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“Who am I? Motherfucker, you don’t wanna know who I am, but I’ll tell you this: if you think that you escaped captivity because you’re the top dog, you could not be more wrong. If I’m in captivity, you’re in captivity with me. The only thing that alpha bullshit ever got you was a prettier cage.”
These men and I cling to the alpha mindset because we’re fighting against the same deep feelings of disconnection and powerlessness, despite belonging to the most powerful demographic of modern society.
I bet he’s just as passionate in bed. I bet he likes to take charge. I bet he’s good at it.
I call my security detail because people take the whole eat the rich thing far too seriously for my comfort.
I’m told it’s twice the size of the average Manhattan apartment. A fact that used to make me feel proud. Now it makes me wonder about the people who live in apartments half the size of my office.
the man on stage in that video sounds nothing like the man I work with day in and day out.”
It’s combined with an undertone of laundry detergent, and the nostalgia of this smell makes me want to find this man’s bed and bury myself in his pillows.
I promise. I’m usually a kitten. But something about this arrogant prick brings out the mob in me.
Also strange is the small curl of jealousy that wraps itself around my rib cage. I wish I could say his name like that. Silly, of course. Portelli doesn’t need me to recognize his humanity.
There is a sensation—an emotion, I suppose—of which I am wholly unfamiliar. It’s a rough-hewn thing, out of place in my emotional landscape, like a craggy rock in a field of wildflowers.
He’s ruggedly handsome. Dangerously so. I can see why you’d be having a hard time.” “I could fire you,” I hiss, fixing her with a glare. “I could so fire you right now.”
I lock down the urge to give him a hug and meet him in the middle.
Winner winner, chicken dinner. Wolfe definitely wants to see my penis.
The material is flimsy enough for me to suspect that he’s uncircumcised. I wonder if he likes docking. I’ve never—
I’m not a religious man, but God, do I want to worship at the altar of his ass.
“Psst, billionaire,” Joe says, crooking his finger at me. I lean in, nervous. “Calling anyone ‘the help’ is dehumanizing and marks you as an out-of-touch one-percenter who deserves to be eaten.” He emphasizes this by chomping his sexy teeth together.
“If he were going after you, I’d a killed him with my bare hands. And I wouldn’t a bothered with the niceties.”
He holds up his hand. “I’m okay. We’re okay. I promise.” I nod, feeling lost and stupid and horribly guilty. “Come here,” he orders, opening his arms to me. I stumble forward, crashing into the hug, nearly sobbing with relief as his strong arms surround me.
I can pretend I’ve never seen the light go out of someone’s eyes at my own hand, but there is no denying my ability to murder when someone I care about is in danger. And when it comes to Rand, I find that I care. A lot.
I meant for it to be a grounding hug, but Rand was like a starving man, dying from lack of touch. Every protective instinct came rushing forward, and I let it go on for far too long. Neither of us wanted to stop.
I manage to not pull him onto my lap and fuck him until he begs for mercy.
In the beginning, all I saw was this towering asshole willing to throw his weight around to get what he wants. By the next day, I saw a man in deep conflict with himself and his persona. And yesterday, I saw a man who’s been wanting to do good this whole time. Who’s been told that’s somehow not manly enough. Who’s been shutting himself up just to gain his father’s approval.
“What do you want, Rand? Why did you really come back here?” I gulp. “Answer the question,” he says, adding an authoritative edge to his voice that sends ice and fire down my spine. “Say it.” Jesus, I have got to get out of here. I turn to leave, but my feet stay anchored to the floor. “Say. It.” “I need you,” I whisper, eyes on the floor.
“Rand, look at me.” I swallow and blink up at him. “Good boy.”
“Do these paid lovers of yours know how much it shames you that you need it so bad?”
“God, I can have so much fun with you,” he says, the timbre of his voice reverberating through my rib cage.
“You’ve already come once, greedy boy. I’m going to need you to leave that alone.”
God, I want Joe to ream me on this fucking table. He started the meeting out sounding like he usually does—professional, with a little Brooklyn on the side. But there’s a bit of mobster creeping into his voice, and he has a room full of millionaires and billionaires shifting uncomfortably as a result. It’s the sexiest goddamn thing that’s ever happened in this room. So far.
“One of these days, you’re going to be the one ass up, and I’m going to get you back for all this.” “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I toss back, grinning confidently. He looks back again, confused and panting as he fucks himself. “I’m vers.” I shrug, loving the surprised O on his lips. “Payback’s gonna be a bitch.”
“People forget that CEO is just a hat like any other. Same with sub and Dom and top and bottom…I mean, when did people stop asking which hat they wanted to wear today? This hour? This minute?”
“Do you know how I know you’re not an asshole?” I shake my head. He kisses my chest. “I don’t feel bad about myself around you.”
“If you’re thinking of outing your son, don’t. Don’t do it. I promise you will not like my reaction.” My father takes another step back, though it hurts him to do so. “Are you threatening me?” Joe closes the distance. “I am absolutely threatening you. Just like Rand, I learned at the feet of my father. The most important thing he taught me, Mr. Wolfe, is that there are a great many things worse than death. And when I’m protecting Rand, I am capable of all of them.”
He gives me a private smile that sends another wave of lust and pleasure through me, with a dark edge of emotion that seems to creep up whenever we’re in the same room.
The softness in his eyes layered with the passion and strength he’s shown since our first day together send my feelings headlong off a cliff.
Everyone gets to their feet, clapping. Rand holds his hand to his heart and bows his head, his face beaming. I don’t think he’s ever felt like this before. I know I haven’t. And in that moment, I’m struck with another truth. He’s someone I could really fall for. Hell, it’s already happening.
“You are the one thing I cannot buy, Joe. And because I know you will never take advantage of my wealth, it makes me want to be generous with it. So please, shush, and let me do nice things for you.”
I’ve decided that the nicer the suit, the more dangerous he looks. And tonight, he’s lethal. God, I want him to fuck me while wearing that suit.
“So…gay mobsters?” He laughs, kissing me again. “Gay mobsters.”
Joe shakes his head, his expression serious. “I’m way, way past smitten.” I gulp. “Yeah?” He palms my jaw, bringing me in for another secretive kiss. “Yeah. Mi sono innamorato di te.”
“Watching you kill those men to defend me was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s probably fucked up, but I’ve been hard as a rock since the museum.” Gripping the back of my neck, he touches his forehead to mine, focusing me with his intense gaze. “Unless you have any objections, I’m going to clean their filth off you, and then I’m going to take you the fuck apart.” I let out a ragged breath, and a tear tracks down my cheek. Nodding, I lift my head for a kiss.
“Thank you, baby,” he whispers. “I love you so much. I couldn’t bear it if you’d been hurt.” I kiss away his tears. “Let it out, Joe. I’m here. I love you so much.”
