Leo (Vigilance 3)

As soon as we were alone, the anger and fear I’d experienced when I found out he’d left rushed through me again. We were safe, and Agatha was okay, but she might not have been. “I told you not to leave. I don’t want you out of my sight.”

“I was already out of your sight. You were in a meeting.”

I growled. “You know what I meant.”

“I was only walking down the street. It’s the middle of the day. I didn’t think it was an issue.”

“Not an issue? After what happened last night. Did you think those men were playing? Did you think they’d give up after one try?”

“No, I just… I’m sorry.”

I didn’t say anything else. I was angry, but I didn’t want to hurt him, so I reached for his hand and took it. We stayed silent for the rest of the drive.

After I’d closed and locked my door behind us, I leaned back against it.

“Turn around, Ezra.” There was fear in his eyes but also determination. “You defied me.”

“Yes, but—”

“I don’t want excuses.”

“Leo?” He sounded apprehensive, but I didn’t sense that he was truly scared.

“I want to teach you a lesson.”

“T-teach me?”

“Yes. I want you to remember how important it is for you to listen to me.”

“But you—”

“Ezra. You could have been killed. What if Six hadn’t noticed you leaving? What if he hadn’t followed you? Swain could have killed you or… worse.”

“He said if you don’t stay out of his business, he’d make me suffer.”

My vision went red. “Fuck planning. I’m going to kill him right now.”

“Leo, no!” Ezra grabbed my hand. “Don’t ruin your plans because of me.”

I wished I’d killed Swain when I had the chance. I didn’t care if I was arrested. I needed to know Ezra was safe. Swain did not get to touch him. Ezra was mine. “What else did he say?”

“He said if you…” His voice was shaking, and he took a moment to compose himself. “If you release any of the evidence you have, he’ll find me, take me, and kill me.”

I snarled. “That won’t fucking happen. Not ever. Do you understand why I told you to stay with me? Why you shouldn’t have left?”

He squeezed his eyes shut and took a shaky breath. “Are you going to send me away?”

Send him away? Trust his safety to someone else? Fuck no. I crossed the room quickly and pulled him into my arms. “No, sweetheart. I’m not sending you away. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Then how can you go after him?”

“I’ll figure that out. All I’m worried about right now is making sure you understand how important it is for you to obey me without question. If I order you to do something, it’s either for your safety or your pleasure.”

Ezra looked up at me. “You said you wanted to teach me a lesson.”

There was heat in his eyes now. I should call X and brief him on the incident, but all I wanted to do was wrap Ezra in rope, secure him until he couldn’t move, then edge him until he would do anything for me to bring him off, even swear to obey me no matter what.

“I do. You disobeyed me. There should be a consequence for that, something to make sure it won’t happen again.”

He licked his lips. “I’m not sure…”

I cupped his face in both my hands. “I’ll never truly hurt you. I think we both need this. Let go and give into me. It’ll be so much better for both of us.”

I slid my hand down his torso and gripped his cock through his jeans. He was hard as fuck. He might be afraid, but he wanted this, and I wasn’t going to be able to think until I’d had him.

I rubbed the heel of my hand up and down his length. “Please, Leo… I need you.

“I need you too, sweetheart. Come on.” I pulled him toward the bedroom, and he stumbled along after me, already dazed. He’d been through so much that morning, and I wanted to comfort him as much as I wanted to punish him. After the way he’d reacted to me the day before, I had a feeling being forced to obey me would comfort him, and afterwards, I would hold him for as long as he needed.

If I had to call into the next Vigilance meeting or bring Ezra with me, I would. Fuck. I was starting to sound just like Giorgio with Lane. I was sure Niall felt the same way about Marco, even though suggesting Marco couldn’t handle things himself would likely get him in all kinds of trouble. I hadn’t asked for details, but I had a feeling Marco was the one in charge in that relationship.

“Ezra, I want you to strip for me. Once you’re naked, I’m going to wrap you up in rope. You’re going to be gorgeous like that, restrained, decorated. All you have to do is lie there. I’ll take care of everything else.”