Just a Bit Ruthless (Straight Guys 6)

Maybe Roman would say no, but maybe it didn’t matter.

This was enough for him. More than enough.

Chapter 30

Roman had never been the cuddling type. Sometimes he had humored his partners, but he’d never particularly enjoyed it himself. But he couldn’t deny that he liked the weight of Luke’s curly head on his chest, liked holding the boy close after sex, liked Luke’s sleepy snuggles. He really was such a cuddle monster.

“Remember how you told me seventy percent of your business was legal?” Luke murmured suddenly.

Roman made an affirmative noise, threading his fingers through the boy’s hair.

“You could make it one hundred percent.”

Roman opened his eyes. “What?”

Luke folded his arms on top of Roman’s chest and put his chin on them, his expression earnest but hesitant. “You’re a multi-billionaire. It wouldn’t make a big difference for you. It would be practically a drop in the ocean.”

Roman laughed. “Not exactly a drop in the ocean.”

Luke’s brows furrowed. “You’d never need so much money.”

“I likely wouldn’t,” Roman conceded.

“See?” Luke exclaimed, beaming at him, dimples in full force.

Roman suppressed a sigh. “And why, exactly, should I give up thirty percent of my income?” he said dryly. “We’re talking about millions here. And before you say it’s the ‘right’ thing to do, I never cared about doing the right thing and I’m not going to start.”

“It’s not—I’m not talking about doing the right thing. I mean, of course doing the right thing is important, but that’s not the main reason.” Luke went silent for a short while. “I know you think my father was an idiot, but he wasn’t. He was smart, cunning, and dangerous. And yet he’s dead.” Biting his lip, Luke dropped his gaze for a moment before meeting Roman’s eyes again. “I get nervous every time you don’t call me for long while you’re away. I want to stop feeling that way, stop living in fear.”

Roman stared at him, a warm feeling spreading through his chest, a sensation that had become very familiar as of late.

“I’m not easy to kill, solnyshko,” he said, and for the first time he noticed there was no trace of mockery in the endearment. Perhaps there hadn’t been for a while. Solnyshko fit. Sunshine. His little sun.

Luke gave a small smile that didn’t quite touch his eyes. “I’m sure my father thought the same. Please?”

Roman was used to dealing with dangerous men. Many would call him a very dangerous man, as well. But this slim young man with his angelic face, soft smiles, golden curls and earnest eyes was the most dangerous thing he’d ever encountered. This face should have been outlawed.

Roman tightened his arm around Luke’s back before flipping him over and rolling on top of him. He leaned down and kissed the plush, cherry pink lips lightly, then again, and again. His body was completely sated after the sex, but he was hungry, a hunger that had nothing to do with lust. He wanted to swallow this boy’s sweetness and make it his own.

“Is that a yes?” Luke gasped against his lips.

“It’s a maybe,” Roman said, propping himself up on his elbows. It was a complicated issue. Of course he could find legal alternatives to partly compensate for the lost income, but rationally, there was no viable reason to change what was working perfectly. However, he had known this would likely be one of the compromises he would have to make if he wanted to keep the boy—and keep him safe. He had already assessed the situation. But Luke didn’t need to know that. Luke didn’t need to know how whipped he was. “It’s not a decision I can make on a whim.”

“I know,” Luke said, his eyes full of light. He touched Roman’s unshaven cheek. “I kind of thought you’d refuse outright. It means a lot to me that you will consider it.”

Smirking, Roman murmured, “But what’s in it for me? What about some shares of Whitford Industries?”

Luke half-groaned, half-laughed. “You’re impossible!”

No, you’re impossible, Roman thought, looking down at Luke’s grinning face. What are you doing with me, letting my tainted hands touch you?

He didn’t say it aloud. He never claimed to be a good man.

Instead, Roman rolled on his back, wondering if Luke had any idea what he’d gotten himself into. He was so young, only twenty-three. Did the boy truly realize there was no going back for him? Because Roman would never let him go.

Luke snuggled up to him again, fingers playing idly with his chest hair. “Can I ask you something?” There was something strange in his voice. “Promise not to freak out on me,” he added against Roman’s biceps.

Looking at his curly head, Roman chuckled. “Not exactly a promising beginning.”

Luke was carefully avoiding his eyes. “Do you want to have kids at some point?”

“It’s not that I’m opposed to that,” Roman replied, his tone neutral as he eyed Luke. Truth be told, it was an issue he’d given some thought to after turning thirty. His mother’s constant nagging for grandchildren aside, he did like the idea of leaving the fortune he had amassed to his own children. Because Luke was right about one thing: Roman wouldn’t be able to spend all his money in several lifetimes. But there were other issues to consider. A child was a huge responsibility. A child would be another weak point his enemies might use against him.