Page 30 of Shadow

He snorted. “You thought I put a chain around your neck, a tracker in your lock, and a piercing through your ear without every intention of turning you into a Tarasov, Malik? Sorely mistaken if you thought that, baby.”

I shook my head and stormed toward the bar. “I need a fucking drink.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Mom snapped, jabbing her finger in my direction, making me halt in reaching for a Vodka bottle. I scowled down at the bar counter, feeling like I was crawling out of my skin. “One, you are on parole, Malik.” I sighed. Rurikwouldneverallow me to get carted back to prison, especially not over something as stupid as drinking, but I didn’t dare open my mouth to argue with her. “And you’re on pain pills, boy.”

“Listen to your mom,” Rurik taunted. For a brief moment, I thought about punching him in his face.

Instead, I pointed a finger at him. “Shut the fuck up,” I growled. My head was spinning, and my shoulder was throbbing. My goddamn chest was aching. I drew in a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.” Turning to Mom, I blew out that same breath I’d just sucked into my lungs. “I’m sorry, Ma. And I mean that. I really am.” I leaned heavily on the counter, suddenly extremely tired and just wanting a goddamn nap. “Fuck.”

Mom was suddenly in front of me, and she gently led me to a chair to sit down. She pressed her fingers to my forehead. “You’re sweating, Malik.”

“Just not feeling good,” I told her honestly. I was in pain and tired and all of this was too much to handle.

“Here.” Rurik appeared behind her, holding a bottle of water and one of my oxys. “You’re due for pain meds.”

“They make me loopy, and Mom is here,” I told him, shaking my head. “I’ll take it later.”

“You’ll take it now,” Mom snapped at me before Rurik could open his mouth to probably tell me the same. Or force the pill down my throat. Who knew what choice he’d make. “The least you can do for me after scaring me half to death is take your medication and not be in pain. You’ll heal much faster if you keep your pain levels under control.”

I sighed. “Fine,” I grumbled, opening my mouth so Rurik could plop the pill in my mouth. Mom moved aside, and Rurik cradled the back of my head, holding the water to my lips. Once I had the pill down, he moved away again.

Mom ran her hand over my hair, her features softening. “You go on back upstairs and get some rest,” she told me, her voice much calmer now. “But—and hear me fucking clear, son—” she leaned in close to me, our noses almost brushing and making me go cross-eyed as I tried to focus on her, “if you get injured again and I have to hear about it from someone else other than you, I will take a belt to your ass.”

I gaped at her. “I’m an adult.”

She scoffed. “Then act like one, Malik.”

“Daaaamn, Mama Carter is a beast,” Malachi said, whistling low.

My mom swung her hard gaze to him, and he cringed. “Malachi,” she said calmly, and he looked at her, “shut your mouth, or I’ll take a belt to your ass, too.”

He nodded once, not daring to argue with her. “Yes, ma’am.”

Mom kissed my cheek. “Go upstairs,” she told me, her voice soft and soothing. “I’ll be back later tonight with your favorite casserole.” She looked at Rurik as I stood and wrapped my one arm around her in a hug. Immediately, she enveloped me in her embrace. “Take care of my son, Rurik.”

He nodded at her. “Always,” he promised her. He held his hand out to me once I released her. “Come on, baby. Upstairs.”

“I still haven’t forgotten about your mother-in-law comment,” I muttered as I gave him my hand, the pain medicine alreadymaking me sleepy and unsteady on my feet. I didnotdo good on narcotics.

He hummed. “Be mad about it all you want, Shadow. Just remember, I’ve got all the patience in the world when it comes to you, and Ialwaysget my way.”

24

Rurik

Malik’s lips were softly parted as he slept, little snores leaving his lips. He’d been deeply asleep for a couple of hours now, and it was nearly five in the evening. It wouldn’t be long before his mom showed back up with dinner, which he would need to eat once it arrived. He hadn’t eaten near enough today for the pain meds he’d taken, which was one of the reasons he was so loopy and the oxys affected him so quickly earlier.

I fingered the cock cage in my grip as I stared down at my man, admiring the way the diamonds in his earring glittered under the soft, yellow light of the lamp. Just seeing that R in his ear and the steel, chain-link collar around his neck made me hard as fuck for him.

And I had a punishment to deliver him, too. He was in no shape to be having sex—not with his injuries still so fresh. But I knew how to torment him in other ways without having to fuck him like I had in that hotel room.

I carefully crawled onto the bed, being careful not to wake him. Malik was naked after I’d given him a sponge bath to clean the sweat off his skin, and I took a moment to admire how fucking beautiful his body was. He was all lean, cut muscle and smooth, unblemished skin apart from a few small scars he’d received from fights and the gauze covering his stitched-up gunshot wounds that I knew would leave nasty-looking scars.

Being extra careful and glancing up at him every few moments, I slipped the ring over his flaccid dick, then behind his balls. I stilled when he grunted and shifted a little, but then, he settled again, those adorable snores still leaving his lips. Smirking, I slid the cage over his cock, and then, I fastened the little lock into place.

Sitting back on my heels, I admired my handiwork, my mouth watering at the sight of his dick inside the cage. Fuck, he looked hot like that. All at my fucking mercy. And while I would have liked to have tied him to the bed just to torture him a little more, it wasn’t possible. I didn’t want to do more to injure him.

The cock cage by itself would have to do.

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