in his twisted mind Alex deserved it? Maybe he did deserve it. He’d certainly fucked up enough over the years. Maybe this was exactly what he deserved.

He blinked the sweat out of his eyes. The humiliation of being held over this table and beaten for the sake of Tyler’s business empire hurt almost as badly as the physical pain.

He was nothing but a piece of meat to the men who fucked him, and Tyler was making sure that message went home loud and clear.

He’d been an idiot to think he could ever work on the designs again.

He was an indie, a whore, nothing more. He put his head down, accepting his fate.

His arse felt raw, he was breathing in ragged gasps, and his throat ached from screaming. Sweat dripped into his eyes, blurring his vision. He felt like a landed fish, flopping pathetically with each new stroke of Harper’s belt.

Then, suddenly, the beating stopped, and Harper leaned over him. “Your arse looks fantastic like this – bright red and covered in my belt marks. How does it feel?”