Stavros paced the hotel room, bourbon in one hand, gun in the other.

In the next room, Daniel Nieto was strapped to his bed, naked.

“Fuck.” He pressed his forehead to the cool window, hoping it would cool him down, but nothing worked for him. He’d drugged Daniel and had Bruce help carry him to the bed. Stavros had been the only one to undress him, to see his lean body covered from chest down various scars, healed bullet wounds, and his wife’s name.

The sight of him. Stavros couldn’t stop staring, wanting to touch. To taste.

Fascinating.

Why that man?

He spun away from the window and resumed pacing. The drug he’d injected Daniel with should be wearing off soon. Stavros wanted him awake. Wanted his deadly eyes open and on him for this one.

When Daniel entered the room earlier, Stavros had deliberately kept himself from looking at him. Daniel made him weak in the knees, and he’d needed his strength to stand. To do what needed to be done. But he’d made the mistake of touching Daniel.

Of kissing him.

That connection he felt hadn’t gone away. Had Daniel felt it, too? How could he not? How could he not come away covered in ash from the shit that burned when they touched? He’d never felt like this, and Stavros didn’t like it.

Daniel turned him into a needy mess, but he wanted it. Wanted him. Get him out of his system. Daniel needed to go if Stavros wanted to go back to who he used to be.

He tossed back the last of the bourbon, and threw the glass at the cold fireplace. The shattering sound was less than satisfying. Nothing else would satisfy him.

He padded to the bedroom on bare feet, and stood with his arms folded in the doorway, watching the naked man on the bed.

The rope remained around Daniel’s neck, but the ends were secured around the headboard. His arms were also shackled to the headboard with handcuffs, so he was spread out for Stavros in the middle of that huge bed, naked and inviting,

Not vulnerable though. Even now, as he lay there with his eyes closed and his mouth taped shut, Daniel Nieto would never be vulnerable.

He didn’t have to come alone, not with the men he had at his beck and call. Taking Levi Nieto meant Stavros would incur Donovan Cintron’s wrath. He accepted that, and he’d fully expected the ex FBI agent to come in guns blazing to rescue his husband. He hadn’t, which meant Daniel had talked him out of it.

He’d put himself on the line, exposing yet another weakness.

Family.

Daniel Nieto valued his family like no man Stavros had ever seen.

As he watched, Daniel’s eyes flew open, zeroing in on him.

“Not too long ago our positions were reversed,” Stavros said softly. Daniel’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I could retaliate the way everyone expects me to, but violence doesn’t work for me anymore. Not with you.”

He stripped slowly, holding Daniel’s gaze. First the shirt then his belt. He tossed them aside then tugged his pants and underwear down, over his erection growing harder by the second, and stepped out of them.

Daniel never looked away, and though his throat worked, he didn’t speak. Not that he could, what with the tape over his mouth. But his cock, long and thick, and fucking curved just right, jerked against his belly.

Stavros licked his lips. He got on the bed and straddled Daniel, ass resting atop his belly as he stroked a hand down Daniel’s torso. The other man stiffened all over. “The last time, you were on top.” Against his ass, Daniel’s cock jerked.

Stavros smiled then sobered quickly.

“I thought it would go away,” he said softly. “I thought it was temporary insanity, something happening because of forced circumstance.” He brushed his lips over Daniel’s nose. The other man’s breath hitched. “I wanted you gone from my head, and your touch removed from my body.” He leaned backward, sitting upright as he touched himself, a hand down his chest. “No matter who touches me, it’s never quite the same.”

Daniel’s nostrils flared and he growled.

Stavros kissed him, an openmouthed caress in the hollow of his throat. Daniel’s scent surrounded him, warm skin and deep, drugging lust. Stavros wanted to release him, take away the rope and the handcuffs so those rough hands could destroy him all over again.

But he didn’t.

Instead he kept on kissing Daniel, licking his skin, tongue dragging over the words on his torso. Her name. Felt as if Stavros was kissing her too. Tasting her too.

She tasted like that familiar guilt, bitter-sweet.

But he didn’t stop, even when Daniel arched under his tongue, sound rumbling in his chest under Stavros’ touch while the handcuffs rattled in the background.

He didn’t stop.

He went lower.

Lower.

Breathing on that erection, the crown wet and flushed, jerking against Daniel’s lower belly. Stavros licked his lips and took a deep breath, bringing Daniel’s musk into his lungs.

Fuck.

The scent of a man. This man. He ached from head to toe. He ached. He craved.

So he parted his lips and took Daniel into his mouth.

“Nngh!” Daniel’s hips jerked off the bed, forcing him deeper into Stavros’ mouth.

Eyes closed, Stavros clung to the sheets, fisting them as he sank deeper, the non-existent gag-reflex allowing him to throat all that thickness. Daniel throbbed for him, spilling liquid secrets that burst across his taste buds and sent him groaning.

Shuddering.

He shoved a hand down between his own legs, fisting his cock, stroking, hips rolling, slamming into his grasp as he drank Daniel down. Already he wanted more. He wasn’t finished and already Stavros wanted to do this all over again.

For once, he tried for selfless. For once, he gave, forgetting to take. Saliva flowing, one hand gripping the base of Daniel’s cock, Stavros sucked him down. And Daniel fucked his face, hips slamming forward, forcing his length all the way in, choking Stavros.

Eyes watering.

Breath stuttering.

He took the face-fuck that rocked his head back with every thrust. Rattling his teeth. Pain and pleasure.

Punishment too.

He kept his eyes shut against the emotions that rode him. Guarding himself against that look in Daniel’s eyes. The one he couldn’t decipher. And he blocked out the name that danced in front of his eyes.

Her name.

He did all that with a cock in his mouth, and his dick wrapped up in his fist. Hungry, yes. Starved, yes. Panting, jaw aching, throat burning. But he didn’t stop except long enough to gulp air into his lungs before he dove in again.

Sucking the crown, tongue sliding up and down before he dipped lower, following that thick vein on the underside with the tip of his tongue. All the way to the base, where he sucked Daniel’s balls into his mouth.

One at a time.

Daniel writhed for him, thighs vibrating. Growls and groans blocked by the tape on his mouth. He didn’t shy away from Stavros’ touch, though. He parted his thighs, arching.

Offering.

Greedy bastard that he was, Stavros took. Licking him until he was wet.

Soaked.

That hole back there? Stavros put his mouth over it. Put his tongue on it. All over it while Daniel lurched upright then pressed tight against the mattress, trying to escape.

Nowhere to go.

“I’m gonna eat you. The fuck. Alive.” Stavros grabbed him by the hip, pushed one leg backward.

And fucking dined.

Tongue and finger pushed in. In return Daniel gave him those hoarse, shredded sounds. Against Stavros’s palm, his thigh trembled badly. Stavros ignored him, loving the way Daniel’s body clenched around him.

He’d never been touched like this, Stavros knew that. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to make it good for Daniel or not. He just wanted to make him feel. Wanted to make sure he knew.

This was who they were now.

So he tongue-fucked that hole, got it nice and wet, until his fingers were slipping and sliding. Until Daniel was rocking back on his face, pushing back on his finger. Then Stavros backed away, and straddled him again.

He met Daniel’s eyes then. Wide and glassy, color high on his cheeks, he yanked violently on the handcuffs. Stavros closed his fist around his cock and stroked, hard and fast. Daniel watched, nostrils flared wide, whatever he was trying to say muffled by the tape. His body jerked, hips lifting off the bed.

“I’m looking at you,” Stavros whispered. “And I can barely breathe.” He tightened his grip on himself, anger rising, getting all twisted up in the lust and the arousal. “Tell me you’re not feeling the same.” He gripped Daniel’s face, nails digging into his skin. “I want the truth you speak only to yourself when you’re alone in the dark, with your hand on your cock and my name on your lips.”

He cupped his balls, tugging, rolling his hips, shuddering, lashes threatening to fall closed. “That’s the truth I want. The one that says you want this.” He stopped stroking his cock, and brought that hand to his mouth, licking off the pre-cum. Then he held that same hand up to Daniel’s nose. “Give me the truth that says you need this, you crave it like I do.”

Daniel grunted, yanking harder on the handcuffs. Stavros ignored him, fucking his fist, thrusting into his hand, holding Daniel’s gaze, pinching his own nipples. Tugging. Moaning.

Daniel’s eyes flashed. So hot, Stavros was immediately sweating. The tiny droplets slid down the length of his spine.

“Tell me you don’t want me.” His thighs burned and vibrated and under him, Daniel trembled, hips once again lifting off the bed. Stavros reached behind and grasped Daniel’s shaft. “Say that you don’t need me.”

“Unggg.” He pleaded with his eyes.

As much as Stavros wanted his words, he found he was too afraid of hearing them, so he made no move to remove the tape. Instead, he brought Daniel’s cock to his hole, rubbing against it, breath hitching, stomach contracting.

He was hot everywhere.

Movements faltering.

Shaking.

He wanted to punish them both, but he felt as if he was the only one losing his mind. Losing himself.

“I want you to fuck me,” he snarled at Daniel, pushing back until the head of his shaft was firmly against his hole. “Then I want you gone.” He raked his fingers over Daniel’s belly, and sound gurgled in the other man’s throat as his belly contracted. “Get inside me so I can get you out of my system.”

He didn’t know who he was anymore. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do, who he was supposed to be. How did he get it to go away? How did he escape this?

He picked up the lube he’d brought with him. He had planned this, after all. He lubed himself, fingers pushing into his hole, twisting, stretching himself. Since they left New York over a week ago, he hadn’t slept with Bruce.

Or anyone for that matter. He’d been waiting for this.

Still, Daniel simply regarded him with eyes gone black with lust. His pupils were dilated, nostrils flared, even his cheek was touched with color.

He uttered those sounds in the back of his throat, hoarse grunts that made Stavros’ blood boil. When he was all slick, he put a condom on Daniel’s shaft, stroking him before bringing him back to his entrance.

Stavros lifted up.

Then he sank down.

Daniel’s eyes bulged wide, and he went crazy, yanking at the handcuffs.

Fuck. He felt huge. Stavros groaned, still jerking himself off. “Fuck. Fuck.” He bowed his head. “Oh God.” He stroked himself furiously as he sank all the way down.

When Daniel bottomed out, they both flinched.

Stavros lifted up again. Then he dropped down.

He couldn’t breathe. Daniel’s hips were moving, thrusting up, circling. Hitting his spot that quick.

Jesus. Christ.

He had no speech then, just plaintive groans, his head falling backward as he slammed up before lifting up and doing it again.

Over and over. Daniel wasn’t even pretending anymore. He fucked Stavros, pounding up into him with eyes narrowed to slits. He felt amazing. Crazy hot. So thick, hitting Stavros where he needed him. Until he was grunting loud and hungry, pulling on his dick, shuddering.

Coming. He spilled in his fist, ass contracting.

Warmth teased his sensitive hole, and he pitched forward, clawing at Daniel’s chest, fingers scratching at that name as he shivered. Flashing hot.

Then cold.

Back to hot.

He reached forward and yanked off the tape over Daniel’s mouth. Then he smeared his cum-streaked fingers over Daniel’s lips and chin. When the other man’s lips parted, Stavros rammed his fingers into his mouth.

All the way in, hooking it at the back of his throat.

So Daniel could taste him.

Also, to shut him up before he even began denying them.

God. Damn. It. Stavros wasn’t fucking done. “Now you can say you didn’t have a choice.” He made himself lift off Daniel. That loss. Fuck. He stifled a moan. “You can stay loyal to her,” he whispered. “While you continue to blame me for what you’re wanting. What you’re needing.” Forehead pressed to Daniel’s, Stavros told him, “Put it all on me—” His voice cracked. “I’ll take the blame for the both of us.” It was the least he could do. The only thing he could do.

Because there was no way he could stop wanting Daniel.

And there was no way he could erase what he’d done. Then and now.

“Stavros.” His voice, so rough slid over Stavros’ newly exposed nerves and made him shudder.

He turned away, headed to the bathroom.

“Diablo, stop.”

But he couldn’t. Stavros escaped into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. Things were supposed to go differently. He’d get fucked and purged. Daniel would be out of his system, and he could go back to the unfeeling son of a bitch he’d always been. Except he hadn’t even stopped spasming from the orgasm, and he already wanted more. He hadn’t even come close to being satiated.

He wanted more.

He bowed his head under the shower spray. He was fucked up, well and truly fucked up. They had to put an end to it. He couldn’t go on like this, not with someone like Daniel Nieto.

He washed his body on autopilot, with shaking hands and a throat that burned every time he swallowed. And when he got out the shower and walked back into the bedroom, the headboard was splintered into three pieces, and the bed was empty.

Shit.

He spun in a circle, searching for any sign of a threat. But he already knew, Daniel was gone. How in the hell did he escape? He left the handcuffs behind, but the rope was nowhere to be seen. A dent in the mattress, and the imprint of his head on the pillow was the only proof that Daniel had been there. The room felt still and cold, almost as if Stavros had imagined the heat Daniel emitted.

He climbed onto the bed and settled into the spot Daniel had recently occupied. Still warm. He buried his face in pillows that smelled of Daniel and them.

Sex.

It was sex. And it was done. He hated him for it, but Daniel did what Stavros couldn’t.

He walked away.

Leaving Stavros scrambling to find the missing pieces of who he used to be.