THE OTHER MAN

CHAPTER 001

JAXON:

The cold mouth of the gun pressed against my forehead. q my boyfriend held it.

“Say it.” His voice was low and rough, like he was savouring the power he had over me. “Say it like you meant it. NOW!”

I didn’t struggle against the cuffs holding me to the bed. They bit into my wrists, causing me to squirm from the slight pain.

“Say it, say it, Jax.” With his free hand, he unbuckled his belt, metal clinking softly in the silence of my bedroom. “Say… it.”

His breath brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine as cold air kissed my bare skin, my clothes discarded somewhere on the floor.

“I want you,” I gasped. “I’m yours to use, David.”

I watched the arrogant smirk appear on his lips, his eyes darkening with lust.

“That’s my baby boy.”

He shoved the gun into my mouth, hard enough to make my jaw ache. “You like that, don’t you?” he murmured. “Like having something dangerous filling that pretty mouth of yours?”

Something inside of me snapped at that moment.

I sighed, turning my head slightly, enough to ease the gun from my mouth. “Can you not?” I said.

David paused. “What’s wrong, baby?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m really not in the mood for this tonight. Or ever again, actually.”

He smirked. “But you like it rough.”

“You like it rough,” I corrected, deadpan. “I like you. Not… whatever this is. Just take these cuffs off.”

He leaned down, softly nibbling at my collarbone, his fingers dancing around my now-softened nipples as he spoke in between kisses. “I’m sorry, baby. I promise to be gentle. Just three rounds. I’m so horny that I'll explode, Jax. Gosh, you’re so freaking hot.”

The heat drained from my body, leaving only a tight knot in my chest and the sharp scrape of irritation under my skin.

I shoved his chest just enough to create space.

“Gunplay?” I added, glancing at the weapon in his hand. “Seriously? What are we, an audition tape for a crime documentary? You know what, we’re done here. Just unlock me.”

The cuffs fell open with a click.

I rubbed my sore wrist.

He knew how much I hated such weapons, but each time I endured because I loved him, but not today.

I started to sit up, but David’s arm slid around my bare waist, stopping me.

“Baby… I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice dropping into that familiar, dangerous softness that always weakened me. “You know I try. I know you like it gentle. But sometimes I lose control around you.”

His grip tightened just a little. “You’re too hot, Jax. You don’t really expect me to tame myself when the world’s hottest male supermodel is literally right here in bed with me.”

Heat crept into my cheek.

He does have his way with words, but I wouldn’t give in that easily. Not when he also forgot today was our three-year anniversary.

I pushed his arms away, covering myself.

“Just get out,” I said quietly. “Get out of my house.”

His eyes shone with confusion as a wrinkle formed on his forehead. “Wait. What did I do wrong this time?”

“Really?”

He dared to pretend he didn't know. Even after the present I gave to him, he still couldn’t remember.

He was silent for the longest moment, staring at my glaring eye. Then his eyes lit up.

“Dammit, today’s our anniversary.”

I crossed my hands, shaking my head as I got up to leave.

“Jax, wait.” He moved fast, panic sharpening his voice. “I messed up. I know I did. I crossed a line, and I forgot the one day I’m never supposed to forget.”

I didn’t answer. I just stood there, arms folded, watching him scramble.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “Not the smooth one, sorry. The real one. I don’t know how I forgot. With managing your modelling career and all the endorsements coming for you, it’s overwhelming.”

That made me look at him.

“I’m such a dick,” he continued. “For even thinking about sex when I forgot the most important day of the year. I’m sorry, my love.”

I still stubbornly refused to reply to him.

He exhaled, then straightened. “Let me make it up to you. No games. No control crap. Just… us. Somewhere nice. I’ll dress up. I’ll behave.”

I arched a brow. “You?”

A faint, crooked smile. “On my life.”

“Fine,” I said at last. “One date. If you mess it up, you’re done for.”

Relief hit his face instantly. “Deal. I’ll get the car.”

I watched him rush to grab his jacket and get dressed.

The street he drove into wasn’t lined with restaurants or soft lights like the street of NYC I remembered. Instead, this place was only illuminated by streetlamps and cracked asphalt.

“Umm, David. Where the hell are we going?”

This place definitely wasn’t a place with nice fancy restaurants.

He pulled up beside a rusted warehouse, its windows blacked out, bass thudding through the concrete like a second heartbeat.

“…David,” I said slowly. “Where the hell are we?”

He killed the engine and flashed me a grin that was way too excited for my liking. “Trust me.”

That was never a good sign.

We stepped inside, the air thick with sweat, smoke, and the sharp tang of metal. A line of people disappeared down a stairwell hidden behind a steel door. As we moved deeper, laughter and shouts echoed off the concrete walls. Below, a pit sank deep into the floor, chains bolted into the walls, rust flaking where fists had struck far too many times to count.

My stomach dropped.

Underground pit fight.

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, panic rising slowly and my voice tighter than I meant as David guided me.

My eyes remained peeled, staring at every single movement or person. The noise, the blood, the way the crowd fed on pain; it all dragged memories I kept buried clawing back to the surface.

I said nothing, instead forcing my face into neutrality.

Be calm, Jaxon.

Just be calm.

David squeezed my hand. “Anniversary surprise,” he said over his shoulder. “I know it’s not your usual fancy dinner, but—”

“But you thought I’d like it,” I finished quietly.

He didn’t hear the edge in my voice, only flashing a grin before guiding me past the pit and toward a raised platform ringed with tables and chairs. This was the betting section.

David pulled out a chair for me, like this was a five-star lounge instead of a cage for violence. “Sit. Best view in the house.”

I sat stiffly.

David leaned close, shouting over the noise. “You good?”

I nodded once.

I lied.

Inside, everything screamed to run, to leave this dangerous place, to hide because they might be here and would recognise me, but I stayed put. I couldn’t let David know about my past life.

“Ummm, give me a minute. I need to use the bathroom.”

I nodded absentmindedly, focused on trying to ease my raging heart.

I didn’t know for how long I had sat there, but it was more than ten minutes, and David wasn’t back yet.

What was keeping him so long?

“Hey, pretty,” a shirtless man said, stopping in front of me. “What’s a beautiful boy doing all alone?”

“I have a boyfriend.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind—”

I didn’t let him finish. I stood and walked away.

I found the men’s restroom easily.

The sound reached me first before I could fully step in.

I stopped just beside the doorway, the skin of my forehead creasing.

There, David stood at the urinals, his back half-turned to me, his trousers pulled to the floor. One of his hands braced against the tiled wall, his head tilted back slightly, eyes closed in utter pleasure.

This horny dog was masturbating in a public toilet.

I shook my head, smiling at his absurd behaviour. Maybe I shouldn’t be so stubborn in offering him sex, knowing his low restraint.

I tiptoed, wanting to surprise him, but as I neared his half-turned figure, I froze.

“You like that, huh? “Damn, your hole is so warm.” David groaned, pulling a figure into view.

Two legs wrapped tightly around David’s waist, movement following his thrust. Then two arms sprouted from the point I couldn’t see, wrapping around David’s neck. Then an old man’s head popped out, his hungry lips smashing against my boyfriend’s lips.