I seethe as men stare at him in his cut-up crop top and low-riding pants. He’s gorgeous and everyone knows it. Everyone but him. He doesn’t even notice the attention.
When a couch opens up, Elias goes to claim it. While he watches the room and the stage, I move through the darker partsof the club. Rafael tracks me at first but finally leaves me alone when another man—big, dark, and intense—steps behind the bar and lays a possessive hand on Rafael’s ass.
I find a place deep in the shadows and watch Elias. He seems captivated by the display on stage. The man bound to the x-cross is naked, his cock hard. He cries out and spasms when another man, this one in black leather pants, strikes his inner thigh with a riding crop.
Does Elias like that? Would he want to be bound like that?
His current fantasy is being stalked, but where does he think that ends? He didn’t write enough. He didn’t finish it.
I can’t watch Elias nonstop because I have to keep scanning the room. It’s jealousy, sure, but also paranoia. Places like this are full of monsters like me.
That’s how I catch someone watching Elias. I mean,reallywatching him. The man looks about my age, around 30. He’s decent-looking, Italian. He gets out his phone. I can’t tell for sure what he’s doing, but I think he takes a picture of Elias.
I don’t fucking like that. I start toward the guy, but he gets up, phone at his ear, and heads to the exit. It forces me to choose between following him and staying with Elias.
I retreat into the shadows—but I’ve had enough.
I get out my phone and text,Did you think this would force me into the open?
Elias pulls out his phone instantly. He stares at my message. He starts looking around, but I’m behind him and on a higher level of the staggered floor.
I text,Stop looking for me. It won’t do you any good.
When Elias looks up from that, head turned enough to show me part of his profile, he smiles the biggest smile I’ve seen from him. Jesus Christ, it’s fucking beautiful. It stops my breath. It soothes my jealousy. Until now, I wasn’t sure, not really sure,that all this tonight was about me, but it is. This is what he wanted.
I should be angry that he’s lured me, manipulated me, laid this trap for me, but I’m not. I want this too.
My phone vibrates.
Elias:Are you angry with me?
Ah, so he knows he’s bad. That simplifies things.
I reply,I don’t have to be angry to punish you.
His breath hitches. I smile.That’s right, baby. You’re in trouble.
I send one more text:Keep your head straight. If you look back, I’m gone.
Elias freezes, staring at that. I have to trust him. I don’t have any choice. I stalk forward. My boots are at the level of his shoulders, so he catches the sound. This is his chance to see me, to end the game, but he doesn’t. I think he knows that in winning the game, he would lose it.
He stays still as I drop to one knee behind him. I take the long ribbon of purple silk from my pocket. Elias sucks in a breath when I lay it over his eyes. I wrap the length of silk around his head three times, securely binding his eyes before tying it behind his head.
I have to leave him for a moment to walk around to the short set of steps down to his level. I watch him the whole time. Under the slashed crop top, his chest is heaving. His lips are parted. He’s beautiful, blinded like that in this dangerous place, excited and a little frightened.
When I reach him, I stroke his head. He shivers and makes a needy little sound.
“Mmm,” I murmur because I can’t help it. But I can’t allow myself anything more. I can’t speak to him without giving myself away.
As I sit on the couch, I pull him up and into me. His ass settles on my lap, his back against my chest. He’s breathing hard, trembling, not sure what to expect, but I just hold him there. He starts to relax. His body eases, molds to mine. His weight feels so good against me.
I wasn’t hard before—I was too upset—but I get hard now, sitting here with Elias. His hands are resting on my arms where they band around him. His head is tilted back, resting on my shoulder.
I let my hand drift down to where his cock is pressing visibly against his pants. I stroke almost idly and listen to him murmur with pleasure. I nuzzle at his ear and jaw. Except for the smooth, slick band of silk, I get to touch his face with mine. There’s no mask in the way.
I feel almost relaxed as we sit here. I can’t talk to him so I don’t have to construct any lines to shape this for either of us. I can just touch him, enjoy his body against mine.
He’s grinding lightly on me. It’s instinctive, without thought. I’m without thought too as I open his pants.
