Chapter Three

Cruz

I sat at the table across from the gorgeous Michael Bradley, gripping the cards tightly in my hand, while he sat back in his chair almost smirking at me, probably trying to rattle me. If so, it was working.

I finally had a decent hand after playing for almost an hour. I'd lost several hands since I'd sat down, but I'd won a few too, and Billy was watching me in fascination as he leaned against David. It was getting late, and this would probably be the last hand for me. I badly wanted to win at least one, so I could rub it in Michael Bradley's smug, handsome face.

I looked down at my cards again. Two of the other men at the table had thrown theirs down after the opening bid, leaving just three of us still bidding.

"I'll bet five chips," Michael said.

The man on his left, the only one still bidding with us, folded, saying, "I'm out."

I pushed five chips forward, never taking my eyes off Michael. "I'll see your five and raise you twenty." This could be my chance to win all my chips back. It might be a paltry sum to a man like Michael, but it was the principle of the thing to me.

Michael raised one brow. "Really?" He smiled across the table at me. Separating twenty chips from his large pile, he pushed them to the middle. "I'd like to see what you have. I'll call."

I laid down my cards triumphantly. "A full house."

Billy clapped his hands in delight, and I smiled over at him. I started to reach for my chips and Michael's voice stopped me. "Wait a minute, Cruz. Not so fast." He laid his cards on the table and four queens stared back up at me. I gazed up into a pair of glittering blue eyes. "I believe the old saying is ‘Read 'em and weep.'"

I felt a surge of anger and irritation, but I managed to keep my face calm. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction, so I simply shrugged. "Well, I guess you win." I scooted my chair back. "I'm out. And I need to get home." I pulled out my wallet. "Let's see, at a penny a chip, I owe you five dollars and change. Here's six," I said and dropped the bills on the table.

Michael looked up at me and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Cruz. I thought you knew we were playing twenty-dollar chips."

"What?" I felt my knees get weak. "But I don't have that kind of money. Will you take an IOU?"

He shrugged. "I will. But nobody likes a quitter, Cruz." The velvety voice stopped him. "Stay for another round, and we could make one last bet. Double or nothing. Winner takes all."

"No, I'm out of money. I'd be stupid to make a bet like that."

"But you still have something I want."

I met his eyes and swallowed hard. The room had fallen silent with every man there staring at the two of us. "I do?"

"Yes. I believe you laid down a challenge a short while ago, and I haven't forgotten it."

"W-what challenge?"

"You said, and I quote, ‘there's no fucking way I'd ever enjoy another man spanking my ass.'"

Startled, I took a step backward. "Yeah? Well, so what?"

"So I'll take that challenge. I think you would enjoy a spanking, if the right man gave it to you. And I think I'm the right man. So, one cut of the cards—if you win, you'll get your money, and we'll all go home. But if I win…"

I stared into his eyes. "If you win…?" I asked softly.

"Then you go home with me tonight, so I can accept your challenge."

I stared at him in amazement. The idea electrified me, embarrassed me and made me feel hot all over. "Are you serious?"

"I am...and make no mistake, Cruz. If I take you home with me, I'll put you across my lap and spank you, and then I'll fuck your little ass, if you're agreeable. And there's only one thing I can promise you—it'll be the most sensuous night of your life, and a night you'll never forget."

The room was so silent that I was sure no one was even breathing. I glanced over at Billy to see him wide-eyed, his mouth a little o.

"Pretty damn sure of yourself, aren't you?"

He inclined his head slightly and smiled. "Or of you. I think you're intrigued by the idea. What will it be, Cruz? Put up or shut up."

The electric feeling between us that I'd felt earlier when he accidentally touched my hand as I was reaching for my cards was coursing down my spine. I raised my chin and stared directly into his eyes.

"Why not? Cut the damn cards and let's do this."

He pulled the cards over toward me and shuffled them slowly but expertly before slapping them down on the table. "After you," he said and looked up at me.

My hands trembling, I reached out and cut the deck of cards. I held up the ten of diamonds for him to see and he nodded. Slowly, almost casually, he cut them again, pulling his choice over to gaze down at it before turning it up on the table. "King of hearts. Appropriate, under the circumstances, wouldn't you say?"

I sat back down hard in my chair and stared across the table at him. David cleared his throat and broke the uncomfortable silence. "Cruz, it's okay. Michael's mostly teasing you. You don't have to do this."

Michael gave David a sharp glance, but he didn't dispute what he'd said.

"Of course you don't have to. I was just hoping you wouldn't want to welsh on your bet," Michael drawled.

He cut his eyes back to me and waited for me to decide. I looked into his gaze and said, "No, he's not teasing. He means every word."

He inclined his head with a little smile playing around his lips. Patiently, he waited me out.

I took a huge breath and then spoke all in a rush. "Okay. You won, fair and square. Let's do this."

He scooted his chair back abruptly and sharply from the table, maybe afraid I might change my mind. "David, it's been a lovely party," he said, "but I think I'll be going home now."

He turned back to spear me with a glance. "Coming, Cruz?"

"Sure."

But as I turned, I almost bumped into Billy, who was suddenly right beside me.

"Cruz," Billy said. "Are you really doing this? You don't have to."

"Yes, I do. I don't go back on my word."

Billy laid a hand on his arm. "Cruz…look. David said you don't have to pay him anything. He's mostly teasing you."

Cruz pulled gently away from him. "It's-it's all right. You know?" I gazed directly into Billy's eyes.

"Oh. Yeah, I think I do," Billy replied softly, understanding my meaning at last. "Okay, but be careful. He's one of David's closest friends, and he trusts him, or else he wouldn't let you go home with him." He reached up and straightened my shirt collar. "But be careful not to get in too deep, okay? Michael Bradley has never had a long-term sub. Do you understand what that means? He likes to play, and he's sexy as hell, but don't get too involved with him. He has a reputation for only playing with a sub once or twice and then moving on. He's afraid of commitment, I guess. I don't want to see you get hurt. Remember he's a sadist so be careful what you agree to do with him."

"Don't worry," I said, trying to move around him.

"And be sure he gives you a safe word. Use it if you need to. There's no shame in that. He'll respect your safe word."

"A safe word? What is that?" Cruz asked.

"A safe word is a word you say and everything stops. Mine is lemon. Pick out a word that you'd never normally say in conversation, and then use it if things get to be too intense. If you just say stop, your Dom might not do it until he's good and ready. You have to use the safe word.

I nodded and headed for the door.

David was standing there beside Michael, and they seemed to be deep in conversation. I stopped a few feet away.

"I'm ready," I said, and damn, why did my voice sound so breathless?

Michael gave me a beautiful smile. "I see that you are." He turned to David and shook his hand, wishing him a goodnight and held out a hand to me. "Let's go, Cruz, if you're ready."

"As I'll ever be."

Michael stepped forward and took my hand, gripping it tightly. I allowed him to escort me out of the beach house and into the warm, moonlit night. A man and his dog were walking past on the street, just as we came out, and the man, who had gray hair and a pinched face, looked pointedly at our clasped hands as he walked by us. I glanced over at Michael, who gave me an encouraging smile and squeezed my hand. He pulled me over to a big, black SUV and opened the door for me. He went around to get it, and without waiting to ask me, he crowded me back against my seat and kissed me hard, taking full possession of my mouth. He took his time, thoroughly claiming me as I groaned and clung to his shoulders.

"I've wanted to do that all night," he said against my mouth.

By the time he moved back to his own seat, I was achingly erect and could barely get my breath. Michael leaned over me and fastened my seatbelt. Bending close, he spoke softly enough that I had to strain to hear him. His hot, sweet breath seared my cheek. "Billy was right, you know. You don't have to do this. I can just drive you home if you like."

Cruz nodded. "I know I don't have to. But I want to."

Michael gave me a searching glance and a smile before he nodded, pulled away from the curb and angled out into traffic. Neither of us spoke on the way to his home, with him navigating the busy streets, and me feeling a little stunned and like everything around me was a bit surreal. I was actually going home with this man—this Dom I barely knew. I'd never done anything like this before and I was a little scared, though I was determined not to show it.

We pulled up in front of an expensive apartment building in midtown and into the adjoining garage. Michael wheeled confidently up and around inside the parking deck until he reached the top level and pulled into a spot marked by a number on the back wall. As we got out of the car and walked toward the entrance, he put a hand at the small of my back. Just before he pulled open the door, Michael stopped and looked down at me. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"I-I think so."

He tilted his head and smiled down at me. "Be sure."

"I am."

"Do you know about using a safe word?"

"Yes, Billy told me. Mine will be algebra , like the subject."

He smiled. "Any reason why? I assume you must not care for mathematics."

"You assume correctly."

"Okay. So, if you say that word, I'll stop whatever we're doing and take you home. No questions asked, okay?"

"O-okay."

"And if you want things to slow down?"

"Huh? I mean, I-I don't know about that."

Michael gave him a tight smile. "Maybe instead, you should try the stoplight signals. Red to stop and yellow to slow down. Green for go? Easy enough to remember. But it's totally up to you."

"Fine. That'll work," I said, and he punched in some numbers on a security pad to open the door. We entered into a lobby, where I got an overall impression of opulence and gleaming surfaces and fresh flowers. Michael whisked me over to an elevator that opened almost as soon as he pushed the button. Two older, well-dressed ladies were already inside, and Michael nodded at them as we stepped in. Their heavy perfumes clogged my nostrils, and nervously, I stared straight ahead.

They got off at the tenth floor and one of them turned and gave me a sweet smile. To my shock, she glanced over at Michael and back at me before giving me a little thumbs-up sign and following her friends off the elevator.

Michael grinned at me but made no move to touch me until we arrived at the fifteenth floor. The door opened, and I followed him down the quiet corridor to his apartment. He opened the door, and I stepped in, only to find myself pushed back against the wall as soon as I entered, my hands trapped over my head by Michael's. Michael leaned into me and kissed my mouth thoroughly.

"What do you want, sweet boy?" he murmured against my lips.

"I-I don't know."

"I'd like it if you called me ‘Sir' from this point on."

"Seriously?"

He smirked and lifted one shoulder. "If you want to do this…"

I sighed, but finally nodded. "Okay. Yes, Sir."

"What do you want Cruz?"

"I-I want what you said at the card game, Sir."

"Tell me. Say the words so we're both clear."

"I-I want you to spank me. Like you said. And I want you to-to fuck me. Sir."

"Does it excite you to talk about it? To ask for it?"

"Yes, Sir." I lowered my eyes, unable to keep looking into his blue gaze, so close I couldn't breathe properly.

"Look at me, boy."

"Okay, Sir."

"Tell me your safe word to slow down again."

"Yellow."

"And to stop?"

"Red."

"That's right." He put his hand around Cruz's throat and gently stroked it. "Are you nervous?"

"Yes…but please..."

"Please, what, Cruz?"

"Please, Sir?"

I thought Michael's lips might have twitched. "That's right, baby, that's good. But I meant what are you asking me for?"

"I'm not even sure, Sir."

Michael pulled back and gazed down into my face, like he was trying to figure out if I was really as innocent as I guess I seemed. "You're not a virgin, are you?"

"Not exactly."

Michael tilted his head, and this time the lips definitely twitched. "How's that? You either are or you aren't."

"I-I've used a hairbrush handle on myself. One of the round ones. To see how it would feel."

His eyes widened and he dropped his head down, probably so I wouldn't see his grin, but I still caught a glimpse of it. "Oh, Cruz…" He raised his head and brushed his lips across mine.

"Well, just that way. I-I've done other things. I like to give blow jobs. Sir."

"Do you?" Michael stepped back, turning me loose. He walked slowly over to a big easy chair to sit down, shrugging out of his shirt as he went.

I had a sudden fear that he would take me home, and I realized with some clarity that I didn't want to go, not until I'd seen this through.

"Sir, I…"

Michael glanced back at me, and I saw I needn't have worried. His eyes were glowing with passion. "Take off your clothes, baby boy. Fold them neatly and place them on the chair. I want to see your beautiful body."