Something in the Way He Needs (Family 1)

Asher froze.

“You knew he was mine, Penaz. But we can call it even. Just give me your boy.”

Nicholas wasn’t alone in thinking Asher had acted out of turn when he’d had a scene with Darwin without his Dom’s permission, mostly because Nicholas wouldn’t stop talking about it to anybody who would listen. So when he made the suggestion, several men nodded.

“I just told you—he doesn’t like pain. I’m not going to let you cane him. Darwin asked for it.”

“No problem. I’ll take caning off the table. You fucked my boy, I’m going to fuck yours. That’s it. No cane, no whip, no pain.” Nicholas reached for Daniel, and Daniel stepped back out of his grasp, practically hiding behind Asher. “Tell your boy to come to me, Asher, or can’t you control him even that much?”

At that moment, Asher didn’t feel like he could control himself, let alone Daniel. But he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. “Fine,” he heard himself saying. “But after this we’re even.”

It was, Asher knew, a strange compromise. He hadn’t enjoyed the feud with Nicholas, but it hadn’t ever bothered him much. Being even didn’t matter to him, not really. And besides, Nicholas was right—he had no control over Daniel. The concert earlier that night had made that abundantly clear. There was no way Daniel was going to agree to this. No, he would refuse, proving, in a very public way, that Nicholas was right about Asher having no control over his boy.

But Daniel didn’t refuse. When Nicholas reached for him again, Daniel let the man grab his wrist and start pulling him out of the room.

“Wait,” an unfamiliar voice bellowed. “I want him first.”

Every head turned to see the club’s owner blocking the hallway. Riley Sands was a huge man, even bigger than Asher. And though he had a warm smile and kind eyes, people tended to steer clear of him because he rarely spoke, just glared and watched everyone and everything in a disconcerting way. And to Asher’s knowledge, he’d never hooked up with anyone at the Lounge.

“I—” Nicholas started to protest, only to be interrupted by Riley.

“My club, my rules. Let’s go, boy. Grab your clothes and follow me.” Riley turned on his heel and started walking away. When nobody said a word, Daniel scooped up his clothes and shoes and followed. He looked at Asher as he passed, his expression full of confusion, betrayal, and so much pain that it almost brought Asher to his knees. But still, Daniel didn’t refuse, didn’t say a word, just trailed after Riley down the hallway.

It wasn’t until the two men were out of sight and Asher heard the door to the office in the back close that he realized what he’d done. But even then, he saw no way out of it. And Daniel had gone willingly. Hell, maybe this was what he’d wanted all along. After all, he had been trying to get other men’s attention all night, right?

A few people Asher knew approached, trying to make light conversation and see what he’d been doing during the time he’d been away, but he couldn’t focus. He couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel alone in a room with Riley Sands. And why? Because he didn’t want to appear weak in front of men who he didn’t even care enough about to see, let alone talk to, in more than half a year? These weren’t his friends. Hell, they were barely acquaintances. Just people who had similar itches to scratch. And Daniel was… Asher gasped as realization set in. He’d made a mistake. A huge mistake.

Asher walked away from whoever was talking to him and marched down the hallway over to the office. He tried the door, expecting to find it locked, but it swung open.

Riley Sands was sitting at his desk, paperwork spread in front of him. He looked up when he heard the door open, his expression fierce, stare unwavering.

Asher glanced around the office and then looked at Riley. A sick feeling washed over him when he realized Daniel wasn’t there. How much time had passed? Had Nicholas already collected him?

“Where’s Daniel?” he asked.

“Gone,” Riley answered.

Asher waited for an explanation, but true to form, Riley didn’t say anything else. Just glared at him with those disconcertingly piercing eyes.

“Gone where?” he said. “Where does Nicholas have him?”

Disgust spread over Riley’s face. “Do you honestly think I’d hand a sub over to a man he didn’t want because of some pissing match?”

The message was clear, and Asher winced as if he’d been struck.

“I made a mistake,” he said. “Biggest mistake of my life.” Which, Asher knew, he should have recognized much earlier. “Where is he?”

“Yes, you did. And I don’t know where he is. I called him a cab, took him out through my private exit.” He gestured toward a door in the corner of the office. “And stayed with him until they drove away.”