Stroke the Demon

Stroke the Demon Copyright © July 2011 Eden Cole, Risky Ink Cover Art by Risky Ink ISBN: 978-1-937394-03-5 All rights are reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Stroke the Demon

Eden Cole

Chapter One Nick jetted down the hallway with his backpack hanging from his shoulder and his sneakers whistling on the slippery floor. He darted around the corner out of the line of sight of the others leaving their classrooms. His heart hammered in his chest, and his hair was plastered to his forehead. While he tried to gain control, he closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. He was eighteen today, and that usually meant great things— independence, no curfew, and soon graduation. But the changes in his life had been happening with greater intensity over the last year, like they knew his adulthood loomed. What freaked him out was what was going on with his body. This wasn’t normal stuff or anything a guidance counselor could explain. He let his pack fall off his shoulder to the floor, and he sank down beside it. Sucking in a deep breath, he unfurled his hand which had been clenched at his side. The whole time he ran, he’d been aware of the pain in his palm, but now he faced what caused it. Claws. In a matter of seconds while he sat in Mr. Gillespie’s science class, his fingernails had grown out half an inch. They were thick, hard, and sharp like a knife. They’d sliced through his hand when he made a fist so no one would see. But the hands weren’t what had sent him bolting for the door. No, that had been his eyes. They itched and burned. And since he sat next to the window in the class, he’d glanced at it only to be met with is own eyes burning red. Before anyone else could notice, he’d tossed his jacket up over his face and ran out. Why was this happening to him? Of all the people it could have happened to, why a nobody who had no parents, who was stuck in this damn private school most of his life, and who had a benefactor he’d never met nor spoken to? Tears pricked his eyes, and they stung. The itching had subsided, and once the tears broke and fell down his cheeks, the pain went away too. He guessed the redness had receded, but he needed to be sure. 1

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“There you are.” He knew by the voice that it was his best friend, Karen, if not for the black sneakers, black socks, and black tights above those. “What the hell got into you running out like that? Mr. G stopped me from following, or I’d have found you sooner.” “Got a mirror,” he mumbled rather than answer her question. “What?” “A mirror,” he snapped and gritted his teeth. That was another thing. He had developed anger issues in the last six months. Everything and everyone pissed him off, and it was the fastest way to make one of these freakish things happen to his body. He struggled to pull himself together. “What do I look like a Barbie Doll who needs to check my makeup every minute of the day?” she quipped back. “Hold on.” She disappeared for a second and returned to hold something out to him. Nick figured she’d snagged someone else’s mirror. Karen could be a bully when she wanted to, but mostly she kept to herself or hung out with him. He took the mirror and dipped his head to check his face. His eyes were their normal color—black. That was unusual too, wasn’t it? Who the hell was he? He’d asked himself that same question a hundred times and haunted the principal’s office asking about any info on his sponsor. No one could give him answers. Or they refused. Said his sponsor wanted to be anonymous. Asshole! He stood up and faced Karen handing the mirror back. “Nothing’s wrong. Just felt sick for a minute.” She frowned at him, studying his face. “You’re never sick. Something else is going on.” “I said drop it,” he growled. His friend was never intimidated by his fits of anger, but she didn’t push either. They turned to head down the hall, weaving in between the crowds of students to make their way to their lockers. Weary with everything, Nick dialed the combo lock and noticed his fingernails were normal again. He sighed with relief.

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When he opened the door, he spotted the letter. His throat went dry. No one had his combination, and even if they’d slipped the letter through the vents in the top of the door, it would have fallen flat on the shelf or dropped to the floor of the locker—not tucked itself on its side to rest against his World History textbook. Why this should scare him he didn’t know, but it seemed like just one more mystery in his screwed up life. Well, a mystery he could get to the bottom of, he guessed, if he opened the note. With a trembling hand, he picked up the envelope. Everything around him faded away, including the students shouting about what they were going to do with the weekend and who was seeing what girl, and Karen’s unending complaints about her father who was a judge. He flipped the letter to the backside to find a seal like they used in the old days—red wax melted on the flap and imprinted with something that looked like a creature with ragged teeth and piercing eyes. Nick’s heart raced. He tore it open and retrieved the letter. Nicholas Halifax, You have an appointment with your benefactors on your birthday, April 4th at four p.m. Do not be late. Do not tell anyone. Nick blinked. Was it real? The address had been included, but nothing more than that, and there was no header or footer on the page, just the words. Benefactors. Was that a typo? Could there be more than one? He’d never heard that there was or wasn’t. He’d been given no information one way or another, not even if it was a man or a woman, or if they lived in the United States or elsewhere. “What’s that?” Karen reached for the letter, but he held it away from her. “Nothing.” He glanced at his watch. Three fifteen. If he didn’t get moving, he’d be late, and something told him whoever this person or persons were, they would not appreciate it. The thought of not going didn’t enter his mind. This could be his chance to get answers. He wasn’t sure if he’d ask about the strange changes happening with his body, but

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there was the possibility that the person would already know. “I have an appointment. I gotta go.” Karen tried asking him what kind of appointment, but he tossed his books in his locker and slammed the door closed. He ran toward the exit and zipped between other students leaving. The company mentioned was in the downtown area, not far from the school but far enough that he would need every minute of the forty-five left for him to get there. He jogged the twenty or so blocks, always having good stamina whether he made the effort or not. With five minutes to spare, he entered the lobby of the office building and took the elevator to the thirty-third floor. When he stepped off the elevator, his choices were simple, left or right. He chose right and entered the lobby of Halifax and Associates. His chest constricted. Halifax. Did that mean the owner was related to him, maybe even his father? “Good afternoon, sir,” the receptionist said pleasantly. “May I help you?” Nick licked his lips and swallowed. “I have an appointment with…” Damn, he didn’t have a name. “I have an appointment. I’m Nick…uh…Nicholas…” A door opened in his peripheral vision, and he turned his head to find a huge man in an expensive gray suit bearing down on him. He smiled at Nick, but the danger in his eyes belied the friendly expression. “Nicholas, thanks for coming. Join me in my office?” Nick hesitated. He glanced at the receptionist, but she’d gone back to her computer screen and answering the phone. Despite the fear in his gut, Nick followed the man back to the office he’d come from. The click of the door shutting them inside made him jump. The man indicated a chair in front of his desk, but Nick remained standing. He wanted to be ready if he needed to run. He didn’t know why he felt like this or what he picked up on exactly, but there was something. The man parked himself on the side of the desk, unbuttoned his jacket, and crossed arms over a broad chest. His eyes black like Nick’s trained on

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him, unmoving, staring at him with such intensity it was as if he could see inside Nick’s head. Nick shifted from one foot to the other. “I can’t stay long. I have to study for exams,” he blurted. The man laughed. “Is that so?” He nodded having lost the ability to say more with such powerful fear overwhelming him. Dark, ominous eyes narrowed, but the grin never left his face. “Now that surprises me because I’d be willing to bet you never have to study. The answers just come to you. More so in the last year.” How could he know that? Nick’s knees buckled. He made his way to the chair to cover his weakness before he fell down. The guy was right of course. He didn’t study—ever. He didn’t get perfect grades because all the answers didn’t come to him, but enough did so he passed every test. He was a freak of nature, and he’d never shared that with anyone but Karen. And that had been long before all this other weird stuff started. When Nick didn’t respond, the man continued. “My name is Aiden Halifax, and I’m your benefactor. Or one of them.” Nick’s eyes widened. “Are you my—” “Father?” There again was that sense of evil when he laughed. “No, I’m not.” To Nick’s shock, his gaze raked him from head to foot, and then lingered on the bulge in his jeans. “That’s a good thing. I’ve waited a long time for you. We both have.” “Both?” Nick croaked. A door he hadn’t noticed before opened, and a man stepped into the office. He too was dressed in a suit, this one black. In fact, he reminded Nick of Karen in some ways with his dark aura. His hair and eyes were midnight. His build rivaled Aiden’s in that he was all muscle, at least six foot four. He stalked across the room with purpose and stopped in front of Nick. Nick tried not to cower when the man raised a hand and touched his cheek. He mesmerized Nick with his glare, froze him in place. Even if he wanted to get away, he was trapped. Even if I want to? he mused in 5

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surprise. This man standing so close to him made him grip the chair’s arm rests. The material tore under his claws. He was glad it was underneath so they couldn’t see, and at least his eyes didn’t itch so he figured they were normal. “I’m Logan,” the man in front of him said.” He leaned in close. Their lips were inches apart. He stared like he memorized Nick’s face. “At last you’re eighteen. Rules,” he spat. “W-What rules?” Nick didn’t want to ask about stupid rules. He wanted to know who they were and what they wanted from him. Logan didn’t answer. He slanted his mouth over Nick’s in a kiss that hardened Nick’s cock in one instant and terrified him the next. He shoved at Logan’s chest, but the strength under the form sent him falling backward. His chair overturned onto the floor. Nick scrambled to his knees and dragged an arm across his mouth. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he shouted. Logan’s eyebrow flicked skyward. He seemed unfazed by Nick’s outburst and straightened his jacket before going to sit beside Aiden. “Tasting what belongs to me.” Aiden sneered. “And me.” Nick righted the chair and stood up. He considered bolting for the door and never looking back, but despite their weird words and the way they looked at him like he was a meal, he had to know what they knew about him. Maybe they could tell him something about his parents. “Just keep your distance,” he threatened. Neither man seemed worried. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘belongs to me’ but I’m nobody’s…uh…whatever you think you want me for.” Both sets of male lips twitched in amusement. Nick ignored them. “Just like you said, I’m eighteen now. I’m legally an adult. I can go where I want and do what I want. Remember that. If you were the ones paying the bills all this time, thanks. But I don’t need you anymore. I just want to know one thing—who am I?” “You mean what are you, don’t you?” Aiden interjected.

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Nick fell silent. He hadn’t heard right. He couldn’t have. Or this was a dream, and he was back home in his dorm room with his roommate having snored so loud all night, that he could sleep only in the early hours. He’d been blaming his roommate for his not being able to get rest at night for years. But the fact was he felt stronger in the night, more alert. He must really be freaked out to be thinking of that kind of thing at a time like this. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nick lied. Every strange incident he’d suffered over the last twelve months paraded through his head like someone was forcing him to review it. He looked at Logan whose expression had turned even darker if that was possible. “Don’t you?” Logan demanded. He strolled over to Nick and moved behind him, so close Nick could feel the heat rolling off his body—impossible heat for a human being. He reached around to cover Nick’s hands as they rested on the back of the chair. Nick froze once again, unable to move. He could only stare at Aiden while Logan nuzzled his hair. Nick felt his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he struggled to get his throat wet. Aiden’s pants had tented watching Logan with him. His lips parted slightly. “I-I’m not that,” Nick whispered. Aiden smiled. “Not what?” Nick couldn’t answer. “You’re a lot of things, Nicholas,” Aiden instructed him, “but the thing that Logan is referring to at this particular time is that you’re a demon— half demon to be exact.”

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Chapter Two “You kissed him,” Aiden accused Logan. “So?” Aiden growled. “So we were going to take things slower. We were going to explain to him what he is and why he belongs to us.” Logan shrugged and dropped into Aiden’s chair before leaning back and tossing his feet up on the desk. Aiden narrowed his eyes, knowing they’d gone red. When they were alone, he had no need to hide what they both were, although he toned it far down at the office. No one needed to know their secrets, least of all the humans they employed. Working with humans had its advantages. “So what,” Logan quipped. “You can’t tell me you didn’t want it as well. You smelled him, that delicious combo of human and demon, darkness and…well if not light then something.” “Innocence,” Aiden supplied grudgingly. “Yes, I smelled it. Having him would fulfill our fantasies. We’ve waited for him eighteen years. We could have waited a bit longer to explain to him what he is and what he means to us.” Logan swore. “What’s the point? He’s to share our bed forever. It’s within our power to force him. After all, that’s what we do.” “No, it’s not!” Aiden ran fingers through his hair. This was what he had to deal with in Logan all the time, impulsiveness. No forward thinking. He was all evil, all narrow-mindedness when it came to what he wanted. “We coerce. We get them to want to give us what we want. It’s all a part of the game, and it makes them sweeter.” “Nick can’t get any sweeter.” Logan closed his eyes as if recalling the kiss to Aiden’s jealousy. “You should have tasted his lips. When I get him under me, I’m never going to stop.” “And when he runs out of innocence? What then?” Aiden demanded. “Bah! He’ll never run out. What have we been saying? He’s half human. There will always be an element of innocence in him. That’s the

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whole reason we orchestrated his birth, so we could have something like him that none of the others have had. He’s the best of both worlds.” “You fool,” Aiden ground out. “Don’t you realize the very thing that makes him appealing is the same that makes him weak? If we push him before he’s ready, he is liable to kill himself. What then? We’ll have to start all over and wait another eighteen years. Is that what you want?” Logan’s eyes snapped open, and he jerked upright. “Fuck, I never considered that.” “You never do.” His partner glared at him. “So what do we do?” “We do what we do best.” Aiden grinned. “We manipulate circumstances around him to make him come to us. The advantage is that it’s in him already. You saw how he reacted to your kiss. We show him what he’s been missing, and when he desires us with the lust in his body, his mind will follow.” “Sounds like more time,” Logan complained. “I want him now. I’ve thought of nothing else for a long time, and now that I’ve tasted him, I want more. I want all of him.” “We’ll have him soon enough.” Aiden rounded the desk and sat on the edge in front of Logan. “In the meantime, maybe I can offer you something to tide you over.” Logan’s eyes turned smoky. He raked Aiden from head to foot and then stood to move closer. Their bodies just touched, and Logan brushed Aiden’s hair back from his shoulder. Aiden looked down at the bulge in both their pants as their cocks reached out to touch each other. “So that’s a yes?” he asked though he knew he didn’t have to. “Yes.” As usual Logan’s loving was rough. He curled his fingers into Aiden’s shoulder and jerked him forward. Their lips met, tongues intertwined from years of sharing their passion. Logan forced his way to the upper hand even though they were the same height and build. He leaned over Aiden, pushing his head back as he claimed his lips. His grunts of pleasure resounded inside Aiden’s mouth, and he had no problem surrendering to his lover. 9

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Logan ran a hand down his shirt front and then unhooked his belt. Aiden’s cock twitched in anticipation. He gasped at the first stroke and winced when Logan squeezed him hard, pulling on his erection. “Give me what I want,” Logan ordered. “It’s yours,” Aiden countered. “Always has been—always will be.” Logan’s eyes flamed red. He dropped to his knees and dragged Aiden’s pants over his hips. Aiden found no reason to put on underwear since more often than not he and Logan were locked in each other’s arms, fucking like animals. Besides, Logan couldn’t control his desire as well, and he usually wound up ripping Aiden’s pants. The ripping sound that met his ears confirmed his thoughts, but he didn’t care from the second Logan swallowed him. His head went back as Logan wrapped fingers around his cock base and shoved it into his mouth. His lips tightened over Aiden’s length, and he pulled on him until Aiden felt the stirrings of an orgasm. A hiss left his lips. He rocked his hips forward and pumped into Logan’s mouth. He knotted his fingers in Logan’s dark hair. “Fuck, yeah, Logan, make me come. Do it now.” Mm, the good thing about being demons, he thought. They couldn’t be hurt. They could take it rough and give as violently as they got it and be none the worse for wear. But that was also the bonus with Nick. He could be hurt. He was different, special. His very essence had driven Aiden as crazy as it had Logan, and there was nothing he wanted more than to bury himself inside Nick and claim him as his own. However, they had to do it right. Sex with Logan would get them through the wait like it had done for almost two decades, even before then since they’d been in existence for millennia. Aiden’s thoughts all culminated on his coming orgasm. Logan knew how to please him. He howled his delight while shoving himself far inside Logan’s mouth. When he could hold back no longer, he let go. Hot come burst forward, and he watched with burning eyes as his lover drank down all of it.

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Logan stood up when he was done, his lips wet with Aiden’s juices. Aiden licked his partner’s mouth clean and kissed him deep. If they knew anything of love, he might say that he loved Logan. What he did know was that no other demon had taken Logan’s place since he first met him in the bowels of hell. “Turn around,” Logan commanded. Aiden did and bent over the desk. Logan went back down on his knees and began licking at Aiden’s ass. Hot pleasure rippled over Aiden’s body. He arched his back so that his hips rose, and he gripped the edge of the desk. When Logan had wet him down, he stood up again and loosened his pants. The buckle clanged behind him, and Aiden squirmed in anticipation. The first piercing of Logan’s big shaft tore a cry from Aiden’s throat, and then he was full. Logan thundered into him, slamming his cock into Aiden’s ass over and over again. He held nothing back, and Aiden wouldn’t have wanted him to. Aiden shut his eyes, groaning his bliss and pain. Logan flattened large palms on the desk at either side of Aiden and ground deep into him. “Yes, yes,” Logan grunted. “You remain tight no matter how many times I take you. I can’t stop. You’re going to make me come in you.” “I want you to,” Aiden said. “Think of him as you do it. Think of that innocent face, those soft lips. He’s muscular but so much smaller than we are. Imagine how good it’s going to be to take him and make him obey us.” Logan’s growls filled the room. Aiden had thought ahead when he had workmen make this room soundproof. Logan was all beast when he had sex, and Aiden’s words had driven him over the edge. “Nicholas,” Logan cried out. “Tell me his ass feels this good.” “Better!” Logan collapsed on his back. His fingers had become claws, and he dug them into Aiden’s sides as he thrust into him. His body molded over Aiden’s. Not an inch of space between them now as Logan gyrated on top of him. Aiden goaded him with more words that drew pictures of the pleasure to be found having sex with Nicholas. He teased himself as well. 11

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His cock grew tight once again, and he reached under him to stroke it in tune with Logan’s movements. A short while later, they came together, moaning and satisfied for the time being. When he pulled out, Logan dropped into Aiden’s chair, and this time Aiden sat on his lap. They kissed in silence for a few moments until Aiden broke it off. “So, you’re ready to follow my plan?” Logan sighed. “I guess I have no choice. But if you think what we just did will be enough, you’re mistaken.” Aiden laughed. “I know you. Don’t worry. We’ll take the rest of the day off to recover from seeing him in person for the first time.” “I don’t know why we couldn’t see him before now anyway.” “Those were the rules he set, and you know it. Besides, you would never have lasted this long if you saw that face and body before today.” “I guess you’re right.” Logan wrapped his arms around Aiden’s waist. “So, we’re on?” Aiden nodded. “Yeah, we’re on.”

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Chapter Three Nick drank his cola down without stopping. The burn from the carbon dioxide was a welcome torment, anything to distract him from what he’d learned about himself. Not that he believed what Aiden said. The problem was that so much of what he’d said explained the issues Nick was having. In a way, he’d like to believe it, to settle his mind if that were possible. “So how did your appointment go yesterday?” Nick started and looked up at Karen who sat across from him. They’d been lucky to get the table in the pizza joint since this was the favorite hangout of not just students from their private academy but the local high school as well. Right now, on a Saturday night, the place was packed, standing room only. “It went,” Nick said. “It went?” She frowned. Karen wasn’t exactly beautiful, but she was pretty when she wasn’t hiding behind layers of purple or black makeup with weird crap in her hair which didn’t bring order to the thick mass. Once they’d tried having sex, but Nick had stopped things from going too far when he realized it didn’t feel right. He hadn’t repeated the mistake, but sometimes he caught her looking at him like she didn’t feel the same. Karen’s stares were the same as most of the other girls around him. He’d never had a problem there. They threw themselves at him without him saying a word. “Yeah, it went,” he sniped. “Get off my back.” She swore. “Cripes, you’re moody lately.” He laughed. “I’m always moody.” “More than usual.” He shrugged glancing around the diner, and when his searching gaze met Aiden’s, he froze. Aiden did little more than acknowledge him with a raised brow as he walked in the door, and then he too scanned the place. He strolled toward a table of three guys. One smile from Aiden, threatening in its mysterious way, and the boys fled. Aiden took the booth and sat down. Right away, girls from various parts of the diner rushed 13

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over to him and scooted in at his side and across from him. They cooed and batted lashes to get his attention. What the hell? “Oh, who is that?” Karen breathed. “I’ve never seen him before. Are any of them his girlfriend? They can’t be, can they?” Nick blinked at her. His friend, who he’d known a long time and never once seen her pant over a guy, had spoken with a breathless tone like she was ready to have an orgasm or something. That was far from being the Karen he knew. If she ever had a crush, her reaction was to punch him first and tell him about it after, if he didn’t cry. But Nick didn’t get the chance to ask what her problem was. A hand slammed down on his table, distracting him. He looked around and sneered. “Cable Morrison.” “Nick Halifax,” the guy spat. “Did I give you permission to use this table? Well, you held it for us at least. I’ll be generous. You and your dog can vacate now.” Nick tucked his hands beneath the table when he felt his fingernails growing. He only hoped the eyes wouldn’t change. “You’ve tried to bully me and my friend for years, Cable. It’s never worked before, what makes you think it will work tonight?” Cable laughed. “Because you always walk away.” He flicked his gaze to Karen. “No, your pet pulls you away. Something about not messing up your pretty face. You know what, Nick, I think she has a crush on you, but that can’t be because animals and humans going at it is disgusting.” Cable was big. He was the star quarterback on the football team, and he never went anywhere without his group of lackeys, all just as big as he was. They were the spoiled rotten product of rich parents with more interest in their work than raising their kids to be good people. His size and the influence Cable’s parents waved around was why Karen had encouraged him to walk away from any conflict with Cable. But none of that entered Nick’s mind when he stood up, grabbed the back of Cable’s head, and slammed his face down on the table.

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Gasps broke out all around the diner, and someone yanked the plug on the jukebox, he guessed so they could hear everything that was said. All other conversations ceased. Nick jerked Cable’s head up and noted the blood gushing from his nose. He was aware his anger had come unhinged, when he would have gotten as far away from everyone as possible, but this time he stayed put. He leaned down to Cable’s ear. “You’re nothing. Do you understand? No-thing!” To his surprise, Cable repeated it. Nick thought he was trying to piss him off further until he forced Cable’s head up and saw the blank stare in his eyes. Nick gasped and shoved him away. Cable landed on his ass, and Nick marched toward the exit. “Hey, you aren’t going anywhere,” one of Cable’s friends shouted. He cried out a second later, and Nick guessed Karen had done something to him. Nick didn’t stop until he was outside running down the street. He cut around a few corners until he figured he’d lost anyone who was following, and then he sank to the ground, his back against a wall. He ran his hands through his hair, eyes closed. “You’ve made me proud.” Nick started and looked up at Aiden standing in front of him. He scanned the surrounding area, but no one else he knew was in sight. “Proud?” he all but shouted. “I let my anger get the best of me. I could have killed him. It wasn’t that serious.” Aiden shrugged. “You’re a demon. It doesn’t have to be serious.” “Half demon! I mean—” He sighed and stood up. “I don’t know if I believe you.” A flash of Cable’s vacant eyes went through his mind. “What did I do to him? Or was it you? You made me do that.” Aiden shook his head, so calm with his hands tucked in his pockets, wearing a suit and his blond hair hanging loose about his shoulders. For a moment, Nick wondered if this look was why the girls had run to him. Why it should piss him off, he couldn’t tell. “No, I didn’t do it, although I could have,” Aiden confessed. “That was all you. It’s a part of who you are, and there’s much more of where 15

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that came from. I did, however, suppress you enough so that your eyes would not change. You seem to have a problem controlling them.” “Suppress me?” Nick gritted his teeth. “Then you could have kept the whole thing from happening.” “Why would I do that?” Nick balled his hands into fists. He turned to walk away, but Aiden pushed him back and closed the space between them. He waited for the man to assault him like the other one did so he could plant his fist in his face, but Aiden stayed where he was. “You need to accept what you are,” Aiden said. “I’m a student, graduating next month. I’ve got a four year scholarship to the college I’ve chosen, plus expenses. I know the career choice I’ve made. Whatever you think I am or that I’m going to do doesn’t matter.” “Really?” “Yeah, really,” Nick ground out. Aiden stepped closer. Nick refused to identify the odd feelings that seemed to be unleashed at Aiden’s nearness. Maybe he had some kind of demon spell that made humans want him. But no, not Nick. He refused to give into it. “If I hadn’t suppressed your anger, you would have killed that guy.” “That’s a lie,” Nick yelled. “It was a simple fight. That’s all.” “Then maybe I should back off and leave you to your own devices.” To demonstrate, he took two steps back from Nick. The heat from his body waned, leaving Nick shivering. He wondered if humans felt the same from him and Logan. Wait, he was human, wasn’t he? Confusion clouded his mind. He pushed his damp hair from his forehead, trying to think clearly. Two women strolled by, glancing their way and tossing them inviting looks. Nick had trouble swallowing his irritation. “It’s a part of who we are,” Aiden explained. “We take the appeal of the bad boy role to a whole new level. You’ve noticed it, haven’t you? Since you hit puberty, there hasn’t been a lack of girls and women offering themselves to you?” 16

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Nick grumbled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not like you.” Aiden studied his face. “Yes, you’re different in many ways. We were made. You were born. Your abilities didn’t really come alive until recently, and you can’t control your anger which enhances your gifts. However, you’re not as powerful as we are because of your human side, which is a good thing because of the anger.” Nick turned away. “I don’t believe…I don’t want…” Aiden moved up behind him and settled his hands on Nick’s shoulders. To Nick’s shame he found he wanted to settle back into Aiden’s embrace. He held himself stiff instead. “Do men want you because of what you are?” “Not unless I make them want me.” Nick whirled around. “Then that’s what you’re doing. You’re manipulating—” He slapped a hand over his mouth. If he accused Aiden of making him want him, he’d be admitting that he had those feelings. Amusement colored Aiden’s eyes. He pulled Nick’s hand down and crowded him until he backed against the wall. Aiden leaned down and covered Nick’s mouth. He pushed his tongue between his lips, and for a long minute Nick didn’t fight him. Not until warning bells sounded in Nick’s head did he shove the other man with all his strength. Aiden stepped back, as surefooted as if he floated on air. “Don’t you fucking do that again, or I’ll kill you,” Nick shouted. He waited for Aiden to tell him that he wanted it and not to deny it, but Aiden didn’t say a word. He stood stock still, eyes so black they looked like coal. He breathed deep, and linked his hands behind his back. His broad chest rose and fell, gapping his suit jacket to reveal more of his crisp white shirt and straight tie. Nick clamped his teeth together, breathing through his nostrils. He was aware that his cock had gone hard, tenting his pants for the second time when a man had touched him in an intimate way. He’d never experienced it before, so he couldn’t be sure if it was a normal reaction for his high sexual appetite. No other man had tried to assault him like that. 17

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“I’m going to find Karen,” he announced. “Don’t follow me.” When he walked to the corner, he looked back and saw that Aiden hadn’t moved, but after he turned it, he got a start to find Aiden ahead of him leaning on the wall. “You will need me soon, Nicholas.” “My name is Nick.” “And when you do, I will be here for you.” Nick held up his middle finger as he strolled by. “I got along without you all this time. I can keep going. You should have been there a long time ago, but now it’s too late. I’m grown.” Aiden said nothing, but Nick could have sworn he felt an intense desire coming from the demon that if let loose would overwhelm him and swallow him up.

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Chapter Three Crack! Nick rubbed his cheek frowning at Karen who sat beside him on his bed. “What the hell was that for?” he grumbled. She shook her head. “I should be the one asking questions here. What’s gotten into you? Why would you try to grab my boobs like that all of a sudden?” Nick grinned and shrugged. “They’re nice. I figured they were for grabbing.” “Not for you!” “Come on, Karen. All the girls want me. You’re not different. That is unless you’re a lesbian or something.” Her eyes widened, and he caught the hurt before she masked it. She jumped to her feet and stomped toward the door. “You’re a jerk. When my friend comes back, he knows where he can find me.” Panic set in. Nick had no one but Karen, and if she ran off the only person who cared about him and whom he could trust, he was screwed. He caught her before she could get through the door and pulled her back then slammed it closed. “I’m sorry. Don’t go.” She winced trying to get her wrist free of his hold, but she no longer tried to escape the room. Nick unfurled his fingers and stepped back, watching as she rubbed the reddened skin. Sometimes he forgot that another one of his “gifts” as Aiden called them was increased strength. The one thing he could agree with the demon on was that Nick had no control over himself. He sighed and went back to his bed to sit down. The whole reason he’d snuck Karen into his dorm room was because he wanted to talk to her. She had always kept him on the ground when he felt like he was going to lose it. After a few minutes of watching him with a wary look in her eyes, she came back over to the bed. “What’s going on, Nick? It’s like you’re compensating for something.” He wrinkled his nose. “Don’t go all psychology on me, Karen.” 19

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“Well it’s true. After that appointment—” “Don’t!” he growled. She fell silent. Even though he didn’t want to admit it, he knew she was right. After that thing with Cable and him almost killing the guy and then later kissing Aiden, he felt like he was losing his mind. He had to prove to himself that he was still the person he knew. Now that he thought about it, groping Karen of all people wasn’t the best choice. He should have come on to one of the other girls. Frustrated and annoyed, he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. Karen laid a hand on his thigh and patted it. For some reason, the touch reminded him of Aiden. How his body had reacted to Aiden. He’d grown hard, and he’d liked the brush of the demon’s mouth on his. But that was what they did, wasn’t it? They tricked a person into feeling something that wasn’t real? He grunted and surged to his feet to pace, glad that his roommate wasn’t around right now since three of them in his small room would be a crowd. “Talk to me, Nick,” Karen said again. He glanced at her. “You couldn’t handle this.” She frowned. “Don’t do clichés. Just spit it out. I’m your friend, always. You know that.” He didn’t know if that would hold true after he told her about himself and about his benefactors. Over the years they had speculated about who it could be. As little kids, they’d woven all kinds of romantic stories about his father being a pirate who paid for his schooling with booty, and he couldn’t visit him because he’d been exiled from the country. Reality was harsher and bit ass. Nick stopped pacing and stared at Karen. She stared right back, and he sighed. “Since you want to know, here it is. I believe I’m a half demon.” Her lips tightened, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine! I’m leaving.” “Sit down!” he bit out, and then snapped his mouth closed when she froze in shock. Nick tore at his hair. “Don’t you see? I have anger issues. I can’t control my emotions.”

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“You’re just dealing with the stress of having to leave this place and getting on with your life. It happens to the best of them.” “Not like this.” She reached for his hand and pulled him back to the bed. He dropped down beside her. As he always did, Nick felt her attraction to him. So why did she push him off when he tried to grab her? He’d never get women. In a solemn tone, he explained all the changes that had taken place in him over the last year. He told her about Aiden and Logan, but he didn’t share how they’d both kissed him and how he liked it. That was too much, and maybe she wouldn’t believe that part any more than the rest. Nick hadn’t exactly turned down all the female attention he’d gotten up until now. “When I’m angry, that’s when it shows. And you’ve seen, I’m angry a lot. I couldn’t stop myself from almost killing Cable,” he confessed when his tale was over. “How about counseling? Mr. Coleman isn’t so bad to talk to once you stop fixating on his toupee.” Nick chuckled. “If that’s even possible. Anyway, I don’t want to discuss that anymore. What about you? What are you doing after we graduate? You haven’t accepted any offers from a college.” She rolled her eyes. “You mean I haven’t gotten any offers from colleges. My grades don’t match yours. I’m going to go work with my mother in her florist shop.” “I don’t see you working with flowers.” “Me either, but my father doesn’t want me. My mother only just blackmailed him into paying for my education here. He’s not going to do more than that. He thinks she trapped him by getting pregnant with me when they had their affair.” “And did she?” She sneered. “Yeah, I can see the demon in you!” He sat up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” His apology did nothing to appease her. “Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been just a little evil. You’re blunt, and I always got the feeling

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that if it didn’t serve your purposes, you wouldn’t look out for me if I ever got in trouble.” “Now who’s being the demon?” he grumped. “Come on. Let’s get out of here and have some fun. I’m cooped up.” He strolled for the door expecting her to follow. He wasn’t surprised when he heard her footsteps in his wake. They caught a bus downtown since Nick knew Karen didn’t have his ability to jog that far and not be worn out. He dropped into a chair near the back, and Karen sat across from him, putting buds in her ears so she could listen to some music. She was still angry, but he didn’t let it get to him. Soon enough, she’d snap out of it and forgive him. When Logan appeared in the chair in front of him, he didn’t even blink. “Hello, handsome,” Logan said with a smile—or more of a leer. Nick glanced over at Karen. She didn’t react at all. “She can’t see me,” Logan explained. “None of the humans can.” Nick scanned the faces of the few people around them. No one registered the fact that a man dressed all in black had appeared out of nowhere. Tonight, Logan had shed the suit, but he replaced it with more black in the form of a long sleeve V-neck shirt and simple slacks. He looked just as dangerous and evil as before, but also cool and handsome. Nick figured women would fall all over him just as they did with Aiden. Logan’s grin widened. “Thanks.” Nick stilled. “For what?” “You think I’m handsome.” “You read my mind!” Nick practically yelled. Now people did look at him like he was crazy. Karen frowned and pulled out one bud. “What?” she said. He waved his hand to indicate nothing. She shrugged and went back to her music. Logan reached over the back of the chair and ran a finger down Nick’s face. Nick ducked away. The demon didn’t appear offended at all. “I’ll do you a favor. You can talk plainly to me while I’m here, and no one will notice.” He tapped his temple with a long finger. “When we’ve taught you 22

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how to use your gifts better, you’ll be able to have conversations with us up here.” Nick pinched his lips together for a minute as he studied Logan’s face, then he muttered, “Stay out of my head.” He looked around. No one noticed him speaking to himself. “So what are you doing here?” “You wanted to have fun, right? I’m here to show you a night on the town.” “I don’t believe you.” Logan pouted. The look seemed out of place for such a dark being, but then he could probably take on whatever role he wanted. Whatever suited him and the situation. “Don’t be that way. How about this? I can make things better for your friend.” Logan’s attention to Karen seemed less than friendly. Nick leaned forward and dug his claws, which had grown out before he knew it, into Logan’s shoulder. “You stay away from her.” With the blink of an eye, Logan had his arm twisted and jerked him forward so he banged into the seat back. Nick winced in pain and tried pulling free, but it was as if he was sealed into place. Not a hair of movement no matter how much of his strength he used. Logan’s expression was clear, but heat and anger rolled off him almost choking Nick with it. “Don’t forget who you are dealing with,” Logan threatened. His lips were less than an inch from Nick’s as he stared into his face. “I get it,” Nick said. “You’ll kill me if I piss you off.” Logan shook his head. “Never you.” A tremor went through Nick. He nodded, and Logan released him. He sat back, rubbing his arm. The pain went away at once, and Logan returned to the real—or pretended—jovial disposition he had been displaying since he appeared. Nick got off the bus and strolled along the city streets with Karen on one side and Logan on the other. He wondered briefly where Aiden was but told himself he didn’t give a fuck and let the thought dissolve. When

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they drew up to a club Nick recognized, he stopped. “No way they’re letting us in there.” “Then why did you lead us here?” Karen asked. He’d been speaking to Logan, and the demon took his hand to pull him forward. “Come on. I’ll get you in.” Nick followed. At the door a row of people lined up along the side of the building and on around the corner. The bouncer behind a roped off section at the entrance was even bigger than Logan and Aiden. Logan strolled up to him and ordered, “Move,” and the man stepped aside. As they passed by him, Nick watched the man blinking in confusion. He was pretty sure the dude hadn’t heard Logan out loud or seen him, but he’d obeyed the command anyway. Were they all vulnerable to the demons, or did Logan know which person was more open to him? He wished he knew more about how it worked, but he didn’t want to ask and get either of the two demons more fixated on him than they already were. He was convinced that they’d lose interest in him soon, or back off when he started college. One could only hope. The music bounced off the walls it was so loud, and wall to wall people filled every spot on the dance floor. Colored lights blinked in and out overhead. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Nick started to feel it too. A shout next to him caught his attention, and he turned to see that Karen wasn’t holding back. One arm shot straight up in the air, and she was jumping up and down bobbing her head. “It’s good, right?” Logan asked, his lips almost touching Nick’s ear. Nick backed up. The space around him and Logan opened a little as if people felt a barrier they couldn’t go past. The experience was like being in their own invisible room with no one but the two of them. Logan danced in front of him, closer than Nick would have liked but still not a threat. His movements were fluid and in tune to the beat. Nick found himself short of breath watching the demon. Nick began dancing too but knew he could never match Logan’s prowess. “Do you have me under a spell?”

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“What?” Logan’s tone was normal. They both heard each other without trouble over the noise around them. “Are you controlling me?” Nick asked again. Logan smiled. He danced closer. “Do you want me to?” At Nick’s frown, he said, “No, what you feel is all you. Aiden and I can teach you things you’ve only seen in movies. We can give you a life you’ve dreamed about.” “And if I don’t want it, what then?” “You want it.” Logan danced closer. The buckle on his belt brushed Nick’s stomach, but still he didn’t try anything. That brush alone was enough to set his teeth on edge and question what was happening to him. He took a step back, but he bumped someone else. When he glanced over his shoulder, he gasped to find Aiden there. The two men moved with ease to the music, drawing Nick in. His mind was in a whirl as he watched first one and then the other. He faced Aiden, and Logan closed the space between them. People gyrated all around, but no one paid three men any mind. He’d lost sight of Karen but couldn’t bring himself to care at the moment. The heat of their bodies set him on fire. Nick reached out and rested his hands on Aiden’s hips. Logan copied his movement by setting his on Nick’s hips. They rocked as one, and Nick closed his eyes, head going back. He felt lips at his throat, another set in his hair. He panted. Their cocks were hard, pressing into his stomach and back. His strained in his jeans. One of them seemed to sense his desperate need and squeezed Nick’s erection. That was enough to snap him out of it. He jerked free of their touch. “We’ll sit down and rest a little,” Aiden offered. Nick swiped an arm over his forehead. “Yeah, okay.” He didn’t know where Logan had nabbed Karen, but he led her ahead of him without Karen seeming to know it. The four of them headed toward a couch with a small table in front of it. A group of people occupied the space, but as one they stood up and left without any provocation. As Nick

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sat down, Aiden and Logan flanked him with Karen sitting opposite. She waved her hand in front of her flushed face. “Wow, that was intense and fun. I’m glad you brought me here,” she said. Nick nodded. He hesitated. “Can she still not see you and not know that I’m talking to you?” Aiden was the one who answered. “If she knew we were here, she’d be in our laps.” He scoffed. “Are you that confident?” Logan laughed. “It’s not confidence. It’s who we are. Women like bad boys. We’re as bad as they come.” Nick remembered Aiden saying something similar that time on the street. “Picking up women doesn’t take effort. Making men who are not gay want you, that’s more of a challenge,” Aiden explained. “Why would I ever want to?” Nick grumbled. “To hone your skill.” Logan looked around and nodded at a man dancing with a beautiful woman. The guy practically drooled he was so into her. “Watch and learn.” Logan stood up and headed over to them. Nick assumed he’d made himself appear to the couple, because the woman took on a hungry expression when she looked at Logan. The man appeared pissed, but Logan took his hand. He tried to jerk away. Even from his distance, Nick sensed the change in Logan, sexual expertise, undeniable lust. The man’s resistance slowly melted away until he stepped into Logan’s arms and the two stood there tongue-kissing for all the world to see. The woman whirled away in a huff, and Nick tore at the chair beneath him, his claws shredding the material. He gritted his teeth and looked at Aiden to see that the demon had the same reaction he did. “Enough,” Aiden spat, and Logan backed off. The man was dazed and came close for more while Logan held him off in disdain. He’d obviously gained no pleasure from the kiss. He returned to sit beside Nick, and Nick watched the man spinning back and forth trying to find Logan. “There, you see?” Logan asked him. 26

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“You’ve only proven to me that you can manipulate me at will. You can make me feel what that guy did.” Aiden shook his head. “No, we can’t do that to demons. Sure, we have some influence over you because of your human side, but because of who you are, you’d have to be willing to a degree.” “You could be lying,” he argued. “We could.” Nick stared into Aiden’s eyes trying to determine the truth. His gaze lowered to Aiden’s lips, and he remembered how it felt to kiss him. How much he liked it. The difference was he didn’t pick up on what he’d sensed from Logan when he got that guy on the dance floor to want him. But couldn’t Logan have wanted him to feel it? Ugh, this is so annoying. What’s real? “Okay,” he said at last, “I want answers from you guys. I want to know who my parents are and why you feel like I belong to you. I want the truth or so help me I’m going to use every ounce of my abilities to end it.”

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Chapter Four Logan materialized in Nicholas’s room and stood over his bed. He knew he and Aiden were to meet Nicholas later at their mansion, but he wanted to see his charge sooner. Now when it was still dark and he was at his most powerful. Aiden was too conservative even being a demon. Logan had suggested they force Nicholas and teach him to please them after they’d broken him. Logan couldn’t understand why Aiden was against it. Not like they had never tricked a human or whispered in their ear to convince them to do something they didn’t want to. Okay, sure, he’d tried to push his lust onto Nicholas when Aiden wasn’t around. He’d wanted to convince the younger man to accept him and Aiden as his lovers. But it hadn’t worked. He knew it was because Nicholas was half demon, but he’d hoped his experience would lend him a hand in coloring Nicholas’s thoughts. But right now, asleep, his charge was at his weakest. The very fact that he needed to rest at all was a testament to his humanity. Logan strode closer to the bed and ran a hand along the blanket. Nicholas’s leg shifted under his touch, but Logan didn’t allow it to scare him off. He found a hardened thigh and stroked it before gliding higher. His cock stiffened in his pants, and he rested a knee on the bed. “So sexy,” he murmured as he pushed the blanket away to reveal Nicholas’s leg. His boxers were tented in the front, and Logan smiled. “Yes, dream of me. Dream of the three of us pleasuring each other.” He massaged Nicholas’s thigh and then raised his hand to rest on the younger man’s cock. Nicholas’s hand shot out and grasped Logan by the wrist. His nails dug into Logan’s skin, piercing it, and when Logan looked up at him he was excited to see glowing red eyes. “You don’t get to touch me whenever you want,” Nicholas whispered. Logan leaned down until his face was just above Nicholas’s cock. The shaft twitched, and he looked up at his charge. “You want it.” “What I want has nothing to do with you.” “It’s everything,” Logan responded. 28

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“Hey, Nick, who are you talking to?” his roommate called out from the other bed. Nicholas’s gaze flew to Logan’s. He heard his thoughts without him speaking aloud. He’d thought Logan had kept anyone from hearing their conversation. Logan allowed Nicholas to continue to hold his wrist, but then he climbed over him and straddled him. When he brought his ass down on his cock, Nicholas gritted his teeth. “You don’t get to use my power whenever you want,” Logan taunted. “If you don’t want him to hear, you close him off.” If looks could kill… Logan laughed to himself. Nicholas swore. The roommate sat up in the darkness. Logan kept himself from being seen or heard by the boy, but he allowed him to hear Nicholas since it suited him for now. “Since we’re both awake, I think this might be a good time to tell you something,” the roommate said. Logan glanced at Nicholas who tried flipping Logan off of him. Logan let a look of lusty pleasure descend over his face at the movements, and Nicholas went stock still, frowning. “I-I wanted to tell you that I…uh…I like you,” the guy stuttered. Logan’s happy mood took a nose dive. He glared at Nicholas, but his charge sat up and almost threw him off balance. He grasped Logan’s shirt front in two fists. “You’re doing this,” he accused. “Yeah,” the other guy answered, assuming Nicholas spoke to him, “I’m doing it now because you’ll be gone soon. I’ve got another year, but Nick, I really l—” “You will die tonight,” Logan raged, and he flew from atop Nicholas to attack the idiot who dared to take what belonged to him. His eyes had gone red, and his nails grew long. For maximum fear in his prey, he transformed his teeth into jagged razor sharp points. He was going to wait until just before he slit the little fuck’s throat before he became visible, but Nicholas moved just as fast and appeared in front of him. “Don’t,” he gasped, out of breath.

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“I’m sorry. I had to say it,” the idiot continued, but Nicholas was looking at Logan. Logan hissed. “I am within my rights to take his life.” He wasn’t, but Nicholas didn’t know that. They couldn’t just take a life without permission from higher ups, and this one wasn’t yet eighteen. That would mean even more red tape. Aiden would understand. He was as passionate about Nicholas as Logan was, and to think that this…this…human had been lusting over him, maybe even seeing him without his clothes on all this time. He couldn’t go unpunished. But he allowed Nicholas to hold him back if only to continue to feel the younger man’s hands on his chest, to have him standing so close. Nicholas licked his lips and swallowed. He looked back at the human. “Go to sleep,” he said. Logan gasped. The boy dropped like a weight, and snores filled the quiet of the room. His charge was learning faster than he and Aiden had imagined he would, even without their help. He wondered if it had to do with necessity. He felt he needed to save his friend’s life, so his abilities came to the forefront. Logan was still pondering the reasons when Nicholas turned to face him. “Don’t kill him, and I will let you lay beside me until it’s time to get up.” “Really?” Logan asked with hope. Nicholas smirked. “I’m not like you.” “Oh, but you are. You proved that.” He calmed himself and went back to the form he normally took. “Agreed.” He watched as Nicholas climbed in the bed, and then he began shedding his clothes. Nicholas dragged the blanket up to his neck. “With clothes on and atop the cover.” Logan grinned. “No.” He neatly jerked the cover from Nicholas’s nerveless fingers and slipped in the bed to join him. Nicholas turned away, but that was just fine with Logan. He nipped the younger man around the waist and pulled him back. Logan spooned his ass, letting Nicholas feel all he had waiting for 30

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him when they consummated their relationship. He couldn’t be more content and figured he should attack Nicholas’s friends more often if this was the result. Nicholas tried a few times to get out of Logan’s hold, but when that failed, he lay stiff in his arms. Logan kissed his shoulder and scooted closer. He ran a hand over Nicholas’s stomach, enjoying the tightness of his abs but got a pointed jab for his troubles. Nicholas shoved his hand away and sat up. “I didn’t agree to let you do that!” Logan raised his hands, palms out in surrender. He then linked them behind his head. He didn’t miss the way Nicholas’s gaze swept over his form now that he was just in boxers. Unlike his lover Aiden, he had to wear underwear because he was too well-hung to be contained by slacks alone, if he did say so himself. “I’m behaving myself for the rest of the night, Nicholas,” he promised. The expression of disbelief on Nicholas’s face told him what he thought of that pledge. “Nick, damn it. Is that so hard to say?” “Nick,” Logan echoed. He lay down, and Logan carefully drew him into his arms again. He was relieved that the younger man didn’t fight him. They lay still until he sensed Nick was asleep. Logan spent the rest of the night watching over him, having no need of rest. In the morning, he would discuss Nick with Aiden. They’d been wrong to assume his mind was weak and that he ran the risk of ending his life if they revealed too much of themselves and their plans. Up until now, Nick had taken everything in stride even if he hated every bit of it. He had not cracked under the shock, and Logan doubted he ever would. A sense of pride washed over him, and he raised his hand to run fingers through Nick’s hair. Blond like Aiden, Nick was a beauty just like his lover too. Soon Logan would have them both as often as he wanted. They would insist that Nick move in with them at the mansion. Whatever plans he had for college, well, if they didn’t work out for his and Aiden’s plan, then that would have to be changed. Besides, they made more than 31

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enough from their company to support the three of them for many lifetimes over. Surely, Nick would understand that when he agreed to be with them forever. The alternative didn’t bear considering. **** Logan heard Nick stir in his arms, and he opened his eyes. Nick murmured something unintelligible and then turned over. Logan grinned as his ward nuzzled closer facing him. If he only knew what he’d done, Logan thought with a low chuckle. He guided Nick’s head to his chest and pushed a leg between Nick’s. He waited for the fight that never came and then melted against his soon-to-be lover. Lying like this, he could see himself actually sleeping. Nothing but being in Aiden’s embrace had ever felt this good. Some time later, he felt a pinprick in his side and jerked. Had he fallen asleep? Somehow he must have lost track of time and what he was doing because now he lay on top of Nick, wedged between both his legs. He grew hard from the first realization. The pinprick came again, and he rose up on his elbows. Nick glared at him in the dim morning light. Logan grinned. “Morning.” “Get the fuck off me,” Nick growled. Logan leaned up a little more and looked down. Their cocks were pressed together, both hard if he wasn’t mistaken. He flicked an eyebrow up and met Nick’s narrowed eyes. Quite happy with himself, Logan bent down and gave him a brief kiss on the lips, and then he rolled away. Nick fought his way out of the blanket and jumped to his feet. “I give you an inch, and you take a mile.” Logan shrugged. “The nature of demons. Can’t be helped.” He rose and began dressing. Seeing Nick prepare for a morning shower, he considered offering to join him but knew that would be met with more hostility, so he let it go. “Hurry. Aiden will be back soon and waiting for us.”

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“Where is he? I had the impression that you two were close and you’re never apart.” A twinge started in Logan chest. “We aren’t unless Aiden has duties that take him away for a night or two. He’s of a higher rank than I am and has others under him.” Nick’s look was blank with incomprehension. “Never mind. You can go on your own now, or I can carry you and wash you myself. Trust me, washing will not be the first thing I do once we’re together in there.” The door slammed behind him as he fled. Soon Nick returned from the bathroom fully dressed, and Logan openly lusted over him in jeans and a T-shirt that squeezed his biceps and stretched over his chest. “So how are we getting to your house, bus? Or do you have a car?” he asked. Logan smirked. “Come here.” “Look if this is another one of your tricks…” Logan sighed. “I have to take you there, or do you know how to zip in and out across vast areas? No? Then I have to take you. So come here, now.” Nick came closer but with lips compressed and an angry glare. “I don’t know who you have under you, but I’m not one of them. I don’t answer to your call. I’m an adult.” “Only children constantly assert their adulthood,” Logan quipped. “Fuck you.” Logan jerked him close, causing their bodies to bump with them faceto-face. Their thighs pressed together, muscle straining against muscle. He didn’t need to bring Nick this close. A held hand would do, but his smart mouth pissed Logan off, and he wanted to show him who was his master. “Don’t be scared.” Nick gave no response, and Logan took them from the dorm room to the mansion living room in the blink of an eye. Aiden was already waiting. He set down the coffee cup in his hand and stood. Logan crossed the room to him and took him into his arms, turning him at the same time so he could watch Nick. 33

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“I missed you,” Aiden told him, touching his forehead to Logan’s. “Of course you did.” Logan cast a cold glance toward Nick who’d gone red the moment they embraced. His heart beat faster holding Aiden, and for a minute he forgot everything except his lover. “I missed you,” he admitted mentally. Aiden smiled, knowing his pride. Logan focused on Nick and caught hold of Aiden’s chin. He pushed his tongue into his lover’s mouth and kissed him. His moan was loud enough to reach Nick, and Aiden, probably unaware of Logan’s ploy, echoed it. Nick shifted from one foot to the other, frowning at Logan to show his displeasure, but he didn’t turn away. Logan took his time enjoying Aiden’s mouth and his body as he ran his hands over his back. Logan kissed along Aiden’s neck and pulled his hips back enough to reach between them for his lover’s belt buckle. The clink it made was too much for Nick. “Do you have to do that now!” he shouted. Aiden pushed Logan back, his eyes when he looked at Logan dark with lust. “He’s right. I apologize, Nicholas. When Logan and I are apart, it’s never easy. We’ve been together a long time, and our attraction for each other is fiery.” “Oh? That’s interesting.” Nick caught Logan’s gaze. “Because last night in my bed, he didn’t seem like he was missing you.” Aiden in the act of picking up his coffee mug froze. Logan strolled over to the windowsill and leaned against it crossing his legs at the ankle. He knew Nick was trying to get back at him maybe even cause a fight between him and Aiden. He had a lot to learn. Aiden was in one instant in front of his chair and in the next holding Nick in his arms. Logan caught the coffee cup with liquid intact before it had a chance to descend to the floor. He brought it to his lips and took a huge swallow. When he’d determined it was sweetened and just enough cream added, he sat down to watch the show. Aiden’s burning gaze took in Nick’s lips as they parted in surprise. He curled his fingers around the teen’s waistband. “You gave yourself to him?” Aiden asked. “Then you have no problem with me having a taste right now.” 34

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Nick all but squeaked and jerked out of Aiden’s arms. He rounded a table and used it as a barrier between him and Logan’s eager lover. “What? No. I thought…” Logan chuckled. “You thought you’d cause a fight between us. You thought you’d get the attention off of your young, innocent body as if anything could do that.” Nick’s eyes rolled in their sockets from him to Aiden and back again as he stuttered through a few half-truths. Not one to leave Aiden in the dark long, Logan explained the entire events of the night, including his near miss with killing the human and Nick’s putting his roommate to sleep with a word. “Interesting,” Aiden commented and settled on the couch. “Look, the only reason why I came was to learn about who I am,” Nick grumbled. “And you will, Nicholas,” Aiden told him. “Come sit down. Logan and I will keep our hands to ourselves for now.” Nick’s nostrils flared. “It’s Nick, damn it. Logan learned it. So can you. I’ve always hated the name Nicholas because it sounds too formal. That’s not me.” He took a seat, wariness in his eyes. “Nick,” Aiden acquiesced. “About your background. As we told you, you are half human. Your mother was human. Your father was a demon.” The younger man’s eyes widened. “How? Why?” “Because—” Aiden looked at Logan “—we’d shared a human before, and we wanted it again.”

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Chapter Five Nick didn’t know what to think or do. His hands shook, and thoughts raced through his head at lightning speed, too fast for him to say anything coherent. He wanted to deny all that Aiden had said or to rationalize it away, but inside he knew it to be the truth. He saw it in their faces when he looked at them. Aiden and Logan fully expected him to come to them at any time and surrender his body for their pleasure. They were evil nonhuman beings, and yet what was in them resonated with what was in his DNA. He couldn’t deny that he desired the two men almost as much as they desired him. But what would giving into such a lust lead to? Would he be their slave, subject to their every whim? Would he regret it at the end of the day? And could he face his friends afterward? On top of the desire that had grown from the first time he laid eyes on them, he was also angry and resentful. Who the hell did they think they were deciding what he would become or who he would be with? Rebellion and probably the same evil that coursed through these two made him want to tease them but never give in—to leave them cold and unfulfilled. Then, of course, there was the human side of him. “Let me get this straight,” he said, “a demon and a human woman had sex, and she got pregnant with me? What demon? One of you?” Aiden shook his head. “No, we may have given you the last name we use, but you are not our son.” “The name you use,” he repeated. “Yes, in this world.” Aiden seemed to think that didn’t need to be explained so he continued with Nick’s lineage. “Your father agreed to make you. Who wouldn’t turn down sex with a human? All of you—” “Yeah, I get it. You said we have a smell of innocence or something like that.” “Yes, you’re special. Logan and I shared a human lover once. She was willing and stayed with us all of her life. When she was gone, we decided we wanted another one, but without many of the limitations of other

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humans. No one had done it before that we know of, and we had to get special permission.” Nick dropped his head into his hands. Certain words reverberated in his ears. “Willing” was one of them. He wondered if any of Logan and Aiden’s lovers had not been, but then if that was what they were into, he figured he’d have been raped by now. He kept his head lowered and clutched his hands together hanging between his legs. All he could do at this point was listen. If the changes in him over the last year hadn’t happened, he would have walked out by now considering Aiden and Logan to be insane. “There were rules,” Aiden told him. “We were not allowed to have contact with you before your eighteenth birthday. But we were still obligated to provide for you.” “Who were my parents exactly,” he managed. “Your father doesn’t wish to be identified. Your mother died in childbirth.” “You killed her!” Nick shouted, surging to his feet. “I didn’t!” Logan sped across the room like he would punish Nick for accusing Aiden, but Aiden called out his name. Logan stopped on a dime. The breeze from his momentum caressed Nick’s face, and he shivered at the darkness in Logan. “It’s weird,” he said in a low tone. “I didn’t think demons could love, but I see it in you two. I can tell you love Aiden, and he loves you. But you treat me like I’m property, like I’m some special order sex toy that was just delivered to you.” Logan smiled and didn’t deny it. Aiden was the one to always try to soothe him. “Sit down, Logan. We’re not finished talking. It’s not like that, Nick.” He sighed and scratched the back of his head. “Not completely.” Nick sneered. “Thanks a lot. Tell me something. Did you have a way to insure I’d be a boy? I mean you’re obviously gay demons, or do you always go both ways like you did with the human woman?” 37

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Aiden didn’t appear to be offended. “We enjoy whoever appeals to us. But to answer your question, yes, I ensured that you were born male. It’s what Logan wanted, and I…” He took in Nick’s face, his chest, his flat abs and on down to the front of his pants. Nick shifted in his seat, resisting the urge to cover the hard-on he’d just grown. “I have to agree he made the right choice.” “Do you two ever think of anything but sex?” he spat. Logan grinned. “Didn’t you realize?” Nick glared at him. “Realize what?” “I’m a lust demon. A major part of my job is sex, and trust me, I’m very good at what I do. Would you like to test my skills?” “If you’re a lust demon then by definition, you’ve never been faithful to Aiden,” he said, trying again to turn them on each other. Logan laughed and then polished off the rest of Aiden’s coffee before setting the cup down. “My sexy beauty,” he quipped, “what I do, I do with Aiden, and I do not have to have sex with someone to make them want it or act on the impulses I feed them.” Nick didn’t know what came over him, but he sensed the challenge in Logan’s words and wanted to take him up on it. “So you could make me want something or act on a sexual impulse without touching me?” Logan groaned as if already anticipating trying. “I see what you’re doing. You want me to use my power to get you to have sex with us. Then you can blame it on me, and your conscious will be clear. It wouldn’t have been you who fucked two men, but the demon made you do it. Am I right?” Nick felt the blood drain from his face and then rush back to warm his cheeks. “That’s not it!” Aiden tsked. “Logan, stop teasing him. Nick, we know you already have those desires for us. Logan wouldn’t be what he is, if he wasn’t able to pick up simple desires in humans. However, you are more than that as well.” “Meaning my ability will cancel out Logan’s,” he said, pride stealing over him. 38

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“Don’t get so full of yourself!” Logan snapped. Nick laughed. He scooted closer to Logan on the couch and leaned in toward his angry face. Someone with common sense might have been terrified of Logan, but he’d learned a lot over the last few days. Logan wouldn’t hurt him. Not because he cared, but because he craved him. That left an odd jumble of emotions in Nick of disappointment, anger, and excitement. “Aw, so you’re actually powerless, huh?” he teased. Logan fixed his attention on him, going silent and not moving a muscle. All of a sudden, Nick began to feel warmer than usual. His cock swelled, aching with a need to be buried inside of something, and lustful thoughts paraded through his mind. He looked from Logan to Aiden, and then without thinking it through, he stood up to walk over to Aiden. Nick took one of his hands and guided it to his cock, making Aiden stroke him. He grunted in pleasure at the sensation, and Aiden didn’t appear to be bothered in the least. When he couldn’t bear it another second, Nick undid his pants. He pushed his boxers low ready to give Aiden an offering he wouldn’t soon forget, but Aiden snapped, “Enough” just as he’d done the night Logan kissed another man. The warmth receded, and the desperate need eased although not all the way. Nick shook his head trying to think clearly. The last couple of minutes hit him and what he’d almost done, and he gasped. The smug expression on Logan’s face said everything he needed to know about what just happened. Nick scrambled to get his pants closed and backed off to find a spot as far away from the two of them as possible. Shame washed over him, and he stared at the floor. “I thought you said I was special,” he muttered to Aiden. “Not subject to being manipulated by that bastard.” Logan continued to grin. “Never underestimate me.” “You are young, Nick,” Aiden explained, “and Logan’s power wouldn’t work on a full demon. It works on you but for a limited time. When you are stronger and have more understanding of what you are, it 39

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won’t work at all. It’s likely that if I hadn’t called a stop to it, the effect would have worn off on its own.” “But not until you’d had Aiden swallow your cock,” Logan chipped in. Nick snarled. “Fuck you.” “By all means,” was the snappy come back. Nick jumped to his feet, his anger control gone. Logan met him where he stood, towering over him, expression expectant. They were inches apart. Nick felt the power rolling off of Logan, provoking him—to fight or something else. “Boys,” Aiden warned. He came between them, and both Logan and Nick turned in his direction. This time the pull was different. The energy soothed him, yet drew him in at the same time. What kind of demon was Aiden? Or what had his father been? He hesitated to ask about whether the ability was inherited or if they were assigned like posts in the military. Aiden touched his fingertips to Nick’s, and a zing went through his system. He took one step closer to the man, but the buzzing of his cell phone stopped him. A flash of irritation crossed Aiden’s features. Nick backed off and pulled his phone out to answer. “Hello?” “Nick, where are you?” Karen demanded. He glanced at Aiden and Logan. “I’m with my benefactors.” “Tell her you will be staying for a while,” Aiden commanded. Nick frowned. He must be used to giving orders. He found he did want to stay though, at least for a little while to get his questions answered. “I’m going to be here for a few days. Don’t worry. You can always reach me with a call,” he assured her. “A few days. What about school? You have classes on Monday, or had you forgotten?” “Don’t worry about that. I’ll talk to you later.” Before she could say anything else, he hung up. Aiden put his hand out, and Nick took it walking back to the circle of his heat. **** 40

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Nick stood in the shower letting the water run over his face and body. He pushed his hands through his hair and rinsed away shampoo. A couple days had turned into four staying with the demons. Aiden had assured him he’d handle the school, but learning more about himself and them had been too much to pass up. At first he’d thought Logan was using his influence or Aiden his to keep him there, but Logan had proven a few times that any power he exercised over Nick would wear off. He liked that. No matter what they tried to make him do, it wouldn’t last. If they were holding him captive, then he would have come to his senses long before now and left. So what did keep him here? He had a little better control of his gifts even to call on them at will sometimes. And Aiden had admitted he could learn on his own. He knew they had ulterior motives. They were bald with confessing how much they wanted him. Nick had made Aiden tell him every detail about his mother, her name, her life, and where they’d found her. Less information was available about his father, but he had a feeling that was from commands they weren’t going to disobey than in not knowing. Nick rolled a bar of soap between his hands and began washing his abs. He figured everything boiled down to a couple of facts. Logan’s power wasn’t influencing him, and Aiden wasn’t a lust demon. Any real influence they might have on him because of what he was didn’t work, so what he was feeling—a desire for them—was all him. That thought should terrify him, and when he first experienced it, it did. But now it was freeing in a way. He’d never thought much about the guys at school and definitely not his roommate. When it came to girls, he wasn’t a virgin. But with Logan and Aiden it was as if he had an all expenses pass to explore as much as he wanted. And he could leave whenever he liked. He could have fun with them a few days seeing how the other side lived and then go back to his plan for his life.

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He grinned. Yeah, things can go exactly the way I want them. I’ll pick up a few more tricks, use them, and be gone. Just like that. The steam in the shower began to thicken, and the temperature rose. He waved his hand to clear the air, but that did nothing. He’d marveled when he stepped in there the first time that it was gigantic, bigger than any normal person needed, but not so expansive he shouldn’t be able to see the opposite wall. A dark figure appeared in the white smoke and another. His heart raced and eyes widened. But then Aiden, naked, stepped into view followed by Logan. “So you’ve decided,” Aidan said. Nick gasped. “How did you know?” “I’ve never left your thoughts.” “You—” “Relax,” he soothed. “I didn’t influence them, only monitored them. Come here to me.” Nick frowned, compressing his lips. The soap slipped from his fingers and landed with a thunk on the shower floor. He hesitated, fear rushing over him. Have sex with two men? Was he crazy? What if Karen found out or someone from school? He shook his head to clear it. He’d decided to try it a moment ago, but the reality of them standing there in the shower, erect and ready, sent shivers down his back. He’d asserted that he was an adult and could make decisions for himself, but this was…This was different. “You heard Aiden,” Logan growled, but Aiden raised his hand to silence him. Nick licked his lips. He tried for looking casual about laying a hand on the rail just beneath the soap dish, but the truth was he needed it for support. Aiden came closer to him, and Logan swore. Nick guessed they were both used to others obeying Aiden. The blond smiled, now standing over him, but irritation lit his dark eyes. “Just this once,” he uttered. “Because you’re scared. But you will make it up to me.” 42

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Beads of water rolled over Aiden’s bronze chest and curved along the ripples of his abs. Nick tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help looking. Aiden’s body was perfection. His desire to touch him was fast overcoming his nerves. Yet, he still didn’t move. “Logan,” Aiden said, and his partner sprang into action. He moved up behind Nick and turned him roughly to face the wall. Now Nick stood with both palms flat on the tile. Logan rubbed up against him from behind, letting him feel his hard cock as it glided over his ass. Nick closed his eyes, waiting for a wave of disgust, but none came. Only desire had him push his ass out a little, but he felt his cheeks flame at the same time. Logan gave a low, evil chuckle in his ear. “Like that, do you? Want more?” Nick clenched his jaw. He wasn’t ready to admit anything. Logan leaned around him and pushed a finger inside Nick’s mouth. He tried turning his head, but Logan took a firm hold. “Suck it,” he demanded. Nick shivered. Damn the words gave him all kinds of thoughts. He did as he was told, wetting Logan’s digit as he slid it in and out of Nick’s mouth in a sensual tease. Aiden moved closer, and now Nick felt his cock against his side. Aiden stroked Nick’s ass while he watched what Logan was doing. Two of them, one on each side, the sensory overload had Nick’s knees buckling. But he stood strong. He would not allow himself to look like an inexperienced kid in front of them. But then he guessed they knew he was a virgin when it came to fucking men. Nick was almost sorry when Logan pulled his finger out of his mouth. Logan acknowledged his disappointment with a grin. “Now comes the making it up to Aiden,” he said. Nick parted his lips to ask what he meant, but gasped and went up to his toes at where Logan’s finger went next. Logan parted his ass cheeks with one hand and plunged his wet digit into Nick’s tight rear entrance. Nick cried out. His arms gave, plunging his face toward the wall. Water

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flowed into his eyes and pooled on his lashes as Logan, without mercy, finger-fucked him in the ass. His muscles were still tight, and the invasion wasn’t an easy one. He curled his fingers, jaw slack. All the strength left his body, and Aiden had to hold him up. Logan crowded his side as he pumped in and out. His palm slapped at Nick’s ass cheeks with each advance as if he spanked him. Nick’s face burned. He could do nothing but breathe and take it. His head dropped so his chin was against his chest. Another finger went into his rear and soon after, another. Logan thrust as deep as his knuckles and pulled out only to push in again. He sped up his assault. There was not a lick of kindness in him, and Nick was glad for the steam to hide his face. When he was looser, Logan kept his fingers buried and wrapped his other arm around Nick’s shoulders. He pulled him back from the wall so that Aiden could stand in front of him. Nick was stiff and angry. He’d thought this would be good. Instead, Logan was punishing him. “Is this how it will be?” Nick complained. “Him proving that he’s stronger? That he can do what he wants with me? Hurting me because he can?” To his embarrassment, his lip trembled, and he stuttered over his words. He’d just confirmed to them how young he was. “No.” Aiden took hold of his chin and leaned down to kiss his mouth. The feeling of pleasure that washed over Nick turned to hunger. He parted his lips in an open invitation for Aiden to go deeper. Aiden took it, rimming Nick’s mouth with his tongue before diving in farther. He moaned and pressed closer. His fingers laced with Nick’s, and they held hands at his side. This situation was weird, but he was getting into it. Something about Aiden drew him, made him crave the man like he’d never craved another human being. “You’re a lust demon,” Nick whispered as he devoured Aiden’s chest and teased his nipples with the tip of his tongue. He laved the area at the base of Aiden’s throat before he stretched up to gain access to his lips again.

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Aiden let him kiss him all he wanted and raised his head with amusement in his expression. “You want to know?” “Yes, tell me.” Aiden’s heated gaze met his. “Obsession.” That was all it took. One word. Now Nick knew what he’d sensed all along from Aiden, a need to please him, to be in his arms and to be his. He was similar to Logan in that the emotions he stirred made a man—even a young one like him—crazy with desire. Logan’s power mostly drove people to sex, but Aiden’s went much farther. What would a person do to obtain that thing they were obsessed with? When he spoke, Aiden had stepped back, but now Nick chased after him. He moved in and wrapped his arms around Aiden’s neck. He hated that he was shorter so Aiden’s cock only pressed into his belly. He wanted to grind against the man, to experience all that Aiden had. Behind him, Logan rested his hands on his hips, and Nick’s ass brushed Logan’s thigh. “What do you want to do?” he asked Aiden. “I want to watch you break him in,” Aiden responded with promptness. He kissed Nick’s lips, and his eyes narrowed. “Take all of him, for me.” Nick’s mouth went dry, but he nodded. He knew Logan would be rough. He didn’t know if he’d like it or if it took some getting used to before the pleasure came. Maybe he would never really like getting fucked up his ass. Perhaps all his fulfillment would come from rubbing against them and kissing. While he shifted from one foot to the other and clenched his hands into fists at his sides, Aiden stepped away. Logan raised his hand and with the slight of wrist a magician might use, he produced a length of silky purple rope. “Wha—” Nick began, but Logan had his wrists bound together and tied around the rail on the wall within a few seconds. “That’s not necessary.” Logan said nothing. Her jerked Nick’s hips back until he had no choice but to bend over slightly. He gripped the rail the best he could 45

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being bound, and Logan dropped to his knees. Nick began to pant. He glanced over his shoulder at Logan just as the demon planted the first swipe of his tongue on his anus. Nick swore. Mark that another type of pleasure he could get from being with them. Logan licked the tight, sore hole until shudders passed through Nick’s body. He squeezed Nick’s cheeks and separated them before feathering kiss after kiss. A groan escaped Nick. Where he’d been punished before, now he was being rewarded. For what, who gave a damn. This was good. His back arched of its own accord, making his ass rise. Logan’s licks turned hungry and noisy. He grunted as he slurped. Nick’s balls contracted and rose. His shaft ached for release. “Untie me,” he pleaded. “I need to stroke my cock. I want to come.” Logan and Aiden both ignored him. The pleasure went on, an insane torment. He found that having Aiden watch got him more excited. Nick pushed back and withdrew from Logan’s tongue. He dropped his head on his outstretched arms. The rope pulled at his wrists. “Please,” he whispered again. Logan drew back. Nick could have sobbed, not knowing if he was relieved that he did or sorry. “Do you want me to fuck you now?” Logan asked. The embarrassment came flooding back. He wasn’t used to this. When he’d slept with his previous lovers, they’d all been submissive. They’d obeyed him when he told them to get on the bed, to spread their legs. Nick had gotten off on it, but now he had zero control. He was at the mercy of two horny male demons, and even though Logan asked him what he wanted, he didn’t think it was his choice at all. “Yes,” he admitted in shame. “Yes, I do.” “Say it.” He shut his eyes resisting. Logan let him know what he was missing by licking again, at the same time reaching between his legs to massage his balls. Nick tugged at the bonds. He pushed back to Logan’s mouth and pinched his thighs together to capture his hand. He couldn’t hold out any longer. 46

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“Fuck me!” he shouted. “Fuck me up the ass, Logan, please!” Logan was on his feet in a heartbeat. He held Nick’s hips, and Nick gritted his teeth expecting a thrust that would tear him apart, but Logan gently eased the head of his cock into Nick’s hole. Just as before, it burned, but he sensed Logan did all he could to take it slow and easy. Thick inches disappeared inside of him. He felt every movement, so full he couldn’t bear it. His head spun until he thought he’d faint. And then as if his brain had released a signal, his muscles relaxed, and pleasure came rushing to the forefront. “Uh, uh, I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t know if I can handle it. Damn it! It feels good.” Logan was free to pound into him, and he did with fervor. Their bodies came together with enough friction to start a fire. Nick’s body felt like it was ready to go up in flames any second. His claws grew out, scratching at the rail. His eyes itched and burned. He arched his back and took all of Logan’s cock, wanting more. His demon lover squeezed his hips in a punishing grip and he drove deeper. Logan’s growls of pleasure echoed off the damp walls. Nick rested his head on his arms in Aiden’s direction, eyes closed. He felt something brush his lips, and he looked up. Aiden had come close again, and he ran his cock over Nick’s mouth. Beads of precome moistened Nick’s lips. Again, the human negative emotions rushed in only to be overtaken by his wilder side, the darkness that desired to have Aiden in every way. He opened his mouth, and Aiden didn’t pause for a second. He pushed in. Nick sucked lightly. “Harder,” Aiden instructed. Nick did as he was told. While Logan wore out his tiny ass hole, he sucked and licked Aiden’s cock. The length was impressive as well as the girth, but he took it all, desperately hungry. Aiden tangled his fingers in Nick’s hair and threw his head back. “Yes, oh, yes, suck it hard, Nick. Make me come. I want you to drink it like it tastes better than anything you’ve ever had. Please me now!”

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Nick’s palms itched to wrap themselves around Aiden’s cock, but he was still bound. All he could do was obey Aiden’s command and suck with all he had. He never imagined a man’s cock in his mouth could taste so good and turn him on to the point of madness. He licked Aiden’s shaft with relish down one side and up the other. But then he couldn’t stand the stiff length out of his mouth long, so he took him between his lips and pulled on it some more. He moaned and closed his eyes. Aiden’s sudden cry was his warning before the first splash of come hit his tongue. Nick tasted the salty liquid and drew harder for more. Under his lips, he felt the pulse of it pumping out into his mouth, and he coaxed Aiden to feed him all that he could. At the same time, Logan shouted through his release. He ground deep and roughly into Nick’s ass and then held himself in place while his hot seed exploded forth. When Logan was empty, he reached for the bonds and loosened them. Nick didn’t protest as the demon laid him on the floor of the shower and then followed him down. Aiden joined him at his other side. Nick watched in awe and pleasure as the two men took turns sucking his cock. More than once, their tongues met as they curved around his shaft, licking him from base to tip. Logan leaned back a little, allowing Nick to note his black eyes. The lust and hunger he saw in the depths both excited and terrified him. He shivered, and Logan must have thought he intended to fight them. Logan’s clawed fingers dug into Nick’s thigh and held him down while Aiden feasted on his cock. All strength left Nick as he squirmed under Aiden’s mouth. But Logan couldn’t stand giving all the pleasure to Aiden even if Aiden was higher ranked. He growled in anger and nudged Aiden aside to close his mouth around Nick’s cock. Logan sucked so hard it hurt, and Nick winced. Yet still he felt the onset of an orgasm. “Come,” Logan demanded with a burning gaze trained on Nick’s face. Again their mouths met at his cock tip, both sucking until he was lightheaded. Neither gave an inch, and Logan reached lower with his hand to massage Nick’s balls. Nick’s hips rose up off the floor, and a scream 48

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that had to be too high-pitched for him rent the air. Only after the two demons moaned in delight because he’d filled their mouths with his come did he know the shouts were from him. They didn’t back off until he’d emptied every last drop. “Pick him up,” Aiden commanded. “Dry him and let’s continue this in our bed.” Nick opened his mouth to tell them he was done. He had no more energy, but a glance at the demons’ cocks showed them both hard and erect. He guessed they could go the rest of the night. And even as he stared at them while they both toweled his body dry, he felt the stirrings of renewed strength. The ache in his ass eased, and he was grateful for natural rapid healing. When they were done drying, Logan lifted Nick in his arms. Nick struggled against it, but Logan held on tight. “I can get there on my own,” he complained. The demon ignored him, and Nick had no choice but to suffer the humiliation of being transported as if he was a woman or a child. His cheek rested on Logan’s big chest, and he felt Aiden’s possessive hand at his back as they went into the bedroom. Previously, when the demons had given him a tour of the house, he’d glimpsed their room and especially the massive bed that dominated the center. He’d seen king size beds before, but this one was bigger, specialmade he figured because of its extra expanse. From watching Aiden and Logan together, he knew they were never far apart, so why the extreme size? “For parties,” Logan said above his head. Nick looked up at him and frowned. “I told you to stay out of my head.” Logan grinned. “And I didn’t agree to, nor do I take commands from you.” He laid Nick in the center of the bed and then settled at his side. Aiden came up on his right and scooted close as well. He rested a hand on Nick’s belly and stroked him gently. “Mm, your skin is smooth and young, the 49

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way I like it. Not tanned enough though. You don’t lie naked under the sun?” Nick smirked. “Can’t say I’ve had much opportunity what with being in high school.” “No excuses,” Aiden told him. “We will travel many places in the human world, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to lay naked on the best beaches.” His eyes sparked with interest, probably imagining Nick in those settings. Although they’d just had sex in the shower, Aiden and Logan’s desire for him was still unsettling. Some part of him wanted to stay, and the other part wanted to run as far as he could away from these two. Aiden cut off further thoughts about the subject when he leaned in and began kissing Nick. Nick gave into him, opening his mouth and letting Aiden’s tongue invade him. He closed his eyes, moaning with pleasure. Arching into Aiden’s touch as he lowered his hand from his belly to his cock, Nick raised his arms and encircled Aiden’s neck. They were locked in each other’s embrace until Logan made it clear with a snarl that he wouldn’t accept being left out for long. At last Aiden broke the kiss and tilted his head in indication for Logan to kiss him. Beneath the two of them, Nick watched their mouths come together. His blood pumped faster seeing their tongues curl together. His cock twitched with excitement. Aiden drew away once again and then lay on his back. “Ride me,” he ordered. In an instant, Logan wrapped a powerful arm around Nick’s torso and positioned him until he straddled Aiden’s hips. Nick caught his breath feeling Aiden’s cock bulging beneath his ass. How many girls had ridden him like this? Tons and yet here he was just as submitted to a man—a demon. Again panic rose in him, and this time he saw the reaction in Aiden and Logan. Their lips parted, eyelids lowering. They breathed deep as if they absorbed a drug. “M-My fear excites you more,” he accused them.

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Logan nuzzled his ear from behind and then kissed his neck. When he spoke it was as if he’d been drinking half the night. “Good little pet. So so good. It’s not the fear. It’s the innocence. Sweet, seductive innocence.” “Ride it,” Aiden demanded again. The gentleness that always pervaded his personality was gone, and all that was left was the evil of the demon. Logan moved to lift Nick so he could guide Aiden’s cock into his ass, but Aiden stopped him. “Not you, Logan. Let Nick do it. Put my cock in you, boy. Do it now.” Nick began to shake. He was even more fearful than he was a moment ago, and he could do nothing to settle down. From nowhere the bonds that had held him in the shower reappeared, and Logan retied his wrists together. Nick licked his lips and swallowed as he raised his hips up from Aiden’s lap. With the awkwardness that came from having his hands locked together, he grasped Aiden’s cock. Long and stiff, it curved toward his hole in anticipation. Nick positioned the head toward his crack. “M-Maybe I need lubricant,” he said, hating the way his voice shook. “Don’t be a wuss,” Logan taunted in his ear. Nick felt his sharpened teeth on his shoulder, and he cried out when Logan bit down. At the same time, a rush of sexual pleasure assaulted his body, and he let his weight descend. Aiden’s cock pierced him. His ass hole throbbed and so did his shoulder, and he dropped his chin into his chest while he began to ride Aiden’s cock. The demon under him groaned and encouraged him to keep it up. Logan licked the blood away from his wound. He scooted closer, enfolding Nick in a tight embrace. His hand skimmed Nick’s abs and explored lower until he grasped his cock. To his shame, Nick whimpered, and Logan chuckled. “Good boy. Now kiss me.” Nick wanted to tell him to go fuck himself because of his meanness, but he turned his head and tilted it back like the good little toy that Logan accused him of. His lips parted when Logan’s mouth descended on his, and he couldn’t hold the moan that escaped him. The metallic flavor of his own blood coated Logan’s tongue, but for some reason it wasn’t a turn off.

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Logan kissed him deep and long while pumping his cock. All the while Nick rode Aiden’s dick. The pain had long since faded into unbelievable ecstasy. He bounced up and down the long, thick shaft, delighting in the feel of Aiden’s balls under his ass. When he couldn’t hold another orgasm back, Logan seemed to sense it and popped him off of Aiden’s shaft. He shoved Nick forward over Aiden’s torso and aimed his cock straight at Aiden’s face. “What are you doing?” Nick said in alarm, but Logan didn’t answer. He stroked Nick’s cock faster until Nick couldn’t help himself. He released, and his come shot out. The liquid coated Aiden’s lips, his eyes, and his cheeks. Some of it ran down over his chin and into his hair. Logan put Nick aside with blurred speed and attacked Aiden’s face with his lips and tongue. He licked every spot where come landed, and Nick watched in shock. Not only was Logan turned on kissing and licking at his lover, but he seemed to relish the flavor of Nick’s juices. When every drop had been consumed, he covered Aiden’s mouth with his, and they kissed hungrily for a long time. Nick watched, imagining that he could never have a bond with anyone the way the two of them were with each other. He was virtually forgotten as Logan stroked Aiden’s cock and brought him to a head. They murmured unrecognizable words against each other’s lips and clung together as if each would shatter if they were ever apart. When they were done, Aiden sat up, and Logan drew him between his legs. Nick was about to leave the bed to take another shower, but Aiden stopped him. He pulled Nick onto his lap facing him. Their cocks met, and Aiden forced Nick’s head to his shoulder. “We’ll let you rest for a minute, and then we will begin again,” he told him. “You have a lot to learn, and we are the ones to teach you no matter how long it takes.”

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Chapter Six Nick was back at school. He’d had to battle with Logan and Aiden to let him go, and only got permission to leave their bed when he promised to return to the mansion in a few days. The fact that he had two male lovers still freaked him out. He felt like he shouldn’t enjoy it so much. Aside from that every time he tried to accept it and forget what they really were, their evil reasserted itself. They became cruel and mean. They tormented him and made him do things that humiliated him or scared the pants off of him. Scarier than anything else was that deep inside he liked it. Some part of him liked the badness and made him crave so much more. He needed his space so he could think. There was still no guarantee that the whole week he’d spent in their bed wasn’t orchestrated by their power over him. Maybe with distance, he’d come back to his senses and realize this was all some kind of big misunderstanding. That made no sense, but he was desperate for normalcy. The changes in his life over a few short days were too much. After the last week though, sitting in science class was mindnumbingly boring. Nick didn’t hear a word the teacher said as he slouched in his chair and tapped a pencil on his desk. He yawned just as a ball of paper landed in front of him, and he flicked it away before focusing on Karen. “How did it go?” she mouthed to him. He shrugged. He could hardly tell her he’d been fucked silly by two male demons. The thought of Aiden and Logan made his cock grow hard, and Karen noticed. Her eyes widened, and she stared at him with pink cheeks. He could imagine what she was thinking. No, he could hear it! “Bastard probably lied about where he went. Bet he met a girl and had sex with her all this time. Otherwise, why would he get hard like that? Why can’t it be me? Why?” Nick shrieked in alarm. “Shut up, Karen!” She stared. People laughed around them, and the teacher cleared his throat. “Am I interrupting your conversation, Mr. Halifax?” 53

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Nick felt his face grown warm, and instead of stammering over his denial like he normally would have, he clamped his lips together. All of a sudden, his mouth was full of sharp teeth, and his anger simmered to the point of boiling over. Watching the older man at the front of the room, Nick had to fight not to attack him for daring to challenge him. What the hell had he become? Fuck, he knew what. A demon. Spending that time with Aiden and Logan had only brought it out more. He fought the urge to let loose the evil in his heart. Thoughts of tormenting the human who humiliated him flitted through Nick’s mind. He leaned forward, and clenched his hands at his sides. Claws bit into the soft part of his palms. “It was my fault,” Karen blurted out. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you, sir. Go ahead.” Nick blinked at her. Karen was no more a robot who followed the rules than he was, but here she was sucking up to the teacher. The act annoyed him all the more, but she’d bought him time to get a hold of himself. He breathed deep, and the changes in his body receded back to normal. His heart rate slowed, and his anger calmed. “Fine,” the teacher answered. “Don’t interrupt again.” Nick heard the shakiness in his tone, and he was sure he’d smelled fear a moment ago. What had the demons told him? That fear in humans enticed them. He mulled over the reactions in others based on his attitude through the rest of class. When the bell rang, he left his seat and ignored the call behind him, but Karen caught up. “What’s your problem? What were you doing this week?” He ignored her, but she grabbed his arm. “You heard me, Nicholas Halifax. I want answers!” He jerked his arm from her touch, and in the flash of a few seconds had her by the throat slammed against a locker. The sounds of their fellow students died away in the same moment, and Nick froze. He glanced around. They were no longer in the hall outside of his last class but in a

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less used area of the school. Dusty lockers lined both sides of the hall, and there wasn’t a sole in sight. How had they gotten here? He looked at Karen. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear. She tried swallowing, calling his attention to the fact that he still had her by the throat. His fingers although not clawed now, bit into her pale skin, and he knew there would be a bruise. A flash of shame filled him, and he let go and backed away. “H-How did you do that?” she rasped. He frowned. “If I knew I’d do it again.” “You’re a…” “A demon.” He glared at her daring her to be afraid, to run, or anything that would set him off again. Emotions flitted over her face, and while he waited for her reaction, Nick realized something else about himself. His lack of attraction to Karen had never been about her. He remembered that she had a nice body. He’d been denying. That’s why he’d encouraged girls when they came onto him. That’s why he’d never had an actual girlfriend even while he slept with them. He’d refused the truth all along and was never really attracted to them. Sure he had a high sex drive, and he could have sex night and day. He had assumed it was because it was so high was the reason one girl never satisfied. Having sex with Aiden and Logan had left him exhausted and sated for that moment. Of course his desires had resurfaced, but the experience was altogether different than sleeping with girls. Why hadn’t he noticed before? No, it wasn’t that he hadn’t seen it. He didn’t want to see it. Just how many fucking revelations about himself did he have to have, for Pete’s sake? “Talk to me, Nick,” Karen said, interrupting his thoughts. “I’m your friend. We always tell each other everything. That doesn’t have to change.” He sighed and pinned her in place—this time with just his gaze. “You’re in love with me. It will never work.”

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He hated the hurt he saw in her eyes, but the darkness in him relished it at the same time. “I-I-I—” She hadn’t expected him to admit what she’d tried to hide from him all these years. “I told you what I am.” She nodded. “A half demon.” “I’m also gay,” he blurted out. “No!” He jumped at her vehemence. “I’ve seen you with girls. Trust me, I didn’t want to, but I did. I know you’ve had sex with different ones.” Her bottom lip quivered. She never cried. He ground his teeth together and blew air from his nostrils. As long as she thought he was straight, she had a chance with him. Maybe not today, but some time in the future if she just stuck it out. He heard all her jumbled thoughts and didn’t know how not to hear them. “You’re not gay!” “I spent this week fucking two men, and I loved every minute of it. In fact, when I’m done with school, I’m going back to them.” All the blood drained from her face. She raised a hand, and he could have deflected the slap, but he let it happen. The sting was a welcome punishment because he’d hurt her. He leaned against the lockers with his eyes closed listening to her angry stride down the hall. A hot body pressed to his, and a hard cock nudged his stomach. Male lips covered his own, and Nick opened his mouth to invite the tongue inside. He stood for a long time kissing Logan. The brutal assault on his mouth, the body crushing him into the locker, and the hands squeezing his ass could belong to no one else other than the darkest of his demon lovers. Nick tilted his head back, and Logan sank sharp teeth into his throat. He cried out in pain and ecstasy. His nails grew out, and he dug at the flesh on Logan’s arms—not so much to push him away but to give back a little of the agony Logan caused him. Some feeling of compulsion came over him, and he opened his eyes to the red ones burning into him. His heart hammered like it had moved to

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his throat. Logan’s smile was wicked and full of pleasure. “You accept what you are.” Nick flared his nostrils. “I came back here because I wanted to deny everything. I thought being in the middle of these people, I’d go back to normal or at least keep wanting to be. I can’t deny it. Not the demon part and not…” Logan unbuttoned his pants and lowered his zipper. Nick recognized the state of his own mind when he didn’t look around to see if anyone saw. He didn’t care if they did. He watched Logan lick two fingers and then reach around behind him to push them inside Nick’s jeans and boxers. He arched to allow Logan to pierce his hole, and groaned because it felt so good. “You said you would wait until I came back,” he mumbled. “I never said that,” Logan corrected. “And why would I care about keeping my word? You belong to me. I will fuck you here and anywhere else, whenever I please.” Logan dragged his jeans and boxers lower and hoisted him up into his arms. Nick might not like the way Logan treated him as a possession, but he didn’t hesitate to wrap his legs around Logan’s waist. He clutched the demon’s shoulders in desperate need as Logan loosened his own clothes and then drove his thick cock into Nick’s ass. A growl rent from Nick’s throat as he was filled to capacity. His hole stretched with pleasure and pain mixed. His forehead dropped onto Logan’s shoulder, and he shut his eyes. All he needed to do was feel the way the demon took him, the long shaft driving deep inside him and then retreating, only to do it again and again. Logan slammed him against the locker. His shirt had risen, so the cold metal chilled his lower back. The demon’s hot muscled body set him aflame, and the sounds of their bodies meeting filled the silent hallway. Moisture beaded the edges of Nick’s eyes as Logan pounded into him. He felt his fear rising with Logan’s roughness. Logan didn’t give a damn about him. If he tore Nick to shreds, it didn’t matter to the demon as long

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as his desires were met. Nick hated himself for shaking, and Logan absorbed it all, enjoying every aspect of fucking Nick. “So good,” he murmured low in his throat. “So tight and innocent. How could I have waited when your pink ass was ripe for me?” He bit Nick’s neck again, hard enough to draw blood, and then he licked it away. “Your balls draw up every time I touch you. Hell, I can walk into a room, and your cock weeps.” “Fuck you!” he spat, but it was true. He was going to come already, and Logan hadn’t even played with is cock. Shame and bliss mingled in his core. “Logan…” Nick sensed her there without seeing her. Karen had come back. Her thoughts reached him even from the end of the hall, but Logan blocked them, forcing Nick’s head up. “You think only of me.” He crushed Nick’s mouth, and Nick moaned as their tongues curled together. She had the evidence now at least. They were in plain sight for world to view. Karen must see Logan’s big body and his curved naked ass as he jutted deep inside Nick’s hole. She must see how he’d submitted to the man, not knowing he was a demon. Nick had wrapped his legs around Logan’s waist and held on for dear life. Even her human ears should have picked up how he couldn’t hold back his cries of pleasure. And if she stayed there much longer, she was going to see his reaction when he came. He shouted, his voice echoing and bouncing around the hall. Thick come stained Logan’s shirt front, but he didn’t seem to care. Nick couldn’t understand why Karen stayed until it occurred to him that Logan held her in place, forcing her to watch. He was about to protest, but Logan snapped his teeth together and a roar like an animal rumbled up from his throat. At the same time Logan’s come splashed into Nick’s ass, a wave of fear washed over him, and he shuddered in pleasure. Logan pounded into his ass harder and faster. Every ounce of his energy was burned up in holding back cries that would have reached every level of the school. And then it was over. Karen was gone, and Logan let him down on his feet. He steeled himself to keep from swaying, not wanting the demon to know how weak he felt. Logan smiled anyway with a knowing look in his 58

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eyes. Nick kept himself from striking out figuring the punishment for doing that would be worse than the satisfaction of hitting Logan. The demon kissed his lips once more and then stepped back to fix his clothes. In a blink they were fresh and clean as if Nick hadn’t just come all over him. Nick tried it with his will but failed. “Rookie,” Logan spat in disgust and cleaned Nick up himself. Nick didn’t thank him. A question burned in his mind. “Why did you hold her here? Was it to prove to her that I’m gay so she’ll stop wanting me?” Logan chuckled and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He turned to walk down the hall, and Nick followed. “That,” Logan admitted, “and to test a theory.” “What theory?” Logan paused and turned back to face Nick. Although he desired to be back in the demon’s arms, Nick resisted. The fact that Logan had tormented Karen on purpose even though she was his friend pissed him off. Logan knew how angry he was at him because Nick hadn’t learned to keep him out of his head yet. The amusement in the now black eyes made his anger rise. “Do you know how we ‘eat’ human fear?” Nick shrugged. “Yeah, so what?” Logan’s grin gave him chills. “You cause it.” Nick frowned not getting it. “What do you mean?” “While I don’t like to admit it, you more than me and Aiden can produce one of the things we enjoy in humans like no other. You are a demon of fear.”

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Chapter Seven Nick sucked in a deep breath and prepared to go into the library. Even though he hadn’t meant for Karen to see him with Logan, he was glad she saw it. Now maybe she’d let him go. He only hoped it wouldn’t lead to the end of their friendship. He pushed the door open and walked in. Karen sat at the far side of the room, her nose buried in a book. He started forward only to be cut off midstride by one of the girls he’d been eying as a potential sex partner a week before he met his benefactors. The girl sidled up to him and allowed her breast to brush his arm. A pout graced her pink lips. “Hey, Nicky, haven’t seen you much lately. I thought we were going to go out or something.” The “or something” had an inflection he couldn’t mistake. She’d been ready to jump into bed with him at one word on his part. The nickname was one he hated almost as much as his full name. Nick glanced over at Karen in time to catch her glaring at him. When she met his gaze, she ducked her head, mouth compressed in an angry line. She had no right to be angry at him. He’d warned her. His anger flared, and he tried pulling out of the girl’s hold. “Look, uh…” For the life of him he couldn’t remember her name. Her bottom lip poked out even more. “Maggie.” “Look, Maggie, I’m sorry. Things have changed. I have a lot of stuff on my mind with graduating, college, and—” “Please, Nicky. Everyone knows how easily schoolwork comes to you. You can forget about that stuff till later, and we can have some fun. I just know it can be exciting with the two of us.” While she spoke, she stuck a finger in her mouth and tilted her head to the side. Wide blue eyes stared up at him, and she arched her back so he could see just how much she had to offer beyond the deep V in her blouse. Nick’s cock didn’t stir in the least. He gritted his teeth at her use of the name again. “It’s Nick. Listen, I don’t think it’s going to happen, okay? I’m sure there are plenty of boys

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that want what you’re offering.” Her cheeks reddened. He squeezed around her and continued over to Karen. When he drew up to the table, Karen scraped back her chair, and stood. Several heads turned in their direction. Karen scowled at them all and then looked at him. “I don’t have time to talk right now, Nick. I have applications to fill out.” She gathered her books off the table along with a paper she hadn’t been looking at when he walked up. He grabbed her arm to stop her. “I thought you weren’t going to college, and isn’t it a little late for that?” If she’d had lasers in her eyes, he’d be a pile of ash on the floor. “What do you care?” He sneered. “What you saw me fucking someone else, and now I don’t care about you?” Her eyes widened, and then she raised a hand to smack him. He caught her hand and dropped it. “I can’t believe you did that,” she spat. “What are we talking about? Stopping you from hitting me or sleeping with a man?” She glared at him in silence. He said nothing more and looked back. Something inside him wanted to make up, to tell her he was sorry. But he shouldn’t have to apologize for being gay. If anyone had ever told him Karen would react this way in a situation like this, he wouldn’t have believed them. “Even after you told me, I couldn’t see it. Not when…” She ran a hand over her eyes. “I thought we would always be friends. We…” “You’re saying we can’t now?” Hurt tightened his chest. He tried tamping it down, but it bubbled up, and he felt his eyes burn. Not from tears, but anger. Nick closed his eyes a moment and took a deep breath. Nothing helped to calm him. His temper rose as Karen began speaking again. She berated him with her words, going back over all the years they’d been friends, bringing up all the times he’d been wrong as girls liked to do. His nostrils flared. “What does that have to do with now, Karen? Why am I wrong?” 61

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Her voice rose, capturing the attention of those around them. “Because you never apologize. Not really. You say you’re sorry, but I see it in your eyes. You get off on shocking me with your words and what you do.” “Then why are you my friend?” he demanded. She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “That’s what I ask myself. Goodness knows there’s nobody else to take the job. Well except for the girls with a reputation for giving it out to every boy in school.” A librarian called out to them from across the room. Nick barely noted her gestured “shh.” From the position he stood in, only Karen could see his face when he turned back to her. The itch had turned into a full on burn. When she gasped, he knew they were bright red. The lights flickered in the ceiling, and one nearby burst, glass showering down on the students and table beneath it. Several girls screamed, and the boys tried to be cool while covering their fear. Power went out of Nick, and what returned to him was a sensation that was close to orgasm level. His teeth sharpened in his mouth, and he grinned at Karen. She staggered back, bumping the table. He advanced on her, absorbing her fear and the fears of every student in the library. The feeling was so heady, he wanted more. He reached out a hand and wrapped it around Karen’s throat. She opened her mouth on a silent scream, and he leaned in breathing deep. “You want me to say I’m sorry for this?” he whispered for her alone to hear. “Why when it is so good? Why would I?” His fingers spasmed, tightening around her neck. A war waged within him. His human side was shocked at what he was doing, but the demon side didn’t care. He pressed in closer. Tears welled in Karen’s eyes. Even that fed him, the innocence Logan and Aiden had spoken of, he guessed. Nick breathed it in, shivering with the pleasure. Around him students were paralyzed. Some cried out, some crouched on the edges of their chairs like they wanted to escape but couldn’t move. The room had grown dark, and Nick could have sworn there was a mist in the air. He leaned in closer to Karen and poised his mouth over hers. His

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movements surprised him as he hadn’t been attracted to her, and he wasn’t now. She went still and stopped fighting him. Her lips parted like she wanted the kiss. He swooped lower until their mouths were less than an inch apart. He could almost hear the collective indrawn breath of their witnesses. “Don’t take that kiss,” came a controlled but angry voice behind him. This time Nick went still. He could ignore the command and take whatever it was he sought from Karen, but he also felt compelled to obey. He unfurled his fingers from Karen’s neck and pivoted in degrees on his heel. Aiden stood there, his face a mask of rage. Nick didn’t know why he responded the way he did. Maybe it was his way of showing off, being so aware of his power after Logan revealed what he was. A grin spread over his face, and if he was to guess, he’d say that it rivaled his dark lover’s wicked smile. “What’s the problem, Aiden? This is what we are, isn’t it? Fucking whoever we want?” Aiden didn’t stir or speak again, but Nick found himself releasing Karen and walking over to Aiden. He stopped just in front of the demon. When he didn’t say a word, Nick was about to taunt him again, but his voice was gone. An impressive force bore down on him, making his knees buckle. To his astonishment and fear, Aiden’s knees wobbled as well. Nick scanned the room. There seemed to be people present he was sure hadn’t been there moments ago. They seemed to be no older than him or any of the other students, but they didn’t belong. Nick swung his gaze back to Aiden, but his lover’s head was bowed. Another man appeared as if from nowhere. None of the humans paid him any mind, but Nick sensed he was someone important. “Commander,” Aiden murmured and raised his eyebrows at Nick. Taking the hint, Nick bowed his head and echoed the greeting. “This is an unexpected visit.” The demon leader frowned. “Is it, Aiden? I thought I could trust you to control your people better. I must be imagining that you allowed a newly awakened one to nearly take the life of a human.” 63

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Nick straightened. “Come on, it wasn’t that bad. I was just going to kiss her. Loosen up.” One second Nick stood beside the two demons, and the next moment he was thrown through the air to smash into a bookcase on the opposite side of the room. The wind left his body in a whoosh, and his ribs felt like they’d cracked. He gasped for breath and grunted in pain as he hit the floor. When he struggled up to his knees, he glanced over to the demon Aiden had called commander. The bastard hadn’t even broken a sweat, and he’d moved so fast, Nick never saw his hands rise. Then again, he could have thrown him with power alone. The thought of anyone at that level scared him, and he shivered. Aiden blinked out from where he was standing and reappeared in front of Nick. He reached out a hand to help him up, and Nick took it. Aiden jerked him into his chest, and Nick winced. There had definitely been damage in that impact. “You need to understand the amount of trouble you’re in,” Aiden bit out in a low tone. I will help you and convince them not to punish you because you are ignorant of our ways, but try not to complicate matters by shooting off your mouth.” Nick scanned the room again. “I get that he’s pissed I showed my ability in front of humans, but to accuse me of trying to kill Karen is a bit much, don’t you think? Besides, he didn’t hide what he just did to me. No human could do that.” His words seemed to anger Aiden more. “Fool! None of the humans can see us right now! And you were too caught up in your emotions to realize that one kiss with the power you were generating would have sucked the life out of that girl. If I hadn’t come when I did, you’d be in the bottomless pit right now.” Nick’s eyes bugged. “I-I-I…didn’t know. I would never…” Aiden sneered, for the first time looking more like Logan to him. “You and I know there’s still a lot of good in you being part human. The commander sees a demon who doesn’t respect the fact that an order has to come from very high up the ranks to take a human’s life.” He nodded 64

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toward the demon snapping orders to the others. “Even he doesn’t have that authority.” “Who is he?” Aiden’s lips compressed as he straightened and they began walking back toward the demon in question. “A cleaner.” Nick didn’t need anymore explanation than that. When an operative had done something stupid to expose an organization’s activities, the higher-ups sent in cleaners to wipe away all evidence. This time, Nick’s attack on Karen in front of everyone had to be fixed. Irritation at his lack of control washed over him. Thinking of Karen, he looked around for her, but she was nowhere in sight. “Where’s my friend?” he asked Aiden. “She was just here.” “You have no human friends,” was his response, and a chill raced over Nick’s back. Rather than antagonize his lover or draw more attention to himself from the cleaner, he kept his mouth shut and bided his time. After his fate was decided—if he lived—he’d look for Karen and apologize. In a way, Aiden was right. He didn’t have any business being friends with humans. Not right now when he was like a bomb waiting to go off. She’d be better off living her life without him in it. The thought saddened him, but he couldn’t say he’d never seen it coming. Aiden stood with his legs apart and strong on his feet. He showed the cleaner respect but exuded a power to be reckoned with as well. Nick raised a hand behind him to touch him but hesitated. Like usual Aiden was a beacon drawing him, but this wasn’t the time. He knew his lover would fight for his life, and that warmed him. Considering it, he wondered if Logan would do the same if he was here, or if he’d let the demons who were releasing some kind of freakish black smoke around the heads of the students sweep him out with the trash. Nick guessed they were feeding the students lies about what really happened today or erasing their memories of it. He wondered how vulnerable he was to that sort of thing or if they’d consider it with him. All the confidence he’d had earlier seeped away.

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“Commander,” Aiden was saying, “please consider that he belongs to me and that I am still training him. I take full responsibility for his actions, and if any punishment is due, I’ll take it on.” Nick started, and opened his mouth to protest, but his body froze, and no words would eek past his lips. Aiden’s power held him in its grip, and he was weak to stop it. From the moment the commander came on scene, for the first time, Nick felt like he was nothing more than human. He couldn’t call on his own abilities. So many of them were above him. He was a nobody and worse—an ignorant nobody. The commander chuckled without humor at Aiden’s offer. “Don’t be stupid, Aiden. You know you of all people are not going to be punished. You’re favored. Why else would you be allowed to make him in the first place?” The professionalism the commander had shown up to that point ebbed away, and Nick caught a glimpse of the intense hatred and evil directed at Aiden. His lover was unfazed while his stomach clenched into knots. “If the order is to kill him, you’ll take that too?” the commander spat. “What about your lover, Logan? He wouldn’t hear of you dying for a half breed demon. Unlike you, I know what my responsibilities are. I clean everything that needs to be cleaned with the severity it calls for.” This time Aiden was ruffled. He took a step toward the cleaner, his eyes narrowed and lips tight. The two demons faced off, and Nick’s leg muscles ached from struggling to remain on his feet. They were having a pissing contest with their power, and everyone else suffered for it. With the exception of a few, the entire room of people—human and demon alike—had fallen to the floor under the pressure. “He’s half human. We may not respect that, but it means he can’t be killed,” Aiden asserted. “Your orders don’t include cleaning humans.” The commander was silent for a minute, and Nick thought Aiden had won the argument. The victory couldn’t have come soon enough with sweat beading on his top lip and running down the sides of his face. He was ready to collapse.

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Nick figured he’d been wrong in his assumptions when the commander began to grin, and his gaze shifted from Aiden to Nick. Trepidation closed Nick’s throat. “Not every human.”

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Chapter Eight “How can they do that? How can they?” Nick shouted for the millionth time. “Aiden you said—” “I know what I said, Nick.” Aiden closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “You’re still green. You don’t understand our ways.” “And I never will!” He surged up from the chair where Logan had shoved him when he’d gotten into Aiden’s face demanding answers. Logan, who’d taken up a space at the window, arms crossed over his wide chest, seemed about to come toward him, but Aiden waved him off. “Leave him, Logan. He can’t do any damage.” Nick clenched his fists. “I’m aware I’m weak compared to all of you. I’ll always be, no matter what I learn.” He spun toward the coffee table in his frustration and kicked it. The expanse of wood rose up and went tumbling across the floor to smash into the wall. The impact wasn’t nearly as powerful as what the commander had done to him, but seeing two legs break off gave him satisfaction. Neither Aiden nor Logan responded to the violence. “They can’t kill her,” he whispered. “Isn’t that what you were going to do?” Logan’s snide words cut him. “Shut the hell up.” “Grow up, Nick?” he shot back. “This is how our world works. You, a low level demon don’t make the choice to kill a human. The order comes down, and the pieces are laid into place. We spent years preparing for you—years getting permission and then years making sure everything came together without breaking the orders that had already been given. You were about to take that girl’s life without knowing what you were doing.” He flopped into a chair, defeated. “But isn’t killing her now the same thing?” Aiden was the one to answer. “No. It might be that she was going to die anyway. We’re not given all the details. The fact is you’re not the one who takes her life.” 68

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To Nick’s shame, a sob rose in his throat, and tears welled in his eyes. He didn’t want them seeing him cry, especially Logan. He turned his back on them and stiffened his entire body trying to gain control. “Come here,” Aiden said. Nick hesitated, but Logan would punish him if he disobeyed Aiden. He’d already been on him when he learned the details of what happened. Aiden offering himself up as a stand-in for Nick had pissed him off royally, and he’d let Nick feel his displeasure for the last few days. Aiden patted his thigh, and Nick sat down on his lap. He did struggle a little when Aiden’s arms came around him, and the demon stroked his cock. “Stop. I’m not in the mood for that.” “You need it to calm down.” He laid a hand over Aiden’s, but his lover wouldn’t be put off. He popped open Nick’s button and unzipped his pants. By the time he’d reached past his boxers, Nick was semi-hard. He tensed against the powerful chest behind him and felt the erection under his ass. “I can’t feel good when she’s about to…” More tears filled his eyes. This was his fault. He’d betrayed a person who’d stuck by him when no one else did. “Why is she being punished for me?” Aiden reached lower between his legs and weighed his balls in his palm. Nick bit his lip. His eyelids lowered, and he tucked his face against the crook in Aiden’s neck. “Don’t do this,” he pleaded without a shred of strength. Aiden stroked his cock from base to tip and began massaging him into hardness. He couldn’t help the way his hips gyrated, making him arch into the touch. His entire being craved for more. He wanted to come, and it was wrong and right all at the same time. With his other hand, Aiden raised Nick’s chin so they could kiss. Nick allowed the tongue to enter his mouth, and he sucked on it with relish. A moan escaped him, and the kiss turned salty from his tears. He really was just a kid. As Aiden’s hand movements increased, and his moans of pleasure grew louder, he expected Logan to join them, to at least come over to suck

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Nick’s cock, but he didn’t move. He didn’t turn from the window to watch. “Aiden,” Nick cried out. “We’ll talk after you come.” Nick looked down at himself. His legs were gapped apart aligned Aiden’s muscled thighs. His jeans stood undone although not pushed over his hips. His cock curved through the opening, and he watched Aiden’s big palm gliding up and down his length. Precome beaded the small slit in his cock, and Aiden rubbed a thumb across it, smearing the liquid over the head. Nick squirmed and moaned. “You’ll relieve stress if you come,” Aiden told him. “I don’t deserve to,” he mumbled, struggling to keep himself thinking straight. “This isn’t right. It’s my fault. I should be the one to die if that’s what it takes.” Aiden squeezed his cock too hard, and Nick yelped. “Do you think I’m going to let you go, Nick?” he growled. “After all this time? Not for a human, not for her who wants you. You belong to me and Logan. You’ll be happier when you remember and accept that.” Anger surged through Nick. He gripped Aiden’s hand to push it away, but the demon pumped faster. Nick’s jaw went slack, and his balls drew up. Whether he liked it or not, Aiden was going to make him come. He tried to hold himself stiff and to turn off all feeling. That trick didn’t work, especially when Aiden began running a wet tongue along his neck and nipped at his ear. Nick gripped the chair arms under sharp claws. He raised his hips, pushing his cock into Aiden’s hand. And just when he couldn’t bear it another second, his come spurted out to land on his shirt front. “There,” Aiden murmured, “isn’t that better?” “You don’t give a fuck,” he rasped. Aiden disciplined him by biting into his lip and licking the blood away. Nick kissed him. The hunger he had for Aiden—for both of them—wouldn’t be tamed for long. “I hate you.”

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Aiden grinned. “Good.” He tucked Nick’s cock away and patted the front of his pants. “Now that’s done, we can get back to our discussion. I only told you about the girl because I felt sorry for you.” Nick scooted off his lap and returned to his chair. He examined his shirt and then pulled it over his head to lay aside. After he got the details he was looking for about Karen, he’d take a shower and go look for her. “You guys don’t feel sorry for anyone. The only ones you care about are each other.” Logan glanced at him and then went back to watching the scenery beyond the window. Nick hated the odd feeling in his chest because of Logan keeping his distance. Aiden went on, ignoring Nick’s claim. “The information I have is that it will be soon. Probably something swift so she doesn’t suffer. Normally, in cases like this a familiar will do the job.” Nick stared. “Familiar?” “Imps.” “So some low-level demons are going to kill my friend!” He stood up. “Tell me how?” “You don’t need to know that.” “Tell me how, dammit! She’s eighteen. She has a whole life before her, and she was planning to go to college.” He heard his voice turn to a plea and was helpless to stop it. Logan wouldn’t be moved, he knew, but maybe Aiden would. “After she saw Logan and me together, she got it. She’s not going to come after me anymore. You can use that forget smoke or whatever it was. I won’t see her. Just spare her life, Aiden. I’ll accept you and Logan. I’ll be what you want me to be and obey every command.” “You’ll do that regardless,” Logan said. Aiden stood up. “It’s out of my hands. I don’t disobey orders. If Logan and I weren’t so lenient with you, you’d know the consequences of defying your masters.” “Maybe we need to show him,” Logan suggested. Nick swallowed.

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“Come on. We’re taking a shower.” Aiden left the room, and Nick followed him. He listened for Logan to come, but there was no sound behind him. Was Aiden going to follow through with Logan’s threat? He hoped not. Being weak and beaten wouldn’t make it easy to search for Karen. In the bedroom, he submitted to allow Aiden to strip him of the rest of his clothes. Then he waited while his lover removed his. Aiden could have snapped them away, but he seemed to want Nick to watch as each article slipped off of his muscular frame. Nick had no problem paying attention. His cock bobbed erect in front of him by the time Aiden was done. They entered the shower when the water ran hot, just short of scalding. Nick stood still as Aiden soaped a loofah with body wash and worked up a lather. He washed Nick from head to foot and then himself. When that task was complete, he led Nick to the back of the shower where some manacles hung high on the wall. He’d never noticed them before and wondered if they’d just been put in. “Face the wall.” Nick did as he was told, and the chilly bracelets were clicked into place on his wrists. He was now chained to the wall facing away from Aiden. “Are you going to whip me now?” “Is that what you want?” He clamped his jaw tight. “Can’t you understand how I feel?” Aiden dropped to his knees, and Nick jerked at the cuffs. He gasped and rose up to his toes when Aiden parted his ass cheeks. The expected touch of a tongue or lips to his hole didn’t come right away. Aiden seemed to want to stare at it for a while. “Your ass is so pink,” he commented. “It turns me on just to look.” His cheeks warmed. “S-Some people bleach theirs. I don’t know any guys who do. I don’t need to do that.” He was an idiot for rambling on. Aiden unsettled him, and it still embarrassed him to know he was at the mercy of two big men, their sexual plaything. “No, you don’t. You’re already pretty.” Nick grumbled, and Aiden laughed. 72

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“Does it bother you to be called pretty?” He sucked one of Nick’s ass cheeks, a moan on his lips. “Mm, and you taste good.” Nick didn’t get the chance to comment because the next move Aiden made was to shove his tongue between Nick’s cheeks and run the tip over his puckered hole. Nick cried out in ecstasy and hurt his wrists pulling at his bonds. “If you could loosen the cuffs a little.” Aiden pushed his tongue past the barrier and closed his lips over the opening. Nick moaned. He let his cheek rest on the cool tile and shut his eyes. He shuddered as Aiden dipped his tongue in and out of his hole fucking him with his mouth. He panted. “Aiden.” His lover pulled out. “Aiden, what? Give you more? How about this?” He stood long enough to turn off the shower and then crouched again. Nick peered over his shoulder to catch Aiden producing a sex toy from nothing. The dildo was thick and long and appeared to be made of glass. The tip curved sharply, while the body of it was designed with rings to give it texture. At the opposite end was a ridged ball followed by a smaller one. He guessed the piece could be inserted from either end. Aiden raised his gaze to meet Nick’s. The mischief on the other man’s face was obvious. He turned a palm upward, and the pale skin began to turn red. Nick felt the heat even though Aiden wasn’t close to him. “What are you doing?” he demanded. Aiden didn’t answer. Instead he switched the dildo from one hand to the heated one, and the glass became smoky seconds before it cleared again. “Do you know that this dildo can hold a lot of heat?” “So you’re planning to burn my ass hole?” Nick was amazed at how steady his voice was. Aiden’s eyebrows went up. He smiled and then guided the dildo between his lips. He moaned as he sucked at it, taking the tool deep into his throat and out again. Nick couldn’t turn away. To watch a man’s lips wrapped around a cock even if it was fake had him ready to come. After a few strokes, Aiden pulled the dildo from his mouth and heated it once again in his palm. When it was done, he placed a hand on Nick’s 73

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hip and forced him closer to the wall. The movement closed his ass more, and his heart rate kicked up a few thousand notches. Aiden spread his cheeks with the fingers of one hand. As soon as Nick felt the heated tip of the dildo at his hole, he went up on his toes and pushed his ass out. If he didn’t have a choice in this, then he would make it as comfortable as possible. “Oh no you don’t.” Aiden tsked. “You’re going to take this hot cock like a man.” He shoved Nick’s hips forward with his own and brought a hand down on his shoulders to make him drop to flat feet. The first couple of inches slid into him. He cried out. Tears spilled from his closed eyelids and rolled down his cheeks. Aiden was all demon. Whatever didn’t bother him—like extreme heat—didn’t have the same reaction with Nick. The dildo hurt. Not only because it had a greater girth than both his lovers, but also because it was hot. Aiden rested his chin on Aiden’s shoulder and first kissed then licked his cheek. “Do you hate it, my pretty pet?” He pushed in more. Nick felt each of the rings as they slid into his abused hole. “Yes,” he rasped. “And I hate you. You’re more evil than Logan ever was to me.” “Really?” Aiden chuckled. “And yet your cock is so hard, and your balls must ache they’re so tight.” “Fuck you!” Aiden flicked the tip of Nick’s cock, and without thinking Nick turned toward his lover’s hand causing his ass to burn from the dildo wedged inside of him. He cried out. Aiden chuckled again and then wrapped an arm around him. He jerked Nick back and began a slow rhythm of shoving the dildo in and out of his hole. Nick sobbed softly. Aiden seemed to take it as a signal to pick up speed. He rammed the dildo in and out at a rapid pace. All the time he held Nick to him in strong hold. Even if Nick tried he was too weak now, and his wrists were still bound. He couldn’t clear his mind long enough to dredge up any power. He hung at Aiden’s mercy until the demon was done. 74

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Head hanging, arms and ass aching, Nick slumped when Aiden released him from the restraints. The two of them sank to the floor of the shower, him curled in Aiden’s arms and on his lap. “There. Wasn’t so bad was it?” Aiden said, echoing his earlier words. Nick didn’t answer. He waited for Aiden to jerk him off or at least give him a blow job, but he kissed Nick’s lips and nothing more. The shower door opened, and Logan stood there fully clothed watching them. “Suck him off,” Aiden ordered. Without hesitation, Logan dropped to his knees and bent over Nick’s cock. His painful hard-on disappeared between Logan’s lips, and he moaned without the ability to move as his dark lover relieved the ache. When Logan had drunk down every drop of his come, he raised his head. Nick smiled at him, grateful, but Logan’s face was a mask of anger. He stood up. “I only did it for him.” In a flash he was gone. Nick swallowed the lump in his throat. “What’s his problem?” Aiden raised his chin to kiss him once more and then stood up holding Nick in his arms. “It doesn’t matter. Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”

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Chapter Nine Nick stood at the kitchen counter naked and drinking water. His throat was dry, maybe from crying earlier when Aiden had stuck that hot dildo in his ass. In fact, his hole was still sore. He knew it had been a way of Aiden punishing him, but on some level he’d liked it. From his first time with Logan, he’d liked sex rough and painful, but Aiden had always been gentler. Well, gentle for a demon. The dildo had been more than he thought he could take, and he didn’t believe he could endure it again tonight, but maybe sometime—after he’d healed. Aside from that, he wondered why Aiden had gone to those extremes. Nick had seen the anger in his eyes when they faced the commander. And Aiden had met with the higher-up demon later after he’d sent Nick back to the mansion. Nick appreciated Aiden standing up for him and convincing the commander to let him off easy, and he’d said as much. Still, all of that didn’t account for the way Logan treated him. Logan admitted that he wouldn’t have even sucked Nick’s cock if Aiden didn’t tell him to. Nick’s chest ached. He wanted to be with Logan. He wanted his arms around him and his cock inside of him. The desire was almost as unbearable as the sensations the dildo caused. Maybe in a few days, Logan’s anger would cool, and they could go back to the way things were. While he washed his glass out and sat it in the dish wrack, he considered whether it would be worth it to try to seduce Logan. The thought of doing that to a man knotted his stomach, but he was starting to get used to the fact that this is what he was, and he liked it. The question was would Logan respond, or would he crack Nick in the jaw? “Why are you up?” Nick jumped at Logan’s voice. Speak of the devil. He almost laughed at the truth in the expression. He shrugged, pretending he wasn’t nervous in the face of Logan’s anger. “You and Aiden don’t sleep at night. What’s the point?” “Because you’re human.” Logan said the words as if they were an insult. 76

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Nick’s temper flared. “I’m a demon when I’m blamed for something and human when I’m accused of being weak! Whatever’s convenient for you, right?” Logan’s dark form was a blur before Nick’s eyes, and he thrust Nick back against the stove. Nick winced in pain. He shoved at Logan’s hand around his neck but couldn’t budge it. “Blamed?” Logan spat. “You weren’t blamed for anything! You got off scot-free, again because you’re a fucking human.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Logan opened his mouth as if to explain but then clamped his teeth together. He released Nick. “Forget it.” “When are we going to have sex again?” Nick hadn’t meant to ask the question, but it was too late to take it back now. The demon glared at him, his heated gaze almost a caress over Nick’s body. Nick raised his own eyes to Logan’s lips. They were full, the bottom one thicker. His was a cruel and angry mouth ninety percent of the time, but that’s what Nick liked about it. He wanted it wrapped around his cock again or crushing his mouth under it. With those thoughts in his mind, his cock began to harden and rise. Logan noticed and sneered. “Not sure,” he said. “You aren’t what I expected.” The words were a blow to Nick, and he turned away before Logan could see just how much he hurt him. Yeah, he was just a lowly human, and for the first time, he wished it wasn’t true. While he headed to the door, Logan called out behind him. “You don’t know what you did.” Nick pivoted on his heel. “And I won’t know unless you tell me. What the fuck is your problem, Logan? I made a mistake. So what? No one got hurt. I mean you don’t care about Karen, so what are you pissed about?” “Drop it,” he muttered. Nick sighed and made to leave once again. This time, Logan brushed by him to leave first. Nick couldn’t hide the reaction of his body, the increase in his heart beat, or how he panted. A couple steps past Nick, Logan stopped, and then he spun around. Nick was dragged into the hard 77

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chest with fingers around his upper arms that were like steel bands. He ignored the rough hold to lift his mouth to Logan’s savage kiss. His teeth, gone sharp, cut his lip, and blood pooled in his mouth. Logan licked it away and pushed his tongue deep into Nick’s mouth. Nick could do nothing but enjoy it as Logan moaned and devoured him. Logan’s erection pressed into his stomach, and Nick desperately wanted to stroke it or suck it. All of a sudden he wanted Logan’s come shot into his mouth, to swallow that thick, rich liquid that meant he had pleased Logan. He was about to plead with his dark lover to let him bring him to a head, but Logan broke the kiss and shoved Nick away. Red eyes scorched Nick’s emotions, and he fought to calm down. When Logan stepped back, all evidence of his excitement faded as if Nick was alone in a desert wasteland. All he’d ever wanted was to belong to someone, to be wanted. He’d had a taste of it with Aiden and Logan’s obsession over him, but now it seemed that was gone. Karen had never been enough because she’d had a family and could go anytime. Karen. Nick cleared his throat. “Am I allowed to go out now?” Earlier Aiden had told him he had to stay in as part of his punishment. Not that he’d had the strength to do much other than sleep after the dildo. Logan shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Do whatever the hell you want.” And he left Nick standing in the kitchen doorway. **** “Why are you here?” Karen snapped. “I came to tell you I’m sorry.” Nick sat down next to her at the table rather than take the seat across. He knew Karen well enough to know her routine, and one of the places she liked was this coffee shop. Not many kids from school came this far down Main Street. If they wanted coffee, they could go to the local Starbucks which was three blocks closer to the dorms. Karen was different. She liked to isolate herself when things got tough or she had to work out a problem. Most of the issues had to do with her Dad, but he knew today was about him. “I never meant to hurt you.” 78

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She cringed and frowned. “Geez, you sound like a soap opera. That stunt you pulled yesterday was nothing like TV.” His eyes widened. “You mean you remember that?” “Why wouldn’t I?” He remembered that she’d left soon after he let her go, and he hadn’t been given the chance to find her. The fact that the cleaner hadn’t sent someone to find her to change her memory let him know they were serious about her fate. Why? Over knowing that demons were real? Plenty of people had freaky experiences they couldn’t explain. So what? And he’d told her he was half demon. No one said anything about that. Unless they didn’t know. “I don’t want you to be scared of me,” he said. “I’m not scared of your dumb ass.” She lied. He felt her fear although she was good at hiding it. He tried not to pull it in and searched himself to see if he aggravated it somehow. As far as he knew his power wasn’t active right now. “I can’t explain what was happening to me. You know my anger problem. It got out of hand.” “Sounds like an explanation to me.” She got up to get another coffee. Nick chose the opportunity to scan the shop and noted a man in black at a corner table. His dark eyes watched Karen’s every move. Nick couldn’t have explained how he knew when he was seeing a demon, but he was sure this man was one. And he was sure of something else too. When Karen returned to the table, he grabbed her hand. “We need to get out of here.” A flash of fear changed her face before it was gone. “Why?” Nick couldn’t help it. He took a deep breath, and the essence was like a drug. He glanced to the demon, and he too seemed to breathe more deeply through his nostrils. Fuck! “Look, I can’t explain. Just come on. Okay? I promise I won’t hurt you. Let’s just walk and talk like we used to.” Instead of moving, she sat down. “Graduation is next week. Are you going?” 79

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“They don’t hand out the real thing. The official diploma is mailed.” “Like I don’t know that!” “No one’s coming to see me trip across the stage.” He looked out the window. Something told him Logan was near, but he wasn’t visible. “What kind of demon is he?” “Open your mind,” came the reply. While Karen sipped her coffee and outlined all the reasons he was a lousy friend, Nick watched the demon. What kind? Death maybe? No, they weren’t in charge of that. Too big. They might instigate it but only on orders from way up. Aiden had said an imp would handle things. Lowest on the totem pole. Karen didn’t merit someone higher, and that hurt. Maybe her father would, he guessed. A judge had to impact tons of people’s lives and have all kinds of reasons not to kill him. Nick dipped his head and closed his eyes. He calmed himself as much as he could and tried opening his mind. The answer came right away. Destruction. The word seemed too big for something named an imp, but it was weighty enough to have Nick worried. Again, he reached for her hand. “Let’s go, Karen.” The urgency in his tone must have gotten through to her. She stood up, and Nick led her outside. He held onto her hand while they walked, and all of her emotions seeped up that connection and into his being. Rather than sort them out, he let them come, supported her in his way, while at the same time he watched for danger. When they reached the corner, a sense of impending danger washed over him. The spot was busy with oncoming traffic. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, some bumping them rudely and not offering an apology. Nick tightened his hold on Karen’s hand. She turned her head to look at him, and all the fear was gone from her expression. He thought she was almost beautiful at that moment. “I love you, Nick,” she said in a calm tone. “I always will, no matter what you do or how you act.” He didn’t think twice about his response. “I love you too…and that’s why…” 80

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The tires screeching caught his attention. Someone shouted, “He’s coming right at us! Run!” Past Karen’s shoulder he saw the demon in the passenger seat of the oncoming car. The vehicle swerved, pin-balling off of several others. The engine revved like the man who drove it had stomped on the gas. Nick jerked Karen toward him, but he knew it was already too late. Strong arms encircled him. The feel of her hand in his dissipated into nothing, and the scene around him disappeared. “No,” he shouted. “Karen!”

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Chapter Ten “Nick,” Logan called from the door of his room. He’d moved out of their bedroom into one of his own. If he could have left the mansion completely, even disappeared to never be heard from again, he would have done it by now. The room to himself would do. “Fuck off,” he spat. “So you’re going to sulk like a child?” “She died because you two didn’t want to share me. You knew she’d try to influence me to go away to college, somewhere away from you. Maybe we’d even have gone together.” “You know and I know that’s not true.” Nick sat up and pinned Logan with a hard stare. “Which part? The part where you and Aiden made sure she died? And what the hell did you care? You don’t even want to have sex with me anymore? I’m just a toy to Aiden. He didn’t give a damn if I liked that dildo or not. All he wanted was to torment me. That’s what demons do.” Logan’s teeth turned to sharp knife points, cutting into his bottom lip, but he didn’t seem to notice. His voice when he spoke was deep and haunting. If Nick didn’t know better, he’d have sworn Logan was a demon of fear. “You fool. He took your punishment for you!” “What?” The atmosphere in the room turned hostile, and Aiden appeared to jerk Logan by the collar. “You did not disobey me, did you, Logan?” Logan’s mouth snapped shut, but it was too late. Nick knew they were keeping something from him, and he wasn’t in the mood to be lied to. “What were you going to say?” Logan’s gaze never left Aiden’s, and vice versa. Nick bunched his hands into fists. “Why do you have me? You have each other. You don’t need me. Let me go.” Still they didn’t answer.

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“Tell me, damn it, or the first chance I get I’m revealing myself to the world and breaking every rule I can think of. Even if I don’t know them all, I’m sure I can stumble on a few.” “Never,” Logan growled and lunged at him. Aiden blocked his path. Logan settled back into place at Aiden’s side. “Tell him, or for the first time since the beginning, I will disobey you!” Aiden’s expression turned deadly. “Is this the day for threats?” Logan didn’t answer, and Aiden sighed. “I took your punishment, Nick. That’s why Logan’s been so angry with you. I explained to him that you’re new. You’re innocent. After all that’s what we wanted, and we can’t be upset as soon as our innocent human strays on the wrong path.” Logan grunted in disgust, but Nick’s attention was all for Aiden. “What kind of punishment?” “That doesn’t mat—” “What kind!” This time Logan answered. “The whip. We heal of everything. You already know that, but when punishment is meted out, the whip is used, a thick cord infused with evil power. Healing from that takes a long time— sometimes years depending on the severity of the strikes and the number.” Nick blinked in confusion. “I don’t get it. I’ve seen Aiden in the shower. We had sex, and I washed him. I saw no marks on his skin.” Logan’s lips tightened into a straight line. Aiden caught the ends of his shirt and raised it over his head. When he turned around so that his back was visible, Nick was aware of something like a smoky covering rising out of the way. That’s when he saw them—red streaks all over Aiden’s back. They seemed to pulsate as if to cause more pain. They were thin, giving the impression that they wouldn’t hurt so much that way, but he thought of the pain a simple paper cut could cause. This was magnified by thousands. And Logan had said it wouldn’t heal maybe for years. A lump rose in his throat, and he found it difficult to speak. “I thought your power didn’t work long on me.” “It wasn’t a spell on you but on Aiden. He can disguise himself at will,” Logan explained. “Now you see the pain you caused him. And what 83

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did he do in return? Fuck you with a dildo you actually liked. That pain was nothing compared to what he deals with every day because of you!” “I’m sorry,” he whispered. The apology came too little too late, but he had to say it. “You should have let me take the punishment. I deserved it.” “You’re too weak,” Aiden said with a smile. Nick recognized his admission as being honest and not just to insult him. “You wouldn’t have survived the beating, and the commander had it in his authority to name the price.” Nick sank down on the bed as another thought occurred to him. He’d been planning to stop whoever was sent to kill Karen. He would have broken another rule, and the punishment would fall again, and maybe it would have been worse. That’s why Logan was there, to keep him from causing Aiden more pain. He realized the truth even if they would never admit it to him or to each other. Logan loved Aiden more than anyone, and Aiden no doubt felt the same. There wasn’t room for him in their lives except the way they viewed him—as a plaything. He lowered his head. “Aiden, can I talk to Logan alone for a few minutes?” “Alone?” Mentally, he put up a wall in his mind hoping it kept them out of his head. “We’ve been arguing, and I wanted to try to make it up to him…and you. I never meant to cause this much trouble. After all the two of you paid for me to go to a private school and gave me an allowance. I had everything I wanted.” Aiden made a disbelieving sound in his throat but didn’t argue. “Fine. Do whatever it takes to please Logan. I don’t like the three us out of synch, and I want us to share a bed as soon as possible.” He turned to Logan and stepped into his arms. Nick watched with longing as they kissed and Aiden bent to rest his forehead on Logan’s shoulder for a second. “I have business to take care of. I’ll be back tonight.” He disappeared. **** 84

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Logan shut the bedroom door and strolled over to the bed where Nick sat. He stood above him, knowing he crowded the boy. He liked knocking Nick off balance. Of course he also enjoyed being close to him. Over the last few days, it had been hard to deny what his body craved. He could guess at least some of the thoughts going through the half human’s mind. Nick was like an open book even if he did figure out how to close off his thoughts from them. With a small push, he or Aiden could have broken down the barrier, but for now they’d both respected it. Nick’s feelings were hurt, if he didn’t misread the innocent’s facial expressions. He believed he didn’t belong or that they didn’t want him. If only he knew the burn he’d started in Logan that would never cease. Logan let his gaze drop down over Nick’s body. Nick might be young and smaller than he and Aiden, but his build was solid and fit. He exuded strength of will and the dark power that was inherent to them all. The little fool had no idea how he drew Logan to him and ignited the lust that was a part of Logan’s nature. To stand so close and not shove Nick on his back to lie on top of him took a lot of effort. Nick was in his mind day and night. When he didn’t know it, Logan watched him. He recalled every time they had sex with detail. Nick was strong, but he also felt fragile beneath Logan’s touch, a feeling that hardened Logan’s cock all the more. The half human’s innocence fed him, but in the short time they’d been together, Logan knew this was much more than a physical connection. Just as he couldn’t bear to be without Aiden, he didn’t believe he could stand it if he was separated from Nick. And he was sure Aiden felt the same. However, Nick had caused Aiden to suffer pain, and Logan found it hard to forgive him for that. He had wanted Nick to suffer in return, and he’d used the only weapon Aiden allowed—his choice of whether to fuck Nick or not. Logan had rejected him, and he’d seen Nick’s hurt. That’s when he knew Nick felt for them what they felt for him. This was no longer about them bullying him or using age old seduction techniques they’d honed over the years. If only the boy knew that the power they 85

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wielded over his body, he could use on them. So sexy and innocent, he could manipulate them if he knew how. Logan had no doubt he could be wrapped around Nick’s fingers and like it. And that wasn’t speaking of his power with fear. “So, you wanted me alone,” Logan teased. “Why? Don’t tell me it’s to show me your gratitude. The air of thankfulness began to choke me earlier. Keep your answer to the real reason you wanted Aiden to leave.” Nick’s cheeks pinked, and he stuttered. Logan’s cock shifted in his pants. He took a deep breath and stepped closer to Nick. The half human’s hands came up, and Logan could guess that it took a lot not to get a feel of what was hidden behind the slacks. Nick cleared his throat. “I want you to help me get away.” Logan staggered. “What?” Nick raised his head, and the defiance in his eyes flared Logan’s own anger. He kept himself in check while he waited for further explanation. “I said I want your help. I want to get away where I can’t be found or tracked or whatever you do.” Logan sneered. “What makes you think I will let you go? Or for that matter, go against Aiden’s wishes? Haven’t you learned yet that while I dominate him in our bedroom, he is my superior? Our army is not so poorly run. Just because we are evil and selfish bastards doesn’t mean we don’t have precision and order and rules that guide us.” “I know, I know.” Panic was clear in the boy’s hand gestures. He swallowed and tried again. “You risked angering Aiden once by threatening to disobey his command. You can do this and make up with him afterward. I know he cares about you too much not to.” “Stupid,” Logan growled, more irritated that Nick automatically assumed Logan would be for him leaving than anything else. “Aiden has the authority to kill me if he chooses.” “He would never do that. He loves you.” Logan threw his head back and laughed loud and hard. “That’s not a word we use.”

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Nick’s lips compressed into a straight line, and his brows dropped low over his eyes. “Either way, it’s true.” Logan watched Nick squirming under his hot gaze, and then leaned down to run a single finger over the bulge in his pants. He offered one of his most insincere smiles that he’d used on countless occasions to intimidate his prey. “Again, you’re assuming that I would let you go. Why would I when I can have you riding my cock in a few quick movements?” Nick’s eyes widened, and he scooted down the bed. Once he was out of reach, he leaped to his feet to face Logan. The evidence of his desire tented his pants. Logan didn’t pursue him because he knew if they did have sex, no amount of talking would convince him to let Nick go. But he was considering it, which darkened his mood more than it had been lately. He guessed the boy’s thoughts. Nick wouldn’t be able to let them go either if Logan fucked him. That was clear to a blind man. Nick might go, but he’d be miserable. And so will I, damn him! Why was he even thinking about it? Nick seemed to take Logan’s silence as the intention to say no. “Isn’t it better for the two of you if I leave? So what you both wanted me and waited years to get approval. Maybe we all three discovered it wasn’t right for us. Nothing’s permanent.” Logan saw the desperation in Nick’s eyes and closed the space between them to jerk Nick up by his collar. “So you’re saying you don’t want to be here. The same thing you’ve been saying from the beginning. I suppose you being human, you can’t accept what happened to the girl was fated and not something we planned. Fine. I will give you what you want. When you screw up out there—and you will screw up—Aiden will not be there to clean up your mess or to take your punishment.” “Logan, I’m so—” “Shut up!” They stared at one another for a long time. Logan heard Nick’s heart beat and admitted to himself if no one else that it matched his own. He hated Nick, and himself. He hated that they’d thought this would be good for them and that it would be just another way to enjoy sex. 87

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“I loved her,” Nick whispered. The words were a blow to Logan’s gut. Strength left his hands, and he let Nick go. Jealousy raged inside of him. “Like a friend,” he demanded. “A sister.” Nick nodded, and Logan suppressed the sigh of relief. “She wanted more, but I couldn’t be more for her. But she was there for me when no one else was. I loved her in my way, and she’s gone.” He bowed his head. “Tell Aiden that I don’t blame him, or you. Not anymore. I understand at least a little how it all works. She wasn’t your fault.” Logan rolled his eyes then spun away on his heel. “You relieve my mind. Let’s go. What I have to do get rid of you will take a lot of power and time. And then you will be free.”

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Chapter Eleven “Logan,” Aiden called out behind him. Logan stood at the window. The garden below calmed his anger, and the fact that he’d fucked Aiden plenty of times out there gave him erotic memories. He’d planned to take Nick among the roses as well. That thought turned his mood black. Aiden walked up from behind and wrapped his arms around him. Logan closed his eyes. He breathed in Aiden’s male scent, and his cock hardened despite his disposition. “Did you two make up?” He frowned. “Yes.” Aiden chuckled. “I knew you would.” His hand drifted down Logan’s abs to the waistband of his pants. He undid the button and lowered the zipper. When he reached inside to cup the lower half of Logan’s hard cock and his balls, Logan sucked in a sharp breath. Pleasure suffused his system. “Where is he?” Logan stiffened, and not in a good way. “He’s gone.” “Gone? What do you mean? To school? I thought that was over for now.” He seemed about to say more, but then he stopped and went still. “Logan, why do I not feel him? Not in the mansion, not even in this city. When I stretch myself to get a lead on where he could be, I get nothing back. It’s as if he’s disappeared. Why!” Aiden jerked him around to face him, his fingers biting into Logan’s arms. Not for the first time, Logan was aware of Aiden’s power. He felt it singeing the hair on his arms although he doubted Aiden was aware he was doing it. “Why would he be off my radar?” he growled. “Why would I not feel him? Tell me now!” Logan meant to respond right away, but the anguish he heard in Aiden’s voice shocked him. He’d seen his lover angry in the past and even a touch hurt—nothing he couldn’t dismiss and hide. But this was genuine grief, and what was worse he understood it because he felt the same.

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He pulled Aiden into his arms and pushed his head onto his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Aiden. He wanted to go. We had to let him go.” Logan closed his eyes. A storm raged inside of him, and the heat that was naturally high in his body began to increase. “I want to be with him too. I-It hurts… I don’t like this.” He returned to the window laying his palms on the glass and resting his forehead between them. His jeans hung low on his hips because he hadn’t bothered to close them after Aiden stopped massaging his shaft. What was happening to him? He never fell for anyone like this, and it had been many years before he admitted to himself that Aiden captured him to the point that he didn’t want to be apart. For a while they had hidden their feelings from each other and those of their kind. Demons were known for the games they played, and it wouldn’t have been unheard of if someone had seduced Aiden away from him or for that matter called in favors to separate them by ruling. Not until they’d been lovers for a few years and Aiden had solidified Logan being a permanent member of his underlings that they relaxed and made it they were a couple. But that damn Nick had been a whole other experience, and Logan wondered how he would make it through the next few hours, let alone the rest of his existence. The human appearance of his hands dissolved, and he was left with long, slender fingers with sharp claws on the ends. They melted the glass under them, and he growled in anger. “I should have chained him to the bed and fucked him until he promised to never stray,” he cried out. “Why isn’t he in our bed? I long to take him!” Aiden moved up. His hands brushed over Logan’s pecs. “Easy, Logan. Remember? We wanted him to want us. He did. He loved touching you.” A hand slipped inside Logan’s pants for the second time, and Aiden stroked Logan’s cock. “Close your eyes. These are his fingers stroking you.” His lips touched Logan’s neck, and Logan arched to give Aiden better access. He moaned under the sensation, enjoying it. His cock grew hard and lengthened. He needed to come. 90

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“Remember how it felt to be buried inside his tight ass? He was so much smaller than we are. Fitting in him was a squeeze for your big cock.” “Mm, yes,” Logan groaned. “More, Nick. I want more. Suck me off.” Aiden dropped down in front of him and raised Logan’s cock. He licked his balls beneath the shaft while he continued to massage it in his fist. Logan began pumping into the palm, and he imagined it was Nick’s hot mouth. “Suck it!” he ground out. He gripped the windowsill in a hold that had his claws peeling the paint away and ripping at the wood. Lips enclosed over his erection, and he pushed forward. Logan wanted to look because he had enjoyed watching Nick suck his cock, but he knew it wasn’t Nick. Seeing the truth would be too much. Logan tangled his fingers in the silky hair below him and drove the head forward. He grunted as the long tongue started at the base of his cock and worked its way upward. The tip circled his head and teased his slit before plunging into it. He quivered when the mouth encompassed the head and began sucking hard. “Yes, Nick, suck me. You’re mine.” When the mouth left his shaft, he could have cried out, but a hand replaced it, massaging his length. He heard the rustle of clothing, and then the coldness of metal touched his skin. The device was brushed up his cock, slipped over the head, and then pushed to the base. He knew what it was right away—a cock ring. The tightness in his already engorged cock intensified. Another ring was positioned around his balls, and he moaned with pleasure from the pain. In his excitement, Logan opened his eyes and looked down. His enthusiasm waned. Not that he didn’t want Aiden. He desired the demon more than any other and always would, but he’d started to get into what Aiden had been doing to him, all with thoughts of his perfect half human in mind.

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He sank to the floor feeling defeat wash over him. Pushing his hands through his hair, he considered what he would say to Aiden when he saw what he felt reflected in his lover’s eyes. “Come here,” he called with gentleness he never used with anyone. Aiden had removed all of his clothes except for his shirt. The two sides hung open almost to his navel, revealing a muscular, hairless chest. He climbed onto Logan’s lap facing him, and they embraced in silence for a while. After a few moments, Logan raised Aiden up just enough so he could thread his cock into his ass, and they began to fuck slow and easy. With time, he hoped their lives would go back to something approaching normal. **** Six months later Nick leaned against his car, hands stuffed into his pockets. He watched his girlfriend flirting with one of her coworkers. She was human—all long legs, big breasts, and bottle-dyed blond hair. For all accounts, she was every man’s dream. Every straight man. He couldn’t bring himself to get jealous. Sometimes he could, but only on days he felt like he needed her to fall for him. If she did, then he wouldn’t be lonely. His life would mean something. Up until now, he hadn’t used his influence on her. In fact, he never used his power. At first he’d been afraid if he did, it would send off a homing beacon, and Logan and Aiden would find him. Logan’s spell, or whatever he called it, had sent Nick half way across the globe, and he’d assured Nick that after he’d repeated some ancient words or whatever, the path would be sealed and there’d be no trace. The whole thing seemed shady to Nick, but after a month and a half of looking over his shoulder, he knew Logan had told the truth—or at least respected his need to get away. Besides, they were probably happy as clams. Together they were perfect and didn’t need him. Never mind that he dreamed of them every 92

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night. He fantasized about Logan fucking him until he was sore and Aiden using that dildo on him. He remembered what it was like to have them both going at him. No amount of sex with his girlfriend came near that level of bliss. Oh he’d considered getting a boyfriend. He embraced what he was and had no problem living that lifestyle no matter what anyone thought. The issue was, he couldn’t bear another man touching him. Maybe it was because they were human men. He didn’t know, but if a man was going to fuck him, it would be Logan and Aiden. Since they were gone, he was alone. So damn alone! He shook off his depression and leaned up from the car. “Are you coming or what?” She smiled and held up a finger meaning for him to hang on, and continued talking. Nick’s eyes narrowed. He walked back around to the driver side of the car and hopped in behind the wheel. Pulling out into traffic, he heard her call his name, but he kept driving. He might not use his power, but the characteristics of the demon were still in him. By the time he reached home, she’d left five phone messages. The turkey for Thanksgiving tomorrow night chilled in the refrigerator. He disliked that she’d made it early, along with a few side dishes. He guessed he should be grateful, although with the mood he was in he felt like digging in just to piss her off. While he debated, the door to their small apartment banged open and slammed closed. The mansion had been bigger. Don’t think about that! “Nicholas Halifax,” she shouted stomping into the kitchen. He bristled. Her hands went to her hips. “I cannot believe you just left me there. I asked you to wait.” “And you know I have no patience,” he snapped back. She glared at him. “The girls at the office told me not to date a guy your age. They said you’re too young. Five years can be a lot, and I’m sick of you playing these games every time you get mad at me.” “Maybe the girls should fuck you.” He tore off a turkey leg and took a huge bite of it. 93

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Delia screamed. “We’re done! Do you hear me? It’s over, Nick.” She pivoted on her heel and stomped toward the bedroom. He could follow her and turn on the charm. He could let his power stir and use the techniques Logan and Aiden had taught him to ensnare her, but he didn’t feel motivated to. Instead, he tossed the turkey bone in the trash and washed his hands. Then he left the apartment. For a few hours he drove around, and when the sun went down, he headed to a place where there’d be drinks and dancing. The music blasted him entering the club. The dance floor was packed with bodies. Nick followed the movements of several attractive women but then dismissed them. He was tired of playing that game. A tall man about six feet with dark features leaned against a wall nursing a beer. Nick felt a stirring inside. The man looked a lot like Logan, but the demon was bigger, more confident, and exuded evil intent. Nick headed over. “Hey, buy me a drink?” The man peered at him with suspicion in his eyes. “Are you old enough?” He shrugged. “Does it matter?” Nick didn’t really drink. He’d just used the line to get the conversation started. From the second he walked up to the guy, he’d begun opening his unused powers and watched the disinterest in the human’s face change to desire. “Yeah, okay, I can do that,” the man said. He moved, but Nick caught his arm and pushed him back against the wall. “Never mind. Kiss me.” The eyes glazed even more, and Nick raised his chin. Lips that would have never touched another man’s if Nick hadn’t influenced it closed over his. He pressed in close to the man and rested his palms on his chest. The muscles were decent but not as hard as Logan’s. Nick pushed that thought from his mind and arched his neck so the guy could trace the kiss down to his throat. His cock still wasn’t hard, but the man seemed close to bursting. “What the fuck, John!” someone called out from behind them.

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John, no doubt the man trying to undo Nick’s pants at that moment, raised his head and looked over Nick’s shoulder. Nick took his time turning around. Three other men stood there, two with women clinging to their arm. The man who’d yelled out spoke again. “Is this why you didn’t dance with the ladies? I’ve known you for ten years, and I never would have thought you’d go that way.” “I-I’m not…I don’t…” John stuttered. “Look at me,” Nick interrupted. All eyes turned on him, and he grinned. “I think an orgy would be perfect.” His power increased another notch. All heads bobbed in agreement. Nick pointed to the two women. “Not you. Go away.” The two women drifted somewhere out of sight, and Nick led the group toward the back. He knew he was probably breaking the rules. Normally, demons influenced humans to do what they already wanted to do, but he doubted any of these men were really gay. He took out his heartache on them, but maybe a commander would show up soon and end his miserable life. He scanned the crowd left and right, but no one set off his radar for being nonhuman. They reached the back of the club, and he caught sight of a few doors. Two were labeled as rest rooms, and the third as “manager.” He opened that door and discovered just what he was looking for—a sort of living room with two long couches and a desk. He started forward, but a huge burly man blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re going?” Nick froze. He felt the pressure of controlling four men, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. Tilting his head back, he looked into the face of the bouncer and swallowed. This man had an insane will. Nick could sense it and knew he’d never be able to hold the others and him too. The bouncer glared down at him with flared nostrils and thick bushy brows almost eclipsing his eyes. For the life of him, Nick couldn’t make himself speak. What kind of demon was intimidated by a human? Depression weighed him down, and he felt his hold on the four men waning. 95

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“You, get lost,” the bouncer snapped. Nick moved to join the men as they began drifting back to the main part of the bar, but a meaty hand kept him from getting too far. “Not you.” Nick jerked on the hold. “Look, it was a mistake, okay? No harm, no foul.” The bouncer jerked him into the room and slammed the door. Nick’s throat went dry. He found himself flattened on the wall with the bulky body of the bouncer pinning him in place. “How old are you?” he demanded. “Almost nineteen.” He held up his hands. “I wasn’t drinking.” “A guy your age shouldn’t even be in here.” Nick thought he was about to get a lecture but shivered when the truth became apparent. The bouncer’s hungry gaze licked over him from lips to nuts. A rapid pulse beat a tattoo in his neck. He wasn’t turned on in the least. “You’re gay right?” the bouncer asked. “You’re not my type.” “What type is that? You were about to fuck four different men.” He pinched the button open on Nick’s pants. “Tell me I’m wrong.” His zipper lowered. Nick closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He sucked in a few deep breaths and sought his main ability—fear. The power snaked out of him, and he felt it wrapping around the man. When he opened his eyes again, he saw it in the bouncer’s eyes. But the guy’s jaw tightened, and he gritted his teeth. “No one cares if I fuck a tiny little thing like you back here. My boss has done worse. I won’t get caught.” Nick realized he was talking himself out of the fear. This was the strong will he’d sensed. Now dread took a hold of Nick. There was no way he could combat this man with biceps as big as his. Maybe he could call up the strength, but he was already beginning to shake to his shame and disgust. “You don’t want to do this,” he said.

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The man smiled. “I do. I love boys.” His mouth descended on Nick’s, and he forced his tongue into Nick’s mouth. The strength of his jaws kept Nick from clamping down and biting his attacker. Muscle as hard as steel crushed him further into the wall. A cock bigger than he ever wanted to feel inside his ass pressed into his stomach. The bouncer’s hand found his cock and began stroking it. No, please, no! The man was hurting him, but the sensation was nothing like Logan’s pain or even Aiden’s. He didn’t get hard. He hated it and wanted it to end. Nick pushed at the shoulders above him, but the man didn’t shift an inch. If he didn’t do something, he was going to be raped. How could his life end up like this? Help me, Logan. Please help me. I need you now! The bouncer began kissing down his neck. Tears filled Nick’s eyes, and he scrubbed them away in anger. “Logan!” The bouncer’s head came up, and he snarled. “Who the fuck is Logan?” When Nick didn’t answer, he raised his hand up as if he intended to hit Nick across the mouth. Crunching bone made both their eyes widen before the bouncer screamed in pain. Nick watched as he rose off the floor and went flying to the other side of the room to smash into the opposite wall. The couch kept him from hitting the floor, but Nick guessed it was little comfort after his arm had been nearly snapped off. Logan appeared in front of Nick with his back to him. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. “You don’t ever lay a finger on Nick,” he roared. Logan started forward, but Aiden materialized in front of him and held back a rampaging Logan with just a hand to his chest. “Stop, Logan. We cannot kill him even if we want to.” Nick pushed off the wall and staggered. Logan was there in an instant pulling him to his chest. He’d been right about the demon’s muscle. He was built better than any man Nick knew. “H-How did you find me?” he asked. “I thought the trail was closed.” Logan frowned down at him, and Nick welcomed even his displeasure. Just having him there was everything. 97

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“Didn’t you call?” Nick looked from him to Aiden, and he longed to be held by Aiden too, but he stayed where he was for now. “Yeah, but…I mean...” Aiden bent over the human and checked his pulse. The bouncer lay sprawled over the couch unconscious. Aiden straightened and fixed his tie before flicking a speck of dust from his suit jacket. “We can discuss this at home.” He raised an eyebrow in Nick’s direction. “Unless you meant to stay here with him?” Nick was aware of Logan’s cock pressed into his side. He realized his was just as hard. “No, I’ll go.” Logan whipped him up into his arms. Nick knew the tight hold and carrying him wasn’t necessary, but he didn’t mind a bit. He rested his head on Logan’s chest as the scenery around them faded away. The bedroom in the mansion appeared, not the one he’d moved into but Logan and Aiden’s room. He hid a smile.

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Chapter Twelve Logan sat down on the bed with Nick on his lap, and Aiden moved up to him. He checked his face and arms as well as the rest of his body. Nick didn’t miss the tent in his slacks. “Did he hurt you?” Nick shook his head. “No.” “What were you doing there?” Logan demanded. “You lived as a human, so you aren’t old enough to go to bars.” When Logan flicked his thigh, Nick winced in pain. “Ouch, you dumb fuck! That hurt.” He sighed. “I went there to have some fun. I was in the middle of arranging an all male orgy when that bouncer interfered.” Neither demon said anything, and Nick glanced up into their faces. Both appeared to be in the throes of intense anger and trying to manage it. He wondered if it was about the bouncer almost raping him or that he’d been about to have an orgy with four other men. He doubted they cared about who he fucked. He admitted, “I hadn’t been with any guys since I left. I had a girlfriend. We broke up tonight.” He looked at the window and saw that it was daylight here. “Well night there anyway.” Logan was the first to speak, and the hesitancy in his tone was uncharacteristic. “You liked it?” “What? Sex with a woman?” Nick ran a hand over his face and scooted off Logan’s lap. He stood up and put distance between them since he didn’t know despite their desire for him if they intended to fuck him. “No, not really. I like dick. I was close until—” “No other man is allowed to touch you! Ever!” Nick expected the explosive declaration from Logan, but this was Aiden, and the dark anger in his face made Nick shiver. He took a step back, but Aiden was on him in a heartbeat. He crushed Nick to his chest and devoured his mouth. At first Nick resisted, but then he couldn’t hold out any longer. He parted his lips and kissed Aiden back with as much fervor as he could.

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He threaded his arms around Aiden’s neck and held on so he could encircle Aiden’s waist with his legs. Aiden took his weight, squeezing his ass and yanking him closer. When their mouths separated, Aiden carried him back to the bed and laid him down. He hovered over him, his legs between Nick’s. “We have our issues. I doubt they will be resolved today,” Aiden explained. “Logan and I are what we are, but…” Logan leaned over and kissed Nick until he was dizzy. His lips were numb when Logan raised his head. “We want you. It was a mistake to let you leave. The human way would be to say you have a choice—stay with us or go. Except, we’re not human.” “So you still want to own me,” Nick growled. Aiden sat down beside him, and Logan traced a hand down over his belly and farther to his cock. He squeezed Nick’s hard-on making him gasp in pleasure. “You were always mine, whether you were here in my bed or across the world.” Nick closed his eyes. He hated the emotions that roiled inside of him, but he realized they’d always be a part of his makeup. He couldn’t deny the human side of him, no matter what. “I want to hear that you love me. I want to know that I’m as important to you as Aiden is.” Logan opened his jeans and pushed his boxers aside. He bent down and took Nick’s cock fully into his mouth. He sucked just a little and then harder until it ached. Nick’s hips rose off the bed, but Logan released him. Aiden took a turn, swallowing Nick’s cock and then licking the sides until he quivered. While he continued to suck and stroke Nick’s shaft, Logan moved in to kiss his balls. The sensations drove Nick out of his mind. He bunched the sheets under his fists and squirmed in pleasure. Logan raised one of his legs and delved lower. His tongue teased Nick’s ass hole, and he was gone. “Yes, yes, please, Logan,” he begged, but Logan stopped as soon as he’d begun. Nick fought tears.

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The two demons stood up. They dispensed with the slow way of undressing and snapped their clothing away. Seconds after, Aiden did the same with Nick’s clothing. Logan lifted his leg again and smacked his ass cheek. Nick whimpered and pushed a hand to his mouth. He felt warmth in his cheeks, and Logan laughed. “You want me to do that again, don’t you?” Logan asked. Nick glared at him. “Yeah, I do.” He obliged, spanking Nick until both cheeks stung. When he was finished, Aiden took over, and Nick felt wetness on his stomach. He’d come with just the pleasurable punishment. Both Aiden and Logan dropped down and began licking his come from his stomach. Nick had never felt so powerful. They were hungry and desperate, almost crazed over touching and tasting him. He stroked their heads, tangling his fingers in their hair. A small tug raised Logan’s head so he could kiss him, and then Nick turned to devour Aiden’s mouth. He loved them both. Was it enough? Logan fell on his back and dragged Nick with him to lie on top. He crushed Nick in his arms. “You are everything,” Logan said. Nick gasped and met his gaze. The seriousness in his eyes told him Logan wasn’t teasing this time. “We’re not going to be separated again,” Aiden said. He bit gently into Nick’s shoulder causing his cock to pulse like he would come again so soon. “Do you understand what I’m saying?” Nick didn’t hide his smile this time. “Yes, I do.” They loved him. He sat up on Logan and straddled him. “I don’t want to feel left out, like it’s all about you two and I’m just the toy.” “Are you giving me a command, boy?” Logan grunted. Nick wiggled his hips. “Maybe. Are you going to punish me for it?” “Definitely.” Aiden leaned down behind him and licked his hole. Nick arched his hips and tilted his head back. He loved Aiden’s strong tongue, especially when it dipped inside of his hole like it was doing now. When he was

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good and wet, Aiden pulled out, and Logan’s cock replaced his tongue. Nick sank all the way down groaning. Logan was as big as he remembered, and he loved having him inside of his ass. He began to pump slowly and then picked up speed. Logan gripped his hips, and Nick could have laughed. The demon hated for Nick to control their sex, and he liked it rougher. Nick held on for the ride. Logan’s fingers bit into Nick’s hips as he bounced him up and down his long length. Each time he descended, Logan came up to meet him. He growled and moaned, “Yes, harder. Fuck, yes, you’re mine!” Nick clenched his fists on Logan’s hard abs and dropped his chin into his chest. Already his hole was sore, but his cock had grown tight, and his balls ached for another release. Logan’s breath came heavy and fast. His red eyes glowed when he looked at Aiden. “Now you.” Aiden hesitated, but Nick remembered Logan telling him that when they were in bed he was in charge. Logan made an impatient sound, and Aiden moved to straddle him with his back to Nick. Nick couldn’t imagine what the demon intended until Aiden licked his fingers and put them into his own ass. Nick clenched his teeth. He wasn’t climbing off Logan’s cock anytime soon, so what were they going to do? He got his answer when Logan reached behind Aiden to grab Nick’s cock. Nick gasped. “Logan.” His dark lover squeezed his cock, and Nick fell silent. He watched in fascination as Logan began threading his cock into Aiden’s ass. Nick couldn’t believe how it felt. He’d never been inside of a man, never even imagined it. Logan and Aiden had always taken him, and he’d submitted with pleasure. Aiden sank down until every inch of Nick’s cock was inside of him. Now Nick had it from the front and the back, and the sensations were overwhelming. He collapsed against Aiden’s back, but the two demons continued to pump. Nick felt his balls drawing up, and the muscles inside of him tensing. Under him, Logan spread his legs a little so that his thighs brushed Nick’s ass. He knew Logan well enough to know that’s when he

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was gearing up, ready to release his load. Both Nick and Aiden panted, whispering Logan’s name. Nick was shaking hard, and Aiden seemed to do the same. He couldn’t believe he was pleasuring the obsession demon, but how good it was. He reached around Aiden’s waist and grasped his thick cock. Running his hand up and down its length as fast as his waning energy allowed, Nick prepped him to come with him. He knew Logan would time his release with them. Logan’s sharp cry was like a signal, and Nick shuddered as his juices flowed. He filled Aiden’s ass while Logan filled his, and Aiden’s thick come warmed his palm. When they were done, Logan raised Aiden off of him and laid him to the side. Then he lifted Nick and placed him between the two of them. His strong arms came around Nick, and he pulled him back to his chest. Comfort and a sense of home radiated throughout Nick’s being. He closed his eyes and reached for Aiden, who settled in by pulling Nick’s thigh over his. Logan touched his mouth to Nick’s shoulder and bit down. Ecstasy rolled through Nick as Logan licked away the blood. “That was good,” the dark demon whispered. “Again!”

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About the Author Eden Cole is the author of several erotic works including male/male and ménage, and she has many more on the way. Please visit Risky Ink at riskyink.blogspot.com to find out more of male/male novellas.