Page 92 of Phantom Flower

I stood by the window, staring out at the dark city skyline. “Make sure it’s clean. I don’t want loose ends.”

Alexei leaned against the wall. “What happens when you catch this person?” he asked. “Will you let Rei go then?”

I turned my head slowly, eyes narrowing. “If by ‘let him go’ you mean he can go back to school, sure.”

Alexei’s jaw flexed. “I mean for good. You know your father—”

I cut him off. “You know I’ve been hearing Marco is pretty busy lately.” I tilted my head. “Wonder what the distraction is?”

His eye twitched once, a rare tell that told me I had hit exactly where I should not have.

I smiled. “Stay out of my business, Alexei. Or I’ll get in yours too.”

He shut up.

Smart man.

***

When I stepped inside the mansion, the scent of fresh flowers hit me immediately. I followed it into the living room and stopped in the doorway.

Rei was there.

He stood in front of the large marble console, carefully arranging a vase of deep red roses.

I moved silently behind him, years of training making my steps soundless. He did not hear me until it was too late. I pressed up against his back, one arm sliding around his waist, the other bracing on the console beside him. My lips found the side of his neck, kissing the warm skin there.

“I missed you,” I murmured, my teeth grazing the spot just below his ear. “Been thinking about you all fucking day, little fairy.”

Rei tensed, but he did not pull away. The vase wobbled slightly under his fingers. I felt the way his body reacted to me.

I kissed his neck again, sucking lightly on the skin until a faint mark bloomed.

Mine.

“Tell me you missed me too,” I demanded, nipping at his earlobe.

“I missed you,” he said, reluctant, like he hated how true the words were.

I smiled against his skin. “Show me how much.”

He went still for a long moment, then turned in my arms just enough to face me. His eyes were conflicted but burning with that same ignited need I had carved into him. He sank slowly to his knees right there in front of the console, between my spread legs. The sight of him looking up at me was like a fucking drug. My cock throbbed hard against my zipper, straining for him.

I was pleased. More than pleased. My hand slid into his hair. “You want to suck my cock, baby?”

His hands came up, resting on my thighs. He was nervous. This was new for him, and that nervousness made my blood run hotter. I loved it. Loved that I was the first. The only. His eyes flicked down to the obvious bulge in my pants, then back up, and I saw the moment he decided. He leaned forward, pressing his face against the front of my slacks, nuzzling the hard line of my cock through the fabric.

His fingers fumbled slightly with my belt and zipper. He freed my cock, and it sprang out. Rei stared for a second, lips parting, eyes widening at the size. His first time up close.

“Start slow, baby. Lick it. Get it nice and wet for your throat.”

Rei leaned in. His tongue flicked out, dragging a hot stripe along the underside of my cock from base to tip. The wet heat of it made my hips twitch. He did it again, longer this time, tasting me, exploring the thick vein running along the length. His lips brushed the head, pressing a kiss there that made my grip in his hair tighten just a little.

“Good,” I praised, voice rougher now. “Such a pretty mouth. Open up for me.”

He parted his lips, and I let him take the head into the wet heat of his mouth. The first real suck was hesitant, lips stretching around the girth, tongue swirling experimentally under the head. Fuck, it felt good. His cheeks hollowed slightly as he sucked, and I watched, mesmerized, as a thin string of saliva escaped the corner of his mouth and dripped down my shaft.

I let him explore for a minute. His hands gripped my thighs harder now, grounding himself. I could feel him relaxing into it, the nervousness giving way to that ignited hunger I had woken in him.