Revived (The Dungeon Black Duology 2)

He just wished it was Max doing the immobilizing.

Sean exhaled and dropped his head. Max had promised to keep tabs on him, but was currently nowhere to be seen. After they’d left the office and rejoined the other four, Max had escorted Kai and Sean down to the basement. But he hadn’t stuck around. Just kind of dropped them off and left. In fairness, he had promised to be right back, although, ten minutes later and he’d yet to return. Had he lied? Chickened out? Never planned to stay to begin with? Just told Sean whatever to appease him?

His pulse sped faster. If Max didn’t return, his whole goddamn plan would be defeated. Meaning he wouldn’t learn shit, but just as much, he’d have subjected himself to a stranger for fucking nothing. Kai seemed cool and all, but he wasn’t Max, and Sean didn’t really want the guy touching him. Touching him or doing any of the stuff that a Dom typically does with his sub.

Kai paused where he sat on his haunches to Sean’s right and palmed the side of Sean’s neck. “Relax. I can practically hear your heart racing. You don’t have to be nervous. I’ll go easy.”

Sean looked up and met his keen, black eyes. Kai gave him a subtle little smile. So close in proximity, Sean studied his face, speculating for the first time on his ethnicity. Jet-black hair, almond-shaped eyes, with an olive complexion that made you want to sink your teeth in. Must have some Japanese or Korean in him. And that sleek line of stubble following his jawline to his chin, with that subtle little ‘stache to go with it? It gave him this exquisitely-polished look that oozed straight-up dark, heavenly sex. Sean’s lips parted, regarding him. His air was beyond intriguing. Both alluringly attractive, yet disconcerting.

Kai’s grin quirked a little, but just on one side. “Get a good look?”

Sean feigned a smile and nodded.

Kai searched Sean’s face openly. “You look uncertain.”

“Uh… no.” Sean shook his head. “I’m certain I got a good look.”

Kai chuckled, his smile widening. “I meant about tonight. You don’t seem like you really want to be here.”

Shit. Was Sean really being that transparent? He winced a little and glanced at the door. “No. I’m just… like you said… I’m just nervous.”

Kai lifted a brow and followed Sean’s line of sight, then turned back and eyed him more intently. “Things okay with you and Max? I’m not getting in between shit with you two, am I?”

Sean fought back a frown. “No. We’re fine... Absolutely nothing to get in between.”

Kai tilted his head skeptically, but before he could reply, Max’s broody ass shoved through the door. Sean’s eyes shot up, heart skipping a beat, happy as hell that he was back.

Max met his gaze, scowled, and looked away. “You almost ready to get started, man?”

Kai nodded. “Just a couple more minutes.”

Max muttered something darkly and fell into a pace. Someone wasn’t happy.

Sean’s stomach twisted uneasily.

Kai turned and watched Max, too. “Are you okay?”

Max shot him a glare. “Yeah. I’m fucking fine.”

Kai moved back around to revisit Sean’s arms. “You don’t look fine,” he murmured, amusement clear in his tone. “You look like you did at the club.”

Sean’s ears perked. Did Kai mean when Max got into that fight? Because if so, that was pretty much the exact same time that Max had just gone all caveman with Jack the Groper. Hell, he’d all but clubbed Jack over the head and dragged Sean away by his hair. Which meant Max could very well be projecting the very energy that Sean had been hoping to elicit.

“Not hardly,” Max grunted, resuming his pace, but that look in his eyes was hardly convincing.

Kai sighed. “Sit down. Tell me something about your sub.”

Max’s jaw clenched. “You mean your sub.”

Sean’s chest clenched tight.

“Right. Mine. Whatever.”

Max continued pacing. Sean watched him quietly. In truth, he looked incapable of sitting down. Seemed way more uptight, way more agitated than before. Like if he didn’t keep moving he’d explode.

Sean wilted in understanding. For the last ten minutes, Max had been off erecting more walls. Walls that, by the look of it, were made of anger. Sean exhaled and dropped his gaze, quickly losing hope. There’d be no getting through to Max now.

Kai gave the ropes a tug, as if tightening a knot, but it inadvertently pulled at Sean’s skin. Sean sucked in sharply at the bite of pain. A few feet away, Max’s boots abruptly stopped.

“Be careful with him,” he snapped. “He’s not used to ropes.”

Sean stilled in surprise, having not seen that coming, even as insignificant as it was.

“Really?” Kai’s voice lowered. “And what is he used to?”

Max didn’t reply. Sean’s gaze lingered on his boots. Eventually, though, Max shifted back to pacing. But they were different now, his strides. Moved slower, felt less clipped, as if their owner was lost deep in thought.