"We all must sleep with the devil at some point in our lives," Max said. "Thankfully the devil in this case is on our side. But I heard that Savant is already stepping in and taking over. He set up a meeting with the Irish dealers. The FBI and ATF are keeping a close eye on him."

"And in the meantime his cronies are trying to take you out," T-Rex said. "Watch your back, Maxwell."

Max stuffed his hand in his pocket as he gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling window. He thought about his son and wanted to call Gabe, but right now, the less contact, the better. His stomach clenched at the thought of anything happening to his son. Gabe was the only family he had left and Max was gonna make damn sure his son was safe. "I'm not without my own talents, T-Rex. I did serve as a marine for eight years."

"But you have morals. The men after you don't. They won't care who they have to kill in order to get to you," T-Rex said.

Max turned when he heard someone coming through the door. It was Gator and Travis-one of Gator's men. The two men took a seat as Max finished up his phone call. "Listen, I gotta go. Gabe should be at your place soon. He can be a handful at times, but he's all I have left, T-Rex."

"Nothing will happen to him, Max. Legend is taking the long way home in order to ensure that they're not being followed. Once Gabe gets here, he'll have my entire team watching out for him. You just take care of your end."

Max thanked T-Rex and then hung up.

"Everything okay with Gabe?" Travis asked.

Max had started to tell T-Rex that he suspected that Legend and Gabe would become more than bodyguard and client. But Max wasn't really sure. He'd noticed the chemistry between them in his office but that could have been a fluke. But if it wasn't, Gabe couldn't be in better hands. He just hoped that Legend treated his son right or Max was gonna go after the man with all he had.

"No word yet," Max said to Travis. "I'm sure if there was trouble, Legend would get word to his team."

Gator nodded. "T-Rex and his men are damn good. Gabe shouldn't have any problems."

Tossing his phone onto a nearby table, Max turned. "So what have you got for me?"

Gator sat on the couch, relaxed. But Max knew the man's appearance gave others a false sense of security. There was lethality brewing behind the man's eyes and Gator was capable of moving at lightning speed.

"The contract on your head was astronomical," Gator replied. "The only way to remove it is for you to die."

Max nodded. He had a feeling it would come to this. For the last seventeen years he'd run Summerville Savings and Loans. But in all honesty, his heart wasn't in it. It was a family-owned business and he had inherited from his father.

Max was ready to retire, to enjoy life. Maybe this situation was a sign and he should take full advantage of it. He could sell off all his shares and take on a new identity. The only regret he would have was giving up the Summerville estate.

There were too many memories there and he cherished each and every one of them. Since discovering what had been going on at his bank, Max had gathered his wife's treasured belongings and had moved them to a secure location. He had also moved everything he wanted to keep of Gabe's. He just hated to let go of the home he had shared with his family for so many years. But it was just a house. He could start over.

Becoming resolute in his decision, Max asked, "Then how does Maxwell Summerville die?"

Chapter Five.

Gabe watched as Legend grabbed his cell phone off the dresser and walked outside. He yanked at the cuffs, trying to break free as his heart beat furiously behind his ribs. He was scared as hell at the strange need uncoiling inside of him, a need for Legend to go through with his threat to spank Gabe, a need for the man to dominate him. There was only one bed in this room and it didn't take a genius to figure out where Legend would be sleeping.

He whimpered and began to shake at the cool air that was blowing over his skin. Gabe was too close to the air-conditioner, the sweat on his body drying at a rapid rate, leaving him shivering on the bed. He strained to hear what Legend was saying. The guy's voice was muffled, but Gabe caught part of the conversation.

"He's fine. I'm taking the route we laid out before I left. We should be there in the next few days."

Who was Legend talking to? It couldn't be Gabe's father. They weren't heading to the estate.

"Tell Sam to set up an extra room. And let the men know that the principal is a runner. I'll need extra detail on this one."

Men? What men? Where exactly was Legend taking him? How many men were going to be guarding Gabe? He didn't like being referred to as the principal either.

Legend walked back inside, setting the phone down. Gabe glanced over the man's strong back, narrow hips, and toned ass that made the towel flare. He bit back a moan even as his cock grew hard.

"Who were you talking to?" Gabe asked.

When Legend turned, Gabe could see aggression and raw masculinity in his expression. Behind those honey-amber eyes so much was going on, but Gabe could read very little.

"Get some sleep."

"Like this?" Gabe yanked at the cuffs. "My arms are sore."

Legend walked over to the bed and scooted Gabe up until there was some slack. The ache in his arms eased, but the pulsing in his groin grew when Legend's hands touched him.

I'm enmeshed in a dangerous situation with a mysterious stranger and I'm fucking turned on? Gabe needed his head examined. The tension between them was tangible as his anger turned to a hazy heat. Gabe began to shiver again as the air-conditioner continued to blow toward him.

"Cold?"

Gabe's gaze dropped to the shadowy bulge under the towel, telling him that Legend was half-hard. Were the cuffs turning Legend on? Was he into that sort of thing? Why in the hell does that thought make my body ache for the guy?

"A bit," Gabe answered. He watched Legend readjust the thermostat, his muscles flexing as he moved. Gabe sucked in his lower lip, tearing his eyes away from a man he shouldn't want, shouldn't crave, yet whom he was ready to beg for some sort of release.

Legend turned and began to remove Gabe's shoes.

"What are you doing?"

"You're not sleeping in the bed with me with shoes on. I'm not going to let you kick me with these things." Legend dropped both shoes onto the floor, stripped Gabe's socks off, and then reached for the waistband of his shorts.

"Whoa." Gabe twisted to the side, dodging Legend's fingers. "What, do you think I'll kick you with my shorts?"

The side of Legend's mouth twitched and Gabe had a feeling that if the man truly smiled, he would be breathtaking.

"No, but it's going to get hot in here since the air-conditioner is too cold for you. I don't need you tossing and turning all night."

Gabe rattled the cuffs. "I seriously doubt I'll be moving much."

Legend's nostrils flared as he pulled Gabe's shorts off. This time Gabe didn't protest. He smirked when Legend inhaled sharply.

"Don't you believe in underwear?"

"Hate the things," Gabe replied, watching Legend's reaction to his nudity. "Now can you put the sheet over me or are you going to stand there and continue to drool at the sight of my cock?"

Gabe was disappointed when Legend covered him. What had he expected, and would he truly want whatever Legend had to offer? Gabe needed to stop playing these dangerous games or he might get more than he bargained for.

Legend had been right. The room began to warm and Gabe was ready to kick the sheets off. What he wouldn't give for a fan blowing on him right now.

What I wouldn't give for Legend to be blowing on me right now. Gabe groaned at the wicked thought that shot through his mind.

"Stop making those noises," Legend said as his jaw clenched.

"What noises?" Gabe feigned ignorance.

Legend moved to the other side of the bed and dropped the towel. At the sight of Legend's thick cock, arousal muddled Gabe's thoughts, like a fog rolling over his mind. His hips jerked involuntarily as his muscles tightened. Legend's muscular shoulders and pecs tapered down to unyielding stomach ridges. Gabe's mouth went slack, his lips tingling to graze every inch of glistening skin. Between Legend's narrow hips, his cock jutted hungrily. Gabe gasped to see the taut head and slit covered with beads of pre-cum, the distended length pulsing.

The moon bathed his body with light, casting an eerie glow over the rises and falls of muscles. Droplets of perspiration meandered down Legend's torso, trailing over his sinewy physique.

"What's wrong, Gabe?" The bastard was teasing him as Gabe's cock grew impossibly harder.

"Nothing." Gabe ground his teeth and turned his head. He refused to beg the man for anything. Not again. Legend could tease him all he wanted to, but Gabe wasn't going to give in.

The bed dipped and Gabe couldn't stop himself from looking. Legend was lying on his stomach, his right leg bent at an angle, his knee pressing into Gabe's thigh. But it was the man's well-rounded ass that held Gabe's attention. He curled his fingers in as the need to touch became overwhelming.

"Stop staring at my ass and get some sleep."

Sleep? How in the hell was Gabe supposed to sleep when he had a gorgeous naked man splayed out next to him? Gabe should be afraid of the need growing inside him. He had been hesitant to share the same bed, but the longer he gazed at Legend's ass, the more he wanted the man to move closer.

"You're still staring," Legend said, though his eyes were closed.

Gabe grinned. "Uh-uh. I was staring at your feet."

Legend opened his eyes and gave Gabe a doubtful expression. "My feet turn you on?"

"You turn me on," he admitted.

How did a single heated look make shivers dance over Gabe's body? Sinful thoughts began to play in Gabe's mind. He nudged his hip against Legend's knee.

Legend closed his eyes. "What you want from me isn't possible, Gabe. This is only an assignment."

The man could have slapped Gabe and it would have stung less. He had thought that there was something there, even if Gabe didn't understand what it was. To hear Legend dismiss what they'd already shared made Gabe's teeth gnash.

"Who said I wanted anything from you?" Gabe's ego had just taken a punch. "You're nothing but an arrogant prick who thinks he can order me around."

Legend's hand landed on Gabe's belly, smoothing down until his fingers touched the head of Gabe's cock. He hissed, moaning, eager for Legend to wrap his fingers around Gabe's erection and get him off.

Gabe might reconsider his decision in the morning when his brain wasn't slipping down the side of his skull. Right now? He'd settle for one hell of a blow job and getting the cuffs off-after they fooled around.

"I don't affect you?" One of Legend's eyes popped open.

"Not in the least." Gabe fought for control, but his body wasn't obeying. Pre-cum began to gather at the tip of his cock as Gabe shivered. He might be willing to give in, but he wasn't going to make it easy for Legend. Gabe was enjoying the teasing. It was turning him on. Why give up the goods and have this end so soon?

"You're not a very good liar, sweetness." Legend trailed his fingers up Gabe's abdomen while twisting around to take one of Gabe's nipples into his mouth.

Gabe's head swam as he moaned at the pleasure. He yanked at the cuffs, trying to get free so he could run his hands through Legend's silky hair. "Take the cuffs off."

Legend glanced up at Gabe as he circled Gabe's nipple with his tongue. He had a wicked gleam in his eyes as a smile formed. As their eyes locked, Legend bit down.

Gabe shouted, bucked, his cock leaking like a broken dam as he rushed closer to his orgasm. How in the hell did Legend affect him like this? One sultry look and Gabe was ready to beg the man to get him off.

"I told you I would punish you if you ran again." Legend pinched Gabe's other nipple, sending ripples of pain and pleasure through him.

"You said you'd spank me until I couldn't sit," Gabe reminded Legend through hard pants. He strained against his restraints, pulling at the headboard, but the cuffs held firm.

"Is that what you want, sweetness? Do you want to feel the sting of my hand on your ass?"

Gabe started to wonder if Legend had cuffed him to stop Gabe from running home or to stop him from running from Legend. Gabe wasn't going anywhere, not with Legend lying so close to him. So Legend must have been getting some sort of thrill out of keeping Gabe from running from him. Gabe was like his caged prey and Legend was the predator ready to pounce.

Gabe frowned. "You want me to beg you to spank me? This is some sort of twisted game to you, isn't it?"

Legend laughed as he bit Gabe's other nipple, his tongue snaking out to lick away the pain. "Why would you think I'm playing twisted games with you?"

"Because you told me you want to do naughty things with me."

"No," Legend corrected. "I said I wanted to do filthy things to you."

"Llike what?" Curiosity was getting the better of Gabe, even though he knew he should leave well enough alone. If the cuffs and swat on the ass turned Legend on, there was no telling how deep his darkness went. Was Gabe willing to explore those depths? If he kept pushing the man, he just might find himself in a situation he wasn't prepared for.

Legend pulled back from Gabe's nipple before blowing a cool puff of air over the wet, sensitive peak. Gabe moaned, his body bucking as he gritted his teeth.

"I'd rather show you."

Gabe shook when Legend grabbed his shirt and lifted it over Gabe's head, letting the fabric tighten over his eyes. "What are you doing?" Panic began to well up inside of him. Why was Legend covering his eyes? What was he about to do?

"When you lose one sense, the others become sharper. Like touch." Legend ran his fingers over Gabe's nipples, plucking at them. The man was right. It was as if ten of his hands were on Gabe. The sensation was amplified. Gabe felt as if his body were coming alive, one big exposed nerve as Legend's hands played over his skin. His skin hummed with electricity and Gabe had to bite his lower lip in order not to beg. He was close, though. Very close to pleading with Legend to take him.

"Taste."

Something nudged at Gabe's lips and he instantly sucked Legend's finger into his mouth. Legend's finger slid inside and he tasted salty, masculine skin. The finger was a bit rough, callused, but Gabe kept it between his lips, suckling it. He could hear Legend hiss as his finger pumped in and out of Gabe's mouth.

Gabe had never played this kind of game before and he found that he liked it. No, he more than liked it. He never wanted it to end. It was thrilling and kept him guessing at what Legend would do next.

"Smell."

Legend removed his finger and Gabe lay there for a moment, everything quiet except for the chorus of sounds outside the room. The sounds were crisper, sharper, the cicadas serenading each other on this balmy night.

He could feel the sweat gathering over his skin, hear his own rapid breathing, and yearned for Legend to do something. He flexed his hips, pulled at his cuffs, but Legend remained silent. His cock was hard and aching, his senses reaching out to find where Legend had gone.

And then Gabe smelled something wholly masculine. He sniffed the air, trying to get a read on what it was. His body jerked at the scent before something soft pressed under his nose. "Leather," he said, a little breathy.

The smell invaded his lungs and Gabe became lost in a world of such sensual pleasure that nothing mattered but the moment and Legend.

"And sound."

Gabe's breath hitched, his chest rising and falling faster as he listened to something being ripped.