Chapter 4

Berga must have misheard.

It sounded a lot like Madden Odell had just propositioned him, which, for various reasons, couldn’t be the case.

“Flix said you were funny,” he mumbled, “but I admittedly don’t get the joke.”

Madden sighed as though he were losing patience. “That’s because there’s no punchline, Butcher. I’m telling you to do one of three things if you don’t want me to share that video with Baikal Void.”

“What three things?” Had he missed that part? No, no he didn’t think he had. He’d been paying attention. Ever since he’d spotted the Royal headed toward him on the steps, there’d been little else he could do but pay attention.

Nothing since that night had been going to plan. Berga hadn’t been able to concentrate during classes all week, his mind constantly wandering to the boathouse and what’d transpired there. The last thing he needed was more ghosts, but it seemed like his subconscious hadn’t gotten that memo.

People always said sex helped to relieve stress, but instead of getting better, Berga was haunted more now than ever before.

He wouldn’t make the mistake of lying with the Royal again, had decided to act as though nothing had ever happened to help them both save face and move forward. Yet, it seemed like he should have considered where Madden stood in all of this.

How…unexpected.

“It’s simple,” Madden took a step forward, the change in his demeanor instantaneous. “Either get on your back, bend over, or drop down on your knees. I’ll let you choose, but either way, neither of us is leaving here until I get what I want. In exchange, I’ll erase the video.”

Berga tossed him the vial of Impression, crossing his arms once Madden caught it. “Take that and go. I don’t care who you use it on or if you tell anyone you got it from me. Do as you please,” he waved him off, “just do it elsewhere. I have work to do.”

“Yeah,” Madden pocketed the pills, “on my cock.”

He scrunched his nose in displeasure. “That isn’t going to happen.”

“Want to bet?”

“This isn’t the Docks,” he reminded, bracing himself when Madden stalked forward another couple of steps. Berga didn’t like being treated like prey, especially not in his own damn territory. “There are a hundred and eleven ways I could incapacitate you here before you even reach me. Proceed with caution, Mad King.”

“You owe me.”

“I do not.” He raised his chin. “You accepted Impression. I’ve paid you in full. Delete the video and be on your way.”

“This?” Madden patted his pocket. “I’ll consider this a gift between friends. It’s not what I specifically asked for, so it can’t count toward your debt. You know how these things work, you’re Brumal.”

“We are not friends.”

“We can be.”

“No, thank you.”

“Pity,” he clicked his tongue. “I think we’d be pretty good together. The Mad King and the Mad Scientist. Your best friend is still on vacation anyway. Don’t you need a replacement in his absence? I’m happy to take over the role. ”

“I don’t sleep with Flix,” Berga said. “And I’m not looking for any new friends. Back off, before I—”

Madden stopped but lifted his multi-slate, tapping away at the screen with a sullen look on his handsome face. “I wonder what they’ll do to you when they find out you broke the treaty.”

“What?”

“Drugging a member of the Retinue?” he reiterated. “Raping me? Those are serious offenses. We’re meant to get along, the Retinue and the Satellite, but you broke the rules and attacked me—”

“ Attacked you? Don’t be absurd.”

Madden nodded solemnly. “I bled, remember?”

Gods damn it.

He raked his fingers through his hair. “You’re seriously insisting on taking it this far?”

“I am.”

“All because I—”

“You violated me,” Madden replied. “Don’t down play it. On most other planets, that’s a grave offense, as it should be.”

“Yet you’re willing to turn the other cheek?” Berga didn’t believe him. Admittedly, he hadn’t thought the situation through well enough the other night. Perhaps it would have been better to leave the boathouse after all, instead of pushing his luck and taking advantage of a man in Madden’s position.

He might have created the drug, but Berga had never personally used it on anyone before. He’d never had it used on himself either. But the two of them weren’t good people, so it hadn’t seemed like that big a deal at the time.

If Flix were here, he’d tell him he was being taught the lesson he deserved.

Maybe he was.

“What can I say?” Madden grinned, but there was something dark and promising in the expression that was abnormal. “I’m the forgiving sort.”

That was oddly enough true, at least if everything Berga had heard about the Royal was accurate. Madden didn’t hold grudges. Out of all of the Devils of Vitality, he was known for being the most carefree and laidback. The one that rolled with the punches.

That was why Berga was still so confused as to why he was here, pushing the issue like this.

“Persistency is not in your nature,” he said, but even he caught the thread of uncertainty in his tone.

“According to who?”

“Everyone.”

“Did you ask around about me, Butcher?”

“No.” He wasn’t so foolish as to do a thing like that.

Didn’t mean he hadn’t listened when Madden’s name was brought up, though.

The harsh overhead lightning glinted off of the Royal’s hair as he advanced another few steps, the red tones bright and almost crimson .

There was a sudden sinking feeling in his gut, a foreboding he was all too familiar with, and Berga found himself holding up a hand.

Madden paused once more, allowing him a moment to collect himself.

Berga inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth, regulating his emotions to the best of his ability as he considered all of the possible angles. He could act on his threats and hurt the Royal, but that would only lead to further problems. The video was enough to get him reprimanded; if Baikal found out he’d also injured the right hand of the prince?

Would he cast him aside?

Hadn’t Berga made himself too important for that?

…Had he?

He couldn’t risk it. The Brumal and his place there was all he had. If he was abandoned by them, he’d have nothing. He’d be nothing.

“It’s only fair,” Madden said then, clearly sensing he was close to caving. “We can take the pills again if you like, and I promise I’ll be good to you. I won’t take you the same way you so carelessly took me. I won’t make you bleed.”

“Promise?” He couldn’t believe he was considering this but…There wasn’t another solution he could see. Everything either led to him hurting Madden or accepting his proposition. If those were his only two options, only one of them would protect him from Baikal’s disappointment. “Why? ”

“I don’t need to hurt people to get off.” He shrugged.

“No, not that.” Berga didn’t care about being hurt. In fact, that would actually make things easier for him, since he was turned on by pain. “Why do you want to do it again, with me of all people?”

Madden quirked a brow. “Are you looking for me to whisper sweet nothings to you and get romantic?”

“Absolutely not. I’m just…trying to understand the meaning of this.”

“The meaning?” Madden picked up his approach, moseying over slowly as though they were discussing what to do over the weekend and not whether or not they were going to fuck. “Why does there have to be any meaning? Why can’t it just be because I liked the way it felt?”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“That’s because of the drug. If you take it, you’ll find the same pleasure with someone else, I guarantee it.”

“Just,” Madden lifted his hands and planted them against the glass case, caging Berga in, “let me have another taste, Butcher, where’s the harm in that, hmm? I’m interested in finding out what it feels like to bed you without the help of the drug.”

Berga frowned. “There aren’t any beds here.”

“That’s—” He laughed and hung his head, a few hairs brushing against the tip of Berga’s nose in the process .

He pressed as far back against the cabinet as he could, mostly to prevent himself from reaching out to touch it.

“It’s a figure of speech,” Madden said.

“You mentioned getting on my knees was one of the options,” Berga suddenly recalled, shoving the Royal back a step. “Since that was an option—” He made to lower to the ground, but Madden caught him by the arm and hauled him back up before he could get very far.

“It isn’t,” he stated. “Not anymore. I don’t want your mouth. I want…” his gaze trailed to Berga’s ass and he actually licked his lips.

“Are you a pervert?”

“You’re stalling.” Madden’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve allowed it up until this point because it’s honestly kind of cute, but I’m over it now. What’ll it be, Butcher? Am I bending you over the nearest flat surface, or are you going to get on your back and spread your thighs for me?”

“This is coercion,” he gave one final attempt at dissuading the Royal, even knowing it was a lost cause.

“Your offense was still greater than mine.”

Berga slumped against the glass in defeat. He was caught. There was no way out of this. “Fine.”

“What was that?” he angled his ear closer. “I couldn’t hear you.”

“I said fine.” He shoved him away again and then inspected the room, seeking out the best place to get this over with .

The door had frosted glass—he didn’t have to worry about anyone peeking in on them, and no one else had access, so they wouldn’t be walked in on either. There were two work tables, one with a Bunsen burner that he vetoed right away, mostly to avoid the temptation of lighting Madden on fire. That left either his desk or…

“There.” Berga undid his buckle and slipped his belt free as he walked toward the window seat. Like the door, it was currently frosted over, and there weren’t any objects around it or nearby that he could grab and use against Madden if things got too intense and he lost his sense of rationality.

He slipped out of his shoes and then his pants and boxers, tossing the clothing onto his desk chair to the left. His lab was kept simple enough, with the cabinets lining the longer walls, his desk tucked into the far-left corner, and a sink in the opposite. It wasn’t a very large space since it was meant for single-student use, and though he sometimes napped in the window seat, he’d never bothered to bring any blankets or pillows here.

There was no cushion either, and it wasn’t long enough for them to lay down, but it was two feet wide, so he could sit on it easily enough, and the wood wouldn’t stain but…

“Grab the paper towels,” he pointed toward the work table where a roll was located. “I’m not letting you make a mess of my lab.”

“But ruining my couch didn’t matter?” Madden did as he was told despite the attitude. “I had to toss it and have it replaced, by the way. I should be charging you extra for that alone.”

“Send me the bill.”

“Stop,” Madden grabbed onto his wrist when Berga went to pull off the rest of his clothing. “Leave that on. I’ve never fucked someone wearing a lab coat before.”

“So?”

“It’s sexy,” he said, turning Berga and giving him a light push so that he fell back onto the window seat. “Your dick is too. But it’s better looking when it’s hard for me. Should we begin?”

“You haven’t undressed.”

“I’m not going to.” He unsnapped his pants and pulled his cock free, but stopped there.

“That’s—”

Madden dropped the towels next to him and then leaned in, one arm going up to the window as his presence forced Berga back against it. His other wasted no time, diving between his thighs. He brushed against his balls on his way, letting out a satisfied sound in the back of his throat when he found Berga’s tight entrance.

“Wait.” Berga tried to stop him, but the Royal drove his finger in, tutting at him when he hissed at the painful intrusion.

“You told me if I wanted to make it quick, I should hurt you, remember?” He pumped that single digit a few times before pulling out to the tip. Lining up a second, he gave Berga a moment to breathe before spearing back into him .

Berga grabbed onto Madden’s arms and clung, eyes slipping shut as the first sweeping of arousal rushed through him. “Are you going to hurt me?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Then,” Berga set his gaze on Madden’s, his reflection practically gleaming back at him from within those shiny dark orbs, “do it properly.”

Madden stilled for a split second before he attacked. His hand pulled free only so he could tear at Berga’s dress shirt, sending buttons flying around them. The material was shoved to the side, and then his mouth found one of Berga’s nipples, tongue lolling around it once before he bit down and sucked hard enough to have Berga arching toward him and crying out.

He tweaked his other nipple, hard enough it turned the bud a blushing shade of red, and then he dropped down to his knees, trailing his mouth all the while, until he reached the spot just above Berga’s right hipbone.

His teeth broke skin this time, but he pinned Berga in place with a palm on his thigh and one on his stomach, growling when he tried to shove him away.

“You wanted pain, Butcher,” he reminded darkly. “You don’t get to decide how it’s delivered.”

“No blood,” his breathing was already labored, his dick hard as a rock between them, but he covered his face with an arm and turned his head to avoid accidentally seeing something he shouldn’t. “You promised.”

“I promised not to tear your hole,” he corrected, “and I won’t. Don’t worry, this is nothing. I’ve licked it all away, you won’t see a single speck on you. Isn’t getting a little dirty worth it for the pleasure of pain?”

“No.”

“No?” He clicked his tongue. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Because you’re—” Whatever he’d been about to say died on his lips when Madden pushed his thighs further apart and then delivered a similar bite to his inner thigh.

“There you go. Keep moaning for me, just like that.”

Had he been moaning?

Madden captured his wrists and pinned them over his head against the cool glass, rising up so that his face hovered in front of Berga’s once more. He swirled a thumb over Berga’s swollen crown, grinning when that had him jerking in his hold.

“Guess pain really does help,” he said. “You’re so wet for me, Butcher.”

“Let go of me.” He tugged on his wrists, but the Royal didn’t budge.

“Not a chance.” Instead, he lifted one of Berga’s legs beneath the knee and pulled him so his ass partially hung over the edge of the seat. Then, without any further warning, Madden effortlessly shifted his hips, lining himself up, and gave one powerful thrust.

Berga’s mind went blank as he was stretched around that fully aroused cock, his insides burning even as his dick leaked between them. His back hit the pane of glass with every agonizing stab of that solid member, the sound of it clattering mixing with his groans and the sharp intakes of Madden’s breaths.

The Royal pulled his leg higher into the air, practically folding him in half in the process, and rammed in more forcefully, their bodies coming together roughly.

“Ever been dominated before, Butcher?” Madden asked, shaking his head and continuing before giving him a chance to actually reply. “I bet not. I bet I’m the only one who’s ever seen you like this. Had you like this. Am I right?”

Berga ground his teeth as the stinging sensation started to dissipate so that he was left with only the pleasure zinging through his bloodstream. “Hurry up.”

“I bet you can feel me all the way to your stomach, can’t you?” he ignored him and said. “Good Light, that’s so hot. Seeing you like this, all messed up and coming apart at the seams for me…You’re so sexy. You might be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. The only way you could be more seductive is if you were covered in my come. We’ll get there though, don’t worry.”

“Don’t you dare.” Berga struggled again, managing to slip one hand free. But he only managed to slap it against Madden’s chest before it was recaptured and he was being pulled from the seat. He let out a snarl when he was tossed onto his stomach on the ground, practically nailed to the floor by Madden’s cock when he immediately rammed it back into him and covered his entire body with his own.

“This isn’t what we agreed on,” he complained, gasping when Madden’s teeth sunk into the spot between his neck and shoulder. His dick gushed from where it was trapped between his stomach and the cold white marble.

Madden smoothed a hand down his side, gripping his hip possessively as he rutted into him fast enough Berga’s body would have slid across the floor if he hadn’t been fastened so strongly in place. He dug his fingers into his flesh to the point there was definitely going to be some bruising afterward and brushed the hair at the back of Berga’s nape out of the way with his other hand so he could bite him there as well.

Those renewed flashes of pain had him writhing beneath Madden, the combined sensations overpowering all logic and reason until he was reduced to a mass of greedy desire. It was on the tip of his tongue to beg for more, but he caught himself.

The Royal rose up, pulling him back onto his cock. He fucked in and out with wild bursts of his hips, palm coming down to smack against Berga’s left cheek. The sound echoed in the room, and he must have liked it because he repeated the motion. Again.

And again.

And again.

Tears prickled at the corners of Berga’s eyes and he clawed at the ground uselessly, not even sure himself whether he was trying to get away or just push some of that building energy within him somewhere else.

Sex had never been like this. This all-encompassing thing . All of his past partners had either hesitated to hurt him when he asked, or took things too far. Berga had enjoyed the warmth of their bodies, the compression of their tight holes, but that had been the extent of it. A quick experience, done and forgotten about.

But this…

Madden lifted his hips and filled him, grinding against his ass. “Come for me, Berga. Squeeze my cock like it belongs to you.”

One of his hands slipped around him and his finger just barely grazed against Berga’s sensitive dick before the climax hit him.

The world winked in and out around him, Berga barely aware of Madden drilling into him a few more times before he reached his own high. His muscles clenched and unclenched around that intrusion, his balls emptying as he screamed his throat raw.

The blissful afterglow locked him in a state of drowsiness, his cheek pressed against the marble, his lower region still twitching. He’d thought it’d been good the other night, that Impression had helped make Madden the sex-drunk lover he’d been, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Sober Madden was even better. More intense. The smell of their mingled sweetness on the air and the feel ofthe Royal’s heated breaths on the back of his neck elicited a strange sense of calm Berga had never felt before.

Which was dangerous.

If he wasn’t careful, he could get used to this feeling.

He sat up suddenly, the move catching the other man off guard enough to have Madden falling off of him. Berga pretended not to hear his startled yelp, standing and wavering on his feet as a fresh wave of discomfort rolled over him.

“Careful.” Madden stood as well, taking his arm to help steady him.

As if he actually cared.

Berga glanced down at the come smeared over his stomach and grimaced. “I have to clean up.”

“Why? It’s hot.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Why would I?” Madden sounded confused, and when Berga risked turning to him, he looked that way as well.

With a sigh, he pushed past him and snatched the paper towels, cleaning himself as best he could. Once he was satisfied, he offered the roll to Madden, noticing the guy's hair in disarray. Before he could help it, Berga’s fingers were delving through the silky strands, combing them over as his lips parted with a contented sigh.

Shit.

Madden’s gaze was different now, more acute, like he was attempting to see straight into Berga’s soul.

“I’m late for class.” He wasn’t. His next class wasn’t for another three hours, but if he didn’t get out of here, he would make the mistake of asking if they could go another round, and then he most definitely would be.

Berga turned his attention to putting his clothes back on, not realizing that Madden hadn’t moved from that spot until he came to his shirt and recalled the buttons had been ruined. “Damn it. How inconvenient.”

There was another shirt in his car.

In his car, which was far away from the Royal still staring at him.

“I’ve got to go. Make sure the door is shut all the way so it locks.” He took a step toward it and then paused. “Oh. Keep your promise about the video. This makes us even, Mad King. If you try to say otherwise later on, I really will liquify your insides.”

Berga didn’t wait around for confirmation, leaving without another word.

He was halfway to the parking lot before he remembered the come stains he’d left on the floor in his haste.

This was a mess in more ways than one.