The moment passed. Adrian’s eyes met Sterling’s again, and when they did, they burned with a fire Sterling wasn’t prepared to weather. Adrian stepped forward again, closing the distance between his legs and Sterling’s knees, and bent at the hip until he braced his hands on Sterling’s thighs so they were nose to nose. The contact was electric, and the same thrill that had roused Sterling downstairs swept through him again. The crisp scent of Adrian’s cologne flooded Sterling’s nostrils once more, filling his lungs and flowing through his veins until Adrian was all he could think of. The sudden spark of attraction between them was surprising, but Sterling didn’t regret it. When Adrian looked at him like that, hecouldn’t.
“Then I guess we have a deal.” Adrian brought the tips of their noses together, the gesture so small and intimate that Sterling’s rapidly beating heart leapt into his throat. It wasn’t like him to get worked up over a partner, but Adrian had already proved himself a notch above the others in the club. As long as this connection lasted, Sterling would take from it whatever hecould.
Sex didn’t make a relationship, and Sterling didn’t want it to. What he would share with Adrian was to be physical only—twenty-five days of fun before they went theirseparateways.
And Sterling had every intention of taking full advantageofthem.
Adrian tilted his head the slightest bit. The tip of his nose slid along the ridge of Sterling’s, and for a second, Sterling felt Adrian’s soft, sweet exhalation on his lips. Their bodies were close—close enough that if Sterling leaned forward, they’d bekissing.
God, did he want to know how lips that could spit such snarktasted.
Instinct swelled inside him. Whether it was a product of his genetic impulses or a result of a need yearning to be scratched, Sterling didn’t know. All he knew was that if he didn’t try to kiss Adrian now, he’d never let himself liveitdown.
But when Sterling leaned forward, he was met by air,notskin.
Surprised, Sterling opened his eyes. Adrian had pulled back, and although his hands were braced on Sterling’s thighs, it was clear he wasn’t interested inkissinghim.
“Our twenty-five days will start next week on Friday night.” Adrian spoke firmly, taking control of the conversation. “I need time to prepare myself and make sure my family knows I haven’t beenkidnapped.”
“You live with yourfamily?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Adrian pushed off from Sterling’s legs. This time he didn’t hit the coffee table. “If there’s nothing else to be done tonight, I’d liketogo.”
“You haven’t touched your drink.” Sterling gestured to the untouched gin and tonic on the coffeetable.
“It’s not my drink, it’s yours—I don’t own much of anything anymore, now do I?” Adrian arched an eyebrow, then headed around Sterling’s chair on his way toward the door. “I’ll see younextweek.”
“Wait.” Sterling rose from his chair, channeling strength into his voice that Adrian had wrenched loose from him moments before. Adrian looked over his shoulder but did not stop walking until Sterling snagged him by the shoulder and turned him backaround.
All it took was one touch for the chemistry between them to return—one more glance to send Sterling’s heart racing like it had never raced before. Feet rooted to the spot, tongue heavy, Sterling let his gaze drop from Adrian’s eyes to look at the lush Cupid’s bow of his lips, then the pronounced dip of his collarbone. Adrian had never made it a point to hide his body. The few times Sterling had spoken with him in the past, he’d seen Adrian in all states of undress, but there was a different feeling in the air now—an arresting quality to the way he looked that left Sterling wondering how he’d never noticed Adrian in this waybefore.
A spark like the one jolting Sterling’s heart into overdrive wasn’t easily overlooked, and even if the attraction was purely physical, it was something Sterlingenjoyed.
Twenty-five days wasn’t going to be longenough.
“Yes?” Adrian knitted his brows together and tightened his lips until they were almostpuckered.
Sterling had forgotten what he wanted to say, so he said the first thing that came to mind. “When you arrive next Friday, you’ll use the club entrance—the same one you used tonight—not the entrance up the stairwell from the back alley. Before you come in through the soundproof door, I want you nude. Unless I grant you permission, you do not have the right to wearclothes.”
“I figured.” Adrian’s expression didn’t soften with worry or brighten with excitement. He looked at Sterling with the same sour expression as always. “Is that all? Can Igonow?”
“Yes.” Sterling dropped his hand. He looked Adrian over one last time, but wasn’t given much of a chance to enjoy his view. Adrian continued on his way to the door, leaving Sterling to tag along behind him, feeling entirelyinadequate.
For the last seventeen years, Sterling had never been anything but a Dom. He’d played with innocent, blushing submissives who’d squealed as rope tightened around their wrists and wove around their torsos in intricate, beautiful patterns, and he’d entertained transgressive submissives who were well-versed in all kinds of play, and who’d broadened his sexual horizons in ways Sterling had thoughtimpossible.
But Adrian? Adrian wasn’t a submissive. And while it was obvious he had some work to do before he had enough mastery over himself to be a successful Dom, Sterling didn’t doubt the fact that Adrian would not fold to him soeasily.
The total power exchange they’d agreed upon wouldn’t go the way Sterling assumed it typically would—he was certain of it. But the unknown was more thrilling than any carefully orchestrated act could be. He couldn’t remember a time he’d been more excitedtoplay.
If Adrian wanted to go head to head, Sterling wouldn’t spare him. If the storm in his eyes raged hard enough to overturn their power dynamic, Sterling wouldwelcomeit.
Sterling saw Adrian to the club landing. When Adrian was on his way down the stairs, Sterling closed and locked the third-floor doors, then returned to his living room to settle back in his armchair and sip at his drink. The gin loosened his muscles and muddied the excitement in his mind to the point where he was able to bring his thoughts back intofocus.
Next Friday was still a week away, and tonight, he owed Clarissa some help. No matter how excited he was for his new arrangement, he still had a club to run. Thoughts of Adrian would not steal him away from what needed tobedone.
Sterling stood, placed the glasses on the kitchen counter, and exited his penthouse to head for the bar. His fantasies would still be there comeclosingtime.
4
