Sheik Down (2 page)

“No.” Lucas could’ve stepped away from him. He could’ve turned on a heel and left. He could’ve said that whatever the client wanted wasn’t subject to his opinion of it. He could’ve done any of those things, would’ve for another person. But this was Raid. This was the man who made him hard enough to leak with a simple word of praise.

Raid wasn’t another client. He was Raid Faisal. Sheik and heir to royalty. He had Kanz Jewelry as his plaything—an international company on the rise of an already huge market. He was a billionaire with cash to throw on the latest whim, like a sex dungeon or a child’s designer tree house.

Raid wasn’t just another man. Raid was a wet dream, and he was demanding to know what Lucas thought of sex and Raid-related sex.

God, were there even words for that?

“I think,” Lucas began roughly, “that anything you want to do with your home is your business.”

Raid frowned and Lucas actually felt pained.

“I think if you want a sex dungeon, I’ll build whatever you want me to,” he continued carefully.

Raid released his jaw. “You disappoint me, Lucas.”

The loss was instantaneous. Lucas fought the urge to yank his hand and put it back on his jaw, to say anything he needed to for Raid to smile again, to look at him with the same dangerous regard he just had.

But Raid had walked several paces away from him, the moment broken. He’d been given the opportunity to tell Raid exactly how much he wanted him, and failed.

“Raid,” Lucas rasped.

Raid turned, his expression devoid of any emotion. Flat. It nearly killed Lucas.

Lucas ran a hand through his hair. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, working up the courage to say something, to bring the conversation back around to sex and bondage and—
sex
. Could the man not
see
how tented Lucas’s jeans were? Not that he’d look. Not that Raid ever looked at Lucas below the shoulders.

Words failed him as he blew out a breath. “When do you want me to get started?”

“As soon as you have your materials lined up and have reviewed my plans.”

“I’ll need permits for the passageways,” Lucas said.

“Get them when we need them. Receipts come to my office as usual.” Raid headed toward the stairs. “I’ll leave you to consider the measure and angles of the room best viewed by the cameras.”

Raid had taken the first stair when he turned. “And one more thing, Lucas.”

“Yes?”

“This project requires a dress code. I’ll have it delivered to you.”

Raid paced his office. It had been four days since he’d heard from Lucas. He didn’t like it. He knew the man needed time to draw up plans. He also needed time to digest everything Raid was asking him to do. But this many days without communication had Raid uncomfortable.

He hadn’t read Lucas wrong. Lucas had a way of looking at him that promised a thousand hidden desires. Those promises had led Raid to the conclusion that dancing around his attraction for the tall blond was no longer viable. Like any deal, this one needed to be closed or fall into the obscurity of never amounting to anything.

He liked Lucas too much to allow obscurity.

The way his blue gaze followed him around a room felt like a caress. Lucas had big hands and a big, sculpted body that aroused insane possessiveness in Raid, the likes of which he’d never experienced. It had been only after watching the evidence of Lucas’s attraction for him continue, meeting to meeting, that he’d decided to test the limits of that attraction.

Which brought him to pacing. Had he pushed too hard, too soon? Raid didn’t think so. He was an expert at reading people. Lucas had been more challenging than most, and what Raid attributed to his unreasonable desire for the man. It was the challenge. The game of having another man fall apart beneath his hands kept Lucas firmly in Raid’s imaginings.

There also wasn’t another man on the planet he trusted and respected more. Lucas’s work ethic matched his own. His attention to detail remained impeccable job to job, and the charm—the charm Lucas possessed in spades. The charm kept Raid guessing, and Raid never guessed.

It was this moment here, the one between the announcement of his intentions and the submission of his partner, which was most delicate. Normally, he’d allow his partner to find
him
. However, everything he knew of Lucas suggested too much time would be detrimental to the development of their sexual relationship.

He’d give Lucas one more day. Just one to indulge in his nerves. Then Raid was bringing him in.

* * * *

Lucas stared out the living room window at his truck loaded with building supplies. It had been sitting there, covered for a day and a half. Part of him wanted to race over to Raid’s and start building. He wanted to see for himself all the things that would be loaded into the secret room, and the only way to do that was to go to Raid’s office and view the sketches.

The other part of him was scared as shit.

Dress code? What the hell did Raid mean by that? Lucas always wore jeans, steel-toed work boots, his belt, gloves and a T-shirt. Practical and easy.

A black car pulled up behind his truck. Lucas put down his mug and went to the front door when a chauffeur stepped out and walked around to the trunk. He removed a large wrapped box. Without a word, the chauffeur brought the box to Lucas and tipped his hat.

The car pulled out of the winding drive. The whole thing took less than a handful of minutes from start to finish and left Lucas with a case of nerves. The box could only be from one person. He didn’t need a note on it to tell him Raid had sent it, not that a card had been provided to confirm it.

Lucas carried the box inside and put it on the dining room table. Picking up his mug, he continued sipping his coffee as he tried to quell the churning of butterflies in his gut.

“Get a grip, Talstaad. It’s just a box and you know Raid. How bad could it be?”
Not bad enough
, echoed through his mind and he smirked at the wayward thought.

He lifted the lid of the box. His neck flushed with heat as he saw the black on black leather folded neatly inside. His hands shook as he pulled out black leather pants, a black tool belt and black steel-toed boots. Black working gloves and black socks followed with something that looked like a thin gun harness but without the holster.

His cock filled as realization washed over him in waves. First that Raid wanted him to wear this. Second, that he wanted Lucas to wear it for his viewing pleasure. Third, what that meant, coming from the guy who wanted Lucas to build a sex room. Fourth, that Lucas seemed to be his object of interest in filling the role.

“Fu-uck,” he whispered. His cock ached and he had to adjust himself to relieve the pinch of the inseam on his balls.

Lucas’s cell phone rang. He fumbled as he put it to his ear.

“Talstaad Carpentry and Construction,” he answered, his eyes glued to the contents of his gift box.

“You should have the uniform by now.” Raid’s hot voice shivered over the line.

Lucas nearly groaned. “I got it.”

“Come to my house right now and put it on. You have work to do.”

There was a pause as neither man spoke.

“Lucas,” Raid said, breaking the silence with a warning. “Don’t make me retrieve you.”

“Why?” he asked, hearing his own edge of excitement in the raspy question.

“Do you really want me to lead with punishment, or break you in the way you deserve?”

Lucas, at a loss for words, stammered something into the receiver.

“You have fifteen minutes to arrive on my doorstep.” The line went dead.

Lucas’s body throbbed, ached for the unspoken promise in Raid’s words. Closing his mind to the anxiety quickly building in him, Lucas snatched the box and walked out the door, keys in hand. It took him exactly eight minutes to reach Raid’s home and another four to stand on the front step debating the doorbell.

The door swung open just as he was about to turn around and leave. Raid lifted an ebony brow in question.

“Walk into my bathroom and change. Wear
nothing
but what I sent you. Don’t question it. All the staff have been sent home. Only you and I are here. Am I understood?” Raid asked calmly. “Do exactly what I ask you to. For now, do nothing else. Don’t even think.”

Breath exploded from Lucas. All decision making had been taken from him and Lucas felt his body relax. He jerked his head in a nod, strode passed Raid and closed the door on the half-bath.

Lucas stripped down. He pulled on the pants and discovered the fold-over flap cover for his cock. He tied the three laces with shaking hands. Transferring his tools and putting on the boots he did mindlessly, but the strap presented a problem. Giving up, he stepped out of the bathroom with it still in his hand.

“How?” He asked Raid.

Raid, who’d been leaning against the opposite wall from the door with his arms folded across his chest, suddenly stood. His shrewd, hot gaze raked over Lucas from head to toe. He held out his hand and Lucas handed him the straps, which Raid then helped him put on.

One arm went through each side, over his shoulder and under his armpit. The back brought the two sides together with a central line that Raid cinched tighter until it fit snugly against Lucas’s skin.

Raid circled him slowly. “Very nice. I knew you were beautiful. I had no idea
how
perfect.”

The warm praise added a heady bonus to Raid’s full attention. Fingertips trailed down his back, grabbed the center line of strapping and tugged. Raid’s touch dropped lower sliding over Lucas’s ass.

Lucas jerked in response. He’d had men. He’d bedded them and enjoyed them and because of his size, he’d always been in control. But now, that control belonged to Raid. Nothing in their business associations had come anywhere near this before. It was terrifying and thrilling as Raid continued to touch him with proud ownership. It completely changed their relationship in a mind-spinning, slippery-slope kind of way. His body wanted to shout,
Finally!
His tenuous grip on logic held his tongue.

“What’s your word?” Raid asked, the words falling like a soft touch.

“My what?” Lucas tried to look at him over his shoulder.

Raid held him in place by pressing himself against Lucas’s back. Raid’s hands cupped Lucas’s ass firmly as he pressed his lips to the whorls of his ear. “Your safe word, Lucas.”

“I don’t—I’ve never—”

Raid chuckled, sending shivers down Lucas’s spine. “Never?”

“I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“It’s not, but I’m glad to hear it. Although the thought of being your first would please me greatly. You’ve never been dominated before,” Raid concluded easily.

“Of course not,” Lucas snapped, his nerves on the very edge with each rhythmic caress to his ass. The front of his leather pants had a nice give on his insistent cock, cradling him and warming under the heat of his erection. He’d do just about anything for Raid to touch him there.

“There’s no
of course not
here, Lucas. There is only
yes
and
no
. For example, do you like what I’m doing?”

Lucas didn’t know why it was so hard to admit that he did like it, but the words wouldn’t leave him. He thought it might have something to do with the one-eighty their relationship had taken over the course of two meetings. They’d gone from tacit employment, to possible sex partners. No, not even that adequately described what was happening. They’d gone from tacit employment to sexual domination and submission—if Lucas had his facts straight.

“If you like what I’m doing, you have to say so. Otherwise, I’ll stop doing it.” As though to prove his point, Raid’s hands dropped away.

His warmth left Lucas’s back and he nearly complained. His every nerve was strung out, wanting all the things Raid seemed to be offering, yet afraid they would stay out of reach no matter what words he used to communicate how Raid made him feel.

“We’ll start easy.” Raid moved around to face him. “Red means stop. Yellow means you’re close to your limit. Green means you like it and want me to continue. Or you can make up your own words.” Raid dropped a hand on Lucas’s chest.

Lucas hissed with pleasure.

“Is this a green?”

Lucas stared down at the man’s long tanned fingers against his paler flesh. He liked the contrast very much, liked the heat of his palm better and wished Raid would drag it across his nipple. “Yes,” he whispered.

“That’s better. Or you can say
green
.”

“I prefer
yes
,” Lucas challenged.

“Very well. Yes is for me to continue doing what I’m doing. Any other changes?”

“No.”

“It’s a start,” Raid told him warmly.

Lucas couldn’t help himself. He leaned down hoping to steal a kiss, but Raid stiffened his arm, keeping Lucas away from him.

“No, Lucas. There are ways to do this.”

“You want to have rough sex with me, but you won’t let me kiss you?”

“We’ve never kissed before.”

“We’ve never fucked before either, but I’m getting the distinct feeling that it’s a serious possibility. Am I wrong?” Lucas asked.

A small smile curved Raid’s gorgeous lips. “You aren’t wrong. However, my job is to bring us both to the point where we’re ready for intimacy. You must learn to trust me with yourself. Completely.”

“A kiss won’t destroy trust,” Lucas protested.

“I’ve thought many times about how kissing you would feel, Lucas. I’m as eager as you are to give into the temptation, but how do you know I won’t hurt you, if you never put yourself in my hands and learn to trust me.”

“I trust you to kiss me damn fine, and if you don’t think you’ll do a good job of it, I promise to step in and take over,” Lucas growled.

“Right now, this is about your body. How can you give me your heart if you can’t give me your body?”

Lucas stilled. “You want my heart?”

“Does that frighten you?”

Hell yes it did. He knew instinctively that losing his heart to Raid would be permanent. It fucking terrified him.