Mad Dog Maddox

Louise Collins

M/M Erotica

Novella 2

Word count: 29000

Copyright © 2017

Chapter 1

Beethoven no. 5. Arguably the world’s most famous symphony. It was the perfect soundtrack to the night's mission. Maddox waited with a straight back. In honour of Beethoven he would not slouch while listening to a master of musical art. The street was empty, no loiterers at the corners or dog walkers being tugged up the paths. His car was parked at the perfect junction, a crossroads where Ian would have to pass.

Da-da-da-Dum... Never had the dumb been more relevant to the situation. Ian the idiot, as Maddox would fondly remember him, believed he had deceived and lied himself to freedom.

No chance. Maddox would not allow that traitor and liar to slip through his grasp. There was only one outcome for Ian’s betrayal and he wanted to be the one to dispatch him.

Rain sprinkled the windscreen, a gentle pitter-patter that complemented the music. The interior of the car was matte leather, moody and sinister, just how Maddox liked it. The windows were blacked out, concealing his and the driver’s identities.

The sky outside the window was grey, understated in colour. A century ago photographs had all been black and white, grey the canvas, filling the void of true colour. In present day, grey was eyed with distaste, grimaced at, but Maddox saw the beauty in it, dark and light, good and evil. Grey was the middle area, the space in-between. He was the grey.

The symphony blaring from the stereo shook the seats, Maddox’s thighs tingled with the vibrations. He let the music build and consume him, mentally and physically. The strings of the piece danced with rhythm, building to the dramatic middle of the first movement. Commonly known as the victory symphony. It was going to be, but a hollow one. Killing one of his own was never pleasant, but he needed to re-establish order, prove he was the dog who still had his savage bite.

His forefinger pressed firmly on the switch, the blackened window slowly lowered. He made sure it was in time with the music, not a quick whirling sound, but a slow, dramatic descent to expose him to the elements.

Rain licked at his face, and he shut his eyes, relished in the feeling of being cleansed by the downpour. The smell of damp pavement filled the car, and he breathed in deep. There was no smell quite like rain on hot pavement.

He had chosen the music to suit the moment. The interior of the car had its lights dimmed. The sky, as if syncing with his mind, was dull with swirls of grey cloud and the rain, unscheduled for that evening, kept on pouring. A film noir that needed the backing track of the master of classical music. It was after all, a sombre day, one filled with regret and unease. He was already mourning Ian’s death, had dressed in a pristine suit in honour of it. He had killed those close to him before, when he was younger, out to make a name for himself, but sat at the top of the hierarchy, he never thought he’d do it again.

The music picked up pace, and he pushed Ian from his mind. The gun in his hand, he waved like a conductor’s baton, imagining he was controlling his own orchestra.

Tom, his driver, had a stern face and Freddie Mercury hair. The dark strands on his head and his furry top lip were coal black and his face was rounded. As Maddox gazed at the unaware man in the mirror, he decided he would be a good fit for playing the French horn.

Amber was in pursuit of Ian, driving him forward, not letting him think for too long. She would be a violinist, her relentless chasing, her powerful aura. Beautiful and delicate but efficient. Maddox smirked, imagining her fierce red hair flicking back and forth as she battled the violin harder and harder to make it play her tune.

Carl, Carl was absent from proceedings. Maddox kept him around for fun, he was chirpy and irritated the other two. He was entertaining, a puppy that kept bouncing back after getting scowled at. Trumpet, Maddox decided, cheerful and eager, not as blunt as the horn or as fast paced as the violin.

He had his horn player and violinist with him, but was down his chirpy trumpet.

Maddox wasn’t a cruel boss, Carl had the night off, was taking his mother out for her birthday. Those moments with family wouldn’t be missed if Maddox could help it. He was positive Amber, Tom and himself could handle Ian the idiot.

“Sir, he’s coming this way.”

Maddox didn’t reply, made no movement whatsoever to show he heard. Tom knew better than to repeat himself. There was nothing duller in life than one repeating themselves, the repetitiveness of people ached his brain.

Maddox hummed along to the music, eyes snapping to the car that came into focus. Its wheels screeched, its engine roared and in that moment Maddox hated the car more than Ian inside it. It was ruining the exhilarating music, and no one should dare destroy a priceless symphony.

“Turn it up,” he mumbled to Tom, and the man in the front scrambled to do so. Beethoven echoed off the surrounded houses, shook the wound down window pane. No doubt the sound would draw attention, but the moment would be over in a heartbeat.

He aimed his gun. The car got nearer, louder and Maddox grit his teeth. Ian still mocked him, tried to drown out Beethoven from his ears. He pointed the gun at the approaching windscreen. It was steady in his grip, an extension of his body. No nerves rattled him, he was the master of a one-shot and wouldn’t miss. His heart slowed, his vision narrowed to the only place of significance. Ian needed to die.

The music ramped up, he hoped Ian heard it, the last thing before death. Ian had always favoured headache inducing club music, but in the final seconds of his life he would be introduced to the true beauty of sound, if only for a nanosecond.

Maddox pressed his lips together and pulled the trigger. A high-pitched whistle rather than a bombing shot rang out and the night's mission was done.

He had hit the mark, he always did, and the music from the radio ceased the instant the shot sounded. Tom knew it was the moment to stop Beethoven, the climax was almost there, but the last notes weren’t to be from him, but the crunch of metal, the smashing and clashing of a twisted car.

Maddox breathed deep in the silence, eyes shutting in anticipation of the crash. The cars usually spun out of control, collided with a tree, lamp post or parked vehicle and then that was it. Whoever needed to die had died.

Ian had betrayed him, stolen something for his own gain, was taking it to a rival. He deserved a painful death, but Maddox allowed him a quick one. It served as a warning as much as justice. Maddox would not tolerate betrayals.

Glass splitting, the sudden folding of the bonnet, the wet slurp of a compressed body. The sounds never came. For the first time in forever, he held his breath without hearing the sound cue to exhale. His eyes snapped open, and his head whipped to the unopen window on his right.

He glared at the fading headlights of Ian’s car with his heart quickening. It had kept going, kept roaring down the road undeterred by the bullet that had sailed towards it.

He never missed, but the evidence of him doing so mocked him. Ian kept driving, leaving him to flail in shock behind.

Maddox eyed the gun in his hand. There was a tremor. Goosebumps ran from his wrist to his neck. Missing had been unexpected, uncharacteristic, and it reawakened his senses. How had he missed? He never missed.

“Sir-”

“Follow him,” he yelled, snapping his teeth with the words.

He dropped the gun next to him, hands tightening on the driver and passenger seat as he hauled himself forward. “I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

The car choked into life. Tom darted a fearful look his way, but Maddox ignored it in favour of staring fire at the car vanishing from view. It had been years since he had taken up the seat beside Tom, years since he had exposed himself on the passenger seat instead of keeping hidden on the back one. He flicked his head at Tom and the other man relaxed into the chase. The wheels of the car mounted the curb on a particularly sharp corner and Maddox hissed, digging his fingers into the leather of the seat.

The route was erratic, the streets the car flew down were not ones Maddox was familiar with, not ones Ian was familiar with either, but he drove them like a pro. Tom’s jaw unhinged, curses escaped, wondrous in tone, but Maddox only snarled, curling his lip back as Ian continued to laugh at his expense.

The second impossibility happened; Tom failed in his pursuit. After a near miss with a lorry, and the car stalling, they were unable to catch Ian and he vanished. The ever-predictable Ian was doing the unthinkable, he was being unpredictable, and had used a maze of streets to escape.

Tom slowed the car to a stop on the curb. The blacked-out window put emphasis on his pale complexion, and even his lips had blanched.

“’m sorry sir.”

Maddox grasped Tom’s shoulder, his jaw immediately snapped shut with a click. Tom may have lost him, but it was Maddox that had missed the shot. They were both at fault.

“I have a tracker on his car,” he muttered, “I’ll direct you.”

Tom bobbed his head and awaited instructions. Maddox stabbed at his phone and a map with a static dot filled the screen. Ian had ditched the car, of course he had. Ian the idiot was using brainpower Maddox didn’t even know he possessed. The unthinkable was happening, Ian had gotten away with his betrayal.

Maddox’s deep voice boomed the way. Tom shifted at his proximity and savage tone, face whitening as he drove the route. Maddox terrified his own men, especially when they thought he was angry. Mad Dog Maddox people called him. He instilled fear in his rivals with his brutal and relentless nature. His own men respected the legend, didn’t want to be on the receiving end of his cruelness. Most of it was exaggerated. Age had taken away his ruthlessness, and he no longer had to prove himself. Older, sombre, but the power of his previous self was enough to keep the jackals at bay. Ian, he was the tipping point. He had the potential to open a flood gate of problems. If someone like Ian could trick him so easily, others would try their luck.

When Tom spotted the abandoned car he sagged in relief, relaxing further when Maddox pulsed his fingers on his shoulder. “Good work.”

Tom crawled the car to a stop, but Maddox didn’t wait, he ignored the call of alarm from behind and sprung from the car.

The driver’s door hung open and he rushed towards it, needing to glare at his failure. See the empty seat and the botched hole in the windscreen.

“Boss!”

Tom’s feet thumped heavily on the ground, skidding to a stop beside Maddox. His gun was drawn, pointing at the man in the car.

Ian was stooping in his seat, head bowed forward. Maddox gripped his hair and lifted his head. His eyes were closed, his jaw hung open. The bullet wound was no bigger than a penny, dead centre on Ian’s forehead, a kill shot. Blood had seeped into his hair, not obvious at first sight, but it dribbled down the raven strands, streaking his porcelain skin. Maddox threw the head forward, needing to see the back. The gory exit wound that would prove Ian died in an instant. Tom stumbled back covering his mouth, and Maddox darted him a studious look. Tom’s weakness wasn’t the sight of brains, nor the flow of blood, he despised the smell of it.

Maddox sighed, and released the body. The light from Ian had long gone, at Maddox's hand just like he'd planned, but the mystery remained. The car had kept going.

Amber pulled up beside them, climbing out and fixing her attentive gaze on her boss.

He waved her focus off and she moved towards Tom, asking what happened as quietly as she could.

Their voices hissed behind him, back and forth while Maddox checked the car for clues.

“The case is gone,” he said, loud enough for the two to hear.

When he turned he noted the worry in their mannerisms, their pale flesh and sunken eyes. Amber had her head bowed, fiery hair concealing part of her face. When Maddox moved his feet, her head tilted to follow, she focussed on them in a submissive gesture.

Tom stood with his eyes glued to Ian's body, his throat bobbed uncomfortably, and he paled a few shades as he waited for what was to come. They were expecting punishment. The pincer movement to draw Ian into the line of fire had failed, but not at the fault of Amber or Tom.

“Find the case,” he muttered to Amber.

She nodded eagerly before returning to her car in a flurry of movement. She had been dismissed, but Tom still hovered waiting for his orders.

“Get someone to dispose of this.”

He gestured to Ian’s car and his body inside it.

Tom nodded, delving in his pocket and prodding his phone to arrange a discreet pick up of the car and corpse.

Ian was dead, but someone else had stolen the case. Someone Maddox hadn’t considered, someone he hadn’t predicted.

The tedious mission to reclaim his property had just got interesting.

Chapter 2

Maddox climbed into the back of the car while Tom arranged Ian’s disposal. A glint on the floor caught his eye and he leaned forward with a sigh, reclaiming his gun. His studied his hand, no longer jittery in its grip but holding firm. The gun hadn’t let him down, and he hadn’t let the gun down either. He holstered the weapon inside his jacket and leaned back into the leather.

The driver’s door opened, and Tom dipped his head. “They're coming, sir...”

Maddox racked his fingers against his beard, needing the hypnotic sensation to concentrate. “Good.”

Tom hovered nervously until Maddox flicked his head for him to get back inside.

He sat with straight shoulders, hands finding a death grip around the steering wheel. “Where now, Boss?”

Maddox stopped stroking his beard and drummed his fingers on his chin studying Tom for a few tense seconds.

He leaned between the passenger and driver seat. “Let’s follow his route...”

Tom exhaled loudly and bobbed his head.

Maddox didn’t wish to stay for the ‘disposal’ vehicle to arrive, didn’t even ask what canal Tom had picked to throw the body.

Maddox never bought Ian into his inner circle, he suspected that was part of the reason for the betrayal. Someone had seen the wedge between them and exploited it. Ian had stolen a priceless diamond, not for money, but respect of a rival gang. The ultimate humiliation for Mad Dog Maddox, having one of his precious possessions grifted from beneath him.

“My phone,” he said coolly, and Tom handed it back to him over his shoulder.

His phone was in his grip, the exact route Ian had taken was there to follow.

“Ready?” Maddox asked.

Tom started the car and slotted his belt into position. “Yes, Boss.”

They tracked the route finish to start, Maddox frowned at all the odd turns Ian’s car had taken. It was clear someone else must’ve been in the car, but once Ian had been taken out they didn’t carry on with their drive from the city, they looped around, using the streets and one-way roads like a maze. Ian had an obvious destination, but the mystery person didn’t. Maddox immediately suspected an accomplice, but who? He glared angrily at his phone, wanting the answer to his question-

“There must’ve been someone else in the car.”

Tom’s voice cut through Maddox’s confusion, he was tempted to hiss it was an obvious conclusion, but the sweat dripping down the back of Tom’s neck made him keep quiet. Tom wasn’t a young guy, not particularly fit either and he verged a cardiac arrest each time Maddox got angry.

When Maddox found out the diamond had been stolen his stone-faced control broke, and he unleashed a barrage of anger. He had seen the cracks in Ian, the shiftiness and, knew it was a waiting game till his betrayal, but that didn’t lessen his fury at being made a fool of.

Soft; there were murmurs his reputation had dwindled. Ian had chosen to put that lie to the test, had tried to unveil his weakness but there was none. Maddox was the same savage man he had always been. The passion had gone, but he would still slaughter with no hesitation. Ian’s accomplice had deceived him, had escaped with the diamond, and he was going to pay the ultimate price.

Ian had been spotted at Soul Tree, one of Richie Black’s known hang outs. If the diamond made its way to Richie, Maddox’s reputation would crumble. Richie was an old-timer, desperate to hang on to any form of power. Humiliation was a form of power in their world.

Time, they were running out of it. He needed to find out what happened and fix the situation.

They followed Ian’s trail all the way to the museum it had been stolen from. Maddox had a live feed of the CCTV direct to his phone. He didn’t trust the museums feeble security, and had offered to upgrade the camera’s himself. They accepted, and four cameras watched the collection, four his men had known about. None of them knew of the fifth, his trust in other people, including his men, only went so far and that fifth camera was the one to catch Ian in the act.

He watched the footage of Ian’s getaway, scratching at his beard with a frown. There was no other passenger, Ian must’ve picked him up.

“Where did the other man or woman come from?”

It was rhetorical question, and luckily Tom understood it as one, pressing his lips together as he drove on default back to Maddox’s house.

The car crawled to a stop and Maddox stared at the sky, no longer grey but the black of night.

“You and Amber...see what you can find out. I’ll call Carl in to help.”

Maddox left Tom in the car, plodding the steps into his house, still reeling with the mystery. He expected a phone call in the morning, either from Tom confirming they had found the mystery person or Richie gloating at stealing the diamond.

The walls of his house were pristine white, the furniture gloss black. Every possession and ornament had its place and if they’d been moved even a fraction Maddox would realise. He drifted into the living room, clasping eyes on mahogany the centrepiece. He couldn’t play, but the striking effect of owning such an impressive piano still took his breath away. He walked by, ghosting his fingers over the polished surface.

Maddox’s home, as well as his tattooed body was a shrine to Beethoven. The diamond was the key piece of his obsession and he needed it back. There were three in total. One in Berlin, one in New York and one in London. All were held in musical museums, all were owned by Maddox.

Beethoven’s diamonds. They were made from a stand of his hair, part of his idol forever encased in glittering beauty. He didn’t steal them or blackmail to own them, it was very old-fashioned for a man considered as fierce as he, but he'd bought them with his own money. Not worth millions, but priceless to him and Ian had tried to take one from him. Ian who had clearly been tasked to steal it by a fool. Richie Black.

Maddox flung himself back and sunk into his sofa. The leather depressed in time with his slow exhale and he stared at the blinding white ceiling. He toed his shoes off, unhooked his suit jacket's buttons and removed his gun from its holster. His top pocket drew his attention and he slipped the zippo out. He had planned on smoking one of his pristine collection, a job well done needed the finest tobacco, but he hadn’t completed the job. No fat cigar to puff at and stain the ceiling grey. He knew he wouldn’t be sleeping all night, knew he’d await the phone call from friend or foe.

Instead he flicked the lighter, twirled the rectangle in his grip and snapped it shut. Such a small motion, and a pleasurable sound that accompanied it. There weren’t many sounds Maddox enjoyed, but the ones he did sunk him into a trance, the most obvious being Beethoven, but there was the click and snap of his lighter, the patter of rain and the vibrating rumble of thunder. The list of irritating noises was endless, the smacking of lips, sniffing, throat clearing, all noises that made Maddox want to throttle necks. People in general, Maddox disliked the sound of them, he revelled in the silence.

The dreaded call didn’t happen. Richie hadn’t got his hands on the diamond; word must’ve reached him that Ian was dead, and any lingering worry that another of Richie’s subordinates had accompanied the traitor vanished with each hour that past. If Richie had it, he would’ve bragged about it immediately.

Someone else had got involved in their war, and Maddox smirked wickedly at the interesting change of pace. He lit the flame of the zippo, staring at the flicking orange before snapping shut. He twisted, feet flat on the floor and back to the sofa. A huge painting of Beethoven hung opposite, and he saluted with a bob of his head. He would get the diamond back, even if it meant wiping out Richie and all the idiots that chose to follow him.

The call came at six in the morning.

Tom’s voice no longer pitched with worry, but boomed with confidence.

“We got him, his name's Jake.”

Maddox bobbed his head even though Tom couldn’t see and followed the motion with one word. “Good.”

He hung up and got to his feet. Richie was empty-handed. The mystery had come to its end and Maddox couldn’t help but shudder as boredom set in. Sure, he would get the diamond back, but the excitement of something out of the ordinary happening would be lost in an instant.

He sighed slowly, pacing the length of his house and pushing through the front door. He didn’t change his funeral suit, but smartened himself instead. He re-buttoned with care, and flattened the material with his sweeping hands. The zippo was back in its rightful place, as was his gun. He patted the solid weight finding its presence soothing. On his return, he would be able to smoke the cigar until it burned his fingers.

A car waited for him and he slipped into the back, wondering about the identity of Ian’s accomplice. The most logical explanation was another of Richie’s men had assisted, but had he gone rogue and run from his master as well as Maddox?

Jake, Tom had said. Maddox texted him for more information. He needed to know where they had found the thief.

The warehouse they used for these occasions wasn’t too far away. Not long enough for Beethoven’s symphony to be played in full. Instead Maddox relished in the near silence. The engine rumbled beneath him, cars swished past the window; it was the backing track to most of his life and he had a talent at sinking to a state of near comatose.

The driver however, was not gifted with this innate ability. His breaths puffed noisily, there was a whistle from a nostril, and he swallowed loudly in excessive amounts.

“Open your window.”

The man startled to attention, fixing his shocked eyes on the rear-view mirror.

“Open you window now.” Maddox said, fixing his eyes on the mirror.

The driver opened the window just as Maddox commanded and the rush of the outside bustle swallowed the man’s bodily noises.

“Thank you, Lewis.”

Lewis bowed and avoided glancing in the mirror again. He was new, and nervous about being alone with Maddox.  Ian’s demise had spread fear amongst his own men, and no doubt they were all edgy after the ruthless killing of one of their own. Fear was needed to keep them in check.

The warehouse appeared on Maddox’s left, and he patted Lewis on the shoulder before he exited the car. He darted a look back; Lewis had sagged in his chair with his eyes closed, apparently relieved to be still alive.

Maddox didn’t burst into the room, but listened for a few minutes to the commotion on the other side of the door. Amber, Tom and Carl's bickering seeped through the gaps and Maddox grinned at the sparring adults. They were cold and collected in his presence but when they were unaware he listened, they argued like children. There had been another voice too, one that had him frowning. The mysterious Jake, not blubbering pathetically as expected, but manipulating his men.

The door creaked, and the voices snapped shut in unison. Maddox clomped into the room, frowning at the man strapped to the chair.

With each step closer, more wrinkles appeared on his brow. Maddox had no idea who the man was. He wasn’t Richie’s typical recruit, wasn’t trembling from needing a fix and his lips weren’t cracked and scabbed. The man flexed his mouth, flashing all his teeth, it wasn’t normal for them to have a full set. Maddox rubbed at his face, eyes lingering on the pyjama clad man. He wasn’t a rival or someone out for revenge, but a random man. Barely a man, he was young. Even beneath the shiny red swelling, Maddox could see the youth in his skin. No etched frown lines, or receding hairline, but chestnut hair that stuck up unruly.  Maddox would’ve guessed twenty or so. Jake, Tom had called him, just a kid.

Maddox rolled his thumb on his temple with a shake of his head. He shot a questioning look towards Amber and she stuttered her words out.

“I’m sorry, we haven’t got it…”

They had presented him with the wrong man, nothing but some scruffy kid that they’d black and blued with their fists.

Maddox stalked closer, stopping directly behind the wrong hostage. He pulsed his fingers around Jake's shoulder, pressing harder when he got no reaction. There was no cry of pain, or jolt of alarm. Jake stayed perfectly still, spine straight and chin tucked. His hands were bound at his back with rope, the skin of his wrists wasn’t raw and red, but blemish free as if he hadn’t even contemplated escaping.

“My mistake...I thought-I thought he’d taken it.”

Amber’s voice was quiet, the slightest of wavers disrupted her tone. Maddox ignored her worry and focused on the man beneath his fingertips.

Even through Jake's t-shirt Maddox could feel his thumping heart rate; his whole body rocked with his heightened pulse. Jake’s breaths brushed noisily past his lips and his feet fidgeted restlessly on the floor. Strangely, the noises emitting from Jake didn’t irritate Maddox. He cocked his head curiously at the young man.

Jake was afraid, no doubt about it, but there was something else too. The smallest of twitches to the edge of his lips, almost as if a giddy smile was being withheld.

Jake turned his head, not far enough to see Maddox’s face but enough to bob near the hand still capturing his shoulder. His movements were sluggish; he seemed to be unaware his head was constantly jerking on his shoulders as he fought off unconsciousness. Maddox admired the fight in him. Something about him was oddly endearing.

He relaxed his hold on Jake's shoulder, rocking back on his heels to remove his tie with his free hand. The tie was thin, but with the swelling creeping over Jake’s eyes it didn’t take much to completely cut off that sense.

Satisfied Jake didn’t have the strength or willpower to remove the shred of a blindfold, Maddox continued his slow walk into the room. He locked eyes on Amber and Tom who were wide-eyed with their mouths hanging. Carl, on the other hand, had both his hands cupped over his mouth, swaying on his feet. He didn’t look well; moisture clung to his hair, the usually blond strands appearing black with excessive sweat.

He was about to dismiss Carl, but sagging movement registered in his peripheral. The hostage was drooping forward, and Maddox was quick to rectify it by gripping his shoulder once again.

“I-I’m Jake...think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Maddox narrowed his eyes. The lamb in the wolf’s den routine was a lie. There was confidence to his slurring tone and Maddox remedied it by tugging at his hair. The urge to ruffle and ease his fingers through was too hard to ignore. Nails scratching scalps usually got a reaction, a panicked gasp, or sob.  Jake did neither and, more curiously the strands weren’t clogged with sweat, but soft, tickling the gaps between Maddox’s fingers. He moved Jake head with no resistance, the young man let himself be tugged and pulled, pliant and cooperating and it sent an unexpected tingle through Maddox’s body.

He shook the reaction away, retrieving his gun from his holster and pressing it firmly against Jake’s temple. It wasn’t loaded, he cocked it for dramatic effect, needing to scare the man into telling the truth.

There was no gasped confession. Jake pressed his lips firmly together and flared his nostrils to take in as much air as he could.

Along with no confession, there was no begging. Jake didn’t plea for his life. He waited as if he knew Maddox was bluffing.

Maddox studied the man before him; he fidgeted with unease, his breathing rasped, his whole body rocked with his booming heart rate. Fear. It wasn’t just fear the man was experiencing but excitement.

Maddox reached for the pale column of his throat. The skin was smooth under his rough fingers. He daren’t press too hard and mark Jake, but gently caressed the flesh on offer to see the reaction.

Jake shivered, not in a disgusted way with his lip quivering, but a pleasant shudder and gasp. His reaction seemed more like anticipation, and the sides of his neck pimpled with sensitive dots. Maddox ran his fingers over the brail of Jake’s flesh, a secret code Jake’s body produced that he longed to learn. The way he squirmed, Maddox imagined the raised bumps were travelling further than just his neck.

It wasn’t the usual reaction one would have when threatened. Most men trembled, brows dripping with moisture and chins wobbling. They begged and pleaded and gave up all their information, fearing Maddox would squeeze the life out of them. Jake’s reactions were both surprising and intriguing.

Brushing his neck wasn’t enough, Maddox moved his wandering fingers to his jaw. The angle was sharp; on close inspection he could see the pin-prick marks of hair follicles, but they weren’t uniform like his. If Jake were to grow a beard it would be patchy and lack uneven. The skin of his jaw was even softer than his throat and the adorable dimple in his chin caught Maddox’s eye. He pressed, and a shot of arousal pooled in his groin when delicate lips wetly opened. He despised lips smacking, but the sound produced by that mouth, he liked.

A warm breath tickled Maddox’s thumb, and he swallowed hard, thankful his back was facing the others in the room. Jake’s panting breath continued to moisten his thumb.  Maddox did one better and rubbed his digit against the inviting pink lips.

He kept his touch light, not wanting to taint Jake’s fragile skin with his roughened pad; the briefest of contact had Jake heaving for breath. One of Maddox’s hands was imbedded in Jake’s thick hair, the other was cupping his chin with a daring thumb fondling the soft flesh of lip. Maddox had complete control over Jake, and it was a surprise, not only that he was enjoying it, but Jake seemed to be too. Maddox dipped his thumb into the waiting mouth, gathering the wet and spreading it along the outer lip.

Caressing his neck had earned him a rush of shivers, but once he scored his nails along Jake’s scalp he felt the rumble of a moan against his thumb.

There was another near silent moan, more felt than heard, and Maddox repositioned himself to hide Jake from the others behind. No doubt they had already seen the swell in Jake’s pyjama bottoms, but he saw fit to protect his modesty as best he could. This moment should’ve been private after all.

Maddox darted a look behind himself, ready to sneer in the other's direction to get them to leave, but he jolted at the pressure against his thumb. Jake was tentatively licking, slick tongue drawing circles on the pad of his thumb.

He was naturally submissive, waiting eagerly for what his master deemed fit. Maddox shook the thought away. There shouldn’t have been anything sexual about the moment, they were interrogating Jake over the missing diamond.

His most valuable treasure. Beethoven’s Diamond. It wasn’t the price tag that made it valuable, but how much Maddox valued it as an item. A piece of glittering beauty made from the man of revolutionary art-

A swipe of a tongue had his thoughts disintegrating. His breath hitched, but he covered the reaction by shifting on his feet. The slick tongue rested against his thumb again, but Maddox didn’t push back.

He stopped all caresses and yanked his hands away. Maddox had listened to Jake’s denial on the other side of the door. Whether he was telling the truth was another matter, but right then, Maddox needed to escape before he went further with the man at his mercy. There was no denying he was aroused at the sight before him. Jake may’ve been bruised, but open mouthed, beckoning with his chin for more, he looked gorgeous. His eyes were covered, but Maddox could see the twitch of his eyebrows, the adorable confusion showing on his features.

Maddox didn’t turn to the others, if he had, they would’ve clamped sight on his straining arousal. His footsteps boomed around the room as he left. A picture of utter calmness, but internally his mind and body ached with frustration. The door swung behind him, and once he was positive he was out of sight he clutched his forehead in a pincer grip rubbing his temples.

It had been a long time since he’d had sex, even longer since he had dominated someone. That need and desire to take another man apart with exquisite pleasure had long been buried under the stresses of his life. He hadn’t even missed it until that moment with Jake.

Chapter 3

“Everything okay, sir?”

Maddox glanced into the mirror, linking eyes with Lewis. It wasn’t a question that expected an answer. Lewis had grown uneasy in the silence and blurted the first thing he could think of.

“Take me home.”

Maddox didn’t miss the extended blink from Lewis, no doubt relieved their muted session had come to an end. The car rumbled, and without being pressed to do so, Lewis lowered the window to let the noise in. Silence, or white noises, there was no in-between for Maddox. He needed the roar of the street, the buzz and the ringing.

With no conscious thought, his thumb found its way to his mouth. He moved the pad against his lower lip, exactly how he had done to Jake. Remembering the small puffs of air blowing against his skin set tingles rushing through his body. The taste of Jake was gone from his pad, but the entrancement he had put Maddox under remained.

Lewis was dismissed as soon as they pulled up to the house. Maddox needed time alone. No doubt his men would believe he was angry after the failure at returning the diamond, but he didn’t have time to dwell.

He needed the familiarity of his ordered home.

His clothes were stripped as he paced the rooms and he ended up naked in the bathroom. The shower beat down on his body, steaming hot water shooting from all the fancy sprinklers. He tilted his head toward the most prominent cascade above. The water ran through his hair, flattening it as the rivers of warmth continued their journey south. The static hiss of water filled the room, and he breathed slow and deep to calm himself. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, he had been hit by the unexpected. The norm of his life had been transformed by Jake’s appearance. The alluring Jake who had a surprising reaction to being at Maddox’s mercy.

He left the shower, wrapping a towel loosely around his hips, and made his way toward the mirror. It was the first time the greying hairs in his beard bothered him. It reminded him how old he was, specifically how much older he was than Jake. The lines around his eyes were there, the forehead etchings presented themselves every time he pulled an expression, but the grey was the most obvious sign he was aging. He had always favoured grey until he noticed its absence on someone else’s head.

Forty-five, probably old enough to be Jake’s father. The man who stirred up long repressed desires was a kid, might not have been with a man before, let alone a man obsessed with control.

He puffed a resentful breath at himself and straightened. The Beethoven tattoo flowed from his heart and he swiped the inking with his fingers. That was most important to him, and he needed to make sure it stayed that way. Beethoven’s diamond, he had to get it back. To snap out of his moping and find it.

A text chimed on his phone and he stabbed his thumb over the message. Amber told him Jake had got home safely; he was yet to see ‘Jake’s’ home.

Tom had messaged him the location, a flat in a rough area of town. He didn’t say whether he had flatmates or if there was evidence of a significant other.

The thought alone made Maddox growl and compress his face in his hands. He needed to pull himself together, and the easiest way to do so was to act as normal.

He settled into the lavish sofa with his feet up on the coffee table. Delving down the side of the cushions, he found the remote for the stereo and clicked it on. Classical music filled the room and Maddox relaxed into the symphony, eyes closed, and head tipped back. The music obliterated all the troubles in his life, power and passion dancing in the room. The hairs on his arms stood to attention, the tingle in his scalp had him melting further into the leather. Nothing else filled him with the intense feeling of contentment.

The contentment abruptly ended with a beep on the intercom. Maddox sighed and spied his watch; the moment hadn't been as abrupt as he thought. He had drifted under the music and fallen asleep.

Tom and Amber appeared at the door with bowed heads. They mumbled their apologies to the floor and he clicked his fingers to get their focus. There was no point moping when there was work to be done. He gestured them inside, leading them to the sofa.

Amber sunk down, depressing the leather, but Tom stayed standing, back straight and shoulders back. Maddox sighed and leaned against the piano.

“Why did you think it was him?” he asked.

Amber's mouth poised to apologize, but Maddox cut her off with a dismissive wave. He had asked a question and expected it to be answered.

“CCTV of him on Norfolk Street. He was carrying a silver case.”

Maddox nodded. He could understand why they had come to their conclusions. Ian had used a silver case to move the diamond, but he waited for the reason that was unfounded.

So far, their actions had been logical, but they were sure Jake wasn’t the man they were after.

Tom shot an uneasy glance towards Amber, flicking his head for her to continue.

“He works in a stationary shop, it was an artist’s case.”

Maddox hummed, idly tapping his forefinger on his chin in thought. “He paints?”

Both Tom and Amber frowned, mouths un-sticking, but no words followed.

Maddox rolled his eyes. “When you went into the flat, were there paintings, canvases, brushes?”

Both faces blanched at his questioning before Tom finally spoke up, “I opened a case, full of paintbrushes-”

“Did they look used?”

Tom shook his head. “No, but-”

“More than one case? Did they look brand new?”

“Yes-”

“Several artist cases, but he doesn’t paint...sounds like a thief to me.”

Amber shuffled. “He steals from his own work?”

Maddox huffed a laugh. “He steals from his boss, just how Ian stole from me...”

Silence lingered, Tom cleared his throat, thumb rubbing against the hair on his top lip. “You're still suspicious of him?”

He was more intrigued than suspicious, but nodded anyway not to overcomplicate things.

“Find out everything you can about him and report back to me.”

Tom shot off the sofa immediately, but Amber stood slowly with a shake of her head. “You think he might actually have it?”

Maddox shrugged. “He might...”

“I smacked him about…he seemed scared.”

“Seemed,” Maddox sniggered, “seemed scared, but I don’t think he was.”

“You held a gun to his head, and he didn’t say anything...”

She was thinking out loud, but Maddox graced her with an answer anyway.

“I think he enjoyed the danger of it...”

Both Amber and Tom scrunched their faces, repulsed by the idea. Maddox snorted and presented them with his back. They scarpered out of the house, off to find out all they could about the compelling Jake.

He gave them a week to gather their information. In that time, there was no gloating from Richie, and no one else claimed they had stolen the diamond from the Mad Dog. Jake stayed prime suspect. Lewis and Carl followed him in case he got the compulsion to run, but he hadn’t, he’d carried on going to work as normal. Maddox wasn’t sure whether he didn’t want to arouse suspicion or was at a loss of what to do. Then there was the third option. Jake didn’t have it at all.

When Tom and Amber’s findings were presented, they stood in front of Maddox like they were pitching an idea.

He tapped his finger lightly against his glass as he heard what they had to say, interjecting his own words when he needed more information.

“Jake Hatton.” Maddox repeated.

It felt nice to know the man’s name and he only just curbed the smile into indifference. Tom didn’t notice and continued to rattle off Jake’s life as if he was merely facts on a page and not a person.

“Yeah, twenty-two, works at Stationary Corner, been there a few years. No formal qualifications, lives the rough side of Norfolk street. No convictions.”

Maddox hummed at the last one, he had expected Jake to have some police record if he really did enjoy stealing.

“What about school?”

“Lots of different ones, many exclusions...”

Maddox cocked his head, flicking his chin for more information.

“Excluded from six schools, stealing came up a lot in his reports...”

“What did he steal?”

Tom shook his head. “Not from the school itself, other students, teachers, parents...and nothing of real importance, games, homework, books, keys, wallets, the strange thing was, he always returned them…”

Definitely strange, and alluring, and Maddox chucked his drink back to distract himself from the prickling interest taking over.

“Family?”

“None, foster homes but he never settled. I couldn’t find any information on his biological parents. No siblings, not many friends as far as we can tell either.”

A gut twisting sensation had Maddox leaning forward. Jake was alone, didn’t have a family, and he knew how empty it felt not to belong to something. He squeezed his temples with a silent growl. No time to feel pity for a man he didn’t know.

“Thank you Tom.”

He sagged at the praise and bowed his head.

“Shouldn’t we be considering other lines of enquiry?”

It was the first time Amber had spoken since both her and Tom arrived, her brow scrunched in confusion and her eyes narrowed.

“Richie doesn’t have it, we would’ve heard about it by now if he did. But you're right, Jake might not have anything to do with this. We watch him, see what he does, but we see what other information we can find about that night too.”

Amber’s brow relaxed, and her eyes softened. “I’ll see what I can find.”

She left with a flick of her red hair, strutting the room. Maddox didn’t miss how Tom’s gaze followed as if magnetised. The wiggle of her hips was obviously for Tom’s benefit and not his. His sexuality had been broadcast when he climbed the ranks. It was one of the reasons he savaged his rivals, him being gay wasn’t a weakness. They thought he was a push-over, he proved he wasn’t. If anyone made a homophobic comment, he’d cut their tongue out.

He clicked his fingers and Tom’s attention snapped back.

“Yes, Boss?”

“Get me Lewis...”

His desire to see Jake had been kept at bay long enough, it was time to see the alluring creatures again.

Lewis stopped the car out of sight of Stationary Corner. Maddox checked his watch, Tom had told him the hours Jake worked, and he had arrived in time to see him leave.

He didn’t have to wait long till the mop of familiar brown hair plodded from the door. The redness to his face had faded, leaving pale skin that longed to be caressed.

The same coil of excitement gripped Maddox at the sight of the other man. The trousers Jake wore were tight and sculpted around his legs, but the jacket slung around his body hid his arse from view and Maddox wanted to tear the veiling item apart. Jakes hands were shoved in his pockets and his spine was bent forward as if he anticipated a long trek.

Jake was a few inches shorter than Maddox, and another hit of arousal spread through his body at the thought of Jake looking up at him, cheeks blushing, mouth pliant and ready to be guided-

“Should I follow, sir?”

“No-don’t follow...”

He just wanted to observe for now, stalk the beautiful creature from a distance.

Jake’s head rolled on his shoulders and he darted what Maddox suspected was a pleading look to the sky. Rain was spitting, the patter on the windscreen was so slight it couldn’t yet be heard.

Jake paused in his trudging; his back straightened as if puppet stings had tugged him upright. The change in posture had Maddox licking his lips. The thought of Jake stretched out had a grumble vibrating his throat. Naked and stretched out, that was how he wanted him.

The man Maddox admired spun around, his eyes attached to the car. The distance was too great to see their colour. It was something Maddox was still frustrated by when he fantasized about him. He could’ve asked Tom, but he doubted he'd taken in the detail of his face. Besides, Maddox wanted to reveal the colour for himself.

Jake took a step towards the car and Maddox patted his hand down on Lewis’s shoulder.

“Time we go.”

It was tempting to let Jake creep up, Maddox wanted to see him close, study him when he wasn’t covered in ferocious slaps from Amber, but he wasn’t ready for the chase to have its conclusion. Lewis started the engine, and Jake faded from view.

“Doesn’t look like a diamond thief...”

Maddox grimaced at Lewis’s observation. “And what does one look like?”

He shrugged. “I dunno...but....”

His voice trailed off and Maddox grumbled ‘go on’ to get his mouth moving again.

“It’s just, if I stole a diamond...I would get the money and book myself a holiday, buy a car...I wouldn’t go about things as normal.”

Maddox snorted in amusement. “I know what to look out for when I think you're stealing from me.”

Lewis’s huge eyes found Maddox’s in the mirror. “I’d never steal from you boss.”

The problem with emitting dominance like Maddox did, no one knew when he was merely joking or subtly threatening.

Maddox sighed with a shake of his head. “Für Elise...”

Lewis scrambled to put the music on, shooting a small smile once he did.

“Thank you, Lewis.” Maddox said, sinking back.

He closed his eyes and let the symphony shake his bones. His body was won over by the music, but his brain was churning images of Jake, needy and sweating. He had to cure the rising lust, seek out someone to entertain his appetite, but the thought of it being anyone but Jake left him hollow.

Tom stopped by the house, special delivery of Jake’s underwear in his arms. Maddox took the items with no explanation and Tom knew not to ask.

“No sign of the case, Boss.”

For a few seconds Maddox stared blankly, wondering what Tom was talking about. The case, the diamond. He inwardly scolded himself for getting swept up in his own fantasies.

If Jake was smart, he wouldn’t keep the diamond in his home, would have it stored away somewhere else. So far, he hadn’t contacted Richie, or any of the pawnbrokers, not even the museum it had been stolen from. It was more than likely he hadn’t even broken into the case yet or had no idea of the diamond's worth.

“Tomorrow, we’ll amp the pressure.”

Tom nodded and saw himself out.

Maddox carried the underwear to his bedroom and laid each item on the bed.

All boxer shorts. Maddox raised his brow curiously at some of the bolder pairs, leopard and tiger print and one pair had the words ‘tame the snake’. Another pair caught his eyes, popular superhero motif printed repeatedly on the shorts. Maddox snorted. The hero stood for justice and, yet Jake stole and lied. He wondered whether Jake wore them when he was chasing his thrill. The tops of them had frayed, and the print was fading from repeated washing. The label was so badly worn, Maddox couldn’t even read the size.

A pulse of sadness gripped his heart. All the underwear on display were old, cheap by the fraying material and weakened elastic.

Jake didn’t have much money, that was clear from the derelict building he lived in and his array of tatty clothes. Maddox wondered how long he’d only just been making it by.

If Jake was his, Maddox would choose his underwear. Lacy numbers that showed off his slim hips and rounded arse. He hadn’t seen it yet, but assumed from his lean legs it would be firm under his hands.

A grumble of approval rattled Maddox’s teeth. He wanted a close-up of that pert bum, he wanted to see the crease of the trousers slipping into the line between his cheeks from lack of underwear.

Maddox was a man that always got what he wanted...

He told everyone they were searching for the diamond in the stationary store. It was a half-truth. It was the most likely place Jake would’ve hidden it.

Lewis was busy, he stuttered on the phone when he said he couldn’t make it, but Maddox soothed his worries. They worked for him, but they were allowed a life outside of him too. It was Lewis's girlfriend’s birthday, and Maddox had given him an advance on his wages to buy her the perfect gift. The money was taken with suspicion, and Maddox smiled to reassure him. His smiles tended to resemble sinister grimaces though, and Lewis had trembled when slotting the notes in his wallet.

Tom was back to driving him. When he went to climb from the car, Maddox stopped him, reaching forward from the back and tightening his hand on Tom’s shoulder. This order was meant only for Tom.

“Go easy...and I want you to take a picture of Jake bending over.”

It was one of the strangest orders he had given, and it spun Tom off his professionalism.

“You what?”

Maddox chuckled. “I want a picture of his arse...”

Tom darted a look back at Maddox, eyes widening, but the edges crinkled with amusement. “This is a different take on intimidation...”

“Sure is.”

Tom flexed his face back into seriousness. “If that’s what you want, Boss.”

“I do.”

Tom bobbed his head and climbed from the car.

He and the others Maddox had roped in to help entered the shop. It was only ten minutes later Jake appeared, rushing and sweating as he burst through the shop doors.

The moment was too brief, and Maddox huffed, he had wanted to watch Jake for longer. The visual had been so fleeting he couldn’t burn his appearance to memory.

His finger tapped on his knee as he waited; knee tapping wasn’t enough. He pulled out his trusty zippo and began the click, twirl and snap routine. Tom and the others came back out after the seventieth manipulation of the lighter.

Tom was stalked by an irritated Jake. The top of his nose dented with his frown, perfectly in line with the dimple in his chin. It made Maddox long to touch both, to soothe that anger and use the dimple like a hinge to pop open his lips.

“Got what you asked for, Boss.”

Tom shuffled into his seat, eyes still fixed on Jake who lingered in front of the car.

A confident smirk tickled Jake’s lips, and Maddox noticed what was in his grip before Tom did.

Jake was anything but innocent, he may’ve worn the terrified expression like it belonged, but it was a facade. Not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but a wolf inside an innocent lamb. Maybe not a wolf, but a pup.

The shades were twirled, and Tom’s composure dropped, and a grunt escaped his throat when he realised they were his. Even in the car they heard the crack and scrape of the sunglasses on the pavement.

“Little shit!”

Tom scrambled for the handle, but Maddox stopped his mad dash with a firm grip.

“I’ll get you more,” he said firmly, “but it’s time we get going, don’t you think...”

There was no verbal reply, but Tom clicked his belt into position and started the engine.

Jake’s expression of smugness had dissolved into one of wonder and curiosity. That expression, Maddox burned to Jake’s personal catalogue in his mind.

Chapter 4

Maddox was crunching toast when the call came. Tom’s name flashed, and the device vibrated on the table.

He sighed, grabbing it with his crumb free hand and placing in to his ear. “Yes…”

“Boss, he’s handed the diamond over.”

He stopped chewing too soon. The last bite scrapped its way down his throat, and he coughed to ease its passing.

“What do you mean?”

“Kid came straight up to the car, handed it over. Said he didn’t want any more fuss.”

Maddox’s mouth flapped open, he stared down at his half-eaten toast. Jake had given up his prize with no fight, handed it back, unable to cope under the pressure of Maddox’s interest.

“Where is Jake now?”

“I got him, Boss, he’s unconscious. Thought you’d wanna scare him a bit for messing us about.”

He didn’t wish to terrorise Jake, but to look at him one last time before he became nothing but a stale memory. That, Maddox wanted more than anything.

“Take him to the freezer, clothes off, hung up. Leave him with Amber.”

“Y-you sure, Boss?”

“Yes.”

He tugged the phone from his ear and silenced it. The empty feeling that expanded in his chest wasn’t from hunger, but the loss of entertainment. The diamond was back under his possession. Ian had failed in his attempt to steal it, and even better than that, Richie hadn’t claimed and flaunted it. It was back under his watchful eye, but the regaining of his possession also felt like he’d lost something too, something he couldn’t yet put words or meaning to.

He had one more time to appreciate Jake, and he intended to offer an experience the thrill-seeking man couldn’t refuse.

Tom drove him to the freezer. The rounded man darted furrow-browed looks in the mirror but Maddox ignored them. Instructed him to put on Ride of the Valkyries and settled into the seat.

They arrived and before Tom could undo his belt, Maddox spoke with a tone that left no room for negotiation.

“Stay here.”

Tom sank back into his seat. “Yes, Boss.”

“Wait for me here.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Amber nodded when she passed. Maddox made sure her footsteps had faded completely before striding into the room. Jake swung on his restraints, both sight and sound compromised. The lights in the abandoned freezer buzzed constantly, letting Maddox drift into the room undetected. Maddox grimaced at the blindfold; it was his last chance to see Jake and he wasn’t going to learn the colour of his eyes.

Jake was stretched out, hands bound together hanging around a meat hook. His tiptoes barely brushed the floor and his calves strained with the position. Maddox observed from a distance. The picture Tom had snapped for him didn’t do Jake’s rear justice. His legs were toned, and his rounded cheeks clenched from the strain. Jakes pale flesh longed to be squeezed, massaged and flogged. Once he got close enough, Maddox held his hand out in front of himself, seeing how big they were and how well they’d hold Jake’s arse. His flawless skin longed to be stroked with warm palms, caressed with sensual kisses.

Maddox’s admiring stare broke when Jake attempted to wriggle his blindfold off. He brushed his face along his straining bicep, huffing with his failure. Maddox smiled at his helplessness.

“The irony in feeling most alive when our hearts forget to beat,” he drawled.

Jake jolted to attention, chin lifting and head turning towards his voice. The catch of breath had Maddox grinning fondly. Jake was adorable when he flailed for air, fear blocking his body’s automatic responses for a second. Jake’s pink lips popped open, but no words came out. Maddox sighed and filled the silence himself.

“Is your heart skipping and tripping?”

Maddox was close enough to see the explosion of brail on Jake’s skin. The air of the room was cold, but that reaction was purely from his voice. It was an addictive power, making Jake’s skin light up with sensitivity. All it took was his stern tone, the softening of words at the end of a sentence. It was intimidating, and Jake’s heart reacted accordingly. Maddox could see the punching pulse in his neck.

“Wh-what?”

The words stuttered from Jake’s mouth, and Maddox rolled his eyes. He hated having to repeat himself, but the dent appeared at the top of Jake’s nose and he wanted to diffuse his confusion.

“Your heart, is it skipping?”

No verbal response, but another shudder went up Jake’s arms and down to his toes. Maddox reached to feel the answer to his question.

His hand was huge against Jake’s pale skin. The tattoo that finished on the back of his hand covered Jake’s heart. In that moment, their hearts were joined, music flowed between them and Maddox grinned at the beauty of their connection.

“Excitement overcomes your fear of death, is that right?”

The dent of confusion reappeared, and Jake’s pink lips popped open only for Jake to nip closed. Maddox could see he wanted to answer but feared the truth. He backed away, marched around Jake, burning the sight of him to memory. He was beautiful, skin tight and blemish-free. No hair on his chest, a trail led from his belly button down. Maddox raised an eyebrow at the length between Jake’s legs. Half hard and all he’d done was grumble some words.

“You’ve had the diamond all this time, why give it up now?”

Jake moved his head to follow Maddox’s booming steps. His teeth were no longer pressing on his bottom lip, they were loose and drying from his panted breaths.

“Why now?” he asked again with more bite.

The lips quivered, popping open before pressing together in defiance. There was still some fight to Jake, even when he was at his most vulnerable.

“Was I not exciting enough for you, Jake?”

Maddox stopped, a few inches from the hanging man. His hands flexed at his side, wanting to touch but he resisted the urge. He would not caress Jake without the other man agreeing to it.

“I panicked; I took it without thinking...”

Maddox narrowed his eyes. “I believe that, I do. Why return it now? Why not get the reward money instead?”

Jake shook his head. “You’d have come after me.”

It didn’t make sense. Jake was already on his radar, he was already pursuing him. It was a bit late for Jake to fear being stalked.

“Does that scare you?”

“Yes.”

Maddox swallowed uncomfortably. Jake was afraid of him, he had misread terror for excitement. Nothing but a kid messing with things far beyond him. Maddox moved his eyes to the rope holding Jake up, knowing he should release him and let him go.

The edge of Jake’s lip tilted into a smile, and the length between his legs thickened. Maddox eyed him curiously.

“You're scared, I can see it. But your body reacts strangely to fear, you love the feeling.”

The shake of his head was so minute, Maddox wasn’t sure who it was aimed at. Was he denying his words, or trying to push away his feelings? The frown on Jake’s face was fierce and Maddox only just stopped himself from reaching and flattening it with his fingers. Jake’s expressions and his body’s reactions contradicted each other. Maddox stroked at his beard and pondered the man before him.

“H-hello?”

Maddox didn’t grace him with a verbal reply; he tracked around him, so Jake could hear his feet and know he was still in the room.

“What-what are you going to do with me...kill me?”

Maddox sighed in reply, slow and disappointed. There was so much he wanted to do with Jake, but it was limited to this moment and only if Jake chose it.

“My life is predictable, this deal, that deal, drugs, people, issues to sort out, stuff to steal, stuff to sell on...it’s all predictable. Even Ian, as clever as he thought he was, was predictable. I knew he would betray me, had a car ready to chase him down. He barely made it three miles before I took him out.”

Maddox paused directly in front of where Jake hung.

“But I didn’t predict you...”

He stretched out his hand, brushing his fingertips along Jake’s chest. He moved up at a slow pace, marvelling at the dots that sprouted on Jake’s skin at the slight contact.

“You have been an abnormality, a cure to my mind-numbing boredom. I could not predict you, and that, that makes me interested. Very interested...in you.”

“Look, you got the diamond back now. This is over.”

Jake spluttered a sob then rolled his shoulders as best he could in his restrained position.

“S’like the movies, right? You’re gunna cut of my fingers...my thumbs.”

Maddox shook his head with a bored huff. He was no longer the mad dog who used excessive violence rather than words. That wasn’t necessary when fear was already instilled in people. Silence and indifference could be more powerful than a fist or a boot. Jake was evidence of that by the way he panted. But unlike the others he had intimidated, the more Jake panted, and gasped for breath in the quiet room, the more blood flowed south between his legs.

“I can’t reach your hands at the moment; there are other far more important assets on display...”

Jake crossed his legs, shielding his body from Maddox as much as he could. It would’ve been easy to pry his legs apart, to rub the flesh back to full inflation-

“Don’t!” Jake yelled.

“Don’t what?”

Maddox leaned closer, face centimetres from Jake. So close he could smell him, not the disgusted reek of fear and fluids, but floral, Jake’s sweat re-awakened whatever shampoo he had used that day.

He had done enough teasing. He needed his flesh against Jake’s, needed their scents merging and their bodies growing in excitement together.

Maddox unclipped the buttons on his shirt, the fabric was folded and placed on the floor, joined by his trousers and shoes in a neat stack. He stood in all his muscled glory, huge body perfect for wrapping around Jake’s slighter one.

“’m sorry okay...just don’t…”

“Don’t what?” Maddox mumbled, cocking his head.

“Don’t hurt me.”

His voice was fearful. Maddox darted a look back towards his clothes, wondering if he had gotten ahead of himself.

“You like the touch of a woman?”

Jake didn’t answer. His head jerked backwards, and he released a sad whine from his lips.

“Let me go.”

He was trembling, and the need to soothe him became too much. Maddox walked behind and embraced him. His chest pressed snugly to Jake’s back, and he didn’t miss how Jake’s body relaxed at the contact. Maddox’s skin scorched, and he hugged his arms around Jake, taking some of the weight off his arms with his own strength. If this was as much as Jake was comfortable with, he’d leave it and hope the ghost of their embrace lingered on his skin for days. There was no victory in forcing his desires on someone else, but getting them to surrender, having permission to conquer, that was what he wanted from Jake.

“I’m gunna give you a choice. I can let you go right now...or you stay like this and I get your heart thumping harder, get that adrenaline you love filling your veins.”

A high-pitched noise escaped Jake's mouth. Maddox waited for his answer, hands no longer around Jake’s body but clutching hips. There was a wriggle, Maddox frowned, moving his arms back into their restraining position. It earned him a broken gasp and a shiver, but that wasn’t enough of an answer.

“What’s it gunna be, Jake? Will you give me your body?”

He ran a palm over the Jake’s stretched out body, moving to his biceps and kneading warmth into the aching flesh. Jake shuddered, whimpered, gasped, but he didn’t agree to what was offered.

Maddox sighed harshly. “Okay, I’ll let you go.”

“Wait!”

The shout had Maddox blinking, surprised. Jake hadn’t yelled like that when he thought his life was on the line, but the thought of Maddox stopping had him despairing. He peeked around Jake’s body, smiling at the straining flesh between his legs. Maddox couldn’t resist touching, and he trailed a hand to grasp at Jake’s swollen arousal. The flesh in Maddox’s hands was hot, firm and so soft against his rough hand.

“Can I make you come alive Jake?”

He formed an O with his thumb and forefinger, moving the circle up Jake’s straining arousal. The barely there friction had Jake moaning, forehead rubbing on his stretched bicep.

“Yes,” he breathed, “my body’s yours.”

Finally, he could touch. Once Jake had verbally surrendered, his body did too. Maddox gripped his cock firmer, moving along the flesh feverishly. He kissed and licked the back of Jake’s neck, closing his eyes and listening to the soft moans and broken breaths.

“But...I’m not gay.”

Maddox smiled into the back of his neck, nosing the flesh and taking in the other man’s scent. “Try telling your cock that.”

“I don’t understand...”

The admission had Maddox momentarily losing his stride. Jake had sounded so innocent, and when he leaned to see his face, the frown lines were splitting the top of his nose again. Maddox didn’t want him feeling confused when all he should be thinking about was pleasure. He increased his hand movements, biting and sloshing his tongue against the marks on the base of his neck. When he pinched Jake’s nipple, a whimper joined the slick noises. The ache between Maddox’s legs throbbed wildly, but he was a man of iron control, would ignore his need until Jake came apart from his touches.

“Every time you’re touched by a woman, you’ll remember this.”

Jake tipped his head back, turning towards Maddox’s deep voice, and had he a hand free, Maddox would’ve yanked Jake’s blindfold free to gaze into his eyes.

“You’ll remember how I completely owned your body like no one else can...”

Jake’s lips parted, no breath flowed in or out.  Maddox was sure he was about to release. He denied him, not wanting the moment to be over so fast.

He stopped all caresses until Jake had his breathing under control. His own arousal had leaked onto Jake’s lower back. Mesmerised by the glittering sheen, Maddox trailed his fingers through the patch, into the crease of Jake’s arse.

His fingers were immediately squeezed in defence of Jake’s intimate flesh.

“No one teased you here before?”

Jake shook his head, but he didn’t yell for Maddox to stop. The thought of being the first to touch Jake in that forbidden area had a hot rush fizzle through his veins. It was strangely satisfying knowing he’d be the first to pleasure Jake this way.

He waited, finger still hugged by Jake’s arse cheeks, but the tensing lessened until he could find his goal. Maddox’s slippery finger probed, being stopped from its exploration each time Jake clenched.

“You tense like that and it’ll hurt.”

“Wait. I’m not sure.” Jake gasped.

Maddox made a soothing noise, noting how the tense body he caressed relaxed immediately. Jake’s head tilted to get nearer to the white noise he was making, wanting to be soothed.

“Trust me, Jake. It will feel great when you give up the pretence.”

He removed his fingers, rubbing his own leaking cock, squeezing moisture from the tip and adding to it with a pool of saliva.

He tried one digit on Jake to see if his natural lube helped penetration. The finger was swallowed and Maddox bit back a moan at how receptive Jake’s body had become.

He pulled the digit free, adding another with a generous helping of his biological slick. Jake quivered, not just the flesh on the outside, but the skin Maddox rubbed at fluttered against his fingers. Jake’s pulsating warmth maddened his usually firm control. Maddox bit his lip hard for composure. He registered the bloody tang in his mouth and released the seeping flesh.

“Relax. It won’t hurt if you relax, it will feel good.” he coaxed.

Jake shook his head, but the movement was slight. “I don’t want it to feel good. It shouldn’t.”

“Oh, but it does. Don’t deny yourself.”

The vice pulsing against Maddox’s fingers softened. Jake released a wrecked moan of surrender. Maddox was beyond frustrated, and each time Jake whimpered the ache increased between his legs. Maddox leaned his sweaty forehead on Jake’s shoulder, hoping Jake’s cooler flesh would relieve his brow. But there was no relief, only more warmth and wetness; Jake was burning up like him.

The sounds escaping Jake were grunted, inhuman in their pleasure. He wasn’t capable of speech. Maddox was pretty sure he couldn’t think anymore, could only feel. He chuckled in surprise when Jake’s head tipped back, and he yelled.

“Fuck yes!”

If he was still able to process words, Maddox wasn’t pushing him enough. His fingers twirled, circled, curled, each individual touch got its own strangled reaction. Jake heaved, mouth open and inviting, but from the angle, Maddox couldn’t reach it.

Jake froze, no sounds escaped him, no air either. His whole body tensed ready to be overcome by the onslaught of orgasm.

“Not yet,” Maddox commanded.

He pushed the words straight into Jake’s ear, said them twice just to be sure they registered.

“Whole body hurts, right?”

Jake nodded desperately, bottom lip trembling as he did.

“Ye-yes...”

Maddox released him, slipped his fingers out and admired the view of Jake’s flushing body. Jake’s face scrunched in an expression close to devastation, the blindfold around his eyes had dampened, from sweat, tears or a combination, Maddox wasn’t sure. His brown hairs had clogged with moisture, weighing down the usually springy strands.

“I could leave you like this...”

Maddox leaned closer, whole body fizzling with arousal when he saw how frantically Jake shook his head as his teasing. There was no way he was leaving Jake in that state. The younger man’s excitement had peaked, drops from his engorged cock leaked on the floor. The sight was adorably tragic.

Maddox wanted to taste him, and he always got what he wanted. He moved to stand in front of Jake, trailing his eyes up his flushing body. He gripped Jake’s thighs, leading them round his body. He ran his finger over the purple mark on Jake’s thigh; the small tranquiliser Carl used thankfully hadn’t damaged him too much. His hand roamed to Jake's arse, massaging the cheeks.

Jake’s responsive moan made Maddox squeeze his eyes shut to concentrate on his goal. His own cock was sore from neglect and each time a destroyed murmur echoed in the room, a shot of ecstasy jolted in the tip. He needed to take charge of his own body, block out his own desires to push Jake off the edge of the biggest high of his life.

Lifting Jake onto his shoulders was easy with the right motivation.

“What are you-”

As soon as Jake’s pretty cock was in view Maddox sucked it greedily into his mouth. He tapped his tongue on the underside, bobbing his head forward and back with vacuum suction. Jake quivered, spluttered and choked out noises of absolute ecstasy. Jake was ready, but Maddox wanted to test him, see how he reacted to different stimuli before drowning him in exquisite pleasure.

He licked, lapped his tongue, sucked fast and slow, soft and firm, deep and ghosting. Jake didn’t disappoint; the spectrum his vocals had at expressing pleasure knew no bounds. Wails and moans, pants and gasps, the vibrations of Jake's music had Maddox’s hair rising, pleasant rushes of sensitivity spreading through his body.

The taste was intoxicating, heavy and sweet on Maddox’s tongue. That, matched with Jake's music made his own cock throb and his erection was so full, he felt the skin pull tight almost to the point of pain.

He couldn’t survive the torture much longer, had to release himself.

He slipped his fingers back between Jake’s arse cheeks, delving two digits inside. He didn’t push too far, but enough to feel the contraction when the time came. Maddox lunged with his mouth, encased Jake deep and sucked in pulses, rubbing his tongue on the underside as the only friction.

Jake swallowed hard, struggled to take in breath before stilling and exploding with a silent scream. He slumped over Maddox’s head, body jittery as he continued to spurt on Maddox’s eager pallet.

Maddox hummed at the taste, corkscrewing his fingers gently in Jake’s pulsing body.

The man above him went deathly still. Maddox pulled back with a slurp, staring up into Jake’s unresponsive face. He couldn’t tell if Jake was conscious or not. The blindfold was still in place, but there were no lines of confusion. His lips were pliant and there was no twitch from his features.

He had passed out from the intensity. Maddox helped him down, holding his weight off the floor in an embrace. Soft and beautiful, pliant and adorable, all things Maddox longed to have from a partner, but it was a fantasy to think he could have Jake more than just this once. People too close to him got hurt, more than hurt. He couldn’t bear to see Jake snuffed out.

Jake’s head rolled, a grumble of consciousness breezed through his lips. The desire to kiss him was hard to ignore, but he’d want more than to kiss, he’d want to bury his cock into Jake’s body, pound into him until he blacked out again. Consume his mouth and swallow his howls of abandonment-

Maddox sighed angrily at himself and shook the imagery away. He released Jake, letting his shoulders yank painfully before untying his hands and watching him collapse at his feet.

He wasn’t a cuddly person, but seeing Jake curled on the floor had his hands restlessly flexing at his sides. The dimple of unease returned to Jake’s forehead and before Maddox could help it, he uttered the words.

“Good boy.”

The expression on Jake’s features relaxed, and the smallest of smiles bent his lips. God, he wanted Jake, more than the one time he’d promised himself, but he couldn’t have him.

He positioned himself over Jake, gripping his throbbing erection in both hands. The fingers of one circled the top while the others worked the length with speed. He came with a grunt, teeth digging into his lip hard enough to puncture the indent he’d made earlier.

His release splashed Jake’s face, streaked down his still blissed face. When he licked at the droplet stuck to his top lip, Maddox hissed under his breath and faced away.

The visual was too hot, would only lead to more trouble if Maddox registered what it meant. Jake was considering tasting a man. He had sampled a part of him and his face didn’t compress with disgust; he was savouring the taste.

“We’re done.” Maddox mumbled.

Half talking to himself, half to his still interested cock. He couldn’t have Jake anymore, it was a one-time slip back into his desires. Tomorrow it was back to usual, boring scams and deals, hunting down money and lending more.

“Game's up, Jake.” he said to clarify.

He scooped his clothes from the floor, holding them to his chest as he walked out. He wasn’t spending any more time in the room with Jake gasping at his feet. His lust reformed fast, Maddox wanted him again. He had to leave before temptation got too much and he had Jake on the floor.

Walking away from the vulnerable man was unexpectedly hard. His legs mutinied his decision, tripling in weight and his neck twitched with the need to look back. He squeezed his eyes closed, picturing the diamond waiting for him back at his house. That was what was most important to him; his possessions were all his rivals could target.

Chapter 5

Maddox punched his arms back into his shirt, whip cracked his belt in the silence as he shoved on his trousers. Jake was back through the door; by the sounds of it he hadn’t even got to his feet. An uncomfortable prickle grew in Maddox’s head. His palm pressed on the door, ready to push back in and help Jake up.

He shook that desire away, and instead delved for his phone in his pocket. His and Jake’s game was up, but the least he could do was ensure he got home safe.

The phone clicked by Maddox’s ear and a worried hello stuttered from the other end.

“Lewis, I need you to dress casual, drive by Richmond Street and when you see Jake, offer him a ride.”

Maddox tapped his foot to the floor in the extended pause, hissing through his teeth when Lewis finally replied.

“Of course, Boss.”

There was confusion to his words, but Maddox didn’t need to explain himself, only wanted to ensure Jake had a ride home. He stamped his thumb at the phone, disconnecting the call before pressing the device to his lips.

He breathed deep, slipped his face of blankness back on and exited the building.

Tom straightened in his seat the second he saw Maddox returning. “Done, Boss?” he asked through the window.

Maddox resisted the urge to glance back. “It’s done.”

He slipped into the car, refusing to look at the building he’d left Jake inside.

It was half way back to the house, Maddox remembered Jake’s clothes were in the boot of Amber’s car.

He pinched his brow with a growl. Not only had he left Jake in a vulnerable state, he was stark naked as well. The first time he’d been intimate with that level of control and he had executed it appallingly. Jake had agreed, but Maddox doubted he'd expected to be discarded, cold and bare on the floor.

He shuffled, restless at the war in his head. There was the logical part of him that knew he had to disconnect from Jake, but his chest ached knowing their fun had come to an end.

Maddox did his best to seem composed each time Tom darted a look back, but knew he’d failed when soft words travelled to the backseat.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?”

Maddox stilled his mad fidgeting. “Course I didn’t.”

“Does he need an ambulance-

“Jake is fine,” Maddox snapped, smashing his fist on the seat beside him. “Enough questions. Beethoven no. 25.”

The music rumbled through the speakers, vibrating his spine, but it did nothing to stop the jitteriness in his joints. He longed to return to the abandoned cooler and lift Jake from the floor.

It couldn’t be that way; whatever connection had formed with the other man had to be severed. Was now severed with the diamond returned to him.

Maddox slotted his fingers together with his elbows digging into his knees. He squeezed till his skin turned white. Any longing he felt towards Jake had to be pushed away for both of their sakes.

The music finally had the desired effect and Maddox sunk boneless into the leather. The world shot past his window, made more dramatic by the symphony thundering around him.

Back to his life of scam and deals, threats and intimidation. Jake had no place in that world.

Tom was hesitant to turn the track off; Maddox watched his finger shake as he reached for the dial. They were back at the house, but his reluctance to leave the car had left Tom confused.

“Where’s the diamond?” he mumbled, not knowing whether the man in the front could hear him above the rumble.

“Inside.”

Maddox bowed his head and Tom had the confidence to push the dial and silence the car.

“Carl has it.” Tom said, eyes glued to Maddox through the mirror.

“Good, go inside and wait.”

Tom unclasped his seat belt, darting a concerned look back. Maddox shot a small smile his way, hoping to soothe his fears, but by the bob of Tom’s Adam's apple he knew it hadn’t.

“Make yourself a drink, eat what you like.”

He meant his words, but he also knew by Tom’s stone face he wasn’t going to indulge in anything on offer. Tom would rather starve than accept food while he was working. Before Tom was out of earshot, Maddox mumbled through his window.

“Be sure to tell Carl.”

Tom wouldn’t eat, but the younger man definitely would.

Maddox found his discarded phone, tapping Lewis's number and growing more agitated the longer it rang.

“Boss?”

“How is he?”

Lewis made a noise of thought and Maddox rolled his eyes.

“Was he all right when you dropped him off?”

“Oh, urm yeah, he was fine...bit snappy, but okay.”

Maddox exhaled noisily through his nose, settled by the knowledge Jake was okay. He had no idea how Jake handled coming down from an intense high, and it was a relief to know he had recovered and wasn’t a shaking, sobbing mess.

“Good.”

He ended the call and sunk back on the seat. Jake was fine after their time together. Maddox wasn’t ready to replay their intimacies in his head yet, that was for when he got lonely in the night.

Shaking his head, he climbed from the car, pushing any lingering thoughts of Jake away. Once he clasped eyes on the priceless stone, Jake and the time he spent pursuing him would blur to insignificance.

Carl didn’t disappoint on the food front. The towering sandwich on the counter made Maddox smile.

“’orry, you said-I haven’t eaten today, I thought-”

The smile sagged off Maddox’s face. Even when he was amused they had no clue. When he grinned in the mirror it never looked as savage as they made out. The mirror didn’t break, and he didn’t shrivel from the hideousness of it. Yet one smile and Tom was rocking nervously on his feet and Carl’s hair was darkening from sweat.

“The diamond?” he uttered.

Carl presented him with the box, flicking his chin out for him to open it.

He sighed tiredly, popping the lid before frowning, his frown deepened the longer he stared. The clarity had gone, the colour was dulled. A millimetre too small. Just to be sure, he plucked it from the box, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. Wrong weight, wrong colour, wrong shape, wrong material.

Both Carl and Tom waited with wide eyes, needing their boss to tell them good job. He didn’t. Instead, he placed the diamond on the marble counter.

He strolled across the room, choosing one of his many grey ornaments. It held weight, was made from tungsten, the strongest natural metal. He liked the abstract shape, it was a good fit in his hand, even better for bludgeoning.

Carl and Tom watched on curiously as Maddox made his way back over. He lifted the object, and their eyebrows rose in anticipation. The ornament came down with a crack, smashing the ‘diamond’ into dust.

Just in case they hadn’t realised, Maddox ran his finger through the powder.

“A diamond would not break...”

Tom plucked at his moustache, face shaking left to right. “Boss-”

Maddox raised his hand for silence. “Quiet...”

He narrowed his eyes at Tom, his hands had curled into vibrating fists. No one was laying a hand on Jake, Jake was his to punish.

“We’ll find him, Boss,” Carl blurted.

Maddox hissed, and Carl's mouth snapped shut with a wince.

“I want to see what he’ll do.... we’ll find him, observe from a distance.”

Their heads nodded eagerly. “Yes, Boss.”

“Go start the car...”

Tom rushed for the door with Carl on his heels.

“Carl...take your sandwich.”

He halted, staring guilty at the tower of food on the counter. “Sorry, Boss.”

“Eat it, don’t waste…art.”

Maddox grinned, and Carl matched it cautiously. He really was an artist at food preparation.

Carl took the plate, taking a huge bite as he got to the door.

“No mess in the car.”

“Yes, Boss,” muffled back.

Once out of sight, Maddox released the wolfish smile that had tilted the corners of his mouth.

Then a booming laugh escaped his lips. The pup disguised as a lamb had tricked him. That didn’t happen often if ever. His mind-numbing life was still being disrupted by Jake and he’d never been so relieved.

His heart quickened in pace; the itchy feeling in his joints was swept away with a rush of heat. It had only been an hour since they’d been in the meat freezer together, but lust bubbled up again in Maddox’s veins. Perhaps he would break his set rule and enjoy company with the intoxicating man a second time. He just had to catch him first.

He followed his gut and got Tom to park across the street from the museum. Amber was trolling through the CCTV feeds they had hacked around Jake’s street, Lewis was checking Jake’s flat and Carl had driven to the Stationary Corner. That left his and Tom’s eagle eyes on the museum.

Maddox chuckled to himself when he saw Jake bounding up the path. The man was completely oblivious. He skipped across the road, hair fluffed up and shimmering. Hours after being so thoroughly wrecked, and he was bright faced again, with clean clothes hugging his body.

A stab of self-consciousness gripped Maddox. He raked his hand through his hair, sweeping it back on his head. The clothes he wore were still dishevelled from his dash to redress. He leaned forward in his seat, pushing his shirt into his trousers to smarten himself up.

“He’s going for the reward money.”

Maddox glared at the back of Tom’s head. The unaware man had his eyes fixed to the museum. He rubbed at his moustache, making an irritating noise.

“Not so clever now, are ya?” he mumbled towards the building.

Maddox shook his head. “Tricked you, didn’t he?”

Tom’s mouth popped open, but he didn’t defend himself, only hung his head.

Jake hadn’t just tricked Tom and Carl, but Maddox too. He had believed his stuttered apologies and reassurances that he had willingly returned the diamond.

“What do we do now?”

Maddox drummed his fingers on his knee. “We wait.”

As if anticipating a long stakeout, Tom switched the music on, starting at the first track. Maddox settled in his seat, patting at the zippo and removing it from his top pocket.

Hours, it had been hours, and Tom had slumped into his seat, eyes sliding closed. Maddox allowed it; he had overworked them on a job that should’ve been easy, would’ve been had Maddox gone in heavy and beaten the information from Jake at the start.

Almost three hours later and countless twirls on the zippo, his phone buzzed, and he tapped Tom’s shoulder till he woke.

The music was stopped, and the jingling ringtone filled the quiet.

“Wonder who that could be,” Maddox mumbled with a raised eyebrow.

Tom snorted in reply, rubbing at his moustache with his gaze locked on the museum.

Maddox prodded the phone. “Harriet?”

“Oh, Mr Henley, we have some great news. The diamond has been returned.”

Maddox grinned politely, using his barely used joyous tone to reply, “That really is great.”

“I hate to ask, but the man who brought it in....he’s been asking about the reward.”

Maddox tutted in disappointment. “And there I was thinking someone would return it out of the goodness of their heart.”

She barked darkly. “Everyone’s out for themselves nowadays.”

“Indeed...send him to my address. I’ll be sure he gets a fitting reward.”

She rallied out grovelling goodbyes and Maddox scrunched his face. There was only so much nicey-nicey he could fake without feeling sick.

“Tom, back to the house.”

The car purred into life just as Jake skipped from the door, analysing a piece of paper in his hands.

It was Maddox’s turn to trick the naïve little wolf cub.

Chapter 6

Tom crawled the car behind Jake’s taxi. Maddox was the stalking predator about to catch Jake in his den.

The blood in his veins thundered as they got closer, and a pool of heat simmered at his crotch.

When the taxi drove down his street, he lurched forward and gripped Tom’s shoulder. “Here’s close enough.”

Maddox unclipped his seatbelt while his other hand tugged hard at the handle.

“But Boss, what about back-up?”

He tilted his head towards Tom with a clacking tongue. “I’ve got this...you’ve all got the night off.”

Tom opened his mouth to protest but Maddox shut him down with a glare.

“Business will be back to normal tomorrow, trust me.”

He climbed from the car, flicking his chin out so Tom would leave. He made a horseshoe shape with his finger and Tom understood, turning in the road instead of going any further down the street.

The blacked-out car was bound to alert Jake. Maddox didn’t want to chase after him, not when he had gone so willingly to his front door. A few people passed him, and he nodded politely, not going as far as smiling or saying hello, but the head flicks were all returned by the residents.

Jake was beeping the intercom, sighing tiredly to himself before trying again. Maddox got close, waiting for the moment Jake sensed someone behind and whipped around.

It didn’t happen, Jake continued to huff until he pressed his forehead to the door and stayed there.

“Nice to see you again, Jake.” Maddox drawled.

The shiver Maddox had been waiting for rattled Jake’s frame. He straightened up from his half collapse, head slowly turning until Maddox reached out and stopped him.

His grip was firm, if Jake was a pup it would’ve been like grabbing his scruff. He stilled and waited for Maddox to move him. The effortless control he had over Jake made him grin, made a rumble of approval ride up in his chest.

“No.”

It was the first time Jake would see him, and the first time he’d see Jakes eyes, and he didn’t want that unveiling standing on his doorstep.

Maddox used his free hand to prod in the code, not caring if Jake saw. The slight tilt of Jake’s head put him in line with the tattoo. After typing the code, Maddox left his hand flat on the panel, so Jake could see what was so prominent on the back of his hand.

The door clicked, ending whatever calm had descended on the both of them. Maddox applied pressure, needing Jake to walk forward and push open the door but he resisted. He made no effort to shove Maddox’s hand on his shoulder away, but wouldn’t move forward. It was as if he had frozen in limbo, unsure what to do.

“Want your reward, right?”

“No... not anymore.”

Maddox chuckled. He lessened the pressure on Jake’s shoulder, moving his fingers to the base of Jake’s throat, forefinger stroking his collar bone. Jake dropped his head towards where Maddox touched. Warm puffs of air breezed Maddox’s skin and he couldn’t bear to wait anymore.

“Oh, I think you deserve it.”

He tightened his arm around Jake’s throat, and moved his other hand to steady Jake’s head.

“Shush Jake, don’t make a scene.”

It was a move he had used plenty of times, no lasting damage, only a sudden loss of consciousness. The younger man fell limp in his arms, head lolling and legs giving out.

Maddox hoisted him up and carried him into the house. Once the door closed, he rearranged Jake, picking him up bridal style and marching him straight to the bedroom.

Jake’s lips parted in his slumber. No frown or crease sliced his youthful features and Maddox found himself transfixed, half wanting his lids to flutter open, half happy to hold him in his unconscious state.

A grumble had Maddox scrunching his face, it wasn’t his stomach that gurgled so pathetically but Jake’s. He placed the unconscious man on the bed and headed into the kitchen.

An apple and a yogurt, not the most substantial of meals, but no doubt when Jake woke he would be more nervous than hungry and only eat a small amount. Besides, Maddox couldn’t gift Jake with a full-blown meal when sex was on his mind.

He put the apple in his pocket and breezed into the bedroom. The yogurt and knife were placed on the floor for when Jake woke.

The choke hold usually lasted a few minutes, but Jake stayed unconscious. Maddox rocked on his heels, waiting for the other man to stir. He pressed his fingers to Jake’s neck, sighing in relief when he felt the steady pulse beneath him.

He bound Jake’s hands to the bedframe with cuffs, hoping it would get Jake’s heart pumping. He had a desire for danger, for the chase and Maddox fully intended to fill that unspoken wish.

The tilt of Jake’s head was all wrong, but the pillows on the bed were stiff and wouldn’t squeeze in the gap between his arms. Maddox unbuttoned his shirt, scrunched the material up and propped it beneath Jake’s head.

Had Jake awoken and immediately screamed, Maddox would’ve gotten rid of the cuffs in an instant, but Jake only looked dopily up at the restraints for a second before drifting his focus elsewhere.

“We’ve really got to stop meeting like this.”

Jake’s attention snapped to the end of the bed, and Maddox’s cocky smirk died when he linked eyes with the restrained man.

The sparkling blue of Jake’s eyes put the diamond to shame. Everything in the room was muted in colour, black, white and grey, but amongst the blandness was two dazzling irises, both diamond in beauty and detail.

They tracked back and forth between Maddox’s eyes, and their focus had him heating up with desire. The irises moved their focus to Maddox’s chest, scanning his appearance. They lingered on the tattoo flowing right out of his heart, following the pattern dancing down his arm and ending on his hand.

“I’m Maddox. Nice to meet you.”

Maddox’s flicked his chin to gain Jake’s eyes once again, exhaling when they linked with his.

“Am I not what you expected?” he asked.

“No.”

Maddox cocked his head with a frown, trying to gauge whether Jake liked what he saw. He stared back as if enchanted, licking at his lips. Maddox took that as a good reaction.

“Guess I should say thanks for returning my diamond...”

Jake eyelids drooped, and his tensed body sagged on the mattress.

“You own the collection at the museum...” he mumbled.

“Indeed.”

“What-what are you going to do with me?” Jake asked.

Maddox breathed a harsh breath through his nose. “Haven’t decided yet.”

It was the truth. He knew what he wanted to do, but whether it would happen depended on Jake’s consent. If Jake wanted to flee without sharing their bodies again that was his decision.

Maddox plucked the knife off the floor, the blade reflected his own lust-filled eyes, more black than green and he snorted.

Concentrating so much on the tool in his hand, he missed Jake’s sharp intake of breath. He glanced up with a smile, but it left his face the minute he noticed the change in Jake’s complexion. He merged with the bed sheets below.

“’m sorry, okay.”

The words were gasped, the dimple that complimented the one in Jake’s chin, appeared at the top of his nose and his eyes shimmered with worry.

“Food,” Maddox announced, pulling the apple from his trouser pocket.

Jake blinked in quick succession. “Wha?”

Maddox casually peeled the apple in one continuous swirl. He used the discarded piece like a spring before flicking it across the room. He didn’t want it in sight, the only colour to stand out in the muted room was Jake’s eyes, not the bright red peel of an apple.

He straddled Jake’s waist, being sure not to put his weight on any delicate places and forced a pillow behind Jake’s head to lift him higher. The angle highlighted the tendons in his neck and Maddox grimaced. Once Jake had finished his meal, Maddox would let him settle back in a more comfortable position.

“You haven’t eaten all day. It’s been a busy night for you. Here have a slice.”

The enticing pink lips sealed themselves firm enough to turn the edges white. Maddox waited patiently, moving the apple against Jake’s bottom lip like he'd done with his thumb weeks before.

The pink lips softened and popped open. Once the sweetness hit Jake’s pallet, he crunched down the pieces with no protest, only a small moan of appreciation. Jake fell under the veil of control effortlessly. Pink blotched his cheeks; his mouth trembled the longer Maddox made him wait for the apple. It was beautiful, sensual and visually mouth-watering.

So, zoned out being fed apple, Jake’s eyes drifted. He waited for each piece with his mouth prepped.

The calmness needed to be marched with audio. A piece that started slow and built to a dramatic conclusion. Maddox reached for the remote on the side table, pointing at the disguised stereo while Jake continued to munch with his eyes shut.

Maddox was surprised when Jake started biting slower with the music, softer with his jaw not to make a prominent crunch. Both Maddox and the music worked together to seduce the younger man.

“Sweet, isn’t it?”

Jake nodded, dazed eyes unveiling from his lids and taking Maddox’s breath away. He couldn’t wait anymore, had no know if this was going to go how he wanted.

“Same choice as before, Jake. I can let you go, right now...or I ramp up your thrill level.”

A sharp expression tightened Jake’s features. Maddox swallowed his disappointment, waiting for Jake to respond.

“What about the reward money?”

Maddox snorted. “After you humiliated my men, no chance. This is your reward if you choose to take it. Can I have your body again?”

Jake shuffled. His blue eyes tracked the empty space above him.

Maddox stretched for the cuffs on his wrists.

“Okay-”

“Wait!”

Maddox paused, intimidating body caged over Jake. “What’s your answer, then?”

Jake teeth nibbled at his lip, then he relaxed with a defeated sigh. “I’m yours...”

Maddox retracted his arm slowly. Eyes fixed on the sparkling irises.

Jake’s chest rose and fell sharper, and his skin rushed with goosebumps.

Maddox rested his hand on the panting man. “Got something else to give you some energy first.”

Maddox reached for the yogurt, relieved it was still cool against his hand.

“It’s vanilla. Thing is...I forgot a spoon, didn’t I? Oh well.”

He got comfortable on top of Jake again, straddling his chest. The shift and rearrangement had his cock brushing against a crease in his trousers and he bit back a grunt. As soon as Jake had agreed, blood had flowed south, filling him out completely. Unlike last time, he was going to take his pleasure first, so all his focus could be on Jake afterwards.

He held the lid up for Jake. “Lick it.”

Jake swiped his tongue against the foil, biting his lip once his tongue was back in his mouth. Maddox pinned Jake to the bed with his bulk, but a quick glance behind and he saw Jake’s feet twisting and fidgeting. The joggers Jake wore were only thin material, and a blotch of darker grey grew at his crotch.

More yogurt was offered from his fingers, pushed into Jake’s awaiting mouth. The hot tongue swirled and curled, each time Maddox grumbled in approval Jake increased the firmness of his licks.

The music in the background was building, gaining pace, and so did Jake’s mouth drawing Maddox’s fingers into its depths.

“Think you might’ve missed some. Make sure you get it all off, yeah?”

He sucked desperately after the command. Maddox could hear the squelching and swallowing sounds his throat made, and it drove him mad with desire. He jolted his hips up, catching himself on his tight trousers to relieve an edge of his need.

Yogurt leaked from Jake’s mouth and Maddox couldn’t stop himself ducking down to lick the trail away. Even sweeter now it had mixed with the taste of Jake.

Jake's moan was surprising. It thundered along with the music, loud and drawn out.

Maddox showed him the yogurt. “All gone. Got one last thing for you to eat though.”

Jake’s restless rocking increased. Maddox leaned up on his knees and smiled when Jake’s hips tried to follow, thrusting up with no conscious thought. Jake was just as swept up in the moment as he was, and the thought had him filling with equal lust and relief.

Up on his knees, it was easy to un-loop his belt. His hands shook, not from fear, but a desperation at having this kind of pleasure. It had been so long; Jake’s placid nature had reawakened intimate desires and he needed them satisfied.

“Open up. You’ve been so good so far.”

The pink lips opened. Maddox pushed down on the dimple in Jake’s chin to get his mouth wider. Never had Maddox’s seen such a sexy sight, Jake blissed out with his mouth perfectly rounded to fit him.

Jake jerked at the first touch, Maddox soothed him with hushing noises, needing Jake to stay in his trusting state.

The blue eyes blazed open, and a flutter of defiance had them narrowing at Maddox. His jaw flexed, and Maddox knew biting was on his mind.

“Don’t even think about it,” he snapped. He exhaled slowly to rein in his anger. “Just do what you did with the yogurt.”

Jake’s features softened, and the dazed look swam in his eyes again. The movements of Jake’s tongue were uncoordinated, nervous and rather than being a turn off, it made Maddox burn hot with desire. Jake had never done this to another man, he was the first to claim Jake’s mouth this way.

He groaned, and the approving noise had Jake relaxing into his role. He moved his tongue in repetitive lines, lapping the underside with broad strokes. It was messy, the angle was all wrong and Maddox’s cock kept bursting free and smearing moisture on Jake’s face, but the sight was a sexed spectacle that had Maddox’s mouth hanging open.

“Keep going...”

Having his cock sucked by Jake was a thrill. Maddox’s moans punctured through the rumbling of the symphony, some guttural in tone, some hissing. Jake had pushed him to the point of disrespecting Beethoven. He hadn't thought that was possible, but he couldn’t stop groaning out of time, destroying the piece with his own sounds.

He lost all sense of control when Jake opened his eyes. Sparkling blue overtaken by black. Jake whimpered around the length in his mouth and Maddox knew he was a goner.

He grasped Jake’s hair, clutched at his chin and unloaded into his mouth. He knew it was a lot; he hadn’t come from his own hand for weeks, let alone this kind of intimacy.

Jake, being the perfect submissive, swallowed it all, shutting his eyes as he did like he enjoyed the flavour of Maddox on his tongue.

“Good...so good Jake.”

It was natural to praise, but he didn’t think Jake's lips would stretch into a devastating smile. Soft and fragile, Maddox stomach flipped when he saw the reaction his words had.

Jake had been so good, and it was time for him to get his reward. Maddox intended it to stay in Jake’s mind till the day he died.

Maddox shed his clothes in a hurry. He paused his mad undressing when he noticed Jake watching him, taking in the details of his body. He kept his body in good shape, knew he bulged with muscles without straining.

The wet patch on Jake’s joggers had widened, no longer damp material, but nearing shiny from the amount of moisture. Maddox yanked them down, uncovering Jake from his chafing confines. His arousal looked almost painful, swollen and sticky.

The t-shirt needed to go next. Maddox tore the fabric in two with ease, opening Jake’s clothing like the wrapping paper it was. He kneaded the flesh on display, earning him a wrecked whimper.

He wondered whether he could make Jake come from his hand on his chest alone. Whether flicking and twisting his pert little nipples would have him convulsing.

He sniggered with another idea and shimmied down Jake’s body before blowing on the slicked tip of his cock. Jake arched, gulped for breath. and Maddox thanked God Jake displayed so many visual clues when he was about to orgasm.

He pressed the heel of his hand into Jake’s perineum, compressing the spurting tubes before come could erupt from the tip.

The confused expression on Jake’s face was utterly adorable, and Maddox cursed himself for not being able to kiss his face and mess with his anatomy at the same time.

A lash of his tongue on Jake’s cock had him thrashing as if on fire.

“What the hell?” croaked from his lips.

Maddox grinned to himself as he ducked down to caress Jake again. He squirmed, lifting his hips to dislodge the pressing hand, but Maddox didn’t allow it. He curled his fingers to touch Jake’s hole, barely scratching the folds of skin. Jake shuddered with a broken moan, clenching and relaxing his cheeks.

“I’m gunna blow you....”

“Like a trumpet?”

Maddox’s opened mouth clicked shut. An amused smile spread across his lips. The music had been steadily building, but he had pushed it to the further edges of his mind to concentrate on Jake’s body.

“Hmm, a trumpet....”

He softened his lips in a pout and rested his lips on Jake’s straining cock. Jake didn’t disappoint with the tortuous howls when Maddox blew gently.

“Shit—Maddox-”

Hearing Jake call his name flipped his stomach, filled it with excited tingling. Jake should only say his name this way. No one else should be able to touch Jake in these intimate places, draw moans from those delicate lips.

“Please, Maddox....”

Again, his name was gasped, and he shivered with how good it felt to hear.

“Not like a trumpet then. How about a French horn?”

Maddox opened wide around Jake. Hummed his length, sucking to ensure his vibrating cheeks were tickling Jake on all sides.

Jake gasped and flailed, and the teasing stage was over. Maddox groaned, enthused as he took Jake to the brink, easing off and edging him forward once again. Jake moaned, rocking his head with his lips parted. The skin of Jake’s cock stretched with arousal, almost at breaking point. Instead of drawing the moment out longer, Maddox kept going with pulsing sucks.

Jake went completely still as he came. No wheezing breath whistled through his lips, his chest was puffed up to the max, lungs fully inflated. Maddox’s hand was still putting pressure on Jake’s body, stopping him ejaculating.

Jake squirmed, restless, threw his hips to try and dislodge both the hand bearing down on him and Maddox’s hugging mouth.

Maddox pulled his mouth off and laughed into Jake’s thigh before whipping his gaze up.

Jake was a mess, sweating and panting for air. Fidgeting like he was being electrocuted by the bed. Maddox thought he was capable of one more orgasm, and then he would finally allow Jake the complete relief he so desperately craved.

“Please, please Maddox.”

The mantra of his name continued, more desperate each time he ignored them. Never had someone sounded so beautiful begging for release. He curled his fingers towards Jake’s hole, pushing the folds till he was accepted inside.

The pitch of his name increased. ‘Maddox’ was wailed to the ceiling, chanted over and over and he knew for the rest of his life he would never forget that despairing voice. He leaned up, able to see Jake's scrunched face and the glistening tears that had run down to the mattress.

“Shhh Jake, has to be at the right part of the symphony.”

The blue eyes snapped open. His head was unsteady as he tilted forwards to see Maddox. That wrecked expression was too much to handle. Maddox dropped down and nuzzled at his cock, taking it in his mouth as his fingers edged in and out of his body.

The area between the perineum and Jake’s hole was tiny, Maddox’s hand had started to cramp at the odd angle. The mild discomfort was worth it. Jake pleaded, begged and sobbed as the music built to the dramatic conclusion.

“Now.”

He removed his hand, his fingers and his mouth, sat back on his heels and watched Jake fall apart in front of him. His mouth hung open, eyes unfocused and glazed over, and the sweet blush of his cheeks reached his temples. Three orgasms worth of come burst from Jake’s cock, slapping noisily on his heaving chest. His body quaked, even his feet shook on the bed as he was completely overwhelmed. Sweat clung to Jake's hair, and his short sideburns were damp and shiny. Even his cupid's bow shone with moisture.

Maddox ducked forward for a taste of his come, licking a clean patch on Jake’s dirty body. Tangy on his tongue, mixing with the sweat on Jake’s stuttering chest. Maddox couldn’t resist another long lick, moaning at the taste.

Maddox pressed his hand to Jake’s heart. The muscle slowed into a relaxed rhythm. Jake’s eyes closed, and his body sagged into the bed.

“Perfect, Jake....you hear me? You were perfect.”

No verbal reply, but a small smile and a twitching of his brow instead. Maddox’s own body ached with the need to cement dominance over Jake.

“Now I’m gunna fuck you.”

He left the bed to search his drawer. The lube still had its seal, and he picked angrily at the plastic for delaying him. He squirted a generous amount, taking his time to massage Jake’s tight hole with slicked fingers until they were accepted inside.

There was no rush to his preparation. The music had stopped, and he didn’t need to match it. It took twenty minutes for him to be satisfied Jake was ready for him. In that time Jake had brought his knees up, feet both flat on the bed as soft sounds escaped his lips.

Maddox lined himself up, pushing in agonisingly slowly to see any hint of pain. No discomfort, but a dazed smile instead. The pace he kept slow, didn’t push as deep as he could. It was Jake’s first time, and he wanted him to enjoy it. He thrust steadily, cock wrapped in warmth and sliding effortlessly. He avoided watching Jake, knew that blissed happy face would be the undoing he wasn’t ready for.

Jake whined, brow scrunching. Maddox stopped moving his hips, analysing the expression on his younger lover’s face. His eyes were only half open, a semi-circle of blue glazed with uncertainty,

“My dirty boy.”

The words had the desired effect; Jake relaxed with an owned smile.

Maddox rocked his hips, took his time to enjoy the surrendered body. Soft sounds escaped Jake’s mouth; his brow tensed and relaxed with each movement. The pink open lips had dried, along with the come splattered on his chest. Jake looked well and truly conquered.

That thought shot down to Maddox’s cock, tingling the ready to burst flesh. He came with a drawn-out groan, burying himself deep inside Jake as he unloaded.

He collapsed to Jake's side, not wanting to crush him with his heavy body. The come drying on Jake’s torso had started to flake, and he knew it would pinch and redden the skin beneath. Maddox stumbled up on shaky legs and staggered to the bathroom.

He needed to clean Jake up, didn’t want him to come down from his high being uncomfortable and itchy.

Maddox’s thighs trembled; he rested his hands on the sink to hold himself up while he got control of his body back. His pale reflection shocked him. His normal slicked hair had dangled forward and sweat clung on his brow. Destroyed, owning Jake had shattered his normally stern exterior. It was the effortless way Jake went under his control that shook Maddox’s core. He loved hearing Jake beg, watching him zoned and dazed, a complete puppet of pleasure for him to manipulate. He'd forgotten how much he longed for that intimacy and dominance, and Jake had responded beautifully. Even when he had been adrift in the throes of ecstasy, he'd drawn his knees up so his feet were flat on the bed, stretched his legs wide in offering to Maddox’s power.

He rushed hot thinking about it. A quick slap of his face had him waking from his slip into desire. Jake needed to be taken of, was still dirty on the bed.

He wetted some tissue, propping himself up on the doorframe before taking the few steps to the bed.

Jake had unsettled him. The whole moment had been more intense than he thought possible, and just knowing it was over had his chest aching enough to rub at.

The tissue was cold, he didn’t want to wake Jake with its sudden coolness. He held it in his hand till it was a comfortable temperature then wiped Jake’s chest with care.

He didn’t wake. Maddox pushed his fingers into his neck to be sure his pulse wasn’t too slow. The beat was strong, tickling the pads of his fingers. Everything about Jake screamed fragile and trusting in this state.

Maddox cupped his cheek, moving his thumb slowly above the bone, up to his temple and down again.

This wasn’t like the others he’d had before. They were one-time things, paid to service him in the way he needed. No emotions, no prior opinions, but Jake...he felt something for him, something dangerous and different that could only end in disaster.

He discarded the tissue in the bathroom, and swept his hair back into position. The colour had returned to his face, and his eyes were no longer sunk in their sockets.

“Maddox?”

His name had Maddox freezing, eyes widening at the terrorised tone from the bedroom. He moved quickly, pausing a step into the bedroom, trying to understand why Jake was pale, why his whole body quaked. Did he regret what happened? Even worse, was he hurt, afraid? The blue eyes were glued to his, big and shimmering and in that moment, Maddox couldn’t guess what Jake was thinking or feeling.

He took a step forward, watching whether Jake tried to shuffle away, or curl his body to shield it. Neither happened, but the shakes that gripped him wobbled his lip. His bluing lip...

The pale skin, the short struggling breaths, it all screamed panic attack, but Maddox didn’t know the cause, didn’t know if he would make things worse.

He lunged towards the bed, collapsing down and pressing his hand to Jake’s chest.

“Breathe...”

Jake didn’t scream for him to go away, didn’t sob for someone to help him. He relaxed under the weight of Maddox’s hand.

“I’m gunna untie your hands. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Maddox scrambled to undo the binds, readying himself for a punch, or shove, but Jake threw his arms around him, knocking him off balance. Nails cut into his back, but not in aggressive way. Jake was clinging, insuring Maddox wasn’t going to leave by anchoring himself with his fingers.

“Was reaching for my phone.”

His voice was quiet, trembling. Maddox stayed how he was, fearful if he hugged back Jake would feel trapped.

“I’m not your phone, Jake.”

“You got in the way,” stuttered from his mouth.

“Oh...I’ll just move so you can get it.”

It was a test, giving Jake the option to leave. Maddox was pretty sure Jake was reacting with an emotional drop, but just to be sure, he offered him an escape.

He frowned, remembering what Lewis had said earlier. Jake had been fine, unaffected by the power display in the meat freezer. But what if he had been mistaken? What if Jake suffered afterwards with him not there?

“Did you feel like this last time?”

“Like what? I’m fine, absolutely fine.”

Maddox puffed a breath through his nose. He took the high-pitched squeal from Jake as a confirmation this had happened before.

“You’re shaking.”

The fingers at his back dug in harder. Maddox was sure they had punctured the skin, but he didn’t react.

“You’ve had ample time to try to escape and you haven’t. And you're hugging me”

“’m not hugging you...”

He bobbed his head at Jake’s reply. It wasn’t really a hug; Maddox didn’t know how else to describe it.

“You’re clawing at my back like you’re scared you’ll fall.”

Maddox got his hands between their bodies and pushed Jake back. He struggled, did his best to burrow forward but Maddox gave him a stern look.

Before sadness could settle on Jake’s face, Maddox tugged at his torn t-shirt, brushed it off his shoulders and onto the floor.

He pulled Jake towards him and the younger man collapsed into the embrace with no protest. The shaking eased, the death grip on Maddox’s back stopped till his hands lightly rested instead of clutched.

The contented sighs made Maddox rub his chin on Jake’s hair to add more comfort. He moved his hands up and down his back and any remaining tension melted, leaving Jake limp in his arms.

When Jake yawned, Maddox smirked. He tilted the younger man back, turning him over so he could hug him from behind. They lay side by side on the bed, Jake shuffled back into the warmth of Maddox’s chest and Maddox rubbed his mouth affectionately at his neck.

This, this never happened. When he paid for sex, he left right after, didn’t slump down on the mattress, didn’t cuddle and brush against the man he had been with. It shocked him that he enjoyed it, rubbing his nose at Jake’s flesh and puffing in the scent of sweetness and sweat that was more addictive than his cigars.

Jake’s posture stiffened, his breathing hiccupped, and the clamminess rushed back to his flesh.

“You’re freaking out again...” Maddox mumbled.

“’m not! What-what happens now?”

Maddox didn’t want to ruin the moment. Didn’t want to reveal to Jake that was it, whatever charge flowed between them had to be permanently stopped. He grunted, and Jake’s head sunk into the pillow.

“You torture everyone like this?” Jake muttered.

“Only you.”

He had been desperate to leave a lasting impression on Jake, but clearly it had gone both ways. He’d never experienced what he had with Jake before, doubted he could have it with anyone else.

“But why? Why this with me?” Jake said, attempting to roll.

Maddox pinned him with a hand pressing hard on Jake's hip.

Why indeed. The reason was stupid, and simple. He hadn’t been searching for Jake, but Jake had found him. The unexpected treasure that had appeared in his life. His unpredictable nature had restarted Maddox’s cold heart. Jake was excitement, fun. He was so alive, and Maddox had felt the opposite for so long.

“You killed the other guy...” Jake whispered.

Ian popped up in his head, the betrayal, the attempted humiliation.

“That was personal.”

“He stole the diamond?”

Maddox’s nodded. It was never about the diamond though, it was what it represented.

“It’s not the most expensive thing I own, but it means the most and he knew that. He took it to humiliate me, to gift to one of my rivals. He was a traitor.”

He didn’t wish to bore his mind with thoughts of Ian and Richie. Instead, he removed his pinning hand and encouraged Jake to roll to face him, arranging him comfortably in the new position.

“What is this?” Jake asked, tickling Maddox’s chest. Without glancing down, he knew Jake stroked the tattoo.

“Beethoven...Sleep now, Jake.”

Jake tried to shuffle back, but Maddox kept him. Moved his hand to the back of Jake’s head to press him to his heart.

“What happens in the morning?” Jake mumbled to his chest.

Maddox huffed at the stubbornness in his arms. He didn’t want to sour the mood and admit he would send Jake on his way with determination never to see him again.

He ran his fingers through Jake’s hair; each movement brought the smell of flowers out of his brown strands.

Tom had said Jake didn’t have a family, very few friends, it showed when he craved affection as much as sex. He whined at the caresses, so softly Maddox didn’t hear at first, but when he did, he smiled to the ceiling. Jake wasn’t the only one who craved intimacy both sexually and affectionately. Maddox had silenced that kind of longing, needed to in his line of work, but Jake had shattered that rule.

His heart clenched beneath Jake’s head. Letting him go was going to be harder than he'd thought.

Chapter 7

Maddox awoke early. It was a habit to enjoy his morning coffee while watching the sun rise. The abnormality was waking with someone beside him.

A frown creased Jake’s brow when Maddox unwrapped his arms. Once he tucked the warmed duvet tight against Jake’s body, he settled back into a peaceful slumber.

The coffee machine whirled, near black liquid running into the awaiting cup. He slotted his bread in the toaster, tapping the counter with his fingertip as he waited the four minutes it took to adequately brown his bread.

He sat on his usual seat by the window, watching as the sun brightened the dull pavements and shadowed houses. The birds called their songs, the cars grumbled their way down the streets, more noise joined the chatter of the outside world each minute that passed.

It was a normal morning, but as Maddox observed his body slumped and he propped his head up with his hand. Jake was beyond his bedroom door. The man that had broken the norm and added spice to his life.

They had orbited each other for weeks, but the previous day they finally collided, and it was more awe inspiring and beautiful than he had imagined.

But now the two worlds had brushed against each other and sparked electricity, they had to continue on their paths alone. Both would bear marks of their encounter, memories that only they shared.

Maddox knew any repeat would only spiral Jake’s life into chaos. A lot of people craved revenge, and if they knew Maddox cared about someone, even if it were a mere slither of emotion, they would set out to destroy the young man.

He crunched through his toast, sipped at his cooled coffee before moving to the bathroom. The steaming water soothed his skin. Jake’s scent was scrubbed off his body, replaced by one of the fancy bottles he had in the cubicle.

Once he was done, he ruffled his hair with a towel. Brushed the strands into position and neatened his scraggily beard. The grey hairs at his sideburns had increased in number, blending into his dark stubble. The temptation to pick them out came and went, this was life. He, aesthetically, was past his prime.

Satisfied his face had been neatened, he strolled into one of his walk-in wardrobes. His casual clothes were kept in his bedroom, but the suits, watches, shoes, and other expensive items were kept separately. Everything was folded to perfection. All items of clothing either white, grey or black. He dressed smartly and with care. He had told Tom business would be back to normal in the morning and he intended to keep that promise.

The door to the bedroom opened, and soft footfalls were heard on the tiled floor. Maddox arranged his tie, feeding it to the base of his collar before tucking his shirt in.

Jake had paused in the centre of the open-plan space. He scanned the room slowly. Maddox couldn’t see his expression with Jake’s back facing him, but he wondered whether he was impressed or horrified at the luxury.

“Like it?”

The younger man jolted, twirling around with an open mouth. He didn’t speak, the only thing that pierced the silence was the snap of Maddox’s watch.

“Hungry?”

He flicked his head, knowing full well Jake must’ve been hungry. There was a reluctant nod and Maddox strode further into the room. He ran his hand across the black countertop and up the units till he tapped the right door.

He didn’t expect a giggle to escape Jake when he opened the cupboard.

“What is it?”

Jake flapped his hand with a nervous laugh, and Maddox decided whatever made him chuckle wasn’t worth his time.

“Eat what you want.”

There was a bob to Jake’s throat. He wetted his lips but made no move to get closer. Maddox sighed and backed away with his hands held up in surrender.

“We’re done now. Whatever this was...is finished.”

Jake’s eyes darted towards the cupboard. He lurked forward, selecting a box of cereal.

Maddox sat down opposite, eyes on the spoon as it rose and fell from Jake’s mouth.

It was a relief to see him eat. Maddox raised his eyebrow at the huge mountain in the bowl. One wasn’t enough, Jake kept going. Three bowls of bland cereal Jake munched through, Maddox shoved an orange in his face to add some variety to his palate.

“That diamond.” Jake spluttered, flicking his hand around the room. Why does it mean so much when you have all this?”

“It’s valuable to me in a non-money sense.”

Jake’s face scrunched tightly. “Why, then?”

Maddox tapped the shiny black counter, imagining the surface was the keys of a piano. “It’s Beethoven’s diamond.”

“Beethoven had a diamond?”

Maddox huffed and faced away. Of course, the youthful Jake had no interest in the mastery of Beethoven or the advance in science.

“Time you leave.”

Jake’s spoon scraped the empty bowl. The scratch had Maddox grimacing.

“Now.”

Jake’s blues eyes flashed up. Maddox didn’t turn from them. He glared until Jake bowed under the weight of his.

“Okay,” he muttered, “you want me to wash up-”

“No. I want you to leave.”

His tone was harsh, snappy, but he needed to be blunt for Jake to leave without arousing any suspicion. Maddox never knew when people watched his place. If one of Richie’s men saw Jake leave with anything but annoyance, they would be intrigued by the younger man.

“Does it not mean anything?”

It meant more than Maddox could express, but his selfish cravings weren’t worth putting Jake’s life in danger.

“You wanted a reward for returning the diamond...I gave you one money can’t buy.”

Maddox smacked his lips together, studying the time intently on his wrist even though he had nowhere to be.

“Last night was a self-sacrifice then?”

Maddox attached his gaze to Jake again. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“Fine, don’t...Guess we’re done then.”

A hand was thrust out to him and Maddox frowned. Never had any of his sexual encounters ended with a handshake. He grasped Jake’s hands. Squeezed back in pulses. He dropped his hand, frown deepening when Jake tugged his hand aggressively back.

The surprises Jake kept throwing him were confusing. Maddox kept his eyes on Jake until the slam of the front door took him permanently from view.

Maddox braced himself on the counter, hissing at his stern reflection. He needed to get back to work. He lifted his arm, but only previously unseen flesh looked back.

His watch, Jake’s crafty handshake had been a play to steal his watch. Maddox caressed the skin of his wrist gently before a booming laugh rose in his chest.

Jake had tricked him again.

Maddox’s next moves were impulsive, and in hindsight bloody stupid.

He sprinted out the front door, unarmed.

At first, he couldn’t see Jake, the pavement was empty of people. But an educated guess told him Jake would head up the street towards the main road.

Maddox ran with soft strides, quick and efficient on his toes even though it had been years since he had been tasked with running someone down. His heart pumped, an excited fizzle bubbled in his stomach. Exhilarated chasing down prey when that prey was Jake.

Jake’s confidence was his downfall. He trotted along the path whistling a tune to himself. The soft beats of Maddox’s feet went unnoticed, and he wrapped his arms around Jake’s middle, lifting him off the ground.

He shoved Jake into the wall behind, pinning his arms above his head. His hand circled the watch on Jake’s wrist and he decided to play the man at his own game.

It was all about distraction, and the perfect one panted mere centimetres from his lips.

Maddox pressed his mouth to Jake’s. He sucked at the sensitive skin and demanded he surrender his lips. Jake groaned and slackened his mouth. Maddox kissed him with desperation, changing the pace and urgency each time Jake tried to match him. There was a citrusy taste mixed with one that was uniquely Jake. Maddox wanted to devour him, savour him too. Maddox flattened Jake to the brick wall, groaning faintly at the delicious mouth on offer.

He had reclaimed his watch, but he kept kissing, unable to stop once he had given into that basic intimacy. He wanted to drag Jake back to the house, shove him down on the bed.

The honk of a lorry had his brain sparking into life. He backed away, holding Jake at bay with a growl. Stupid, he had been stupid. He had passionately kissed Jake in broad daylight when anyone could be watching.

He darted a look over his shoulder, suspicious of any blacked-out vehicle.

“Enough now, Jake.”

He let Jake go, expecting him to scamper up the road. Instead, he sunk dazed to the floor. Maddox prayed from a distance it looked like he had floored the young man.

“You need to leave.”

Jake shook his head, and Maddox’s heart clenched at the denial on his face. A car slowed when it passed them, and Maddox glared at it with unease. Mostly likely it was an innocent driver, but the mere thought of it being one of Richie’s men had him growling.

“You can’t be here. Go.”

The blunt words had Jake banging his head to the wall behind him. He hoped the tears in Jake’s blue eyes were pained ones from hitting the wall, but he knew deep down they weren’t.

“Fine,” Jake muttered, he staggered up and brushed past Maddox with a bowed head.

Although he ached on the inside, Maddox had to act unbothered and neutral as he strolled back to his house.

Once in the privacy of his home he rubbed aggressively at his face and rasped one word.

“Shit.”

Chapter 8

Tom arrived after lunch. Suited, moustache trimmed and bags under his eyes gone.

“Boss.”

Maddox tilted his head in acknowledgement. He followed Tom out to the car and slotted himself in the back. He glanced down at his watch, rolling the metal round his wrist with a tightening gut.

“Where we heading, Boss?”

He stopped caressing his watch and hummed in thought. “Think we should give Desmond a speaking to.”

Tom’s smile was brief, directed to the mirror. “Yes, Boss.”

One of his many revenues was loaning money. Desmond had borrowed a significant amount. Jake had distracted Maddox long enough to give Desmond a breather, but it was time to put the pressure on. He couldn’t seem too soft.

Desmond’s house was the opposite side of London. The houses were packed closely together; a sofa had been left out in the street long enough to turn its cushions a murky brown. Not a civilised part of town, but one where Maddox got a lot of business lending money.

Tom stopped outside Desmond’s house. The curtains twitched with their arrival. If Desmond had been a clever man, he would’ve realised his silhouette showed through the pale curtains.

“You reckon hes gunna open up?” Tom asked.

The curtains became jittery while Maddox watched. “Doubt it.”

Tom huffed and climbed from the car. He strolled towards Desmond’s house, buttoning his suit jacket as he did.

He struck the door with a booming fist. “Open up, Desmond...we know you're there...”

The shadow from the window faded. Maddox raised his eyebrow, genuinely surprised Desmond was cooperating.

The door didn’t open. Tom rolled his shoulders and knocked again.

The car had gained an audience, and Maddox was never one to keep his adoring public waiting.

He straightened his jacket when he left the car. A sweeping look was directed at all the lingerers and they quickly made themselves absent.

The letter box was the clearest way of communicating to Desmond, but Maddox wasn’t lowering himself to the ground to speak to him. He walked up to the door, lips close to the frame as he spoke slow and sure.

“Open this door.”

Maddox didn’t need to press his ear to the door to hear the gasp on the other side. He waited, internally counting to ten. After five seconds, a stuttering voice muffled through the woodwork.

“I-I haven’t got the money, Mr Henley.”

It wasn’t the response he wanted. He didn’t reply but stared blankly at the door and began his internal counting once again.

The door clunked and edged open. Tom moved to barge but Maddox stopped him with a firm hand to his shoulder.

Desmond shook in the hallway. Eyes wide and brow sweaty. Maddox strolled inside, leisurely with his pace. Desmond backed away in time with the movements, stuttering nonsense as he went. The house reeked of cigarettes, so intense it tickled Maddox’s nose. Not only that, but he was positive the very air was misty from fumes.

“Mr Henley-I-”

“Quiet,” Tom muttered, following close behind.

Maddox backed Desmond into his kitchen and flicked his eyes at the kettle.

“You not gunna offer me one?”

Desmond’s eyes dropped to where Maddox looked. “Of-of course.”

Maddox flicked his head for Tom to search the house and settled at the kitchen table. The ashtray overflowed, and a minute inside the smoky house had him reaching into his suit pocket. The cigar had been meant for Ian’s demise, but he'd never gotten around to smoking it, kept it with him as a reminder of that night. He sighed, flicking his zippo and lighting it up. Desmond’s eyes latch on to the cigar and Maddox raised an eyebrow.

“Drink?” he reminded.

“Hmm, yes...Tea...is tea okay?”

Maddox grunted a yes, lips plugged by his cigar. He wasn’t going to drink whatever Desmond made him but found people cooperated when given a task to distract them. The strength of the tobacco had his eyes watering. He realised he hadn’t smoked anything for weeks. Jake had distracted him from his nicotine addiction.

“You owe me money,” he said plainly.

Desmond nodded his head solemnly at the floor. “I know...”

The tone was sad, bordering on tragic. Maddox huffed, flicking the ashtray in front of him till it pinged.

“How many smokes are in there?”

“Urm...sixty...maybe more.”

Certainly more, by the shabby decor and the lack of food in the doorless cupboards, Maddox suspected all he ingested was smokes.

He bunched his lips around the cigar before tugging it from his mouth. “It’s a start, then.”

The kettle clicked but Desmond missed the noise. “Wh-what?”

“Give up smoking...give up smoking and I won’t slap interest on what you owe.”

The ashtray wasn’t the only container overflowing from smokes. The bins were piled, butts littered the floor, and Desmond’s fingers were stained black from the excessive amount he relied on.

“I-I can’t give them up.”

Maddox’s attention was drawn to the end of his cigar. Grey ash sparkling with hints of gold each time he sucked. Desmond continued to watch with longing on his features.

“Remind me why you borrowed the money?”

Desmond sniffed loudly, and Maddox flexed his face at the noise. God, he hated sniffing.

“My daughter’s fees for art school...”

Maddox nodded, finding the stained photograph of Desmond’s daughter pinned to the fridge.

“She enjoying it?”

“Yes...she loves it.”

Maddox bobbed his head with a smile, and Desmond mimicked the motion with a rasped laugh. Nervous laughter, how odd it was.

“Good...I did you a favour, now you owe me. Give up smoking. Not only will it lengthen your life and the time spent with your daughter, but the money will start paying your debt.”

Maddox exhaled the smoke in his mouth slowly before tapping his nail against the ashtray. “So what’s it gunna be? Give up the smokes, or I go back to traditional means? Would be a shame for your daughter to see you broken and bleeding.”

Desmond turned from his pile of smokes and whispered ‘deal’ at the opposite wall.

“Good...I expect the first payment in a week.”

Maddox stood, scraping his chair as he did. “Thanks for the tea.”

Desmond’s jaw dropped, and he frowned in confusion at the cups on the counter.

Maddox puffed on his cigar, tutting at the pile of inferior quality.

“Nice chatting to you, Desmond.”

He breezed from the room, whistling sharply to get Tom’s attention wherever he had gone in the house.

Tom plodded down the stairs. “No cash.”

“That’s okay...we’ve come to an agreement, next week…or we start with his fingers.”

Tom flicked his head and followed behind Maddox as they left the house. Desmond didn’t linger in the doorway. He slammed the door they left open and by the loud thump he had collapsed against it.

A minor job, but a step in the right direction. Maddox climbed back in the vehicle, finally confident he could put Jake behind him. He smoked the remainder of his cigar with Beethoven belting out around him.

Chapter 9

Two weeks later his phone jingled with an unknown number. In most cases he ignored such calls, but the person on the other line persisted.

“All right boss?”

Maddox dragged his eyes from his device and settled them on the back of Tom’s head. They rumbled along the road after a satisfying day of intimidation. Beside Maddox sat a bag of cash and jewellery, his customers were finally tripping over themselves to pay him back. He wanted to settle into the car, close his eyes and visualise the next lot of jobs he had to do. The caller broke that calm, kept jolting him back to full awareness.

“Unknown video caller...” he told Tom.

Tom shrugged. “They see it's you and they’ll hang up pretty quick.”

A snort escaped Maddox. He smiled fondly in the mirror, glad Tom had relaxed a fraction. A job well done usually loosened people and the serious Tom was no exception. A job well done interrupted by the arsehole calling his phone.

Maddox pressed accept and waited for the connection to enlighten him.

Richie’s grinning face beamed from the other side. The suddenness of having his rival in front of him increased Maddox’s heart rate, but he didn’t give it away. He stared stone-faced down the camera.

“Ah, Mr Henley.”

Richie continued to grin, but the tight smile made him look manic rather than sincere. He had enough wrinkles without forcing them.

“What do you want?”

Richie nodded with a laugh. “Straight to it, then.”

“You’re wasting my time. I don’t like people who waste my time.”

There was a glint in Richie’s eyes, the cloudiness sparked with scheming. Maddox glared back, curious but not willing to show it.

“You have the Beethoven diamond, right?”

The diamond was in the safe in his house. He no longer trusted such a valuable piece in full view of the public. Everyone’s loss was his regain.

“So what if I do?”

“I want it.”

Maddox glared unblinking. Tom slowed the car, pulling up on the curb and clicking the hazards on. He didn’t turn, but Maddox knew he listened intently.

“I want it.... or I damage something of yours.”

“You have nothing of mine,” Maddox replied, rolling his eyes.

Richie laughed, the high-pitched cackle rang like a cymbal. The other man was somewhere open, and echoing. All Maddox could see from the feed was darkness surrounding his ancient face.

The view changed. Richie’s face no longer filled the screen and Maddox scrunched his toes in anger when his rival was replaced by Jake.

Jake slouched, lip dripping with blood and eyes unfocused. He lifted himself unsteadily, pleading with his mesmerising blue eyes for help. Maddox wore a mask of indifference, but inside equal worry and fury consumed him. This was what Maddox had feared would happen. Jake was obviously afraid. His skin had turned ghost white and his eyes glistened, but Maddox couldn’t reassure him. For Jake’s sake, he had to deny his value.

“Why are you showing me him?”

Richie barked savagely, but the camera remained on Jake when he spoke.

“He’s yours, isn’t he?”

“He’s not mine. Some guy who entertained me for a bit, nothing more.”

The imagery spun and Richie filled the screen again. His sneer pushed up his nose, sunk his eyes in his face. There wasn’t a more rodent looking man in the whole world.

“I’ll just kill him, then.”

Maddox shrugged. It took all his learned willpower not to growl and threaten when Richie moved behind Jake.

“I’ll blow his brains out right now.”

Maddox sighed, moving his attention to Tom in the front seat. It was a moment to calm himself before addressing Richie again.

“I have no interest in him. I’ll keep the diamond, thanks.”

Maddox shuffled in his seat, thumb hovering over the end button before pressing down firmly. The screen went black. His lip pulled back and his fists tightened till the bones ached.

“Boss-”

“We need to find him.” Maddox snarled.

Tom’s head bobbed, and the car pulled off from the curb.

“Soul Tree?”

Richie’s known hang out, but the location had been booming, echoing, not the pub he and his cronies were usually found in.

“It was somewhere else. I’ll call the others, we need to move fast.”

Amber, he told to scroll through the CCTV feeds near Jake’s house. Lewis, he told to dress casual and head to Stationary Corner. Richie had to have picked Jake up from somewhere. If it was there, one of his colleagues might have remembered the car. Carl was sent to Jake's place, tasked with searching the flat in case they had kidnapped him from there, left some clues of where they were heading.

“What about me, Boss?” Tom asked.

Maddox rocked forward. “Back to the house.”

The car screeched to a stop on the road. Maddox galloped from the vehicle, breezed into the bedroom and removed the artistic swirl from the wall. Cliché to keep the safe behind a picture, but Maddox liked the cliché.

He prodded in the code, drawing his other gun from the darkness. If he was to go to war with Richie, he needed to be armed with both.

They had to find the location fast, Jake’s life was on the line. He had hoped his indifference had helped, knew if he gave himself away Richie would start harming Jake to enrage him further. Jake’s bruised face appeared in his mind. They had hurt him, were probably doing so that very second.

He braced his hand on the wall, suddenly swamped with unhelpful emotions. He needed to focus, not think of Jake as a person of flesh, blood and bone but an object that had to be reclaimed.

Tom was on his phone when Maddox climbed back into the vehicle and he hung up abruptly.

“Anything?” Maddox snapped.

“Nothing on Jake...but I heard Samson’s at his usual haunt.”

Maddox rolled his thumb to his forehead. “And?”

“He’s done deals with Richie....he might know where they’re holding Jake.”

Maddox slapped his hand to Tom’s shoulder. “Good idea.”

Samson looked the type to sob his secrets without much effort, but just in case, Maddox loaded both guns.

“Let’s go make the piggy squeal,” he said, hand unshaking on the gun at his side.

Chapter 10

Maddox’s collected nature left him the second they pulled up to The Regal. The shop underneath was an innocent cafe, but the stairs behind the next-door lead to a scrounger's paradise. A snooker bar that housed more than pool cues and beer.

“We’ll wait for the others-”

Tom hadn’t even unclipped himself before Maddox was flying from the car and marching up the steps. Tom swore in his wake, and Maddox heard his mad scramble from the vehicle. It was foolish to barge into a place like this without backup, but he wasn’t waiting any longer with Jake in Richie's hands.

The man at the top of the steps backed away when Maddox appeared. He daren’t ask for a membership card with Maddox so furious.

The air was thick with the maharani, a few of the dazed faces drifted his way. They straightened from the slouches when they realised who he was.

Tom’s footfalls boomed the steps behind, but Maddox didn’t wait. He passed into the room undeterred by the number of rough men eyeing him. He opened his suit jacket, giving everyone a good view of the gun strapped to his body. He favoured the shoulder holster for that very reason, not just accessible and easy to flash, the one of his ankle was kept for emergencies.

“Where’s Samson?”

No one answered verbally. They shuffled, shrugged, rolled their heads but didn’t speak. Before Maddox completely lost his cool, he spotted a figure at the far end of the room. He hadn’t reacted like the rest, but had frozen in his pose.

Maddox made his way closer. The man’s scraggily hair was long down his back. He leaned over a snooker table, cue poised to shoot.

“Samson,” Maddox snapped.

Samson visibly shuddered and lifted himself from the table.

“You shouldn’t be in here...”

He was outnumbered, it was more than likely most people in the place were armed. His reputation was fierce enough to keep them at bay, keep them uneasy, but he wasn’t sure for how long.

Maddox glared at all the challenging stares. “I don’t want trouble with any of you...” he said before turning back towards Samson. “I want you to tell me where Richie does his...his business...”

“Like most people...the toilet.”

Maddox grabbed a fistful of Samson’s hair and shoved him to the snooker table with a smack. “Don’t mess with me.”

The rustle of clothing was all that could be heard in the room. Maddox knew he was being brash; most of the men surrounding him were lower associates of Richie’s. It was a risk, but he was willing to take it when Jake was on the line.

Maddox flipped Samson onto his back effortlessly. Blood seeped from his wonky nose, and his eyes watered with pain. Maddox wrapped his tattooed hand around the narrow column of Samson’s wind pipe. Not to squeeze, but just to keep the man still.

“I’ve heard you’ve gone soft…heard you’re on the way-out, Maddox…”

He could’ve strangled, could’ve snapped Samson’s weedy little neck, but that wouldn’t have helped him find Jake. He ignored the taunt and sighed.

“Big space...mostly likely a warehouse?”

Samson swallowed beneath his hand, and pressed his lips in a hard line.

Maddox sighed. He held Samson in place while he leaned over the table. He carefully plucked a ball from the prepped triangle.

“You tell me...or I knock your teeth in.”

Samson didn’t speak, and all rustling ceased in the room. He moved his hand from Samson’s neck, pinning him by the face to the table instead. He wriggled, tried to escape but Maddox pushed his hips forward, trapping the scrambling man’s legs. Samson stopped fighting, and panted for help.

No one moved, and Maddox brought the snooker ball to the trapped man’s mouth. Not smashing, not bludgeoning but tapping his two front teeth while shushing him like a frightened child.

“I’ll start with these first, easiest to get to…but mark my words Samson, I’ll knock every one of them out, and they won’t be clean blows. I’ll tap. Tap, tap, tap until you pass out…and then I’ll wait for you to wake before tapping again.”

Fear flashed in Samson’s face. His bottom lip quivered, and his quaking knocked his teeth on the snooker ball.

“Okay,” he choked out. Maddox moved his hand back to pin his throat.

“Tell me what I want to know…”

Samson’s lips popped open. “It’s an abandoned school in Brixton...fire there years ago. That’s where he does his business.”

Maddox smiled tightly, placing the ball back in the set up with a clink. “Wasn’t hard, was it?”

Samson dropped to the floor when Maddox released him.

He turned, noting with a small amount of pride everyone had backed away from the area. They averted their gazes as he left and even when Maddox’s feet hit the bottom step, silence continued in the room above. The Mad Dog hadn’t gone soft, he wasn’t on the way out. Maddox would secure his reputation when he got hold of Richie.

“No need for back up after all, Boss.” Tom mumbled, yanking Maddox from his vengeful thoughts. Tom opened the car to climb inside but Maddox grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Get everyone to Brixton...the old school. I’m driving.”

“Yes, Boss,” Tom breathed with wide eyes, jogging around the car to get in the passenger seat.

Brixton; it wasn’t too far, especially with him driving like a lunatic.

The school came into focus from the road. Looming buildings with boarded up windows. The school hall was the biggest one, the high ceiling and large space was the most likely cause of the echoing.

Maddox selected a Beethoven track, seeing it as a fitting accompaniment to the final instalment between himself and Richie.

It blared from the speakers, vibrating the seat and shaking both him and Tom. The sound was close to deafening, but he needed it. It kept the emotions that wanted to tear him to shreds at bay. Lewis, Carl and Amber followed close behind. He had no plan, was storming Richie’s hangout blind knowing they’d have his back.

He took a sharp turn, gears crunching as he forced the car up the drive.

Maddox’s heart faltered in its rhythm when he spotted them. Jake’s flappy hair, head limp and being violently shaken by the man on top of him. Too late...he was too late.

Maddox braked the car in front of the bollards and rushed from the vehicle. Beethoven flowed in his wake, and he vaguely heard Tom shouting for him to wait.

He was a few meters from Jake, gun drawn. His hand betrayed him and shook and the risk of missing had him abandoning the gun, dropping it to the ground. He ran as fast as he could.

Wind whistled through his hair, his feet crunched on the loose stones underfoot. He wasn’t stopping, Richie glanced up as if waking from a violent trance. Maddox growled like a rabid dog when Richie looked at him.

Maddox bulldozed into him. He grabbed Richie’s face the same way he grabbed Samson’s, but this time he pushed with the full force of his strength, slamming his skull to the concrete. There was a refreshing crack, a change in shape, and a weakening of pressure. Richie was dead, the force of Maddox’s fury had cracked his spine as well as shattered his skull.

Tom joined Maddox, gun drawn and aimed at Richie. It wasn’t necessary, the life had gone from his eyes. Blood ran over the concrete, forming a dark puddle beneath the old man’s head. Amber and Carl appeared next, shock widened their eyes and mouths. Richie wasn’t important, but the bruised man beside him was.

“Jake!”

He sounded weak, devastated. The others watched him with unmasked disbelief. Not for Richie, they had seen him kill before, but the concern for Jake was uncharacteristic. Maddox stroked at Jake’s clammy face, tapped his cheek with no reaction.

“Come on, Jake.”

He tugged him into his lap; it wasn’t easy with Jake’s hands bound at his back.

“Get me the key,” he yelled, and Tom and Carl patted down Richie’s body frantically.

Jake’s eyes were shut. Red veins were present on his lids, and the delicate skin under his bottom lashes had purpled. His lips had blued at the edges, and his throat was red raw from compression. Maddox placed his fingers in front of Jake’s nose, his mouth too, but they shook too much to register if the younger man was breathing.

Maddox turned towards a blanched Lewis. “Cut the music!”

Lewis bolted down the road to get to the offending car.

The symphony stopped, and Maddox ducked down to hear if breaths were easing through Jake’s lips. He desired that more than he’d ever longed to be settled by Beethoven's symphonies.

Faint and wheezing, but Jake was breathing, or at least attempting to.

Tom kneeled in front, hands finding the cuffs and releasing Jake’s swollen wrists.

Maddox arranged him, held him in his arms, rocking him.

“Breathe...come on.”

Jake’s mouth opened, air was gulped at frantically. The wheeze and the croak made Maddox wince, but it was a relief that Jake’s body was demanding more oxygen. There was still fight in the man in his arms.

“Breathe, Jake.”

Jake struggled to open his eyes. They fluttered, twitched, and Maddox stroked his face in encouragement. Jake managed it. Maddox went to smile but the sight of Jake’s beauty damaged stopped him. His eyes watered, red blotched on the whites of his eyes and his shimmering blue irises had dulled. It ached his chest to see Jake hurt, to not know how to express his sorrow and guilt. Jake fidgeted, weak arm flapping as he tried to touch his neck.

Maddox understood and caressed the reddened skin with firm circles. Jake’s eyes fluttered before opening again with some of the brightness returned.

“I’ve got you. Relax, you need to relax.”

Jake’s tight body went boneless in his grasp. Maddox continued to rub circles into his flesh. When the water swimming in Jake’s eyes intensified to tears, Maddox knew he might follow. He glanced up at the sky, blinking in quick succession to dry them.

He couldn’t face Jake’s hopeful eyes, instead he lifted him into a hug. His arms encased Jake. The smell of sweat and blood had Maddox turning his head away, but he kept his grip unbreakable.

He stood with Jake in his arms, carried the beaten man back to his car and arranged him on the backseat.

“Boss?”

Maddox had forgotten the others were present. When he caressed Jake, the world melted away to insignificance, but that one word from Tom had reality building before him.

Tom stood closest, rocking on his heels. The body had been moved, but the bloodied patch remained.

“Where is he?”

“Amber’s car...”

“And the others?”

Tom darted a look behind himself at the abandoned building. “They got wind that Mad Dog Maddox had returned.”

Maddox breathed deep through his nose, fixing his eyes on the dark stain on the pavement. It had been a long time since he'd used the brute power of his body to dispatch someone, but when he’d seen Richie throttling Jake, a fierce protectiveness took over.

“What now, Boss?”

Maddox bobbed his head, addressing each of them individually.

“Amber...go to the ‘fixers’ and deal with Richie. I owe you a new car, pick one you like and consider it yours.”

Next, he turned his attention to the still pale Lewis. “You and Carl, I want you to find out who else was in there, I want their names.”

Lewis didn’t nod, but Carl did beside him.

Tom straightened his jacket, awaiting orders. Maddox wagged his finger towards him.

“Jake’s coming back to my place. I’m gunna call Zoe over, have her check him out.”

Tom nodded, and they disbursed to perform their set tasks.

Maddox climbed into the back with Jake, and Tom jumped into the front.

They began the drive back, a calmer pace than before with Tom driving.

It was rare he called upon his personal doctor, Zoe to fix them up. Forever in his debt after she begged Maddox to get her husband sent down for murder. She wasn’t too thrilled to be called in the middle of her shift. Maddox demanded she come, and he got what he wanted even if she grumbled her disapproval.

Jake awoke with a hiss and a roll of his shoulders, Maddox arranged the younger man on his lap.

It was soothing to feel the rise and fall of Jake’s chest as well as hear the stuttering breaths. Jake’s eyelashes flickered, he grunted in an attempt at speech, but Maddox pressed his forefinger to his lip and Jake obeyed.

He massaged the swollen skin, so soft and fragile beneath his hands. His murderous hands. The memory of Richie was a blur, he couldn’t recall whether he punched or shoved. The need though, the need to save Jake still burned fierce in his chest.

He had feared Richie would see Jake’s worth, and now Maddox had broadcast how far he’d go to save him. Some would be intimidated, others would see the challenge in taking something valuable from the giant that was Mad Dog Maddox.

Either way, things were about to change for the man snuggling into his chest, and he doubted Jake was ready for it.

He carried the exhausted man into the house. Zoe had let herself in and was waiting on the sofa. It was hard to think of her as the wailing woman who had contacted him decades ago. Once her husband got sent down, she'd risen from the ashes of her life like a phoenix. Now a doctor, she oozed confidence and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. It was rare Maddox let anyone talk to him like her, but she had stitched him up countless times and he wasn’t always polite about it.

She locked eyes on Jake and grasped her dark hair in her hands.

“Jesus, Maddox...he’s just a kid...”

He scowled at her and carried Jake into the bedroom. “I haven’t done this to him, he got caught up between-”

She raised her hand and Maddox immediately stopped his angry explanation.

“I don’t need to know your quarrels...just tell me what happened to him.”

“Strangled...roughed up, there’s a graze on his arm too.”

She blew air through her teeth. “I’m not here for a Jesusing graze Maddox...”

He lay Jake on the bed, moving down to remove his shoes and socks. It wasn’t necessary, but he needed to busy himself while Zoe checked Jake out.

Zoe placed both her hands to Jake’s neck, cupping the sore skin.

“I’m gunna give him morphine, some anti-inflammatory too...”

Jake’s arm jolted, Maddox frowned not knowing if the movement was a conscious reaction or not.

Zoe opened her suitcase of equipment. “You're recruiting kids now?”

“I told you...he got mixed up in a feud.”

She hummed and prepped a needle. “You don’t usually hover like this.”

Maddox narrowed his eyes at the smirking woman. “Whatever.”

“And never have I treated someone in your bed...”

He hadn’t even thought about how it looked, but with her smirk and jumping eyebrows Maddox was hit by a wave of irritation. Everyone had seen his reaction, friends, foes and associates and now he was broadcasting his interest in Jake without even meaning to.

“Just...make sure he’s all right,” he mumbled.

“Will do.”

Jake jerked upright, eyes hazy in their focus. The scowl dropped from Maddox’s features and he moved closer on the opposite side of the bed.

“S’okay Jake...this is Zoe-”

Jake hissed, head lolling forward. Maddox intervened before he could drop off the bed.

“Shhh Jake...”

He shifted in Maddox’s hold before sighing and slumping into the wall of warmth of his chest.

“He’ll feel better out of the clothes.”

Maddox thought Zoe was teasing at his expense, but she pulled a pair of scissors and began on Jake’s shirt.

“I don’t wanna shift his head.”

The snip of scissors punctured the silence, Maddox shuffled awkwardly before moving down the bed and tugging at Jake’s work trousers and boxers. A dull pair that needed sprucing up with glitter or leather when he felt better, if he stayed-

“He needs rest, Maddox.”

Zoe’s smirking was beginning to irritate him.

“Thank you,” he grumbled, “think that’s enough now.”

“I’ll leave you some morphine, tablets too...any problems, you live ten minutes from the flaming hospital.”

She twirled and marched her way from the room.

Maddox stayed a few minutes and watched Jake snuggle deep into the bed. He had gone most of his life without feeling this pull towards someone, but Jake sinking into his mattress had undiscovered emotions rising to the surface.

He huffed and followed out the gaping door.

He drank, the spicy burn had him gripping his spasming throat. For two weeks, he had placed a barrier in his mind between himself and Jake, but now the man was injured in his bed because of him.

He'd gotten too close, and Jake had been targeted. He might as well have a red dot permanently etched to his head.

One drink turned to two, and the need to ensure Jake was soundly sleeping crept up on him.

He hovered in the doorway, entranced by the rise and fall of Jake’s chest. Jake had rolled on his side, one hand under the pillow and one hand on top.

It wasn’t enough. He stepped in and undressed with his eyes unwavering on Jake’s body.

The moment his skin brushed Jake, the strings in his chest were plucked harshly. He slotted in behind the young man, and wrapped his arms around Jake’s narrower body, careful not to jog his head. The touches led to gentle kisses, ghosting hands stroking all the available flesh. Jake's scent was hidden beneath sweat, but when he brushed his nose in his brown strands, his eyes rolled back at the floral smell.

He despised his body for getting aroused at such an inappropriate time, but he hadn’t seen Jake in two weeks, let alone held him and breathed him in.

The body his hands mapped leaned back into his chest. Jake’s eyes were still sealed, but a smile bent the edges of his mouth.

His head tilted further to the bed, exposing more of his damaged skin. Maddox mouthed the flesh, sloshed his tongue and pursed his lips to suck at the bruises. His hips moved of their own accord. The valley between Jake’s bare cheeks was perfect for him to slide against, but he wanted more.

“I should let you rest, but I can’t. Not yet.”

He rolled Jake carefully onto his back, watching with laser intensity for any crease of discomfort.

“Maddox?”

He closed his eyes at Jake’s whimper, biting his lip to rein himself in before wiggling between Jake’s limp legs. They moved to allow him access, no shame or embarrassment at having Maddox facing such an intimate area.

“Don’t hold back. No tensing up.”

He gripped Jake's thighs firmly, lifting and ducking his head forward to nuzzle between Jake’s spread cheeks. He licked, slurped, sucked at the tight folds of skin. Jake didn’t disappoint on the vocals even with his damaged throat. He whined softly, whimpered and gasped. He stiffened and shuffled at the new sensations. Maddox felt the moment he surrendered. The thighs under his hands stopped their tensed quaking and softened till he could massage. The mesmerising part of Jake’s anatomy relaxed under his tongue.

He pressed firmer, enthusiastic with his lapping and powerful tongue. He loved every second of reclaiming Jake. The silk-like flesh encasing his tongue, the taste, and the receptive nature of Jake’s body. The sounds of pleasure stopped, and Maddox pulled back to check Jake was okay.

The sight before him had him smiling fondly with a new kind of warmth growing in his body.

Jake’s cheeks had pinkened, his teeth dug deep into his forearm to muffle his cries and his brow twitched.

“Stop denying yourself, Jake. I wanna hear how you enjoy it.”

His voice gave no room for argument and the arm fell away from Jake’s mouth.

Maddox wiggled back down the bed, continuing to kiss Jake open.

Jake’s hips tilted feebly, asking for more. The neediness was adorable, and Maddox increased the speed of his licks. The rocking from Jake was inferior, barely felt, but just the thought of Jake’s body begging for more attention had Maddox stroking his own aching cock and grumbling in encouragement.

Jake’s whole body pulled tight. He gasped a breath before falling silent, releasing from the attention to his hole alone.

“Perfect Jake...so perfect.”

He wasn’t sure the other man heard, but his brow wasn’t split with lines and his eyes weren’t scrunched in discomfort. He looked peaceful after his orgasm, sinking into the mattress beneath.

The bottle of slick was retrieved from the drawer. Maddox arranged himself back on the bed and squirted a generous amount. There was no rush to reclaim Jake now he was safe and content in his bed.

He prepared him slowly, waited for the lingering tightness of orgasm to fade before pushing his fingers inside. Jake sighed peacefully, grinned dozily and Maddox thought it was enough preparation.

Jake jolted at the pressure of his cock and Maddox pulled back. “Relax, don’t fight me.”

He continued to work with his fingers till he was satisfied Jake could accommodate his swollen cock. His brain told him there was no rush, but his cock wanted to burrow deep inside. The skin was soft and slippery moulding around the shapes of his fingers with no resistance.

He lined himself up again and breeched, pushed deep and Jake smiled beautifully at the penetration.

This was everything he wanted, everything he knew he couldn’t have. He thrust into the responsive body for what was possibly the last time.

“Shit, Maddox---”

He growled in response. He didn’t know what the next day held for them, but for that night Jake was his, exclusively his. They linked eyes. Jake’s were so trusting and eager. Maddox paused relishing in the energy between them. Lust and an emotion that he dared not speak, but he felt it when he gazed at Jake. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but his stone-cold heart had thawed.

The realisation was Maddox's undoing. He finished with a growl, snapping his hips to ride through the waves of intense ecstasy.

He collapsed on Jake, stunned. He felt more than lust for Jake, more than the need to dominate and seek sexual gratification. It shook his core that the man beneath had broken his well-crafted walls.

He realised he was crushing Jake and rolled over, slotting himself behind the other man. They fit well together on the bed. Jake shifted backwards, and Maddox curled his spine to encase Jake in warmth.

The day had not only been a physical drain, but an unexpected emotional one too. He brushed his chin up the back of Jake’s neck, resting his nose in the newly sweaty strands.

No energy to trek to the bathroom, he wiped Jake up with the sheets before kicking them from the bed. His body ran hot enough to keep Jake comfortable, and the weight of sleep tugged him under.

Chapter 11

Maddox woke with Jake still cocooned in his body. He lay for as long as he could, listening to Jake’s gentle breaths and enjoying the soft skin sealed to himself.

When his stomach murmured pitifully, he decided to try to escape the bed. Jake’s features scrunched; he shifted back only to discover the wall of warmth had vanished.

Maddox moved to the wardrobe, tugging a fresh sheet free of the pile and laying it over Jake’s body.

He didn’t look as peaceful as before, but the disturbed lines faded from his face and he snuggled back into the pillow with a loud snort of breath.

Maddox ate his normal four-minute toast and sipped his scalding coffee by the window. The world brightened as he watched; the cheer of birds drifted through the open window. Another normal start to his day, but he knew everything was about to change.

Jake would forever be his rival's interest and it left Maddox with two options. Jake stayed, or Jake went. He was a man who always got what he wanted but this time he would let Jake decide.

He clicked his finger on the window sill. He wanted Jake to appear, but he didn’t want to wake the other man when his rest was needed.

Instead he busied himself in the kitchen. Last time Jake had eaten mountains of cereal, but with his sore throat, it would be raw agony to try.

Maddox scanned his kitchen, tugging a cupboard to reveal basket after basket of fruit and vegetables. Tapping on his phone, he found a recipe for a smoothie to help sore throats. He doubted it catered to those who had been throttled, but it was the only idea he had.

He whizzed banana, avocado, honey and milk. The colour was that of a stagnant pond, but the smell wasn’t terrible.

A muffled groan came from the bedroom. There was no shuffle, no thud of feet hitting the floor, only a groan followed by a harsh intake of breath.

Maddox poured the smoothie in a glass and un-popped two morphine painkillers.

“You awake?”

It was a stupid question, and after he said the words, he shook his head. Of course Jake was awake. He was grunting and hissing beyond the door.

“You need to eat,” Maddox mumbled apologetically.

Another confused shake had him growling to himself. It was his bedroom, but he waited outside for Jake to invite him in.

He pushed through and sat on the edge of the bed with his gifts in his hands.

“Painkillers first...”

Jake looked worried and Maddox didn’t blame him. It was a lot of trust to consume tablets when he didn’t know what they were. He opened his mouth to explain about Zoe and the painkillers, but Jake grabbed them and chucked them back lightning quick. He spluttered water as he tried to swallow, and Maddox rubbed at his neck hoping it helped with the burn.

“Now...Drink this.”

Jake eyed the drink, leaning back the longer he stared at the glass.

“Please Jake. It's full of good stuff, and you won’t be able to eat cereal for a while.”

Jake shook his head, pressing his lips in a firm line.

“Now,” Maddox ordered with the best gravelly voice he could do.

Jake grabbed at the glass, tipped it back just like the tablets. His face pulled tight and he wiped his mouth on the back of his arm with a shudder. Jake paled and stuck his tongue out in disgust.

“Plan B, then. Ice cream.” Maddox mumbled.

He tried to make a healthy alternative, but the best food for a raw throat was ice cream. Jake snagged his arm.

“What is it?” he asked.

Jake mimed texting on a phone and Maddox handed his over.

What happens now?

Maddox sighed, placing the glass of gunge on the bedside table.

“You have two choices. You run, far away, start again, or you stay with me, you let me keep you.”

Jake went to type, and Maddox resisted the urge to lean and see his reply. It wasn’t an answer, but a question directed at Maddox. He moved Jake’s hand and cocked his head to see what he had written.

Do you want to keep me?

He glanced from the device to Jake’s bright eyes. The redness had faded, the blue was back to shimmering and a hint of mischief sparkled. Of course he wanted to keep him. Not just for the sex, but the fun and companionship too.

“Yes.”

Jake’s breath stuttered, but Maddox wasn’t done explaining.

“It’s rare that someone interests me. I wanted to keep you as soon as I saw you, but my world is a dangerous one. I have enemies, and they spotted my interest in you. You almost died because of me, and if you choose to stay, know your life will always be in danger.”

Jake frowned, fingers working fast on the phone.

I LOVE DANGER

Maddox surged forward and locked their lips. Jake was slower, clumsy after being awake mere minutes. Maddox hummed, lowering him to the mattress to find a consuming angle. He flattened Jake with his body and kissed him breathless.

“Ice cream?” Jake croaked.

Maddox smiled into his neck before continuing his lustful onslaught. He felt the swell of Jake’s naked arousal against his trousers and grinned smugly.

“You sure you want it right now?”

Jake shook his head in a daze, eyes glazed and skin flushing beautifully.

Maddox chuckled, climbing from the bed. Jake whimpered, shook his head and flexed his hand in the air for Maddox to return.

The look was adorable, endearing, and Maddox grinned with a small amount of triumph having Jake desperate for him.

Maddox removed his clothes, tugged off the sheet and brushed his body against Jake. His neck was still sore, a fierce red that Maddox didn’t like to look at for too long. In a few days it would turn purple, and then green before beige. Richie’s mark would vanish from Jake’s skin. He drove his tongue into Jake’s mouth, lapped at his tongue. He wasn’t in the mood for foreplay; the lube was tugged from the drawer and Jake licked his lips at the sight of it.

“Mine. You belong to me Jake.”

He bobbed his head, spreading his legs for Maddox to prepare his body. “I’m yours.”

Once Jake was blissed out and dozy after orgasm, Maddox found the ice cream in his freezer. He spoon-fed Jake in bed, licking the sweet taste from his mouth after every scoop.

Jake groaned, and whimpered for more. The sounds Jake made were the most addictive music Maddox had ever come across. He stared across the room at the twirl on the wall. The safe was behind, and Beethoven’s diamond was kept in the darkness. Jake sparkled in the light.

I hope you enjoyed Mad Dog Maddox

I’m an indie author and reviews are a great help, if you enjoyed the story, please think about leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon

Many thanks

Louise <3

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My other stories:

Keeping the Caveman: Christmas time m/m romance Here on amazon.com

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Saving the Superman: Superhero m/m romance  Here on amazon.com

                                                                              Here on amazon.co.uk

Fire and Sand

(Adrenaline Jake)

Novella 3

Louise Collins

February 2018