Beautifully Stolen (Candied Crush Book 4) Read online

  Fuck. Things weren’t going Brett’s way. When he had decided to go on this impromptu trip to Aspen, he hadn’t considered his arrival time. Funnily enough, though, he had thought a lot about the possibility Roman wouldn’t be alone when he got here. Instead, Roman wasn’t home. Since it was late on a Friday night, Brett should have known that. Weekends would be the big money maker for stripping, he imagined. Yet that hadn’t once crossed Brett’s mind while making the drive. He checked into his hotel room while trying to decide his next move. Considering the late time, the sensible choice would be to wait until morning to go see Roman, but then he was back to chancing Roman not being alone. Damn. He hadn’t thought this through. Brett had always been the world’s worst about getting an idea and running with it. He wanted Roman, so he had set out to get him the moment his doctor cleared him to travel. There was one option on the table, but it was a risky one.

  Brett needed info. He knew where to get it, but he hated to ask. The last thing he wanted was to look desperate. Unfortunately, he had no other choice.

  Brett: I need a favor from your husband. Please don’t ask any questions.

  Falcon: Of course. You know I’ll always have your back. Whatever you need.

  Brett: I need the address to where Roman works.

  There was no going back now. Brett held his breath and waited. Three little dots danced on his phone for much longer than necessary, making Brett wonder if Falcon kept typing messages and deleting them. Finally, a new message appeared.

  Falcon: If I can’t ask questions, may I give you a warning instead?

  Brett: I’d rather you didn’t.

  Falcon: Fair enough. It’s 1132 Anglers Way.

  Brett: Thank you.

  Falcon: You might not want to thank me just yet.

  Brett: Fair enough.

  This was something Brett had to do. While Brett went most places alone, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy this one time. He never went to strip clubs. Brett didn’t know if nude bars were the type of place people went alone. He also didn’t know why the nearly silent nondescript warehouse-looking building made the hair stand on the back of his neck, but it did. When he passed strip joints in L.A., they had flashing neon lights and signs that left no doubts to what the place offered. This place didn’t have any of that. In fact, it was so dark that Brett checked the address Falcon had given him twice before heading for the door. Part of him hoped Falcon had mistyped. Something didn’t feel right. As he approached the door, he realized the windows were blacked out, making the place seem darker. That made sense. The huge guard standing outside also seemed logical. After all, someone had to keep out underage people.

  The beefy dude with dark hair held out his hand, stopping Brett. “Member or visitor?”

  They had members. The no signs thing made a little more sense. “Visitor.”

  The dude pulled a radio from his belt and spoke into it. “Visitor at the door.” He eyed Brett. “It’ll be just a second.”

  Brett nodded. His discomfort grew larger by the second. Finally, a blond guy in a suit opened the door. He too eyed Brett from head to toe before waving him inside. Brett followed on his heels. The low thump of music came from the distance.

  “I’m Ken,” the guy said, leading Brett inside a small and badly lit office. “Are you interested in a membership or are you testing the waters?”

  Brett had no clue what that meant. “I don’t live here. I only came to see Adonis.”

  Ken nodded. He didn’t make eye contact. Brett supposed that was pretty typical. No one wanted to feel seen here. “It’s two fifty for a private show. Plus, whatever you want to tip. You have to pay upfront. If you want to use a credit card, it’ll show up as Ken’s Repairs on your statement. So no worries about privacy.”

  The whole transaction felt shady as fuck, but Brett handed over his credit card. He could hardly come to Roman’s work and not expect to pay to see him. Ken ran his card and then headed back out. Brett followed. The place seemed to be nothing more than a long series of hallways and closed doors. Ken led him inside one. It was dark.

  “Wait here. Don’t worry. We keep everything sanitized. Adonis will join you shortly.”

  Like that, Brett was alone in a dark room. He really couldn’t see much of anything. There seemed to be some type of window with a dim light peeking around the edge. It only offered enough light for Brett to make out a chair. He really didn’t want to sit on anything after the sanitized comment, but his foot throbbed inside his walking boot. Brett made a valiant effort not to touch anything too much as he sat. Before he could get too grossed out, the curtain opened.

  Brett’s jaw dropped. Roman sat on a throne on the other side. Nude. Hard. Dick in hand and stroking. There were sex toys of every variety surrounding him. He looked turned on and ready to go. When Roman spoke, his voice came through an invisible speaker.

  “What’s on the menu tonight?”

  Brett didn’t respond. He couldn’t. None of this was expected. He had somewhat prepared himself to see Roman in a thong with oiled-up skin while people tossed cash his way, but this was something else entirely.

  Roman smirked. “Don’t be shy. I can’t see you, but I can hear you.” He stood, looking proud as he moved to a nearby male sex doll. It looked like a high-dollar cyborg. It was anatomically correct in every way. “Do you want me to fuck him, or is he fucking me tonight?” Roman stroked the doll’s humongous fake cock at the question. He winked. “I can take it.”

  Despite his shock, Brett’s body responded. He wanted to watch, but it didn’t feel right. Goddamn, Roman was smoking hot, but still. They knew each other. It seemed wrong. “I didn’t drive nine hundred miles for this.”

  Roman froze. His face turned toward what Brett suspected was a two-way mirror. “Brett?”

  “Yeah.” A nervous-sounding chuckle escaped him. “Sorry. I said I wanted to see you at the door. I think there was a miscommunication.”

  Roman looked uncomfortable—like he really wanted to cover his nudity. Brett’s chest hurt. He felt like he had violated their trust or something. “I don’t think I should’ve come here. I wanted to surprise you, but not like this.” Brett stood. He should leave. “I’m staying at the Black Run Lodge. Suite two ten, if you want to see me.” Brett headed for the door.

  “Wait.”

  Brett froze. He couldn’t look directly at Roman. “Yeah?”

  “Don’t move, okay?”

  Brett shifted nervously. “Okay.” The curtain drew closed, plunging Brett into darkness once again. Brett wanted to run. His mind was a mess. He hadn’t expected any of this. Roman was an exotic dancer, or so he had said. Brett had known that part and been fine with it. This wasn’t the same thing at all. He felt... Brett didn’t know how he felt. They weren’t a couple. He had no right to balk. Yet, he felt cheated in some way he couldn’t explain—like Roman would never and could never belong to him exclusively.

  The door swung open and Roman stepped inside. The lights flared to life. He wore jeans and nothing else. The button was undone like he had rushed to get to Brett. That small detail saved Brett’s sanity. Still, he had a hard time meeting Roman’s stare.

  “I’m sorry.” Brett had no idea why he apologized.

  “I should have told you.”

  Brett’s gaze finally moved to Roman’s. He looked devastated. “Why did you lie?” Brett couldn’t stop the question. It came out sounding every bit as hurt as he felt. “You told me you were a dancer.”

  “I didn’t lie, exactly. If you had requested a lap dance, you would’ve gotten one. You must’ve accidentally used just the right words to get this service. This is a sex club,” Roman explained, needlessly. Brett had figured that much out for himself. “Most nights, I dance in a cage in the main room until someone asks for my private services.” Roman’s gaze skirted away. “I told you that you wouldn’t want me if you really knew me.”

  Brett’s heart twisted at the surety in Roman’s voice. He fully believed Brett would reject him no
w. “How much time did my two hundred and fifty dollars buy with you?” Brett didn’t know why he couldn’t hurt Roman and walk away. He just couldn’t.

  Roman’s gaze returned to cautiously meet Brett’s. “Twenty minutes.”

  “Will you come see me when you get off tonight? I brought a gift for you.”

  Roman nodded. “If you still want me to, then of course.”

  “I still want you there.” Brett reached past Roman and turned off the lights. “Get back to your throne, Adonis. I want to see if you really can take it.”

  Roman’s mouth slammed down on Brett’s with enough force their teeth bumped. Brett’s body burned as Roman’s tongue roughly brushed his. It was over as quickly as it started and Roman was gone. Brett closed the door and returned to his seat. It was very likely he was a complete idiot, but he couldn’t spurn Roman. Maybe when he made it back to L.A., Brett wouldn’t speak to him again. He couldn’t say he wouldn’t overthink this. Tonight, though, he wanted to watch. He wanted Roman to meet him later. His body craved everything. Brett wasn’t leaving Aspen until he got what came for—Roman.

  Roman couldn’t believe Brett was here. He hurried through the secret passageways where staff safely traversed the hallways to slip back inside his private playroom. Even though he felt a lot more self-conscious than usual, he quickly stripped and hit the control to the curtain. Roman wondered if Brett had really chosen to stay. He decided to act the way he always did—like no one else was there.

  “You’re incredibly beautiful. I’ve thought so since the first time we met.”

  The words filtered through the speaker, letting him know Brett still watched. He flashed the two-way mirror a seductive smile. “The feeling is most definitely mutual.” The memory of the first time they met over a year ago sneaked in. Roman’s discomfort slipped away as he moved to stand at the mirror. He pressed his palms against the cool surface. “I think about the day we met all the time.” Roman might have been embarrassed by his confession, but the mirror gave the illusion of being alone.

  “We barely spoke that day.”

  There was a hint of confusion in Brett’s voice. Roman didn’t know if he could explain. Still, he tried. “You were behind your camera, filming Falcon. All day long, you barely spared me a glance. That gave me the freedom to watch your every move. Study your every expression.” Roman stroked his cock. “I saw something in you that I don’t think most people would notice. There’s a reason you’re so good at what you do. It’s because you like to watch.”

  Roman moved to his throne and sat. He draped one leg over the arm and slid lower, exposing himself and leaving nothing to the imagination. “You see all the right angles without trying, because you love all things visual.” Roman used one hand to squeeze his balls and toy with his asshole while he used the other to set a rhythm meant to please. He watched his reflection, but he saw Brett’s face in his head. “Your stare holds more intensity than anyone I’ve ever met. I see you. I understand why your clothes are always bright and why you always know who will be a star just by looking at them. It’s because you see people and you like to be seen every bit as much. Yet no one seems to notice you in the same way you see all of them, do they? So, you dress a little more outlandish all the time, just wondering if today will be the day they’ll recognize you for who you are. Imagine if you joined me in here as Midas.” Roman’s lust skyrocketed at the thought. Pressure climbed his shaft. He pumped faster. “Imagine if you let people watch you while you straddle my hips. I see you for who you are. You should let other people see too.” Roman writhed. His body burned. He wanted to be inside Brett. Before Brett, people had bored the hell out of him. Brett made him feel like he had something to offer to someone. He could give him this. Set him free. “Tell me who you are, Brett. Are you Brett or are you Midas?”

  “I’m yours.”

  The words were so calmly and surely spoken that they sent Roman over the edge. Pleasure shook him as jets of cum hit him in the chest. He gasped for air, but his eyes never left his reflection. Brett was there, on the other side of the mirror, watching.

  “Suite two ten. Black Run Lodge. Come to me.”

  Roman’s eyes fell closed as the demand caressed his ears. His breath stuttered from his lungs. “I’ll be there.”

  There was nowhere he would rather be. He just prayed Brett was actually there when he got off work. He still had a few hours before he could leave. That was too much time for Brett to think. Panic started to set in.

  “Are you still there?”

  A sexy chuckle rumbled through the speakers. “I’m still here. I still have seven minutes left on the clock.”

  Roman jumped to his feet. He didn’t care about anything. He snagged his shirt and swiped the cum from his torso before tossing it aside. Roman didn’t bother wasting time to dress. He raced to Brett’s side of the room. This time, he didn’t bother with the lights. Roman kicked the door closed behind him as he overcame Brett.

  “I’m claiming my third kiss.”

  Brett came back at him every bit as hard as Roman went in. Their tongues clashed. Brett’s hands were everywhere, caressing. Roman dragged Brett closer, needing to hold him. Four weeks apart had been twenty-nine days too long. Roman never missed anyone. He ached for Brett. He didn’t understand it. Never had. They just fit. This was the one for him. He thought his heart had always known it. That was why they kept seeking each other out without reason. Just because Roman knew they were meant to be didn’t mean Brett felt it. He could still run.

  “Please be there when I come to you. Don’t run from me.”

  Brett kissed him sweetly, making Roman’s eyes burn. “I’ll be there. I promise. Just hurry.” He deepened their kiss again while holding Roman’s face between his hands. “Jesus, please hurry,” Brett whispered against Roman’s lips.

  A loud knock landed on the door. “Time’s up.”

  Brett startled in his arms.

  Roman soothed him, rubbing his back. “Don’t worry. He won’t burst in here. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. Sooner, if I can swing it.”

  Brett traced Roman’s jawline one final time before pulling away. “I’ll be waiting.”

  With his heart in his throat, Roman watched Brett slip from the room. He knew this could still go wrong in a million different ways, but he never dreamed Brett would accept this side of him. He needed to get this night done so he could be with Brett. They still needed to talk. A smile pulled at Roman’s lips. Brett had shown up, though. He had followed Roman to Aspen. His brow furrowed. Why in the hell had Brett driven? Roman shook his head at the random thought. It was possible they hadn’t cleared him to fly yet. In a flash, Roman went back to smiling like an idiot. Brett looked adorable in his walking boot and baggy as hell purple pants. Where did he find such crazy clothes? Roman couldn’t wait to strip them away. He already counted the minutes.

  Eight

  Brett thought he should probably be pacing the floor and chewing his nails. None of that happened. Instead, his mind churned, turning over Roman’s words. Roman claimed Brett wanted to be seen the same as he saw others. Maybe that had some truth to it, but the rest of what Roman said was what he couldn’t shake. Roman wanted him to climb inside the mirror as Midas. Straddle his hips while people watched. A pant escaped Brett. His current level of arousal was off the charts. He didn’t think he was brave enough to do what Roman did. Surely there wasn’t a secret exhibitionist living inside him. Brett was a too skinny guy who didn’t look anything like Roman. Roman had cut muscles and a godlike physique, and the fact that Brett’s only concern was how he looked was mind-blowing. He should be horrified at the thought of people watching him like that. Except he wasn’t. Brett’s entire body ached with desire. While most of his lust was thanks to Roman’s show, Brett couldn’t deny some of his arousal stemmed from Roman’s accusations.

  A knock landed on his hotel room door. His heart skipped a beat. Brett took a steadying breath. He had a few surprises for Roman and he couldn’t wait to
see the man’s face. Brett opened the door. He caught a flash of Roman’s heated expression before Roman overtook him. Brett heard the door slam as his feet left the floor. Roman’s tongue invaded his mouth as he tore at Brett’s clothes. He didn’t have many since he had been dressed for bed. Brett fruitlessly fought to catch his breath. Roman obviously hadn’t come to talk.

  Brett’s back hit the mattress. He swore the room spun. Rough fingers probed at his asshole, coating him with lube, and fucking with Brett’s mind. He had no clue how Roman managed to find lube in his frenzy. Brett switched between clawing at Roman’s skin and scratching at the sheets. His body was on fire. Nothing mattered but the arousal. Before his brain had time to catch up, Roman was inside him. Then things slowed. Roman’s touch turned to a caress. His body rocked against Brett’s. He kissed Brett softly. Reverently. Brett’s heart sighed.

  Roman kissed a path to Brett’s ear. “I’ve missed you.” He thrust. “Goddamn, I’ve missed you.”

  Brett’s throat swelled and his eyes burned. He could feel himself falling for Roman and it was terrifying. Brett had never been more frightened of the way someone made him feel. Roman changed angles and Brett saw stars. Everything ceased to matter beyond the needs of his body.