His phone rang again. Luke glared at it but picked up.
“You stubborn little—” Roman said in a low, furious hiss. “People your father had dealings with aren’t to be crossed. If you don’t agree to my conditions and let me deal with them, you will meet the same end as your idiot of a father.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Not from me,” Roman bit out.
The hurt in Luke’s chest eased, warmth spreading through him. Luke told himself not to be an idiot, but he couldn’t stop a smile tugging at his lips. “Careful, you almost sound like you’re worried for me.”
“Twenty percent,” Roman said, his tone positively icy.
“No,” Luke murmured, his heart beating like mad. Roman wasn’t as indifferent as he tried to appear. A thrill ran through him at the realization, even though he knew it didn’t change a damn thing. Even if Roman did feel something for him, it wouldn’t go anywhere. They were a terrible fit for each other. Roman didn’t want what he wanted in life. But…but it felt so good to know that he wasn’t the only one, that Roman was as affected as him. It made him feel powerful, which was kind of ironic, considering that he’d never felt so submissive with any other man. Maybe people who said that there was power in submission were right. And maybe it was cold-hearted and ruthless to use this…this mutual attraction for his benefit, but Luke was sick of having no control. As long as he didn’t lose his heart in the process, it should be fine. Right?
“I need you,” he said honestly. It was embarrassing how honest he was being. “I need you so much.”
There was dead silence on the line.
The longer it lasted, the more self-conscious Luke felt, heat spreading over his face.
Then he heard Roman exhale. “What happened to your perfect boyfriend?”
“He was never my boyfriend,” Luke said. “Turns out he’s not that perfect after all. He has someone else he puts first. He can’t give me what I want.”
“I can’t give you what you want, either,” Roman said testily.
“No,” Luke agreed. “But you can give me what I need.”
Roman sucked in a breath. “I’m not sorting out your father’s mess for a pair of dimples and a pretty mouth.” His tone was harsh, but Luke wasn’t fooled.
Closing his eyes, he whispered, nothing but raw honesty in his voice, “I’m scared. I need you to make it better. Make it better.”
Roman swore in Russian and hung up.
Chapter 24
As the private lift took him to the penthouse, Roman wondered grimly if he was losing his mind. Was he really letting a few soft-spoken words get to him? Had he really canceled his flight to Italy for an opportunity to…to do what, exactly? He couldn’t believe he was letting a twenty-three-year-old kid sway him so easily only by saying he needed him. Fucking unbelievable.
The lift stopped and the doors slid open to reveal a spacious living room.
A lone figure stood opposite the lift, leaning against the back of the couch. Luke had his arms hugging his chest, his shoulders stiff, his brown eyes wide, curls framing his heart-shaped face.
The room was eerily quiet as Roman walked toward him. Luke watched him like a prey would watch an approaching predator. It was pretty damn ironic. Roman felt like he was the one caught and pulled toward the deceivingly harmless prey.
He came to a halt a few inches away from the boy, crowding him against the back of the couch.
Luke swallowed audibly, his lips parting. Roman lifted his gaze from them to the dark eyes and cupped Luke’s cheek, his thumb resting against his throat. He felt a shudder run through the boy and felt his own body stiffen in more ways than one, the pull tugging him toward Luke and tightening its hold on him.
“You said you needed me. What for?” His voice was quiet, but it sounded harsh and sharp in the utter silence of the room.
“I…” Luke swayed toward him.
They glared at each other, their uneven breathing getting louder, then mixing, the distance between them disappearing. With a small whimper, Luke buried his face in Roman’s neck, his sharp teeth sinking into his skin. The next thing Roman knew, he had his arms around the boy as Luke sucked on his neck like a hungry baby. Roman’s cock twitched. Baby. It reminded him of the last time they’d had sex, what Luke had called him, how much Luke had needed him. It had been heady. Fuck, Roman hadn’t even been into that sort of thing until Luke had whispered the word ‘daddy.’
“Shhh,” he said, burying his fingers in the silky curls and tugging hard. Luke moaned, grinding against Roman’s thigh, his hands slipping under Roman’s shirt, stroking his chest as he continued to suck on his neck.