Whatever the Cost
Authors: Lynn Kelling
Liam and Jacen are roommates
–and elite prostitutes working for a secret organization, The Company. They spend their lives making fantasies come true for spoiled, dangerous clients. In the midst of daily risk of emotional and physical damage, their friendship has been an island of sanity and safety. When The Company orders them to do a job together requiring them to cross the no-sex boundary that has kept them friends, Liam and Jacen must examine how they really feel about each other, and how far they are truly willing to go. Is this the life they want? Used to offering up their bodies without protest to the mercurial whims of others while fiercely guarding their hearts, the true meaning of love and consent is a challenge neither has ever faced before.
ForbiddenFiction
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an imprint of
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WHATEVER THE COST
A ForbiddenFiction book
Fantastic Fiction Publishing
Hayward, California
© Lynn Kelling, 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission from the publisher, except as allowed by fair use. For information contact
[email protected]
.
CREDITS
Editor: Rylan Hunter
Cover Design: D.M. Atkins
Cover art: konradbak at Pixmac
Production Editor: Erika L Firanc
Proofreading: Kailin Morgan, JhP323
SKU: LK1-000005-01 ARE
ISBN: 978-1-62234-031-6
Published in the United States of America
This book is a work of fiction which contains explicit erotic content; it is intended for mature readers. Do not read this if it's not legal for you.
All the characters, locations and events herein are fictional. While elements of existing locations or historical characters or events may be used fictitiously, any resemblance to actual people, places or events is coincidental.
This story is not intended to be used as an instruction manual. It may contain descriptions of erotic acts that are immoral, illegal, or unsafe. Do not take the events in this story as proof of the plausibility or safety of any particular practice.
To Terry, Ang, Leyanne, Eli, and Kitty, for believing in me.
12. Helpless Child, Gruesome Deeds
18. Seeing From the Other Side
23. With Opened Arms and a Willing Heart
24. Pride, Proving and Taking Time
25. Getting As Good As You Give
Cowboy’s Seduction
“Hey. Damn. Um, you must be William.” Standing in the doorway to his suite, Tucker stares unabashedly at his guest standing in the hallway while wondering what he’s gotten himself into.
Men aren’t supposed to be this pretty
, he finds himself thinking of the stranger waiting patiently to be allowed inside, with almost femininely expressive, thickly-lashed eyes that contrast curiously with a strong jaw and distinctly masculine presence. It’s a little overwhelming to have the reality be so much better than the fantasy. Life isn’t supposed to work that way. William has short, just-rolled-out-of-bed-tousled, golden blond hair and irises so vibrantly jewel-like and emerald-hued that they don’t seem real; eyes that seem to drink in everything they fix on with intelligence and ample, unhurried confidence. Rosy, succulent lips curl in a natural pout. Broad, thickly muscled shoulders stretch out the fabric of a perfectly tailored plaid flannel shirt that highlights the man’s lean, toned build. From slim hips hangs a chunky leather belt laced through the belt loops of obscenely snug jeans, showing off every bulge, line and curve. A glimpsed necklace’s cord is tucked almost out of sight, under the shirt, lying delicately against the bare, suntanned skin of William’s chest, visible only because the top two buttons are undone. It inspires a nearly unquenchable need to reach out and touch—to pull gently on the cord like a leash or maybe just brush fingertips against tantalizingly exposed, warm skin.
It’s overwhelming already and they haven’t even started. He got himself into this—this ‘date’—and now it’s officially too late to turn back without making an ass of himself. Heat rises, baking under his skin, thickening the air; his clothes are far too constricting, his body too awkward.
Why did William have to turn out to be so dizzyingly sexy?
And then he smiles.
“Tucker?”
Somehow, Tucker manages to form his lips into a polite grin of acknowledgement that’s too strained and anxious.
“Nice to meet you,” William says in a buttery-smooth baritone, extending a well-manicured hand.
Touching. The touching has started already
, Tucker thinks as they shake. William’s grip is firm and his palm dry.
Feeling like a pitiful, helpless animal caught in a predator’s trap, Tucker ushers William inside the suite, muttering, “She said you were attractive, but… wow. You’re really….”
Why am I saying this? This is the shit that’s supposed to stay safely locked inside my damn head.
“Uh, anyway. Come in.”
As Tucker shuts the door, he glances up and down the hall for any onlookers. There aren’t any. Sighing in relief, he turns back around to find William checking out the space. It’s not the most impressive hotel room in the world, but it serves its purpose. The bedroom and sitting area adjoin. A fully stocked wet bar located on the far wall beckons, drawing them farther inside. Two glasses are set out, as well as a bottle of Jack Daniels. One glass has been used, is still half-full, and the other is clean. Crossing to the bar, Tucker downs the rest of his whiskey before filling both glasses.
“Care for a drink?”
“Sure. Thanks. You a big whiskey drinker?”
“Today I am,” Tucker chuckles nervously, passing William his glass. Their fingers graze each other and goosebumps race up Tucker’s arm. Sinful little dimples pop at the corners of William’s mouth, framing it as his smile twists wickedly.
“Nervous?” William hooks a finger behind Tucker’s belt buckle, drawing him forward while taking a sip of the amber liquid swirling in the tumbler. Setting the glass down on a side table, he sits down on the edge of the foot of the bed, ignoring the sofas completely.
Too fast. It’s happening too fast.
Tucker’s heart leaps up into his throat and if he wasn’t nervous before, he sure as hell is now.
He nods. Vaguely, at the back of his mind, he’s aware of some of the psychologies at play, the reasons behind the decisions his guest is making. With the taller William sitting on the edge of the mattress, he is positioned at a higher level—kissing range—than he would be if seated on the couch. Tucker is shorter than the average guy, unlike William, but now, seated in front of where Tucker is standing, William is perched at a height that makes him much less threatening, letting Tucker feel like the one in charge, even if he’s not.
“Tell me about yourself,” William invites with a hint of a Southern drawl that acts like a light tickle over Tucker’s balls. Thickening inside his jeans due to the mind-numbingly alluring vision before him, Tucker watches William suck his bottom lip wet with half-lidded eyes, slowly easing his thighs apart, shifting a few inches forward. Tucker is conversely drawn closer by William’s continued hold on his buckle. They migrate together, the heat from both their bodies colliding.
Tucker’s sizeable apprehension is quickly overtaken with the even larger tide of his raging lust. He hasn’t gotten laid in months. Screw the formalities and small talk. If the hot guy perched with spread thighs on his bed wants to get right to the good part of their evening, Tucker is more than all right with that plan.
Looking right into Tucker’s alert, denim-blue eyes, William smiles provocatively. The hand that was holding Tucker by the buckle rubs downward over the swelling in Tucker’s jeans. A hot, determined palm rolls over Tucker’s dick, kneading the flesh. It jumps eagerly at the touch. Eyes closing over, Tucker exhales sharply through his nose.
William asks casually, “Is this okay?”
“Yeah,” Tucker replies hoarsely. It’s difficult to form sentences while he’s being fondled, but he tries. “I’m in L.A. ’cause I’m on tour with my band. I have some friends here too. Old friends. I sing, play guitar.”
“I know,” William smiles. “I was listening to your stuff on the way over here. Your voice is really sexy. I like it. You’re good.”
Is that true or is he blowing smoke up my ass? Eh, you know what? Doesn’t matter. It’s a good thing either way.
William’s hand splays wide, grabbing all of Tucker, closing gently around his balls then stroking repeatedly along his shaft. A tense chuckle erupts from Tucker. For a second he tries opening his eyes, but when he does William is still watching him like a hawk fixated on its prey. Tucker blinks and becomes hypnotized by the particular shape of William’s lips, and imagining what they’d look like stretched wide around his cock.