Page 121 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

— EIGHTEEN —

Breck watched as Kai regarded him.

What was he thinking?

Would he actually bite?

Should Breck even want him to bite?

Probably not. But he did. Did that make him crazy? Kai had questionable motives, after all, and an even more questionable palate. Breck’s current state, all trussed-up like a Sunday roast, certainly bore testament to that.

Teflon’s vocals crooned on in the background.

Finally, Kai answered. “Alright. I’ll show you how I’d play.”

Breck’s heart leapt into his throat.

Ohhh, fuck. This was happening. Their first intentional sexual engagement. Yeah, they’d had a few in the past, but they’d been impulsive—and awkward at best. This time actually held the potential of ending on a positive note.

Kai rose from the floor and stepped into Breck’s personal space, his bare feet straddling Breck’s knees. Peering down, he palmed Breck’s cheek. Breck held his gaze. Kai’s crotch was just inches from his face. He wanted to lean in and nuzzle it.

“I’m going to grab a few things. I’ll be right back.”

Breck didn’t reply, just watched as he walked to the shelving unit. Kai pulled out a bin from the bottom shelf, his hand disappearing inside. A heartbeat later, he returned the bin to its rightful place. What had he grabbed? Breck couldn’t see. It was concealed in his grip.

Kai snagged a footstool from against the wall and headed back. This time, however, he took a seat on that stool behind Breck. So close. Like a blanket of heat against Breck’s back. Like Kai was spooning him. His feet beside Breck’s knees, his strong thighs caging him in.

“I’ll be showing you from here,” Kai stated quietly. But then he chuckled. “Although, I guess ‘showing’ you in this particular case is more of a figure of speech.”

Breck frowned, not understanding what he meant.

Kai settled his hands atop his shoulders and leaned in closer. “So,” his warm breath kissed Breck’s ear. “If I had a partner whom I’d just tied up… and with whom I wanted to play, but he was new to this stuff… I’d institute a couple of guidelines right from the start.”

“Guidelines?”

“Yes. Like, for example… how I’d prefer my partner not speak unless spoken to.”

Breck frowned again. “You don’t want me to speak?”

“Not unless spoken to.”

Breck balked. “What kind of—”

Kai laughed, and God, the sound was sinful. “You asked me to show you how I’d play, Breck. If refraining from talking is too much for you, just say the word.”

Breck ground his molars and glared straight ahead.

Slowly, Kai thumbed the sensitive sides of his neck.Current shimmied over his body, lighting up his nerve endings. Breck shivered. During moments like this, he almost resented how quickly Kai’s touch could derail his brain. He was trying to be pissed, for shit’s fucking sake, about Kai wanting to silence him.

As if detecting his disquiet, Kai offered an explanation, the soft graze of his lips brushing the back of Breck’s head. “The quiet allows me to sink deeper into the experience. But conversation can pull me out of my zone.” His calm voice was soothing, like a balm. “Can you appreciate this?”

Breck eased, because yeah, he could. He understood the value of finding one’s zone and staying in it. In every single game he played, he made great efforts to achieve that state.

“Yeah.” He gave a nod. “I get it.”

Kai stroked his neck again. Breck’s lashes fluttered. God, what a head fuck. To resent, and yet love, Kai’s touch so much. How could a paradox of such epic proportions even exist on the same plane?

Kai went on. “So, then it goes without saying that I’d only engage with a partner who could trust me completely. Who didn’t contest my choices and was able to go with the flow.”

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