Unearthed (The Dungeon Black Duology 1)

Although, speaking of lips, Sean was also quite happy with the handful of smiles he’d elicited. Not big ones—wasn’t sure Max was even capable of those—but smiles all the same. And Sean had captured every one of them. Which made the wait to hit his dark room almost as unbearable as the one to return to Max’s dungeon.

Sean lowered his Canon and smiled. “There. All done. That wasn’t so bad, yeah?”

Max stood up straight and slid him a look. “Yeah. Although it wasn’t so good, either.”

Sean slid his camera back into its case. “Shit. You did great. Can’t wait to develop these.”

Max hung his pool stick back on its wall mount. “You do that yourself?”

“Yep. One of my favorite pastimes.”

Max lifted a brow. “No shit? Use a dark room?”

Sean slid his case’s strap over his shoulder and followed Max up the two steps into the kitchen. “Yeah. Well. A makeshift one.”

Max shot him a curious look over his shoulder.

Sean grinned. “My bedroom converts.”

“Huh.” Max eyed him. Then he headed for the fridge. “Want a drink? You hungry?” He tugged the thing open.

Sean came to a stop. “Nah. I’m good.”

Again, Max regarded him before pulling out two waters. “I’ll bring you one just in case.”

Sean’s lips curved. So did Max’s. Both stared at the other. An exchange Sean was really growing to love. A little bit of awkward, but a whole fucking lot of amazing. He couldn’t explain it. It was a strange enigma. But honestly, he didn’t really care. As long as those dark green eyes were on him, everything was totally good.

Max unscrewed his water bottle and took a swig, his gaze still locked with Sean’s. Sean watched his Adam’s apple rise and fall. Max recapped his drink. “You ready?”

Shit. Sean’s heart jumped to second gear. He knew what Max was asking. “Yep.”

Holy crap, he was doing this. Was this nuts? Was he stupid?

“Good.” Max got moving again and gestured for Sean to follow. “You brought those forms that I asked for?”

Sean nodded. “I did.”

They stopped at the basement door.

Max pulled it open and handed Sean their water bottles. “You head down. I’ll be there in a second. Gotta go change my clothes.”

Sean blinked. “You gotta change?”

Max sorta kinda smirked. “I do. And, actually, so do you.”

Sean frowned. “I do? Into what?”

Max definitely smirked that time. “You’ll see. It’s on the couch. Be in it when I get back. Or else.” His eyes glinted with a light that looked like teasing, but with Max it was always hard to tell. Sean watched him turn and saunter down the hall. Watched him round the bend and head up the stairs.

Sean turned and eyed the stairwell to the basement.

Fuck. This was crazy.

But what was crazier still was how bad he couldn’t wait to get started.

Sean took to the steps and made his way down, that same lemon polish reaching his nose. This time, however, he knew for a fact that Max used the stuff for more than just wood. Try leather. And a lot of it. High-quality and black. Taunting all who entered to come and play.

A challenge Sean was anxious to accept.

He reached Max’s door, swallowed and pushed it open, then squared his shoulders and strode inside. The place looked the same, all low-lit and ominous, exuding all the same kinky vibes. But unlike the first time Sean breached its threshold, it didn’t make him nearly as nervous. Maybe because he’d been there before, going so far as to try some shit out. But Sean suspected the primary reason was because he visited Max’s website. Read every page. Digested every concept. One biggie being that of safety. Another, how every scene a Dom devises only uses activities requested or consented to. By his sub. In advance. Which really took the fire out of the fear factor. Which, in turn, lent room for eager anticipation.

A brand new adventure of adrenaline-laced thrills.

Pushing Sean from his comfort zone. Testing his boundaries. Discovering just how much he could endure. All at the hand of a Master. A Dominant.

Who just so happened to be hot as fucking hell.

With a dark little attitude that drove Sean wild.

He glanced to the couch, then headed its way, looking for Max’s surprise. His brows shot high as he came to a stop. “Whoa...” He set down their waters and picked up the tiny garment. Then smiled bigger than shit. “These are hot.” And that was putting it mildly. Black leather boy shorts, just barely his size, held together by two buttons on each side. For easy removal, Sean presumed with a smirk. Which only made the things that much hotter.

He glanced at himself in the huge mirrored wall, then shook his head and tugged off his shirt. Tonight he was going to be a sub. A fucking sub. He wondered if this time he’d get to come.