Page 37 of Blinding Light

“That whatever’s on that chip is really, fucking important to him. It also means that I could let you go.”

“Please,” Theo pleaded.

“But you see, here’s the deal. Before Cyprian gave me his beautiful name, I already promised you to my brother. And I love my family dearly.”

“We can…we can find him someone else?” Theo screeched.

Moargan shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think we can. What’s done, is done. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Without any warning, he dipped the branding iron against Theo’s naked chest, making the other guy cry out in pain. He circled it around, creating a smell of burning flesh as he drew an initial.

Theo’s shouts were heart-wrenching, and Cyprian clenched his teeth, squinting his eyes as he forced himself to look. This washisfault. Good light, the pain must be excruciating. When Moargan finally pulled it away, the other man collapsed in Yure and Vandor’s grip; his head lolled forward. He had pissed himself.

Yure pulled him up by his hair to expose his chest.

“Very nice indeed,” Moargan hummed. On his chest, Theo wore the burned letter H. “Now you are my brother’s, and it will be up to him to decide your fate.” Moargan pointed his chin toward the door. “Clean this up, then leave us.”

Cyprian watched as Yure and Vandor dragged the unconscious guy out of the room while Aviel mopped the floor, a secretive smile curved on his lips. Once the door fell shut, Cyprian inhaled a large breath of air, relaxing his shoulders. “That was…”

“Hot?”

Cyprian watched Moargan crawl back onto the bed, eyes dancing with mischief. The burning iron had disappeared with Aviel. “Cruel,” he corrected. “Unnecessary.”

Moargan shrugged. “I disagree.” He tore away the sheets, exposing Cyprian’s trembling frame, and opened his legs. A sly smile curled on his lips. “And it got you hard, lover.”

Cyprian flushed. “I didn’t realize.”

Moargan chuckled softly. “Little liar.”

“I didn’t want it to happen.” Yet he sucked in a breath when Moargan’s fingertips brushed over the inside of his thigh and groped his balls. His cock thickened further and he swallowed at the sensation of arousal fluttering inside the pit of his stomach.

“So, I’ve got a refugee in my bed,” Moargan hummed. “You know why you drew my attention back on the spaceship?” He leaned forward and brushed his mouth over Cyprian’s cheek, making the skin flush. “It was your fear,” he mused. “Fear is my drug of choice. It’s a family trait. The way a heartbeat speeds up? It’s exhilarating.” He suckled on Cyprian’s earlobe, making him whimper. “You looked so flustered when you stepped back. So innocent.” Their eyes met. “Are you, Cyprian?”

“W-what?” Cyprian panted, mind spinning. Moargan’s hand kept on massaging his balls and it made his dick wet withprecum. They had come barely half an hour ago, yet here he was. Silently begging for more.

Moargan licked his lips, grinning when he caught Cyprian staring. “Innocent. You have touched yourself before, right?”

“Of course I have.” Yet Cyprian felt his cheeks burn.

Moargan nodded, keeping him on edge with his playful massage. “But you’ve never let anyone else fuck you. So, you’re still a virgin.”

“Back home, no one wanted me,” Cyprian whispered. “Everyone thought I was weird, with m-my eyes and all. I looked out for my younger brothers and sisters. My foster parents hated us, so we mostly stayed together. I was told that they’d only accepted us because of the money. The Essentials have a way to bribe our people…I mean—” Cyprian felt like a bucket of ice had tipped over his head. “They are good leaders!”

“Thump. Thump.” Moargan’s hand slid up to his wet slit, and he looked down and dropped spit on his erection. Good light. Cyprian’s cock twitched, and he had to stifle a moan. “You hated your Essentials, and you hated your foster parents. Don’t tell me any lies,aeon. I can feel your truth.” He stroked his dick from tip to root, sliding back up and repeating the action. Cyprian panted, mind going blank again.

“Yellow eyes,” Moargan hummed, his gaze still on Cyprian’s cock. “I want to know why that made you think you were from Helion. I want to know everything about you, beautiful. Want to know what’s on that chip. But first, I want to show you who you belong to, and how things are going to be from now on.” He released Cyprian’s cock, and Cyprian didn’t manage to swallow the whine that escaped his throat. Moargan smiled and gave him a pat on his nose. “Go and find my handcuffs. They’re in the dressing room.”

Cyprian opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“Be quick now.” Cyprian watched as Moargan paddedtoward the window, lighting a cigarette. He stared at his multi-slate, then inhaled deeply, before red smoke whirled out his mouth. “You back yet?” He looked up, his purple gaze hardening when he found Cyprian still on the bed.

Cyprian scrambled off and headed toward the dressing room. He wasn’t sure what to do. He should try and make a run for it. Then he looked down at his hard dick and groaned. Who was he kidding? His body was like a slave to the Imperial, craving for each crumb of attention it could get.

Pitiful.

Cyprian eyed the set of drawers, then opened the top one.

“Come on,” Moargan drawled from the adjacent room. “Don’t play games now.”

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