LOGINARRETTXavier standing there shirtless shouldn’t be a big deal because we’ve all seen him without a shirt a thousand times.But right now with the context of what we’re about to do, it feels different.Nobody moves for what feels like a full minute.Then Nash stands up and pulls off his own shirt like he’s ripping off a band-aid. “Fuck it. We’re doing this.”Cole is still standing by the pool table looking like he’s reconsidering every life choice that led to this moment. “How does this even work? Do we just all—”“Stop overthinking it,” Xavier says. He moves closer to Nash. “Can I kiss you?”Nash looks startled. “What?”“I’m asking if I can kiss you. Consent is still a thing.”“Oh. Yeah. Okay.”Xavier closes the distance and kisses him.I watch Nash’s entire body go rigid for about three seconds before he relaxes into it. Xavier’s hand comes up to the back of Nash’s neck and the kiss deepens and suddenly this is very real and actually happening.Cole makes a sound. “Holy shit.”“You
ARRETTCole sinks the eight ball and throws his arms up like he just won a championship.“That’s five games in a row. Pay up, Nash.”“Fuck off. You’re cheating somehow.”“I’m not cheating, you’re just shit at pool.”Nash flips him off and drains the rest of his whiskey. We’ve been at the penthouse since around eight and it’s past midnight now. The kind of night where nobody has anywhere to be and we’re all too comfortable to leave.Xavier is sprawled on the leather couch scrolling through his phone with his shirt half unbuttoned because he’s incapable of being fully dressed when he’s relaxed. Nash is refilling his glass at the bar. Cole is racking the balls for another game he’s definitely going to win.I’m sitting on the pool table watching all of them and thinking about how this is the only place any of us are actually real.Out there we’re the Ashford heir, the politician’s son, the legacy kid, and the artist who doesn’t fit the mold but comes from enough money that it doesn’t matt
CONCETTA.“On the bed,” he says. “On your back.”I lie down and watch him check the chamber, eject the magazine, verify it’s completely empty. He sets the magazine on the dresser and works the slide to make sure there’s nothing in the chamber.Then he climbs onto the bed between my legs with the unloaded gun in his hand.“Spread your legs wider.”I do, and my heart is racing but not from fear. From anticipation. From the dangerous thrill of what he’s about to do.He runs the barrel of the gun up my inner thigh slowly. The metal is cool against my heated skin.“You like when I’m angry,” he says, watching my face.“Maybe.”He presses the barrel against my clit and I gasp at the sensation. Cold metal, hard and unyielding.“You’re already wet,” he observes. “You like this. The danger of it.”“Yes.”“Say it properly.”“I like it. I like the gun.”“Good girl.” He slides the barrel lower and presses it against my entrance. “You’re going to come on this. And you’re going to think about how s
CONCETTAI take an Uber to the warehouse district and tell the driver to drop me two blocks away from the actual address.The neighborhood is exactly as sketchy as Tor said it would be. Graffitied buildings, broken streetlights, groups of people hanging out on corners watching everyone who passes. My phone is in my hand ready to call for help if I need it.I’m starting to think maybe Tor had a point.But I’m already here and Maya’s expecting me, so I keep walking.The warehouse where the convention is being held is an old industrial building that’s been converted into an art space. Music is thumping from inside and I can see lights through the windows. A decent crowd is already gathered.I pay the entrance fee and find Maya near her photography display.“You made it!” She hugs me. “I thought maybe your bodyguard wouldn’t let you come.”“He doesn’t get to control my life.”“Uh huh. Where is he, by the way? This is the first time I’ve seen you without him in months.”“He doesn’t know I’
CONCETTATwo months of sneaking around with Tor and I’m starting to forget what my life was like before.We’re careful. He still stands outside my door when my family visits. Still maintains perfect professional distance in public. Still does his job exactly like he did before we started sleeping together.But the second we’re alone everything changes.The past two months have been intense. Learning each other. Figuring out how to balance the security situation with whatever this thing between us is becoming. Trying not to get caught.It’s been good. Better than good.Until right now.“Absolutely not,” Tor says from where he’s standing in my living room with his arms crossed.“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”“When it involves your safety, yes I do. That’s literally my job.”“Your job is to protect me. Not control my entire life.”“Going to a sketchy warehouse in a bad neighborhood without security is not me controlling your life. It’s me doing my job and keeping you
CONCETTA. His hands go to my jeans and he unbuckles them with practiced efficiency. When he pulls them off along with my underwear I’m completely naked and he’s still wearing his unbuttoned shirt. “That’s not fair,” I say. “What’s not fair?” “You’re still partially dressed.” He shrugs out of the shirt and tosses it aside. “Better?” “Much.” He settles between my legs and just looks at me for a moment. “What?” I ask. “Memorizing this. In case it never happens again.” “It’s happening again. Multiple times. Starting now.” He grins and it transforms his face completely. I’ve never seen him smile like this before. Then his hand slides between my legs and I stop thinking about anything except what he’s doing to me. His fingers are skilled and patient, working me until I’m gasping. When he adds his mouth I actually cry out. “Tor, fuck, that feels good.” “You taste incredible.” He works me with his tongue until I’m right on the edge. “Come for me. I want to feel it.” I come har
WINREY.I climb onto the bed and the pillows are so soft I sink into them. Luxuria follows, moving with that liquid grace, and settles beside me on her knees."We're going to take this slow," she says, one hand trailing up my thigh. "Women fuck differently than men. We savor. We explore. We make th
DANTE.She pushes me against the mirror and the glass is cold against my back while her body is hot against my front."Hands above your head," she orders.I raise my arms and she pins my wrists to the mirror with one hand while the other wraps around my cock. I'm still sensitive from finishing insi
He was right. The hunger got worse.Not the blood hunger—that was manageable with the bags Lucian left me. But the other hunger. The sexual one. That was a living hell.I’d been turned for five days, and I was constantly wet, constantly aching, constantly on edge. Every time Lucian came to chec
DANTE.Her hand around me is going to end this before it starts."Valentina," I manage through clenched teeth."Val." She strokes slowly, deliberately. "Only my boss calls me Valentina. You're going to call me Val while I make you fall apart.""Val, I'm going to—""No you're not." Her hand stops mo







