Page 107 of Shadows in Bloom

“Did you always give up this easily?” Ledger asked. “No wonder your brother thinks he can get away with treating you like trash. It’s because you let him.”

“No, I don’t.” At least, he hadn’t always. When things had gotten really bad in their teens, Nikita had tried to defend himself, verbally at first, and then physically, once he’d realized his father wasn’t ever going to be the one to protect him. But even though he was older than Oran, he never really stood a chance against him.

They were of similar build and height, and before Oran had joined the Academy, where they trained cadets to become soldiers, he’d been skilled enough to hold his own against him. But if he ever did land a punch, he was the one punished. It didn’t matter if he was also covered in cuts and bruises or how many times he insisted Oran had started it.

If his stepmother’s baby had so much as a paper cut, there was hell to pay. And Nikita was the one who paid it.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll take the offer.” Mostly because he’d realized Ledger was right. He’d given up on himself and everything else. “Every time I try to change things, I end up ten times worse off than I started. What’s one more gamble in the grand scheme of things?”

Ledger grinned. “Cute way of putting it.”

He ignored that. “What do I have to do to survive this night?”

“Simple.” The Devil lifted off of him but kept a foot planted at either side of Nikita’s hips. “Fuck me for it.”

Nikita sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”

“Your life,” Ledger reiterated. “You were going to throw it away anyway, right? Let me fuck you instead. If you’re any good, you get to walk out of here scot-free. If you’re not…”

He thought for sure he was joking, but when Ledger’s expression never cracked, Nikita realized he was being serious. His heart started racing, but before he could decide whether or not that was due to excitement or anxiety, he was hauled up onto his feet.

When the Devil kissed him, it felt like that organ in his chest might explode.

CHAPTER 3

Ledger eyed the man down across the mat. Nikita was scared. It was so obvious that it almost made him feel a little bad for suggesting this.

Almost.

Fact of the matter was, not only was he not a good person, Ledger also didn’t owe the little thief shit. He was part of the reason Ledge’s night was going down the drain; it only made sense that he tried to help pick up the pieces.

Besides, Nikita wasn’t all that hard to read. There’d been flashes of lust in his eyes when Ledger had been on top of him.

The attraction was mutual.

Standing, Nikita’s height was more noticeable. He was probably only an inch or so shorter than Ledger, though he lacked the muscle mass. His lips were full, his face heart-shaped, and even though his ripped black jeans and faded t-shirt screamed “edgy” he leaned more toward beautiful than he did handsome.

Not usually Ledger’s type, honestly, and yet…

He’d peeled the other guy off the ground and taken that first taste. The kiss had been quick, mostly done so Ledger could be certain he hadn’t been wrong and Niki really did want him back. Some of the other guys were into taking bedpartners against their will, but it wasn’t really Ledger’s thing.

What happened the second he was certain someone was into him though?

Then it was fair game.

His game, of course.

Ledger had brought Nikita to the center ring and removed both of their jackets, tossing them over the outer ropes. He’d stopped there, waiting to see what the other guy might do next, but so far the answer was absolutely nothing.

Nikita merely stood there, staring at him.

“We’ll do it here,” Ledger broke the silence, and Nikita shifted awkwardly on his feet.

“Yeah. Okay.”

Ledger couldn’t help but shake his head. He’d expected more questions, begging, something. There was a difference between finding a person attractive and being told that person was going to fuck you. Especially if you were virtual strangers.

“I thought you were smart.” He pointed above them at the loose ceiling panel. “You managed to find a way out of the bathroom and sneak back in here. That took some form of intelligence.”

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