Just past the living room, the space turned into the dining area, a solid wooden table with black metal chairs situated around it occupying that area. A large leafy plant took up that corner, a few other potted bits of greenery dotted around the rest of the first level. The kitchen attached to the dining room, rows of metal shelving on the walls displaying the utensils and other cooking items Flix often used.
Aneski took all of this in and then motioned straight ahead of him, down the single hallway. “What’s down there?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Flix hadn’t brought him here to take him to bed like a true lover. Ani hadn’t earned that right. “Get undressed.”
He startled. “Right now?”
“Why?” Flix reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife, flicking open the blade. “Want me to cut them off of you? If I nick you in the process, it’ll be your own fault. This is already me being generous. I didn’t get the chance to take off my own clothing if you recall.”
He hadn’t gotten the chance to do much of anything, actually. Flix had literally woken already naked and chained.
And drenched.
He so wouldn’t forget that horrible part of the story.
He’d get Ani back for that as well, all in due time.
Glaring, Aneski started undoing the buttons of his shirt while Flix moved into the living room.
Flix gave him his back as he undressed, knowing it would drive the other man crazy being ignored like that—something Ani should have been more careful not to tip off earlier. Pulling open the small drawer in the end table next to the couch, hedropped the knife in and took out a pack of cigarettes Yuze had left during one of his brief visits.
He kept telling his fellow Brumal members not to smoke at his place, but Yuze always seemed to forget.
Snapping his fingers, Flix used his powers to zap the end of it, lighting the thing and slipping it past his lips before turning around to find Aneski was down to his light gray and navy-stripped boxers.
Adorable.
“Stop.” He let the cigarette hang from his lips as he watched Ani still, following the order instantly. Was he trying to impress him? Hoping Flix would decide to go easy on him if he cooperated?
Not a chance in hell.
“Come here.” He gave a single curt shake of his head when Aneski took a step forward. “Not like that.” He smirked. “Crawl.”
Ani scoffed. “I’m not doing that.”
“Then I’ll call Popcorn and have him do it instead.”
“You wouldn’t,” he didn’t sound very certain despite his assertation.
“Why? Think I can’t make him come?”
“Enough with the double entendre.”
“Why are you getting so mad?”
“Because I’m not your damn dog!”
“You’re not my little brother. You’re not my dog. For someone who’s supposedly come here to take his punishment willingly, you’ve got a lot of complaints.”
“You threatened my friend!”
“And now I’m threatening to lure him here and do to him what I should already be doing to you,” Flix reminded coldly. “Knees. Now.”
Aneski slowly got on the ground, not bothering to mask his indignation.
“Good boy,” he sneered and took a deliberate step back. “Crawl for me.”
When Ani started forward, Flix took pity on him and kept retreating, keeping the pace slow and steady. Once he’d made it to the center of the couch, he twisted on his heel and sat, motioning to Ani with two fingers, indicating he could stand.
