Page 5

His expression changes, and he nods. Business respects business, I guess. I’m not sure I want us to get into bed with a bigot, but I also know that Dante doesn’t have the largest market for his stuff, so I can’t turn this down.

‘See you tomorrow,’ I tell him. He takes the dismissal for what it is and wanders off, making room as the unfamiliar monster approaches.

The Vyastil doesn’t look at me as he steps up to the table. He keeps his eyes downturned. It’s kind of rude to do this in Deaf culture, but as soon as he hands me a piece of paper and I take it, all of that is forgotten.

The hotel name and what must be a room number are written neatly on that piece of paper.

Eissa, I think as I crane my neck to where he disappeared, but he’s gone.

And when I turn back to ask the Vyastil about it, he’s walking off as well.

I definitely shouldn’t go to meet with this guy. It’s bad news and far too complicated. He seems like he’s of a high station, and I’m just a Deaf dude who sells sex toys with no real aspirations, but as soon as the day ends and I’m done cleaning up my station, I find myself walking in that direction.

It seems I’m going, despite my better judgment.

two

LUCA

My hand lands roughly on the hotel door, unsure if I knocked hard enough. But a moment later, it opens, and I see Eissa there. He’s no longer wearing the tunic, just a piece of fabric around his waist, the rest of him bare. His tail is no longer wrapped around his shoulder, but is curled around his thigh.

And his hair. It’s down, out of those braids and falling in waves across his shoulders and chest. I want to run my hands through it, but I don’t know what I have permission to do. I don’t even know why I’m here.

He nods to me and takes a step back, letting me enter the room. It’s large, and much nicer than the room I have, but I don’t have a chance to really look at everything because Eissa steps beside me, and I feel his tail slide across my back.

My breath hitches, and I peer over at him, and our eyes lock.

I feel something electric pulse between us, need and lust slithering up my spine as he steps in front of me.

‘So, what did you want to see me for?’ I ask stupidly.

His lips curl, showing those fangs, and I see the flutter of his long, pierced ears.

‘I thought it was clear,’ he replies, his eyes sliding down my chest to my groin. My cock perks up.

Hell, who am I kidding? It’s been hard since I got off the elevator. I want this. I want him to wrap that tongue around me and get me off. And then maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get to ride that big dick too.

Self-lubricating.

Hell yes.

‘I think maybe you should tell me,’ I reply, my signs steady and clear.

His ears flutter again, and he reaches out, dragging a finger up the bulge in my jeans. I buck my hips forward, wanting more, but he pulls away.

‘I want to suck,’ he signs, and the way he does that…it’s lewd, far too sexual. It makes my dick jump between my legs.

I start to step toward him, hands out. I want to kiss him first. I’ll give him anything he wants, but I want to taste him before we do this. He stands stock still, but right before I reach his body, he holds up a hand, and I freeze.

‘Wait. I have one rule.’

“Okay,” I whisper aloud, waiting on a knife’s edge. I will do just about anything at this point.

His eyes are almost hard. ‘You can’t touch me. You will sit and take what I give you, and you must keep your hands at your sides.’

Disappointment floods through me like a tidal wave, but I quickly swallow it back. I take a breath, then find the courage to ask, ‘Why?’

He leans back, and his tail flicks free of his thigh and whips between us, almost like it’s reaching for me. But it stops just short of curling beneath my waistband.