I scowled. “Forget the damned Games. I wantyou, Thystle, competition or not.”
He paused for a second, a hopeful expression fleetingly crossing his face. “Is that why you’re so mad Talon won the first challenge?”
“Keep bringing him up, and I’ll takemytalons out,” I warned.
He cackled. “Feisty. That’s cute. Don’t worry, Matteo. I’ll take your mind off that. Idoowe you an apology...”
It was hard to stay annoyed when he started taking off my clothes. He deftly undid my buttons, tossing my newly purchased white shirt aside.
“I just bought that, you know,” I pointed out.
“Oh well,” he said casually as he undid my belt, clearly not caring. “Guess I’ll have to apologize evenharderthen.”
The pants disappeared next. I tried to play it cool, but my heart hammered faster than a jackrabbit. Before I had a moment to register my impending nudity, Thystle tucked his thumbs beneath my waistband and slipped my underwear off with an impish smirk.
Nothing remained. I was exposed, completely at Thystle’s mercy.
I wasn’t used to this. In a past life, I covered up every inch of myself, never showing any part of me—except my eyes. In a twist of fate, I lay now beneath Thystle, naked and vulnerable... except my black eyes. Go figure.
How much did he know? Was he suspicious of my identity, or did he not care? Surely, if he knew the truth, he’d say something...
“Fuck, you’re so hot,” Thystle murmured. His eyes glinted like amethyst shards. He lookedhungry. “Let me touch you.”
I nodded, too enthralled by him to speak.
Thystle dove in. His hands roamed across my chest and stomach, taking in the sight of my naked body like he was at a museum. It was deeply flattering. I was no stranger to compliments or kind words from fans. I’d been on the receiving end of attention before, but this was different than my experience during years of show business. This feltreal. Maybe it was because Thystle didn’t know who I was. When he touched me, he touched Matteo—not Aquila.
Would he treat me differently if he knew the truth?
Thystle lowered his lips to my waist. His breath ghosted across my skin, making me shiver pleasantly. Joy burst in my chest when he pressed a small kiss to my hip. It was a tiny gesture, but it filled me with happiness. People didn’t just kiss random parts of your body unless they werereallyinto you.
Thystle’s hands snaked down my thighs. He massaged them gently, inching closer to my aching cock. It had been hard for a while. It twitched as Thystle teased it.
Encouraged by my body’s reaction, he wrapped his fingers around the base of my cock and shot me a smug grin. I sucked in a sharp breath. The sultry feeling of his hand on my sensitive skin sent electric currents dancing along my spine.
“You like this?” he asked in a low tone.
I nodded again, but that wasn’t enough for Thystle this time.
“Tell me, Matteo,” he ordered.
Holy fuck, it was hot when he took that dominant tone.
I hadn’t spoken because I didn’t trust my voice not to crack. “Yes, I like it,” I murmured, trying to keep it steady.
Thystle looked amused. “Good, ‘cause I’m gonna do a lot more of that.”
He squeezed my cock gently, moving his hand upward in a languid motion that shot off fireworks in my skull. I threw my head back against the pillow and hissed in pleasure. My fingers curled against the sheets, bunching them up in my fists, desperate for anything to hold onto. My back arched into Thystle’s touch. My body begged for it.
Arousal flared within me, setting my body on fire. Sweat dripped down my temples. I clenched my teeth shut as Thystle worked my cock.
“What, are you worried about the neighbors?” Thystle asked with an edge of irritation. “The rooms are soundproofed. Let it out.”
I hadn’t noticed until Thystle pointed it out, but I’d subconsciously held myself back from making noise. I wasn’t used to being loud. Not anymore. The last time I’d really belted it out was on stage. It was Aquila who screamed himself raw, not Matteo. Was that why I reined it in?
I stopped biting my lip. Thystle waited, eager to hear my moans and wails. But I hesitated to let loose. For years since the break up, I went out of my way to avoid drawing attention to myself. I didn’t want it. I wanted to be plain, to blend into the background. I’d wanted to be Matteo, not Aquila.
Now, it was like I was scared of my own voice, and of the attention it brought upon me. If people knew who I really was, they’d dredge up the past. They’d make me relive the awful moments I tried to forget. I just didn’t want conflict anymore.
