- Chapter Fourteen -

Huxton

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Nearly a week went by before the next phone call came. I was sitting beside Zoe when it happened, and not so innocently. Her head was on my inner thigh, and I was wrapping her hair around my cock, just enjoying the look and the feel.

She heard the ringing, reached for her jeans. Digging the phone out, she scowled at the number, giving away the caller. “Hello?”

Sitting against my headboard, I stretched my arms over my head. Nehro was on my bad side already. Interrupting our fun just made my distaste for him grow.

Zoe nodded her head, glancing at me. “Fine, we'll be there.” Not saying goodbye, she ended the call. I motioned for her, and she got the hint, crawling back into my lap. “Nehro needs us to come by tonight, eight on the dot.”

“Isn't that a little early?”

Wrinkling her nose, she wrapped her arms around my waist and nuzzled my chest. “Yeah, but look on the bright side. It means we can get out of there and do something fun.”

“Fun?” I asked, trailing a finger over her bare shoulder. I moved lower, enjoying the soft curve of her hip. Tiny goosebumps lifted where I went. “Isn't this fun?”

Her eyes twinkled with heat. “I meant like a movie.”

“I'd rather watch you for hours, that's almost the same.” Pushing her over, I bent in, stealing a kiss that went on so long that my lungs burned. Breaking away, I reveled in how dazed she was. Those pink lips were slightly open, tempting me back for more. “You're amazing, babe,” I chuckled, tracing the edge of her ear. “I never thought one woman could be so captivating.”

Blinking, Zoe watched me with new interest. “Can I ask something?”

“Anything.”

Adjusting on the bed, she rested on her side, giving me a view of her delicious, naked tits. “Your clients... did you like being with them, the way you do with me?”

My wince ran right over my mouth. I couldn't hide my reaction. Shit. “Zoe, I don't think you want to go down this road.”

Digging her nails into the sheets, she smiled coyly. “You think I'll get jealous.”

“Weren't you jealous when you thought Eliza and I could be more than friends?”

Gently, she gave me a shove. “That's not the same. And it wasn't really jealousy, I was just weirded out about you guys knowing each other and only telling me after my party.” She pursed her lips, and I wanted to kiss her again. “Escorting, is that how you two met?”

Laughing, I gave Zoe a once over. “Sort of. She was friends with another girl that I played security for. One night, this guy wanted two girls at once... so she called in Eliza.”

“Huh, and you just hit it off?”

“Not quite,” I said, smiling at the memory. “I think she didn't like me at first. Weird, right?” I winked, and Zoe just made a face. “Anyway, the dickhead got too handsy with them. I heard them scream, but by the time I got inside the room, Eliza had knocked the guy out with her shoe. After that, I had to get to know her. Once I bought her a drink, she warmed up.”

Zoe giggled, her fingers slipping across the bed to graze my shoulder. “Sounds like Eliza. Did any girls ever do that to you?”

“What, hit me with a shoe?”

“Get too handsy,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Smirking devilishly, I climbed over until she was under me, my hands on either side of her face. Already, she was breathing faster. “No, not my clients. No one could ever be too handsy with me. I only give them what they ask for.”

She licked her lips. “What do they ask for?”

Hesitating, I watched her closely. “You're really sure about this?”

“I'm fine. I don't care what you did with them. Beyond being curious, I mean.”

With new appreciation, I let my eyes eat up the girl in my bed. Zoe had a past full of wildness and excitement. She'd been with men similar to me... except entirely fucking different.

I was much better.

She knew the kind of man I was—that I could be. It was why she gorged herself on my tattoos and my foul mouth.

And, from what I'd seen, she didn't shy away from my insatiable side. My roughness. Was she really not unsettled by my stories?

Zoe. Whenever I thought I understood her, I found another layer.

Holding her wrists, I nuzzled her cheek, my breath hot on her skin. “You want to know what they asked for, what they begged me to do to them?” I licked the smooth corner of her throat, felt her rush of heat. “You want to understand why they paid me as much as they did just to get a taste of my cock?”

“Yes,” she blurted, trying to reach my mouth. I sat up, not giving her a chance. Her irritated mewl was adorable. “Huck, come on.”

“You said you wanted to know.” Tightening my fingers, I pushed her into the bed so hard the springs squeaked. “I'll show you, babe. I'll fuck you and I won't charge you a dime, but you have to tell me you really want this. I'm not wasting my skills on you if you're not into it.”

Nerves scattered through her wide eyes. “I doubt you'd do anything I wasn't into.”

Growling low in my throat, I settled my weight on her, rubbed my firm cock over her belly. “I like a challenge. Alright. Last chance, you up for some fun, or are you going to back down when it gets too much?”

Her lashes covered most of her eyes, but her smile was confident. “Seriously, you're so cocky. Go ahead.” She licked her lips. “Show me what too much is, Mr. Romantic.”

“Right now, I'm not Mr. Romantic.” I darted downwards, murmuring into her ear. “Tonight, I'm Huxton Blake, and you're my client. Hope you don't regret this, love. I know I won't.”

Zoe tried to muffle her whimper, but she couldn't hide her excitement. Fuck, I was just as ready. Adjusting myself, I saw some pre-come sticking to her skin. We were both entirely naked, the view fantastic. My palm ran down to her throat. “I'm going to get something. Don't fucking move, or this ends here.”

Swallowing, she held steady, listening to my threat. She didn't want this to stop, she was into it. Maybe that would change, but the more time I spent with this girl, the more I thought she was explosive; combustible. She was waiting for me to light the fucking match.

Digging in my closet, I slid my bag of tricks out. I kept it stocked, everything inside clean and ready to use. I was always prepared for what someone wanted to do. Right now, I was going to do what I wanted to do.

It occurred to me, as I unzipped the bag, that I'd never gotten to before. I always worked at pleasing my clients, and of course, that made me happy. But getting to indulge my perverse desires with someone who was wriggling in my bed, a blank canvas... well. It was turning me on rapidly.

When I looked back at Zoe, I smiled devilishly. Her stare was transparent, burning with lust. “Were you staring at my ass?” I teased.

She smiled, shrugging. “Guilty.”

I held the bag high, waved it. “Still sure?”

Her chest rose, demanding more air. “Yeah. Still sure. But I'm getting antsy.”

“That's part of the fun,” I chuckled. Putting the heavy toolbag on the table by the bed, near her head, I knelt close to her. My nose grazed her cheek, sliding lower until I kissed her jugular. It was pulsing madly.

My tongue took a trip to her collar bone. Further, rolling to her breast, circling a peach colored nipple. The moan she shivered with sent a jolt through my cock. Zoe was so open with her responses, I was obsessed with causing more of them.

Reaching into the bag, I pulled out the blindfold. Zoe lifted an eyebrow. “Isn't that a little vanilla?” she asked, bemused.

Clicking my tongue, I straddled one of her legs. My cock bounced off of her thigh, and she shot her attention there, unable to look away. “It'll be fun,” I said, slipping it over her eyes. Lowering a palm, I slapped her hip—making her squeak. “See? That didn't even hurt, but if you had seen it coming...” I spanked her again, the other side. Zoe squirmed, filling my shaft with a rush of blood.

Kissing her abruptly, I bit her bottom lip. She hissed, curling her fingers into my shoulders. Her ass rocked up, pussy grinding against me. My eyes fluttered, desire making me heady. “What's wrong? Can't hold still?” I asked, grabbing her wrists.

“Am I supposed to hold still?” she whined, wiggling desperately. “That's impossible. I can't.”

“Good to know, babe.” Smoothly, I shoved her hands over her head. From the bag, I dug out what I wanted. What good escort didn't have cuffs?

Zoe twitched, then froze as I attached her hands to my headboard. “You just cuffed me,” she said in disbelief.

Breathing in deeply, I languished at the sight of her. Her perfect body was stretched on my blankets, skin like new moonlight. There were freckles on her cheeks, her nose, and across her shoulders. She'd shaved herself down, allowing me to see the dampness winking between her thighs as she squirmed.

Gripping my cock, I gave myself a few lazy jerks. She couldn't see, that was fine. “Did you know I have a client who likes to be tied down, to have me shoot my come all over her chest, but never let her orgasm?”

Drawing her knees up, Zoe whined. “Fuck, don't do that to me. I'll go nuts if I can't come.”

“That's the idea.” Sliding her legs apart, I laid between them. Her pink cunt was inches away. Putting my thumbs on either side of her, I spread her lower lips, made her bloom like a flower.

Her clit was glowing, swollen and excited. “Fuck, you're soaked,” I whispered.

“No more of this,” she growled, yanking at the cuffs. “Fuck me, I don't want to play anymore, Huck.”

“You don't?” Running my fingertips along her slit, I endured a rush of heat as she trembled. “God, you're excited. I think you want more. Are you ready for what I'll do next? For how I plan to make your cunt cream itself?”

Curling her toes, Zoe breathed out loudly. “Holy hell, your clients like when you talk like that to them?”

Kissing just above her clit, I mumbled, “Don't you?”

Her answer was a new whimper. That was good enough, for now.

From my bag, I grabbed a bottle of lube. Setting it on the bed, I went back to lapping at her pussy. Zoe gasped, arching into my mouth. I let her, my hands cupping her ass cheeks so I could fill myself with her.

Rolling my fingers down, I circled her entrance, never going inside. She was done holding back, her voice husky, breaking up on the corners. “Fuck me, put your fingers in me, just give me something!”

Wrapping my lips around her clit, I kissed it, grinned. “Not yet, doll. But soon. I have plans for you, first.”

Hooking her feet over my shoulders, I buried my nose and lips in her cunt. Instead of stopping there, I went lower. My hands parted her ass-cheeks, exposing the pucker of her rear entrance. My new target.

“Ah!” she squeaked, tensing in my grip.

Chuckling darkly against her flesh, I breathed deep, licked further. My tongue probed, exploring her smooth skin and fighting her walls. My cock was throbbing, going mad with arousal. Eating her ass was turning me on wildly, her heels bouncing feebly on my back.

Pushing two fingers into her pussy, I spread my tongue wide. Curling my hand in her cunt, I soaked her asshole with my lips. I teased both places, occasionally rubbing her sensitive clit as I went.

Zoe was making noise—I realized she was panting my name, over and over. “Huck... Huck, please... god. Fucking hell, Huck!”

Backing out, I wiped my mouth and grabbed the lube. Zoe whined, rocking on the mattress, frustrated that I had stopped. She didn't realize how difficult she was making this for me. My cock was on fire, heavy with need. The tip was glossy with my early juices, and it demanded that I spear into her cunt.

But I was better than that.

I was a professional.

Coating a finger, I spread some lube on her ass. She groaned, then said, “Are you going to do what I think you are?”

“That depends. Do you think I'm about to finger your ass?”

She went stiff, the blindfold moving as she turned towards me. “Y—yeah.”

Smiling, I grazed between her cheeks, moving slowly. “Done this before?”

“Yes.”

I paused, then went back to massaging the slippery liquid onto her. “Then let's change tactics. You want me to do this?”

“Fuck, yes!”

“Then beg me.” Gently, I started to spread her with a fingertip. The second she tried to get more of me, I pulled out, enjoying her angry growl. “Just tell me you want me to stuff your cute little ass. That's all you have to do, sugar.”

Thrashing in her bonds, Zoe felt for me with her feet. She tried to make me go deeper, but it was useless. I set my knees on her thighs, forcing her wide open. With easy access, I rubbed her clit gently, never enough to get her off. My other hand pushed against her asshole again, daring to go half an inch into her warm walls.

I whispered, straining to keep control. “Tell me what you want. I need to hear that sweet mouth saying it's desperate for me to fill this tight ass.”

She didn't fight long. Baring her teeth, she hissed and tugged at my headboard. “Dammit! I—just do it! Fucking stuff my ass, you bastard!”

Closing my eyes, I endured the new rush she'd caused. Eager to please, my finger slid into her with torturous patience. Zoe was heaving, rocking on the bed. Deeper, I slid inside up to the knuckle. In and out, I did it until she was ready for another.

Two fingers, I spread them, tested what she could handle. She was sweating, the dampness collecting under her shaking breasts. I tried to take a photo with my mind.

“More,” she said, ever hungry.

Pulling my hand away, I ignored her sad noises. From the bag, I took out a new toy. It was slightly rounded, light blue and bigger than my thumb.

Coating it in lube until it shined, I tickled it up and down her crease. Finally, I pushed it inside, digging it deep into her ass until she closed around the tapered bottom. Her moan was long, loud; it shook my bones, turned my cock hard as rock.

I was done playing. I couldn't handle this. Zoe and her wanton lust for me was pushing me over the edge.

Fisting myself, I straddled her hips and slid my fat tip into her pussy. It eased into her, the trip made smooth by how wet she was from all my teasing. “God damn,” I growled, ripping her blindfold away. Zoe would watch me fuck her, of that, I had every intention.

Her eyes were a blizzard, but they didn't cool me off. Without hands, she only had one way to gain leverage. Wrapping her legs around my waist, she met my strokes, her own far more spastic and wild.

Ramming into her, I gripped her hair and demanded our mouths grind together. She tasted like sex, smelled like heaven. I was lost, and fuck it, I didn't want to be found. I could die here, I'd never felt more happy.

Hooking my arms around her knees, I pushed her to the limit, bending her nearly in half. With new gusto, I stuffed myself to the root. My cock swelled, stretching her walls until I was disoriented.

Warbling like a songbird, Zoe threw her head back. “I'm—fuck, I'm...!” She never said, but I knew. Around my shaft, her cunt rippled in the most powerful of embraces. It sent me over, hot prickles going from my feet to the back of my eyes.

At the last second, I pulled out. “Fuck,” I hissed, the pressure of my orgasm leaving me breathless. I covered her belly and inner thighs in my come, a sticky mess that shouldn't have happened.

The idea of using a condom had vanished somewhere in my careful plan. I'd lost it, forgotten the need to be careful. Zoe ruined me, stole the part of my brain that acted decisive.

Panting, I stared down at her. Static energy coursed between us, pure delight that acknowledged how erotic that had been.

Clearing my throat, I pushed the hair from my forehead. “Normally, this is where I'd clean up and leave.”

Smiling sideways, she tugged at the cuffs. “What, leaving me like this?”

My eyes warmed, one hand jerking my still half-hard cock. “Maybe. Some girls like that.”

“Not me,” she said, laughing. “Untie me. Not to spoil the mood, but we need to clean up and go.”

Right. The fight.

Sighing dramatically, I removed the cuffs and helped her sit up. “Still want a movie after this tonight?”

Winking, Zoe hopped off the bed. On purpose, she stretched upwards, showing off her ass. The toy was still there, and she knew I could see. My cock was waking again. “I've been inspired, magically, to want to do something much more... fulfilling, instead.”

Not for the first time, I hated that Nehro was dictating our lives. I ached to bend Zoe over and go at her again.

Later, I told myself, looking for my clothes. It's just another fight. Another fucking speed-bump.

Nehro could command us to go to his fucking Dog House.

But that was where it ended.

I'd play his dumb game, because when it was over, he could look on longingly as I left that grim place with the most stunning woman in the world at my side.

And she would be at my side.

Every fucking time.

I knew something was different when we entered the Dog House.

There was always a roar, a buzzing energy that existed before each fight or just after. This time, the air was... sharp.

Poignant.

“What's going on?” I asked, speaking to Zoe when we cleared the bottom step. Hundreds of eyes fixed on us, the mumbling getting louder. My hackles were sharp as needles.

Shaking her head, she grabbed for my hand. “I don't know. I'm not sure.”

People parted for us as we walked, giving us space. This wasn't good. Like we knew it could crack the mystery, we bee lined for the whiteboard. Our answer lay there, scribbled down in row upon row of marker.

Zoe growled out a simple, “No.”

I didn't look down at her. I just stared at the board, taking in the situation. There were five names listed on the left, each a different man, a unique fighter.

On the right there was only one name, repeated over and over.

Huxton.

Me.

“They want me to fight all of these guys?” I laughed, not believing it.

Gripping my hand fiercely, Zoe let me go. Her absent touch left a hollow itch. “No way. This is impossible, no one could handle this!”

My smile was sharp. “That's exactly it.” Covering my mouth, I laughed without any humor. “Fucking Nehro. He wants me to fail.”

“Huck, you're not doing this. That many guys...” Lifting her eyes, the blue depths glimmered with fear. “You wouldn't live through it. You'll be killed.”

A cold, angry sweat rippled down the back of my neck. She was right. This was an impossible task. A gauntlet designed to ruin us both.

Nehro was a true monster.

I studied Zoe. She saw the heat in my eyes, recognized my thoughts. “Don't you dare.”

“If I don't fight, you'll owe your body to Nehro.” Grimacing, I rolled my shoulders, loosening my tightening muscles. “I'd gladly die before I let that happen.”

She was going to slap me. Her hand whipped back, poised in the air and wavering. It never came forward. It fell down, limp and weak—helpless. That was how she felt.

I understood.

Sensing him, like a part of my brain had become attuned to the man, I saw Nehro before he opened his mouth. “Ah. You're still here, Huxton.”

“Of course I'm still here,” I snapped.

Showing his teeth, Nehro jerked his head at the board. “How does the lineup look?”

Eyeing his throat, I imagined myself choking him. “Looks fucking perfect. Thanks for having so much confidence in me.”

Ice spread over his eyes. He looked around me, nodding at Zoe. “He does know that he isn't obligated to fight in this gauntlet, right?”

“Of course he knows!” she shouted. “What the hell is wrong with you, Nehro? If you want me to fail in your little game so badly, why are you even doing this?” She gestured wildly, her tone rising with distress. “Just threaten my Gram! You know you can! You know it'd be enough!”

“Zoe, stop it,” I said.

She ignored me, screaming so loud people were staring. “Force me to be your whore, isn't that your fucking goal? Stop making me torture myself and everyone else! You're a fucking monster!”

Narrowing my eyes at Nehro, I reached for Zoe. No part of her was steady, I coiled her against my side.

Nehro watched us both, not flinching under her verbal attack. He spoke without any emotion. “Think of me what you will. I still believe in the sanctity of contracts. If you're so keen to free this man, it's fine with me. Tell him not to fight, and it's all over with.” His greasy stare rolled to me. “Your dear savior can walk away and go back to his life, before you dragged him into your troubles.”

Zoe shuddered in my embrace. I squeezed her, and when I heard her inhale, like she planned to speak out and 'save' me from all of this, I cut her off. “No need, I'll be fighting tonight.”

“Huck, no!”

Ignoring her, I held my head high and smiled down on Nehro.

He asked in cold disbelief, “You're really going to do this, let yourself suffer for her?”

“Sure am.” Gently, I disengaged from Zoe. Her eyes were big and wet, ruining her claim that she never cried. “Call me crazy, but I guess I happen to like trouble.”

Covering her mouth, she choked out a small sound.

Nehro looked at the clock, every bit of his humor replaced by a foul mood. He hated that I was going to take his challenge. Good.

That just fueled me more.

“Get ready,” he snapped, whirling away. “You begin in five minutes.”

Watching him go, I started to hand Zoe my jacket. “Please, Huck,” she whispered. “You're going to get murdered.”

“I'll win, babe.” I wished I could grin bigger, but it wasn't happening. “Have some confidence in me.”

I'd worn my gym gear under my street clothes this time, and stripping down to it, I shoved everything else into the bag I'd brought.

Wrapping my hands, I glanced at the crowd. They were milling around, exchanging money and slips of paper. Betting was on, and I realized, it was the first time I'd been at the Dog House so early. I'd never been the first match before. Or the last.

Now, I would get to be all of them.

“Huck.”

Tying off the bandages, I faced Zoe. It was as difficult as standing in that ring. She knew what I knew; tonight, I might not come out alive. “Listen,” I said, curling my fingers into her silk hair. I wanted to rub it all over me... and I couldn't. Not now, and perhaps never again. “Under my bed, there's a box. It isn't even locked, because I figured if someone was going to rob me, they'd get it open anyway.”

She stared at me, shaking her head slowly. “Huck...”

“Take my apartment key.” I shoved it into her palm, closed her fingers. “If this goes bad, you can have my savings. Use them to get another guy to do this for you. That way, even if I'm gone, you'll—”

She silenced me with her mouth, a kiss so rough it awoke the adrenaline in my veins. Zoe clawed at me, demanding more, trying to will me away with her very existence.

Except... it was her existence that I was fighting for.

Firmly, I grabbed her by the forearms. “Get yourself together, sugar.” Lifting my hands, I brushed her tears from her cheeks. My smile was tight. “When I'm standing out there, beating my way to a win...” I winked at her. “I want to hear you cheering your fucking lungs out for your dog.”

I backed away, there was nothing else to do but head to my fate. I'd put myself here, I wasn't going to run. Where would I—we—even go? It was impossible to escape, we couldn't scoop up her Gram; the poor woman wasn't fit for travel. Nehro would hunt us all down. This was all I could do for her.

For us.

Zoe stared at me, dead on and never flinching. Her lips moved, but I didn't hear her. The bell had rung, the crowd drowning her out. Everyone was ready. They were excited to watch me get shredded by fists and teeth.

As I walked with heavy feet to the chalk ring, I repeated the vision of Zoe in my mind. I watched her again and again, seeing her lips curl, reading the shape of them.

She'd mouthed three words.

Words I'd heard before...

But had never believed.

My ears burned, people shoving to get a better view. And in my mind, I thought of that star-child who had captured my heart in ways no woman ever should have.

I love you, too, Zoe.

The bell dinged.

Perching on the edge of the ring, I held my fists high and eyeballed the first man who dared to face me.

It was time.