5. Jake

The drive across town had been scary. Even for someone who enjoyed fast cars as much as Jake did, it was something else.

Damian"s driving was fast aggressive and powerful. Just like the man himself in fact. But the last thing Jake wanted to do was to let Damian know that he was scared in any way. So with that in mind, Jake had smiled and giggled for as much of the journey as he possibly could.

Jake felt a bit silly giggling, but he wanted to convince Damian that he was sweet and innocent. Well, as much as that was possible to do having been caught stealing.

It was also true that the car ride had definitely set off a certain spark inside Jake. His attraction to Damian was unfortunate, but being in the car with him only heightened that. There was something so alluring about seeing such a masculine, sophisticated hulk of a man handling a super-charged sports car with such confidence and expertise.

Jake had been torn between being turned on and terrified – and the whole time had been determined not to give anything away to Damian.

But as much as Jake tried to put a brave face on things, he was actually very frightened indeed. And it wasn't just Damian's explosive driving that was giving him cause for grave concern…

W-w-w-where's Damian taking me?

And what's he going to do to me when we get there?

Do I even want to know?

And as Damian slowed the car down and pulled over toward the attending valet, it was clear that wherever Damian was taking Jake, they had very much arrived.

‘Out. Now,' Damian growled, looking over toward Jake and unfastening his safety belt for him. ‘Act calm and collected. I don't want you drawing any unnecessary attention to yourself. Understand?'

Jake nodded.

Damian seemed to be relishing dishing out the orders to Jake and doing so full in the knowledge that Jake had little option but to obey. This annoyed Jake, but he wasn't silly enough to try anything out of the ordinary. Not yet anyhow.

‘Follow me, boy,' Damian said, walking up the steps and into the apartment block foyer.

Jake followed behind Damian, but while he may have been entering what was by far the most prestigious looking lobby he'd ever been in, Jake's mind was elsewhere.

When he calls me boy…

Does he mean… his boy?

But I hate his guts.

Jake couldn't help but notice how respectful and almost in awe of Damian all the staff in the apartment lobby were. Whether it was greeting him as Mr. Sorrento or simply giving an understated but clearly respectful nod in his direction, it was evident that Damian was well known and highly regarded.

But rather than appreciate this, Jake decided that if everyone was going to be in awe of Damian then he certainly wouldn't be. Jake felt more determined than ever to not let Damian break him and his spirit.

‘Wait in the corner, boy,' Damian said, pointing over toward a luxurious collection of three gold-rimmed armchairs. ‘Take a seat. I have some brief business to handle.'

Jake gave Damian a snarky look and turned to walk toward the chairs.

‘Hmm, these are pretty comfortable,' Jake said, somewhat taken aback by just how snug the armchair was. ‘Pffft. Still not as cozy as my special couch at home!'

Jake watched momentarily as Damian walked over toward the concierge desk and began talking with the smartly dressed and kinda cute looking young concierge.

Whatever.

I'm not jealous.

Damian can go to hell.

Jake took his phone out of his pocket and was happy to see a message from his friend, Lyle. Just like Jake, Lyle was a young man in the city too – but the major difference between the two of them was that Lyle was sensible, could stick to rules, and was building a brilliant career for himself as a junior reporter at the City Times.

But for all of his career-focus, that didn't mean that Lyle still didn't love doing fun things too…

Hihihi! So I'm thinking we go to the new kink club soon? Say yes… it feels like it's been way too long since we let loose and had some fun. Lyle

Jake smiled. It felt so comforting to get a message like this from one of his dearest friends. Lyle and Jake had always been there for one another, and had certainly been through both good and bad times together.

The thought of going to a new kink club sounded absolutely perfect. The only problem came in the shape of a certain mafia hitman by the name of Damian Sorrento. But Jake didn't want to face up to thinking about anything bad, so was more than happy to reply in the affirmative…

Okay. Why the hell not, right? Jake

Yeah! Let's freakin' go! I can't wait. Work's been so busy, I think I need this more than I know. Lyle

Jake was about to reply to Lyle's message when he saw the familiar shadow of Damian suddenly standing above him. And judging by the look on Damian's face, he wasn't overly impressed by what he was seeing.

‘You shouldn't slouch, it lacks class,' Damian said. ‘Slackers and brats slouch. Good boys sit up straight and show their best self.'

Jake rolled his eyes.

In fact, Jake was so unimpressed with Damian's bossiness that he felt like slouching even more. But rather than do that, Jake decided to fire off one more rapid-speed message to Lyle…

Hope I can come. Got a big asshole to deal with first though. He's AWFUL! The kind of jerk who just knows how handsome he is. PUKE! Jake.

Before an increasingly impatient Damian could swipe Jake's phone away from him, Jake sent the message and put the phone back in his pocket. He could finish his conversation with Lyle later, but for now Jake knew that he needed to focus on letting Damian think he was truly in charge.

‘Sorry. I won't slouch again,' Jake said, trying to hide a sneaky little grin. ‘I'll be a good boy.'

Damian frowned, clearly picking up on Jake's sarcasm.

For a second it looked like he might explode in anger right there in the hotel lobby. But that wasn't Damian's style – and he certainly didn't want to draw attention to himself like that in public.

But if Jake thought he had won, he had another thing coming…

‘On your feet,' Damian said. ‘It's time to head upstairs. We're going to my apartment.'

Wait, what?

I… I…

Maybe I shouldn't have been so sassy after all…

* * *

Damian's apartment was on one level exactly what Jake might have anticipated. Just like in Damian's office above the restaurant, there was a wall with a dedicated hanging space for a series of antique guns. Not only that, but the guns were accompanied by a selection of swords and daggers from various countries and cultures across the globe.

‘Display purposes only,' Damian said, a devilish grin on his face.

‘I… um… okay,' Jake said, unsure how to interpret Damian's comment. ‘They look… cute.'

Immediately, Jake cringed.

Urgh. Cute?

What the hell was I thinking?

These are deadly weapons, not toys!

Jake felt his cheeks flush red with embarrassment. He knew he had to change the subject, and quickly. The last thing that Jake wanted was for Damian to feel like he had some kind of upper hand over him.

‘These cars are cool!' Jake said, noticing a display case full of toy cars. ‘Are they like toys or something?'

Damian frowned.

‘You're joking. Very good,' Damian said. ‘But just like the guns and blades, the cars are for display purposes only. They're classics. Totally untouched and in mint condition.'

‘That's no fun!' Jake said, shaking his head and rolling his eyes dismissively.

‘Boy! Remember where you are and who you are with!' Damian said, immediately rebuking Jake's bratty outburst. ‘And lastly… remember what it was I caught you doing back at the restaurant!'

Damian's words were a sharp reminder of exactly the danger that Jake was in. It was pointless kidding himself too. Jake had been brought to Damian's apartment and no one knew where he was. If Damian wanted to end it all right there and then, it was eminently possible.

Jake had heard the stories about former employees of Damian's who had suddenly disappeared and all the rumors that came with it.

Jake had to rein himself in. He had to try and behave. He needed to convince Damian that he was more than a lowly thief. But he had to do all of this without giving in to him on a deeper level. As far as Jake was concerned, this was all about doing what he needed to do, and not a single thing more.

And yet, the sight of the model cars reminded Jake of just how turned on he was in Damian's Ferrari. It was more than just a little bit of a turn on, Jake had been so hard he thought he might actually have a naughty accident inside his briefs at one point.

But nothing could never happen between them.

Not if Jake had anything to do with it.

Jake resolved to keep this act up though. He would have to if he wanted to survive. But the one thing that Jake wouldn't do was let himself truly enjoy it. There was no chance in all of New York City that he was going to enjoy a single second of his time with Damian.

But as Jake was about to find out, Damian was about to take matters very much into his own hands. Whether Jake liked it or not, it was Damian calling the shots from here on in.

And with his expertise and selection of guns on display, it was evident that Damian knew all about how to make the most ruthless, cold-blooded shots imaginable…