Bonds of Desire (19 page)

Seth adjusted the spray and switched on the other heads so water hit them from three sides. It was luxury at an extreme. They adjusted positions in an unspoken dance that placed Allie in the middle. He soaped up his hands, and the scent that would always remind him of Seth cloaked the heated space with its fragrance.

The patter and smack of the water was all that broke the quiet, and he focused on the soft, smooth texture of Allie’s skin under his palms as he washed the remains of their play from her body. Could it all be wiped away that easily?

Yes. It could and would soon enough.

“Hey.” Seth halted Tyler’s hand where it pressed over Allie’s ribs. “Neither of us ever wanted to see you hurt.”

Tyler flipped his wet bangs out of his eyes and looked to Seth. “I know. I didn’t either. Yet it brought me here. That’s not all bad.”

“It’s still not right.”

“That mean you regret this?”

Seth grabbed Tyler’s neck and jerked him forward. His face was deadly and serious. “Never. Don’t ever think that.”

“Me neither.” Allie pulled him down for a gentle kiss, the softest of lips on lips that held the impact of the most crushing blow he’d ever received. “Now stop it. We all know how we got here. The only thing that really matters is where we’re going.”

He smiled and leaned his head against hers. “And where’s that?”

“Back to sleep as soon as we get out of here. You two wore me out.”

Seth’s laughter burst around them and infected them all. Tyler let his own laughter filter out as he hauled them both into a hug. Slick skin on skin, he was bared to them in more than one way. But there was no going back. And most importantly, he didn’t want to.

Chapter Twenty-One

Seth listened for the distant clatter of the water to start before he turned to Allie. She was already staring at him, a look of concerned insistence on her face.

“We can’t let him go back,” she whispered. “The thought of him continuing as an escort kills me.”

“I know. I’m working on it.”

Her eyes narrowed, her focus sharpening as she caught up with him. “What are you doing?”

He glanced over her shoulder at the bedroom door where Tyler had gone. It felt wrong talking about him after how close they’d become. But the risk of Tyler rejecting the help was too high.

When he’d discovered the true depth of Tyler’s troubles, it’d made him beyond angry. The guy had been battling an uphill fight his entire life, thanks to his father. Seth understood fights like that. They were unbalanced and often unfair. It was past time Tyler had someone on his side.

Seth went to his desk in the far corner of the room. Again, he scanned to the bedroom, the guilt holding his stomach in a tight knot. This had to be done though. There was no way he’d let Tyler continue as an escort.

He pulled the file folder out of his drawer and handed it to Allie, who’d followed him over to his makeshift office. Allie was wearing another one of his T-shirts, and the hem rode high on her thighs to expose her great leg where it dangled over the edge of the desk.

“How’d you get these?” Her tone was all business, her focus on the documents.

“How do we get all of our background information?” His answer was cagey, but she didn’t need to know that Rock could get pretty much any information that was electronic in nature. And in this day and age, that was almost everything, including contracts and schedules of high-end escort services. It was stupid of the escort agency, really, but Seth was grateful for the agency’s arrogance.

She gave a grunt of understanding without pressing for more details. “So what’s your plan?”

“Buy out. Unless you see a loophole we can leverage.” Seth had been through Tyler’s agency contract numerous times and he’d been unable to find anything that would work in their favor. It was airtight on terms and obligations.

She read in silence a few more minutes, and he got up to check on Tyler’s shower. Seeing the bedroom was empty, he sat on the desk to look over Allie’s shoulder. The contract wasn’t long, and Allie was already flipping the pages back and forth as she reread sections.

Finally, she lowered the papers to her lap and turned to face him. “Nothing. It’s straightforward and simple, but no outs that I can see. Other than it’s a contract for an implied illegal service, even if it doesn’t specifically state that sex is involved.” She shook her head, her curls tossing forward to brush her face. “What if he just stops? What can they do?”

“Force him to work.” Her eyes went wide at that. He doubted Tyler could just walk away. If a contract was involved, then the agency would have muscle to enforce it. “Which is why I said buy it out. I have the funds and I’m already in contact with the agency.”

She gaped at him. “When did you do that? What will Tyler think?”

He paced away, unable to withstand her scrutiny. His conscience was already mangled enough. “Does it matter? I’m doing it to keep Tyler safe.” Everything he was doing was to that goal.

“Shouldn’t we just turn the information over to the police?”

It was a valid question, one Seth had quickly discarded. “Yeah. But as you said, there is nothing illegal in the contract itself. Plus the fallout could hurt too many like Tyler who don’t deserve it. I won’t do that.”

She was silent for a moment. “He’s not going to like it.” It didn’t help that her hushed statement was a replica of the one circling in his head. And she didn’t know the full extent of what he was doing.

“I know. But I have to do it.” He faced her and for a second, let her see the desperation that clawed within him.

She was in his arms a moment later. “I get it. I don’t like the method, but I get it.” She held him tight, and took the approval for what it was. “I’ve got a nice savings too, if you need any money.”

“No.” He didn’t want her tied to the transactions in any way. He could take the fallout if any came. Her line of work wouldn’t allow it. “My mom left a hefty inheritance when she passed. I got it.”

“You’re sure?”

He stepped away and returned the incriminating folder to his drawer. “Yes. Trust me on this. You don’t need to get involved.” It didn’t matter what
he
was risking if it gave Tyler a second chance.

“But I’m already involved,” she countered, leaning on his desk. “Don’t push me out of this. I care about him too.”

“I know,” he told her. “And I care about both of you.” Almost too much.

She blinked and looked away, her hands fisting where they were propped on the glossy wood surface. “Me too,” she admitted. “Which is why what you’re doing scares me. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”

He came around the desk to gather her back in his embrace. He wove his fingers through her curls to cup her head to his chest. “We’ll be fine. I promise. One way or another, we’ll all be fine.”

“I hope so.” She held him tight, and he loved the feel of her pressed so close. “I really hope so, but sometimes it doesn’t seem like that’s possible.”

“Hey.” He tilted her face up so he could see her eyes. “Just enjoy what we have now, okay? Let me worry about the rest.”

Her lip curled in a snarky half smile. “That’s not really my thing. You should know that by now.”

And it was just another reason why her submission to them was so damn captivating. “I know. But while you’re here, it can be. It has been. Stay with that.”

She moved her head in a resigned shake. “And tomorrow, when our time is up? Then what?”

He held her tight and closed his eyes to hide the pain that stabbed through him at the thought of them being over. It was coming; he knew that in his gut. This was all too good to not blow up. But he didn’t want to think about it. Not yet. “We’ll figure it out then.”

Too bad his confidence didn’t match the strength of his words.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tyler sat by himself at the kitchen counter, the inevitable here before he was ready for it. His phone lay silent but on. He didn’t want his time with Seth and Allie to end, but that didn’t stop it from happening.

The sun had crested over the horizon hours ago and brought with it the balmy, humid, sun-drenched day that was the norm for mid-July. The choir of birds was back, chirping noisily on the rooftop next door, their mixed song raking against his thoughts until he wanted to shout at them to stop.

Multiple times over the last two hours he’d risen to leave. It’d be easier to disappear before he was told to go. But he couldn’t make himself do it. Just like he couldn’t do it all week.

It’d been over a week since that fuck-awful night at The Den. It felt like months, years. Damn, it was forever ago. His time at Seth’s loft had been a dream, one it was time he woke up from.

The buzzing vibration of his phone on the marble countertop jerked him back to reality with the subtlety of an icy dose of water. His blood ran cold as he picked up the phone, knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer.

“Hey,” he grumbled, keeping his voice low. He didn’t want to wake his lovers, and this wasn’t a conversation they needed to hear.

“Made some nice friends, did you?”

The hair at the back of Tyler’s neck rose in warning. The agency had never cared about his life or friends. “Why?”

The laughter that came through wasn’t joyful. “Like you don’t know.”

Tyler had no clue what the distorted voice was talking about, but he wasn’t about to let the man know that. “Do you have my schedule for the week?” That was what Sunday calls were all about. There were always the fillers or last-minute jobs, but the agency was good about giving their workers notice and prep time.

Again with the laughter. Tyler’s stomach did a twist and drop. The voice wasn’t known for humor. “You’re funny, kid. Maybe that’s what charmed the guy. Good luck. Door’s open if it doesn’t work out.”

Tyler stared at his phone long after the screen went black. What was that about? He rubbed a hand over his face, the sickening feeling of dread growing stronger. His hand started to shake and he set the phone down, refusing to acknowledge the truth that was growing in his mind.

He jumped when a warm palm settled across his nape. Damn. There was the calm he wanted so desperately to hold on to. The one he shouldn’t get used to, but already had. He couldn’t even resist when he was turned and pulled into Seth’s embrace.

“Who was that?” Seth’s voice was low and gentle where it rumbled next to Tyler’s ear.

“Work.” He could’ve lied, but what was the point? He couldn’t hide who he was or what he did. It was time to end the fantasy.

Seth stiffened, his back muscles bunching tight under Tyler’s hands.
Yeah
,
here it comes.
“You’re not ready to go back.”

“I’m fine. Everything’s healed.” Seth had one arm wrapped around Tyler’s lower back and he wiggled his hips as proof to his words, not that it was needed. His groin ached at the memory of being bound on his back with Allie riding him and Seth’s cock filling his mouth. He swallowed, pushing the memory away to that place he could savor later.

“That’s not what I mean.” There was a hitch in Seth’s voice that Tyler didn’t analyze.

“I have no choice.” The admission came from the small place where he kept his deepest secrets. That he’d let one out was proof of just how far he’d fallen for them.

“What do you mean, you have no choice?” Allie’s higher voice broke through the room. The fighting tilt of her words put Tyler right back on edge. He didn’t need to defend himself or his life to anyone.

“Stop.” The sharp command was clipped into his ear. Seth tightened his hold, keeping Tyler from pushing away. “We only want to understand. There’s no judgment. You know that.”

Tyler closed his eyes and buried his face into the crook of Seth’s neck. Years of being judged and ridiculed and called every derogatory name under the sun didn’t fade away because of one week of acceptance. “This can’t go on.”

To his complete humiliation, he almost sobbed when the warm length of Allie curled against his back. No. This couldn’t last. The soft kiss she placed on the space between Seth’s hand and his T-shirt sent a shiver of longing simmering over his skin.

“Why?”

“You can’t do this to me,” he whispered. “Don’t make me hope for something that can never last.” It wasn’t fair, but then, life wasn’t. Right this second, pressed between Allie and Seth, Tyler had everything he ever wanted. And he had to let it go. Walking away was better than being kicked out.

Allie smoothed her hands up Tyler’s sides before extending one to tug Seth closer.

“Not even if we all want it to?”

“Why would you want it to?” He couldn’t help doubting Seth. “You two don’t need me.”

Seth gripped the side of Tyler’s face, forcing him to look at the other man. He couldn’t believe the anger and fierce resolve he saw there. “You’re wrong. You’re a part of us now.”

“I can’t be. It’ll never work.”

“Yes. It can. If you want it to.”

Damn, how he wanted it to. But how? “I fuck for a living. Are you honestly telling me you’re both okay with that?” Tyler stepped to the side, slipping out from the Seth-and-Allie sandwich. He glanced around, the confirmation that he didn’t belong stated in every detail of the high-end loft.

The silence went on until he caved and glanced back at them. His stomached rolled from their pinched looks of aversion and disgust. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

He grabbed his stuff and headed for the door. He might have been leaving in the same jeans and shirt he’d come to the club in that not-so-long-ago night, but he was far from the same person. Fuck them for that too.

“Tyler.” His name rang out over the thump of his boots, Seth’s voice carrying that Dom command that had him instinctually hesitating.
Fuck.
Fuck
. He drew back his shoulders and kept going.

“Come work at the club,” Seth continued.

Tyler spun back. “I’m not your charity case or whipping boy to prance around.”

“Goddammit.”

An instant later Seth was in his face. His back pressed to the exposed brick, his chest millimeters from Seth’s. The Dom held him pinned to the wall without a single touch.

Tyler froze, the need yanking him down until he could do nothing but breathe. Seth knew exactly how to get to him. They both knew so many things about him he’d never meant to let out. He was exposed and vulnerable in a way he’d never been as a prostitute, and he didn’t know how to deal with that.

But there was no looking away from Seth’s penetrating eyes when he spoke. “I know you remember what I said about disrespecting me. So tell me, Tyler. Why can’t you stop fucking?”

Tyler winced then drew up his defenses. “Because I like it.”

“Wrong.” Seth rejected his lie without a blink. “Now give me the truth.”

What did it matter? Maybe they’d finally realized how worthless he was. And that was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. His gaze cut to Allie, who stood to the side, her hand covering her mouth. Her hair was still bed-tussled and another of Seth’s shirts clung to her curves in a tempting show of hide-and-seek. She’d never want someone like him for the long haul.

“I need the money,” he mumbled, his words flying out before he changed his mind. “And I signed a contract. I can’t walk away.”

Seth inched back a bit, the aggression easing from his pose. “But you don’t want to do it?”

Tyler narrowed his eyes. “Do you honestly think I like getting fucked by overweight, balding men with schoolboy fetishes? Most of whom are so far in the closet they stink of dirty socks and fear?”

“No,” Seth said. “I don’t.” There was a tenderness in his gaze and voice that ate at Tyler’s resistance. He cupped Tyler’s face, the touch gentle in contrast to the hardness moments ago. “We got you out of it.”

Tyler stared, stunned stupid by the man’s words. “Wh...what did you say?” He couldn’t have heard right. They wouldn’t have done that.

“I bought out your contract.” Seth drew back. His confident expression faded in the face of the cold fury building in Tyler. “You don’t have to go back.”

“What did you do?” He knocked Seth’s hands away, his touch like a stinging slap on his face. He turned to Allie, the guilt shining clear as day behind her lifted chin. He stared at the door and slowly, methodically breathed until the sharp dagger of pain eased enough for him to talk. “I need that job. You had no right to meddle in
my
life. You have no fucking idea what you’ve done.”

“Done?” Seth snapped, stepping back. “I got you out of that life because I care about you.”

“But you didn’t help.” Tyler glared at man, the encroaching panic turning his voice sharp. “Don’t you get it? I need that income.”

“No. You don’t!”

The growled reply echoed of the high ceilings and Tyler stumbled against the wall, not caring when the scabs under his shirt caught on the abrasive brick. He swallowed down the sick queasiness riding up the back of his throat. “Tell me the rest.”

Seth grimaced, his lips pressed into a thin line. He glanced at Allie. “I took care of the other debt too.” His voice was as stagnant as the air had become. “The one your father left you with.”

Tyler shook his head in denial. “You shouldn’t have done that.” His father’s gambling debt had been over six figures when the man had the indecency to croak without paying it off, saddling Tyler with the balance. Now instead of owing some asshole loan shark, he owed Seth and Allie.

And he didn’t want to owe them. Not like that.

Allie stepped closer but stopped when he shot her a warning glare. “We’re trying to help you. After what we’ve shared, the thought of you going back and...” Her hand flailed around as she stumbled for the word.

“Fucking men for money,” Tyler sneered. “You can’t even say it, it disgusts you so much. But I was good enough to fuck for a few days. Huh?”

Her face paled and she retreated a step.

“Damn it, Tyler. Stop being an ass.” Seth ran a hand through his hair, tugging it away from his face. “Can’t you accept that we both care about you? That we
want
to help you? That we don’t want you endangering your life with a profession you were forced into?”

Tyler stared at Seth as he tried to process the words against his feelings. They were both watching him, his two lovers. The first he’d ever really had. Yeah, he’d fucked around with a lot of people, but this was the first time he’d opened up enough to care about who he was with.

And they’d betrayed him.

“If you cared that much, respected me at all, you wouldn’t have gone behind my back.”

Seth’s sigh cut through the room. “Would you have accepted our help if we’d come to you?”

“Don’t know. Maybe. But you didn’t believe in me enough to give me that chance.” Tyler shook his head and stared at the floor. He couldn’t meet Seth’s eyes. For the first time in years, he felt true shame about what he did. It wasn’t an emotion he allowed very often because there was no point in it. “Now you’ve bought and paid for me, just like every other john.”

Allie gasped. “No. Tyler. It’s not like that.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“You don’t owe us anything.” Seth’s voice was all business now. “This is a gift, an opportunity. Not an IOU.”

“You can get out now.” Allie insisted as she edged closer to stand beside Seth. A united front with Tyler on the outside. “Get out of that life and make a new one.”

He couldn’t help the small snort that came out. She was so naïve to street life. “And what am I supposed to do? I have nothing to offer but my body.”

“That is so wrong.” She glared at him. “And you know it. You can hide behind your anger right now, but don’t sell yourself short or let this chance go by because of your pride.” Her expression softened, replaced by the look he’d come to expect. That one that said she really did care about him. “You’re a good man. Someone I’m proud to know and want to see again.”

“Me, too.” Seth put his arm around Allie and gave her a squeeze. “We’re good together. I want to keep seeing both of you.”

“Yeah, right.” He pushed away from the wall. He wasn’t surprised when they let him pass so easily. “You’ll hit the real world and wonder why you ever dipped so low in the first place.” He reached the door, flicked the locks and yanked it open, the whole time wanting them to fight for him while knowing he had to go.

“You’re wrong.” Allie stepped up and gripped his arm before he could leave. She grabbed his face and kissed him with the passion and heat he’d come to crave. She claimed him right there in much the same way that he’d done to her in bed. His chest ached as he pulled back and stepped out the door.

He hesitated and gave in, looking back one more time. This last picture of the two of them would be one he held on to forever. Maybe it was all fake or just a walk on the wild side for them, but they’d made him feel special for the first time in his memory. Right up until this last move.

When they made him feel like their personal whore.

“I really wish I was.” He closed the door behind him, each step down the hallway a shot of pain that beat the hell out of any physical wounds he’d ever suffered.

This shouldn’t hurt. But it fucking ripped his heart to shreds.

* * *

“We can’t let him leave.” Allie spun back to face Seth, her anger venting on the only man left. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

This was crazy. The whole thing was crazy. From the moment she’d walked into this loft, her life had turned upside down and sideways. Now she didn’t know how to right it.

He stared at her, a line of complete stiffness from his face to his shoulders and down to his bare feet. The same hurt that twisted in her showed briefly in his creased brow before it smoothed away. “We can’t force him to stay.”

Of course they couldn’t. Just like they hadn’t forced her to stay. Yet...

“Come here, Allie.” Seth opened his arms, and she stepping into them without hesitation. She snuggled into his chest, inhaling his scent that held a lingering whiff of sex. He ran his fingers through her hair until they stalled at the tangles leftover from last night. “Did you honestly think we could keep this?”