Page 70 of Just Business
Eli chuckled. “You’d better not.”
Mild words, but the raised eyebrow and smile were anything but innocent. Justin’s heart thumped higher and his cock shifted. He was just about healed from the last scene they’d done, and he hadn’t spent much time at Eli’s since he’d called home. Maybe a good fuck would straighten his head out. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Their waiter brought the bill. Eli examined it before sliding a credit card into the folder. He pushed back from the table and grabbed his cane. “I’ll be right back.”
Bathroom. Justin nodded.
When Eli was out of sight, he grabbed the folder and flipped it open. An American Express Gold Card. Not too extravagant for someone at Eli’s level. The bill for their meal, though—Justin had expected three figures, but not quite this number. The wine alone had cost one hundred thirty bucks. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the waiter returning. He closed the folder and handed it over without a word.
Thiswasa nice evening. Elididhave the money. The sharp stab of doubt joined with whispers of Francis’s lies and his mother’s warnings. What price would Justin pay? There was always a cost, be it pain or sex.
Or love?He glanced in the direction Eli had gone. Did a Dom like Eli love, or did he possess?
He’s never harmed you in any way.Justin had wanted the pain, had asked for it, and the sex, too. Begged. Everything had been going fine. Justin tried to shake off the worry. If he’d said no to this date, Eli would have taken a limo downtown to the show anyway.You’re jumping at shadows again.
Ghosts and shadows. They seemed more real every day.
***
Eli leaned against the shower wall and let the hot water beat against his left leg. If he’d known ballet turned Justin on so much, he’d have taken him to a showweeksago. They’d made love pretty much upon falling into bed, slow and delicious, and fallen asleep in a tangle. In the morning, Justin had begged Eli to fuck him mercilessly and hard—and he had. Each moan and cry pushing Eli higher until they’d both spent themselves senseless.
A sore leg was a small price to pay. Eli pushed off the wall and set about cleaning himself.
Justin had been quieter during breakfast, almost as ponderous as after his first night here. But coffee, bagels, and a few quips had teased out his beautiful smile.
The rest of the day? They’d play that by ear.
He shut the water off just as it started to cool and stepped out, grabbing a towel as he went. He’d just finished drying his hair when Justin appeared in the doorway, a blush tingeing his cheeks.
“I brought something up from downstairs.” He held out a finger. His collar dangled there. Justin’s lips curved into a grin that nearly made Eli lose his balance.
He beckoned with a finger, and Justin closed the distance, still holding the band of leather out.
Eli slipped it off Justin’s finger and set it on the bed. “I should dress.” He slid his hands under Justin’s shirt, caressing his trembling stomach. “And you should get naked.”
He kissed Justin while working his shirt up, breaking only to pull the fabric over Justin’s head. The shirt landed somewhere near the side of the bed.
“Leather pants,” Justin said against Eli’s lips. “The ones you wore...”
An order? Eli bit Justin’s neck. Not hard, but enough to turn words into a moan. Perfect. He stepped back. “Lose the jeans.”
Justin did, as well as his underwear. Good, very good. Already flushed from his chest to his neck, and hard, too. Probably had been since coming upstairs.
Justin knew what he wanted. Eli was more than willing to give it to him. He beckoned Justin forward again and picked up the collar. “Shall I put this on?”
A shiver quaked through Justin. “Please.” Such a wanton whisper.
Eli buckled the leather around Justin’s neck. “Stand there, like that, while I change.”
“Yes, Eli.”
His turn to shudder. He didn’t hurry, enjoying the lust in Justin’s body, the way his thighs flexed and cock rocked. His own dick ached, especially when he trapped it into the slick leather of the pants Justin had requested. He picked out a crisp white shirt. That was enough.
He wanted what Justin offered. Badly. He closed in and towered over him. “Ready?”
A smile like the sun. “More than.”
“Good.” Eli cupped a hand behind Justin’s head and devoured Justin’s mouth. A gentle nudge sent Justin moving toward the door.
