Ethan was still fuming two days later. He scowled across the mahogany counter he was polishing to where Joe was supervising the final camera installation by the security company he’d hired.

“What’s wrong with you?” Akihito muttered.

“Nothing,” Ethan growled.

Akihito’s gaze swung from Ethan to Joe and back again.

“Are you guys having a lovers’ spat?”

Fury and shame twisted Ethan’s stomach in equal measure as he thought of that night at his apartment. Despite his anger at what Joe had done to him, Ethan hadn’t been able to stop himself from jerking off to the hot image of that bastard giving him a hand job, his body so inflamed that it had taken three toe-curling orgasms for his throbbing dick to finally stop hurting.

“We are not lovers,” Ethan said between gritted teeth. “I wouldn’t let that fucker near me if he were the last man alive.”

“Oh.”

“In fact, that douche bag can kiss my ass if he thinks I’m ever gonna let him touch me again.”

Akihito sucked air between his teeth.

“Ooh. So, there’s been touching—”

“I hope his dick rots and falls off.”

Akihito winced. “Okay, as a man, I think that’s going a bit too far.”

* * *

Joe sighed when he caught sight of Ethan’s reflection in the mirror on the wall opposite him.

The bartender was glaring at him, jaw clenched while he spoke in a low voice to Akihito.

Joe didn’t have to be a genius to figure out the content of their conversation. Leaving Ethan two nights ago had been one of the hardest things Joe had ever done in his adult life. He had known he was playing with fire when he’d touched Ethan, but the sight of the aroused, moaning young man about to come apart in his arms had struck Joe like a bucket of icy water, drenching his own arousal and freezing his hand on Ethan’s gorgeously flushed cock.

In that moment, Joe had known there would be no going back if he witnessed Ethan’s orgasm. He would have taken Ethan there and then against that wall, repeatedly thrusting his throbbing dick into Ethan’s tight ass, driving them both wild with pleasure while he swallowed Ethan’s cries and moans with his mouth.

It would have been the best sex Joe would ever have had—that, he was certain of.

It would also have been very wrong.

Joe knew what Ethan wanted. And he couldn’t give it to him.

“All done, Mr. Cavendish,” said the camera guy. He climbed down the stepladder and picked up the tablet on the table next to them. He tapped out a password and showed the screen to Joe. “This should work even if someone cuts the power. You can set it up on your computer and phone, too.”

Grim satisfaction coursed through Joe as he observed the feeds from the cameras he’d had placed around the club.

There’s no way this asshole’s gonna get close to this place without us catching him in the act now.

Motion on one of the feeds caught his gaze.

Ethan was shoving his middle finger at the camera located on the wall behind the bar, a scowl darkening his features.

“Um,” the security guy murmured awkwardly.

Joe chuckled, amused despite himself.

“It’s all right,” he told the bemused man. “His boyfriend’s been giving him a hard time.”

* * *

The letter arrived with the next morning’s mail. Joe paused inside the foyer, his fingers stilling on the white envelope. It was about the size Ethan had mentioned the notes the stalker sent to him came in. Joe’s name and the club’s address were scrawled across it in angry black handwriting.

Joe’s heart stuttered when he opened it and saw the contents. Tucked inside the fold of a card were pictures of Ethan.

They’d been taken while Ethan was evidently oblivious that he was being captured on camera. There were shots of him drinking coffee at a Starbucks, eating lunch, walking down the street, going for a run, and even working out at a gym, the lens focusing on his sweat-slicked face and body.

The last two images sent ice dancing along Joe’s veins.

They’d been Photoshopped and showed Ethan’s face superimposed on the body of a man who had been tied to a bed and was getting his ass pumped by a giant dildo. In the second shot, he’d been forced onto his knees and was getting fucked by one man while another shoved his dick down his throat, his chin dribbling with cum.

Joe’s pulse raced when he read the words on the card.

“Stay away from him or I will violate him and kill him.”

Rage burned through Joe, so sudden and vicious he saw red. He twisted and punched the wooden paneling of the wall with his fist.

This fucker!

“What the hell are you doing?” someone said behind him.

Joe whipped around, his heart slamming against his ribs.

Ethan was standing in the club’s doorway, a puzzled look on his face. His gaze dropped to Joe’s hands.

“What’s that?”

Joe crumpled the card and photographs and lowered his fisted hand by his side, fighting to control the dread and anger rushing through him.

“What are you doing here?” he said gruffly. “It’s your day off.”

“I forgot my gym card in the changing room.” Suspicion slowly darkened the green eyes staring at Joe. Ethan’s gaze dropped briefly to Joe’s hand again. “What’s going on?”

Joe remained silent.

Ethan’s pupils flared.

“Wait, is that another letter?”

Joe hesitated.

“Yes,” he finally admitted between clenched teeth.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. “Show it to me.”

Joe frowned. “No.”

Ethan drew a sharp breath in.

“Why the fuck not? It’s addressed to me, isn’t it?” He closed the distance between them and grabbed Joe’s white-knuckled hand.

“No, it isn’t.” Joe clasped the bartender’s wrist with his other hand and tugged. “Let go, Ethan!”

Ethan bared his teeth and fought him.

“Stop it!” Joe snarled. He pushed Ethan against the wall. “You don’t want to see this!”

Ethan struggled against him. Joe cursed as the card and photographs slipped out of his hand and landed on the floor by their feet. Ethan lunged, grabbed the wrinkled sheets, and unfolded them before Joe could stop him. He froze, blood draining from his face as he scanned the message and images.

Joe’s heart twisted painfully at the haunted expression that filled Ethan’s eyes.

A shudder ran through Ethan. He leaned against the wall, the card and pictures fluttering out of his hands and falling to the floor, his eyes wide and staring blindly at Joe.

Alarm filled Joe when he registered Ethan’s ragged breathing and trembling legs. He reached out and gently took the young man in his arms.

“It’s okay,” Joe said quietly. He dropped a kiss on the thick blond hair tickling his chin. “We’re gonna find this bastard and stop him.”

Ethan’s body was rigid against Joe, his breaths coming harder and faster.

“I can’t—I can’t breathe!” he gasped.

Joe’s pulse jumped when he looked into Ethan’s ashen face and heard his labored pants. He grabbed Ethan’s shoulders.

“Ethan, you’re having a panic attack! Just calm down, okay!”

Ethan shook his head, his pupils wide, air wheezing past his lips.

Joe cursed. He cradled the young man’s face and stared into his frightened eyes.

“Breathe,” he ordered.

Joe swooped and took Ethan’s mouth, pouring everything he had into the kiss, forcing Ethan to match his own breaths.

Ethan stiffened before shuddering against him. He parted his lips, his irregular gasps washing across Joe’s tongue, his fingers biting into Joe’s shoulders.

Joe didn’t stop until Ethan’s laborious breathing eased and the shivers racking his body finally stopped. He started lifting his mouth off Ethan’s reluctantly.

Ethan shuddered again, his grasp tightening on Joe’s flesh. For a moment, Joe thought the panic attack was gaining its grip on Ethan once more. Then Ethan softened and melted into Joe, passion overcoming his fear, his tongue lashing sensuously against Joe’s as he demanded more from their kiss. Joe stiffened for an instant before responding, sucking and nibbling on Ethan’s tongue. It was only when Ethan moaned under him that Joe finally let go of his lips.

Ethan blinked and stared up at him dazedly, his cheeks flushed and his mouth plump and rosy from Joe’s kiss.

Joe swallowed a groan of need and dropped his forehead against Ethan’s. “Better?” he said raggedly.

Ethan nodded shakily. His face sobered as he glanced at the pictures on the floor. “Shit,” he muttered in a trembling voice.

“I’m calling the cops,” Joe said in a hard voice.

Ethan hesitated before dipping his chin in agreement.