Blaze

CHRISTA TOMLINSON

Torlina Press

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BLAZE – Arch City Guardians #1

Superhero Romance

Published October 6, 2019

Kindle Unlimited

Sale Price $3.99

BLAZE

Copyright © October 2019 Christa Tomlinson

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book only. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

Cover Design: Christa Tomlinson

Published by

Torlina Press

This book is a work of fiction. References might be made to existing events or locations, but all names, characters and events are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is coincidental. All trademarked names are the property of their respective owners and no ownership claims are intended by the author.

Warning

This book contains sexually explicit scenes and graphic language that may be offensive to some readers. It is intended for adults as defined by the laws in your country. Please take care to store this story away from under-age readers.

Table of Contents

Blaze

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Epilogue

Author Note

More by Christa Tomlinson

Chapter One

D

anny tapped a nervous beat onto the steering wheel with his thumbs as he turned into a small parking lot. The yellow glow of street lamps lit the night, moths drawn by the light flitting beneath them. This lot was unattended and several blocks down from where he planned to go. But cars weren’t allowed to park on the old cobblestone streets in this section of downtown St. Louis, and the lots closer to the club where he was headed were outrageously expensive.

Since his used Altima wasn’t worth stealing, and he didn’t mind the walk, he should be okay parking this far away. Danny pulled into a spot near the front, and stepped out onto the cracked asphalt. After locking the car, he tucked the keys into his shimmery, iridescent blue fanny pack, zipped it up, and set off.

Butterflies swooped and fluttered in Danny’s stomach as he walked. Tonight would hopefully be the start of a new and long-desired chapter in his life. He was about to check out one of the local BDSM clubs for the first time. After a year of researching and role-playing as a submissive online, he was ready to see the lifestyle up close and personal.

He hoped he looked okay. He’d gone for what he’d jokingly labeled a soft BDSM look when choosing his outfit earlier that evening. A sheer white tank top with gold ribbons sewn on in a pattern that mimicked a chest harness, tight black booty shorts, and glittery-blue, ankle-low combat boots. His artists’ soul enjoyed color too much to go with the all black style he often saw in fetish pictures online. There was a cute little choker he’d wanted to add to his outfit, but worried that it might give off the impression he was already in a relationship, he’d chosen a short gold chain with a handcuff pendant instead.

As Danny passed low brick buildings with their windows dark and doors locked for the night, he reassured himself that he would be fine. The D/s community was welcoming. No one would laugh at him for being a newbie. He hoped. It might have been helpful to bring a friend along but this was something he preferred to do on his own. He wanted to walk into The Stocks without worrying about making sure his friend was comfortable. Or worse, being judged by them. That would be too much stress for his first public foray into kink life.

His head down, Danny focused on his footsteps, one foot in front of the other, determinedly taking him to the place where he’d finally connect with others who had the same interests as him. The streetlights reflected off the shine of his boots, the twinkling glitter making him smile despite his nerves. When the glitter abruptly dulled in sudden darkness, Danny looked up in surprise. The street light above him was out, and so were the next several, all the way until just before the club.

Danny slowed his steps, coming to a stop before he went too far past the last functioning light. During the day this was a decent area, mostly commercial, with busy warehouses and small office buildings. But at night it was a little sketchy. The dark alleyways between the old brick buildings could hide any manner of miscreants. Danny looked to the other side of the street where streetlamps glowed, safely lighting the path forward. He considered crossing to the lit side, but felt silly being afraid of a dark street.

Taking his courage in hand, he took several cautious steps forward into the darkness. Up ahead, something crashed to the ground, the sound ringing out in the quiet night with a loud metallic bang. Startled at the noise, Danny stopped again. Abruptly deciding being silly and alive was better than stupidly brave and dead, he moved to cross to the other side of the street.

But before he could step off the sidewalk, two men strolled out of the alleyway directly in front of him. Danny knew from their red vests they were trouble. Only members of the L Street Posse wore those vests. Both men were big, one bald, the other with long, sandy-red dreadlocks. His heart pounding, Danny took a step back. Then another. And another. The two punks stood there watching him with matching evil grins on their scarred and brutish faces, but neither pursued. Danny understood why when he bumped into a wall of solid muscle. He whipped around and came face to chest with a big, blonde woman, her pale hair tied in a top knot so tight, the strands looked like they were about to be ripped from her scalp.

“Where you going, pretty boy?” she asked with a smug grin.

Instinctively understanding that showing fear would make this situation worse, Danny tried to keep his voice firm and confident when he answered. “I don’t want any trouble.” He held his palms up and out to show they were empty, while wishing he had his pepper spray in hand. Too bad it was on his keychain, which was inside his fanny pack. He belatedly realized that had been a dumb mistake on his part.

“And you won’t get any, as long as you hand over your wallet and phone,” she said.

Swallowing hard past the thick knot of fear in his throat, Danny nodded. He reached down to open the fanny pack, but struggled with the zipper thanks to his shaking hands and refusal to take his eyes off the big blonde so that he could see what he was doing.

“Let me help you with that.”

Danny spun back around when one of the punks behind him spoke, shrinking away when the man pulled out a switch blade and flicked it open with a menacing snick. Danny stood there, his fight or flight reflex stuttering over what to do, leaving him frozen as a result. The dread-lock punk came closer, getting right up in Danny’s face to grab the fanny pack with his free hand. His bloodshot eyes stared into Danny’s as he sliced up with the knife, cutting the strap so that it fell away from Danny’s waist. The guy kept the blade open and tossed the fanny pack to his buddy behind him.

“See what he’s got in there.”

Danny could have told him he didn’t have much. Phone, about thirty dollars in cash, his driver’s license, and his keys. The small bag wouldn’t hold much more than that.

“Take whatever you want.”

Knife Guy had broken their uncomfortable eye contact to watch his friend rummage through the fanny pack. Now he looked back at Danny with an appraising glance, running those bloodshot eyes from Danny’s face, over his chest, and down to his bare thighs. Disgust coated the back of Danny’s throat at the leering perusal, and he was suddenly very aware that his nipples were visible through the sheer tank.

“Whatever we want?” Knife Guy asked in a voice as smooth and slimy as an oil slick.

Danny should have kept his mouth shut. The ugly intent behind that tone was clear. He was now in more danger than only getting mugged. Thankfully, his fight or flight reflex finally made a decision, kicking his adrenaline into high gear. Danny turned, leaping off the curb into the street to take off running. His goal was the small diner a few buildings up on the other side of the street that looked to be open. His car was closer but since they had the keys, there was no point in trying to get to it.

The Red Vests hooted and laughed as they gave chase. Their glee increased Danny’s terror, spurring him on to run faster, until his foot slipped on one of the unevenly rounded cobblestones. He lost his balance, flinging his hands out to brace his fall as the ground came rushing up to his face. One knee hit the cobblestone with a loud crack, and a bolt of pain exploded out from the point of impact. Ignoring the pain in his knee and palms, Danny shot back to his feet, ready to keep running. But the Red Vests had already surrounded him, continuously moving, circling him like sharks before the feeding frenzy.

“Where you going, huh?” the bald one asked in a mockingly cheerful tone.

“Yeah. You said we could have whatever we wanted.” The blonde behemoth put on a playful pout but the expression quickly changed, her mouth twisting into a cruel snarl. “And we want to play with you, pretty boy.”

“Leave me alone!” Danny shouted. Terror and anger gave strength to his usually quiet voice, sending it booming throughout the night. He didn’t know how he was going to defend himself against three assailants, all bigger than him and armed with at least one knife, but he was damned sure going to try. Raising his fists, Danny got ready to swing at the first person who took a step toward him.

Before anyone could make a move however, electricity hummed in the air around them. The hair on Danny’s arms rose just as a rush of air whooshed behind him. He turned, expecting to see the blonde woman coming at him. But she’d disappeared, her place in the circle empty. Danny whipped back around to the other two. They looked scared; their eyes wide.

“It’s him,” Knife Guy whispered.

“Fuck, man! We need to get out of here!” Baldie tugged at Knife Guy’s arm, clearly ready to make a run for it.

“Calm down,” Knife Guy said as he shook off his friend. He scanned the darkness with narrowed eyes, looking for the new player on the scene. “There’s two of us.” He tossed that wicked-long blade back and forth between his gloved hands. “We can take him.”

If Danny hadn’t still been scared out of his mind, he would have grinned at the punk’s mistaken belief. If it was who he thought it was, they absolutely could not take him. The three of them stood locked in their positions, the air tense and sharp as they waited. There was another rustle of air, then a ground shaking boom as a man dressed all in black landed in a crouch between Danny and the punks.

Danny’s lips parted as he gasped in awe. It was him. The superhero. Blaze.

He rose slowly, straightening to his full height, which had to be at least six foot three. A skin-tight suit clung to his muscular frame, the material stretched over wide shoulders and powerful thighs. There was enough light for Danny to make out the midnight blue logo on his chest, a B cut through by a jagged shard of lightning. His head, neck, and most of his face were covered by a cowled mask, leaving only the space from just beneath his nose down to his chin visible. Bright blue bolts of electricity started to crackle over his fists, dancing up and down his arms. He turned to face the two punks and raised a hand, beckoning them forward.

“Let’s go.” He growled the arrogant taunt in a deep voice.

Baldie dropped the fanny pack and charged at Blaze. Danny’s belongings spilled out into the street but he was too busy watching the ensuing fight to pick any of it up. Blaze moved fast as lightning, avoiding the flashing switch blade and shrugging off the few blows the two managed to land. His own fists struck with deadly precision. Body shot after body shot. An elbow to Knife Guy’s jaw. A booted kick to Baldie’s sternum. Baldie crumpled to the street, gasping and wheezing as the air punched out of his lungs from the explosive impact. He stayed down, whether it was because he knew he was beaten or he simply couldn’t move Danny didn’t know.

But Knife Guy wasn’t as smart. He staggered on his feet but raised the knife high in the air. With a guttural yell, he charged at the hero. Blaze simply stood and watched him rush forward, his stillness a stark contrast to the punk’s messy scrambling. When Knife Guy reached him, Blaze effortlessly caught his raised arm and squeezed. A ball of bright blue power transferred from Blaze to Knife Guy, traveling down his arm. Knife Guy screamed, his body dancing against his will from the force of the electricity flowing through him. The knife fell to the ground, followed immediately after by its owner when Blaze released his hold.

Blaze stared down at his defeated opponents, the blue glow over his fists slowly fading into darkness. He grabbed Knife Guy by the back of his vest, dragging him along as he stalked forward to grab Baldie in a similar manner. One by one, he heaved them up against the front wall of a small warehouse, his muscles flexing with every move. The two sat there with their heads lolling, groaning and coughing. It was extremely gratifying to Danny to see them shrink back in fear when Blaze crouched down in front of them.

“You get one warning. Leave the L Street Posse. You won’t like what I do to you if I catch you on the streets wearing these vests again.”

Baldie made his decision without hesitation. “Yeah, you got it.”

“I’m out too,” Knife Guy said.

They struggled out of their vests, Knife Guy removing his with one arm. Once they’d taken them off, they tossed them into the street in renouncement of the L Street Posse.

“Good.” Blaze growled before he knocked their heads together.

They slumped into each other, unconscious, and essentially leaving Danny alone with Blaze.

His heart pounded as Blaze rose and approached him, although the reaction was no longer from fear. There were several superheroes in St. Louis. Danny had seen many of them, either on the news or in person if he happened to be in the right place at the right time. But Blaze was elusive, only fighting at night, never showing up when there was a crowd.

He’d seen a few pictures of him but they were always grainy and blurry, since Blaze didn’t stop to pose. And no one had any idea what he looked like, thanks to the mask that hid so much of his face. Seeing Blaze for the first time up close, huge and powerful, looming over his own meager five foot five made the breath catch in Danny’s throat.

“Thank you. I would have happily given them my money to get them to go away but things were about to get ugly.”

Blaze bent down to pick up the fanny pack and its spilled contents. He tucked everything back into the bag and handed it over. “What are you doing out here alone at night?”

The question was asked in a growl nearly as fierce as when he’d spoken to the L Street punks. It should have cowed Danny. But now that he was no longer in danger, a little of his sass came back. “You’re not about to victim blame me, are you?”

“No. But safety should be your priority and this area isn’t safe.”

“I was going to The Stocks. It’s right up the street from where I parked so I thought it’d be all right.”

“Inside that club isn’t much better than the streets outside. Try Club Decadence. Better parking, lighting, and security.”

Danny knew of the upscale D/s club but their membership fee wasn’t something he could afford on his income as an emerging freelance artist. “Decadence is out of my price range.” He said the words without shame. Facts were facts.

“Hmmm.”

The sound could have meant anything. Danny couldn’t determine Blaze’s expression from what little he could see of his face, and he couldn’t read his eyes in the darkness and the shadow of his cowl. He couldn’t even determine their color.

“Go home,” Blaze abruptly ordered. “Adrenaline drop is going to hit you soon. You need to be somewhere comfortable and familiar when it happens.”

A small trill of excitement shivered through Danny at the directive to go home. Delivered in Blaze’s deep, growly voice, it sounded like a command a Dom would give to a submissive. He wanted that so much. To have it from Blaze would be... He bit his lip to hold back the undignified whimper that wanted to slip free at the thought of submitting to Blaze. “Uh…yeah. That makes sense. Thank you again.”

Blaze nodded, the rest of him silent and still.

With nothing else to say, Danny started back the way he’d come, staying on the lit side of the street. As he walked, he thought he felt eyes on him, watching his progress down the sidewalk. But that had to be wishful thinking. Blaze undoubtedly had lots of other superhero stuff to do. He wasn’t hanging around to make sure a rando mugging victim made it safely to his car. The man had more than likely already swooped off to stop the next crime. Danny turned and looked back over his shoulder anyway. There was nothing there, the street and sidewalks empty save for the punks slumped against the building, enjoying their Blaze sponsored naps.

Danny reached his car, pressing the button on the key to unlock it as he had a hundred times before. Once inside, he secured his seat belt and started the ignition. But before he could put it in drive, his hands started shaking. He held them up, splaying them on the steering wheel. His stomach swirled with nauseous upset too.

Adrenaline drop. Exactly as Blaze had said. The fear response hormones drained out of him, and the throbbing pain in his knee and bruised palms rushed in to take its place. He’d been mugged, and much worse might have happened if Blaze hadn’t shown up. He was damn lucky all he had was a ruined bag, scraped palms, and a banged-up knee.

Danny closed his eyes, drawing deep breaths in through his nose and slowly letting them out through his mouth in an effort to calm down. After several long seconds of concentrated breathing, he was still shaky in the pit of his stomach, but settled enough to drive. Opening his eyes again, he finally popped the car into drive, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed for home.

∞∞∞

BLAZE STOOD GUARD from the rooftop of a low building while the cute little sub made his way back to his car. It was unlikely he’d be attacked a second time. The streets below Blaze had eyes and ears, and thanks to the fight, his presence in the area was known to anyone who might think of starting trouble. Still. Blaze wanted to be sure he was safe. He didn’t usually get personal with the people he rescued but something about the young man called to him.

He was adorable, with smooth dark skin, short, wavy black hair, and big brown eyes that gave him an innocent air. But his mouth, with its perfect Cupid’s bow and lush bottom lip, was made for decadent kisses. Blaze’s palms tingled and sparked as he imagined running his hands over the sheer tank the other man wore to feel the warmth of his skin beneath. And those little black shorts of his had displayed thick thighs and a perky ass that he would love to gently squeeze.

The sub was obviously unattached. He’d been on his way to a D/s club, but no Dom would let an angel like that walk the streets of downtown St. Louis alone at night. If the boy were his, he’d spank that sweetly rounded bottom for putting himself in danger. Then he’d kiss and caress it to take the sting away and make it all better.

But the boy wasn’t his. He hadn’t had anyone that belonged to him for a long time. And that was for the best.

Down the street, headlights flicked on. A few minutes passed before glowing red tail lights exited the parking lot, the car turning toward the highway. Blaze guessed he’d probably needed a moment to gather himself after his mugging. With the little sub safely headed home, Blaze turned his attention back to his task of patrolling the streets of St. Louis. He made a running leap onto the roof of the next building, tucking into a barrel roll to lessen the impact of his landing.

Ten years ago, Anderson Pruitt had selected St. Louis as the location for a massive base of operations for his company. The campus included research and development, production, shipping, and more. But before he’d moved Pruitt Inc. in, he’d demanded an initiative to clean up the city. It might have made sense to focus on offering jobs, as high employment helped lower the crime rate. A solid pay check, a safe place to live, and full bellies often took away the impetuous for crime.

But Pruitt had chosen instead to bring in a private militarized police force. Humans directed the force but it made heavy use of artificial intelligence robotic police. People caught by the police bots often disappeared without a trace. Sometimes they re-emerged months later, with no mention of a court date, refusing or unable to talk about what transpired during their absence. Sometimes they were never seen again.

The Pruitt Initiative hadn’t eliminated crime. It had stifled the city however, turning once vibrant areas into near police states, where the citizens were caught between their fear of the bots and their fear of the criminals who had smartened up and organized in order to survive in the new regime.

But tonight, the criminal element in this sector of the city was quiet. Over the next couple of hours, Blaze didn’t run into any other crimes, petty or otherwise. Deciding to call it a night, he began making his way back toward his car. He was nearly there when he came across two young men standing in front of an ATM operated by Pruitt Bank. They had tools in hand, which made it unlikely they were making an honest withdrawal. Blaze sent forth a bolt of electricity powerful enough to scare the guys into jumping away from the machine.

“Shit, it’s Blaze!”

The two tensed as if they were about to make a break for it. Blaze landed behind them before they could move. “Don’t even think about running,” he said as he held up one glowing fist.

“Come on, man. It’s Pruitt’s money. Not like he’s going to miss it,” one of them said with a bitter curl to his lip.

“Stealing is stealing. Doesn’t matter if you don’t like the person you’re robbing.”

“Guess it don’t matter if you’re hungry, either,” the other chimed in dejectedly.

Blaze took a closer look at the pair. Unlike the hardened muggers from earlier, these guys were young, their faces clinging to boyhood despite the wispy hairs trying to emerge on their chins. The resentment in their shadowed eyes struck a chord of empathy in Blaze’s chest. He let the electricity crackling over his fists fade. “There’s a job fair this weekend. Go to it.”

“Job fair?” The first kid scoffed. “Like anybody is going to hire us.”

Looking at the two youths, haggard and hunched, Blaze had to agree. Besides, if they were trying to rob an ATM because they were hungry, waiting to get a job, and then even longer for their first paycheck wasn’t going to solve that immediate problem. “Go to the red brick building on the corner of Kirk and Seventh. Ask for Mrs. Cannady. She’ll feed you tonight and set you up with whatever else you need to get ready for the job fair.”

Kid Number Two looked at Blaze with narrow-eyed suspicion. “Tonight? You mean you’re letting us go and not turning us in to the P-Bots?”

Blaze crossed his arms over his chest. “That depends on you. Are you going to try to rob another machine or are you going to do like I said?”

“We’ll do it. We’ll do it right now.”

“Right answer,” Blaze said. “I know your faces and the area you run in. And I will check up on you. Believe me when I say you won’t like it if I catch you trying to steal again. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” The two nodded with near-comical enthusiasm, their heads flopping back and forth like bobble head dolls.

Blaze acknowledged them with a small nod of his own. Then he sank down into a crouch, one foot slightly behind the other, gathering power to launch himself high into the air. He gave the kids below him a show, rising in a dramatic pose, the blue sphere of electricity around him burning bright against the back drop of the night sky. It served as something to tell their buddies about, and an unsubtle reminder of his power.

He traveled across several rooftops before dropping back down to the street where his car waited. Although he could jump twenty feet in the air and run faster than most humans, he wasn’t a speedster. He couldn’t fly either, so a car helped him navigate the city on his patrols.

Although the big, electric-blue Dodge Challenger sat unattended in an alley, Blaze didn’t worry about anyone trying to steal it. His high-tech alarm shut down all systems when he wasn’t inside. It also locked the wheel base, rendering the car immovable. And anybody who touched the door handles would get the shock of their life.

As he approached the car, it recognized the sensors on his suit and automatically unlocked. Blaze slid inside, disabled the rest of lock-down mode, and pressed the ignition button, bringing the engine roaring to life. A quick shift into drive and Blaze sped out of the alley, racing through the near empty streets until he left the riverfront area behind.

Taking one of the various routes he rotated through to keep anyone from tracking him, he headed home. After a few miles, he hit a button on the customized dashboard. Ahead on his right, the tree line opened up to reveal a narrow side road. He hooked a sharp turn and drove into the gap, the trees moving back into place behind him.

Blaze streaked down the dark, one lane road. As he passed over a section of pavement, the dash blinked, indicating a sensor on the undercarriage of the car had been activated. A section of the road detached, tilting down to a sub-terranean level. Blaze gunned it, his belly lifting as he swooped down the ramp that took him below ground. He continued down the tunnel for another mile, hurtling toward a wide, solid steel door. The car triggered another ground sensor, and the door slid open seconds before the Challenger slammed into it, immediately closing behind him with a solid thunk.

He slowed as the one lane road gradually widened and ended in a large, high-ceilinged underground room. Blaze turned off the ignition, and the rumbling engine faded to silence. He stepped out, the slam of the car door echoing in the cavernous concrete space.

The hour was late and exhaustion pulled at his bones, but he still went to his computer to log in the details from the night’s patrol. He spent a few minutes cross-referencing the new data with his files to check for any escalating patterns or ties to major crime bosses he needed to be aware of. The computer didn’t show any results, so he shut it down and moved to take off his gear.

Blaze tugged the cowl back, then removed his heavy, thick-soled boots. He carried the boots across the room to a glass fronted wardrobe, the cold of the concrete floor seeping through his socks to chill the soles of his feet. The boots went inside the wardrobe, followed by his two-piece suit. The glass door slid shut with a hiss, and a second later, the specialized steam cleaner kicked on, the glass fogging over as it removed the sweat, grit, and blood from the armored suit.

Naked except for a pair of tight-fitting boxer briefs, he strode over to the elevator, punching in a code on the lit keypad to summon it down to this level. Once he stepped inside, the elevator rose, swiftly taking him to the top level of the brick and glass building where he had the entire floor for his private apartment. He didn’t bother turning on any lights, he moved through the dark rooms with ease on his way to the shower.

Fifteen minutes later, he was clean, dry, and ready for a few hours’ sleep. Clad in a pair of black, low-slung pajama bottoms, Jordan strode over to the floor to ceiling windows, his bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. From there, he could look out over a great deal of St. Louis. In the distance, the Gateway Arch rose, towering over the city, a beloved and beautiful monument. But the cold steel was immobile, lifeless, and unfeeling. The Arch couldn’t do anything to keep the citizens safe. It was up to him to help those in need.

His thoughts returned to the guy he’d saved from a mugging earlier. Daniel Griffin. He’d seen his name and address when he’d picked up his driver’s license from the street. There was one more thing he could do to help the young man out, and hopefully keep him from returning to the rough area of The Stocks. He’d take care of it, then put the little sub out of his mind for good. An angel like that didn’t need a man like him in their life. His role was to protect from the shadows, so that people like Daniel could live in the light without fear.

Chapter Two

K

nock! Knock! Knock!

Pounding on the front door reverberated throughout the house, yanking Danny out of a deep sleep. He threw the covers back and stumbled from the bed. As groggy as he was, he still recognized that aggressive knock. It had to be DeliveriesPlus with a package that required his signature. Since he regularly ordered art supplies and merchandise he’d designed, deliveries at all hours was a common thing.

After pulling on a pair of shorts, he went downstairs to look through the small, stained glass window set into the front door. Sure enough, a man wearing the familiar orange polo shirt waited on the porch. Danny opened the door, wincing as the bright, early morning sunshine stung his eyes.

“Good morning. I have a package for Daniel Griffin.”

“That’s me.”

The delivery driver extended the electronic signature pad and tiny, chewed up pen to Danny. Still blinking the sleep from his eyes, Danny accepted them both and scrawled his name across the screen. He handed them back, receiving a flat envelope in exchange. Danny politely thanked the driver and closed the door.

Looking down at the flat package he held, he sleepily tried to remember what he’d ordered that would come in an envelope that small. Nothing that he could think of. And the return address was a P.O. Box, which didn’t help jog his memory. Danny shrugged. There was no point in speculating when he could just open the envelope. He ripped open the pull-tab, turned the envelope upside down, and shook it. An all-black invitation fell into his hand. It was beautiful in its starkness, the card stock thick and crisp, the lettering embossed on the matte paper in a glossy, no frills black font.

Club Decadence invites you to join us with a complimentary one-year membership.

Danny stared down at the invitation in his hands in wonder. “Holy shit,” he whispered. Blaze. Blaze must have put in a call and asked them to give him a membership. He’d heard that the superhero often went the extra mile and helped former criminals, putting them on the path to turning their lives around. But this gesture went way beyond full-service superheroing.

Danny whooped and danced around the living room with joy. “I’ve got a free membership to Club Decadence!” His roommate Scott was out of town at a convention, so there was no one there to see him shimmying around doing his happy dance. But the dancing didn’t last for long. His aching knee reminded him of the fall he’d taken last night, protesting at his jubilant bouncing.

“I’ve got to do something to thank Blaze for this,” he whispered as he stopped wiggling around and stared down at the card again. Drawing superheroes was his specialty and how he made his living, so the choice was obvious. “I’ll draw him some thank you art.”

He had no way to contact Blaze. As far as he knew, no one did. But social media had vast reach. If he posted something online and enough people shared it, it was bound to make its way to Blaze at some point. Blaze might not have an official social media account like some superheroes, but Danny was willing to bet he had either an anonymous online presence or one as his alter ego, whomever that might be.

He started to rush off to the spare room that he’d turned into his work space, but his stomach growled with hunger, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten yet. And his knee still ached, so he needed to attend to that too. “Okay. Breakfast, first-aid, shower. Then art.”

Danny hurried into the kitchen and popped a couple of breakfast tacos in the microwave to heat. While he waited, he took two ibuprofen, then wrapped up ice cubes in a dish towel for an ice pack. He sat down to eat once the tacos were ready. A shiver ran through him from the chill of the ice when he applied the makeshift ice pack to his knee, but he held it steady against the sore area while he ate, and for a few minutes after he finished. That was as long as he could stand to wait.

Impatient to get started on his project, he dumped both soggy towel and empty plate in the sink before rushing off to shower. As he soaped up, he envisioned the scene he was going to draw. He wanted to make sure that Blaze would know exactly who was thanking him so he decided to draw a snapshot of last night’s rescue. By the time he was out of the shower and dressed in old shorts, a tank, and flip-flops, he had it pretty well plotted out.

In his work room, Danny sat down at the desk and turned on his tablet. He only planned to do a quick sketch so he could post it as soon as possible. But once he set pen to screen to draw Blaze, the piece took on a life of its own. Danny carefully detailed the bright blue sparks of electricity that had arced up and down Blaze’s arms. Each line was sharp and jagged, the glow brilliant and casting shadows. He meticulously sculpted the powerful muscles of Blaze’s arms and thighs. And he spent an embarrassing amount of time getting the curve of Blaze’s ass in those tight leather pants just right.

Since he’d drawn Blaze so well, he couldn’t depict himself as a raggedy-looking add on. He drew himself in last night’s outfit, then tapped the pen against his chin as he considered what he should do with his face. Eventually he shrugged and gave himself an exaggerated worshipping expression as he watched Blaze fight. That’s probably how he’d looked anyway.

The criminals he drew as faceless, shadowy blobs of evil, both as a safety measure against retaliation, and because those jerks didn’t deserve to see themselves in his art. In the interest of saving time, he cheated on the background with vague, simple shapes for buildings. Still, it took him hours to finish. But it was worth it. The piece was gorgeous and worthy of serving to express his thanks to Blaze. Danny watermarked the illustration with his signature, then uploaded it to his Twitter account with a heartfelt caption.

Last night I was out and about downtown and ran into a little danger. I was mugged, but thankfully, Blaze came along and saved me. Thank you, Blaze, for everything you did for me.

After reading it twice to make sure he didn’t have any errors — he’d hate to go viral with a typo — Danny hit send. He had over fifteen thousand followers on Twitter, with similar numbers on Instagram where he uploaded the picture next. Hopefully the piece would get enough activity that it would eventually make its way to Blaze. He didn’t expect to personally hear back from the elusive superhero, he simply wanted the chance to show his gratitude. His mission for the day accomplished, Danny put the tablet to sleep, grabbed his phone, and went to make a late lunch.

He’d just taken the lunch meat out of the fridge when his phone started dinging with alerts. Since he was starving, he ignored it long enough to make a couple of sandwiches. Once he’d eaten the first and started on the second, he leaned back against the counter, ham and Swiss on white in one hand while he scrolled his Twitter mentions with the other. Lots of favorites and retweets on the Blaze piece. Several comments gushing over the art. Others asking if he was okay. Danny smiled, responding to a few of the comments from accounts he recognized. His smile soured when he came across a tweet from one particular account — an Ignite stan.

Nice art. But it would have been better if you’d drawn Ignite.

Danny screamed a tiny little rage scream at the tweet. Comments like this drove him crazy. He didn’t care if people didn’t like who or what he drew. But taking the time to tell him what he should have drawn was plain rude. Finished with the sandwich, he held onto his phone with both hands, thumbs flying as he hit reply and typed.

How ‘bout no since Ignite wasn’t the one who saved me?!!!

Danny stared at the drafted tweet, with its multiple exclamation points, in vindicated satisfaction. Then he drew in a deep breath, released it, and sent the cursor racing backward to delete every single word without hitting send. It wasn’t worth getting into an argument online with someone who complained about his art. He’d spend all day doing nothing else if he did. It was better to ignore them. Besides the good comments far outweighed the bad. And the tweet was being shared so fast that he had real hope Blaze would see it. Maybe it would get picked up as a Twitter moment which would give it even more reach.

The Blaze art was one post that he wouldn’t mute after a few hours, just in case any truly interesting replies popped up. For now, he went to spend a little time on the stationary bike to work out the remaining stiffness in his knee, and get the blood flowing after the hours spent sitting and drawing. With the music going he got up to a nice steady pace. It wasn’t long before his muscles warmed, the exercise helping his body and mind to relax. He climbed off the bike after the brief workout, ready to get dressed for his second attempt at attending a D/s club.

Club Decadence was a much nicer spot than The Stocks, and Danny briefly considered changing up his style to something a little fancier, maybe with latex. Standing in front of his open closet, he tugged at a shiny black latex vest he’d bought but never worn. It had potential, but he decided to stick with what he was most comfortable in. Danny dropped the vest in favor of a sapphire blue crop top, pairing it with tight jeggings that shimmered with a blue-black sheen. The material of the shirt was so silky and light it swayed with every movement.

Since the shirt left most of his midriff exposed, he used one of his thicker moisturizers to make sure he wasn’t ashy. Squeezing a dollop of the beach and coconut scented cream onto his palm, he rubbed it into his skin until his torso gleamed dark and smooth. The jeggings were so tight the pockets couldn’t fit a credit card much less his phone, wallet and keys, so he buckled another fanny pack — this one a sleek black leather with silver chains — around his waist. A pair of black ankle boots completed the look.

Glancing at himself in the mirror, Danny realized he’d dressed in Blaze’s colors. It was unintentional but fitting. Since he was only attending Club Decadence thanks to Blaze, he’d gladly go out dressed as the hero’s unofficial mascot tonight.

∞∞∞

DANNY THRUMMED WITH excitement the entire drive down to Laclede’s Landing. Club Decadence was at the end of the downtown entertainment district, tucked back from the street. The club had valet parking but Danny went to the well-lit parking lot instead. A guard sat in a security booth, giving Danny a nod as he drove onto the property. Exactly as Blaze had said, better lighting and security.

His appreciation for the superhero’s gesture rose even higher as he got out of the car and made his way to the club. Like many of the buildings on the Landing, Club Decadence was constructed from red brick. It stood two stories high, with black awning over the entryway, and an elegant black and silver sign that read — Club Decadence Private Club — nestled amongst manicured shrubbery.

The cracked glass doors automatically opened outward as he approached, giving off the vibe that he was about to enter another world. A woman seated on a stool behind a glossy black hostess stand greeted him with a warm smile as he entered the small lobby.

“Hello. Welcome to Club Decadence.”

“Hi. Um. This is my first time here. I received this invitation.” He held out the black on black card.

“Your name please?”

“Danny Griffin.”

“Ah, Mr. Griffin. Again, welcome. We’re glad to have you. Arrangements have been made for a club hostess to show you around.” She raised a hand and pressed a finger to the ear piece clipped to her ear. “Vivian? We have a guest here who requires your assistance. Thank you.” The hostess looked back at Danny. “She’ll be right out.”

“Thank you.”

Danny ignored the lobby’s black velvet love seat in favor of standing off to the side to nervously wait. Based on the sophisticated decor, he half expected someone wearing a full dominatrix outfit to come through the door behind the hostess stand. Instead the door opened, and a short woman with curly red hair, dressed in a short, daffodil yellow baby doll dress, white knee socks, and shiny black patent leather shoes approached.

“Hi, I’m Vivian. Welcome to Club Decadence.”

“Thank you. I’m Danny.”

After the brief introduction, she led the way back to the door she’d come through, holding it open for Danny. Music with a slow, heavy bass beat poured out of the open doorway, loud enough for the crowd on the dance floor to enjoy but not so loud that Danny couldn’t hear Vivian as she spoke close to his ear.

“Let’s get started on your tour. I’ll show you around, explain the rules, and have you fill out your membership forms. If you have any questions or want a closer look at something, feel free to stop me and ask.”

Danny nodded, a little of his nervousness fading away at her friendly demeanor. “Okay.”

“This is the main bar. As you probably know, lowered inhibitions and BDSM don’t mesh well, so we don’t serve alcohol or allow outside drinks to be brought in. But our bar is filled with lots of yummy non-alcoholic treats, sodas, and water. Plus, it has hooks for Doms to restrain their subs. The usual.”

Danny’s eyes went wide at that last bit. “Oh.”

Vivian grinned and continued on.

The place was exquisite. Lots of plush velvet and tufted leather seating in black or rich jewel tones. Sparkling crystal chandeliers hung over the dance floor and mirrored walls reflected their light. On the far end of the club, dancers spun and dipped behind a wall of screens, their dark silhouettes giving a sleek air of mystery to their performance. And servers dressed in glossy black fetish wear moved throughout the crowd. Danny followed along as Vivian pointed out the currently empty stage that was used for demonstrations and entertainment. They stopped in a small lounge area with big leather club chairs and dim red lighting.

“Are you looking for a Dom right now? Because lots of people are looking at you. There’s going to be a little sniffing around based simply off the fact that you’re fresh meat but you’re so darn hot that I’m sure a Dom is genuinely going to want to snap you up right away.”

Danny tore his gaze away from a sub kneeling at the feet of her Dom, gently rubbing her face over the leather of his knee-high boots before he answered. “I definitely want a Dom. But I think for tonight I only want to learn my way around. This is my first time out in public in a D/s scene.”

“Ah!” Vivian nodded in understanding. “I’m happy your first night is with us. You couldn’t have picked a better place.” She started walking again. “Since you’re with me you don’t have to worry too much about being approached, but after tonight if you still don’t want to be bothered, let the hostess know when you check in and she’ll give you what we call a Do Not Disturb bracelet.”

“Got it.” Danny appreciated that was an option. He turned around and tilted his head back to look at the private suites on the floor above. “This is a gorgeous club. I can’t believe I’m here.”

Vivian smiled. “Believe it.”

“Amazing,” Danny whispered to himself. It was amazing and he had Blaze to thank for it.

∞∞∞

JORDAN SAT AT his desk in his glass walled office, reviewing order forms and design specs. The work day was over, the street level garage below quiet and empty, the lights dimmed to low. As the owner of the number one custom auto body shop in the Greater St. Louis area, there was always work to do. But it was time to put the paperwork away and stop for the night. He had a few hours to kill before he went out to patrol as Blaze. He could relax for a while before he suited up. Or he could swing by Club Decadence to check on Daniel.

Jordan huffed a laugh to himself. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat around to relax so the first option was out. However, that didn’t mean he should do the second option. His original plan had been to leave Daniel alone after taking care of his membership to Club Decadence. But he had the urge to see him again. And a quick follow up couldn’t hurt. He would make sure that Daniel had received the invitation to Club Decadence and was okay after his mugging. That was it. After he checked up on him, he really would move on and forget about the adorable little sub.

His decision made, Jordan put the paperwork away, left the office, and took the stairs to the fourth level. Since he only planned to make a quick stop in the club, he didn’t dress in any leather gear, opting instead for black slacks and a black button down with the sleeves rolled up.

Once he was dressed, he took the elevator back down to the street level, crossing the shop garage to the smaller area where his personal cars were parked. His fingers twitched with anticipation as he slid into the driver’s seat of his 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. He couldn’t explain his excitement. He just knew that he had to see Daniel again.

∞∞∞

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, he pulled up to the valet stand at Club Decadence. The valet came over, his eyes wide as he took in the fully restored muscle car. Jordan tossed him the keys then held up a crisp ten-dollar bill.

“I’ll treat her like glass, sir,” the valet said as he accepted the tip.

Jordan nodded and walked into the club’s lobby, where the hostess greeted him with a pleased smile.

“Mr. Wells, it’s been too long since you’ve been in. We’ve missed you.”

He returned her greeting as he passed over his membership card to be scanned. “Hello, Lucille.”

They spent a few moments catching up before she waved him inside with a manicured hand. Jordan hadn’t been to the club in over a year, but it was the same as he remembered — elegant atmosphere with scene members enjoying their kink in whatever way pleased them.

He went upstairs to the private suite he shared with a few acquaintances. There was only one person inside. Rob Marshall, or Big Rob as those who knew him well called him. The man was huge, taller than Jordan’s six foot two, and built like a tank. Although Rob had a calm and easy-going demeanor, people instinctively knew not to mess with him. And that was before they found out what he could do.

Rob looked up from his phone, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise when he saw Jordan.

“Holy shit, it’s Jordan Wells. Haven’t seen you here in a while.”

“Hey, Rob.” He held out his hand and they exchanged a quick, firm handshake. “Been busy.”

“What brings you in tonight?”

“Had some free time. Thought it’d be nice to get out of the house.”

“And out of that suit?”

Jordan’s lips twitched in a small smile. “That too.”

They went quiet when a server stopped in to see if they wanted anything to drink. Rob ordered a non-alcoholic beer while Jordan requested a glass of water. He needed to be hydrated for later. After their drinks were delivered, Jordan went over to the balcony of their suite and leaned on the railing. Sipping the ice-cold water, he scanned the club below. There was no guarantee he’d find what he was looking for, but he had a feeling Daniel wouldn’t be able to wait to check out the club now that he had a free membership.

The low lighting and the crowd made it difficult to distinguish faces. After a few minutes of searching, Jordan spied a short young man on the edge of the dance floor. From the back it looked he could be Daniel. He kept the man in his sights... waiting.

When the man finally turned around, raising his face to look at the private suites, Jordan’s palms tingled. There he was. Jordan sucked in a breath when he realized that Daniel wore his colors — black pants that gleamed in the light and a blue top. The possessive thrill that shot through him at something so simple and probably without meaning was foolish. But he liked it. He wanted that little sub in his colors. Jordan continued to watch from the shadows as the hostess escorted Daniel around the club. Rob came over and leaned on the railing next to him.

“Ah, I see. It wasn’t just free time that brought you in from the streets. He’s cute.”

Jordan didn’t respond. He didn’t expect his silence to stop Rob however. And it didn’t.

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know him personally. I saved him from a mugging last night.”

“And you knew he’d be here how?”

“He told me he was headed to The Stocks. I suggested he come here instead.” Jordan left off the part about paying for Daniel’s membership fee, knowing that bit of information would make Rob dig even deeper.

“Then why are you up here watching him instead of down there talking to him?”

“I’m not looking to get involved with anyone.”

“Still?”

“Ever.”

“Hmmm... Maybe I’ll go down and talk to him then,” Rob said as he pushed back from the railing.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Jordan snapped the words out without thinking.

Rob laughed. “Rein it in, man. Unless you want everyone here to know that Jordan Wells is Blaze.”

Jordan looked down. A small spark of electricity arced over his hand. Thankfully it was indistinguishable from the laser lights currently flashing over the club. He drew the power back in. “Sorry.”

“No worries. But you know that someone is eventually going to approach him, right?”

At that moment, a tall Dom walked up to Daniel. They spoke briefly, Daniel tilting his head back to look up at the taller man when he responded. Whatever he said must have been a polite rejection, because the Dom nodded and walked away.

“Guess he’s not looking to get involved with anyone either,” Rob said. “Or he’s waiting to see if his hero will show up.”

“He doesn’t need to get mixed up with me. You’ve seen how that turns out. I’ve learned my lesson.”

Rob took a slow sip of his beer before responding. “I don’t think the lesson was never get involved with anyone for the rest of your life.”

Jordan made a noncommittal noise. He wasn’t going to argue the point with Rob when he’d long ago made up his mind. “What about you? Why are you on your own tonight?”

Rob shrugged. “Recently parted ways with my last sub. We weren’t clicking the way I’d hoped and I haven’t found anyone new yet. I’m not looking, but if the right guy happens to fall into my lap, I won’t push him off.”

Daniel moved out of Jordan’s line of sight. His water finished, he put the empty glass on the table with a tip beneath it. “I’ll see you around.”

Again, Rob’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Leaving already?”

“Crime never sleeps.”

“True. Be safe out there.”

Jordan nodded in acknowledgment then left the suite. On the ground floor he passed close enough to Daniel to call out the other man’s name and be heard over the music. But he didn’t. After one last glance, Jordan left the club, reminding himself that the little angel was not for him.

∞∞∞

HOURS LATER, JORDAN returned home as he always did, in that dark, silent hour before the birds began to sing. Tonight, his near-scalding hot shower was especially welcome to soothe away the aches that resulted from being slammed up against a Dumpster. And clubbed in the ribs. And punched in the jaw. His accelerated healing would kick in soon, taking away the pain before the bruises could change from red to black, but right now, he hurt like hell. The beating he’d taken tonight was worth it, however.

He’d obtained the information he needed regarding the drug Croton coming into town. Croton was a powerful stimulant that made you feel as if you could conquer the world, right up until the moment your circulatory system went into overdrive and your heart exploded. The drug originated as a legal enhancer for athletes but quickly spread beyond controlled usage in professional sports to unregulated and illegal use for people who wanted an edge in their careers, adrenaline junkies, and criminals.

Already prevalent on the east coast, Croton was slowly making its way across the country, and had recently started to show up on the streets of St. Louis. He’d heard rumors that the L Street Posse — a gang known for petty crimes at the bottom and gambling on illegal street racing at the top — was the one bringing it in. Blaze intended to put a stop to it before it took over the city. The first step in that plan was confirmation of the rumors. Now that he had it, he could move forward and find out how they were distributing the product.

Jordan sighed. After the night he’d had, it was hard to leave the soothing heat of the three-headed shower, but the lure of sleep finally got him to twist off the faucet and step out onto the shower mat.

He didn’t bother with pajama pants after drying off. He strode naked over to his California king and slid between the sheets, sighing with pleasure as cool, soft cotton settled over his bare skin. Laying there in the middle of his big bed, he swept his arms out to either side. The space was nice. But even better would be a lover keeping the sheets warm for his return. For a blissful moment, Jordan allowed himself to imagine Daniel cuddled up against him. He’d hold him close, tucked into the curve of his shoulder, sharing lazy kisses until they drifted into sleep.

Before he could sink too far into the fantasy, Jordan resolutely pushed the longing for sweetness and warmth away. He was lonely tonight. Big deal. Everyone was lonely on occasion. The feeling would pass, as it always did. And he’d go back to kicking the asses of St. Louis’s criminals without caring about the fact that night after night, he returned to a cold, empty home. Alone.

Chapter Three

“U

gh, I’m never going to get everything in order!” Frustrated and tired, Danny dramatically collapsed onto his work table, arms spread over scattered sketch books, merch samples, and colored pencils. His roommate Scott passed by the open doorway on his way down the hall. At Danny’s outburst, he stopped and backtracked to lean against the door frame.

“You need any help?”

Danny sighed and raised his head. A plastic charm package stuck to his cheek. “Not yet. I’m still at the trying to figure out what I want to do stage.” St. Louis Geek Fest was coming up in a few months. He’d booked a table in the con’s artist alley and he needed to decide on the merchandise he wanted to take.

“Understandable,” Scott said sympathetically. “Getting started is always the hardest part when it comes to con prep.”

Danny peeled the package off his face and sat up straight in his chair. “You got that right. How was the convention?” Scott was a popular cosplay model, and he’d been hired to work a video game company’s booth at a gaming event, costumed as the main character from their new release.

“It was mostly all right. Some jerk didn’t understand cosplay doesn’t equal touchies and groped my butt. So, I kneed him right in the balls. He tried to complain to security but the joke was on him because they escorted him off the premises as soon as I told them what he’d done to me first.”

“Nice.” Danny held up a hand and Scott came into the room so they could high-five each other.

“Also, a photographer approached me to do a cosplay calendar. I’m interested, but it’s for lewds so I’m going to be extra careful vetting her,” Scott said as he lowered himself to sit cross-legged on the floor. “So, what have you been up to? I saw your tweet the other day. Were you really rescued by Blaze?”

All of Danny’s excitement came rushing back at the reminder of his encounter with the superhero. “Yes. I was walking along, minding my own business when three members of the L Street Posse came at me.”

“Yikes. Were you terrified?”

“Pants pissing,” Danny answered with a laugh. “I gave them my bag without a fuss but that wasn’t the only thing those creeps wanted.”

Scott’s blue eyes went wide as he grasped Danny’s meaning. “No.”

“Yeah. But thankfully Blaze showed up and saved my ass. He took one of them out without me even seeing him. Then he beat the snot out of the other two.”

“Wow, that’s awesome. I mean not awesome that you were mugged but that you got to see Blaze up close.”

“It was. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. And with all that electricity crackling around him, and those muscles...” Danny scrunched up his shoulders to cover the sensual shiver that ran through him at the memory.

Scott laughed. “Only you would get horny in the middle of being rescued from a mugging.”

“Ha! I doubt I’m the only one who’s wanted to swoon at Blaze’s feet.”

“You have a crush!”

Danny tried and failed to fight back the embarrassed blush heating his face. “I don’t! I don’t even know him. And I’m pretty sure I’ll never see him again. It was exciting for me but probably no more than a blip in the everyday routine of superheroing for him.”

“That’s probably true. What were you doing down there so late at night?”

“I was uh...” For a split second, Danny considered making something up. Then he squared his shoulders and came clean. “I was headed to that BDSM club — The Stocks.”

Scott tilted his head in question. “Are you embarrassed to tell me that?”

“I don’t know.” Danny scrubbed a hand over his hair as he thought about it. “Yeah, I guess? People can be weird about BDSM. Especially when it comes to Black people enjoying it.”

“C’mon, man. We’ve been friends since the 7th grade. You came out to me before anyone else. And you had my back when I started to transition. We were each other’s first kiss.”

“Don’t remind me,” Danny said as he pretended to gag. “You were a terrible kisser.”

Scott laughed again and unfolded his long legs to kick Danny’s chair. “So were you, loser. My point is, you can tell me anything and I’ll have your back. You know that. Embrace what makes you feel good without shame.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

“Are you going to try and go again?”

“I already have just not to that same club. Blaze sent me a year-long membership to Club Decadence. I tried it out and that place is amazing. It has this slick black and crystal aesthetic with leather and velvet everywhere but it’s not cheesy at all.”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’s gorge—.”

“No.” Scott waved his hands back and forth to cut Danny off. “Forget the club decor. Blaze gave you a membership to a D/s club?”

Danny rolled his eyes at his friend. “He didn’t give it to me personally. He contacted the club and asked them to sponsor me, and they had the invitation sent over.”

Scott continued watching him with his eyebrows about to jump past his strawberry blond hairline, so Danny rushed on to stop the conclusion his friend was probably about to come to.

“He only did it because I mentioned that I couldn’t afford it on my own after he suggested I go there because it was safer. You’ve heard the rumors about him helping former criminals get on the right track. This is the same thing.”

“Uh. Not really. Sounds to me like maybe you made an impression on him too.”

“Please,” Danny said with a self-deprecating snort. “A too stupid to live guy who walks the streets with his pepper spray in his bag instead of in his hand where he can actually use it if necessary? Probably not.”

“You never know. Heroes can be attracted to someone as easily as us regular people.” Scott pushed himself to his feet. “I’m going to make myself something to eat. You want anything?”

“No, I’m fine but thanks.”

“All right. Let me know if Blaze sends you any more gifts.”

“It wasn’t a gift!” Danny picked up a pencil to throw it as his friend but Scott was already out the door.

After the other man left, Danny grabbed his phone and brought up the tweet with the artwork he’d drawn of Blaze. It was at two thousand retweets, nearly four thousand likes and counting. He touched a finger to the screen, tracing over his depiction of Blaze.

Scott was way off base. It wasn’t possible that someone like that — big and strong and an actual hero — had spared more than a passing thought on average, every day Danny. More than likely, Blaze dated one of the other superheroes, and they had extremely enthusiastic and athletic sex. The kind that broke beds and left cracks in the walls. Their orgasms probably had the power to level a city block, while he at twenty-five, had just now worked up the nerve to explore something new in his sex life.

Danny was suddenly embarrassed that he’d given himself such an adoring expression. He should have drawn himself looking tough and cheering Blaze on, not like a swooning damsel in distress. Danny shrugged and dropped the phone back onto the table. It was too late to worry about it now. His swooning face was out there and all that mattered was whether or not Blaze would see it.

∞∞∞

JORDAN SQUATTED IN front of a 1966 GMC Shortbed pickup, updating the paint from a rusty orange to a bright, candy apple red. Saturday was their busiest day. The garage was packed and noisy with all staff on deck: painting cars, fitting custom rims, installing hydraulic systems, and anything else a car aficionado could think of to outfit their ride. Customers roamed the areas open to them, looking over the finished models on display to get ideas for their own cars.

His spot was popular and had twice been featured on one of those trick out my truck type shows. He hadn’t appeared on camera of course. His shop manager Nina had happily stood in for him, crowing that she was gonna get so many chicks as a result of her new fame.

For the most part, Jordan tuned out all the chaos. After years in the noise, he was able to ignore it and take care of business unless he was directly needed. When a pair of coverall clad legs appeared in his peripheral vision, he continued working. When they stayed there without moving, Jordan finally stopped the spray gun and looked up. Nina stood there with a gleeful grin on her face.

“Have you gone on Twitter lately?”

Jordan looked at her over the top of his respirator mask like she’d lost her mind. She was well aware that he left all of the social media handling to the two shop assistants. “You know I haven’t.”

“There’s something floating around on there you might want to see.”

“What is it? I hope it’s not that guy complaining about the color of his car. I tried to tell him that green he wanted was gonna look like baby shit—.”

Nina cut him off. “It’s not shop related.” She held out her phone, her grin even more excited.

Jordan took off his mask and looked at the phone. On the screen was a fantastic piece of art of him fighting off the L Street Red Vests from the other night. He recognized both the scene and the person in the picture even before he read the caption. Thank you, Blaze for everything you did for me. Daniel. The cute submissive he’d saved. Jordan glanced at the account handle. @Danny_art. So. Daniel went by Danny and he was an artist. Apparently a fairly popular one with over fifteen thousand followers.

“Nice,” he said as he handed the phone back to Nina.

“That’s all? Nice?”

Jordan checked to be sure there was no one within earshot before he answered. “What do you want me to do, log on and thank him? Not all of us have fan accounts.”

Nina shrugged. “It’s not like we get paid to do what we do. Might as well accept a little adulation when it comes our way.”

“I don’t do it for the money or the thanks.”

Nina sighed with loud exaggeration. “Of course, you don’t. Anyway, I’m texting the picture to you so you can have it.” She tapped a few buttons on the screen. “There. Sent.”

“Thank you,” he said before he pulled the mask back into place and squatted down again.

“You’re welcome.”

Nina went back to installing white rims on a ghost white Impala, leaving Jordan there to finish painting. Or at least, he tried to finish. He kept thinking of that artwork. Of Danny. It was sweet of him to draw such detailed work to show his appreciation. Jordan wasn’t surprised to learn that Danny was an artist. He had a hard time picturing someone like him, with his angelic face and soft voice, working somewhere like the Pruitt production plant or stuck in a corporate office and wearing a boring suit. Artist fit him. Now he knew two things about Danny. He was an artist and he was into BDSM.

Remembering the way Danny had looked when he’d revealed he was going to The Stocks — so fresh and innocent — Jordan was willing to bet he didn’t have much experience in the scene. He’d love to be the one to teach him about the lifestyle. He would gladly spend hours helping Danny discover which kinks he liked. Jordan had a particular favorite and he longed to find the right person to share it with. Danny could be that person.

One of the hydraulic lifts kicked on, and the loud whine snapped Jordan back to attention. He realized he was sitting there without moving while he daydreamed about a man he didn’t even know. Annoyed at himself, Jordan shook his head and put the paint gear away. He took pride in his custom paint jobs and didn’t want to make a mistake on this while his focus was elsewhere, so it was best to leave it for later. With only an hour to go before the garage closed for the day, he took off his mask and called out to Nina.

“I’m knocking off early.” She was more than capable of running the place in his absence.

“All right. See ya, boss,” she called back.

Jordan took the elevator to the third floor but instead of going to his office for paperwork, he went to his private gym. The room was huge, with only a corner of it dedicated to weight and cardio machines. The rest of the space was dominated by a system of martial arts dummies set into a track that moved them around the room at random. Maybe exerting himself for an hour would get his mind off that adorable little sub.

He stripped out of his garage coveralls and exchanged his work boots for athletic shoes. After a quick jump rope session to warm up his muscles, he turned on the automated dummy system and went into full on attack mode. He leaped and spun around the room, punching and kicking his mobile yet inanimate foes. Jordan took care to temper his strikes so that he didn’t knock the dummies from their tracks, but he didn’t hold back on the intensity level.

Forty-five minutes later, Jordan stood in the middle of the room, sweat dripping, muscles pleasantly burning... and his mind still filled with Danny.

“Fuck it.” Jordan breathed the curse in resignation. He snatched up a towel to wipe his face before grabbing his phone and logging on to Twitter through the shop’s account. Thanks to one of his assistants, he had the Twitter app on his phone. It only took him a few seconds to click through to Danny’s profile.

It was immediately obvious that Danny was good on a professional level. The banner art alone looked like it belonged on a Big Two Comics website. Jordan started to scroll. As expected, Danny had lots of art on his feed. Most of it featured one of St. Louis’s superheroes as the subject. As Jordan thumbed up, he noticed that other than his thank you art there was only one other picture of him. That made sense, as he made it a point not to be photographed when he went out as Blaze. Danny wouldn’t have much raw material to work with.

He kept scrolling until he came across a picture that someone else had taken of Danny. He sat at his desk, slightly angled toward the camera, the light from his workstation lamp casting a warm, golden glow around him. There was another of him smiling as he stood next to a tall Caucasian man cosplaying as a gender-bent Red Sonya. The guy was ripped and the skimpy costume left little to the imagination but Jordan only had eyes for Danny. His sweet smile and dark eyes sparkling at the camera grabbed his attention and wouldn’t let go.

Jordan tightened his grip on the phone. This was ridiculous. Why couldn’t he get Danny out of his head? He shouldn’t be obsessing over him after only meeting him for a few minutes. He must be horny. His days spent working in the shop and nights running around the city fighting crime didn’t exactly leave time for an active social and dating life. Maybe he should hire a sex worker to spend a few hours with. There were a couple of guys he’d hired before that he’d got on well with, some into kink, some not. That might take the edge off.

He discarded the idea before it could take shape. Physical intimacy with a stranger wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to get to know Danny.

Jordan balled up his fists and dropped his head back on his shoulders with a defeated groan. Fine. He’d go to Club Decadence and talk to Danny as Jordan Wells. Maybe once he actually interacted with him in a situation that didn’t involve saving the other man’s life, he’d learn Danny wasn’t even that great. The adrenaline from the fight and the guy’s genuine gratitude at being rescued had probably blown this attraction way out of proportion. Seeing him in a mundane environment should snap Jordan out of his infatuation.

His decision made, Jordan strode from the room, stripping the athletic tape from his hands as he went. Jordan looked at the clock over the door on his way out. He needed to be down at the riverfront later that night for recon, but he had a few hours to spare for a meeting with Danny. Hopefully by the end of it, Danny would finally be out of his head.

Chapter Four

T

hirty minutes had passed since Jordan’s arrival at Club Decadence, but there was no sign of Danny. By now, he was nearly convinced that the little sub either wasn’t going to show up tonight, or would arrive after he had to leave. He clenched his jaw in frustration, determinedly ignoring the disappointment in his chest. Five more minutes. He’d wait five more minutes before he deemed this a failed mission.

Four minutes and no sign of Danny.

Three minutes.

At two minutes, the disappointment in his chest tightened into a lump.

One minute.

He was about to call it a night and leave when he spotted Danny across the room. He’d come. Jordan’s disappointment disappeared as if it had never been, replaced with something that felt suspiciously like joy at seeing the other man once more.

He looked good tonight, dressed in a sleeveless, white mesh shirt, tight white jeans with multiple rips on the front to reveal the dark skin of his thighs beneath, and black boots that laced up to just beneath the knee. The lights reflected off his white outfit, making him appear to glow as he stood in a sea of people dressed mostly in black.

Wasting no time, Jordan went after him. He took a circular approach to where Danny stood at the bar in order to help their meeting appear accidental. He didn’t want to beeline for him as if they were already acquainted, and have Danny make the connection between him and the hero who’d saved him from a mugging. Jordan reached Danny, bumping into him slightly as he pretended he was passing by. “Excuse me. Sorry about that.”

Danny looked up with a relaxed smile. “It’s okay. It’s crowded in here tonight.”

“Yes, it is.” Jordan held his hand out. “I’m Jordan.”

“Danny. Nice to meet you.”

Danny accepted his handshake. When their palms touched, Jordan swore he felt a spark. Not like the sparks he could produce from within his own body but something warm and intimate shared between them. The dark wings of Danny’s eyebrows drew together in a frown for the briefest second, causing Jordan to wonder if he’d felt the spark too.

“Is this your first time here?” Jordan asked once they released the handshake.

Danny laughed. “Am I that obvious?”

“A little. You look like you’re trying to take in everything all at once.”

“You’re not too far off. It’s my second time actually. A hostess showed me around last weekend but there’s still so much to see and absorb.”

“You’re new to the scene.”

“Yes. I mean, I’ve looked at lots of stuff online and talked to people in chat rooms but it’s different actually being here in person. I almost feel as if I need a BDSM tutor.”

Excitement pulsed through Jordan. There. He had an in. “If you have questions, I can help you. Unless you’re waiting to meet with someone else...” He let the sentence trail away, hoping that Danny didn’t already have a Dom he was there to meet.

“No. I’m not. And that’s really nice of you to offer, thank you.”

“Come with me. There’s a booth over here in a quiet corner where we can talk.”

Danny hesitated only a moment before nodding.

They walked together, Jordan slightly in front to lead the way and clear a path through the crowd. When they reached the booth, he held a hand out, indicating that Danny should slide in before him. Jordan sat next to him, but not wanting to scare the little sub he kept some distance between them and settled near the edge of the booth. He would have loved to sit closer to Danny, thigh pressed against thigh, but simply being here with him gave Jordan a thrill, awakening needs and desires that had lain dormant for far too long.

Danny fiddled with the napkin holder before pulling back and folding his small hands together on the tabletop. “Sorry, I’m nervous.”

“It’s understandable to be nervous. We all feel that way sometimes, especially as we’re learning to navigate the scene.”

“I can’t imagine you nervous and new.”

“Even Doms have to start from the beginning.”

“So, you are a Dom,” Danny said with a nod. “I thought so. I didn’t know if that was okay to ask.”

“You can ask me anything you’d like.”

Danny bit his lip for a moment. “How do you normally tell if someone is a sub or a Dom?”

“Sometimes it’s easy to read in a person. The way they carry themselves or the vibe they give off will let you know. Sometimes it’s not as easy to detect. Or, people can surprise you.”

“Can you tell what I am?”

Looking down at Danny’s open expression and eager to please demeanor there was only one answer Jordan could give. “I’d say you’re a submissive.”

“Yep.” Twin dimples appeared in Danny’s cheeks when he smiled. “I guess I’m obvious there too.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“That’s good to hear. I feel awkward and new, like the new kid showing up half way through the semester and hoping someone will ask me to sit with them at lunch.”

“I’ve already asked you to sit with me,” Jordan pointed out.

Danny breathed a soft laugh, his shoulders relaxing. “True.”

“What are you interested in trying now that you’ve taken the first step in entering the D/s world?”

“Sensation play. I like to be touched.” Danny ducked his head and looked up at Jordan through his lashes. “Is that okay to say?”

Another beat of excitement pulsed throughout Jordan’s body. Sweet. He was so sweet. “Yes.” He held a hand up over Danny’s bare forearm. “May I touch you?”

Danny nodded.

“Out loud, Danny.”

“Yes.”

Jordan realized how eager he was to touch Danny when his power rose, tempting him to let loose enough to give the smaller man a pleasant buzz. But he held it back. He’d been given permission to touch, nothing more. And letting his power free would instantly blow his cover. Jordan kept his electromagnetic power tightly leashed as he began running his fingertips over the bare skin of Danny’s arm.

“Sensation play is a wonderful place to start. There are many different things to feel. The brush of a feather. Silk. Heat. Ice. Which would you like to try, Danny?”

“All of them. I want...” Danny’s lids fell closed and he drew in a shuddering breath before he finished.  “I’ve wanted it for so long.”

Jordan let his fingers dance up Danny’s arm to his shoulder, then further, brushing them over his nape. He caressed him there for several heartbeats. When Danny leaned slightly into the touch, Jordan wrapped his fingers around the back of his neck and gently squeezed. Danny gasped before quickly stifling any other sounds by biting his lip. Jordan wished he could take that lip between his own teeth. He settled for lowering his head to whisper against Danny’s ear. “You deserve to be teased and touched until you tremble from the pleasure of it.”

“Yes...”

“Look at me, Danny.”

Long, thick lashes rose to reveal warm brown eyes gone soft with arousal.

As Jordan gazed down into those eyes, he accepted that it wasn’t simply adrenaline from the fight driving his attraction to Danny. This untrained submissive was simply gorgeous and sweet and innocent and Jordan absolutely needed to see him past this one introduction. And it appeared Danny shared his attraction. The other man didn’t have the knowledge that technically they’d met before yet he still reacted to Jordan’s touch with honest, open arousal. If the chemistry between them was this intense after a short conversation and brief caresses, what would happen if they had time to explore their attraction in private?

Jordan made a swift decision. One night. If Danny was interested, he would take one night to introduce him to sensation play. That would have to be enough for him, because he couldn’t afford to become involved with Danny beyond a single evening. He asked the question that would hopefully gain him what he sought. “Would you like to try any of them with me?”

Danny swallowed before nodding slowly. “Yes.”

“I’d like that too. I’d like one night to show you how good it can feel to give yourself up to touch. To sensation.”

Danny’s lips parted on a silent sigh, forming a little o. Jordan smiled. He sensed that Danny was one he’d have to coax to get him to verbally express himself when he was lost in pleasure. Jordan liked that. There was so much about Danny that he liked.

“When can we...”

Jordan leaned back and dropped his hand from Danny’s neck, giving him physical and mental room to breathe. “There are a couple of things I want you to do before we scene together. First, you are going to ask the club’s staff about me and vet that I’m a safe Dom to work with.” He took out a card from his wallet that had his name and picture. A secret special addition had been added to it. “Then you’re going to go home and think this over to make sure it’s what you want. If you decide you do want to scene with me, meet me back here tomorrow at nine. I’ll book us a play room. However, if you change your mind, I will understand. You are under no obligation to see me again. Okay?”

“I won’t change my mind,” Danny said as he accepted the card.

Jordan had to hold back a growl of pleasure, happy that Danny shared his attraction. “I hope you won’t,” he said as he brushed a thumb over Danny’s cheek. A quick glance at the clock showed that he was out of time. He needed to get down to the riverfront for his reconnaissance mission. He reluctantly pulled his hand away. “Unfortunately, I have to go. Will you be all right?”

“Yes. I’m fine.” Danny gestured with the card. “Thank you for this.”

“You’re welcome.” Jordan slid out of the booth. “I hope to see you tomorrow night.”

Danny graced him with that sweet smile again before he answered.

“You will.”

∞∞∞

DANNY PRACTICALLY FLOATED into the house. Scott lay on the couch in the front room, watching TV, and eating from a box of Crunch ‘N Munch. He sat up when Danny came through the door.

“Whoa. What’s got you all dreamy?”

“I met someone.”

“Okay. Who has got you all dreamy?”

Danny shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Ah, I see. You want to keep your new crush private while you let it soak in.” He held up the box of Crunch ‘N Munch and shook it. “When you’re ready to spill I’ve got the snacks.”

“Thanks.”

Danny went upstairs to his room and closed the door. He leaned back against it and sighed. Jordan Wells. He reached into his pocket for the card he’d slipped into his wallet earlier that evening, wanting to see Jordan’s picture again.

The man was gorgeous. And big. Easily six feet tall with shoulders and arms that filled out his black dress shirt in the very best way — like one flex and the sleeves would explode into shreds, revealing bare naked muscles. His light brown skin tone was a warm contrast to the inky black of his shadow beard and dark eyebrows. And golden-brown eyes had watched him with an intimate gaze that made him feel as if they already knew each other.

Jordan Wells also had the deliciously commanding air of an experienced Dom. Danny had readily obeyed the simple instructions he’d given and eagerly awaited more. The feelings Jordan had aroused in him simply from his fingertips sliding up and down his arm... Danny shivered at the remembered sensation. That simple touch had set off sparks of desire in his belly. He could only imagine how it would feel to be touched in other places by those big, rough hands.

He’d been instructed to think it over but his mind was already made up. Going back tomorrow night was a forgone conclusion. Danny couldn’t wait to try sensation play with the sexy Dom. He hadn’t expected to meet anyone at Club Decadence so soon. Or to have such electric chemistry with a stranger. But it had happened and he was going to take advantage of it. Before he’d left the club, he’d vetted Jordan with Vivian and a few other employees and patrons. Now, there was nothing holding him back from returning to see Jordan again.

Danny tucked the card back into his wallet. He went over to the nightstand to put his phone on the charger, then stripped out of his club clothes, haphazardly tossed them in the laundry basket, and fell into bed wearing only his briefs. The room was dark and quiet as he lay there thinking, too riled up to sleep. He was glad he’d met Jordan. But the only reason he’d had the opportunity to do so was because of Blaze.

Rolling onto his side, Danny picked up his phone so he could scroll through his mentions, first on Instagram then on Twitter. He didn’t really expect to see anything from Blaze, still, he hoped... But there was nothing. Not even an imposter account trying to make him think they were Blaze. Disappointed, Danny put the phone down and flopped onto his back. He wasn’t obsessed. He simply wanted to thank the hero for what he’d done.

Danny lay there staring at the ceiling for all of a minute before he flung off the covers and got out of bed. He went over to his dresser for a T-shirt and shorts to throw on, then grabbed his wallet and phone. If he couldn’t connect with Blaze online, maybe he’d have a chance reaching him in person. The odds were slim but it was worth a try.

The house was dark and silent as he crept down to the first level. Scott must have gone to bed right after Danny had run upstairs. Feeling as if he was on a secret mission, Danny stepped out onto the porch, locked the front door, and quietly ran to his car.

Thanks to the late hour, traffic was light. He made the trip downtown in minutes, parking in the same lot as that fateful night. There was no guarantee that Blaze would be in this area again but maybe it was part of his patrol route or something. Danny got out of the car and locked the door. This time he made sure to keep his keys out, his hand wrapped around the tube of pepper spray, thumb ready on the trigger.

He didn’t venture too far from his car, staying close to the parking lot and not going beyond the lit areas. An old truck drove past. A group of college-aged kids staggered down the other sidewalk, clearly drunk based on the way they laughed and clung to each other. They straightened up when a pair of P-Bots approached, then gave the bots the finger behind their backs once they passed without incident. But there was no sign of Blaze.

Danny sighed. This was a dumb idea. Even if he yelled Blaze! Help! the man wasn’t likely to show up. He could be on the other side of the city for all Danny knew.

Giving up on his foolish quest, he started back to his car. At a quiet noise right behind him, the scrape of a boot on concrete, Danny whirled back around. He raised the pepper spray, ready to blast the presumed criminal in the face before he could be attacked. But instead of the red vest he expected to see, it was skin tight black leather. Blaze. “It’s you.” Danny breathed the words out as he lowered the spray, hardly daring to believe his plan of stand there and look helpless had worked, and Blaze was right there in front of him.

Blaze crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are you out here alone again?”

“I’m armed this time, see?” Danny shook the tube of pepper spray. “I learned my lesson.”

Blaze gave the little canister a sideways glance. Danny didn’t need to see his full expression to know that he didn’t think the spray was worth much in the way of protection. He lowered the keychain to his side. “I wanted to say thank you for saving me, and for the Club Decadence membership. You didn’t have to ask them to do that for me, and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it.”

Blaze nodded slightly. “I saw your artwork.”

“I hoped you would!” Danny said with a happy smile. “I know you don’t have any public accounts on Twitter or Instagram but I figured someone would eventually show it to you.”

“Someone did. I noticed there were hardly any Blaze pictures on your timeline. Lots of Ignite and Helios.”

Blaze sounded almost disappointed. An image popped into Danny’s head of this six foot plus man scrolling his feed and pouting when he didn’t see any artwork of himself. Danny managed to smother his giggle at the mental picture, but couldn’t resist teasing the superhero. “They’re both very popular. Much more than you. You need better PR people.”

Danny caught a slight twitch to Blaze’s lips. Apparently, he’d managed to amuse the gruff superhero. That gave him the confidence to ask a question that had been on his mind for days. “Would it be okay if I drew more of you? I want to but you seem pretty private and I thought that I should ask before I went wild with the fanart.”

“I don’t mind,” Blaze responded in his deep growl. “Make sure I look good.”

Danny ran his eyes over Blaze, taking in the big, hard body wrapped in supple black leather. He assumed the suit was two pieces, as the pants had a belt and zipper but the top had no openings or fastenings that he could see. Thick padding on Blaze’s thighs and shoulders, and armored plates on his elbows, forearms, and knees gave the suit added protection. And that cowled helmet. It served to protect Blaze’s head, but Danny loved the way it so perfectly framed the hard line of the hero’s bearded jawline, drawing attention to full, sensuous lips. What would it be like to kiss a man who had such strength and power? Danny’s knees nearly buckled at the thought of it. Taken all together, Blaze looked like a gift from the leather fetish gods and he would love to unwrap him.

“I don’t think there’s any worry about that,” Danny finally said with unabashed admiration. As soon as he spoke, the cloud of lust cleared from his brain and he realized what he’d said and how he’d said it. Mortified, Danny clapped a hand over his mouth. He did not just attempt to flirt with Blaze. Lord, the man was going to think he was some superhero fanboy. Which he was. But he didn’t want to be blatant about it in front of an actual superhero.

“I only meant that your fighting style is really cool. I noticed that the other night with the sparks and everything.” Danny waved his fists around in a wild attempt to demonstrate Blaze’s electrified punches, nearly knocking himself in the face with his keyring in the process. He abruptly dropped his hands before he put his eye out.

“Hmmm.”

Again, that noncommittal noise that could have meant anything. Danny suspected this time it meant Blaze was trying not to laugh.

“Anyway, I should get back home. I’m sure you’ve got crime to stop and villains to catch.” He started backing away, still rambling. “Thank you again. You’re the best, really. I promise there’ll be lots more Blaze art on my profile from now on. Good night and uh... be safe!” He gave a little wave before spinning around and hot footing it back to his car.

Danny was so focused on his getaway, he didn’t realize until he’d sat down in the driver’s seat and closed the door that he’d neglected to ask for a way to contact Blaze. But what reason could he give for needing to? He’d had the chance to express his gratitude like he wanted, so that should be it between them. No reason for them to interact again.

He drove to the edge of the parking lot, pausing to let a van go past before pulling out. As he sat there, the ticking of the turn blinker loud in the quiet of his car, he again had that feeling that he was being watched. Danny slowly raised his eyes from the road to check the rearview mirror. Blaze stood there, still as stone, half-hidden in the shadows of the building behind him. And he was definitely watching Danny as he drove away.

Chapter Five

D

anny spent a big chunk of his Sunday afternoon drawing Blaze. It was supposed to be a day off from art work but now that he had the elusive hero’s blessing to portray him, he had to get something down. Besides, working was the perfect way to keep from obsessively checking the clock all day, wondering if it was time for his date with Jordan.

He kept it simple with sketches only — limited color and no backgrounds. The sketches gave him a feel for drawing the hero, which would help for future projects. As Blaze had pointed out, he had a portfolio full of superheroes like Ignite and Helios. Danny was practiced in drawing those two, and had cultivated an aesthetic to fit each man. But Blaze was so different, his gear, his fighting style, his entire mood. It would take practice to get him right. For now, he uploaded a few of the finished sketches with a short caption. Hey guys! I’m really inspired to draw Blaze right now. Can’t wait to create some amazing art of this hero for you.

After sharing the posts across his social media, Danny mostly wandered aimlessly around the house. He called a few family members to say hello. Spent time researching what to expect for his first scene. Ate a meal that he barely tasted. Then finally finally it was time to get ready for his night with Jordan. He ordered an Uber, then ran upstairs to get dressed.

Assuming he’d have to get at least partially naked, Danny looked through his closet for an outfit he could easily pull on and off, but was also sexy enough for a date with a BDSM Dom. He decided on a dark purple romper. The tight shorts called attention to his thighs, and his package looked nice too. Turning around, he peeked over his shoulder to check out his butt in the mirror. Stellar as always, thanks to his weekly squat routine and visits to spin class. Danny grinned and slipped his feet into a pair of leather loafers and fastened his handcuff pendant around his throat.

Facing front again, Danny studied himself in the mirror. The outfit was nice... but it didn’t give him the vibe he wanted. It looked too causal. He scrunched up his nose, wondering what he could do to sex it up. It was his arms, he decided, they were too bare. Danny dug around in the top drawer where he kept his accessories and came up with two thick, black leather cuffs. He fastened one around each wrist then checked himself out again. Now the outfit worked. The cuffs gave him the D/s spice he wanted. Happy with his look, Danny went down to the living room to wait for his ride.

“Thank you! I’ll be sure to rate you five stars.” Danny thanked the driver as he exited the back seat of the dark sedan. He’d taken a car service to Club Decadence tonight because he’d been too keyed up to drive, and unsure if he’d be in a state to drive himself home. Tonight was the night. His first time playing with an actual Dom. He was full of nervous excitement, low-key horny, and a tad bit scared. His heart thumping, Danny slowly approached the club. Before he made it to the doors however, his phone dinged with an alert.

“Shoot. I forgot to turn it off.” He didn’t want the phone making noise in the middle of his time with Jordan, so he pulled it from his shorts pocket to put it on airplane mode. Out of habit, he checked the notifications before silencing the phone. The little birdie in the corner told him that he had half a dozen tweets from that Ignite stan account.

Where’s Ignite?

You’re wasting your time drawing Blaze.

Ignite would look better with these poses.

When are you going to have new Ignite pics to share?

Did you see Ignite got new gear? You should draw it.

I actually saw Ignite flying over the city the other night. I took a picture if you want it for reference.

“Geez, obsess much?” Danny muttered in annoyance. He didn’t need this when he was already nervous as hell. He was tempted to block the account but decided to ignore them for now. Danny put the phone on airplane mode and shoved it back into his pocket. Before he went inside, he took a quick second to shake off his aggravation at the tweets. He didn’t want to bring that negative energy with him to his time with Jordan.

In the lobby, a different host from his previous visit greeted Danny, swiped his membership card, and told him to have a nice time. Inside the club proper, Danny scanned the lower level, looking for his sexy Dom. It only took a moment to spot Jordan at the bar, close to where they’d first bumped into each other. It was obvious he was watching the door. That realization made Danny’s heart pump double-time with excitement.

Jordan was in all black again, this time a tight T-shirt that let Danny see the biceps he’d been fantasizing about — they were indeed magnificent — and a pair of coal black jeans. He leaned against the bar with an air of cool confidence as he watched Danny approach with that direct gaze of his. And Danny couldn’t look away. His eyes stayed locked on Jordan’s as he made his way across the club. Thankfully he didn’t bump into anyone.

When he was within reach, Jordan held a hand out to him. Danny set his hand in Jordan’s and let the bigger man pull him in close. His palm tingled at the contact and he greeted him a little breathlessly. “Hello.”

“You came,” Jordan said in his smooth voice.

“I told you I would.”

“And you did as I requested.”

“Yep, lots of people here told me that you are a very good Dom and I would enjoy my time with you.”

A hint of a smile tugged at Jordan’s lips. “And are you ready to enjoy your time with me?”

The seductively voiced question made Danny’s toes curl. “Ye—. Yes.”

Jordan pushed away from the bar, straightening to his full height. “The room will have water but would you like anything else to drink before we get started?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Okay, come with me.”

Their hands still linked, Danny and Jordan left the main area of the club behind. The music and conversation became muted when they turned down a wide hallway. On the left side of the hall, a decorative collection of whips and other toys were mounted to the black velvet covered wall. On the right were glass doors, frosted for privacy. They stopped at the fourth door. There was a small gold 4 painted on the smoked glass, and next to the door frame was a Reserved sign backlit with a yellow glow. Jordan held the door open for him.

“After you.”

Danny stepped inside the room and looked around. He immediately zeroed in on the bondage table in the center of the room. It appeared adjustable, and was currently extended to a length long enough for him to lay on. The top was padded, with metal loops on the sides for restraints, and what he assumed were hand grips at the head. The room also had a small love seat, and a cart that held a bucket of water bottles cooling on ice, wet wipes, and other toiletries. Before Danny could take in too much else, the door closed with a quiet click. He jumped at the sound as if it was a gunshot.

“Are you all right?” Jordan asked from behind him.

“Yes.”

Jordan moved further into the room to stand in front of him.

“Be honest with me, Danny.”

Danny let out a little sigh. “I’m nervous,” he said as he rocked up once on his toes. “Not want to back out of it nervous. First-timer nerves, I guess.”

“I understand. Let’s sit down and talk for a moment. We’ll negotiate the scene first and we won’t do anything until you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

Jordan gazed down at him, his eyes dark and serious. “I’ll take care of you, Danny.”

At that assurance, voiced almost as solemnly as a sacred vow, most of the nervous tension drained from his shoulders. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt comfortable with Jordan, trusting him to keep him safe. “I believe you,” he said. They went and sat down on the love seat, Jordan’s arm across the back, and a foot of space between them.

“Tell me your limits, both hard and soft.”

Danny decided to get the big one out of the way first. “It’s not a kink limit, but I guess I should be upfront and tell you I don’t want to have sex tonight.” He was on board being intimate with a stranger he was attracted to but he didn’t want to go so far as to have sex with him just yet.

“I need you to be specific. No penetration?”

“Right.”

“Where am I allowed to touch you?”

“Anywhere except my—.” Danny stumbled to an embarrassed halt and vaguely waved at his lap.

Jordan lightly tapped Danny on his shoulder. “Be specific, Danny.”

“Anywhere except my cock. And balls.” He added on the last in a rush before Jordan could tell him to be specific again.

“Do you have a safe word or do you want to use the red, yellow, green system?”

“My safe word is exposure.”

“Good. I like that you thought of it ahead of time.”

Danny was suddenly aware that the hard muscle of Jordan’s thigh pressed against his own. When had Jordan closed the distance between them? He was so close. And he smelled amazing, a rich, dark and warm scent that made Danny want to press his face to the Dom’s chest covered by that tight black shirt and breathe him in. Why had he been nervous? Jordan would take care of him, just as he’d said.

Fully relaxed now, he listened as Jordan explained what would happen. They were going to play with a Wartenberg wheel tonight. That got Danny’s heart racing again. Feathers and silk were nice, but he was excited to try something a little more intense for his first time.

“Are you ready?” Jordan asked once he was finished.

“Yes.”

“Stand up.”

Danny rose from the couch. He let Jordan guide him to stand in between his spread knees.

“As much as I love this outfit...” Jordan slipped a finger beneath the tight hem of the shorts to caress Danny’s thigh. “I need you to undress for me.”

This was it. Danny paused to draw in a deep breath before he started to undress. He took off his shoes first, stepping out of them with Jordan’s big, warm hand on his hip to keep him steady. As he unbuttoned the top of the romper, his fingers trembled, not with nerves, but with eager anticipation. The material parted, revealing a narrow strip of his chest.

Once all the buttons were undone, he shrugged out of one sleeve, then the other. The top fell to his waist, leaving all of his torso bare. Jordan’s eyes lit up with a hungry fire, and he shifted once on the couch as if he’d been about to rise but restrained himself at the last moment. That reaction pleased Danny, making him especially glad that he’d used the expensive body lotion tonight. He continued undressing, pushing the shorts off his hips, and letting them fall to the floor. He was left in a pair of small, square-cut briefs.

Jordan stood. Moved in close. So close that Danny gasped when the material of the Dom’s shirt rubbed against his bare skin. He felt small and vulnerable standing there nearly naked, with Jordan fully clothed and towering over him. And he was aroused even though they had yet to do anything. Unsure if he should express that arousal, he kept his gaze fixed on the wide chest in front of him. Until Jordan raised a hand and traced one fingertip down his spine. Danny gasped again at the featherlight touch, finally raising his head to meet Jordan’s gaze.

“Want to make sure you’re with me.”

“I’m with you,” Danny assured him in a soft whisper.

“Good. Go and lie face down on the table,” Jordan said with a nod toward the bondage equipment in the middle of the room.

Danny nodded and turned to do as he’d been told, hyper aware that Jordan was right behind him, watching him as he walked. He climbed up onto the table, crawling forward until his knees were in the center of it. A low groan rumbled behind him. Still on his knees, Danny looked back over his shoulder. Jordan’s eyes were glued to his ass. Danny watched as they slowly rose to make contact with his own. Desire swooped low in his belly. He’d never had a man look at him with that much hunger. He had a moment’s regret that he’d decided no sex tonight, but he knew that decision was for the best. Facing forward again, Danny laid down and stretched out.

“I’m not going to restrain you this evening,” Jordan said as he approached the table. “But I want you to hold on to the hand grips and don’t let go. Understand?”

“Yes,” Danny answered, gripping where instructed. Seconds later, heat bloomed across his back when Jordan leaned down over him to whisper in his ear.

“I mean it, Danny. Don’t let go or I’ll have to punish you.”

Determined to obey, Danny immediately tightened his hold on the grips. Although, a part of him was curious to see what Jordan’s punishment would be if he didn’t. He jumped slightly when a hand landed on the back of his thigh.

“Relax. I want to learn the feel of you.”

Jordan stroked him softly for several moments. He’d said it was to learn the feel of him, but it also worked to calm Danny. The touch soothed him, settling his skittish nerves. He relaxed, muscles loosening, no longer jumping every time Jordan’s hands moved to caress a new spot. Jordan swept a palm down his back, once, then again. Danny expected a third sweep of Jordan’s palm but instead cool metal touched his skin as the Wartenberg wheel rolled up his torso.

The change was so seamless, Danny didn’t have a chance to be scared. The prickly sensation rolled up his back and over his shoulder. When it dipped into the sensitive spot where shoulder meet throat, Danny’s fingers flexed on the hand grips. But he didn’t let go. He held on as the tiny wheel rolled over his body, sometimes moving so lightly he barely felt it, sometimes pressing hard enough to sting. Jordan moved the wheel everywhere — his back, his thighs, his calves, even the bottoms of his feet — often following with more sweeps of his calloused palm.

Danny didn’t know which touch he liked more. It didn’t matter however, because in no time at all, his entire body buzzed, as sensitive as a live wire. He trembled, just as Jordan said he would. His nipples tightened and his cock grew so hard he shifted to try and get into a more comfortable position. But the drag of his cock against the padded leather felt good, and he ended up rolling his hips, practically humping the table. A second later he gasped, his toes curling as the wheel skirted along the crease beneath his ass cheek.

Overwhelmed with sensation, Danny bit his lip, trying to be quiet so the Dom could concentrate and work. He didn’t want to embarrass himself by moaning so loudly that he distracted Jordan. He successfully managed to hold back his whimpers, until Jordan smoothed a hand up his back to wrap strong fingers around the nape of his neck. The Dom held Danny down as he leaned over him again. His deep voice rolled out, warm breath whispering over the shell of Danny’s ear, sending shivers down his spine.

“It’s okay to make noise, little sub. Let me hear how good you feel.”

Still holding him down with one hand, Jordan nudged Danny’s legs apart, and ghosted the spiney wheel up the inside of his thigh with the other. The feeling of being under Jordan’s control, together with the delicious sting on such a sensitive part of his body was a potent combination. Danny stopped biting his lip, let go of his inhibitions, and moaned.

∞∞∞

JORDAN STARED, PRACTICALLY entranced as Danny’s hips rose in gentle little arches before lowering to press against the padded table. Although he’d been given permission to touch his ass, he’d resisted thus far. But he needed to feel that plump flesh under his palm. He cupped Danny there, squeezing softly, sliding a thumb up his cloth covered crease. He remembered the limit — no penetration — so he pressed in only enough to feel the heat of Danny’s center against his thumb. Danny gave another one of those soft gasps and Jordan’s cock throbbed in response.

He’d never wanted so badly. He wanted to tug off those tiny briefs. He wanted to climb on top of Danny, covering his smaller body with his own. He wanted to hold him down while he fucked him slowly, thoroughly, until those gasps turned into ragged sobs and desperate cries. He wanted Danny.

But he couldn’t have him. They’d agreed to no sex, which worked out perfectly for him since he couldn’t allow himself to become any more involved than he already had. One night is all he got. With that reminder, he decided it was best to get his focus off that gorgeous ass.

“Turn over.”

Danny started to move, then he hesitated, his fingers flexing on the hand grips.

“You can let go of the bars until you’re on your back.”

Danny shifted and rolled until he was stretched out again, this time on his back. Now Jordan got to enjoy the sight of his front. And it was a treat. Sweetly curved lips slightly parted for little puffs of air to escape, eyes heavy-lidded, skin warmed to an even richer brown with tiny droplets of sweat dotting his hairline. He wore blissed out arousal well.

Jordan let his gaze trail down Danny’s delightful little body. His cock was hard behind those tight briefs, and a clear wet spot let Jordan know the head was slick with pre-cum. The visual proof of Danny’s arousal and enjoyment in their play was beautiful. But Jordan wanted to hear how much he enjoyed it too.

He rolled the wheel down Danny’s torso, bringing the prickly sensation to the sensitive, thin skin of his pelvis. Danny shivered. “Do you like that?” Jordan asked.

“Yes.”

“But you closed yourself off from me.”

A frown touched Danny’s sweat-damp forehead. “I did?”

Jordan looked down at Danny’s legs, held tightly together. Danny raised his head to look too.

“Oh. I didn’t realize.”

“Open your legs for me, Danny.”

The muscles in Danny’s thighs twitched as if he was going to move. But he didn’t. His brow creased even more as his frown deepened.

“I... can’t.”

Jordan understood what was happening. Danny’s overstimulated body was probably sending him too many signals and he’d locked up, an automatic response to his brain trying to decide if it wanted more of the pleasure-pain Jordan gave. The response wasn’t unusual, especially for someone experiencing sensation play for the first time. Jordan checked in with Danny, just to be sure he wanted to continue.

“What’s your safe word, Danny?”

“Exposure.”

“Do you need to use it or take a break?”

“No. I’m okay. Really.”

Jordan smoothed a hand up Danny’s calf, fingers pressing in when he reached the thickness of his thighs. “Then open your legs,” he ordered as he squeezed. Danny whimpered in response. His legs began to move, parting slightly. Jordan softly encouraged him until they were open as far as they could go without falling off the table. “There you go. Good boy.” Jordan offered the praise while gently caressing Danny’s hip. “Ready for more?”

At Danny’s nod, he continued on with the sensual torture. He concentrated on rolling the wheel up and down the insides of the little sub’s thighs, coming close to but never touching the forbidden areas. Jordan followed the wheel’s path with his fingertips, lightly scratching the sensitized skin.

Danny writhed and panted, the wet spot on his briefs growing as he curled his hips up, trying to guide the wheel where he wanted it to go. But Jordan was in control. He changed up the pace and path and pressure, keeping Danny on the edge until he was a trembling, moaning mess. Only then did he back off long enough to give Danny a chance to catch his breath. Once his shaking eased, he moved the wheel up the sweat-slick torso, paused to circle a nipple, then continued on, up his arm all the way to his wrist. He stopped when he reached the black leather cuff Danny wore. “I like these,” he said, gently tapping the leather.

“Thank you.”

“They make me think of seeing your wrists in restraints. Would you like to be restrained, Danny?”

“Yes. I want to be tied, chained...”

It was on the tip of Jordan’s tongue to say Next time. He barely managed to hold the words back. There wouldn’t be a next time. He refocused his attention on the here and now. Danny continued to respond beautifully, arching into every touch. But their play couldn’t last forever.

Jordan began to ease Danny down, using slower and lighter touches, gradually prolonging the time in between each caress. Danny calmed, his breathing evening out, muscles going lax rather than tense from anticipation. Finally, Jordan took his hands away entirely. Danny closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and let it out in a long, shuddering exhale.

“You can let go of the hand grips now.”

It took a few seconds before Danny loosened his hold and opened his eyes. But he didn’t move. He continued to lay there with his arms raised over his head.

“You okay?” Jordan asked, already switching to after care mode.

Danny licked his lips once and nodded. “Yes.”

Jordan slid an arm beneath his back and helped him to sit up. “We’re going to go over to the couch to sit and relax for a few minutes.” He held Danny steady as he slid off the table. On their way to the couch, he grabbed a bottle of water from the cart. Jordan sat down, tugging Danny onto his lap. His weight was warm and precious, even more so when he leaned in and rested against Jordan’s chest. Jordan held up the bottle of water.

“Here. Drink.”

Danny lifted his head to slowly sip from the bottle. When he finished, Danny raised his lashes to look at him, eyes still soft and languid.

“We didn’t talk about it before. But will you kiss me?”

Jordan’s answer was swift. “Absolutely.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to Danny’s. At first, they were cool from the water but they quickly warmed beneath his own. The kiss was pure and lovely, their lips gently melding together. Jordan held himself back for all of a second before he nudged Danny’s lips apart so that he could slide his tongue into the wet heat of his mouth.

Those intimate sparks returned, lighting a fire beneath his skin. He cupped the back of Danny’s head, holding him steady as he deepened the kiss far beyond what he had intended. And Danny, sweet Danny, opened for him, returning each kiss with equal passion. It took every bit of Jordan’s will power to end the kiss and ease them apart.

“Thank you.” Danny whispered.

“Did you enjoy that?” Jordan asked as he brushed a thumb over kiss-damp lips.

“Yes. You made my first time wonderful.”

“It was a pleasure watching you experience it.”

Danny smiled and laid his head back on Jordan’s chest. Jordan held him in a loose embrace, trying to ignore the growing feeling of attachment he had for this new, untrained submissive. That he should be the one to lead him into dominance and submission. That Danny was supposed to be his. He hadn’t felt this strong of an attachment since—. No. Jordan cut that thought off. Bad memories had no right to intrude on this time of quiet and after care. He refocused his attention on the man sitting on his lap, rubbing soothing circles on his back and thighs.

“Before you get dressed, I want to apply a cream to make sure your skin doesn’t get irritated from the Wartenberg wheel.”

“Mmmm.”

Danny nodded but didn’t move. Jordan didn’t want to either. It had been too long since he’d cuddled a submissive in his lap and he didn’t want it to end. But making sure Danny was taken care of was more important. He gently squeezed his hip. “Up.”

Danny slid off his lap and Jordan rose to get the cream from the cart. He scooped out a generous amount, warming it in his hands first before gently massaging it into Danny’s skin. By the time he finished, Danny leaned into him so loose and relaxed it was a wonder he wasn’t sleep on his feet. Jordan was absolutely charmed. If they were at his home, he would finish caring for Danny by tucking him into bed. Then he’d hold him close as he fell asleep. That’s all he wanted, a sub to spoil and care for.

Regret started to settle in his chest as he held Danny until he was one hundred percent recovered from their play. Tonight might have been a mistake on his part, a harsh reminder of what he couldn’t allow himself to have, but he hadn’t been able to resist the chance to spend a few hours with this little sub.

“Let’s get you dressed and I’ll take you home.”

Danny stirred enough to take a step back and look up at Jordan. “Oh, I can get an Uber.”

Jordan was absolutely not going to put a sated sub who’d just experienced kink play for the first time in an Uber by himself. “I’ll take you home, Danny,” he repeated firmly.

Dark lashes fell to rest against Danny’s cheeks as he bowed his head. “Okay.”

The gorgeous, easy submission Danny displayed nearly rekindled Jordan’s arousal. He clenched his jaw once in an effort to keep it banked then moved to grab Danny’s clothes from the floor.

After Danny was redressed in that sexy romper, they left the club together. Jordan placed a hand at the small of Danny’s back, guiding him, keeping him close to his side. The valet quickly brought his car around. Tonight it was a late model Chevy Camaro. He was glad he’d driven an automatic as it allowed him to have a hand free to rest on Danny’s knee. They drove to Danny’s home mostly without speaking, but the mood was comfortable and relaxed, with soft R&B playing on the radio filling the long spaces of silence.

“Turn right here. Fourth house on the left.”

He pulled up to the curb at the house Danny indicated. A two-story white stucco with dark trim, a big yard, and a small front porch. Jordan got out and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Danny.

“I’d like to have your number so that I can call and check on you,” Jordan said as they went up the walk.

“Of course.”

Danny stopped, so Jordan stopped as well and took out his phone. He thumbed to his contacts screen, then passed the phone to Danny so he could type in his number. They continued up the walk and onto the porch once he was done.

“Good night, Danny. I hope you sleep well.”

Danny leaned against the door and smiled up at Jordan. “I have a feeling I’m going to sleep like a log.”

Jordan quietly agreed with him. “You probably will.”

They’d said their goodnights but neither of them moved. It felt wrong to leave Danny instead of staying with him. Jordan had to remind himself that one night of play didn’t mean this sweet submissive belonged to him. His chest tight, he waited as Danny finally went inside and closed the door before walking back to his car.

Before he got in, he looked up at the house. A light flicked on in a window upstairs, in what he assumed was Danny’s bedroom. He pictured him moving around, getting ready for bed. Neither of them had broached the topic of a second night together, but Jordan knew in his gut that regardless of what he’d promised himself, one night wasn’t going to be enough for him. He had to see Danny again.

Chapter Six

M

onday morning, Danny sat at the kitchen table, a mug of hot tea cradled in his hands. He sipped slowly, his head filled with thoughts of last night when he’d been under a Dom’s hands for the first time. Under Jordan’s hands. His first time had been everything he’d dreamed of. More actually. Sensation play was definitely one of his kinks. He shivered at the remembered feel of the Wartenberg wheel gliding over his skin, followed by the sweep of Jordan’s calloused palm. He’d loved every moment of it.

And the aftercare. Danny ducked his head, staring into the tea with a soft smile. He’d never felt as warm and secure as he had with Jordan’s strong arms wrapped around him. Those few minutes tucked onto Jordan’s lap beat any post-coital canoodling he’d shared with lovers in the past.

Danny could have sat there all morning, day dreaming about the way he’d trembled and moaned, and how close he’d come to tossing out his limit and asking Jordan to make love to him. Unfortunately, he had work to do. There were several commissions he needed to finish, and details for the web comic he planned to start later that year had to be ironed out.

He rose and dumped out the last bits of now cold tea in the sink before heading to his workroom. His desk was a mess as usual, so he had to push a few things aside to find his sketch glove. Once he had it on, he grabbed his tablet to begin with a warm-up. With Jordan on his mind, it was no surprise he started drawing the gorgeous Dom. Jordan had been in all black last night, so Danny sketched a bust of him wearing a tight black tee. As he outlined Jordan’s full lips and low beard, another man’s image slipped into his mind. Without consciously planning it, Danny’s hand moved over the screen, covering most of the face he’d drawn with a dark mask.

Danny stopped, his brow furrowed in thought as he studied the image. With the mask filled in, Jordan’s face had too easily morphed into Blaze. Could they be the same man? No... The two were roughly the same height but Blaze was bigger, more muscular. Wasn’t he? And their voices were different. Jordan’s was low and smooth while Blaze’s every word came out in a deep, rough growl. Blaze was hard and intense. Jordan was tempered and calm. No way they could be the same man.

Shaking his head at his silliness, Danny erased the mask layer. His mind had simply melded the two men together due to meeting them both around the same time. And they’d both made huge impressions on him, albeit for different reasons. Maybe Scott was right and he did have a crush on Blaze, since apparently, he couldn’t stop thinking of the superhero, even imagining him as the man he’d had an amazing night with.

He needed to put both men out of his head so he could get to work. Deciding to work on commissions first, he took out the spec sheet for a piece with the line art already completed and looked it over before settling down to draw. It wasn’t long before he fell into a groove. He worked for hours, switching projects as necessary, stopping for lunch, and then getting right back to it.

Late in the afternoon his phone rang, pulling his attention away from the color palette he was studying. Danny looked up, blinking in surprise at the distraction before grabbing the ringing phone. His heart thumped when he saw Jordan’s name on the screen. Jordan had said he was going to call and check on him but Danny hadn’t expected him to follow up so soon. He swiped up on the screen to accept the call.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Danny. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I spent the morning distracted by thoughts of last night before I was finally able to get to work.”

Jordan laughed, husky and low. “I’ve been thinking of our time together all day.”

“Really?” Danny got up from his chair, suddenly feeling the need to move while they talked.

“Yes. I told you I enjoyed watching you experience kink for the first time.”

“I bet you say that to all the subs,” Danny teased.

“Not at all. But you’re okay today? No ill effects from the wheel?”

“I feel... perfect. Happy that I finally got to try it and also really peaceful and clear headed. I think I got more done today than I did all last week.”

“That’s good to hear. Sounds like your submissive side got what it needed last night.”

“And you gave it to me,” Danny whispered. The line went quiet and Danny thought for a moment that maybe Jordan didn’t hear him. Until the man softly growled his name.

“Danny.”

Danny’s fingers tightened on the phone. “Yes, Jordan?” His heart jumped into his throat as he wondered if the other man knew he’d really wanted to say ‘Yes, Sir?’ That was something they hadn’t discussed but he wanted to call Jordan ‘Sir’. Thinking it might be something reserved for established Dom sub couples, he hadn’t brought it up during their pre-scene negotiation last night.

“Don’t say my name like that.”

“Why not?”

“I’d rather explain it in person. Come with me to the club tomorrow night. They’re hosting a demonstration on impact play followed by an exhibition. I thought you might like to see it with me. Then afterward we can spend some time together alone and try more sensation play.”

Danny stopped his aimless wandering to stand in the middle of the room. His skin tingled as he thought of another night with Jordan. “I… I’d like that,” he said faintly.

Jordan’s voice deepened, sliding across the cell lines into Danny’s ear.

“So that’s a yes?”

The rough voice had a note of familiarity. Danny started to frown in question, but the front door slammed with his roommate’s return, distracting him. He cleared his throat and answered Jordan. “Definitely a yes.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven. See you then, Danny.”

Danny clasped the phone to his chest after they ended the call, every inch of him shivery and warm and happy. Something about that man just did something to him. He couldn’t wait to see his sexy Dom again.

∞∞∞

BLAZE APPROACHED A small warehouse down near the riverfront. He moved silently, blending in with the shadows to hide and scope out the building before making his next move. The hour was late but the place was fully lit, with lots of people moving within. It wasn’t unusual for warehouses to be active at night but at this particular location, the people inside were up to no good. According to the intel he’d gathered the night he’d observed Danny at Club Decadence, this was the place where the shipment of Croton would be delivered before it hit the streets.

As soon as he thought the name Danny, an image of the other man rose in his mind. Danny, who’d been so sweetly aroused during their session. Jordan hadn’t yet decided what they would do for their second night together. Maybe he’d use a feathered riding crop. He could work Danny up, alternating between soft tickles and stinging slaps. Or they could play with vampire gloves. Then he could have his hands on Danny the entire time. That idea had fantastic appeal.

Headlights suddenly swept over the spot where Blaze was hiding. He quickly took a step back, narrowly avoiding being exposed by the high beams. “Get your head in the game, Blaze,” he grumbled to himself as the car drove into the warehouse.

Blaze leaped up, first onto the low overhang of the loading dock and from there onto the roof. He landed in a crouch, surveying the area around him to make sure there were no guards before he crept over to a dirty skylight window. He’d checked out and oiled this window earlier to make sure he could open it without drawing attention. Now, he raised it and silently slid into the warehouse.

He could have turned the information for tonight’s operation over to the cops. But time was of the essence. The police would have wanted to verify tips and set up stings and a bunch of other bureaucratic bullshit. By the time they were ready, the Croton would already be out in the populace. Which is why he was up here in the rafters, waiting to strike. He could take care of the immediate problem now and give the authorities the information they needed to put a stop to future shipments later.

Below him, the L Street crew assigned to this gig loaded the product into the back of a nondescript delivery truck. They had to go through and check multiple pallets, finding the crates marked with a discreet C. Once they got the crate open, they dug through the packing peanuts and legitimate products for the boxes of Croton hidden inside. They were each about the size of a shoe box, wrapped in white paper and then shrink wrapped in red cellophane. A tall, heavy-set man directed the operation, checking each package off on his clipboard as it was discovered.

Blaze waited until they had the full shipment loaded. It would be easier for him to destroy the entire cargo if it was all in one spot. After about twenty minutes, he got the signal he’d been waiting for.

“Last one, fellas. Get it loaded so we can get out of here and go eat.”

A woman with a black ball cap hiding most of her bright green hair leaned against the truck’s side. The keys she twirled around her finger indicated she was the driver.

“Want to get some White Castles?” she asked as she opened the truck driver’s side door and got in.

“Nah, I’m not going home to my lady with onion burger gas.”

Blaze grinned. Offending his girlfriend with flatulence was about to be the least of this guy’s problems. The truck started up. Before it could pull out, Blaze dropped down from the rafters, landing right in front of it. At Blaze’s sudden appearance, the foreman dropped his clipboard and stared at him in shocked silence. It took several seconds before he snapped into action and yelled at the driver.

“Go! Run him down!”

Blaze could see the woman’s panicked expression through the windshield but she shifted into drive and gunned it. Unfortunately for her, Blaze wasn’t letting that truck leave this warehouse and he damn sure wasn’t going to let her run him over. He pulled his hands back against his chest then threw them forward, sending enough voltage at the truck to shut down the engine. Black smoke curled from under the hood, and the acrid smell of fried circuitry stung the air.

“Damnit!” the foreman yelled again. “Everybody! Take him down.”

The other crew members approached as ordered. Blaze settled into a fighting stance, fists up, electricity crackling, ready to take on all comers. Before the fight could kick off however, a car door opened and a quiet voice came from behind Blaze.

“Wait.”

Blaze froze. That voice. He knew that voice. Blaze slowly turned and came face to face with the man he never thought he’d see again. His former lover and the last man to wear his collar. “Kyle,” Blaze growled the name in disgust.

The tall redhead ran his fingers through the sweep of hair on his forehead and smiled. “Surprised to see me, lover?”

“Surprised that you’re still with Leon? Yes.”

Kyle laughed. “No. We were never together. That was simply sex for the thrill of it.”

Blaze stayed on guard, ready in case this little chat was simply a diversion to get the drop on him. “Then what are you doing here?”

“I realized that spending my days being a good little corporate stooge while the only thrills I had in life came from nights wearing bondage wasn’t the path for me. So, I asked Leon for a job. He gave me one and I worked my way up through the ranks. This new life suits me far better than my old one did.”

“The life of a criminal.”

“Yes. But criminals have so much fun. And I would never have realized that if it wasn’t for you. I owe you one, big guy.” Kyle blew Blaze a kiss before spinning on his heel and returning to his car. When he reached it, he paused to speak over his shoulder to his crew. “Kick his ass and dump him on the riverfront. And get that shipment loaded onto another truck as soon as you’re finished dealing with him. I want that product delivered on schedule.”

Blaze lowered his chin, ready to fight. Kyle could issue all the orders he wanted but no one was dumping him anywhere. And that shipment of Croton was not going to hit the streets of St. Louis.

About fifteen Red Vests circled up — some with weapons most without. Blaze did a quick survey of the people surrounding him, eyeing the threat level of each. Once he’d identified the punk with the most potential to give him trouble, Blaze faced him directly. He squared his shoulders and clenched his fist, goading the Red Vest into making a move with his body language. The punk took the bait and charged forward. Blaze immediately zapped him with a bolt of electricity to knock him out then whipped around to block a blow from the woman who’d snuck up behind him with a metal pipe.

After that, the fight was on. Blaze fought viciously. He had one code when it came to tangling with criminals: Don’t kill. Everything else was fair game. He busted several noses. Broke a few bones. Dished out too many bruises to count. As the ebb and flow of the brawl took him away from the truck, a few piled on, attempting to defeat him by burying him beneath a barrage of kicks and punches from several directions at once.

Blaze brought his arms into his chest and supercharged his electromagnetic ability. Then with a roar, he threw them out wide. A burst of power sent them all flying. They landed in a circle around him, their hair and clothes smoking, but still alive.

Once everyone was down, either groaning in pain or unconscious, Blaze made his way back to the truck. He ripped open the rear doors, his chest pumping with his heaving breaths as he stared at the boxes of Croton inside. His body ached with exhaustion and he was near drained of power. But he couldn’t leave without doing what he’d come there to do.

Drawing in a deep breath, he gathered his remaining energy, letting electricity build in his palms until they blazed bright blue. Turning his palms outward, he sent multiple bolts of electricity into the truck, frying the Croton to ash and rendering it unsellable. Sweat trickled down his temples from the effort, dripping beneath his mask, but he kept up the blasts until all of it was destroyed.

Kyle ran up but smartly didn’t get too close to Blaze and the deadly bolts of electricity. Still, he was close enough for his hair to stand on end as he screamed in fury.

“No! Do you know how much money you just cost us?”

Blaze turned his head, staring Kyle right in the face while he sent forth one last bolt. “Every time you bring this shit into my community, I will find it and I will destroy it. Run and tell that to your lover or boss or whatever the fuck he is to you.”

“You’ll pay for this,” Kyle snarled.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But you’ll definitely have some explaining to do. Good luck.” Keeping his eye on the Red Vests in case any of them got it in their heads to do something stupid, like restart the fight, Blaze jogged backward out of the warehouse. On the street, he melted into the shadows and disappeared into the night.

Mission accomplished.

Chapter Seven

A

day later and Jordan was still bothered by Kyle’s reappearance. Running into his ex so unexpectedly had been an unpleasant surprise, marring his triumph at destroying the Croton. Seeing his former lover for the first time in over three years had his brain buzzing with ugly memories. One ugly memory in particular. He tried to block it out but it kept popping up like a hideous Jack in the Box.

To make matters worse, he now had the knowledge that he’d basically been the one to turn Kyle into a criminal. The night of their breakup, he’d made the decision never to see or speak to Kyle again, and he’d stuck to that decision all these years. Anything of Kyle’s at his place had been packed up and sent to him by courier and he’d blocked the other man’s number. The brutally clean break meant he’d had no idea that Kyle had thrown in with Leon and his L Street Posse. That was one more mistake laid at his feet and another layer of guilt added to the many layers that already rested on his shoulders.

As Blaze, he helped people. But in his personal life, he ruined them. Which brought him to the man currently walking at his side as they made their way to his suite at Club Decadence.

What had he been thinking getting involved with Danny? He should have left him alone after sending him the club membership as he’d originally planned. But he hadn’t. He’d let his attraction get the better of him. And now he knew the sounds Danny made when he was overcome with pleasure. He knew the sweetness of his lips and the warmth of his skin. He’d had a taste and he hungered for more. Unfortunately, his conscious struggled with allowing him to have what he wanted.

Honesty was paramount in a D/s relationship. The thought of becoming Danny’s Dom while keeping the fact that he was Blaze a secret didn’t sit well, even if the lie was for the other man’s protection. It was bad enough he’d visited him as Blaze the night he’d orchestrated their face to face meeting. Continuing the charade wouldn’t be fair to Danny. Jordan didn’t want to lie, but if he continued down this path, more lies would become inevitable. Eventually he would have to come up with something to explain why he vanished for hours every night and why he returned home with fresh bruises.

If he couldn’t be honest then he couldn’t claim Danny for his own. But he didn’t want to let him go either. Which is why he was currently at Club Decadence for their second date. He should have cancelled, but his selfish desire to see Danny, to be close to him, had stopped him every time he’d tried to pick up the phone to make that call.

Jordan tried to push all of those thoughts aside as he led Danny up the stairs and into his suite. The small room was empty, and Jordan hoped they would have it to themselves for the entire evening.

“I thought it would be nice for you to see this demonstration on impact play,” he said as he pulled out a chair for Danny to sit at one of the three small cafe tables.

“I’m excited to see it live. I’ve watched lots of videos about it. Some more instructional, some po—.” He stopped and pressed his lips together.

“Porn?” Jordan finished for him.

Danny ducked his head, hiding a shy smile. “Yeah.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe one day you’ll share with me which videos you like the best and why you like them.”

“You say that so easily, like it’s no big deal.”

“I believe in healthy expressions of desire between consenting adults. Being honest with your partner is freeing and leads to spectacular sex.” His conscious twinged when he mentioned honesty but he ignored it. “And it’s another way for a Dom to learn what pleases his sub.”

Danny’s eyes went wide. “Oh. I mean, that makes sense.”

Jordan held back a smile at Danny’s delightful innocence. “Let’s watch the demonstration,” he said as the lights flicked on over the stage.

The lead hostess walked out with a microphone. She introduced the instructor and his partner then ceded the stage to the couple. They both wore headsets so they could be heard by the audience and answer questions as they worked. A small table was set up where the Dom set out various impact play tools: whips, floggers, paddles, crops, canes, even hairbrushes.

One by one, they went through and explained the benefits and drawbacks of each toy, following with a few strikes on the sub to show how to wield it and its effect. The sub took a few minutes to describe what each toy felt like on their body, and explained which ones were their most and least favorite and why.

The two worked well together. They were knowledgeable and affable, getting chuckles from the audience during some of their commentary, and patiently and thoroughly answering every question put to them. At the conclusion of their workshop, they both bowed and left the stage to appreciative applause.

“What did you think of that?” Jordan asked.

“It was helpful. I already knew the areas on the body that were off limits for impact play but it was interesting to see how the different types of toys could bring on different sensations. There were only a few I’d be afraid to try.”

“Never take more than you can handle or let a Dom talk you into trying something you’re uncomfortable with.”

Danny shook his head. “I won’t, trust me. I’m too afraid of getting hurt.” He paused, his forehead crinkling in a little frown.  “Isn’t it strange how I don’t want to be hurt — not really — but I want to be spanked?”

“Not strange at all. Your brain and your body know the difference between pain meant to hurt and that meant to arouse.”

“It’s nice to hear that explained by someone else, and so matter of factly. I knew that but I struggled with finding a way to express it without being flippant or putting myself down. And forget about trying to explain it to someone who isn’t into any type of pain play.”

“I’m glad I could help. It can be challenging finding the right words. But remember, you don’t have to explain anything to anybody. Not even yourself. Just go with what makes you feel good. The words will come later. And if they never do, that’s all right too.”

Danny gave him a relieved smile before turning his attention to the staff cleaning the stage and equipment. “What’s next?”

“A violet wand exhibition. This is a show rather than a lesson so there won’t be any questions allowed.”

Finished cleaning, the club staff retreated behind the curtain. Lucille came out again, accompanied by the couple she was introducing. They were both in black, the Dom in tactical pants with multiple pockets, and a chest harness, while the sub wore a pair of spandex shorts that left the majority of their body bare. The lights in the club dimmed and the spotlight over the stage changed to a cool blue, highlighting the performers and casting everything else into darkness. Soft music began to play as the sub lay back on the table, and the violet wand glowed to life in the Dom’s hand.

At the first spark, a ripple of sound went through the crowd — gasps, soft exclamations, and a sprinkling of applause. But the club quickly fell silent as the patrons became engrossed watching the couple work their magic on stage. The Dom was both careful and dramatic in their movements. And the sub held nothing back in their response to each touch. It was a beautiful, erotic performance.

Jordan kept an eye on Danny as he watched the Dom move the violet wand over their sub. He appeared interested in the play, leaning forward in his seat, eyes rapt on the stage. When sparks touched the sub’s nipple, making them arch and moan, Danny’s tongue darted out, sliding over his bottom lip in a shallow swipe. And he shifted in his seat, legs moving in that tell-tale way of a man trying to make room for a growing hard-on. Jordan raised a brow and amended his assessment to interested and aroused.

There was no denying how much it pleased him to see Danny enjoying electric play. Electricity was the source of his strength and power. He used it to fight. But he had other uses for it too. Jordan could show Danny how amazing it felt to dance with electricity. And he wouldn’t need a violet wand to do it.

The performers on stage started building to a crescendo, the top sweating under the lights as they applied the wand with increasing speed, the sub writhing on the table in a continuous wave. When they reached their climax, the audience burst into applause. The Dom set the wand aside and moved to pick up their sub. They took a bow with their sub cradled in their arms then carried them from the stage.

Danny clapped along with everyone else as the house lights rose. Once the applause died down, he twisted in his seat to look up at Jordan, his eyes bright and shining with excitement.

“Wow. I’d like to try that.”

“Would you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Danny tilted his head to the side as he thought about his answer. “Because it seems dangerous — like maybe you could be hurt even while it feels good,” he finally said. “And you have to trust that your partner won’t let that happen so you can let go and enjoy.”

Jordan loved that Danny was interested but he was obligated to explain it wasn’t as simple as it looked. “Electric play is advanced, not something you start off doing. It’s important for the sub to be trained and to have a good rapport with their Dom before attempting it.”

“Well, if I need training to try it, maybe you could train me?”

Jordan angled his body so that they faced each other, and leaned in close to speak his question in the air next to Danny’s ear. “Is that what you want?”

A shiver ran through Danny before he answered. “More than anything,” he said in a soft whisper.

There it was again. The chemistry between them that sparked to life at the tiniest provocation. Jordan was playing with fire here. Could he do it? More importantly should he do it? Was it right to continue spending time with Danny while keeping a major secret from him? Jordan had to consider that if he didn’t teach Danny then someone else would.

At the thought of another man touching Danny, making him weep and beg, his power surged and sparked in his palm. He quickly flattened his hand on the table to keep Danny from seeing.

He couldn’t let someone else have what he was desperate to claim for himself. He had to do something to keep from losing Danny. Thinking fast, he came up with a plan. “I will. But I have one ground rule. We don’t have sex.”

Danny’s dark brows drew together in silent question.

“I don’t want to muddy the waters while you’re learning,” Jordan explained. “It’s too easy to form bonds when sex is involved. And it’s not that I don’t want to form a bond with you. I would love that actually. But right now, I’m not in a place where I can allow myself that luxury. That means if we do this, our relationship will be restricted to a Dom training a sub. Nothing more.” Even as he spoke the words, Jordan knew that his plan was only a stop gap, a temporary solution while he sorted the situation out. But it would have to suffice for now.

“And that’s a thing that people do?”

“Yes. There are professional Doms and subs who work to teach others about the lifestyle. I’m not a professional Dom, but I’m afraid that’s all I can be for you. I want to be upfront about that.” He waited as Danny thought it over. By rights, Danny should say he wasn’t going to waste his time with someone who wouldn’t even entertain the idea of forming a bond with him. If he was smart, Danny would turn down what was basically a fuck boy offer — albeit without the sex. But selfishly, he hoped Danny would say yes.

“I’d love to be taught by you.”

It was the answer he wanted but didn’t deserve. “And I would love to teach you.” As Jordan gazed down into Danny’s dark eyes, the moment between them had a strange duality. The mood was soft, with words quietly spoken. But it was also weighty and earnest, as if they were agreeing to far more than a trainer-trainee partnership.

Jordan had the sense that he was on a train hurtling down the tracks toward... something. He didn’t know whether the outcome of this decision would be good or bad. He didn’t know if he should put a stop to it before they were any further along. He only knew that right here, right now, he’d gained the opportunity to spend more time with Danny, and he was going to take advantage of every second of it. Besides. He didn’t have the power to stop a runaway locomotive.

“Let’s go downstairs.” He stood and held out a hand, drawing Danny to his feet when he accepted it. Their fingers entwined, he led Danny from the suite, keeping him protectively close in a manner that made it clear to any Dom eyeing Danny that the sweet little sub at his side was off limits.

In their reserved play room, the same one as before, Jordan got right to work. “If I’m going to train you, we’ll start with basics, like a submissive’s positions. Kneeling is one of the most important. If your Dom asks you to kneel, you’ll do so as gracefully as you’re able. Let me see how you kneel.”

Danny drifted to the ground slowly, and somewhat awkwardly. Jordan coached him, helping him get into the correct position. “Heels tucked under your ass, spine and shoulders straight, arms relaxed.” Jordan looked him over with a critical eye, trying not to focus on how much he liked seeing this gorgeous man kneeling at his feet.

“Good. You’ll want to practice this position. Also, stretch your limbs, and work on your core so that you can hold it for long periods if necessary. Be sure to use a pillow so that you don’t hurt your knees. Now, try rising.”

Danny made it half way up before he stumbled and fell against Jordan’s chest. Jordan reflexively caught him with both hands, holding onto his slim waist. “Steady.”

Danny slowly raised his head and Jordan stared down into wide, ebony eyes.

“Thank you. I guess I’d better practice getting up too.”

His fingers flexed, briefly tightening his hold. Danny was so warm under his palms. Jordan wanted to drag him closer, to feel all of his body’s warmth pressed up against him. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be appropriate for the boundaries he’d set not even ten minutes ago. He needed to get his shit together. His plan to train Danny wasn’t going to work if he could barely resist doming him for real every time they touched.

Jordan cleared his throat and dropped his hands. “You’ll also need to know the inspection pose,” he said as he took a step back, delivering the instructions in a calm, detached voice. “Feet shoulder width apart. Arms up, hands together behind your head.”

Danny followed his directions and moved into the pose.

Jordan tapped his elbow to get him to raise his arms a bit higher. “Back straight. Good. You’ll be naked for this of course. From here, your Dom will inspect you, make sure you’re taking care of your body, that you have no problems from previous play, and that you’ve followed any instructions given.”

“That sounds like Doms have a lot of concern for their subs.”

“Good Doms always do.”

“What type of instructions might they give?”

“A Dom might want his sub to remove their body hair. Or get tattoos if they’re into body art.”

“Would you ask for any of that?”

Jordan loved body art but he frowned at the thought of anything — metal, ink, or otherwise — marring Danny’s gorgeous brown skin. “I’ve seen your body and I’d want you to keep it exactly the way it is. I might even forbid you from getting a tattoo or piercing.”

Danny’s eyebrows shot up. “Forbid?”

“Yes.”

“A Dom can do that?”

“Depending on the relationship parameters agreed to, yes.” Jordan thought Danny’s surprised reaction was cute. “Release the pose. Gracefully,” he gently chided when Danny started to slump out of Inspect.

Danny recovered, slowly lowering his arms to his side and bringing his feet together to stand in a more natural stance.

“Nice.” He tapped a finger to Danny’s lip as he gave him the short praise.

Danny smiled, and those twin dimples made an appearance. “Thank you.”

“I’d like you to try one more pose. Then for your reward, we can do a short scene if you’d like.”

“I would like.”

“Okay. Last one for tonight is Bend.”

He guided Danny through bending over with his feet spread as far apart as they would go. He was only able to grasp his calves today but Jordan was confident he would eventually be able to reach his ankles with stretching and practice. The position stretched Danny’s pants tight over his round little ass and Jordan’s body reacted to the gorgeous sight. Normally if he had a sub bent over like that for him, he was either spanking or fucking. Tonight, he couldn’t do anything but look. A disappointing situation to be in, but he had no one to blame for it but himself.

“How does that feel?”

Danny’s head hanging upside down between his legs caused his answer to come out a little breathless. “Very exposed.”

Jordan smiled and just resisted caressing his upturned bottom. “That’s the point.  From here your Dom will administer punishments that you’ve earned.”

“I hope I don’t get any punishments ever if I have to stand like this.”

That response, spoken in a pouty yet still breathless tone made Jordan laugh. “If they’re given in the right way, you’ll enjoy them, I promise.” He didn’t want to keep Danny in that position too long. “Okay. Stand back up. Slowly so the blood doesn’t rush out of your head.” Jordan watched Danny carefully as he stood, ready to assist him if he did get dizzy from the change in position. But he came up without any problems.

“Good job. You’ll be a pro at that in no time.” Jordan stepped away for a moment to get him a bottle of water, twisting the cap off before he returned to pass it over. “Would you like your reward for doing so well?” he asked after Danny had drunk his fill. The color was still high in his face from bending over, but he responded immediately.

“Yes.” An eager nod accompanied the answer.

“Since you like being touched, I brought vampire gloves for us to play with tonight.” He pulled the black leather gloves with their small spikes on the palms and fingers from his pocket and held them up for Danny to see. “Would you like to try them?”

Danny swallowed once before nodding. “Yes.”

“Okay, then. Strip for me.”

Danny took off the tight shirt and pants he wore and put them to the side with his shoes. He had on another pair of tiny, square cut briefs, these in a candy apple red.

“Stand with your back against the wall.” He could have had Danny lie down on the table again. But this way he got to be closer to him. “Put your hands behind your back and don’t move them.” Jordan hadn’t brought any restraints with him. That was on purpose. He wanted Danny to have the sense of being restrained while allowing his trust in Jordan to grow before he was actually cuffed or tied up. He moved to stand in front of Danny. As he tugged on the gloves, he explained how they worked, while Danny studied the kink toys on his hands.

“These are leather. Embedded in the fingertips are spikes. When I brush them over your skin, you’ll feel scratching. They can be used for more intense play, squeezing and spanks hurt and draw blood. But we won’t go there tonight. Light touches only, okay?

“Okay.”

Finished with his explanation, he checked in to make sure Danny was still on board. “Tell me you want to feel these against your skin, Danny.”

“I do.”

“What’s your safeword?”

“Exposure.”

“Good. Close your eyes.”

Danny pulled in a deep breath, his eyes falling closed on the exhale.

Warmth bloomed in Jordan’s chest at the trust Danny gave to him. In return, he planned to give this sweet man the perfect sensation play experience. There were lots of places to begin on Danny’s gorgeous body. Jordan chose to go for one that was sensitive but not as obvious.

He took one finger, and brushed it over the shell of Danny’s ear. The touch earned him a shiver. Jordan brought another finger into play and traced them down the length of Danny’s neck. Danny responded by lifting his chin, granting access to the area. Jordan smiled. He brushed his thumb over the rapid pulse at the base of this throat. With each touch he never pressed or squeezed, only caressed with slow, careful sweeps, leaving goosebumps in his wake.

He checked to make sure Danny’s eyes were still closed. They were, dark lashes resting against his cheeks. His lips were parted and face flushed a warm, earthy brown as he breathed in shallow pants. When Jordan hit a sensitive spot, Danny’s brows drew together, and a soft whimper mixed with an exhalation of breath escaped him.

Jordan stayed there, stroking his fingers back and forth working to gain more of those whimpers. Then he took his hands down, skimming them along the sides of Danny’s torso until he reached the waistband of his briefs. Using one finger, he followed the path of the covered elastic, circling around to Danny’s back to trace spike-covered fingers up the curve of his spine. That earned him a full body shudder.

Jordan went to his knees before Danny. Reaching out with both spike-covered hands, he placed a palm on each of Danny’s slender thighs. Then, he lightly pressed in with his thumbs. “Open your legs,” he commanded in a husky whisper.

Danny shifted, stepping out with one foot.

“Keep your eyes closed,” he said as he stroked up the inside of legs finely dusted with black hair. He leaned in, bringing his face close to the outline of a stiff cock and full balls behind red cotton, to breathe in the warm musk of Danny’s arousal. He smelled good, the scent making his mouth water, yearning to taste it on his tongue. Biting back a frustrated groan, Jordan shook off the want and eased back. “How do you feel, Danny?”

“Amazing,” Danny answered in a low, awed voice.

Jordan slipped his fingers beneath the hem of the red briefs, teasing the sliver of ass he found. “Does that mean you like this?”

“Yes.” Danny dutifully kept his hands behind his back but he restlessly wiggled against the wall. “Jordan, I...” He bit his lip, stopping whatever he was going to say next.

Jordan rose to his feet. He crowded in close, leaving only a whisper of space between their bodies. “Look at me.”  Danny opened his eyes and stared up at Jordan. His pupils were blown wide, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. “Talk to me, Danny. Tell me what you need.” Jordan made the demand even as he continued the sharp caress with the vampire gloves.

“I know you said no sex but I need...” he trailed off, a shiver running through him when Jordan again trailed a spike-covered finger down his spine.

“You need to come,” Jordan filled in the rest of the sentence for him.

After a moment, Danny answered with a shaky nod. “Yes.”

“No sex doesn’t mean you can’t come. You can come without me fucking you, can’t you?”

“I... Yes. I can.”

“Then that’s what you’re going to do.” Jordan stopped caressing Danny in order to tug down his briefs, freeing his cock. “Take one hand from behind your back.”

Danny immediately brought his right hand forward.

“Touch yourself, angel.”

With a soft cry, Danny obeyed and gripped his cock, his eyes falling shut as he started to stroke.

Jordan watched him for a moment before calling for his attention. “Danny, look at me.” He waited until Danny opened his eyes again before continuing. “Do you want me to stop touching you while you do this?” He raised his hands off Danny’s hips, letting them hover just shy of contact.

“No! Please don’t stop.”

Jordan quickly returned his hands to their place on Danny’s warm skin. “I won’t, angel. I won’t stop until you come.” Danny groaned, and his hand started moving faster. Jordan denied himself the pleasure of watching but the sound of the quick, wet slide of flesh on flesh was enough to let him know that his little angel was close. That, and the sounds he made.

“Ah! Ah!”

Soft cries fell from rosy lips while Jordan caressed his torso, thumbs brushing over tight, hard nipples. He was content to only watch and touch... until Danny called out his name.

“Ah, Jordan!”

Hell. There was no way he could resist that. He leaned down and kissed Danny, tasting his name on plush lips and swallowing those sweet cries. But it wasn’t enough. Jordan tore off one of the gloves and gripped Danny’s ass with his bare hand, squeezing hard. Danny’s hips jerked up at the tight hold and he cried out again, announcing his climax in between gasping breaths.

“Coming! I’m... coming.”

Jordan’s cock throbbed, begging for release. But unlike Danny, he had practice denying himself. He held himself back, burying the need to climax beneath an iron will. Danny’s kisses turned frantic, his body trembling as the orgasm ran through him, until with a final moan, he slumped back against the wall. With a barely noticeable sigh of regret, Jordan released the tight grip he had on Danny’s ass, switching to caressing him in soothing circles while the little sub recovered.

“You did very well, sweetheart. So good.”

Danny glanced up with heavy lidded eyes. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ll clean you up and then we’ll chill for a few minutes, okay?”

“M’kay.”

Jordan removed the remaining glove and went over to grab what he needed from the cart. Returning to Danny’s side, he gently wiped the cum from Danny’s hand and stomach. Once he was clean, they went to sit down on the couch in the same position as before, with Danny on his lap. But this time Jordan made sure to bring both water and the cream with him so he could tend to Danny’s skin without interruption. It was slightly awkward getting the jar open with his arms around his sated submissive but he managed.

“You’re a really good teacher,” Danny said as he snuggled in closer.

“You’re a really good student,” Jordan replied. Then he held back a groan when Danny shifted, his ass brushing Jordan’s still stiff cock. He surreptitiously moved the warm bundle on his lap out of the danger zone, giving his body room to cool down.

As they sat there, quietly cuddling, Jordan’s erection eventually faded. But tension continued to hum through his veins. Since he wasn’t getting that tension out with a sexual release, he’d have to get it out on the streets fighting as Blaze. As Jordan rubbed Danny’s back, he almost felt sorry for the criminals he would encounter later that night.

Chapter Eight

A

fter dropping Danny off at home, Jordan hit the streets with a furious energy born from sexual frustration. He stopped several muggings and assaults. Ended a high-speed police chase. He even shut down a drug house that had been causing problems for a neighborhood struggling to turn itself around.

At the end of a long, busy night of fighting, Jordan returned home later than usual. The horizon hinted at the approaching day as the road opened up and he drove down into the underground tunnel. He fell into bed moments before sunlight began streaming into the room. It crossed his mind that he should get up to draw the curtains closed, but his body was too heavy with the need to sleep to move. With the curtains open, the light on Jordan’s face kept him from going completely under, and he drifted in that vague, gray place between sleep and awake.

Jordan tossed and turned in the sheets, his body humming, tense and electric. His mind wouldn’t rest either. It buzzed with thoughts that morphed into dreams and back again. The thoughts and dreams all had the same theme — how badly he’d wanted to come last night. No. He wanted to come now.

Suddenly Danny was there in front of him, lips parted as he moaned, eyes heavy-lidded, little body flushed and trembling on the edge of climax. Jordan strained both to reach him, and for release, but his efforts were futile. All he got was a familiar sense of frustration. A feeling that what he wanted was not allowed. He wasn’t allowed to climax with Danny.

But this wasn’t real. Was it? Danny faded away, proving it was all a dream. He was alone so why couldn’t he come? Jordan struggled to find the answer to that question as his arousal climbed nearly to its peak. His cock ached and his balls were so tight and full he had to spread his legs beneath the twisted sheets for a small bit of relief. But a mental block prevented him from falling over the edge.

Furious that he couldn’t have the release he craved, his body sought another outlet. His power rose, emanating from his body until the entire bedroom became charged with electricity. Jordan snapped awake right as it blasted out in an electric pulse. The bulbs in the bedside lamps exploded, glass shards falling onto the nightstands.

Annoyed and exhausted, Jordan sighed and got out of bed to go and get the broom and trashcan from the kitchen. Most people had regular sex dreams and either woke to sticky underwear or got themselves off. Not him. His nocturnal emissions consisted of electric blasts that broke light bulbs.

As he walked down the hall, his cock lay soft in his underwear. That surge of power hadn’t been nearly as satisfactory as a sexual climax but at least he wasn’t hard any more. After cleaning up the broken glass, Jordan showered, dressed in work clothes, then went back to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee. The moment the hot brew was ready, he downed it in a few gulps, scalding his mouth in the process. He didn’t care, he needed that caffeine kick so he could get to work.

It was too early for the shop to be open but he went down to the garage anyway. One of the assistants would be there in half an hour to get everything ready to open the business, and the crew would be in after that. Jordan had two paint jobs scheduled for today. A color-changing chameleon for a late model Range Rover, and a pink on pink for a classic Corvette. He’d primed them both yesterday so they were ready for their first coat. Still tired but counting on the caffeine to kick in soon, Jordan pulled on his respirator mask and got started.

Pink pigment sprayed out of the paint gun, coating the side of the Rover. The back and forth motion was soothingly hypnotic, and he worked on autopilot while his mind turned inward to thoughts of Danny.

He shouldn’t have kissed him last night. Not like that, while Danny was in the throes of a climax. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of his name falling from plush lips. He might have super powers but he wasn’t that strong. But now he worried that he’d given Danny mixed signals. Telling him he couldn’t get involved and then kissing him an hour later was about as clear as muddy Missouri River water.

The plan he’d come up with was valid, there were Doms and subs who were able to work with people in the scene while maintaining their distance. But he’d made one tactical error. He should have learned how to keep that necessary level of separation between him and Danny before he’d dived in. If he was going to continue his arrangement with Danny, he’d have to learn how to stay detached fast.

The garage brightened, the overhead lights turning on with a quiet hum. The shop assistant had arrived. A few minutes later, the specialist staff began trickling in. Conversations started, boisterous greetings, traffic complaints, and discussions of the custom jobs each tech had on deck for the day. Jordan ignored the social interactions and continued working, even as Nina strolled up next to him.

“Morning, boss.”

Jordan didn’t look up when he answered. “Hey.”

“So, uh... Did you mean to paint this ride bubble gum pink?”

“What?”

“The Corvette over there is supposed to get the pink body with hot pink racing stripes. This Range Rover is scheduled for a chameleon paint job.”

Jordan stopped. Turned to look at the next bay over where the Corvette sat waiting. Turned back to look at the big vehicle in front of him, which was definitely not a Corvette. He was indeed painting the Rover pink. He’d been so in his head he hadn’t even realized what he was doing.

“Fuck. Fuck!” Pissed at his mistake, Jordan yanked off his mask and dropped it on the floor.

“Got something on your mind?” Nina dryly asked.

Jordan cursed again under his breath before he answered her. “You could say that.”

“Haven’t seen you this distracted since Ky—.”

Jordan snapped his head up to look at her. “Don’t,” he bit out, stopping her before she could say the name. He didn’t want to hear even a mention of his ex when he was trying to decide what to do about Danny.

Nina suddenly made a choked noise. “Hey, let’s go take a break.”

“Not right now. I need to fix this mess,” he said with a wave toward the half pink — half primed luxury SUV. He expected Nina to leave him to it but she moved in close and lowered her voice.

“You could stay out here and keep working, but your eyes are glowing and I don’t think that’s something your employees or your customers need to see.”

“Damnit,” Jordan swore softly. He immediately lowered his head, looking at the ground to hide his eyes. He kept his head down as he put the paint gear away and walked to the elevator. Nina followed him in.

“What’s going on?” she asked as soon as the doors slid closed.

“I met someone.”

“That’s great! You’ve been alone for what? Three — nearly four years now? A new relationship will be good for you.”

Jordan stepped out of the elevator and headed for the kitchen. He needed another cup of coffee. “It’s not great. Just because I met someone doesn’t mean I can be with them.” Frustration made his movements abrupt and clumsy as he set up the machine to make enough coffee for the both of them, and he spilled grounds on the counter. “I can’t be his boyfriend while I’m secretly running around at night as Blaze,” he said as he swiped a damp dish cloth over the mess.

“Then don’t.”

“You know I won’t stop being Blaze. I owe it to the community to do what I do.”

“And to Travis?”

The name fell between them, heavy as a lead balloon.

“Of course, I owe it to him,” Jordan said as he watched the drip, drip, drip of brown liquid into the pot.

“Jordan, you’re my favorite cousin. You know that. And I will always grieve my big brother. But how long are you going to let your grief and guilt rule your life?”

He didn’t have an answer for her. He hadn’t had an answer the last time she’d asked either.

Nina sighed. “I know you won’t stop being Blaze. What I meant was don’t keep your other side a secret from this guy. Be upfront and tell him about it instead of trying to hide it from him.”

“No. I’m not doing that again.” He’d tried twice before. The first time, he’d immediately lost the trust of his submissive. The second lead to a deliberate betrayal. Memories of a handsome face, its expression changing from surprised to interested, and later turning laughing and cruel crowded into his head while a voice whispered that he was too violent. He clenched his jaw and forced the memories back. “I’ll end it with him tonight.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

Determined to put his life back on its old familiar track, Jordan nodded. “Absolutely sure. I’ll go see him and let him know it’s over between us.” He imagined looking into those big brown eyes and telling Danny it was over. There was no way he could pull that off — he’d fold like a wet noodle. “I’ll call him and tell him,” he amended.

Nina shook her head, disappointment on her pretty brown face. “You’re going to end up alone if you keep pushing everyone away.”

“That’s the plan,” Jordan said, putting an end to their conversation.

∞∞∞

THE ROAD TO hell was paved with good intentions.

The proverb ran through Jordan’s mind as he watched Danny, dressed only in white briefs, slowly drift to his knees. He’d had every intention of breaking things off with him. He’d actually managed to pick up the phone and make the call, fully intending to tell him their time together was at an end.

However, before he could lead the conversation in that direction, Danny had shyly apologized for climaxing the previous night. Of course, Jordan had rushed to assure him he’d done nothing wrong, and somehow by the end of the call, they’d made plans to meet again. His complete lack of will power when it came to staying away from Danny would be hilarious if there wasn’t so much potential for things to go horribly wrong.

“Good. That’s good. You’re gorgeous posed this way. Perfect.” Too perfect. Danny was everything he wanted. Some Doms liked the challenge of a brat. But Jordan wanted a submissive who was soft and gentle. He wanted someone to care for and spoil, someone who would greet him with hugs when he came home, and would cuddle beside him at night.

Night. That one word was a cold splash of water on his desires. His nights were otherwise occupied, with little time for cuddles. Why did he have such a hard time remembering that?

“Thank you. I’ve been practicing liked you told me to.”

As Danny stared up at him, soft brown irises sparkling, Jordan had to remind himself that he was only training. No matter how adoringly Danny looked at him, this angel wasn’t his. “It will please your Dom that you have such excellent posture.”

“Would it please you?” Danny asked softly.

“Yes.” It was a battle to keep his voice cool and impersonal. “If I were to ever take a submissive, it would please me that he was so well trained.”

“I’m looking forward to pleasing my Dom one day.” Danny’s dark eyes fell to the area of Jordan’s dick before he lowered his lashes to look at the floor.

Jordan’s cock immediately stiffened at the shy, yet heated glance. Fucking hell. He needed to get Danny off his knees before he unzipped and gave him what he was clearly asking for. He held a hand out, helping Danny to his feet when he accepted it. “Tonight, we’re going to try light impact play to see how you like it.” Danny blinked once at the abrupt change before he nodded.

“Okay.”

He waited for Danny to ask how and where but he simply watched Jordan expectantly, waiting for instruction. Fuck, he was so perfect. “Stand here, hands on the table.” While Danny moved into position, Jordan retrieved a suede flogger from the bag he’d brought with him that evening. He prepped Danny on what to expect, showing him the flogger. The strips had faux rabbit fur on one side and suede on the other, which would give Danny different sensations during the spanking. And then, because apparently he was a masochist, he asked a question. “Do you want the full effect of the whip on your skin?”

“I want everything.”

“All right, then. Pull your briefs down.”

Danny obeyed, tucking his fingers into the waistband of the pristine white underwear to drag them down and tuck them beneath his cheeks.

With the briefs off, Jordan’s eyes feasted on the vision in front of him — two perfectly rounded curves with a dark crease between them. Seeing that gorgeous ass completely naked for the first time had him biting back a groan as his cock stiffened even more. He wanted to take Danny over his lap, toss the flogger aside, and spank him with his bare hand so he could feel the plump ass cheeks under his palm.

Closing his eyes, Jordan ignored his throbbing dick and focused on hardening his resolve. This would not be a repeat of the other night. He would maintain trainer-trainee separation.

To get started, he swung loose and easy, giving Danny the lightest of warm-up strikes. Danny shifted once, but didn’t otherwise react. After a few strikes, he stopped to check-in. “How was that?”

“I like it.”

“Use your safe word if it hurts in a way that makes you uncomfortable,” he reminded him.

“I will.”

Danny was clearly fine, so Jordan continued. He swung with a little more emphasis, the suede strips landing with a soft thwack. Danny gasped and wiggled his hips at the more forceful blow.

“Still good?”

“Yeah.”

Now Jordan really got to work. The flogger was one of his favorite tools to use and he applied it with a skill that hadn’t seen the light of day in nearly three years. Sharp quick slaps that made the little sub gasp and go up on his toes. Soft sweeps of the fur side that earned him moans that were just as soft. Jordan used the flogger on Danny’s thighs, and carefully on his upper back. But his focus stayed on Danny’s ass — it was made for spankings like this.

He struck out hard and Danny bounced up on his toes, then rocked back on his heels, the movement making his cheeks jiggle. Jordan waited to see if that had been too hard. But Danny slowly rolled his head on his shoulders, a low, purring moan slipping from his throat.

“Again. Need it,” he said in a husky whisper.

He gave him a few more sharp strikes, then let one of the tails drag up the shadowed valley between his cheeks. The move was probably on the other side of the line he’d drawn but it was one slip. Harmless.

Danny shivered. “Oooh! I — I like that.”

With arousal humming in his veins, Jordan’s voice deepened to a low growl when he spoke. “I bet you’d like it even more if I spread you open and spanked your tight hole.” Dirty talk was probably on the other side of that line too but fuck it. There was nothing wrong with a trainer speaking to their submissive.

“I… Yes! Do it!”

Jordan spanked him again. “You don’t give the commands little sub.”

“I’m sorry, Sir.”

“Did I give you permission to call me Sir?”

“No.”

“But you want to.”

Danny hesitated before he looked over his shoulder and answered. “Yes.”

“Eyes forward, baby.” Another slip. “I’ll tell you when you can call me Sir. Understand?”

“Yes, Jordan.”

Jordan’s cock, already hard, stiffened and throbbed when Danny said his name like that. It sounded so perfectly submissive, as if Danny was ready to carry out any sensual order Jordan decided to give him. But he wouldn’t be giving any orders tonight that didn’t involve him standing still and taking the sweet torture he doled out.

He restarted his strikes, applying them in rapid succession, pushing Danny to the line between pleasure and pain, but never going past it. His only goal was making Danny feel good. And going by the way Danny trembled and moaned at each slap of suede on his skin, he was having great success.

Danny bent over more, spreading his legs slightly. The briefs, previously caught high on his thighs, slipped down to the floor, and the new position let Jordan see Danny’s balls hanging between his legs. Every time Jordan spanked him, Danny rocked forward, and they swayed with the movement. His own balls tightened at the sight. Jordan reached down to adjust himself, squeezing them once, and wishing he could do the same to Danny’s.

They hadn’t touched skin to skin but the anticipation for sex, the rich gorgeous scent of it bloomed in the room. And Danny’s moans and Jordan’s deep breaths and the slap of the flogger made it sound like they were having sex. “You want more?” he asked in a voice gone completely deep and raspy from arousal.

“Yes, please. Don’t stop.”

Jordan could tell by the tremble in Danny’s voice that he was close to climax. At that realization, a dark possessive thrill ran through his veins. His flogger, his strikes had his little sub about to come. He moved closer, spanked Danny once, then again. Then he paused, the flogger dangling in his hand.

That luscious ass and reddened skin was so tempting, too tempting. All he could think about was how easy it would be to unzip, free his cock, and press inside. He stepped even closer. Danny would let him fuck him. No. Not just let him. Danny would beg for his cock. All Jordan had to do was drop the limit he’d imposed on himself and he could be inside Danny, fucking him until they were both on the edge of bliss.

“Jordan, please.” Danny arched his back, raising his ass higher.

He heard the plea through a fog of lust. Was Danny begging for his cock or the whip? He didn’t know. Jordan looked down at the flogger, noting that his hand shook. In that moment, he knew he’d lost control of the scene. So, he did the only thing he could do.

“Red.”

At that word, the universal call to stop a scene, Danny whipped his head around to look over his shoulder, brows drawn together in confusion.

“I need to call this off,” Jordan said in answer to the unspoken question.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t continue this tonight.”

Worry joined the confusion on Danny’s face. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No. You were amazing. You’re a natural at this. The problem is mine.”

Without saying another word, Jordan got started on after care. He was thorough in his ministrations but he didn’t linger as he usually did. He helped Danny redress, and thirty minutes later they were in his Camaro pulling up to Danny’s house. They were silent as they went up the walk. But once they reached the front door, Danny turned to Jordan. Confusion swirled in his gaze, and sadness pulled the corners of his mouth down into a frown.

“I know Doms can call off scenes too but I still feel like I did something wrong.”

Jordan immediately set aside his own issues so that he could reassure Danny. “I swear that you did nothing wrong. This is all on me.” He brought both hands up to gently cradle Danny’s face, hating the worried expression that was on it because of him. “I made certain promises to myself but you... You make me want to break them. And that’s why I needed to call off our scene.”

“I don’t know if I should apologize for that or not.”

“You should not. I’m the one who is sorry.”

They fell silent again. There was so much Jordan wanted to say but the weight of the secret he carried wouldn’t let him speak. He couldn’t put that burden down, not here on Danny’s front porch.

“I guess this is goodnight?”

Jordan nodded. “Yeah.”

Danny’s fingers delicately curled into his shirt. He tipped his head back, silently asking for a goodnight kiss.

Jordan obliged, with a chaste, closed-mouth press of their lips. Disappointment and hurt flashed across Danny’s face. At the wounded look, guilt and his Dom’s instinct to protect and soothe rose up, demanding that he give Danny anything he wanted to make him feel better and erase the hurt from his eyes. He forced himself to ignore it and step back without giving him a deeper, more intimate kiss.

“Go inside,” he ordered gently. Danny turned away without another word, the smile that Jordan loved to see nowhere to be found. His chest aching with regret, he waited until Danny closed the door and he heard the lock click before he made his way back to his car.

Jordan drove home with one goal in mind: gear up as Blaze and hit the streets. When he arrived in the underground garage, he stripped out of his clothes, ready to change into his leathers. But after yet another sexually charged scene where he didn’t get to enjoy a release, his cock was hard, nearly unbearably so. It would be uncomfortable to get into the form fitting pants with an erection. What he needed to do was take himself in hand and rub it out so he could get to work.

Except, it would be a mistake to touch his cock right now, with the far too recent memory of Danny’s soft cries whispering in his head. Jordan, please. How much more could he take? He’d drawn the line in the sand for himself. Would it be so bad if he crossed it? To find solace with Danny, to sink into his warmth taking pleasure, giving pleasure.

Jordan let his hand drift down, past his waist to touch his engorged cock. His hand was dry, but he imagined Danny’s perfect lips around it, wetly sucking. He knew what Danny looked like on his knees. His imagination filled in the rest. He stroked once, ready to get himself off to fantasies of him and Danny together. But after that one stroke, he stopped. He couldn’t do this. If he did, the floodgates would be opened and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had the real thing.

Forcing his hand away from his cock, Jordan called upon every ounce of control he had to find the strength to quell his arousal. He let his head fall back on his shoulders, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths through his nose. “I am in control.” Pre-cum beaded on the tip of his cock, spilling down the length of his shaft in a hot rush. Jordan groaned and balled up his fists. “I am in control,” he repeated with more force.

The garage lights repeatedly flashed off and on and the air turned sharp and electric. Jordan drew in several more deep breaths, clearing the erotic images of Danny from his mind. Finally, the pulsing arousal eased, the electric charge faded from the room, and the lights stopped blinking.

Relieved, Jordan began to gear up. But as he pulled on his pants, he realized he had a decision to make. It was no longer feasible to go on like this — walking a line between spending time with Danny but holding back from getting too close. He wanted Danny too much for that. And Danny’s confusion at prematurely ending the scene made him feel lower than a snail’s ass. Hurting Danny had never been his intention but he should have realized it would happen.

There were two options for him to fix the mess he’d made, break it off with Danny completely or come clean so he could be his Dom. Jordan knew which option he preferred. He didn’t want to let Danny go, but could he risk bringing the innocent young man into the violence and danger of his world?

∞∞∞

AFTER JORDAN DROPPED him off, Danny was at a loss as to what to do for the rest of the night. It was barely nine o’clock, too early for bed. Besides, he was restless after the abrupt end to their scene. Too restless to settle down to watch TV or read anything from the stack of comics on the coffee table. He’d expected to come home sleepy and sated. Instead he was keyed up and confused.

Promises that Jordan had made? What promises? To never take another sub, maybe? If so, why had he made that promise to himself? He clearly enjoyed being a Dom. And although Danny’s experience was extremely limited, he thought he was good at it. Or at least, he was good at the scene play part of being a Dom.

He should have asked for more clarification but hadn’t thought to do so. Whenever they were together, the attraction between them was so powerful it made it difficult to think of anything but getting as close to each other as possible. And although the way Jordan spoke to him and touched him indicated he felt that attraction too, he seemed to be fighting it. Danny didn’t know why but he wanted to find out.

Maybe he’d been too hasty agreeing to Jordan’s terms to only be his Dom trainer. He wanted more than that from Jordan. And a not so tiny part of him had only agreed to the deal with the hopes that it would grow into something more later. He realized now that starting off their relationship with any kind of secret or subterfuge had been a mistake.

Danny sighed. He wasn’t going to figure any of this out tonight, not without discussing it with the other person involved. But the unfulfilled need and tension wasn’t going away. He decided to use some of the energy buzzing under his skin to get some work done.

He went to his work room and grabbed his sketch book, planning to work on backgrounds for his web comic. Danny sat down to draw, but the architecture he wanted to sketch wouldn’t come together. He had trouble visualizing it, and he couldn’t find any good reference pictures online. He’d have to go out and take some photos of his own to use.

Danny changed into more casual clothes, packed his messenger bag with a sketch book, pencil case, his ear buds, and a camera, and made his way to the Metro Link station. He’d decided to catch the train instead of driving so he wouldn’t have to worry about parking. The train would let him out near the buildings he wanted to see, and the walk would help burn off more of his fidgety energy.

The train rolled in with a rush of warm air and a recorded voice announcing its arrival. Danny stepped into a near empty car. At this hour, the work commuter rush was long past over and there weren’t any major events going on downtown. He took a seat, placing his bag next to him, and popping his ear buds in for music to listen to during the ride. The trip was quick, and soon Danny was leaving the station and heading toward a popular microbrewery.

He’d chosen this particular location because it had a restaurant and rooftop bar. The bar is where Danny was headed. He went up a dark narrow staircase papered with vintage beer advertisements and onto the roof. A few hipsters were kicked back at the cafe tables and lounge chairs, enjoying flights of beer and appetizers under the night sky.

Danny moved to a lone table near the edge of the rooftop and set up shop. He took out his camera and started taking pictures, not worrying too much about focus or composition. His goal was to get the look of the area so he could translate it into his work.

It didn’t take him long to get the shots he needed. Since he wasn’t in a rush to get back home and he had time before the trains stopped running for the night, he sat down at his little table and ordered a pale ale and basket of fried ravioli. While he waited for the late-night snack to arrive, he took out his sketchbook. He started to draw rough sketches of the buildings on this street, getting a feel for the area in his hands while he was in the midst of the old brick buildings.

Now he could visualize the cityscape he wanted for his comic. His pencil moved over the cream paper in quick, short lines, with pauses to retrace and shade. When the food and beer arrived, he set the pencil aside so he could eat, but kept the sketch book out to look over his work. A style was already emerging in the raw lines. Hungrier than he’d realized, Danny quickly polished off the toasted ravioli, then leaned back to savor the rest of the beer.

As he sipped, the air grew heavy and still. Lightning flashed far off in the distance. It was going to storm soon. He hadn’t brought an umbrella and didn’t want to be stuck walking home without one in the rain. Danny called the server over to pay his tab, right before others started doing the same.

The bill paid, Danny tucked his sketch book away in his bag, stood up, and stretched his back. It was time to go. He went down the narrow staircase, through the main bar, and out onto the street. As he strolled down the sidewalk back to the Metro Link station, he thought about the different ways he could use the buildings to set the scene for his comic. The street was well-lit with people about, so Danny didn’t pay too much attention to his surroundings while he walked. He quickened his steps a little as he passed an alley, but didn’t otherwise stop thinking about his work. Until a familiar deep voice floated out to him on the warm, humid breeze.

“You don’t have your weapon out.”

Danny stopped and turned around. Blaze stood just outside the alley he’d passed. Danny was surprised to see the hero, but nonetheless retraced his steps to join him. He shrugged with a sheepish smile once he reached his side in the alley. “Busted. My head was so filled with art plans I didn’t even think about protecting myself. But maybe I don’t need to.”

“Why not?”

“Because maybe you’ve decided to be my personal protector.”

Blaze moved, prowling forward, backing Danny up against the wall behind him and crowding in close, until Danny’s vision was filled with the sight of a broad chest covered in tight black leather. That chest was so wide, and thick with muscle. The B cut by the lightning bolt rose and fell with each inhalation, daring him to reach out and touch it. He barely managed to resist the temptation. Danny dragged his gaze up to meet Blaze’s eyes. As always, they were shadowed by his helmet.

“Maybe I have,” Blaze said.

He’d lost the thread of the conversation and it took him a moment to grasp it and come up with an intelligent answer. “Oh.”

“Would it bother you to be under my protection?”

“No. It’s comforting.”

Blaze braced his palms against the brick wall on either side of Danny’s head, caging him in. The lightning grew closer, flashing in the sky behind him.

“Is that all you want from me? Comfort?”

Danny ran his tongue over lips gone dry from his rushed breaths. “What do you mean?”

“I see the way you react to me. Your pupils are blown. Your pulse speeds up. And you lick your lips.”

A gloved finger touched the center of his bottom lip, gently tugging it down. Danny trembled as he fought not to lick his tongue out again and taste the leather of Blaze’s glove.

“What else do you want from me, Danny?”

Danny was too overwhelmed, his head too filled with Blaze to answer. The warm scent of leather and his skin. The power radiating from him. The commanding presence that urged him to drop to his knees and submit. Blaze slowly pulled his finger away but he didn’t move out of Danny’s space. He leaned in, his intent clear.

Although he had plenty of warning, Danny gasped as their lips met. Blaze kissed him with fierce passion, dominating his mouth, demanding Danny submit and let him take control. And for several moments of blissful surrender, Danny gave in to the demand, returning the kiss with equal passion, while letting Blaze lead. But he was a one-man kind of guy. He couldn’t kiss Blaze hours after he’d kissed Jordan. Besides, he didn’t know this man. Had never even seen his face. He shouldn’t be making out with him in dark alleys. As much as he hated to do so he tore his lips away and turned his face to the side.

“I shouldn’t... We should stop.” Blaze raised a gloved hand to cup his cheek and turned him back. Danny shuddered at the feel of the supple leather on his skin. His already shaky resolve faltered even more when warm lips trailed down his neck to his collarbone then back up to his cheek. A rough whisper slid into his ear.

“You want me to stop? But you didn’t say your safe word.”

“How would you know it?”

Blaze froze. He pulled back, his eyes wide behind the mask.

Danny went still too. He’d only meant the question as a joke — to tease. But with Blaze’s reaction he knew. He knew what he should have known all along.

Chapter Nine

F

uck. He’d blown his cover. No more than he deserved for letting the whims of his dick control his actions. He shouldn’t even be here. He’d had plans to patrol in a different sector of the city. But the tracker he’d placed on Danny, embedded in the card he’d given him, had alerted him that Danny was on the move downtown late at night. He’d immediately changed direction to go and see that he was okay, with the vague plan of only watching him from afar to ensure he made it safely home.

But the need and desire still churning beneath his skin had risen up and taken over when Danny walked by, prompting him to call out to get Danny’s attention. Now he’d tripped up, admitting that he knew Danny’s safe word. Blaze quickly tried to recover for his dumb mistake.

“I figured you’d have one by now if you’ve been going to that club. And if you said something off the wall while I was kissing you, that would be it.” His excuse sounded plausible to his ears. But Danny clearly wasn’t buying it. He peered up at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes. That was Blaze’s cue to make his exit. “I have to go.” He stepped back from Danny and quickly moved to leave the alley.

“Wait!”

Blaze kept going.

“Jordan, please!”

Blaze stopped.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m not angry but please talk to me.”

He started to turn back around. They did need to talk. Now might not be the time for it, but he couldn’t leave Danny there on his own. “Danny, I—.” He stopped as he spied a flash of silver hurtling toward him.

Blaze jerked back in time to avoid the knife sinking into his arm, but it still managed to cut through his sleeve and slice across his bicep. He immediately powered up, ready to go after the assailant, a Red Vest who stood down the street with a second throwing knife in hand, but a yell from Danny stopped him.

He looked back into the alley. Another Red Vest had shown up, a huge man who had Danny in the grip of a brutal bearhug. Danny struggled, kicking and scratching in his fight to break free, but his efforts were ineffective against the Red Vest’s size and brute strength. Damnit. He needed to help Danny but he couldn’t leave an enemy at his back. He spared precious moments to shoot a blast of electricity at the knife thrower, taking them out of the game before running back into the alley to face the Red Vest who’d dared to assault his lover.

Blaze smashed his fists together, and an explosion of electricity crackled around him in a bright blue sphere. He would have loved to channel that energy and send it right at the punk’s head to take him out, but he couldn’t. Not with Danny in the line of fire. “Let him go!” His shout thundered down the alley.

“Don’t think so. The boss is angry you messed up his shipment.” He squeezed tighter and Danny yelled, his face twisted in pain. “You can consider this payback.”

“He wants payback? Fine. Let him go first. He’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Yeah? Didn’t look that way to me with the way you two were cozied up a few minutes ago.”

“Damnit,” Blaze cursed under his breath. He’d been so preoccupied with Danny he hadn’t even noticed they were being watched. A stupid and dangerous mistake. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time for recrimination. At that moment, his only priority was to get Danny out of harm’s way. He took a chance, hoping it would work.

“Danny! Drop!”

To his relief, Danny instantly obeyed. He stopped fighting and went limp, sliding down in the punk’s hold. The move surprised the big man, giving Blaze enough of a window to sprint forward and smash his fist into the punk’s face. He put enough of his power into the strike to knock the big man out but not so much that it went through his whole body and made contact with Danny too. Unconscious, the brute’s arms loosened as he fell. Blaze already had Danny in hand before they’d completely fallen away.

“Let’s go.” He started running, pulling Danny behind him out of the dark alley. But their escape route wasn’t clear. More L Street Posse goons had arrived, lined up in the street and blocking the path out. As they faced off, the storm that had been threatening finally arrived. The skies broke open and rain poured down in ice cold sheets. Still, none of the Red Vests moved. Even six on one, Blaze could take them on and come out the winner but fuck that. He wasn’t stopping to fight with Danny there. He yanked him into his arms. “Hold on,” he yelled over the sound of the thunder and pounding rain.

As soon as Danny’s arms squeezed around his neck, Blaze took a running start and leaped into the air over the heads of the Red Vests, using his body to shield Danny in case any of them had a projectile weapon and managed to get off a lucky shot. They pursued but they couldn’t keep up with his speed. The punks fell behind, but Blaze was taking no chances and kept moving, taking an indirect route back to his car to make sure they weren’t followed.

His suit became slick from rainwater, making it hard for Danny to hold on. Blaze paused to swing Danny around to his back so he could hold on more securely with all his limbs. With his arms now free, Blaze moved even faster, sprinting, jumping, pushing off the sides of buildings to propel himself forward. When his car was within sight, he looked over his shoulder at Danny, rain water splashing into his mouth as he spoke.

“One more jump, baby.”

Danny nodded with his face tucked into Blaze’s neck.

Blaze dropped from a fire escape down to the ground, landing with a splash. The car unlocked and Blaze swiftly opened the driver’s side door. Moving as quickly as possible without being needlessly rough, he pushed Danny in and over to the passenger side before sliding into the driver’s seat. “Buckle up.”

His eyes were wide and hands shaking but Danny did as he was told, the seat belt connecting with a quiet click.

The car roared to life and Blaze immediately slammed it into drive. He sped through the city, heading back to his place. Blaze took the closest of his routes home, determined to get off the streets and to the safety of the garage as soon as possible. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Danny had has arms wrapped tightly around himself, shivers making his entire body shake.

“Are you hurt?”

“No. Just cold.”

Blaze turned the heat all the way up. Warm air rushed out of the vents, quickly heating the interior of the car. He cast a glance at Danny every so often as he drove. Once his shivering stopped, he turned the heat down to low.

“Why were those guys after you? I mean, I know it’s normal for you to fight bad guys, but they seemed to have an agenda and a plan.”

“The other night, I destroyed a shipment of a new drug their boss wants to distribute.”

“And that’s why the guy who had me said it was payback.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry you got caught up in it.”

“Not your fault.”

It was actually but now wasn’t the time to get into it. They were a half mile away from the secret tree break, so he gave Danny a head’s up. “We’re coming up on the entrances to my place. You’ll see a few strange things.”

“Okay.”

Danny handled the sliding trees fine and only squeaked a little when the street opened up to let them drive below ground. But when they raced toward the steel doors, Danny sat up ramrod straight, hand raised as if to demand the car come to a stop.

“Do—. Don’t crash,” he stuttered in alarm.

“It’s all right. I promise.” The doors opened, he sped through, and Danny slumped back into his seat.

Blaze parked the car and turned off the ignition. Everything was silent except for the ticking of the engine as it cooled.

Danny cleared his throat. “I guess this is your lair.”

“I don’t call it that. But yes.” He opened the door and went around to Danny’s side but by the time he reached it Danny had already stepped out. Rainwater dripped down the nose of his mask as he patiently waited while Danny looked around at his command center, weapons wall, training mat, and spare gear. He looked shocked, as if Jordan’s secret identity was only now sinking in.

“Let’s go upstairs.” He held his hand out. Danny stared at that hand for a long moment. So long that Blaze started to think his worst fear was about to come to pass. When Danny finally laid a hand in his, Blaze breathed a silent sigh of relief. He’d half expected Danny to reject him and demand to be taken home. But he didn’t. He walked with Jordan to the elevator, and rode up to his apartment.

They were both silent as he led Danny back to his bedroom and turned on the lights. Danny’s clothes were soaked through from the storm, his T-shirt clinging to him. Beads of water dripped from his jeans to the floor. And he was shivering again.

“You’re soaked. I’ll get you a towel and something to change into.”

Blaze dug through the dresser for his smallest T-shirt and sweats, then went into his spacious bathroom and flipped on the light. He grabbed a towel from the linen closet and called out to Danny. “In here.”

Danny approached with slow, tentative steps, his eyes wide. Noting the reaction, Blaze took a step back so Danny could enter the bathroom without having to pass too close to him. Damnit. He hoped Danny wasn’t afraid of him now. “Get out of those wet clothes and dry off.” Although they were both aware he’d already seen Danny nearly naked several times, he closed the door, giving him privacy to change into the dry clothes.

Out in the bedroom, Jordan stripped too. It took time to get out of his suit and boots but he still managed to be dressed in a pair of athletic shorts before Danny came out of the bathroom. He was about to go and check on him when the door finally opened.

“I’m dressed,” Danny said quietly.

Jordan crossed the room to where Danny stood in the bathroom doorway. The T-shirt and sweats he’d given him to wear swamped him. But at least he was dry and his shivers had stopped. Unfortunately, he still looked nervous. Jordan hesitated, trying to think of what he could say or do to put him at ease. Before he could come up with anything, Danny gasped and reached up, fingers hovering over Jordan’s left bicep.

“You’re hurt!”

Jordan looked down at his arm. The cut was deep but he barely felt the sting of it.

He gently grasped Danny’s fingers and pulled his hand away from the wound. “Accelerated healing. It’ll be fine.”

“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat your wounds. Do you have a first aid kit?”

“Yes. It’s in the bathroom.”

Jordan waited as Danny went back into the bathroom and rummaged around in the medicine cabinet for what he needed. He came back with his hands filled with first aid supplies.

“You’re so tall. It’ll be easier for me if you sit.”

Jordan moved to sit on the edge of the bed, watching as Danny tended to his cut. His brows were knit in concentration as he wiped the area clean with an alcohol pad and applied ointment. He didn’t have the heart to tell him it would be scabbed over in a few hours and completely healed within twenty-four. Besides, he was selfishly enjoying the attention. Danny glanced up and caught him staring. Jordan didn’t look away, but Danny’s gaze skittered to the side as he applied the bandage.

“What?”

“You’re cute when you’re worried.”

A small smile curled Danny’s lips and one of his dimples peeked out.

The sight of it tripped Jordan up and before he realized it, he was making a heartfelt admission. “I haven’t had anyone take care of me like this for a long time. It’s nice. Thank you.”

Danny ducked his head. “You’re welcome,” he said as he fussed with the first aid supplies. “I should clean up and throw all this away. I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared into the bathroom again. The water turned on, running for longer than it usually took someone to wash their hands. He was clearly nervous but he hadn’t asked to leave. Jordan hoped that and Danny treating his wound meant he still had a shot. But he needed to tread lightly.

The water finally stopped running. A few seconds later, the bathroom light clicked off, and Danny reappeared in the darkened doorway.

“Will you come over here and talk to me?” he asked softly.

“Of course.”

Jordan let Danny approach at his own pace. “You know you can leave at any time, right? Just say the word and I’ll take you home.”

“I know. I don’t want to leave.”

“You know who I am now.”

Danny nodded slowly. “Are you going to erase my memory?”

A smile tugged at Jordan’s mouth. “No. I don’t have that kind of power.”

Danny came a few steps closer, until he was standing in the space between Jordan’s spread thighs. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Hell no. I would never hurt you.” He tentatively put his hands on Danny’s hips. When Danny didn’t pull away, Jordan slipped his hands beneath the borrowed T-shirt to caress him, thumbs slowly rubbing back and forth over his pelvis. “I apologize for not telling you before.”

Danny laughed. “I’ve seen a million superhero movies. I know you can’t share your secret identity with everybody. That would defeat the point.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Jordan said with a nod. “But now that you know, do you still want to be involved with me?” Jordan went still after asking the question, watching as Danny pursed his lips. He’d understand if Danny said screw this, take me home. Admiring and drawing superheroes was one thing. Being involved with a hero was a different story altogether.

“I’ve been thinking of two men — Jordan and Blaze — for days now. I couldn’t think of one without my thoughts turning to the other. Now I know why. I like both men because they’re the same man. So yes, I still want to be involved with you.”

Thrilled at that answer, Jordan slowly tugged him even closer, before sliding a hand up to grasp the back of his neck. “There’s so much more we need to discuss. But for tonight, can we finish our kiss?”

“Yeah,” Danny said as he leaned down.

Their lips came together, slowly at first, with gentle kisses and shared breaths. Jordan pulled back an inch, enough to look into the eyes of the man he wanted to claim for his own. He searched, looking for that last bit of assurance that Danny was on board. He found it, shining in night-dark eyes: arousal, trust... acceptance. That last one meant the most to him. And just as importantly, there was no hesitation, no fear. With a pleased growl, Jordan tightened his grip on the nape of his lover’s neck, and pulled him into another kiss. Gentle went out the window, and he ravished Danny’s lips in a kiss meant to claim and dominate.

This kiss was better than the ones they’d shared before. He didn’t have the fact that he was hiding a secret identity hovering in the back of his mind. Tonight, he was free to kiss and touch Danny the way he wanted without worrying about maintaining an emotional distance between them.

He swept his hands up and down Danny’s back, eager to touch all of the smooth brown skin he’d longed to have under his hands ever since he’d first laid eyes on this man. A soft whimper came from Danny, and his hands came up to rest on Jordan’s shoulders.

Jordan pushed a hand into the too-big sweats, and they easily slipped off Danny’s hips and down to the floor. Apparently, Danny’s underwear had gotten wet too, because he came into contact with warm, bare skin. He cupped that deliciously pert ass, squeezing, kneading. He wanted to roar in triumph now that he finally had his hands on what he’d longed for. Jordan poured that energy into their kiss, laving Danny’s tongue with his own, nibbling at his full bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. And Danny, his sweet submissive, let him lead, taking his passion and giving it back in sharp moans, his little hands clutching at Jordan’s shoulders.

When his knees started to buckle, Jordan picked him up and turned to lay him on the bed. He pushed off his own shorts and briefs before bracing one knee on the mattress. Danny looked up at him, smiling softly... until his eyes lowered to Jordan’s erection. The smile abruptly dropped off his face.

“Oh, wow. That’s... Okay. Umm... Yeah. I can handle...” The words trailed off before he raised his gaze back to Jordan’s. “How were you hiding that in your tight pants?”

“Relax. I only want to feel you against me tonight. Is that okay?”

Danny nodded with obvious relief. “That’s fine.”

Jordan straddled Danny’s hips. They kissed again, this time with the added thrill of having Danny beneath him. He lowered his hips, letting the heavy weight of his cock drag along the flat plane of Danny’s stomach, then down to the crisp ebony curls at his groin, and finally, he dragged the slick head of his cock up the length of Danny’s shaft.

Danny moaned and tried to spread his legs. Jordan stopped him by squeezing him with his thighs. At that slight restriction on his movements, Danny bit his lip, rolling his hips up so that his stiff cock slid across his belly. Jordan took note. They’d talked about restraints and Danny had seemed very into the idea. Now was a good time to test the waters.

He grasped one wrist, then the other, holding them captive in his grip, and raising Danny’s arms above his head. Danny’s pulse became a visibly rapid flutter at the base of his throat. “You like that?”

His eyes closed, Danny nodded, tight and frantic.

He had an answer, but Jordan wanted to hear the words. “Tell me, Danny.”

“I like it,” he said in a tight whisper.

Jordan squeezed his slender wrists, pressing them harder into the pillow. In response, Danny whined, soft and hushed. Jordan leaned down, and pressed his lips to Danny’s ear, making him shiver as he whispered against the sensitive skin. “You want me to hold you down and take control of your body?” He raised back up, waiting for his answer.

“Yes. Please.” Long eyelashes fluttered open, revealing eyes gone hazy with lust. “Please control me.”

“I will, baby. I’ll take care of you.”

He kept hold of Danny’s wrists with one hand while slowly reaching down with the other to grasp his lover’s cock. It was hot and desperately hard. Wet, spilling pre-cum onto his belly. Jordan slowly began to stroke. Long and languid, pausing to dip his thumb in the wetness on the tip, swirling it around to tease the sensitive head. He dragged his thumb down the length of his shaft, smearing the slick fluid until there was none left. Then he started the process again. Over and over, until Danny writhed and sobbed beneath him.

Taking that as his cue to push it to the next level, Jordan stroked him faster. He squeezed on the upstroke, feeling the hard shaft throb against palm. Danny’s eyes drifted closed again at the more intense grip on his cock. His fingers twitched in Jordan’s hold but he didn’t try to pull away. Jordan kept up with his quick strokes, working him closer to climax. Suddenly, Danny was straining and pulling against his hold.

“You need to safe word, baby?”

“No!” Danny quickly gasped out his answer. “Keep — don’t stop.”

Jordan squeezed his wrists harder, just shy of leaving bruises on the delicate skin. He even locked his thighs tight around Danny’s legs, giving him more of that restrained feeling. And he pumped and stroked, pushing him closer and closer to the edge. Until finally, he fell over it.

“Ahhhh!”

When Danny came, it was with his whole body. His head thrashed on the pillow, lips parted to let out more of those sharp, breathy moans. The warm glow of the bedside lamp gleamed off his mahogany skin as he arched his back, and his swollen cock spilled his release in pulses, rivulets of the creamy liquid running down his side to drip onto the mattress.

“Fuck, that’s beautiful.” Jordan cursed, low and raw before taking his own throbbing cock in hand. A few rough, dry strokes and he came too, turning at the last second to spend on the sheets instead of all over Danny’s gorgeous body the way he wanted to.

It took them both a few minutes to ride out the last few trembles of climax and for their breathing to return to normal. Jordan slowly released his grip on Danny’s wrists and eased off him onto the mattress. Danny was limp, so Jordan gathered him close in his arms.

“That was nice.” The words were slurry with sleep.

Jordan kissed the top of his head. “Rest. I’ll take you home in the morning.”

“M’kay.”

Danny’s body grew heavy as he faded into slumber. Jordan continued to hold him, as if he could keep him safe within the circle of his arms. He’d almost gotten Danny hurt tonight. Having someone in his life — someone who might be harmed because of him — scared him like nothing else could. But Danny was willing to try and he didn’t want to let him go. So, for now, Jordan put his worry away and let himself rest.

Chapter Ten

D

anny woke in an unfamiliar bed. He’d barely scrunched up his face trying to remember where he was, when it all came flooding back. Jordan was Blaze. Blaze was Jordan. He’d discovered the truth last night in the alley when they’d kissed and they’d been attacked by Red Vest goons immediately afterward. And Blaze errr... Jordan had brought him back to his place. He shifted as he remembered what they’d done before falling asleep.

“Good morning.”

The rumbly voice came from behind him. “I should have known you were already awake.” He stealthily rubbed a hand over his face to knock off any sleep crusties before turning over. Blaze lay propped up on one elbow watching him.

“Did you sleep okay?” Jordan asked.

“Yeah. Orgasms are a great aid for a good night’s sleep.”

“Glad I could help with that.”

“So,” Danny plucked at the sheet, knowledge of Jordan’s dual identities sitting a little strange in his head in the bright light of day. “Should I call you Blaze or Jordan?”

“I’m Blaze on the streets. I’m Jordan here in the privacy of my home and with the people in my personal life.”

“Okay. I’m still just Danny by the way.”

Jordan reached down to caress Danny’s sheet covered hip.

“I don’t think you’re just anything.”

The fondness in Jordan’s eyes and voice as he spoke set warmth unfurling low in Danny’s stomach. Unable to come up with a response, he shyly ducked his head. Thankfully, Jordan changed the subject.

“Would you like to take a shower?”

For some reason, the thought of using Jordan’s shower felt too normal a thing to do after what he’d learned last night. He had questions that needed to be answered before he could go about treating this like the usual morning after a hook-up. “That’s okay. I’ll shower back at my place.”

“Then let me make you breakfast before I take you home.”

They made separate stops in the bathroom, then Danny followed a bare foot and bare-chested Jordan into the kitchen. Danny wore the oversized clothes he’d been given last night. He sat down at the black marble center island while Jordan went to the fridge and got out the ingredients for omelets.

“What do you like in yours?”

“Dump everything you’ve got in there.”

“Got it.”

Danny watched Jordan as he cracked eggs and chopped veggies. It hit him that this was his first time seeing Jordan in daylight. He’d seen Jordan’s two night personas, the tough vigilante and the sexy Dom. Now he was seeing the man, warmed by the sunbeams falling through the skylight. Danny liked what he saw. He let his gaze roam from Jordan’s distinguished brow down to his shadow beard, pausing to linger over the sensuous pink lips that kissed him with such passion.

He moved on to a strong neck, braced on either side by shoulder muscles so thick and defined, he was blessed to have had his own arms around them during their wild escape. Below those broad shoulders was a chest that somehow seemed even wider than it did when covered by black leather. The urge to cup those pecs with his hands and squeeze was so strong, Danny had to press his hands between his thighs to keep from reaching out for them.

A sprinkling of dark chest hair turned into a fine trail that followed the center line of Jordan’s abs and disappeared into the black sweats he wore. And those amazing arms. Those big, lickable arms. They could easily crush Danny’s bones into dust. But they’d held him gently as he’d fallen asleep last night.

Danny also noticed the lines of stress around Jordan’s mouth and the tense set of his shoulders. His fingers itched to soothe all of that tension and stress away. He remembered what Jordan said last night, that he hadn’t had anyone to take care of him for a while. It hurt his heart to think of Jordan fighting so hard for others with no one to look after him in return. He could be the one to take care of Jordan. They needed to talk before that could happen obviously. Except... he was already picturing himself subbing for Jordan, making him feel good. He wondered if Jordan liked back rubs.

“Are you all right?”

“Huh?” Danny looked up, realizing that Jordan was talking to him. “Oh, yeah. I was daydreaming.”

“The omelets will be ready soon.”

Danny hopped up from his seat. “I’ll get us drinks.” Jordan told him where to find glasses and he poured orange juice for himself and ice water for the chef.

By unspoken agreement, the conversation stayed light while Jordan cooked and as they ate. They talked of the weather, how the Cardinals would do this year, and even a bit of Danny’s work. But once they’d both finished eating, the mood changed and became serious.

“You have questions,” Jordan said as he pushed his plate to the side.

Danny set his fork tines down atop his own empty plate. “I do. But I’m not sure what I can ask.”

“I told you once before you can ask me anything. I meant it.”

Danny nodded. He started with the obvious question. “How did you get your powers?”

“I was out raising hell with friends one night, when it started to storm. There was... an accident and someone close to me died. I couldn’t believe it, and I couldn’t do anything but scream with rage and grief. A power line snapped, landing in the puddle of water I kneeled in. I got the full blast of the shock. It burned and hurt but somehow it didn’t kill me.” He raised a hand, a small blue ball of electricity crackling on his palm. “And now I can do this.”

“Does it hurt when you use the power?”

“No. Although it can wear me out if I use it too much.”

“You have to recharge like a battery?”

Jordan’s serious face eased into an amused smile. “Something like that.”

“What else can you do? I know you can jump pretty high from personal experience.” Danny’s head spun for a moment when he remembered the dizzying feeling of seeing the street far below him as they bounded from building to building at a faster speed than he’d ever moved under his own power.

“Accelerated healing like I mentioned last night. Enhanced reflexes, strength, and speed. But that’s about it. I had to train to learn how to fight.”

“Who knows about you?”

“My parents. Couldn’t keep the secret from them since my powers were completely out of control when I first got them. Nina, my cousin and shop manager. Some of the other local heroes. And... that’s it.”

Danny noticed the hesitation but let it go for now. “Are there any rules to being in the loop? I already know not to tell anyone you’re Blaze.”

“It’s probably best that you don’t even mention that you know Blaze’s other identity. You never know who is listening and information like that could put you in danger.”

“That’s fine with me. I think I’ve had all the danger I can handle for several life times.” Danny set his elbows on the table, propping his chin up on his hands. “How often do you put on your Blaze gear?”

“I go out five to six times a week.”

“Always at night.”

“Yeah, usually midnight to about four. I was out earlier than usual last night because I’m working on something.”

“That means no midnight star gazing dates then?”

The quietly amused smile made another appearance. “I’m afraid not.”

“Have you ever dated anyone else who knew you were Blaze?”

“Yes.”

Before Danny could continue that line of questioning, Jordan stood up from the table.

“I should get you home before morning rush hour hits. We can talk more later.”

“Right.” Danny rose too and carried his dishes to the sink. After rinsing them off and drying his hands, Danny stepped close to Jordan, wrapping his arms around his waist. Jordan looked down at him, clearly surprised at the spontaneous hug.

“I wanted to hug you. I hope that’s okay.” An expression that he couldn’t decipher passed over Jordan’s handsome face before he nodded and returned the embrace.

“Yes. Hugs are okay.”

They stood pressed together for a few moments before Danny stepped back. “Let me get my clothes from last night and I’ll be ready to go.”

Jordan followed him back to the bedroom to throw on a T-shirt and tennis shoes. Danny put on his own slightly damp shoes, grimacing at the feel of them on his bare feet. They took the elevator downstairs, stopping at the ground level. Danny noted there was a code required to access the below ground level where Jordan kept Blaze’s car and gear. They didn’t go into the shop, but he could see it through the glass wall of the building’s small lobby.

On the street, Danny paused to look back at the building they’d just left. “This is a gorgeous building. It fits in well with the aesthetic for this area.” It was four floors, constructed from soft gray stone and green-tinted glass. Three huge garage doors took up most of the ground level, and on the left side was a hunter green door.

“Thank you. I kept as much of the original bones as possible when I had it renovated for my business and apartment. Didn’t want anything too modern sticking out like a sore thumb around here.”

They got into Jordan’s Camaro and headed for Danny’s house. The drive was uneventful, with mild traffic and quiet small talk.

“You’re sure you’re all right with this?” Jordan asked as he turned onto Danny’s street.

“Yes. I’ll probably have more questions once it really sinks in. But we can figure it out.”

They pulled up to his house. Jordan started to turn off the ignition but Danny stopped him. “You don’t have to get out. I’ll walk myself up.” Danny saw that Jordan was about to protest, and he loved that he was so gentlemanly that he wanted to see him to his door. He leaned in, offering a kiss as a consolation prize. Jordan took his hand off the key to cup Danny’s chin, and they shared a sweet kiss goodbye. Danny let his eyes drift closed, soaking in the feel of soft lips sliding over his and the delightfully masculine feel of beard lightly rasping against his face.

“I’ll call you later, okay?” Jordan said when they separated.

Danny nodded, his eyes still closed. “Okay.” A car drove past them, music blasting too loud for the early hour, reminding him that Jordan needed to get back to his shop for work. He pulled away.

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Danny stepped out of the car and went up the walk. He had a feeling Jordan was the type who wouldn’t pull off until he went inside and he was right. He turned and waved goodbye. Jordan returned the wave, but didn’t leave until Danny closed the front door behind him.

Happy to be back in his own space after the shocking night he’d had, he ran upstairs, took a quick shower, and threw on the first T-shirt and shorts his hand touched when he opened the dresser drawer. He went into his workroom out of habit, but concentrating and working was out of the question. Still, he sat down in his chair, slowly swiveling back and forth.

“Blaze is Jordan and Jordan is Blaze.”

Even though he’d seen the proof with his own eyes, he felt as though he needed to say it out loud to make it real. And then it clicked. There was no way Jordan had run into him accidentally at Club Decadence after sending him the invitation. Scott had been right about Blaze’s initial attraction. And Danny couldn’t even tell him.

Danny wasn’t angry that Jordan had manufactured their meeting. Like he’d told him last night, he understood the reason for the secrecy. And to be honest he was kind of flattered. Blaze, that big leather-clad superhero had been attracted to him, enough that he’d set up a way for them to meet when he was out as his regular life alter ego. Wow.

But Jordan had said that he couldn’t be involved with him. Had that stemmed from the fact that he didn’t want to reveal his secret identity? Or was there something else holding Jordan back? Last night, he’d asked Danny if he still wanted to be with him but that could have meant continuing on in the parameters they’d set as Dom trainer and sub trainee, not taking the first steps into a relationship as he’d assumed. He’d have to ask the next time they saw each other because he needed that clarification.

Danny was completely tripped up at the fact that just the other day he’d drawn a mask on Jordan’s face then laughed at himself for being silly. He hadn’t been able to see what was right in front of him because it was too fantastic to believe.

“Blaze is Jordan and Jordan is Blaze,” he said again.

Danny scrubbed a hand over his face. Was it too early for a drink? Because he needed one.

He got up and went into the kitchen, rummaging around for the ingredients to make a Bloody Mary. Thankfully, they had everything he needed, including celery stalks he swiped from the snacks Scott had prepared for himself for the week. Danny walked into the living room, sucking the spicy drink off the stick of celery. He dropped down on the couch and opened up Netflix, looking for a true crime series he could mindlessly watch to distract himself for a few hours.

His few hours turned into an all-day marathon. Around four thirty, thirst and hunger drove him off the couch and into the kitchen for another round of snacks. Danny poured himself a glass of water while he thought about what he wanted to eat. His phone rang right as he raised it to his mouth to drink, startling him, and he sloshed water on his face. Rolling his eyes at his clumsiness, Danny wiped the water away with the back of his hand before he answered the phone.

“Hello?”

Jordan’s deep voice came through the line. “Hey, how are you?”

“Good. Finishing up a hard day of doing nothing. I think I needed some time to recalibrate after everything that happened last night.”

“That’s understandable. I’m sorry you had to find out about me that way.”

“It was a little traumatizing,” Danny said, only half-joking. “But it’s out in the open now and that’s a good thing.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“Would you like to come here for dinner? I know we discussed a few things over breakfast, but I thought I’d order in and we could continue that conversation.”

“Dinner at your place would be great. I’d like that.” Danny bounced on his toes, excited to see Jordan again and get answers to the rest of his questions.

“Okay. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Or, I could meet you at your place. Don’t you have to go out later?”

“Yes.”

“Then it will be easier for you if I drive myself.” A low growl sounded in his ear but Danny laughed, not at all intimidated. “You’re used to calling the shots,” he teased.

“Yes. But I know when I’ve been outmaneuvered. I’ll see you here at six.”

They ended the call and Danny went to get ready for their date. Tingles of excitement danced through him as he wondered how the night would go. They’d played together three times now. And they’d dry humped each other to orgasm. He hoped that tonight they’d combine the two. Actually, he hoped they’d go even farther. All the way in fact.

Sure, his asshole had clenched in fright when he’d spied Jordan’s gorgeous yet huge cock. That sucker had girth and length. But what did he expect? A super dick for a super hero. However, after he’d unclenched, his overwhelming desire had overridden his initial misgivings. And it was clear that Jordan wanted him just as much.

With that in mind, he took care to prepare his body for sex as he got ready for their dinner date. When it came time to pick out his clothes, he stood in front of the closet, lips pursed as he looked over his choices. Since it was only the two of them, he didn’t think he should get too dressed up. And they had yet to discuss things like fetish wear. So, it would probably be a little presumptuous and weird to show up in something more fit for the club.

“Does Jordan even like fetish wear?” he wondered aloud.

The man did run around the city of St. Louis wearing a skin tight leather suit so it was probably safe to assume he had at least a slight fetish wear kink. Danny pulled on a blue jock strap with black patent leather trim that he’d ordered but hadn’t yet had occasion to wear other than dancing around his room while admiring his butt in the mirror.

He wiggled his way into another pair of his tight jeans, these in a pale blue, and slipped his arms into a soft and clingy short sleeve button down. The outfit didn’t scream sex, but it did show off his body. And if they made it to the main event, the jock strap was perfect for adding a little spice.

Since he’d be driving right in the thick of rush hour, Danny grabbed his keys and headed out so he wouldn’t be late. A few minutes before six, he pulled up to Jordan’s building. Following the directions Jordan had texted him, he went to the hunter green door on the side of the building and stepped into the small vestibule. Using the passcode he’d been given, he took the elevator up to Jordan’s apartment.

Jordan was waiting for him when the doors slid open. He looked good, dressed in dark jeans and a black V-neck pull over that clung to his muscled chest and dipped in over his flat stomach.

“Hey.”

Danny returned the greeting with a smile. “Hey.”

He stepped off the elevator and walked right up to Jordan, wrapping his arms around him in a hug. Unlike that morning, Jordan didn’t hesitate before he returned the embrace. Danny closed his eyes, savoring the feel of being enclosed in those big arms. “I like this,” he said with his cheek pressed to Jordan’s chest.

“So do I. I actually thought...”

Danny tipped his head back to look up at Jordan when he left his sentence unfinished. “What?”

“Nothing. Let’s go eat and then we’ll talk.”

Jordan led him down a hall with parquet flooring and a thick, carpeted runner to the dining room. It was a gorgeous space, with crisp lines and a bold color scheme. A currently dormant fireplace was on one wall, with a large abstract painting in strong strokes of black, gold and indigo hanging above. Large, black-paned windows took up most of the other walls. The dining table had a warm, knotty wood top and black metal frame. That same black metal made up the legs for the dove gray suede chairs. The light fixture in the center of the tray ceiling had globes of smoke black glass, that looked more like art than light fixtures. On the table were clear glass plates and containers from one of his favorite Italian restaurants on The Hill.

“Smells delicious.” he said as he took a seat in the chair Jordan pulled out for him.

“I hope you enjoy it,” Jordan said as he went around to the other side of the table and sat down. They served themselves from the containers, starting with small dinner salads and bread sticks, and moving on to plates of chicken parmesan.

Tonight, Danny was too impatient to wait until every bite of food was consumed before he started their talk. He’d only made it halfway through his entree when he got the conversation going.

“This morning, I only thought to ask questions about your powers. I didn’t think to ask about us. I’m pretty sure I already know the answer to this but you bumping into me at Club Decadence was on purpose, right?”

“Yes. I sent you the invitation with the intention of giving you a more secure place to explore kink and then leaving you alone. But I couldn’t do it.”

“Why?”

“Why couldn’t I leave you alone?”

“No. Why did you want to leave me alone?”

Jordan set his fork aside and leaned back in his chair. “Danny, I wanted to be with you almost from the moment I saw you. But from experience — mine and others — I’ve seen that superheroes and romantic relationships don’t go well together. Because of that, I felt I should stay away from you.”

“But now you’ve changed your mind?”

Jordan nodded. But Danny needed more than that. He needed to know exactly where they stood.

“You asked last night if I wanted to be with you and I said yes. But did you mean continuing on with our training relationship or something more?”

There was a long, heavy moment of quiet before Jordan answered.

“I want more with you.”

“Then that means we can continue with our lessons but also take the step you couldn’t before. The step that might cause us to bond as Dom and sub.”

“Sex.”

Heat bloomed across Danny’s skin as he watched Jordan’s perfect lips form the three-letter word. “Yeah,” he breathlessly agreed. “Sex.”

“We don’t have to have sex tonight because we’re at my place. We can wait if that’s what you want.”

“What do you want?”

Jordan’s fingers flexed once on the tabletop before he answered.

“I want you to feel safe and comfortable with me.”

Jordan spoke of waiting, but Danny caught the betraying movement that said something else. Jordan wanted him. And heaven help him, Danny wanted him just as much. Were they going too fast? Probably. But he wasn’t going to wait simply for the sake of waiting. Not when he was dying to feel Jordan’s hands on his body again, without restrictions preventing their play from reaching its natural conclusion.

He stood from his seat and walked around the table. Jordan turned his chair out from the table and watched him approach, his gaze heavy-lidded and hot. Danny stopped when he was right in front of him. “I want to feel you inside me tonight,” he boldly said.

A muscle clenched in Jordan’s jaw before he stood up so fast, it startled Danny into taking a step back. Jordan caught him with a hand at the nape of his neck, preventing him from retreating further.

“You will,” he growled before taking his mouth in a fierce kiss.

His moment of brazenness over, Danny melted against the hard strength of Jordan’s body. The kiss worked him up so good that he would have been absolutely fine with Jordan bending him over the table right then and there. But Jordan had something else in mind.

“Come with me.”

He placed his hand in Jordan’s, following along slightly behind as they left the dining room. They walked down the hallway, to the other side of the apartment, the carpeted runner muffling their steps. When they reached the bedroom, Jordan tugged him over to stand in front of a big, wing back chair.

“We didn’t finish our scene last night. How did that make you feel?”

After thinking about it, Danny answered with complete honesty. “Sad and... unsettled.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Jordan pulled him in close with a loose grip on his hips. Danny drifted closer on his own, seeking the heat of the big body in front of him.

“How about we do that over, and tonight I’ll give you everything you want.” He smoothed his hands down to gently caress Danny’s ass. “You up for that? Can you take another spanking?”

Danny shifted. His butt had been warm for a few hours last night. But he hadn’t bruised and he didn’t have any pain today. Just a pleasant tingle that was more memory than actual sensation. “Yes, I can.”

“Good. Tonight, I’m going to spank you the way I really want to.” A slow, sensuous grin curled Jordan’s lips. “And you’re going to submit and take everything I give you.”

A shiver traced down Danny’s spine at the dark, huskily whispered promise. Whatever was about to happen, he wanted it more than he wanted his next breath.

Chapter Eleven

“I

want you naked.”

Danny’s hands flew up to his shirt to take it off but Jordan stopped him.

“Let me.”

He unbuttoned Danny’s shirt slowly, pushing it open when all the buttons were undone. The curve of his collarbone caught Jordan’s eye. Danny was such a tiny thing, he had to bend down to press kisses to the smooth skin over that spot. He nipped a little love bite there, making Danny jump before he straightened back up.

“I’m going to spank you on your bare ass with my hand,” he said as he pushed the shirt off his arms, letting it drop to the floor. “Do you want that?”

“Yes,” Danny answered without hesitation.

Jordan thumbed open the button on his tight blue jeans. He pulled down the zipper, the metallic rasp loud in the quiet room. “What’s your safeword, sweetheart?”

“Exposure.”

The jeans dropped to the floor with his answer. Danny kicked out of them, leaving him in a snug black and blue jockstrap. The sight of it brought back that possessive thrill he’d felt when he’d seen Danny at the club dressed in black and blue. He fingered the black patent leather strap at Danny’s narrow waist. “My colors.”

Danny smiled, his dimples appearing in the curve of his cheeks. “I thought you might like it.”

“I like it very much. In fact, I’m going to let you keep it on while I spank you.”

Jordan reached down and gripped Danny by the ass with both hands. He picked him up that way, kneading him gently as he carried him to the foot of the bed. Jordan dipped his head to press his lips to Danny’s, indulging in a long, slow kiss that had his sweet submissive squirming in his hold before he set him on his feet.

“Turn around. Hands flat on the bed.”

When Danny obeyed, Jordan ran a palm over one smooth cheek. “You have a gorgeous ass,” he said just before he spanked it. The sudden crack of his hand against skin was loud and satisfying yet still easy enough for a warm up. Danny gasped and Jordan’s palm tingled. He smiled. This was exactly what he needed. What they both needed.

He gave a few more light swats, warming Danny’s ass up. Then he switched to a caress while he checked in with his lover.

“Feeling good, sweetheart?”

Danny gave his answer in a slow, breathless drawl. “Yeah.”

Jordan chuckled softly. Danny was definitely feeling it. And it was time to take it to the next level.

His next swat landed with a little more emphasis. Danny jerked at the sting, rocking up on his toes, but he also moaned — loudly. Jordan continued with several more sharp swats, his palm cracking against each plump ass-cheek in turn. He watched, delighted at the way Danny’s ass jiggled each time his hand connected. But a spanking was more than just spanking.

He ran his short, blunt fingernails over Danny’s sensitized skin in back and forth sweeps, making him shiver. Then, without warning, he put a foot between Danny’s and kicked out, forcing him to open his legs wide. Jordan slipped a hand between those spread thighs to cup his balls. Danny gasped his name in surprise at the intimate touch.

“Jordan!”

“Are these full?” he asked in a husky whisper as he rolled the tight balls around in his palm.

“Yes.”

“Can’t wait to see you empty them later. You’re so pretty when you come.”

Danny whined, hips moving restlessly.

“I want to come for you.”

“You will, baby.” He released his hold on his lover’s balls, teasingly trailing his fingers over his ‘taint before resuming the spanking — fast, sharp swats with his fingers. Hard spanks using his entire hand, with long pauses in between to soothe and caress tender flesh.

Danny’s reactions were so gorgeous and unrestrained. He shifted his hips, side to side, then pushed back encouraging each slap of Jordan’s palm. He raised his head to cry out at the sting, then let it fall between his shoulders on a moan. Finally, he sank down to his elbows, face pressed to the mattress as if he could no longer hold himself up under the onslaught of so much pleasure and sensation. The position tilted his ass higher in the air, perfectly displaying reddened skin and trembling thighs.

Jordan paused. The flat of his hand stung, his cock throbbed insistently. He could have fucked him like that. One day soon he would. But tonight, he needed Danny’s small tight body beneath him. He pressed up behind his lover, and pulled him straight up until they were back to chest. Holding Danny with one hand splayed across his chest, he pushed the other into the front of his jock to grasp his shaft. He was hot, erect, the head damp against his palm.

“Hard and slick. Just the way I like it.”

Danny shuddered in his arms. “Jordan. Need...”

When he didn’t finish his sentence, Jordan coaxed him to speak. “Come on, sweetheart. Tell me what you need,” he said, stroking him slow and easy.

“Ah! Need you inside me. You promised.”

“You’ll get it, baby. But you have to undress me first.” He pulled his hand out of the jock with a slow slide of his palm up Danny’s shaft, and guided him to turn around.

“Shirt first.”

Danny nodded. He grasped the hem of Jordan’s shirt, pushing it up. Jordan bent over slightly, helping him to pull it over his head and down his arms. Small fingers danced over his pecs, brushing over his chest hair. Jordan allowed it, watching as his submissive followed the path of dark hair down to his waistband. Jordan stopped him when he toyed with the button of his jeans.

“On your knees.” Danny sank to his knees on the carpet at his command. He kneeled beautifully, spine straight, head bowed, hands soft on his thighs.

“Look at me.” He waited until Danny raised his head, looking at him with that adoring expression he’d previously tried to ignore. “You have no idea how it tempted me seeing you like this. That’s why I called off our scene the other night. I was too close to doing what I told myself I wouldn’t.”

Danny slowly ran his tongue over his bottom lip “What... what did you tell yourself you wouldn’t do?”

Jordan reached down to rub a thumb over that plush lip, following the path his tongue had taken. “I told myself I wouldn’t slide deep inside you and fuck you until you begged me to let you come.”

Danny spoke on a soft exhale, warm breath blowing over Jordan’s thumb.

“Oh.”

“Is that what you want tonight?”

“Yes, Jordan.”

Jordan had to close his eyes for a moment. Danny kneeling, with his name on his lips brought out Jordan’s need to dominate so strongly he had to check himself to make sure he didn’t overwhelm his lover, who was so new to submission.

“You never told me why you don’t want me to say your name like that.”

He opened his eyes to answer. “Because when you say it that way, you sound like my every dream come true. You sound sweet and submissive and like you’re ready to serve your Dom.”

“I am ready to serve. As long as the Dom is you.”

At those softly uttered words, something shifted. Something shifted in the air, no in the emotions between them. Lust was there of course but something else as well. The delicate trust of a submissive given to his Dom. Jordan gladly accepted it knowing it was another step toward strengthening the connection between them.

“That pleases me. I promise to be a Dom worthy of your submission.”

Danny’s dark eyes gleamed with happiness before he shyly lowered his lashes.

Jordan got them back on track so Danny wouldn’t have to kneel too much longer. “Shoes next.” One by one Danny unlaced his shoes and tugged them off along with his socks.

He raised his head. “Your pants?”

“Yes. But stay there and finish.”

Danny reached out with trembling hands and unbuttoned Jordan’s jeans. Once the zipper was down, he pulled them off his hips, Jordan stepping out of them when they fell to his feet. He wore black boxer briefs, and Danny leaned in to press his face to Jordan’s cloth covered groin. A low growl of approval rumbling in his chest, Jordan palmed the back of his head to hold him in that position. Danny scooted closer, nuzzling his balls, his breath hot as it seeped through the cloth.

Jordan wanted to feel skin on skin. He hooked two fingers into the waistband of his underwear and pulled them down, baring his cock. It stood straight up against his stomach. Danny turned his head. At his height, he could only reach the shaft, so he played there, teasing him with little licks until Jordan held his cock down to let him tongue and suck the head.

When those lips closed around his cock, Jordan groaned, his head falling back on his shoulders. The wet heat of his lover’s mouth was heaven. Jordan fed him another inch, watching his lips part to take it in.

With another groan, this one of regret, he forced himself to stop there. Any more and he would be consumed with seeing how much of his shaft Danny could swallow. He pulled his cock out of his mouth and stepped back.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he said as he drew his little sub to his feet. Danny rose gracefully, one foot at a time. His gaze stayed on Jordan’s and he didn’t stumble once. Jordan was impressed. He liked seeing the evidence that Danny had been practicing and told him so. “You did that beautifully.”

“Thank you.”

“Get on the bed for me.”

Danny sat on the foot of the bed, scooting back until he could ease onto the pillows. He lay there, arms raised over his head, one knee raised and out to his side. Open. Vulnerable. Just looking at him had Jordan’s cock throbbing.

Before he joined Danny on the bed, he went around to the nightstand for lube and a condom. The condom he set aside for later. He was well aware of his size. He would have to take time preparing Danny before he even thought about penetrating him with his cock.

First things first, he pulled off that sexy jock strap. His fingers tucked into the waistband, he drew the jock down Danny’s slender legs. When it was off, he held the part that had cradled Danny’s cock to his nose, breathing in the warm musk of his sex.

“I’m keeping these,” he said as he tossed the underwear on his nightstand. Danny covered his face in embarrassment, which made him laugh.

Still smiling, Jordan reached for the lube and poured a little of the silky liquid on his fingers. He circled Danny’s entrance with the pad of one slick finger, teasing, petting the sensitive skin. Planning to both distract and arouse, he leaned down to kiss his lover right as he slipped the tip of one finger inside.

Danny gasped and Jordan took advantage, licking into his mouth. He kissed him deeply, all while steadily working more of his finger in. Jordan repeated the process with a second finger, stretching him open, brushing over that sensitive spot inside that made him moan.

Suddenly, Danny grasped his arm. Jordan stilled, thinking Danny was going to ask him to stop. He looked down at his lover, “Are you all —?”

“Jordan, please. I’m ready. Please come inside me.”

His cock ached to be where Danny wanted him, so he pulled his fingers free, wiping them on the sheet so he could put on the condom. He rolled the latex down, then poured lube on his shaft. His eyes on Danny, he stroked his cock, making sure the entire length was covered. Danny watched him too, eager desire shining in his eyes.

Jordan moved up on the bed, his cock swaying with the movement. Bracing himself on the mattress with one hand, he grasped his cock with the other and lowered his hips. He was ready... until a brief look of trepidation flashed across Danny’s face. Jordan immediately pulled back. “Are you sure?”

Danny pursed his lips and blew out a breath. “I’m ready. I want to. It just hit me that this is happening.”

“I’ll take care of you sweetheart. You won’t feel anything but pleasure, I promise.”

Again, Jordan lowered his hips, this time receiving no resistance or hesitation from Danny. He fit the head of his cock to his lover’s entrance, rubbing it against the soft skin in slow circles, pushing in a little with each pass. He gave the smallest thrust and the entire head slipped in. Pleasure rippled down Jordan’s spine but he paused to give his lover a moment to adjust. Danny was okay, kiss-red lips parted to let little sighs escape.

Jordan pushed in, more and more, always watching his submissive for his reactions. As promised, he gave him nothing but pleasure. It was evident in the way Danny’s eyes closed, his lashes drifting down to rest on his cheeks, and the moans that poured from his throat.

He paused when he was nearly all the way in, one inch separating their bodies from fully connecting. “You’re doing good, baby. Almost there.”

Danny opened his eyes. While Jordan was lost gazing into their passion-laced depths, Danny planted his feet on the bed and rolled his hips up. And Jordan sank in that final inch.

A full-body shudder went through Jordan at the wondrous feel of his entire shaft buried deep inside his lover. He looked down, needing to see their bodies pressed flush together. “Oh, sweetheart. Look at you. You took all of me.”

“You’re so big,” Danny whispered.

“And you’re so small and tight.”

Almost as a test, Jordan drew back a little before gently pressing inside. They both moaned at the sensation, proving they fit well together.

Danny licked his lips. “More of that, please.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Jordan’s mouth. He would definitely give him more. He pulled his hips back again, this time withdrawing until only the thick head of his cock remained inside. Then he pushed back in in a long, slow slide.

“Like that?”

“Mmmm...” Danny moaned, his eyes drifting closed once more.

Jordan couldn’t hold back any longer. The tight heat gripping his cock and the ache in his balls demanded he fuck his lover. He pulled out and pushed back in, faster than before, repeating the motion again and again, their bodies coming together with the slap of skin on skin. Mindful of his size, Jordan kept the movement of his hips smooth and steady. But each thrust was deep, reaching as far inside as he could go.

The scent of their sex rose in the air, heady and thick, while the bed softly bounced and squeaked beneath them. Danny drew his knees up, his bare toes delicately brushing Jordan’s thighs every time their bodies rocked together. He tightly gripped Jordan’s arms, his moans growing in volume and desperation until he finally gasped and called out his name.

“Jordan! I need to come.”

Jordan answered, his voice thick with lust as he continued to thrust. “You want to come? Come with my cock deep inside you?”

“Oh, God!” Danny’s head thrashed back and forth on the pillow. “Jordan, please!”

There was so much Jordan wanted to teach him. How to delay his orgasm. How to come with his cock untouched. But for tonight, he gave his sub what he asked for, what he needed. He switched to holding himself up with one hand so he could grasp Danny’s straining cock with the other. He stroked him, tight and fast, until Danny cried out, head pressed into the pillow, spine arching in a lovely curve.

“Come for me, angel.”

Danny’s cock pulsed and he spilled into Jordan’s hand and onto his own belly as he climaxed. Jordan continued to stroke him through it, until the last shudder died away and he collapsed onto the mattress.

Jordan was filled with satisfaction at seeing his lover basking in the afterglow, sweat and cum glistening on his smooth, dark skin. But he still needed to find his own release.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” he growled before changing their position, tossing his lover’s slender legs over his arms. With Danny folded and tucked beneath him, he let his hips swing freely, his thrusts tempered just shy of pounding. The rippling aftershocks of Danny’s release squeezed his cock, and he groaned deep in his chest. “Fuck, you feel so damn good.”

His orgasm was building and he let it, his eyes locked on Danny’s as the base of his spine tingled and his balls drew up tight and hard. It was Danny’s small hands cupping and kneading his pecs that set him off. Jordan’s orgasm shot up his throbbing shaft, pouring out of him in steady pulses that took his breath away even as he groaned his lover’s name.

“Danny.”

His eyes closed and fists twisted in the sheets, Jordan let the climax roll through him, a pleasure so deep it reached his bones. Slowly, the sensations began to fade, his breathing slowed, and his heartbeat returned to normal. Leaning down, Jordan touched their foreheads together. “I’m going to pull out now, okay?”

“Okay.”

He did so slowly and carefully. When they were no longer connected, he eased to his side. Danny turned on to his side too. Jordan tucked him into the curve of his body, caressing his back and ass. “You were perfect.” Danny gave him a sated version of his usual beaming smile.

“So were you.”

Seeing his submissive so content and satisfied pleased Jordan. He’d be happy to make him feel good every night. For now, he pressed a kiss to Danny’s temple. He had to go out later to do what he did best, protect the citizens of St. Louis. But at that moment, his only concern was the man he held close in his arms.

Chapter Twelve

N

ow that Danny was in his life, Jordan’s schedule was busier than ever. His days were spent in the body shop. At night, he roamed the streets fighting bad guys. But his evenings. His evenings were spent with Danny. They’d only been together for a few weeks, but he was already addicted to Danny’s presence. He couldn’t wait to see him again after work. But why did he have to wait until then? Maybe Danny could be persuaded to come and spend the day with him. He picked up the phone and called his boyfriend’s cell.

“I want to see you,” he said as soon as Danny answered.

“Hello, Jordan. How are you?”

Jordan had to smile at the gentle rebuke. Danny might be a submissive but he had no problem keeping him in line outside the play room. “Let me start again. Hello, Danny. How’s your morning going?”

“It’s going great. I helped my roommate out with his latest cosplay and I’m about to get started on a commissioned piece.”

“That sounds good. I want to see you.”

A soft laugh drifted across the line at his impatience.

“I want to see you too.”

“Would you like to come and work here today? My office has great light. And we can order in for lunch.”

“I’d like that. I can be there in thirty minutes.”

“Perfect. See you soon.”

Feeling victorious that he’d convinced Danny to spend more time with him, Jordan got up and went to grab the secretary desk and chair from the entry way. Since there was no one up there to see him displaying his unusual strength, he hefted them both, carrying desk and chair back to his office. Once he set up a work space for Danny, he settled down to impatiently wait for him to arrive.

About twenty minutes later, he stood up to stretch and wandered over to the glass wall that overlooked the garage below. He looked down and saw Nina approaching Danny, who’d walked in from the street. Jordan hadn’t thought to tell him to use the private entrance and since the garage was open, he must have figured it made sense to come in that way.

He rushed from the room and down the stairs. By the time he made it to the garage Danny stood with Nina and two others from his crew. They were good-naturedly teasing him about his car, asking him if he was there to trick it out.

“He’s mine. Play nice,” Jordan said as he strode up to the small group. Then he smiled at Danny. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

Nina looked at him with an eyebrow raised. “Yours?”

“Yes.” He wrapped a hand around the nape of Danny’s neck, gently stroking a thumb up behind his ear.

Nina grinned. “I see. It’s a good thing I showed you that picture then, huh?”

Danny turned back to Nina. “You were the one? I’m so glad you did, thank you!”

“You’re welcome. You both are,” she said with a pointed glance at Jordan.

Jordan didn’t respond other than with a slight nod of acknowledgement before he herded Danny over to the elevator. “I’m glad you came.”

“How could I have turned down your offer of great light and free food?” Danny teased as they stepped inside.

“I’ll resort to whatever bribery necessary to get you to spend time with me.”

Danny laughed. “You’re the Dom. Can’t you order me to?”

Unable to resist touching his lover, he put his hands on Danny’s narrow hips, feeling the warmth of his body through his faded blue jeans. “I’d rather persuade you. Get sweeter results that way.”

The elevator stopped with a pleasant chime, so he reluctantly released his hold and led the way back to his office.

“This is nice.”

It was Danny’s first time on this level. Jordan stood back and let him check it out. The front wall was almost entirely made of glass so that he could see the garage below. But none of the noise filtered into the office.

“Sound proof glass,” Danny said with an approving nod. That’s helpful for when you’re up here working while the shop is open.

“Yeah, and it’s one-way too. I can see out but they can’t see in. Which means they can’t see this.” He pulled Danny into his arms for a kiss. When they broke apart, Danny swayed slightly, his eyes closed.

“You give the best kisses,” Jordan whispered. “So soft. Just like you.”

Danny slowly lifted his lashes. “I like kissing you too.”

Jordan smiled at the sweet expression on his lover’s face. “I don’t want to interrupt your work day too much.” He waved toward the work station he’d set up for him. A bottle of cold water sat on a coaster and he’d plugged in a small table lamp in case Danny needed focused light.

“Thank you,” Danny said. He slung his bag off his shoulder and started unpacking.

Jordan returned to his desk and sat down to complete his tasks for JW Autobody. Over the next hour, he worked but took frequent breaks to watch Danny. The sun hit him just right, creating a golden aura around him, convincing Jordan even more that this man was an angel. His angel.

As he watched him, head bent over his tablet, sunlight gleaming on his dark hair and turning his skin to burnished mahogany, his chest warmed, as if he had that light within him. He hadn’t felt this way in so long that at first, he didn’t recognize the feeling. When he realized that the warmth within him was happiness, he wanted to push it away out of guilt and fear. But he couldn’t do it. Pushing way anything related to Danny was impossible. And so, Jordan sat there, letting it sink in that for the first time in years, he was well and truly happy.

∞∞∞

DANNY DREW, PERIPHERALLY aware that Jordan sat at the desk across from him. It was nice to have company. And Jordan’s presence was so peaceful that it wasn’t at all distracting to have someone else in the room with him as he worked. After he’d been there for about an hour, he reached a good stopping point and took a break to check his notifications. On Twitter, he had a direct message from the Ignite stan.

Danny groaned under his breath. “Brace yourself. The complaints are coming.” He tapped the little envelope to see what he had to say.

Hi, Danny. I wanted to ask when you’ll be drawing Ignite again? He’s really popular and probably where you get most of your fanbase. I know he’s why I follow you. You really should draw more Ignite. I checked your stats and you get the most hits on most of his art — even more than Helios.

Danny stared down at the message in amazement, completely stunned that this guy had gone over his social media to see which art of his was the most popular. Since they didn’t have access to his accounts to read his stats, they would have had to go through and manually look at the number of favorites and shares on who knows how many posts in order to get that information. Danny realized that it was long past time to let this fan know that they were out of line. He started typing a response.

Hey Charles! You are the bomb for giving me all these kudos on my Ignite art. I will have more Ignite in the future but unless it’s for a paid commission it will be whenever the mood strikes me to draw him. I love drawing all the superheroes! But most importantly I draw what inspires me. Thanks for reaching out and I hope you’ll understand.

Danny read it over a few times, decided it was a good mix of appreciative and check yo self, and hit send. He wished for a second he could close his DMs except to mutuals but he needed them open for business. He never knew when someone would reach out to him for commissioned work, an invitation to show his art somewhere, or to request an interview.

“Are you ready for lunch?”

Danny looked up at Jordan’s question. He put his phone down, forgetting about the Ignite stan for now. “Yeah. I could eat.”

“Good. I’ve got one more phone call to make before we order. But why don’t you come here first?”

Danny looked at Jordan, who watched him in turn with a wicked curl to his lips, and a sensual gleam in his eyes. Curious, Danny left his makeshift workstation and went over to Jordan’s desk. Jordan pulled him around to stand in between his legs.

“We’re going to work on your orgasm control while I make this next call.”

“Is that something I need to work on?”

“Mmmm... absolutely. I want you to be able to hold your release until I give you permission to come.”

Jordan’s words set off a light tingle of desire low in Danny’s belly. If his Dom wanted him to learn to control his orgasm, he was ready to be the star pupil. “Okay.”

“Take off your clothes. I want you naked.”

Danny started to tug his shirt over his head. Then he hesitated, looking back over his shoulder at the big wall of glass. “You’re sure people can’t see in the window?”

“One hundred percent sure.”

Danny relaxed. He’d gladly get it on with Jordan in the middle of the workday in his office. But public sex wasn’t one of his kinks. He undressed, tossing his clothes aside because Jordan had told him once that he cared more about getting him naked than he did about neatness. When he was nude, Jordan ran both hands over his body, that hungry fire once again burning in his eyes.

“Damn, you’re gorgeous.”

A happy flush spread across Danny’s chest and up to warm his face at the compliment. “Thank you.”

“Come here.”

Jordan turned him around and pulled him down onto his lap. Danny went willingly. Once he was settled, Jordan gave him instructions.

“You are not to make a single sound during this call. Don’t speak. Control any noises of pleasure. Complete silence. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Jordan pinched his nipple.

Oops. Danny amended his answer, nodding instead.

“Good boy. And remember you’re not to come. If you think you’re too close and can’t take any more stimulation, tap me twice on the arm and I’ll back off. This is a learning experience and I don’t want you to fail. Understand?”

Once Danny nodded in acknowledgement, Jordan wrapped an arm around his waist, and leaned forward to put the desk phone on speaker. He hit the fourth speed dial button. The phone rang a few times before a man with a thick Minnesota accent answered.

“This is Bob.”

Bob? Really? Danny rolled his eyes, thinking that Jordan had been kidding and wasn’t really going to sexually tease him while he spoke on the phone. But as the two men greeted each other, the conversation seemed real enough. And so was the hand that slid between Danny’s legs. Jordan cupped his balls, holding them in his big warm hand. He gently rolled them while teasing the base of his shaft with little sweeps of his thumb.

The conversation moved to new inventory and Jordan’s hand moved to lazily pumping Danny’s cock. He squirmed but he could handle it. Or at least, he thought he could. Until Bob went on a long-winded ramble, and Jordan took the opportunity to bite his earlobe. At the same time, he squeezed his nipple.

Danny just managed to close his mouth on a loud gasp at Jordan’s double hit of pleasure-pain. The sharp bite of teeth left his earlobe when Bob finally paused to let Jordan speak. But the sensual torment didn’t stop. Jordan’s voice was cool and calm in his conversation but his hands on Danny’s body were hot, and the steel-hard erection pressing against his bare ass let him know his Dom was as turned on as he was.

He tried to pay attention to the conversation, something about ordering undercarriage lights, to take his mind off the pleasure coursing through him, but Jordan was relentless, stroking his cock with one hand, touching him everywhere with the other. Danny bit his lip, head pressed back against Jordan’s shoulder, breathing hard through his nose. He was getting close to the edge, his navel sucked in tight and his toes curled where they dangled an inch off the ground. Danny raised a hand, thinking he was going to have to tap out. But Jordan started to wrap up the call.

“All right, Bob. I’ll have the order in by close of business tomorrow. You have a good week.”

The speaker phone clicked, the dial tone buzzed for a second, and the line went quiet.

The call was over. Danny would have melted with relief but he was still vibrating on the edge of release.

“You did good, baby,” Jordan said as he nuzzled Danny’s neck. “So perfect. Can you hold on a little longer and wait to come while I’m fucking you?”

“Ye—.Yes.”

Jordan rose from the chair and gently set Danny on his feet. He bent him over the desk, positioning him so that his face was pressed to the wood top, his ass in the air and his legs spread wide.

Danny waited as Jordan opened his desk drawer to pull out lube and a condom, his breath puffing up a sheet of paper next to his face. There were the familiar sounds of a zipper going down, foil tearing, and a bottle cap opening and then the sheathed head of Jordan’s cock pressed against him.

“Now you can make all the noise you want.”

Thank goodness. Because there was no way he could have held back his loud shaky moan when that thick cock slowly pushed inside him. Thighs trembling, he rose up on his tiptoes trying to get closer and fuck himself on Jordan’s cock. A big hand immediately clamped onto his hip, halting the movement.

“I don’t think so.”

Danny moaned a protest, wiggling slightly, still trying to get closer and encourage his lover to go faster.

“Who is in charge?”

Danny groaned, then huffed his answer in between desperate, panting breaths. “You are.”

“And who sets the pace?”

“You do.”

“And is that what you want? How you like it?” Jordan asked as he squeezed Danny’s hip.

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then behave.”

Danny pulled in a deep breath, settling back onto the flat of his feet. Once he was still, Jordan started fucking him at a maddeningly slow pace.

“That’s it. Relax for me, baby.”

Jordan reached up with his other hand to grip the back of Danny’s neck and hold him down. And it was like a switch flipped in his head. With Jordan holding him down, he no longer had any desire to fight Jordan for control. Now, he gave it up and relaxed as he’d been told.

Closing his eyes, Danny let himself sink into the sensation of Jordan slowly thrusting into him. He didn’t have to worry, didn’t have to struggle to find his pleasure. His Dom would give it to him. His only job was to let the buzzing pleasure build and build until it was like static electricity under his skin. His fingers twitched and he almost would have thought Jordan had activated his power if he didn’t know he wouldn’t do so without asking him first.

Although he’d relaxed and given up control, he couldn’t help his cry of protest when Jordan suddenly withdrew. But the separation was only temporary. Jordan picked him up and laid him on his back on the desktop. He ripped his shirt off, gripped Danny’s thighs, tossed his legs over his shoulders, and pushed back in.

Danny sighed with relief and let his arms fall over his head, scattering papers and whatever else was in the way. He liked the control Jordan had taking him from behind. But he liked this way even more because he got to see the play of muscles and sheen of sweat on Jordan’s chest as he rocked inside him.

“Are you ready to come now?”

Danny half-moaned, half-laughed. “I’ve been ready.”

“I know,” Jordan said as he reached down and wrapped his fist around Danny’s cock. “But you did good holding yourself back.”

He started stroking, fast and tight just as he had when Danny sat in his lap during the phone call. And in no time at all he was right back on the edge. He hurtled past it when Jordan licked his calf and whispered against the damp skin under his mouth.

“Come for me, angel.”

Danny climaxed in his Dom’s hand. A deep, shuddering release that had him arching and gasping when it rolled through him, and trembling with aftershocks as it receded. Jordan watched him as he came, his gaze roving from his face, down his torso to his pulsing cock, and back again.

“You’re gorgeous like this. So gorgeous.”

Jordan rasped the words as his hips began to move in short, hard thrusts. He cursed, tightening his grip on Danny’s leg, and going still as he came. Danny felt the heat of his release even through the condom and he wished... He wished that there was nothing between them.

They stayed there, with Jordan pressed deep inside him for a long moment.

“You are amazing,” Jordan said as he gently removed Danny’s legs from his shoulders and eased their bodies apart.

Danny lay on the desktop but he floated in bliss from the orgasm and praise. “Thank you, Sir.” He was still shy using that title. But he liked it, and he could tell that Jordan did too by the way he leaned down to press a tender kiss to his lips.

“You’re welcome, angel.”

Chapter Thirteen

A

s the days slipped into summer, Jordan and Danny grew even closer. Danny often spent nights at Jordan’s apartment. Like tonight. Jordan lay in bed, propped up on one elbow. He watched Danny, who sat next to him with his back against the headboard, tablet braced against his knees so he could draw. He wore one of Jordan’s button-down work shirts. It swamped him, billowing out around his torso and reaching to mid-thigh but he looked cute in it. Still, as cute as he looked wearing the oversized shirt, Jordan preferred something else. He reached out and trailed his fingers up one leg, pushing the shirt up as he went.

“Why aren’t you naked?”

Danny answered without looking up from the tablet. “Because you have the air conditioning too low and I’m cold.”

“I’ll rip the entire cooling system from the building if it means I get to see your little body naked all the time when you’re here.”

A smile tugged at Danny’s lips, but he still didn’t look up from his work. “Not everything is a vicious battle between you and a dastardly villain. Just turn the air conditioner up from arctic blast to a temperature my regular human self can withstand. Then I can work without shivering to death.”

Jordan had to grin at Danny’s whip-smart teasing. In retaliation, he pulled him over to straddle his lap. “Can you work while I do this?” he asked as he pressed kisses to the delicate line of his lover’s collar bone.

Danny gasped. “How dare you interrupt my artistic process with your lechery? This is a very important project.”

Jordan didn’t buy Danny’s outrage for a second. Especially considering that at that very moment, Danny was subtly grinding his crotch against him. “Let me see what you’re working on.”

Danny raised the tablet, turning it so Jordan could see the screen. It was a sketch of the two of them on an iceberg. Danny had drawn himself wrapped in multiple sweaters and blankets, with icicles dripping from his nose, and little squiggly lines around him to indicate shivering. On the other hand, Jordan was stretched out right on the ice, completely naked. The speech bubble floating over his head read: I’m so stupid sexy hot I don’t need clothes to survive the arctic winter. The cartoon was clever, well-drawn, and it made Jordan burst out laughing.

“Okay, I can take a hint.” He raised his voice so the home system would hear him. “Home, raise the temperature to seventy-two degrees.”

A robotic voice responded. Adjusting temperature to seventy-two degrees.

He safely moved the tablet out of the way before swiftly rolling them over until Danny’s back was pressed to the mattress with him on top. “I’m sorry you’re so cold. I’ll do everything in my power to get you warm.” He slid a hand beneath the borrowed shirt, thumbing over a nipple.

“You can do whatever you want to me with this gorgeous body of yours,” Danny said as he smoothed his hands up Jordan’s naked back.

Jordan groaned at the surge of lust that rippled through him at that comment. He leaned in, ready to take Danny up on his offer when beeps blared loudly from a cell phone.

Jordan eased back and looked over his shoulder to where Danny’s phone lay on top of the dresser. “Sounds like you hit it big at the casino.”

Danny grinned and wiggled his way out from beneath him.

“No, that’s my Twitter blowing up. Maybe one of my latest pieces featuring my new muse went viral.”

“New muse?”

“Yep. I’m officially a Blaze fan artist now. And my followers really liked the art I did of your butt.”

Jordan’s eyebrows shot up. “You drew my butt?”

“Not just your butt. I drew you looking broodingly over your shoulder. The angle of the image happened to focus on your ass.”

“You’re a menace.”

Danny grinned again, this time teaming it with an unrepentant shrug. The phone dinged a few more times in the brief time it took Danny to cross the room.

“Make that thing stop beeping and get back in bed,” Jordan growled. He wanted to get started warming up his angel.

“Yes, Sir.” Danny grabbed his phone and tapped the screen a few times. His face immediately fell in reaction to whatever he saw. Then his whole body sort of sagged as he thumbed up on the screen.

Concerned, Jordan got out of the bed and went over to him. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve got this super fan who likes my art but only wants me to draw Ignite. They’ve been annoying for a while now but these tweets are mean and kind of scary.”

“Stop looking at it.” Jordan took the phone away from Danny but that was hardly a solution. He wanted to do more. Feeling helpless while his lover was hurting had him twitchy with the urge to go out and hurt whoever was bothering him. “Is there anything I can do?”

Danny gave a shaky laugh, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. “Call Ignite and ask him to tell this guy to back off?”

Now that he actually could do. “Done.” Jordan grabbed his own phone. He had to hit a few buttons to engage Secure Mode before he pressed speed dial number four. The call connected on the first ring. “Hey. Can you stop by my place? Upstairs level. Thanks. Appreciate it.” He ended the call and looked at Danny. “You’d better put pants on, he’ll be here soon.”

“Oh! Just like that? Okay.” Danny hurried over to the side of the bed to grab his jeans.

Jordan pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shit to cover his own nakedness. They went out to the kitchen once they were dressed. Danny sat down at the counter while Jordan went over and opened the living room balcony doors. Ignite had been to his place enough times for him to know that the superhero wouldn’t bother to use the front door and elevator when he could fly directly to the apartment level.

Sure enough, a streak of red flew by the window before circling back. A second later, Ignite landed on his balcony. He was in his bright red suit so he must have been out patrolling. Nick Lin, otherwise known as Ignite, strolled in from the balcony, pushing the half-mask he wore back into his thick, wind-ruffled black hair.

“I have a front door,” Jordan said.

“If you wanted me to use it you wouldn’t have opened the balcony,” Nick shot back with barely a glance at Jordan. He was too busy smiling down at Danny. “Hi there, Sunshine. I’m Ignite.”

“I’m Danny. Nice to meet you, Ignite.”

Jordan knew that Nick was a tease and would never actually disrespect a friend by hitting on their partner. That didn’t stop him from bristling as the other man flirted with his Danny. “Don’t try to dazzle him Flame Boy. He’s taken.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Nick said. But he grasped Danny’s fingers and leaned down to drop a kiss on the back of his hand. “How can I help?”

“Danny is an artist and he has an overzealous fan who’s obsessed with you. He’s harassing Danny on his social media, insisting that he draw more Ignite artwork.”

“Really? Let me see.”

Danny held his phone out to show Ignite the latest tweets. After giving Ignite time to read them, he pulled the phone back and tapped the screen a few more times. “And this is his feed.”

Ignite’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. He is obsessed.” He took the phone from Danny and scrolled himself. “Damn near every tweet is about me.”

“Yeah. He’s starting to scare Danny, and you know how fast these things can go south. Can you shut him down before it gets any worse? You’ve got an official Ignite account, right?”

“I do. Some of us don’t brood twenty-four-seven and actually like interacting with the people we help.”

“Hey,” Danny piped up. “Leave him alone. I like that he’s private and broody.”

Ignite looked down at Danny. “You know I can fry you to a crisp by snapping my fingers, right?”

Danny popped both hands on his hips and glared up at Ignite. “I know Blaze would be on you before you even raised your hand.”

Ignite threw back his head and laughed. “I like you.” He turned to Jordan, still smiling. “Give me your phone. It’s secure, right?”

“Locked down tighter than Fort Knox.”

“Which Agent Cryo has broken into twice but I’ll ignore that,” Ignite murmured as he typed with both thumbs. After a moment, he stopped, looked over whatever he’d typed, tapped a few more times, then hit the screen once with his thumb. “Done. I replied to one of his tweets to you so you should be getting a notification right about...” Danny’s phone dinged. “Now.”

Danny raised his phone to read aloud. “Hey, Chuck this is Ignite but of course you already know that because you can see that little blue check next to my name. I’m glad you like Danny’s art of me so much, but cut the kid some slack. As awesome as I am, I understand that he might want to give the other superheroes a chance to shine too. Be cool, admire his art but ease up on the pressure okay? Appreciate it, Chuck. Your fave superhero, Ignite.”

“Sounds good,” Jordan said with a nod. “He should listen to you since he likes you so damn much. I don’t want to get involved in this if I don’t have to.”

“I’m sure your method to get him to back off would include more than a few tweets.”

Jordan looked at Danny. He was biting his thumb nail, stressed and worried over some fucker harassing him online. “There’d definitely be a few broken bones involved.”

He looked back at Ignite to see the superhero watching him with a speculative grin.

“What?” he growled.

“Nothing.”

Jordan glared, until both Danny and Ignite’s phones dinged simultaneously, drawing everyone’s attention.

Danny closed his eyes, the strained frown lines deepening on his forehead. “I hope it worked.” He opened his eyes and checked the notification. The tenseness almost immediately went out of his shoulders as he read the tweet aloud to Jordan and Ignite. “Sure thing, Ignite! I’m sorry I got too excited. I just love you so much. Thank you for noticing me and replying. Then there’s a bunch of flame and heart emojis.” He looked up, the frown lines gone from his forehead and dark eyes shining with relief. “It worked!” Danny sprang forward and gave Ignite a quick hug. “Thank you!”

“No problem. Happy to help.”

Ignite had barely returned the hug when Danny spun away and leaped up to throw his arms around Jordan’s neck. Jordan caught him, holding on as Danny’s legs wrapped around his waist.

“Thank you so much,” he said as he dropped kisses all over Jordan’s face.

“You’re welcome.”

Ignite cleared his throat. “Well, I can see that my presence is no longer necessary.” He drifted up into the air and flew across the living room. At the French doors he turned back. “Let me know if they renege on their word.” Ignite saluted them both with a little wave. He floated backward through the balcony doors then took off into the night sky.

“That was so awesome of him to come and help,” Danny said once Ignite was gone.

Still holding Danny, Jordan went over and closed the glass paned doors. “He’s a smart ass but a good guy.”

“He smells like cinnamon. Or Big Red gum. Do all you superheroes have a unique scent?”

“I never thought about it. What do I smell like?” he asked with genuine curiosity.

“Like leather and sex.”

“Sex?” Jordan asked with a raised brow. “I don’t think anyone likes the smell of dried jizz.”

Danny laughed, the sound pure and happy and relaxed now that the problem with his cyber harasser had been resolved. “Not dried jizz, silly. You know, that warm smell when you’re hot and aroused and just a little bit sweaty.”

“I don’t think anyone else is going to smell that on me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not aroused around them.”

Danny pointed at his chest, a coy smile teasing his lips. “Only me?”

“Only you.”

“You know, the apartment hasn’t warmed up yet. Are you still going to keep me warm?”

Jordan was already carrying him back to the bedroom when he answered. “Absolutely.”

∞∞∞

WHEN DANNY RETURNED to his place the next day, he was still buzzing with happiness that the Ignite stan had been taken care of. He’d been so full of positive energy, he’d dragged Scott into his work room, sat him down, and helped him with a task the other man had been avoiding, setting up a website to showcase his cosplay and list of services. Scott had offered to make him a custom fetish piece as a thank you. Excited, Danny had quickly sketched out what he wanted.

Now, the house was quiet and he had the latest episode of his favorite true crime podcast playing on his phone while he worked. When the story ended and the hosts signed off, he picked up his phone to check his notifications. There was nothing out of the ordinary in his mentions. Ignite’s super fan had apparently taken the warning to heart.

The past few days, he hadn’t done much more than like the sketches Danny posted of various superheroes and retweet some of his old Ignite art. The guy had been an absolute asshole and Danny was glad Ignite had been able to turn him around before the thing between them turned into an ugly pile on and flame war.

He’d started scrolling for a new podcast episode to listen to for the rest of his work night when someone knocked at the window. Danny looked up in surprise. His room was on the second floor, and although the little balcony outside his window could bear weight, there was no way to access it from the ground. Then he remembered. He was dating a superhero who could literally leap onto buildings.

Smiling, he got up and went over to the window. He could just make out Blaze crouched on the railing of the stone balcony. Danny raised the window, leaning out on the sill. “Hello.”

Blaze’s low, growly voice floated across the warm night air.

“Hey, baby.” Blaze stepped down from the railing, as big and graceful as a mountain lion. “Wanted to see you for a few minutes before I went to work.”

“I’m glad you did. I missed you today.”

“Yeah?”

“Mmm-hmmm.”

“Come out here and show me how much.”

Danny climbed through the window onto the small balcony. There was just enough room for him to stand toe to toe with Jordan. He braced his hands on the lightning logo on his hero’s chest and raised up on his tiptoes. Jordan took care of the rest. A leather gloved hand wrapped around the back of Danny’s neck and Jordan leaned down, taking his mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. Jordan shifted, causing Danny to tilt off balance but he didn’t worry for even a second, trusting his boyfriend to keep him steady. Sure enough, Jordan’s other arm went around his waist, pulling him in tight and keeping him from falling over.

The kiss gentled before gradually ending. Danny settled on his feet and leaned back to look up at Jordan. Reminiscent of the first time they’d met, he couldn’t see his lover’s eyes. But he didn’t need to see them to know they were a clear golden brown and filled with passion for him. “I can’t believe I’m kissing my very own superhero, on my balcony, in the moonlight. No one would believe me if I told them.”

“Does it bother you that you can’t tell anyone?”

“Nope,” Danny answered shaking his head. “I love sharing this secret with you.” He smoothed his hands over leather covered shoulders. “And I’d love to be with you in this suit.”

“Is that right?”

Danny nodded. “Mmm-hmmm.”

“I might be able to arrange it. I know a guy.”

Danny snorted a laugh. “You are the guy.”

“True,” Blaze answered with a slight grin.

“My guy.”

Jordan growled in that possessive way that made Danny blush and press close against him. He lifted his chin and Jordan honored his silent request for more toe-curling kisses. This time Jordan cupped his cheek and brushed a thumb over his lips when the kiss ended. Danny brought both hands up to wrap around his lover’s thick wrist, leaning into the touch.

“I hate to leave but—.”

“But you’ve got to go and kick criminal ass.” He pressed a kiss to Jordan’s thumb then let him go. “Be safe.”

“I will.”

They shared one last quick kiss before Blaze hopped up onto the railing and leaped away into the darkness. Danny saw a shadow, darker than the others, moving swiftly across the side lawn before it disappeared from sight. With a content sigh, he climbed back into his room, closed the window and went back to his desk, feeling giddy and happy and in love.

Wait.

Love? Danny stopped and turned back to the window as if the darkness outside had answers for him. Love? Did he love Jordan? He hadn’t really thought about it before. He knew that he loved spending time with him. And loved when he made him smile. And he loved their intimacy. And he loved the way Jordan took care of him as his boyfriend and as his Dom. Well, then, maybe... maybe he did love Jordan. He tried saying it out loud.

“I love Jordan.” Hearing it set a thousand butterflies loose in his stomach. He squeezed his arms around his middle and repeated the words. “I love Jordan.” More happy butterflies. “Oh my god, I do. I love Jordan!”

Danny needed an outlet for all of the happy flooding his heart. Since Jordan wasn’t there for him to tell him how he felt, he grabbed his tablet and plopped down into his desk chair to draw out his feelings. He drew them as they’d been at the window when Blaze first arrived. Blaze crouched on the balcony, him leaning on the window sill, smiling up at the hero.

Too giddy to care that he was being silly, he drew hearts floating over his head, and a speech bubble with I love you inside. He didn’t give Blaze a speech bubble because he didn’t know how the other man felt, and he didn’t want to put words in his mouth. Besides, the first time he experienced those three little words coming from him he wanted it to be Jordan speaking them, not black lines on a screen.

He finished off the doodle with moonlight and sparkling stars and doves flying, although he was pretty sure doves didn’t fly at night. Danny put the pen down to admire his work. It was perfect. Never to be shared of course. He saved it to the cloud in his private art file where it would be safe. Then too keyed up to sleep, he picked a documentary from his Netflix que and settled back in bed to watch.

Chapter Fourteen

A

few nights later, Danny was on the exercise bike, pedaling his heart out to an old school pop playlist playing on his phone, when a beep momentarily interrupted the music. He glanced down at the cell. There was a text message but it wasn’t from a number he recognized. In fact, it didn’t even look like a phone number. Danny frowned down at his phone, trying to figure out what the random mix of symbols on his screen meant. He slowed down and opened the text, half expecting it to be a message claiming he’d won money in a foreign sweepstakes. The actual message surprised him but didn’t clear up his confusion.

Tonight. Corner of 8th and Pine. 8:30. Don’t be late.

Who the heck was this from? He didn’t have plans with anyone tonight. He’d started typing, wrong number, when another message popped up.

Blaze wants to see you.

Oh! This was it. Jordan was going to give him what he’d asked for. A night with Blaze. He quickly erased his initial response and texted back that he would be there. Then he jumped off the bike and rushed around to get ready. Showered, prepped his body, brushed his hair, moisturized. When it came time to pick out his clothes, he quickly decided on a pair of tight black jeans and a crop top T-shirt.

He was debating the best way to get down to the address Jordan gave — drive, train or Uber — when his phone pinged again. An Uber had been ordered for him and would be arriving in twenty minutes. Danny smiled. His Dom thought of everything.

On the drive down, his driver was chatty, which worked for Danny and his nervous energy. When they reached the address Jordan had entered into the Uber app, the driver looked at him over her shoulder with a frown.

“Are you sure you want to be let out here? Looks kind of rough.”

“I’m sure. I’m meeting someone.”

She still looked hesitant.

“Do you want me to wait and make sure they show up?”

At that moment, headlights flared bright at the other end of the street. Danny recognized the distinctive shape of Blaze’s Challenger. “No. They’re right on time.” Danny thanked the driver for the ride and her concern, and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

The Uber pulled off and Danny started walking in the opposite direction of the idling car. Tires screeched on pavement and a second later, the Challenger roared up beside him in a billow of smoke. Danny’s startled reaction wasn’t fake when he jumped back from the curb.

Blaze got out of the car. He left it running, walking around the hood to join Danny on the sidewalk. Danny stopped and watched him approach. Damn, he was hot. His leathers looked soft and clean, stretched tight over firm muscles.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” Blaze said.

Danny slowly licked his lips. “Why not?”

“It’s dangerous.”

He moved in close, his wide shoulders eclipsing the glow of the streetlight behind him, forcing Danny to tilt his head back in order to keep looking at him. Blaze was so big. At the reminder of the vast size difference between them, primal lust pooled low in Danny’s belly, tingling in his fingertips.

“A gorgeous thing like you would tempt anybody to snatch you off the streets to keep for themselves.”

“I don’t want to be kidnapped,” Danny whispered softly.

“Come with me then. I’ll keep you safe.”

Danny was nodding before Blaze finished talking. He hoped he wouldn’t have been this easy if Blaze had told him to come with him that first night. “Okay.”

Blaze walked back to his car, heading to the passenger side. Danny followed, his lust rising even higher as he watched that big body move so fluidly in all that leather.

Blaze held the door open. “Get in,” he growled dark and low.

Danny dropped down into the seat. He knew it was Jordan behind the mask but right now it was Blaze growling at him, ordering him around. And that was so hot, it had him hard behind his tight jeans. He shifted in the seat, spreading his legs a little to give his dick some breathing room.

Blaze leaned into the car to buckle him in. His hand brushed high on Danny’s thigh, nearly touching his erection. The zip of the seat belt should have covered Danny’s quiet gasp. But Blaze was so close, he heard him. He turned his head and their eyes locked in the small space.

His heart pounding, Danny waited for Blaze to say something, or touch him, or kiss him. But he didn’t do any of those things. He only ran his eyes from Danny’s still parted lips down to his lap where his hard-on was plainly visible behind his jeans, before straightening from the car and closing the door.

They didn’t talk on the ride to Blaze’s lair. He’d made this trip once before but he still gasped in surprise when the street opened up for them to go below ground, and his toes clenched in his Chucks as they rocketed toward the steel door.

Inside the lair, Blaze stopped the car and got out. Danny sat there, heart pounding from both the adrenaline of that wild car ride, and in anticipation for what was to come next. He stepped out when Blaze opened the door for him.

Danny had been down here a few times but he stayed in character, wandering around as if he’d never seen it before. “What’s this?” he asked as he walked up to the long, L-shaped desk holding multiple computers, TV screens, and police scanners.

“That’s where I track criminal activity.”

“I thought you just drove around until you saw a crime happening.”

“I do that too.”

Danny continued on. He purposely avoided the table set up in the center of the room as he strolled around the lair. Blaze watched his every move. He knew the other man would pounce on him soon, as if he were a lion taking down his mate. But for now, Danny enjoyed the tease, the anticipation sizzling along his spine. After exploring every nook and cranny of the lair, Danny finally made his way over to the bondage table. “And what’s this?” he asked as he laid a palm flat on the padded top.

Blaze strode over to stand directly in front of him. “That’s a special piece of equipment. It’s not for my vigilante work.”

Danny looked up at him, his eyes as wide and innocent as he could make them. “What’s it for?”

“A place to enjoy electric play with a partner.”

Blaze raised a hand, a spark of electricity arcing over one gloved finger. The spark faded, but when he touched that finger to Danny’s lip the lingering buzz of electricity made his skin tingle.

“I can show you. Interested?”

Danny was so excited, he rocked up once on his toes when he answered. “God, yes.”

A slow smile curled Blaze’s lips. “Limits?”

“Same as always,” Danny answered, too impatient to stay in character and name them as if it were truly their first time together.

“What’s your safe word?”

“Exposure.”

“Good. Get naked for me, baby.”

Danny hurriedly started to undress. Blaze didn’t move to help. He stood there watching, feet braced wide apart and arms crossed over his chest. The stance drew attention to the magnificent bulge between his legs, letting Danny know that his Dom was already hard for him. Once he was naked, Blaze grabbed him by the waist and pulled him flush against six plus feet of leather-covered muscle. Danny moaned, a desperate, needy sound that echoed in the high-ceilinged room.

“You like that?” Blaze asked in his deep growl.

Nostrils flaring to drag in the scent of leather, Danny nodded.

“Touch me.”

Danny immediately raised his hands to follow the order. He touched the logo on the wide chest first, then eased his fingers to the side, pressing in, testing the muscles for firmness. Blaze flexed, making his pectorals jump. Giddy with lust and in awe of his lover’s body, Danny almost clapped at the display. His attention was diverted when Blaze fit a thigh between his legs. Danny moaned again and unashamedly humped the steel-hard thigh, rocking his hips so his balls dragged back and forth over smooth leather.

“That feel good?”

“Mmmm... so good.”

“You like leather?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Get on your knees and show me how much you like it.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Danny slowly sank to his knees in front of his dark hero. Blaze rolled his hips forward, pressing his groin into Danny’s face. Danny nuzzled in close, darting his tongue out for a quick taste. When Blaze didn’t stop him, he grew bolder, tracing the zipper with his tongue, then licking over his covered shaft, again and again, until the leather glistened with wetness. He let his hands roam, up and down to caress hard thighs, and around to Blaze’s muscled ass. His senses exploded, as he soaked in the feel and taste and scent of leather.

“Look at you,” Blaze said in a husky whisper. “You’re hungry for it, aren’t you?”

He nodded, unable to stop licking the leather covered bulge long enough in order to verbally respond. At his answer, Blaze unbuckled and unzipped his suit pants and pulled out his cock. It was thick and veined, the rounded head slick with pearls of pre-cum. He took a gloved hand and gripped the shaft by its base, holding it down until the head was level with Danny’s lips.

“Open up, baby.”

Danny obeyed and opened his mouth, letting Blaze’s cock slide between his lips. It was heavy on his tongue and he moaned at the taste of it.

“Suck it, sweet boy.”

His hands curled into the opened placket of Blaze’s pants, Danny worked his head back and forth, hungrily sucking. He was messy and loud but Blaze didn’t seem to care and neither did he. He breathed in through his nose, getting high on the scent of leather and sex-ready cock. Blaze’s shaft pulsed between his lips, letting him know his Dom was enjoying this. He was about to bring his hand into play, determined to stroke him while he continued sucking, when Blaze pulled him off. Danny pouted in protest.

“Why’d you stop me?”

Blaze gripped Danny beneath the arms, picking him up until they were face to face, his feet dangling in the air.

“I can let you keep sucking until I come all over your pretty face, or...”

“Or?”

“Or I can strap you down on that table and do what I’ve wanted to do since I first laid eyes on you.”

Danny would have happily sucked his boyfriend’s cock until he came. But Blaze was in charge tonight, and Danny submitted to his Dom’s desires. “Whatever you want, Sir.”

His answer earned him another slow smile and praise from his Dom.

“Good boy.”

Blaze kissed him. At the same time, he urged Danny to wrap his legs around his waist. They stayed like that for a few moments, Danny naked and clinging as they exchanged slow, yet fiercely passionate kisses. He was panting when Blaze pulled back.

“Ready?”

Danny nodded, then answered out loud because he knew his Dom would want him to. “Yes, Sir.”

He untangled his legs from around Blaze’s waist and Blaze lowered him onto the table. The padded top was cool but quickly warmed beneath the heat of his body. Danny lay there, navel sucked in tight with anticipation as Blaze moved around the table to strap him down. His wrists were restrained over his head. Blaze grasped his calves and pushed, raising his knees, guiding him to brace his feet open wide. Then he buckled cuffs around his ankles. Danny shivered with pleasure. He was completely at Blaze’s mercy.

Blaze moved to stand at the side of the table. Looking down at Danny, he raised a hand. Tiny blue bolts of electricity jumped and danced over his fingers and palm.

Danny held his breath waiting...

The first touch shocked a gasp from him. Blaze placed a hand on his thigh, transferring those tiny electric bolts from his body to Danny’s. But as Blaze continued moving electrified palms over his skin, the noise he made changed to moans of pleasure. The feel of that power on his skin was a delicious buzz and he wanted more of it.

Danny squirmed and arched as Blaze’s hands moved over his body. He trembled when sparks brushed up the insides of his thighs, cried out when his nipples were pinched between two lightning bolts. And when Blaze wrapped a hand around his hard length, Danny sobbed at the sizzle, feeling it all the way down to his balls.

Blazed moved his hands in slow sweeps, yet somehow seemed to touch Danny everywhere at once. Lightning crackled over his skin, leaving sensitized flesh in its wake. Something within Danny changed as he gasped and writhed on the table. His head felt light and the edges of his vision went blurry. His world narrowed until he was aware of nothing beyond his lover’s touch, making him feel as if he floated in a soft cocoon of pleasure.

He looked up at Blaze, trying to make sense of what was happening and needing reassurance that he was okay. “I feel...” Danny trailed off, he couldn’t think of one word to describe everything he felt in that moment. He licked his lips and tried again. “Everything is gone except us.”

“You’re in subspace.” Blaze leaned down and pressed a kiss to Danny’s lips. “Relax and enjoy it, angel. I’ll take care of you.”

Danny nodded. His eyelids grew heavy, so he let them drift closed. With his eyes shut, his other senses took over. His entire body tingled with pleasure and he could hear the soft buzz of electricity as Blaze’s fingers danced over his skin.

“I want to taste you, baby.”

“Yes,” he breathed out. He moved to open his legs. When they didn’t move, he remembered he was already spread open for his man. There was a click and Danny felt himself moving. He opened his eyes to see that he’d been raised so that Blaze barely had to bend down to put his mouth between Danny’s thighs. As Blaze stroked him, the electricity gradually faded from his touch. But it was replaced with a new sensation, his tongue trolling over Danny’s cock. He licked down, rolling Danny’s balls over his tongue. Then back up, flicking at the head. Danny trembled, desperate for something.

“Please...” he begged softly.

“Please what?”

He couldn’t think. He wanted it so much but he couldn’t think through the cloud of lust in his head.

“Tell me what you want, Danny.”

Blaze’s lips closed on the head of his cock for the briefest moment, then released him with a soft kiss. Seeing those sensual lips wrapped around his cock jolted Danny into finding the words to say what he wanted.

“Suck me,” he moaned desperately.

Blaze breathed a soft laugh. “I knew you could do it.” He gripped Danny’s cock and sucked him into his mouth.

“Ah!” Danny shouted his pleasure to the ceiling. His eyes fell shut again before the shout echoed back down. Blaze sucked his cock as if it were his mission to make him feel good. When he dragged his eyes back open, all he saw was his lover’s leather covered face between his thighs, his full lips sliding over his shaft. At the gorgeous sight, Danny’s orgasm came rushing up from his balls. He shouted a panicked warning.

“Blaze, I’m going to come!”

Blaze immediately took his mouth away and squeezed his hand around the base of Danny’s cock. “No, you’re not.” he said firmly. “Not until I say you can.”

His body was obedient to Blaze’s commands. His orgasm stalled out. But the warm buzz of a halted climax tingled up from his tight balls, spreading under his skin, filling his entire being with the urge to come until he was practically choking on it.

“Need to come,” he gasped.

“No.”

The answer was a silky whisper of breath over Danny’s hard cock. Danny bit his lip, determined to behave and not beg. The table moved again, lowering him until his ass was level with Blaze’s groin. Blaze stepped away for a moment, and Danny listened to the sounds of a condom opening and lube squirting. Then he was back. Looming over Danny, tall and powerful, a dark hero dressed in black leather.

“Gonna fuck you, sweet boy,” he said as he set the head of his cock to Danny’s entrance.

Still lost in that floaty haze of pleasure, Danny nodded. “Yes, please. Fuck me.”

Blaze pressed inside. He went slowly but he didn’t stop. He pushed forward, giving Danny every inch of his shaft. When Danny thought he was all the way in, Blaze shifted his hips, wedging closer to make sure he truly fit all the way inside. A shiver of pleasure ran down Danny’s spine. He was so full with Blaze’s cock throbbing inside him. They both watched as Blaze slowly pulled out, then pushed back in.

“Can’t get enough of the way you take all of me.”

Danny wiggled his hips. Blaze felt amazing so thick inside his ass, but he needed to feel him move. “Blaze, please!”

Blaze’s lips curled in an indulgent smile. “Impatient little sub. I’ll give you what you need.”

He proceeded to do exactly that. He pulled out, then pushed back in, gradually building speed, the slap of skin on skin loud in the cavernous room. And it was everything Danny needed. Hard and fast and powerful. He didn’t think it could get any better. Until Jordan released his ankles from the restraints, folded his legs back until his knees touched his chest, and pounded.

Danny’s breath caught in his throat, stuck between a shout and a sob. His hands were still chained, so there was nothing he could do under the sensual onslaught but give himself up to the furious pleasure his Dom gave him. It wasn’t long before his balls were tight and aching, ready for release. His hands twitched in the cuffs, desperate to reach down and stroke his cock. “Please, Blaze. Please let me come.”

“You can, angel. But you have to do it without touching your cock.”

“I can’t!” Danny cried out in frustration.

“You can. Breathe. Tell me when I hit the right spot.”

Blaze shifted his hips, adjusting the angle of his thrusts. On the next push in, his cock slid over Danny’s prostate, sending shivers dancing all over his body, and a moan pouring from his throat.

“Is that it?”

“Yes! Right there.”

Blaze stayed at that angle, fucking him hard and deep. A bead of sweat slipped from beneath his mask, sliding along his jaw before disappearing into the bottom half of his cowl. Danny’s moans were near continuous, his legs shaking. His coming climax rose higher and higher with every brush of Blaze’s cock over that wonderfully sensitive spot. It took him so high it nearly scared him. Then he came in a sudden messy splash, his cock pulsing so hard with his release it bounced up from where it lay across his stomach. The climax was so much sensation, almost too much. It crashed through him, stealing his breath, setting him free of his inhibitions.

“Ah! Ah! Jordan, I love you!”

Danny lost the ability to form words after his spontaneous declaration. He closed his eyes and let his body sink into the warm waves of pleasure, his body going soft and relaxed even as Blaze continued to thrust inside him.

“Damn, I can feel you coming,” Blaze rasped. Tightening his grip on Danny’s legs, he bent even lower over him, his jaw hard and eyes fierce. He came with a low, rough groan, hips slamming into Danny one last time before he stayed pressed against him, grinding against his ass while his cock pulsed inside him.

They stared into each other’s eyes through the final waves of their release, their breathing ragged, hearts pounding. Danny wasn’t capable of speech just yet, but he wanted a kiss. He bit his lip, trying to say what he wanted with his eyes. Thankfully, Jordan could easily read him. He lowered his head, brushing the softest of kisses over Danny’s mouth as they recovered.

Once their heart rates returned to normal, Jordan unchained him and scooped him up from the table. Holding Danny in his arms, he carried him over to his chair. He sat down and pulled a blanket from one of the bigger desk drawers, wrapping it around Danny so that he was snug and warm.

It took him a long time to come back down from the high place where he’d floated. But he was safe, his lover petting and soothing him, giving him the aftercare he needed. When he could finally speak again, he whispered his boyfriend’s name. “Jordan?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. That was the best superhero fanboy fulfillment fantasy.”

The hint of a smile curled Jordan’s lips. “My fanboy,” he teased.

“All yours.” Suddenly frantic, he clutched Jordan’s arm. “All of me is yours. I hope you know that.”

Jordan tightened his hold, hugging him close.

“I do, angel. I do.”

Chapter Fifteen

D

anny hadn’t heard anything from the Ignite superfan in over a week. They’d even stopped their likes and retweets of old art. It was fine with him if the guy had decided to move on. He’d finished his latest piece, one of Blaze standing triumphant atop a pile of defeated bad guys. The art was cool, a little more aggressive than his usual style, but it suited Blaze’s aesthetic.

When it came time to post, he had a moment’s hesitation. He really didn’t want any more harassing tweets from that Charles guy. But he figured since they’d been so effusive responding to Ignite that they would lay off like he’d asked.

“Just post it,” he whispered to himself.

He screwed his eyes shut and jammed his thumb at the tweet button. After taking a deep breath, he cracked his eyes open and looked at the screen. It was posted. Charles was normally one of the first people to respond so if he was going to get a nasty tweet from the guy it wouldn’t take long to show up.

Danny watched the thread for a few moments. The initial tweets were all positive. Nothing from the Ignite stan, negative or otherwise. Danny eased his shoulders down from around his ears. Feeling good, he got ready to go to the post office to mail off his latest batch of fan merch.

At the post office, he waited in line, pulling his little cart of bubble envelopes and cardboard boxes behind him every time he moved forward. To kill time, he responded to some of the comments on the new Blaze art. He thanked followers for their enthusiastic compliments, gave permission for the Blaze art to be used in a couple of avatars, and helped out fellow artists with tips on the brushes and pallets he’d used.

The response made him happy. It was always a gamble taking on a new project, you never knew if fans would roll with it or not. But people seemed into Blaze. Danny knew a big part of that was he was one of the few artists producing fan art of the elusive superhero. His own benefit aside, he was happy to give his man some much deserved shine in the superhero fandom.

When it was his turn at the counter, he put his phone away. The postal worker’s eye twitched once when she saw his cart filled to the brim with packages, then relaxed when she saw most of them were pre-stamped. The woman was friendly, chatting with Danny as she got him all sorted out. He swiped his card to pay, signed the electronic pad, and accepted his receipt. Finished, Danny thanked her for her help and rolled his much lighter cart back outside.

As he walked up to his car, his phone dinged again. Danny popped the trunk and threw the cart inside before checking the notification. It was a direct message on Twitter. From the Ignite stan. One hand on the still open trunk, the other on his phone, Danny pressed his thumb to the screen to open the message.

You embarrassed me in front of Ignite. You’ll regret that.

Danny stared at the message in shocked disbelief before he cursed out loud. “Damnit! What is this guy’s problem?”

He slammed the trunk closed but didn’t move to get in the car. He was beyond over this entire deal. He took screen shots of all the rude direct messages Charles had sent in case he ever needed them for proof, then set about blocking him on both Twitter and Instagram. Politeness hadn’t worked and neither had a personal appeal from the hero the guy professed to love so much. There was really nothing left to do but take away his access and hope he’d move on. Danny hoped he didn’t move on to harassing any other artists.

His face stuck in an upset scowl, Danny got in the car, yanked on his seat belt and angrily twisted the key to start the engine. He drove home, pissed that his good mood had been soured by one tweet from one stranger on the internet. Danny stomped into the house and went straight back to the kitchen for a glass of lemonade, pouring it with hands that shook slightly with anger. He sipped slowly, letting the icy liquid cool him off from the summer heat and hoping the sugar would miraculously sweeten his mood.

He was leaning against the counter, thumb slowly sweeping back and forth over the condensation on the glass when his phone chimed. He was tempted to ignore it but it was an incoming text message, not a notification from Twitter. Danny took out his phone and thumbed open a message from his roommate.

Are you tweeting spicy or have you been hacked?

Dread dropped into his stomach like a lead brick. He quickly typed out a response. I haven’t tweeted anything. Danny hit send, then immediately went to his Twitter account. But he couldn’t get in — the log in screen told him that he had the wrong password. He tried again and got the same message. Starting to panic, Danny flipped back to the text app. I can’t get in. What’s on there?

Some pretty racy artwork of you and Blaze. And I just checked. It’s on your Instagram too.

“Oh my God.” Unable to get into his work account, he logged into his old inactive personal account. Danny typed his name into the search bar, clicking the result to take him to his @Danny_art profile. His jaw dropped at the most recent tweets on the screen. The doodle of him and Jordan on an ice floe with Jordan naked and him buried under a heap of blankets. The picture he’d drawn the night he realized he was in love with Jordan. Lewd art of him and Blaze from their night in the lair that he’d rushed to draw while the memory was still fresh in his mind. A few other explicit doodles. And they’d each been shared with cruel captions.

I’m delusional and I think Blaze loves me.

I’m a whore for Blaze.

Look at me taking this superhero cock.

Another tweet popped up while he was staring at the screen frozen in horrified shock.

Danny Griffin 6845 Blackbird Dr. Come over and I’ll draw you fucking any superhero you want.

He’d been doxxed.

Shaking, unable to focus enough to type text on his phone without making a gazillion mistakes, he hit the speed dial to call Jordan while running upstairs to get his laptop. Jordan answered, the noise of the shop loud in the background.

“Hey, angel.”

“He’s back! It’s worse this time. He stole my private art and shared it all online!”

“What? Danny, slow down and tell me what happened.”

Danny gulped in a deep breath, calming himself enough to relay the situation. “That guy, Charles. He sent me a Twitter DM telling me I’d regret embarrassing him in front of Ignite. I blocked him because I wanted the whole thing to go away. But he hacked my social media and my Cloud and uploaded private artwork to my social media accounts. Then he doxxed me. That’s when I called you.”

“Fuck.”

The curse came across the line in Blaze’s low, rough growl. Oddly, it comforted Danny and he calmed even more.

“I’m on my way. Don’t answer any calls or open the door unless it’s someone you know.”

“Okay.” Danny hung up, relieved that Jordan was coming over. While he waited, he sat down to email the Help staff accounts for both Twitter and Instagram to let them know he’d been hacked. Then he paced, nervously looking out the window and squinting with suspicion at everyone who walked by. He had no idea what Charles looked like, since his avi was always a picture of Ignite, and he’d never posted a picture of himself online.

Barely fifteen minutes later, the low throaty roar of a sports car sounded outside. He looked out the window and saw two cars pulling up to the curb, a Camaro and a dark blue Honda. Danny recognized the first car as one of Jordan’s and ran downstairs to let him in. He was already out of the car by the time Danny got the door open, coming up the walk accompanied by a young man not much taller than Danny, with big brown eyes and silky blue hair falling over his forehead. He had headphones around his neck and a laptop bag slung over his shoulder.

“Hey, I’m Caleb,” he said as he stepped into the living room. “I handle all the tech stuff for the superheroes. Jordan told me that your accounts have been compromised.”

“Hi, Caleb. Thanks for coming to help.”

“Show me where I can work.”

Danny lead the way back to his workroom, hastily clearing off his messy desk top so Caleb could sit down and set up his computer.

“Write down all your accounts, log-ins, and passwords and I’ll get started.”

Grabbing one of his sketch pads, Danny wrote down the information for all of his social media accounts as well as his Cloud and website, passing it to Caleb when he was finished.

“I’m going to put on my headphones. They help me block out thoughts and emotions while I work. If you need me, tap me on the shoulder, okay?”

Danny nodded.

“All right, let’s see what we’ve got.” He settled a pair of ice blue headphones over his ears and turned to his laptop.

Danny chewed his thumbnail, watching the screens rapidly flipping as Caleb tabbed from one to the other. He startled when Jordan wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

“He’s going to be working for a while. Come and sit down with me.”

Jordan led him away from the desk over to the futon on the other side of the room. He sat down and pulled Danny onto his lap.

“I won’t tell you to relax because I know that’s not possible. But chill here while Caleb handles it, okay?”

Jordan was right. Danny didn’t have the skillset to fix the mess that Charles had made. There was nothing for him to do but be patient and wait while Caleb cleaned it up. He nodded. “Okay.” He eased back to rest against Jordan’s chest. He watched Caleb work, listening to the clack clack clack of the keyboard as the techie typed in rapid fire bursts.

After a few minutes, Danny looked up at Jordan with a questioning frown. “What did he mean by block out emotions?”

“Caleb is an empath. He picks up strong feelings and sometimes even direct thoughts if they’re broadcasted loud enough.”

“Wow.” He hadn’t guessed that the unassuming guy had any special powers. “Ummm, should I try not to be upset so he doesn’t feel it?”

“Don’t worry about it. He’s good at blocking, and like he said, the headphones help. They’re more than the average pair of Beats.”

Danny suddenly remembered that he hadn’t checked back in with his roommate. “I’d better let Scott know everything is okay.” He pulled his phone from his back pocket and sent Scott a text. Thanks for the head’s up on the hack. Called Jordan. He got a tech genius over here to fix everything. I’m pissed but okay.

The conversation bubbles immediately popped up, indicating that Scott was typing on the other end. Danny’s phone beeped with his response.

Good. Hope you guys catch that clown and rub his face in the dirt.

Ordinarily he would have laughed at that response but with the stress tightening his shoulders and squeezing his temples, he only managed to shake his head at his friend. He put his phone away and sat there quietly, Jordan rubbing his back. He was still in shock that this guy had retaliated in such a harmful way over art. Art that he hadn’t contributed to at all.

Caleb finally leaned back in his chair and took off the headphones. “Finished.”

Danny jumped up and rushed back across the room, Jordan following at a slower pace.

“Okay. All of your accounts are restored to you. The offending tweets have been taken down and I’ve searched for and removed all the screenshots as well.”

“We can remove screenshots?”

“I can remove screenshots,” Caleb said with a smug grin. “As for the jerk who did this, I had all of his accounts suspended. And I have his IP address.” He waved a scrap of paper back and forth. “It’s registered to a Charles Lattimer at 1027 Cedar Place.” He handed the information over to Blaze. “I’m sure you’ll want to pay him a visit.”

“Definitely,” Jordan said in a low, dangerous tone.

Needing an outlet for the rush of relief that went through him, Danny pressed his hands over his face and screamed into his palms. After taking a few deep breaths to gather himself, he dropped them to shake Caleb’s hand with heartfelt gratitude. “Thank you so much. I never thought he would go this far. I have to repay you. Let me know your hourly rate and I’ll PayPal you. And I can draw you some art too. I’ll make you a 24-page full-color double-sided art book dedicated to you if you want.”

Laughing, Caleb held up his hands to wave Danny off. “No payment necessary. The thanks are enough. You’re good for now, but if you’re going to keep hanging with this guy,” — he nodded at Jordan — “you might want to consider beefing up the security for your entire online presence more than what I’ve done here today. If you decide to go that route, let me know and I’ll take care of it for you.” He started packing up his bag.

Danny walked his savior to the front door, repeatedly thanking him. Once Caleb left, the door closed behind him, Danny leaned back against it. Jordan stood a few feet away, arms folded across his chest, watching him with sympathetic concern.

“Come here.”

Danny slowly walked over to him, shoulders drooping and feet dragging. Jordan unfolded his arms and pulled him into a tender hug. When Danny wrapped his arms around his neck, Jordan lifted him off the floor, taking all of his weight. Danny tucked his face into the curve of Jordan’s shoulder. “Would it be stupid to cry over this?”

“No. That asshole has stressed you out for weeks and today he went way past the line. I know you were scared and upset. But you handled it well.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. You called me.”

Danny leaned back and looked at Jordan. “What if I didn’t have you to call?”

“I know you would have figured it out. But don’t worry about that. I’m here, okay? I’m here for you.”

“Thank you. You’re good at saving me.” He gave his boyfriend a kiss of gratitude, then rested their foreheads together. Jordan let him stay there, holding him up in his strong arms. “Do you have to get back to the shop?”

“No. Nina closed up for me and I’m not going out as Blaze either. You’ve got me for the whole night. What do you want to do?” he asked as he set Danny back on his feet.

Danny thought about it. It was past the dinner hour so they should eat. And he needed something to give him an outlet for his anger and take his mind off things for a few hours. “Chinese food and video games?”

“Sounds good. You get the game going while I go and get cleaned up.”

Danny finally realized that Jordan was still in his work uniform, with grease and paint on his hands and arms. “Oh my God. You came over here so fast you didn’t even get a chance to change.”

“It’s okay. A little dirt never hurt anybody.”

“Go wash up and I’ll order the food.”

Jordan disappeared up the stairs to his bedroom. Danny got on the phone and hit the speed dial for his favorite Chinese restaurant. He placed an order for two servings of combination fried rice, egg rolls, Crab Rangoon, beef and broccoli, and two Vess sodas. He’d just turned on the TV and started the PlayStation when Jordan walked back into the living room, cleaned of work grit but still dressed in his uniform.

“I don’t have anything here to fit you. I think you could wear one of my shirts as a sleeve.” Danny pursed his lips for a moment as he thought. “Strip.”

“What?”

“We’ll play in our underwear so you can get out of your work clothes and be comfortable.” He tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it on the armchair. His pants followed after he kicked off his shoes. Then he stood there in his underwear, hands on his hips, waiting on Jordan who had yet to move. “Come on. I promise you’ll be more comfortable.”

Jordan nodded. “Whatever you want, angel.”

He sat down on the couch to unlace his work boots, setting them to the side once they were off. Then he stood back up to unbutton the dark gray coveralls. He shrugged out of the sleeves and pushed the uniform down his hips to the floor.

Danny moved forward to pick up the coveralls for him. Folding them up, he put them on the chair with his clothes. He turned back in time to see the muscles of Jordan’s arms flexing as he raised his white T-shirt over his head. With the shirt off, he was left in black boxer briefs that were tight on his thighs, the bulge of his soft cock and balls cupped and supported by the cotton. The light gleamed on his golden skin, ab muscles rippling as he bent over to take off his socks and stood back up. Danny chubbed up a little, which was only natural with the gorgeous mountain of a man half-naked in front of him, but after the hellish day he’d had, sex wasn’t really on his radar.

“See? Better.”

A slight curl of his lips was Jordan’s only answer.

Danny put the latest Mortal Kombat in the system and they sat down on the couch to play. He eyed Jordan out of the corner of his eye. He awkwardly held the control in his big hands, looking down at the buttons as if he’d never seen them before. “You haven’t played too many video games, have you?”

“Not in about ten years.”

“I’ll try not to whup you too bad.” He teased, but he helped Jordan pick out his fighter and showed him what each button on the controller did. The first round started with Danny basically walking Jordan through how to kick, punch, and block. It was fascinating to watch him taking it in, learning faster than Danny had, his thumbs moving over the controller with ever increasing speed. When he pulled off a brutal combo that took most of Danny’s life, he laughed.

“Okay, I think you’ve got it. Let’s fight.”

The first few rounds, Danny won. Jordan was a fast learner, but Danny had years of experience on him. But once Jordan settled in with his fighter, Kitana, and knew all her moves and combinations, they started to trade wins back and forth. The fighting game worked as he’d hoped, helping him burn off the last of his fury and embarrassment at having his private artwork plastered all over the internet. By the time the doorbell rang announcing their food delivery, Danny was laughing and relaxed. He started to jump up to get the door but Jordan stopped him.

“I don’t think so.” He raised a brow and looked at Danny, naked except for his underwear printed with racing mustangs and shirtless cowboys.

Danny curled his legs under him on the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, please, sir! Protect my modesty.”

“You’re gonna pay for that later.” He rose to get his wallet from his coveralls and crossed the living room to the front door.

When he opened the door, Danny heard whoever was on the other side of it cough and wheeze.

“G—. Good evening, sir. That’ll be thirty-one fifty.”

Danny smothered a laugh, wishing he could see their expression at coming face to face with a naked god.

Jordan handed the driver two twenties in exchange for a big brown bag of food. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you so much. Really. Thank you.”

Jordan closed the door and Danny burst out laughing. “I don’t think that last thank you was for the tip.”

“Guess I should have put my clothes on first.”

“No way. You gave that driver a treat.”

They dug into the bag, setting the white boxes with their little red trees printed on the sides on the coffee table. Neither of them felt the need for plates and silverware, so they used the plastic forks provided and ate straight from the containers.

“This is good,” Jordan said after he ate a fried egg roll.

“Glad you like it. My family has been ordering from this place since I was a kid.”

Together they polished off nearly all of the food. His belly full, Danny leaned back against the couch cushions. “Not a bad end to a super crappy day. But now I just want to go to bed.”

“Let’s clean up and we can go upstairs.”

Danny sleepily followed Jordan’s gentle order, taking empty take-out boxes to the trash, wiping off the coffee table, and finally washing his face and brushing his teeth.

In bed, Danny snuggled up against Jordan’s chest. “Thank you again for getting that hack fixed for me so fast.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And I’m sorry those embarrassing pictures of you made it onto the internet. I know Caleb got them all deleted, but lots of people saw them before he did.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not embarrassed. If they were anything like your other art, I know they were beautiful. What did I tell you when you asked if you could draw me?”

Danny remembered back to that night, when he’d had a crush on a hero he didn’t know. “You told me to make you look good.”

“And did you?”

“Oh, yeah. I take pride in my lewds. But drawing us together that way...” he trailed off, unable to find the words to describe how much love and joy and arousal he’d put into inking every line of Jordan’s body. From his magnificent arms to his gorgeous cock, he’d made sure that the Jordan on screen looked as amazing as the real-life counterpart.

“I want to see them when you’re ready to show me.”

“Okay.” They lay there quietly for a moment, Danny watching the rise and fall of his lover’s chest as he breathed. “You’re going to try and find Lattimer aren’t you?”

At the question, Jordan shifted. He tucked a finger beneath Danny’s chin, lifting his face up until they made eye contact. Thanks to the moonlight spilling into the room, he could make out the color of Jordan’s eyes, as well as the fierce protectiveness that shone in their depths.

“If I don’t, he might try to get back at you another way. I can’t let him escalate any further. He needs to have it made clear to him that his days of harassing you are over.”

“Yeah. I guess he’s deserving of an ass-kicking.” He didn’t feel bad for Lattimer, he’d simply never had anyone enact vigilante revenge on his behalf before.

“We can handle it my way, or if you prefer, I can give all of this information to the cops and let them take over.”

Danny shook his head. “No. Your way is fine with me. And it’ll probably be faster than going to the police.”

“I’ll track him down tomorrow. Tonight, you just get some sleep.”

“M’kay. Good night.”

Held in the safety of his boyfriend’s arms, Danny let himself drift into sleep. The last thing he registered was the warmth of a naked chest beneath his cheek and a soothing hand rubbing up and down his back. Then he was out, leaving the stress of the day behind.

Chapter Sixteen

T

he next night, Jordan hit the streets, headed for 1027 Cedar Place. He hadn’t come last night because his first priority had been to take care of Danny. But Danny’s accounts were cleared, restored, and secured, and Danny himself was calm. Now it was time to find the asshole harassing his lover. He’d exact a little punishment and make damn sure this creep never bothered Danny again.

Blaze killed the lights on the Challenger and rolled up to Lattimer’s home. Earlier that evening, he’d run checks on Lattimer’s background. He knew that the man lived alone and had no family in town. Unless Lattimer had friends over, he could expect to visit with Lattimer one on one, with no interruptions. Blaze knocked, prepared to shove his way inside when Charles opened the door. But no one answered. That didn’t stop him. He wasn’t above a little breaking and entering.

It took a measly amount of his strength to break the lock, allowing him to slip into the dark house. He stood still, scanning for any signs of an alarm system or pet. No alarms beeped and nothing furry and four-legged came at him, so he activated the flashlight on his wrist and moved further into the house. He crept into the bedroom to find an empty, unmade bed.

There was no one here. Drawers were left open, clothes hanging out of them and scattered on the floor. The bathroom was in the same state of disarray. Knocked over toiletries littered the countertop and a bottle of shampoo had spilled in the tub. Lattimer must have figured someone would come looking for him after the stunt he’d pulled with Danny’s social media and packed up to high-tail it out of there.

Blaze spared a moment to regret not coming after him sooner, but he’d made the right choice in staying with Danny last night. Moving through the rest of the house, he looked for clues as to where Lattimer might have gone. In the smaller, second bedroom he found what could only be described as a shrine to Ignite. He swept his flashlight over the room, taking everything in.

On the back wall were several shelves and bookcases. All of them were crammed full of Ignite memorabilia. Action figures. Standees. Framed photographs. Another wall was covered in posters of Ignite. He recognized Danny’s style in most of the art. Blaze moved to the desk. A bottle of lotion and a box of Kleenex sat there. The trashcan next to it overflowed with used tissues.

Blaze sneered in disgust. He wanted to vomit at the thought of this creepy fucker in here jerking it to artwork of his friend done by his boyfriend. Blaze avoided sitting in the cracked vinyl chair as he snooped through the desk. The dust free square in the middle of the desk indicated where a laptop had been. A quick look through the drawers and various papers on the desk didn’t reveal any clues as to where Lattimer might have gone. Pressing the earpiece in his helmet, he placed a call to Caleb.

“He’s not here. Does he have anywhere else he could be that I missed in my search?”

“Nope. That’s the only address associated with him in St. Louis. His previous address is from nowhere Ville in the boot hill of Missouri but records show he hasn’t lived there in seven years. No record of family in town. His social media doesn’t have too many references to friends either. You’ll have to track him down another way.”

“If I need to use DNA to find this punk, I’ve got plenty of samples.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Thanks, Caleb.”

Blaze ended the call. He wasn’t giving up. He didn’t trust that this guy was finished harassing Danny. He looked around the room again. If he was this intense over Ignite, his fixation on Danny was unlikely to stop. He clearly felt safe attacking Danny in the cyber world. But Blaze was going to give him some real world experience.

Retracing his steps back to the front door, Blaze left the house. His next stop was Lattimer’s place of employment. He worked the deli counter at one of the chain grocery stores in the area. If Lattimer was in the wind, he was unlikely to show up for work. But maybe he was dumb enough to go in.

The store was only a few minutes away from Lattimer’s house. Blaze pulled into a parking spot in a dark corner of the lot but didn’t get out of the car. He wasn’t going to go strolling down the freezer aisle in his vigilante gear. If Lattimer was there, he’d wait until the end of his shift, then have their meeting outside. He used the in-dash video phone to call the grocery store. An automated system answered. Following the recorded voice’s instructions, he pressed 4 for the deli. The phone beeped a few times before someone picked up.

“Dierborne Deli department. How can I help you?”

“Can I speak to Charles?”

“Chuck quit without notice. If you see him, tell him I had to miss the Cardinals game to come in and cover his shift. Lazy bas—.”

Blaze hung up without listening to the rest of the complaint. Frustrated at his failure, he threw the car into gear and peeled out of the parking lot, headed for home.

Back in his garage, Jordan tugged off his cowl and sat down at his work station. Right now, the easiest way to track Lattimer down would be to put tracers on his credit cards. Using the technique he’d learned long ago, he slipped into the credit card systems for each of Lattimer’s credit cards. A few clicks, and he’d activated tracers on each one. If he used them anywhere — like to check in to a hotel — Jordan would instantly be notified of his location. He’d stay at the ready. The second he received a hit, he’d be on him.

Jordan leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his chin, the other hand restlessly tapping the home row without hitting a keystroke. There was another way he could search out Lattimer. He could hack into Pruitt’s city-wide facial recognition surveillance system and use it to track him down. If he plugged in a photo of Lattimer, which he could easily get from the DMV, he could set the system to scan for him and alert him when he’d been found.

Jordan hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. He hated that system. Hated the way Pruitt abused it. Hated that it even existed. Jordan backed off. He’d find Charles Lattimer on his own.

∞∞∞

A FEW DAYS after the doxxing incident, things had calmed down. Danny posted an apology on his Twitter for the confusion, then immediately got back to regular posting to take the focus off the embarrassing pictures that had been shared on his accounts.

Jordan was still looking for Charles Lattimer but so far had been unable to find him. And Caleb sent them a follow-up monitoring report. Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed any further attempts to attack Danny’s accounts.

Danny was over the entire situation. He hoped that Lattimer had gotten all of the anger out of his system with his malicious attack, and realized that there was no way he was going to do any Ignite art for him now. Danny just wanted to continue on with his life, creating art and enjoying time with his boyfriend. Like today.

Scott was on a weekend river float trip with friends, so they had the house to themselves. Earlier, Jordan had helped him clean and restock the kitchen. Now, they sat on the couch, watching TV. Danny was curled up against Jordan, practically in his lap. Jordan’s big hand rested on his hip, warm and heavy. He absently caressed Danny’s thigh while the movie played, fingers dipping beneath the hem of his shorts. The touch might have been innocent but it set off a low hum of arousal in his veins. Danny shifted, pressing his face to Jordan’s chest. That chest rumbled when Jordan spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

He started to move his hand away but Danny stopped him. “Don’t stop. You know I love when you touch me.”

The hand stayed, but its owner looked down at Danny with a frown.

“You’ve been stressed over the Lattimer situation. I don’t want you to think I’m putting any kind of pressure on you for sex while you’re dealing with it.”

“You’re sweet. I have been stressed, but I’m over it. I want to stop worrying about that guy. He’s gone and I hope he stays gone. But we’re here and I miss you.”

“I’m right here.”

“I miss being with you.” Danny emphasized his meaning by pressing his body even closer.

Jordan wrapped an arm around his waist, tugging him over to straddle his lap.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Danny focused on the black T-shirt covering his boyfriend’s chest, drawing aimless little shapes on the cotton canvas with his fingers. “It’s been a while since we went to the club but I don’t feel like going out. Do you think maybe we could play here?”

“If that’s what you want. What are you in the mood for?”

Danny thought about it for a moment. He’d really enjoyed their electric play. But Jordan had pulled his powers back once they’d started to have sex. He wondered... “How tight is your control over your power?”

“Pretty tight,” Jordan said with a smug grin.

“Do you think you could touch me with it while we’re having sex? Not only before like the other night but while we’re actively doin’ the do.”

“Absolutely. You trust me that much?”

Danny cupped Jordan’s face with both hands. “I trust you with my life.”

Jordan closed his eyes for a moment. “I don’t know that I deserve to have you give me that trust. But I’ll do my best to earn it. Come on.”

He lifted Danny off his lap, then laced their fingers together to go up the stairs to his bedroom. Once they were behind the closed door, Jordan immediately pulled Danny into his arms and leaned down for a kiss.

“What’s your safe word, angel?” Jordan asked against his lips.

“Exposure.” He breathed his answer in to their kiss.

“Use it if anything feels like too much or if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

Jordan undressed quickly, tossing his clothes and shoes aside. But when he undressed Danny, he moved slowly, brushing his fingers over every inch of flesh he exposed. With his touch, sparkles of electricity traced along Danny’s skin. By the time he was naked, he was already buzzing with pleasure.

Jordan left him for a moment to turn out the light, leaving the room lit by the moon’s glow, and to grab the supplies from the nightstand. He took a moment to prepare himself, then sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Danny to stand between his spread thighs. Jordan gazed up at Danny for a moment before he turned him around to face the mirror hanging on the back of his door.

“I want to watch this. And I want you to watch it too.”

Danny couldn’t see Jordan’s hands as he pushed a finger inside him to stretch him open and slick him up. But he could see his face. And he looked so powerful and intense, Danny could easily imagine what he was thinking: You belong to me.

“Come and fuck yourself on my cock,” Jordan ordered roughly.

Danny groaned at the dirty command issued in that rough growl. He immediately obeyed, easing down onto his lover’s shaft, Jordan guiding his movements with one hand on his hip. The other continued to touch him with his power. Blue sparks lit up the dim room as Jordan’s glowing hand moved over his body. Danny watched the show in the mirror as he rode his lover. It was beautiful.

Jordan put his lips to Danny’s ear, their eyes meeting in the glass.

“I’ll give you anything you need, sweetheart. I’ll make you feel good,” he said as he stroked the insides of Danny’s thighs. “I’ll protect you and take care of you.”

Danny listened to the tender promises. If he hadn’t already realized he loved Jordan, he would have fallen in this moment.

“I never thought I’d get to touch you like this. Wouldn’t even let myself dream of it. But tonight, I have you in my arms. So sweet and submissive.”

When Jordan finished speaking, his pressed his face to the side of Danny’s throat, kissing the pulse there. And he began to stroke his cock.

“Jordan.” His head tossed back, hands braced on Jordan’s thighs to help him move, Danny let the sensations inside him spiral higher and higher. He gasped when Jordan circled the head of his cock with his thumb, petting the sensitive spot just beneath it.

“Let go and come for me.”

His body had become so trained in following Jordan’s orders, that his climax immediately began throbbing in his cock. They watched as his release spilled free in a hot rush. He trembled and moaned, bouncing on Jordan’s lap a little harder to wring forth every ounce of pleasure before the climax could fade away.

Danny was still feeling the trembling aftershocks when Jordan took over. He gripped Danny’s hips tight, raising him up and dropping him down onto his cock with sharp, quick movements, until his shaft throbbed inside Danny, signaling his approaching climax. As Jordan came, he pressed kisses all along Danny’s shoulders and the nape of his neck, softly whispering his name against his sweat-damp skin.

Emotion swelled in Danny’s chest, tears prickling in the corners of his eyes. He didn’t know where this sudden surge of feeling was coming from. He tried to choke it back, thinking it had no place in the afterglow of their sex. But to his surprise, a quiet sob escaped before he could stop it. Danny bit his lip, hoping that Jordan would mistake the noise for a sound of pleasure.

That might have worked, but just then, a tear broke free of his lashes, tracing down his cheek. And of course, Jordan saw it in the mirror. Jordan tilted his head back, wiping that tear and the ones that followed away with his thumb, then kissing him. The position of their kiss was awkward, straining his neck, but Danny savored it, even chasing Jordan’s lips when he pulled back.

“Let’s get more comfortable.”

Jordan lifted him up, disconnecting their bodies. Before he could do anything more than that, Danny twisted around and curled himself up on his Dom’s lap. “I’m so—.”

Jordan stopped him before he could get the apology out.

“Ssssh. It’s okay.”

He hugged Danny tight, his big, warm palm moving over his back in a soothing caress.

“I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“Sometimes the emotions get a little heavy during a scene. And maybe that release helped ease some of the stress you’ve been carrying.”

Danny drew in a shuddering breath. “Yeah. It feels like it.”

“Come on, let’s go to bed.”

He disposed of the condom and wiped Danny clean, then they got under the covers together. Jordan pulled him in close, throwing a heavy thigh over him.

“Let me see it one more time,” he quietly asked.

Jordan held up a hand. Within seconds, blue sparks jumped from one finger to the other.

Danny smiled. He closed his eyes, the blue glow visible from behind his lids until he fell asleep.

∞∞∞

Danny woke up around midnight when he felt Jordan stirring in bed. He opened his eyes to see his boyfriend zipping up his jeans. “You’re going out.”

“Yeah. I need to patrol,” he said as he pulled his T-shirt over his head. “And I’ll spend time searching for Lattimer too.”

“M’kay. I’ll walk you to the door.” He started to push himself up, but Jordan’s big hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“No. Stay here. I want to come back to you like this, warm and sleepy in bed.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Danny’s temple.

Danny relaxed onto the pillow. “Okay, you twisted my arm.”

“I’ll be back in a few hours.”

He nodded, already drifting back into sleep as the door softly closed behind his lover.

∞∞∞

The sound of furtive movement dragged Danny out of sleep. He blinked a few times before looking at the clock with bleary eyes. It was only 1:45.

“You’re back early,” he mumbled into the pillow.

“Sorry. You’ve got me confused with someone else.”

The strange voice in his bedroom snapped Danny fully awake in an instant. He flipped over and sat up in one startled, jerky motion. “Who—.”

Danny caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye. But he was too late to dodge whatever it was. Something crashed against his temple, and a white burst of pain exploded behind his eyelids. Danny collapsed, unconscious before he hit the pillow.

∞∞∞

“WAKE UP.”

Danny swam back to consciousness and opened his eyes, only to be greeted by a gremlin pounding an anvil in his head. He scrunched his eyes closed at the pain — so sharp and metallic he wanted to vomit.

“I said wake up.”

Someone smacked him across the face. Now he had ringing ears and a stinging cheek to add to his list of pain. “Stop. I’m... I’m awake.” He forced himself to open his eyes again. Through blurry vision he saw three dark figures standing in front of him, shifting and swaying. Danny blinked a few times and the three dark figures coalesced into one.

“Guess who.”

Danny didn’t have to guess. He knew. “The Ignite superfan. Charles — Charles Lattimer.”

“That’s right.”

As Danny became more aware, he realized he was in his bedroom, sitting in his desk chair. He tried to raise a hand to touch his sore temple. When it didn’t move, he looked down in confusion. His arm was tied to the chair. Both arms were. And his ankles were tied to the chair legs. Danny quickly raised his head. That was a mistake, as it set off another round of wooziness. The room spun as he looked at the dark shape of Lattimer. “What are you doing?”

“You should have done like I asked. Now I have to teach you what happens when you don’t show your diehard fans a little gratitude.”

He moved forward, one hand behind his back. A shaft of moonlight fell across him, revealing his face for the first time. He looked... normal. His face was nondescript, its features all in the usual places, none of them standing out in a way that would made him either good looking or ugly. He had long dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail, and an earring glinted high on the cartilage of his left ear. Lattimer was dressed all in black, but that wasn’t unusual either. The only thing that stuck out about him was the gun tucked into his waistband. That snapped Danny out of his wooziness.

“You’re going to kill me because I didn’t draw what you wanted?” Terror sent his heart rate spiking, the rush of blood from his pounding pulse echoing in his ears. This couldn’t be happening. A fan was about to murder him over his art. He wanted to do something, say something but he just gaped at the man in front of him. Lattimer stood there smirking, clearly enjoying this.

“No. I’m not going to kill you.”

Danny started to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking this was another malicious prank that had gone way too far. But he hadn’t even finished releasing the breath when Lattimer spoke again.

“I’m going to make you regret ignoring what the fans want.”

He pulled the hand from behind his back, revealing that he held a metal mallet — the kind used to tenderize meat. That set off Danny’s terror again.

“No. No!” Danny struggled, frantically trying to get loose. The ropes burned his wrists but he continued to pull and yank. He’d rather have rope burns for a few weeks than permanently lose the use of his hand. “Don’t do this!” he begged. “I can draw Ignite. I’ll draw whatever you want. You with Ignite. A comic with Ignite rescuing you. Or a Slice of Life with you and Ignite and a fucking dog if you want. Please! I can do any of that if you cut me loose!”

“It’s too late for that.” Lattimer raised the mallet high over his head, his face twisted with wild, wicked glee.

Danny screamed.

Chapter Seventeen

B

laze drove downtown, engine rumbling as he scanned the city streets. It was quiet tonight. No signs of trouble anywhere to be seen. Perhaps the unusual inactivity was why he had an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had a sense that something was about to happen. Something bad. Maybe Leon’s crew had managed to rally and get more Croton on the streets. Or maybe one of the other crime organizations were making a play into that market.

That was Blaze’s initial assumption. Except, that assumption didn’t sit right in his gut. He gripped the steering wheel, leather gloves creaking with the movement. Even as he eyed the streets for trouble, his thoughts kept returning Danny. He should be home, safe in bed, and fast asleep. But his instincts were telling him, no screaming at him that something was wrong. Something was wrong and he needed to get back there now.

Blaze wasn’t about to ignore that sense of dread. A quick check to make sure the way was clear and he hit a U-Turn in the middle of the street. Tires screeched, smoke billowing up from the pavement when he floored it. He sped back to Danny’s neighborhood, parking a few blocks away from his house. The feeling of dread in his chest expanded as he jumped out of the car, already sprinting to his lover’s house before it completed lockdown mode.

He reached Danny’s house, noting that it was dark and quiet as expected for this late at night. The door was closed, but when he grabbed the knob and turned it swung open. Blaze remembered locking it when he’d left. He moved inside silently, in order to keep the element of surprise. His senses heightened even more than usual as he made his way to the stairs. He could hear a low-voiced conversation above him. And there was something in the air. Fear. Danny’s fear. He’d barely processed that his hunch had been correct when a high, terrified scream tore through the house.

Blaze gave up the element of surprise and ran up the stairs, taking them two at time. At the top, he sprinted down the hall, boots heavy and pounding on the floor. He didn’t break his stride when he reached Danny’s door. He dropped his shoulder and smashed it down, barreling into the room. Someone stood over Danny, arms raised above their head, hands gripped tight on the handle of a mallet.

Blaze didn’t hesitate, didn’t give a warning to stand down. He simply shot a bolt of power at them. It struck with a loud crack. The metal mallet conducted the power, sending electricity traveling down the attacker’s arm, and shocking them into dropping it on the floor with a yell of pain. Blaze stalked forward ready to put whoever this was down permanently.

“Look out he’s got a gun!” Danny yelled.

The assailant spun around with a gun pointed at Blaze but he was already in motion. He sprang forward and tackled the man, grabbing the hand with the gun as they crashed to the floor. The attacker managed to get a shot off, but it went high and hit the ceiling, raining bits of plaster down on their heads. Blaze knocked the gun out of his hand, it fell to the carpeted floor with a muffled thud.

With both weapons out of the way, Blaze gripped the assailant by the front of his shirt and yanked him up. He recognized the face from the online ID he’d studied. Charles Lattimer. He yelled in Blaze’s face, practically foaming at the mouth.

“No! You won’t stop me! I helped make his career. He owes me Ignite art!”

“Nobody owes you shit,” Blaze growled before he hit him with a vicious head butt. Lattimer’s eyes rolled back in his head and he went limp in his hold. Blaze released his grip on the shirt and let him drop to the floor with a thump. He didn’t move, but Blaze kept one eye on him while he reassured Danny.

“I’ll have you free in a second, baby. Let me secure this asshole first.”

“Okay.”

Blaze took out a pair of zip ties and cinched Lattimer’s wrists up tight. As an extra precaution, he did the same to his ankles. Then he shoved the still unconscious man out of the way to get to Danny. Lattimer had tied him to the chair at his wrists and ankles, the ropes so tight beads of blood had welled up on his skin.

“I’m so glad you’re here. So glad you came back.”

Blaze quickly got him untied and helped him up from the chair. “Are you all right?” He asked as he patted him down, checking for other injuries.

Danny put a hand to his temple, gingerly touching the area. “I wish I could say I’m fine. But he hit me in the head pretty hard. I should probably go to the hospital and get checked out.”

“Absolutely.”

“But I need something first.”

“What?” Blaze tensed, ready to assist and get Danny anything he needed.

“A hug.”

Relieved that was all he needed, Blaze relaxed. “Come here.” He gently pulled Danny into his arms.

“Why’d you come back?” Danny asked against his chest.

“I had a feeling something was wrong. It kept telling me to get back to you.”

“Wow. Do you think you can sense things?”

“Only when it comes to you.”

Danny shuddered. “I’m so glad you made it in time. He was about to smash my hand so I couldn’t draw anymore.”

He rubbed Danny’s back. “Let’s go. I’ll drop this piece of trash off at the county jail then take you to the hospital.”

“Okay. Let me put on some pants.”

Danny pulled away, but before he made it to the dresser, a familiar sound rang out in the night. Sirens, steadily growing louder and coming closer.

“Shit.”

“My neighbors must have called the police when they heard the gun shot,” he said as he opened a dresser drawer.

Blaze would have preferred to handle this without having to interact directly with the police but what was done was done. He moved to flip on the bedroom light. “Hopefully they won’t be dicks about asking for my identity.”

Danny turned away from the dresser, a pair of sweats dangling from his hand, his brow creased with worry. “But they might. You should go.”

Jordan frowned down at his injured lover. “I’m not leaving you. Especially not with him in here with you.” He glared down at Lattimer, still unconscious on the floor.

“Go and come back as my concerned boyfriend who I called to come over and help. That way you don’t have to worry about awkward questions or anyone getting a close look at you. Besides, Lattimer is tied up and knocked out. He can’t get to me again.”

“Damnit.” Blaze cursed with frustration. He didn’t want to leave Danny for a second but what he said made sense. “I’ll be back in five minutes.” He dropped a careful kiss onto Danny’s forehead before he rushed from the room and down the stairs. Disappearing out the front door just in time, he melted away into the shadows as the street lit up with flashing red and blue lights.

It took him less than a minute to make it back to his car. He went around to the trunk, where he kept a spare set of clothes. Blaze took off his top with its attached cowl and his gloves, and tossed them into the secure case with his emergency suit. Then he pulled on a T-shirt, and sweats over his pants. It wasn’t the most comfortable but it would do for now.

He slid into the driver’s seat, activating the color change that allowed him to drive without anyone realizing the car was the one used by Blaze. The Challenger gleamed silver under the streetlights as he drove up to Danny’s house and parked at the curb. Dressed in the faded T-shirt and sweat pants, he gave off the impression he’d hurriedly thrown them on at home in the middle of the night. He rushed up the walk but a police officer stopped him before he could step onto the porch.

“What’s your business, sir?”

“This is my boyfriend’s house. He called and told me they had a break-in.”

“Your name?

“Jordan Wells.”

“Let me verify that.”

Jordan nodded and stood there impatiently as the cop spoke into the mic on his shoulder and waited for a response. It was a struggle to refrain from knocking the guy aside in his determination to get back to Danny. Finally, the cop nodded.

“Okay, you’re clear to go in.”

“Thanks.”

Jordan went inside, jogging up the stairs and into Danny’s bedroom. Lattimer sat on the floor, awake now but groggy. The zip ties on his ankles had been removed, and the ones on his wrists swapped out for a pair of police cuffs. Danny stood with his arms tightly wrapped around himself, answering questions put to him by the officer. He looked up, a relieved smile on his face when Jordan walked into the room.

“Jordan!”

He opened his arms and Danny ran right into them. Jordan held him close for a moment, taking the time to once again reassure himself that he was okay before gently guiding him back over to the officer.

“I need to get a few more details from you Mr. Griffin. You said he’s been stalking you.”

“More like harassing me online. I’ve got screen shots of stuff he sent me. And he hacked my social media accounts last week.”

The officer scribbled the information down in his notepad. “And how did the vigilante Blaze come to be here?”

Jordan tensed. They hadn’t had time to work out a cover story. But he didn’t have to worry. Danny answered without missing a beat.

“Thanks to a few friends and contacts through social media, Blaze knew that Lattimer was harassing me because of my superhero art. When he showed up here tonight, he told me he’d started tracking Lattimer after hearing that he doxxed my account.”

“And where is he now?”

“I don’t know,” Danny lied smoothly. “He tied Lattimer up and said the police would handle the rest. He took off when we heard the sirens. I don’t know how to contact him.”

The officer flipped the notebook closed. “All right. We’ll need you to come down to the station to file charges and fill out an official report.”

Jordan cut in to the conversation. “Does he have to do that tonight? He’s hurt and I want to take him to the hospital.”

“Tomorrow is fine.” The officer went over and hauled Lattimer to his feet. “Let’s go, buddy.”

Lattimer’s entire demeanor had changed now that he was about to face real consequences for his harassment and assault. He shuffled out of the room, cowed and sniffling, shoulders slumped, and eyes directed at the floor. Jordan didn’t have an ounce of sympathy for him. And he hoped Lattimer had a hell of a headache from that headbutt he’d given him.

“Let’s get you out of here too.” He went over to the closet and dug around until he found a duffel bag.

“What are you doing?”

“I want you to stay with me for a few days until you’re healed and this is all sorted out.”

His arms wrapped around himself and exhaustion on his face, Danny agreed with a tired nod. “Okay. Throw whatever clothes in there and I’ll get some of my work stuff. And I’d better send my roommate a message so he’ll know where I’m at.”

Between the two of them they had Danny packed up in a few minutes. As soon as they were finished, Jordan guided his still noticeably shaken boyfriend out to his car and drove them to the hospital.

∞∞∞

“AND IT’S OKAY if he sleeps?”

“Yes. We no longer recommend staying awake after a concussion and although he received a good knock, he doesn’t have one.” The doctor smiled warmly at Danny. “You’ll have a headache for a while. Just be mindful and come see us again if anything changes.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Danny said.

“Yes, thank you. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

They left the emergency room with a small prescription for pain pills and Danny’s wrists treated and bandaged. The drive home from the hospital was calm, quiet. Danny held onto his hand for most of it.

On the way up to his apartment, Danny leaned heavily against his side. The sun would be up in about an hour, but he crawled into bed anyway.

“Right now, I think I’m most mad at Lattimer for ruining a good night’s sleep.”

Jordan was used to pulling all-nighters but he understood where Danny was coming from.

“You’re gonna cuddle me, right?”

“You know it.” After pulling the curtains closed, he quickly undressed down to his briefs, then got in bed. Under the covers, he pulled Danny in close to lay on his chest.

“Thank you for saving me tonight.”

Jordan gently raised Danny’s right hand and dropped a kiss on his bandaged wrist. “I’m glad I made it there in time.”

“Me too.”

They lay there in the dark room. They didn’t speak but Danny’s fingers curled and lightly scratched his chest while Jordan rubbed his arm and pressed light kisses to the top of his head. When Danny’s body went lax with sleep, Jordan eased him onto the pillow. He slipped from the bed and went out onto the bedroom balcony, leaving the glass doors cracked so he could hear if Danny woke up and needed him.

What was he doing? Danny could have been seriously injured tonight. Luckily, he’d been able to make it there in time to save him from irreparable harm. But what if next time he didn’t make it? No, there shouldn’t even be a next time. Jordan scrubbed his hands over his face. Was he leading Danny into a life full of danger? The way he had with Travis?

Jordan thought of his cousin, long dead for the past twelve years. He, Leon, and Travis had all run together, Travis joining them because he looked up to his big cousin. The three of them had got up to petty crimes, vandalism and graffiti eventually graduating to joyriding and street racing. To three teenage boys who’d never faced any consequences for their actions, it was all fun and games. Until it wasn’t.

Jordan gripped the railing. He’d destroyed lives. Stolen hope from a community. What gave him the right to put his tainted hands on Danny, who was pure and sweet? Hands that held too much power, unnatural power that had been granted to him because he’d grieved and raged into the night. If he were truly a hero, he would let Danny go before he caused him any more harm.

He looked over his shoulder to the sleeping form of his lover. His grip on the railing tightened even more, until the metal bent under his hands. Danny was in his home, in his bed. He couldn’t give that up. Not now. Maybe not ever. Danny was his. And he would do everything in his power to protect him and keep him safe.

Chapter Eighteen

A

few days after the assault, Jordan was down in the shop garage. He’d initially planned to take time off and hole up in his apartment with Danny while he healed. But his resilient boyfriend had insisted on Jordan continuing to work, and chose to spend most of his time down in the garage with him. Jordan had to admit that he liked having him near.

Everyone had taken to Danny, treating him like a little brother. Or as Nina teased, the shop mascot. He sat and watched the crew work for a few hours each day, often drawing little doodles of them that he then gave them to take home. In return, they offered to fix up his Altima. Danny always laughed at the offers, assuming they were teasing. Jordan however, knew they were serious.

This afternoon, Jordan was underneath a car, installing undercarriage lights, while Danny sat cross-legged on a chair, watching the hustle and bustle around him. The bruises on his temple and face were fading but he still wore bandages around his wrists to keep the raw skin from his rope burns protected. He and Nina were talking, as she showed him the flyer for the upcoming Fourth of July Cookout that JW Autobody sponsored for their neighborhood. It was held a couple of days before the actual holiday.

“Wow. Free food, games, fireworks. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this.”

Jordan rolled out from beneath the car before he answered. “You live on the other side of town and it’s a small event, just for the local community. It’s not anywhere as big as Fair St. Louis.”

“Still, it sounds like a blast,” Danny said as he continued to look over the flyer.

“You’ll get a chance to see for yourself if you’re up to going.”

“Heck, yeah! My headaches are gone and I want some barbecue.”

Nina bumped Danny with her hip. “There’s still time for us to put some hydraulics on your car so you can enter the low rider contest.”

Danny burst out laughing. “If you put hydraulics on that poor little car it would shatter into pieces the first time it bounced and slammed back to the ground.”

Jordan had to agree with Danny’s assessment. The Altima was past its prime and as far as he was concerned needed to be replaced. If it were up to him, he’d put Danny in a giant Hummer, specially fitted with bullet proof glass and extra air bags to keep him safe.

“Okay, but you’re missing out. You know where to find me if you change your mind.” She left, leaving Danny there alone with Jordan.

Jordan stood, and Danny tilted his head back to look up at him, still smiling.

“I like your crew.”

“They like you too.” Something in Jordan’s chest squeezed tight even as he returned Danny’s smile. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t fully relax and enjoy this time with his lover. Not with the memory of Lattimer’s attack so fresh on his mind. Half of him wanted to keep Danny with him, truly make him his. The other half wanted to walk away for good, keeping him safe by staying far away.

“It’s awesome that you put on a Fourth of July celebration.”

“I don’t do much. The committee runs the show.”

“Yeah, but you’re the main financial sponsor and you came up with the idea and got it started. All of that is pretty important.”

Jordan shrugged. “The neighborhood deserves a nice day. And not everyone can make it downtown to the Arch.”

“This sounds better anyway. Downtown is crowded and everything is expensive. I’m looking forward to going.”

Jordan smiled. “Good.” He looked at the clock. It was four forty-five. “It’s almost time for me to go upstairs and do paperwork. You want to wait for me?”

Danny stood up and shook his head. “I’m going to go and set up shop in your dining room. I’ve got a couple of designs I need to finish so I can get them off to the printers. Gonna head up while you finish down here.”

Danny stretched up on his tiptoes and Jordan bent to meet him half way. They exchanged a brief, chaste kiss, but it still set off a round of whistles and catcalls from the garage crew. Danny ducked his head to hide his grin as he hurried over to the elevator. Jordan eyed his crew in exasperation, they just laughed and started wrapping up whatever they were working on to clock out for the day.

Thirty minutes later, Jordan jogged up the stairs to his office level. It would have been nice to head up to his place and spend time with Danny but he had to get his work done. As he sat down at his desk, he couldn’t help but think of the other work he’d been neglecting.

He hadn’t hit the streets as Blaze since Danny’s attack. And he had no plans to do so either. Not until Danny was completely healed, and he knew for sure that Lattimer wasn’t going to be let out to harass him again. They were going through the process of filing charges and getting a restraining order. Thanks to the assault and screenshots Danny provided, it looked like Lattimer would not only do time, but would have restrictions on his internet use when he was released.

After working for an hour, his phone beeped with a text. Dinner is ready if you’re finished working.

Be right up, he texted back.

Upstairs, Danny had warmed up one of the meals that he had delivered from a local home cooked meal service. They ate in the kitchen, relaxed and at ease as if they’d lived together for years. And they worked together to get the dishes and tabletop clean when they were done. Danny came up behind him at the sink, sliding slender brown arms around his waist.

“So. You haven’t been out on patrol the last few nights.”

“Had somewhere else to be. Here with you.”

“And I appreciate it. But I’m all right now. I promise. I know protecting the city as Blaze is important to you. If you need to go out, go ahead and go.”

Jordan turned off the water. Drying his hands, he turned around to face his lover. “The last time I went out on the streets and left you alone, a maniac fanboy broke into your house and attacked you.”

Danny wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, that sucked. But you saved me. And Lattimer is locked up now. No one else is after me. Are you going to stop going out forever just to sleep beside me at night on the one in a hundred bazillion chance that another loser is going to try and smash my hand with a hammer?”

“It was a mallet.”

“That’s not the point.”

Jordan had a feeling he was about to come out on the losing end of this discussion. “No, I’m not going to stop going out forever.”

“Then you might as well go out tonight.”

Jordan searched Danny’s expression, making sure he meant what he said and wasn’t saying what he thought he needed to hear. His expression was honest and clear. Danny really was okay with being left alone for a few hours. “Fine, I’ll patrol tonight. Bossy.”

A triumphant smile curved Danny’s lips. “Good. Can I come and watch you gear up?”

“Yeah. Come on.”

Hand in hand, they went down to the underground garage. Danny stepped off the elevator, wandering around to look at his various tools and gear while Jordan went to the mats to warm up. After he’d stretched and shadow boxed for cardio, he sat down at his work station. He spent a few minutes listening to the police scanner and scrolling social media to see if there were any incidents brewing. A Facebook post from someone bragging about their new strength caught his internet scan bot’s attention. Jordan selected it, and viewed the person’s account.

There were hints all over his page that he was a member of the L Street Posse, and had something big happening tonight. Sending out more scan bots with detailed parameters picked up info on a big street race scheduled for that night. That looked promising. He’d check it out and see if Leon’s people were involved. Once he had all the information he needed, he went to the wardrobe to gear up. Danny took a seat in the chair he’d abandoned, spinning it around to face him.

“This really is a cool lair.”

“You know I don’t call it that.”

“Well, I’m calling it that. That’s your fault for not giving it a cool name. Like the Electric Hideout, or the Blaze Quarters or the Blaze Lounge. Okay maybe not that last one,” he finished with a cheeky grin.

Danny swiveled the chair back and forth, watching as Jordan stripped down to his briefs. He bit his lip when Jordan pulled on the leather pants, reaching a hand in to adjust his cock. Jordan could practically feel the heat from his gaze as he ran those dark eyes over his bare chest before he covered it with the suit’s top.

“You keep looking at me like that and I won’t make it out of here to patrol,” he said as he buckled on his weapons belt.

Danny grinned, his dimples creasing the curves of his cheek. “Sorry.” He got up from his seat and crossed the room to where Jordan stood.

“In case you were wondering, I’m feeling up to fun outside at the neighborhood cook out. And private grown-up fun inside with you.”

“You’ve still got bruises and rope burns.”

“Ice packs and ointment are taking care of those. And the rest of me feels fine.”

Jordan drew his cowl up, settling it securely over his head and face before he answered. “You’ll be sleep by the time I get back.”

“Then wake me up,” Danny said with a sassy eyebrow raise.

“I might. Give me a kiss to help me decide.”

Danny put his little hands on the sides of Jordan’s helmet and tugged him down to his level. Jordan let him control the kiss for a few moments, before he took over, cupping the back of his lover’s head to hold him steady. He kissed him deeply, again and again, licking into his mouth and sucking on his plump bottom lip. Danny returned each kiss, letting him lead, sweet and submissive as always.

When they parted, they were both breathing hard.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” Jordan whispered against kiss-damp lips.

“I hope you make the right decision, Mr. Blaze.”

Laughing, Jordan pulled on his gloves. “I’m sure I will.”

“Be safe out there.”

“I will.” He pressed a kiss to Danny’s forehead then went to get in the car.

Behind the wheel, he looked in the side door mirror, watching Danny walk back to the elevator. The soft gray sweats he wore were snug on his thighs and cupped his firm, round ass almost as lovingly as he often did. Blaze grinned. With that waiting for him, he might have to cut tonight’s patrol a little short.

∞∞∞

BLAZE DROVE TO an area in St. Louis County, arriving at an abandoned shopping mall. The street and parking lot lights were out but the place was well-lit with car headlights and glowing lane markers. He parked the Challenger at the back of the rows of cars. His customized vehicle wouldn’t be out of place — there were lots of tricked out and souped up rides with both legal and illegal street modifications.

After activating lockdown mode, Blaze moved in to get a closer look. He couldn’t help but be impressed at what he saw. Street racing was already dangerous. But this was on another level. The track started in the parking lot, then followed a path onto the street, up onto the highway for three miles, exited back onto the street and circled around to the other side of the parking lot. But that wasn’t all.

There were obstacles set up throughout the parking lot sections of the track. Oil spills, ramps, tire shredders, giant pot holes filled with water. It looked like a vicious round of the old R.C. Pro-Am video game. Huge sums of money had to be changing hands for a race of this magnitude. As he watched, a car spun out on one of the oil slicks and slammed into a barricade. The people in front him booed in disappointment.

“Dude lost a five K buy-in and didn’t even make it out the parking lot,” one of them said.

Five thousand. With that amount of money on the line, Blaze wondered if Leon was here personally. He didn’t often show up to the races these days, in order to minimize the risk to himself, but a five thousand dollar buy-in and the elaborate track might have drawn him out. There was only one way to know if he was there. Blaze set off through the crowd. People stared at him in surprise, but no one moved to stop him. One woman laughed.

“Check out the fanboy cosplayer!”

Blaze turned and pinned her with a hard look. He didn’t even have to let his fist spark before she stopped laughing and shrank back behind her friends. Blaze kept moving, headed for the area set up near the finish line. If Leon was here, that’s where he’d be.

As he strolled past the line of drivers waiting their turn, he noticed something different about some of the race entrants. Compared to the other drivers, the L Street Posse racers, identified by their red vests, looked eager. Too eager. Their eyes shone bright and they practically vibrated with energy they were so amped up. Once they were behind the wheel of their rides, they plowed through the obstacle course as if they had no fear. Unless someone had given them a hell of a locker room pep talk, there was only one thing that could elicit that reaction in so many different people at once. Croton.

Blaze finally spotted Leon. He sat on a dais that put him above everyone else, with a long-limbed, scantily clad blond on his lap. The current race ended, hot exhaust washing over those close to the finish line as the cars zoomed past. The winner must have been one of Leon’s drivers, because the blond bounced and twerked in celebration. As the next race began, Blaze approached his former friend. A burly bodyguard stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“Turn around and go back the other way.”

“Says who?”

The guard grinned and cracked his knuckles. “Says me.”

Blaze grinned right back. The man obviously wanted a go at him, so he let him take the first swing. Blaze ducked the blow, came back up with a cocked fist and smashed the guard in the jaw — knocking him out cold. Blaze stepped over him and continued his progress to the dais. “You need a new bodyguard,” he said when he reached Leon. “That one has a glass jaw.”

“Blaze. Here to enter the races?” Leon answered his own question before Blaze could speak. “No, of course not. You’re a changed man.”

“Change is good.”

Leon patted his boy on the ass. “Give Daddy some room to talk to our uninvited guest.” The blond pouted before he rose from Leon’s lap and flounced off.

Jordan watched him go, but not because he was interested. He passed right in front of a woman who handed a packet to one of the racers before tucking a small box out of sight. Blaze caught a flash of the red wrapping he remembered from his bust at the warehouse. Croton. Just as he suspected. Damnit. If Leon was freely handing it out to his street racers, he had to have replenished his stock by now.

“You like what you see? I’ve got plenty more where that came from if you need some company tonight.”

Blaze directed his attention back to Leon. “I’m good, thanks.”

“That’s right. You’ve got your own piece. I heard he got smacked around the other night.”

Blaze clenched his jaw, trying not to react with anger. With the connections Leon had inside the corrupt circles of the police force and the scum on the streets, he should have known that he would be aware of what went down with Lattimer’s attack on Danny.

“You’ve got time to protect the people of St. Louis but you can’t keep your own boyfriend safe from an internet loser?” He shook his head, tsking as if he were disappointed. “Be a shame if next time he doesn’t get off so easy. As a matter of fact, how do you know he’s not getting roughed up right now while you’re out here playing hero?”

“You’re trying to distract me so I don’t notice your little minion sneaking up behind me.” Blaze whipped around and struck out with a tooth-jarring punch to the sneaky Red Vest, sending them stumbling backward. He spun back to Leon before their ass hit the ground. “But I noticed.”

Leon chuckled. “So you did.”

Before either of them could say anything else, a distant wail sounded over the screeching tires and revving engines. Someone in the crowd yelled.

“It’s the police!”

People everywhere scattered. Doors slammed and cars pulled out. Some people took off running into the night.

Leon looked down at Blaze from his seat high on the dais, his face twisted in a sneer of disgust. “You ratted us out to the police?”

“You know me better than that,” Blaze snapped.

“I haven’t known you in years.”

A big white SUV rocked up to the dais. Leon threw one last comment at Blaze before he stepped down from his perch.

“Take care of that little chocolate drop. Wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him.” He got into the back of the SUV and it took off, gravel spitting behind the tires.

Blaze growled his disappointment. He’d hoped to gather more information on the Croton dealings tonight. Leon liked to run at the mouth, he could have got him talking about his plans. Or if he was unable to get anything out of Leon, he could have scoped the crowd for rumors and whispers. But thanks to the arrival of the police and P-Bots, this place would be abandoned as a site for future races. He’d have to keep his ear to the ground to find the next spot. A panicked shout caught his attention.

“Daddy L! Wait!”

Leon had left his paramour behind. That wasn’t Blaze’s concern. But by now, police and P-Bots had swarmed the area. One of the bots went for the blond. Fuck. Blaze had no way of knowing the extent of his criminal involvement with Leon. But he did know it was dangerous for a guy like him to be locked up — whether it was by the police or Pruitt’s private force.

Blaze sprinted forward and leaped at the bot that had the blond in its grip. He caught it with a drop kick, knocking it away seconds before it managed to get blondie in shackles. A roundhouse kick to the thing’s metal head and an electric blast to its chest knocked it off line. It crumpled to the ground, the red light in its camera visor fading into black.

The young man threw himself at Blaze, flinging his arms around his neck.

“Thank you!”

Blaze recoiled, disentangling himself from the unwanted embrace. “Get out of here,” he growled as he pushed him toward one of the retreating cars. Lucky for him they waited and let him jump into the back seat. Blaze sprang back into action, helping those who’d appeared to do nothing more than watch from the crowd. The racers he left to escape on their own.

It didn’t take long for the bots to focus their efforts on him. At the direction of their Commander, they formed a circle with him in the middle. Blaze had seen the commander several times — always in the same purple and black metal armored suit, with a helmet that covered his entire head and a mirrored visor. He had no idea if it was a human inside that suit, or the most advanced A.I. Pruitt Inc. had. Either way, it was time for a strategic retreat.

He hit a button on his weapons belt then clapped his palms together to blast out an electromagnetic pulse. The button he’d hit magnified the pulse, increasing the voltage to a level that scrambled the bots’ processors, momentarily shutting them down. It wouldn’t stop them for long and it wouldn’t affect the bots that hadn’t been in his immediate radius.

Taking advantage of his small window of opportunity, Blaze charged forward, barreling through the bots in his way with a shoulder block. Clear of the ring of metal limbs and computer chip brains, he sprinted to his car, got behind the wheel and took off.

As he drove, he heard Leon’s snide voice in his head, chiding him for leaving Danny alone while he went out. He knew the words had been said to get under his skin. But what if... A spark jumped off his hand, dissipating into the air. His hands tight on the steering wheel, Blaze floored the accelerator to get back to his lover.

Chapter Nineteen

D

anny sat up in Jordan’s bed reading. He’d teased Jordan about waking him when he got home. But since he’d been restless and wide awake after napping that afternoon, he’d stayed up reading a comic series about a futuristic scavenger hunt. Now he was too into the story to fall asleep. He turned the page, excited to see who was going to win the hunt. Before he made it mid-way down the page, the lamp on the nightstand buzzed and flickered.

He looked up, waiting to see if the bulb was going to go out. When the buzzing stopped and the light burned steady again, Danny shrugged and went back to reading. He raised his hand, ready to turn to the next page, when suddenly the air became charged with electricity. His arm tingled and he looked down. The hair was standing up, his skin pebbled with goose flesh. He’d felt this before, the night Blaze had rescued him from the Red Vests. Danny wasn’t worried it was someone that wasn’t supposed to be there causing this reaction. It had to be Jordan, otherwise a dozen alarms would have sounded.

Danny sat there watching the door, book forgotten in his lap as he waited. The elevator chimed, and with its arrival, the lights in the hall began blinking on and off. Anticipation had his heart pounding in his throat. A moment later, Jordan strode into the room, his chin down, moving with determined purpose.

Danny gasped at his appearance. He was naked, having geared down in the lair as he usually did. But power crackled all over him, electric sparks shooting off his skin to disappear into thin air. Even his eyes glowed with it. The irises and pupils were gone, replaced by a solid electric blue that beamed as bright as a bolt of summer lightning.

“Jordan! What happened?” He started to throw the covers back and jump out of bed but Jordan stopped him with a raised hand.

“Don’t get up! Don’t come near me. I just wanted to see for myself that you were okay.”

A frown scrunched Danny’s brows together. “I’m fine. Nothing happened while you were gone.” He hesitated, then ignoring Jordan’s warning, pushed the covers off and slid out of bed.

Jordan retreated several steps until he was back in the hallway. “Stay back. I don’t want to accidentally hurt you while I’m like this.”

Danny slowly continued his progress. “You won’t hurt me.” When he reached Jordan, he raised a hand and let it hover over his chest. “Remember the night I found out you were Blaze? You told me you would never hurt me. I believed it then. I believe it now.” He let his hand settle on heated skin. The power still sparked all over him but it didn’t hurt Danny.

“See?” He slid his hand up to curl around the back of Jordan’s neck. “Kiss me.”

Jordan stared down at him with those glowing eyes. A muscle clenched in his jaw once… twice.

“Kiss me,” Danny said again.

Jordan lowered his head, stopping right before their lips touched.

Danny waited, letting his powerful boyfriend see that he wasn’t afraid to be close when he was like this. When they finally kissed, a shiver of sparkling sensation ran through him. Everywhere Jordan’s hands made contact with his skin, electricity tingled. The touch had an edge of danger, but he trusted it wouldn’t harm him.

Wanting more of that feeling on his flesh, he tore his lips away to pull off his T-shirt. But that wasn’t enough. He wanted naked skin on skin from head to toe. Jordan helped, shoving his hand into Danny’s pajama bottoms to push them off his hips.

Naked, Danny dove back into his arms, gasping at the intensity of the sensual voltage buzzing all over him, everywhere his skin touched his lover’s. They kissed furiously, stumbling back into the bedroom, heading for the king size mattress. But Danny didn’t want to separate — not even for the brief moment it would take to fall onto the bed. He clung to Jordan, keeping his body pressed tight against him. Jordan kept moving and they ended up against the floor to ceiling window.

Jordan eased back from their kiss. Danny tried to pull him close again, so drunk on passion he didn’t understand why he would stop. But Jordan stayed his hand.

“I want to come inside you tonight. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Danny licked his tongue over his lip, savoring the electric buzz from their kisses. The request surprised him but he was one hundred percent on board. “Yes.” He turned around, slowly, and placed his palms flat on the window. Arching his back, he raised his ass, offering himself to his lover. “I want that too,” he said over his shoulder.

Time hung suspended as Jordan stared at him, his eyes somehow even brighter. He moved and Danny assumed he was going to get the lube. But he dropped to his knees and cupped Danny’s ass. Jordan kneaded him for a second then spread his cheeks apart. Danny gasped when he licked his hole. To his pleased surprise, the sweet buzz of electricity was still on his tongue. It tickled and vibrated against the sensitive skin of his entrance. And when he pushed his tongue inside...

“Oh my God. Oh, my fucking God!” Danny’s toes curled in the carpet. His thighs trembled. His cock ached, pre-cum flowing from the tip. It went on too long and not long enough and he enjoyed every second. The licks and tongue swirls pushed Danny ever closer to climax. Until Jordan stopped, leaving Danny gasping on the edge.

Jordan surged back to his feet. Without a word, he reached over and yanked open the nightstand drawer for the lube. Danny waited, his body still pulsing with the urge to come. Jordan pumped the bottle and then came the wet sound of his lover covering his shaft in lube. He put his lips to Danny’s ear as he slipped his cock up and down between Danny’s ass cheeks.

“You still want this?” he asked in a dark, husky whisper.

For his answer, Danny reached back with one hand and spread himself open again.

Jordan groaned. He pushed inside, nothing between them, his cock slick and hot and hard. And tonight, he didn’t wait, or tease. He gripped Danny’s hips and immediately began fucking into him.

Danny moaned, the side of his face pressed to the cool glass, his breath steaming the window in little puffs as his lover sank his thick cock into him again and again.

“I want you, Danny,” Jordan rasped, his voice rough with passion.

Danny shoved his hips back to meet his lover’s gliding thrusts. “You have me.”

“I want more than that. I want you to be mine. I want to claim you. I want my mark – my collar – on your neck so everyone knows who you belong to,” he said, punctuating each statement with a deep thrust.

Danny shivered at the possessive growls in his ear. He didn’t know what to say to let Jordan know that he wanted all of those things too. So, he took one hand off the window, grasped Jordan’s hand and raised it to his neck. He tilted his head back, giving Jordan room to wrap his fingers around his exposed throat. “I’m yours,” he whispered.

The growl Jordan let out was primal, animalistic. It vibrated against Danny’s back and he shivered in response.

“You are mine!”

Danny could only nod as he stood there, completely at Jordan’s mercy, taking everything he had to give. Jordan began moving even faster, his fingers tightening on Danny’s hips.

“Gonna come. Gonna fill you up.”

“Yes! Please!” Danny cried out. He would die if he didn’t feel Jordan come inside him.

“Not until you come, angel,” Jordan said as he reached down to take control of Danny’s swaying cock.

As Jordan stroked him, Danny wanted to come, but his brain chose that moment to remember he was pressed up against the glass and would make a mess on it if he came. “The window I—.”

“Come!”

Jordan roared the command and Danny helplessly obeyed. He came so hard his vision whited out, narrowing to pinpoints before he closed his eyes. In that moment, he didn’t need or want to see. He only wanted to focus on the powerful orgasm surging through his body.

It was so intense, so electric, he felt as if he’d grabbed hold of a lightning bolt. For one gloriously prolonged moment, he experienced Jordan’s power not only on his skin but beneath it — making his blood sing.

When the surge of pleasure faded, he went limp. He would have collapsed to the floor except Jordan had both arms wrapped around him now, holding him up.

“My turn.”

The silky promise preceded the start of hard, rapid fire thrusts. Held against Jordan’s body, feet dangling in the air, Danny rode out the storm of Jordan’s thundering release. Danny watched their reflection in the glass as their bodies clapped together. Jordan’s eyes glowed above him, until he let them drift closed, his head dropping back on his shoulders as he came. His release flooded into Danny in waves of liquid heat.

“So hot,” he moaned.

Jordan’s breathing was harsh and loud in the quiet room, his hold on Danny steady as his cock throbbed and pulsed inside him. Danny squeezed his inner muscles tight and Jordan cursed, grinding hard against his ass.

“Fuck!”

Danny was content to bask in the afterglow while Jordan shuddered his way through the end of his climax. Finally, Jordan set him back on his feet, but didn’t move any further. He breathed into the crook of Danny’s neck, still holding him close.

“Don’t want to pull out of you.”

Danny stirred enough to reach behind him to cup his lover’s jaw. “Then don’t.”

Jordan gave a husky laugh before kissing his shoulder.

“Have to get you to the bed.”

“Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.” Danny held still as Jordan carefully withdrew. On instinct he clenched, trying to keep everything Jordan had given him inside. Together they took the few steps to the bed, moving Danny’s abandoned comic aside before they lay down.

Once they were under the covers, Jordan spooned up behind him. They were both warm, sweaty, and sticky from sex but it felt good to lay together like this.

“Are you okay?”

Danny made a soft noise of contentment. “Right as rain.”

“Good.” He kissed Danny’s shoulder. “I was worried I hurt you.”

Danny grasped Jordan’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Jordan’s power had receded some but sparks still glowed over his skin. Yet not a single one hurt Danny. It was as if he was in a protective bubble. Or so close to Jordan that the power saw Danny as part of him. He liked that idea and shared it with his lover.

Jordan’s eyebrows raised above still glowing eyes — although it was only the irises that were electric blue now.

“A part of me? I like that.”

He turned Danny onto his back and leaned down to brush their lips together.

They stayed like that for a while, gently kissing, talking, and caressing each other. But soon, Jordan’s cock hardened, pressing against Danny’s thigh. Danny let his hand drift down to brush over the rigid shaft.

Jordan sucked in a breath and kissed Danny with renewed fire. He pulled back, whispering into the space between their kiss.

“I need to be inside you again.”

“I need that too,” Danny whispered back.

After tossing the covers aside, Jordan slid on top of him.

“My sweet angel. Are you sure?”

“As long as you go easy.”

“I will.”

He reached once more for the lube and slicked himself up. Then he pushed inside slowly, giving Danny all the time he needed to adjust.

When he was all the way in, Danny sighed. He loved this connection and delighted in soothing his man by inviting him into his body. Jordan began moving, slow and easy like he’d promised. Danny curled his hips up to meet him, and they gazed into each other’s eyes as they moved together.

“Your eyes are beautiful. The irises are still glowing blue.”

“It’s not creepy?”

“Nothing about you is creepy.”

He ran his hands up Jordan’s arms, gliding over muscles taut from the effort of holding him up. Danny felt safe and protected beneath the wide shoulders. Nothing could get to him past his lover’s strength. Danny gasped as Jordan suddenly changed positions. He went up on his knees, tugging Danny down to lay with his ass in his lap, thighs draped over his hips. The new position gave Jordan more control, which Danny loved, especially when his cock stroked over that sensitive place inside him.

“Love how small you are.” He wrapped both big hands around Danny’s waist, thumbs nearly meeting in the middle as they stroked over the flat plane of his belly. “So tiny I worry I’ll break you.”

Danny smiled at his lover with quiet fondness. “I won’t break.”

“I know you won’t. But I still want to protect you and keep you safe.”

Hearing his own thoughts echoed in Jordan’s words made warmth bloom in his chest. “You’ll always keep me safe,” he said with complete trust.

Jordan closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his eyes were completely back to normal, and as Danny watched, the last sparks of electricity around him faded away.

“You always make me feel so good.”

With a fantastic display of flexing muscles, Jordan cupped his ass and scooped him up. Danny wrapped his legs around Jordan’s waist and his arms around his shoulders, holding on as Jordan worked his hips, rocking into him. Danny slipped one hand between them so he could stroke his cock.

“Come with me this time.”

Danny nodded. He continued stroking himself, timing his movements to match Jordan’s. They gasped and moaned, holding tightly to each other as their bodies strained, reaching for climax. He pressed a kiss to Jordan’s sweat-slick shoulder as they fell over the edge together. This release was different from the first, a deep all-encompassing wave that rolled through him in gentle swells. It appeared to be the same for Jordan, as his groan was more of a quiet, rumbling sigh.

After the swells of pleasure faded away, Jordan eased him back onto the mattress and moved to lay beside him. Danny lay there panting. When he finally caught his breath, he laughed at a memory from not too long ago.

“What?”

“Back before I knew you were Blaze, I hadn’t admitted to myself that I was infatuated with the mysterious leather hero. And I hated on the imaginary sex I assumed you had with other superheroes. I thought you guys broke beds and busted down buildings with your superpowered orgasms.”

“If we blew up buildings every time we came, eventually we’d run out of places to have sex.”

Danny laughed again. “Now you’re just bragging.” He shifted as he felt sticky wetness on his butt. It was a new sensation for him.

“Sore?”

“No. Just uh... really wet.”

“Mmmm... Come here.”

Jordan pulled him over to lay with his head pillowed on his wide chest. He reached down to caress Danny’s ass, the pads of his fingers slipping through the mess he’d caused.

“I can’t believe you let me come inside you.” He spoke in an awed, hushed tone, as if Danny had given him a great gift.

“I’m glad I did.” Danny ducked his head, shyly smiling at his admission. “I loved it.”

“Me too.”

The tender look Jordan gave him made Danny’s heart pound with such force he was sure the other man would hear it. It almost seemed as if Jordan meant something more, especially when he tipped his chin up to give him a kiss that was just as tender as his expression.

They lay there for a long time, lazily kissing, Jordan’s fingers patting him dry. Danny let his eyes drift closed even as Jordan pressed closer, his cock growing hard against Danny’s thigh for a third time. Although he’d be down for a round of non-penetrative humping to give his ass a break, he knew there was no way he’d stay awake for it. He pulled back, stifling a yawn. “Jordan, I don’t have super stamina. I’m gonna fall asleep.”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

Jordan started to put distance between their bodies but Danny stopped him. Turning over, he lay with his back to Jordan’s front. He wiggled his hips to get into the position he wanted, with Jordan’s half-hard cock between his thighs. “If you need to go again you can do it like this.”

Jordan went still behind him. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Consensual somnophilia is a thing, right? Go for it.” Honestly, the thought of Jordan fucking his thighs while he drowsed was hot. If he wasn’t exhausted, he might have gotten aroused again.

“You are so perfect,” he said as he dropped a kiss on Danny’s shoulder. “Get some rest.”

Danny nodded, happy to comply. He fell asleep, surrounded by the warmth of Jordan’s body.

He woke once, to a hint of gray light at the windows and Jordan slowly thrusting between his thighs, slippery with lube. He pressed a kiss to Danny’s nape, muffling a moan. Danny floated in that half-awake state, a tingle of arousal low in his belly but too sleepy and content to wake fully and join in. He faded back into sleep just as Jordan spilled hot on the inside of his thigh.

Chapter Twenty

T

he next morning, Danny woke to a room filled with sunshine and absent the buzz of electricity. Jordan was already up and dressed. He sat on the side of the bed, softly speaking into his cell phone.

“Both plain and everything. Make sure there’s plenty of cream cheese. Yes, the extra charge is fine. And two fruit bowls.”

“And bacon,” Danny said hoarsely. After all the moaning and yelling last night, he wasn’t surprised that he’d woken with a sore throat.

Jordan whipped around at the sound of Danny’s voice. “Add bacon to that, please. Thank you.” He ended the call and put the cell on the nightstand. “Good morning.”

Danny sat up and leaned back against the headboard, pulling the sheet up to his waist. “Good morning.”

“I was going to wake you up after I got off the phone. I ran you a hot bath.”

“A hot bath sounds amazing. I’m crusty as fu—. Eeek!” He cut off with a startled squeak when Jordan scooped him up from the bed — still covered in the sheet — and set off across the wide expanse of the bedroom. Danny enjoyed being carried by his boyfriend but couldn’t resist teasing him. “I can walk you know. You didn’t put it on me that good.”

Jordan looked down at him with an expression too serious to match Danny’s teasing mood.

“I’m carrying you because I want to carry you.”

In the bathroom, the light was already on, tendrils of steam rose from the full bath, and dry towels were neatly stacked next to the tub. Jordan set him on his feet and pulled the sheet away from his nude body, letting it drop on the floor. When Danny moved to step into the big spa tub, he winced at the twinge in his thighs and other places. “Okay, maybe you did put it on me that good.” Murmuring apologies, Jordan picked him up again and lowered him into the steaming bath. Danny hissed at the first touch of the hot water on his skin.

“I’m sorry.”

Danny raised a hand to cup his lover’s cheek. He stroked his thumb back and forth, attempting to soothe the tense muscles of a clenched jaw. “Hey. No apologies. I wanted and encouraged everything we did last night. A little soreness doesn’t make me regret any of it.” Jordan took his hand away to kiss his palm but didn’t otherwise acknowledge what he said.

“The food should be here soon. Gonna head downstairs and wait for the delivery guy. Will you be okay?”

“I’m fine. I promise.”

Jordan left, and Danny lay back in the steaming water, idly making small waves with his hand. Last night had been an experience like he never could have imagined. He would have to ask what had set Jordan off that he’d come home that way.

Although emotions had run high between them, he hadn’t said I love you again and Jordan hadn’t mentioned anything about love either. But with the memory of Jordan’s hand possessively wrapped around his throat while growling mine in his ear, he couldn’t help but assume that Jordan had fallen for him.

Danny began soaping himself up. It was understandable that he hadn’t had a chance to bring it up with Jordan yet. Everything had been so out of control the past few days with the account hacking, and Lattimer’s attack, and then taking time to heal from the assault. But after last night, he wanted to know where they stood.

Danny finished washing, then rose from the tub, hot water streaming down his body. When he climbed out and bent over to release the stopper, he noticed that he was noticeably less stiff than when he’d first stepped into the tub. The hot soak had helped. After drying off and dressing in shorts and a T-shirt, he made his way to the kitchen. Jordan was there, dishing the delivered food onto plates.

“How was your bath?”

“I feel so much better. Thank you,” he said as he tugged Jordan down to give him a peck on the lips. They sat down to eat and Danny covered his toasted bagel in waves of cream cheese.

After a few bites, he started the conversation. Keeping his tone light, he eased into the topic on his mind. “What set you off like that last night? Not that I’m complaining,” he teased. “Just curious.”

Jordan answered without looking at him. “During my patrol, someone said some things.”

“Like what?” Danny prompted.

“Things that made me worry about you.”

That gave Danny pause. “You were that concerned over me?”

“After what I almost let happen to you? Yeah.”

Danny blinked. “Let happen? Jordan, that wasn’t your fault.”

“I knew Lattimer had your address and I still left you alone in the house at night.”

At the muscle clenching in Jordan’s jaw and the heavy note of guilt in his voice, Danny wanted to abandon his breakfast and go cuddle in Jordan’s lap to reassure him. But he had more questions that needed answering.

“Why didn’t you want me to touch you? You’ve already shown me that you can control your powers during sex.”

“Not like that, when they were so close to the surface. And I didn’t want to scare you.”

He’d never given Jordan cause to think he was scared of him or his powers. In fact, he’d asked to experience them more than once. That belief had to have its roots in Jordan’s history before they’d ever met. He remembered the morning he’d asked if any of his previous lovers had known he was Blaze, and how the conversation had ended after a one-word answer. It was clearly time to dig deeper on that subject.

“I can’t imagine why an intimate partner would be afraid of you and your powers. You’re always so careful.”

“Everyone has their own reasons for how they feel.” He nodded at Danny’s half-full glass. “Do you want more orange juice?”

“You know, you always say I can ask you anything.”

“You can.”

“Then why do you shift the topic whenever I bring up previous relationships?”

Jordan’s fingers tightened on his water glass before he responded. “What do you want to know?”

“Before me, how many relationships did you have after you gained your powers and became Blaze?”

“Technically two. But I also had a sexual D/s arrangement before those relationships.”

Now they were getting somewhere. “Why did the sexual arrangement end?”

“Back then I wore a mask and used a scene name. My partner was cool with that, but he got scared and called me a freak when he realized I wasn’t using a wand for our electric play. That was my fault. I should have either been honest or not used my powers on him. He didn’t answer my calls after that. Even went so far as to warn people not to scene with me.”

“Oh.” Danny understood how that could cause problems with trust. He couldn’t guess as to how he would have reacted in that situation so he didn’t try. Instead, he picked up his fork to spear a piece of fruit and plowed on. “Why did your first relationship end?”

“I’d learned my lesson by that point. When we got serious, I came clean and admitted I was Blaze. He was disgusted that I used violence to help people and said it was only a matter of time before I turned my rage on him and became an abuser.”

Jordan sounded hurt, as if even after all this time it bothered him that someone he’d been involved with thought he might cause them harm.

“And the other?” Danny had to force the question out. He wanted to drop this but he knew if he didn’t understand his boyfriend’s romantic history, they’d never be able to move forward in their relationship.

“He... didn’t mind that I was Blaze. He thought it was interesting and exciting. Too exciting.” Jordan stared out the kitchen window, but it was clear he was seeing something other than blue skies and puffy white clouds. “So exciting that he wanted to come out and observe. I allowed it for a few nights. That’s how he met my enemy. After that, it wasn’t long before he decided he’d rather get in bed with the bad guy. Literally.”

Danny dropped his fork. He looked down at in surprise; he’d forgotten he was holding the thing.

“Oh, Jordan. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. What’s in the past is past, right?”

“Sometimes the past can affect the present. I don’t want that to happen to us.”

“It’ll work itself out.”

Danny didn’t believe that. A solid foundation for a relationship didn’t just happen, it had to be built. But he didn’t want to press too hard too fast. He had the information, even if it had been somewhat clumsily obtained. The next step would be to figure out how to put those clearly painful memories to rest once and for all. But they didn’t have to do it all in one day.

Danny got up and went around to the other side of the island. Scootching in between Jordan and the countertop, he braced his hands on his boyfriend’s thick biceps and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

“Thank you for sharing that with me. I wasn’t asking out of morbid curiosity, but because I want to know more about you. I trust that you would never hurt me as your regular self, or with your powers.”

Jordan didn’t reply to that. Only nodded so slightly Danny almost missed it.

“And just so you know, if I ever see any of those guys, I’m going to draw extremely unflattering caricatures of their stupid faces.”

Jordan’s lips twitched.

“I’m serious. Sprouty nose hairs and weak chins and trash hairlines.”

Now Jordan laughed his quiet laugh and eased his arms around Danny in a loose embrace.

“You’re vicious,” he teased.

“That’s right. When it comes to the people I care about, the villains in this city have nothing on me.”

∞∞∞

AFTER JORDAN RELUCTANTLY brought Danny back to his house, he’d gone to the store and bought St. Louis gooey butter cake to take to the cookout. Now, it was the afternoon of the party, and Danny was in his kitchen preparing an assembly line of supplies. He wanted to put an artistic spin on the dessert’s presentation. He planned to divide the cake up into individual servings, and had purchased white treat bags decorated with red, blue and gold stars.

Before he could get started, the doorbell rang. Danny ran to answer it. He pulled the door open to Jordan waiting on the front porch. He’d swapped the work shirt that Danny had quickly grown used to seeing him in for a tight, black short-sleeve button down with pockets over his pecs, and gray jeans. His beard was freshly trimmed, and his hair oiled and brushed until it looked as soft as mink.

“You look great.”

“So do you,” Jordan said as he came into the house.

Danny looked down at his American flag muscle shirt and neatly pressed khaki shorts. “Is this okay? Should I have dressed up more?”

“No. It’s a block party. Casual is good.”

“But not too casual right? You said your parents will be there.”

“Yes. And they’ll be dressed casually too. You look fine, I promise.”

“Okay,” Danny nodded with relief. “Come and help me put everything together.” He led the way into the kitchen and over to the table of cakes and treat bags.

“What’s all this?”

“I didn’t want to go the usual route and bring beer. And no way I’m having the aunties laugh at my attempts at making potato salad. So, dessert,” he finished with a wave at the containers of gooey butter cake. “We’re going to cut ‘em up into squares and put them in these bags.” He held one up for Jordan to see.

“Nice bags.”

“And they’re biodegradable.”

A small grin touched Jordan’s full lips. “You are too cute.”

Danny’s cheeks warmed with a blush. “Am I doing too much?”

“No, I like seeing that you care. And you’ll definitely make a good impression on the ladies running the food line.”

Danny blew out a relieved breath. “Good. Let’s get started.” He passed Jordan a pair of plastic serving gloves and pulled on a pair himself. “Do you want to cut cakes or put them in the bags?”

“You cut since you know what size you want.”

“Got it.” Danny picked up the knife and they got to work. They chatted about the nice weather they were lucky enough to have for the party and how the event had gone in the past. The knife easily sliced through the moist cake for Danny to separate each piece. Jordan quickly developed a rhythm of snapping open a bag to receive a treat and folding the top to close it inside. Once they settled into their pattern, it didn’t take long to work their way through the stack of cakes. They were nearly finished when Danny noticed Jordan attempting to sneak one of the last pieces for himself.

“Hey!” He lightly smacked his knuckles. “I don’t think so, mister. You can have one once we get to the party.”

In retaliation, Jordan picked him up and plopped him on the counter.

“That’s one of the things I like about you.”

“What?”

“You don’t take any shit.”

Danny laughed. “Nope.”

“And you’re not even a little scared of me.”

“I told you I’m not.” They were teasing, but he meant it. If learning of Jordan’s history had given him any reason to be scared of abuse, he would have hightailed it out of his apartment and never looked back.

“Mmmm...” Jordan tugged off his plastic gloves and tossed them to the side. “Can you at least pretend that I’m in charge?” he said as he slipped a hand beneath Danny’s shirt.

Danny shook his head. “You’re not the boss of me.” He gasped as warm fingers teased and plucked his nipple. “Except when I let you.”

“I love that you know that.”

“What?”

“That you’re in control of your submission. It’s a gift to me.”

Jordan hadn’t mentioned collaring him again after their electric night together. Danny had wanted to bring it up several times but wasn’t sure how to go about it. But since they were on the subject...

“Are we going to talk about what you said the other night? About claiming me? Did you mean it or was it only heat of the moment pillow talk?”

A wicked grin curled Jordan’s full lips. “We weren’t exactly on pillows.”

“I’m serious, Jordan,” he said as he pulled off his plastic gloves.

“Danny...” Jordan brought his hands from beneath Danny’s shirt to rest on his khaki covered thighs. “Collaring is long term.”

“I thought...” He trailed off for a moment, a confused frown crinkling his forehead. “Are we not doing this long term?”

Jordan looked at him as if he were searching for something in his eyes, on his face. He remembered that look from the night he’d told Jordan he still wanted to be with him after learning his secret identity.

“Is that something you really want?”

“Yes. It wasn’t just pillow talk for me.”

“It wasn’t for me either.”

“And you know how I feel.” Danny looked down, shyness coming over him. Saying I love you out loud in a brightly lit kitchen was a lot different than saying it when he was mindless with passion. Apparently, he wasn’t brave enough to go there just yet.

“I know. Then I guess we need to have that conversation about what each of us expects from a committed Dom/sub relationship.”

Danny smiled, happy and relieved to have that settled. He couldn’t wait to be claimed, really claimed, by Jordan. “Then I guess you can have a piece of cake.” He reached for a piece of the dessert and held it up to Jordan. But Jordan grasped his hand and tilted the cake to his mouth, letting him have the first bite.

They shared the small square between them. It was sweet and rich on his tongue, the crumbly topping melting away into sugary goodness. When it was gone, Jordan held Danny’s hand up to his mouth and licked his fingers. He sucked on one, the pull on the sensitive pad tingling all the way down to Danny’s cock. Danny couldn’t help but moan.

“Mmmm...”

Jordan released Danny’s finger from his mouth with a soft little pop. Then he leaned in until their lips were so close, a deep breath would be all it took for them to touch. They held there, letting the anticipation shiver over their skin. But before they could kiss, shuffling footsteps approached. The footsteps paused just inside the kitchen.

“Oops. I interrupted.”

Danny cleared his throat and leaned around Jordan’s bulk to look at his roommate. He wore a Ninja Turtles printed robe messily tied over boxers and a tank. And his hair stood straight up on the right side of his head. “You’re fine. Come in and meet Jordan.”

Jordan wiped his hand on a towel before he held it out to Scott. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Scott said as he accepted the handshake. “Danny talks about you all the time. I think he has a crush on you.”

That got a smile out of Jordan. “I certainly hope so.”

“Is there coffee?”

Danny laughed at his sleepy-faced friend. “It’s two o’clock. Coffee is long gone.”

Scott moved around, starting a fresh pot. “Is all that for the block party?” he asked with a nod toward the box of little cakes.

“Yep. I wish you could come.”

“Me too. But I have to work the evil day job so I can have off for the Fourth.”

Danny took one of the bags from the box. “Here, have a piece of gooey butter cake to go with your coffee.”

Scott lit up with a happy smile and accepted the treat bag. “Thanks!”

“You’re welcome.”

“This is going to hit the spot. I’ll see you guys later.” He left the room with his mug and cake in hand.

Danny looked at Jordan once his roommate was gone. “We should probably get going.”

“You’re right.” He helped Danny hop down from the counter. “Let’s go.”

∞∞∞

THEY PULLED UP to the street that had been blocked off for the block party. A park was at the other end of the street, giving the festivities room to spread out. Danny hopped out of the car, looking around at everything while Jordan leaned into the backseat for the box of dessert cakes. Danny turned back to him, excitement on his face.

“Let’s go!”

Jordan flicked a glance at the crowd then back at Danny. “I don’t usually show up to the cookout this early.”

“Really?” Danny tilted his head in question. “What do you normally do?”

“I stay at home, show up right before things start to wind down, say a few words to thank everyone for coming and take a plate back home.”

Danny stepped off the curb and walked around to meet him on the driver’s side. “But you’re sponsoring the whole thing. This is your community, Jordan. Your neighborhood. You should be out there celebrating with them.”

Jordan didn’t have an answer for that. Or, he didn’t have an answer that wouldn’t rip open and expose old wounds under the bright sun of a summer’s day.

“There’s a reason that you avoid hanging out at the party, isn’t there?” Danny asked with a concerned frown on his brow.

“Yes.”

“I’d love if you told me about it. But I think for right now, we’re already here so let’s try to enjoy ourselves. If you feel weird and want to leave, squeeze my butt and I’ll know it’s time to go.”

A smile tugged at Jordan’s mouth. “A butt squeeze is your choice to signal that it’s time to go? What if I decide to squeeze it just for the hell of it?”

Danny put on a scandalized expression. “There are children here! And your mom! If you squeeze my butt it’d better be for a good reason. Now come on. I can smell the barbecue from here and I’m dying for a pork steak.” He held out his hand, waiting.

Jordan thought of all the times he’d held out his hand for Danny to take. Danny had never once rejected him. Now it was his turn. He switched the box to one arm so he could take Danny’s hand. When he laced their fingers together, that smile that he loved took over his angel’s face.

“Come on.”

They walked into the park together. In a grassy area off to the side, a small crowd of people danced the Cha-cha Slide to the music playing. Old heads stood around ribbing each other over a game of horse shoes. And a group of kids shrieked and laughed as they took part in a hula hoop contest.

They stopped at the dessert end of the food line to drop off Danny’s treats. The woman there practically cooed over Danny, thanking him for contributing and complimenting the treat bags. To Jordan she gave a polite smile and a nod. Trying and failing not to see judgement in those sherry-brown eyes, Jordan returned the elder’s greeting.

With the dessert dropped off, Danny made a beeline for the grills, pulling Jordan behind him.

A big man with skin the color of earthy clay and a reddish-brown beard manned the barbecue operation. Tongs in one hand, he wiped the other on a white apron liberally splashed with barbecue sauce, and held it out to Jordan.

“JW. Good to see you. Thanks for having us out again.”

“No problem, Red,” Jordan said as they shook hands. “Wouldn’t think of having anybody else.”

“This your man?” he asked with a nod toward Danny.

“Yeah.”

“He’s cute.” Red looked down at Danny. “What can I get for you, lil’ bit?”

“I’ll take a pork steak, please.”

A russet eyebrow raised. “One pork steak? That’s it?”

“Well.” Danny’s dimple popped out as he gave Red a sheepish grin. “I didn’t want to be greedy.”

“If you’re here, you’re family,” Red said with a wave of his tongs. “Get what you want.”

“Then I’ll take some ribs too.”

“All right, now. That’s what I’m talking about.”

Jordan shook his head as Red dropped a pork steak and ribs onto Danny’s plate, both liberally dripping with barbecue sauce. He asked for a double serving of ribs for himself. They thanked Red and moved on to the side dishes, piling potato salad, spaghetti, and baked macaroni and cheese on their plates. As they sat down to eat, Jordan noticed Danny’s wiggle when he picked up a napkin to tuck into his shirt collar.

“Did you just wiggle?”

“I...” Danny bit his lip and hesitated. Then he sat up straight and pushed his shoulders back. “Yep. There’s no shame in my game. I wiggle dance when I’m about to eat some good food.”

Jordan had to laugh at that bit of honesty. “Wiggle away.”

Danny cut up his pork steak and took his first bite. Then he sat there with his eyes wide. “Oh my God. This is the best barbecue I’ve ever had in my life.” He took another bite. “The meat is so tender. And the sauce...” He licked the corner of his mouth where a drop of sauce had smeared. “I’d eat it by itself from a pudding cup it’s so good.” He eyed the big vat of sauce next to Red as if he were going to do exactly that.

Jordan laughed again. “I’m glad you like it. But don’t get any plans to steal Red’s sauce recipe. He’s killed a man for trying.”

Danny gasped. “Are you serious?” Then he shrugged. “Can’t say I blame him. This stuff is worth its weight in gold.”

Now Jordan was laughing so hard he had to put down the rib he’d only managed to take a single bite from. “No, I’m not serious.”

Eventually, his laughter died down and they settled in to eat their fill. Everything was delicious, and the Fitz’s Root Beer they drank to go along with the meal was icy cold. They didn’t leave a bite uneaten, but still found room for dessert.

Once they’d polished everything off, they made good use of the wet naps to clean the sticky barbecue sauce from their hands and faces.

“That was worth the food coma I’m going to fall into later,” Danny said as he reached out to wipe a spot of sauce from the corner of Jordan’s mouth.

Jordan got up to toss their plates and napkins in the trash, then pulled Danny to his feet. “Let’s walk it off.”

They strolled around the entire park. Whether it was games, watching the low-rider contest or just talking and laughing, everyone was having a good time. To his surprise, Jordan relaxed as he mingled. Danny’s constant presence at his side helped. People were drawn to him, striking up conversations that Danny gently pulled him into.

Jordan shook hands, listened as they talked about their favorite part of the party, and thanked people for coming. He even held a baby until someone asked when he and Danny were going to start a family of their own. Jordan hastily passed the baby back to its parent while Danny bit his lip to smother a laugh.

The father bounced the baby on his hip and the child reached a hand toward Jordan again. He wasn’t immune to babies and their demands, so he shook the pudgy little hand, then waved as the dad carried him away.

Danny wrapped his arms around Jordan’s waist and leaned back to look up at him.

“Can you imagine us as parents?” he whispered. “I can picture you trying to run out and fight crime but you can’t leave because Baby Blaze has your helmet and is using it for a teething toy.”

Jordan mock-shuddered. “Please don’t put the image of my helmet covered in baby drool in my head.”

Danny pressed his face to Jordan’s chest and laughed.

Jordan rubbed his back. He inched a hand down, fingers pressing on the curve of his ass. Danny snapped his head back up.

“Don’t you dare.”

“I’m kidding,” he said with a small grin. “I’m actually having a nice time. No need to activate the butt signal.”

“Jordan!”

Jordan turned at the familiar voice calling his name. His parents were approaching. His guilt kept him from going home as often as he’d like but he was always happy to see them. When they reached his side, he leaned in to hug his mother, her long black hair, silky from the pressing comb, brushing his cheek. And as he hugged his dad, he breathed in the scent of the sunscreen he knew his mom had made him wear to protect his pale, freckled skin from the sun. He tugged Danny to his side to introduce him.

“Mom, Dad. This is Danny. Danny, these are my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Wells.” His mother’s face lit up. It didn’t take a genius to see that she was thrilled. Despite her gentle nudges to find a partner, he’d been single for several years. She reached out and clasped both of Danny’s hands between hers.

“Danny, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello, Mrs. Wells. Dr. Wells. It’s nice to meet you both.”

“It’s nice to meet you, young man.”

His mother finally released Danny, but she was still smiling at him.

“Oh, Jordan, he’s adorable. Where did you two meet?”

For a second, Jordan’s brain blanked. He hadn’t thought to come up with a cover story and neither of their first meetings was something he could talk about. He didn’t want any passersby to hear he’d rescued Danny as Blaze and there was no way he’d talk about BDSM with his parents. Luckily, Danny spoke up with a first meeting that wasn’t too far off the mark.

“He came to my rescue when I was having a little trouble getting away from some folks who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“I’m glad Jordan could be there for you,” his mother said.

“Me too. He’s been great.”

The four of them chatted for a few minutes. His father had started excusing himself and his mother so they could go and get food when Jordan sensed a shift in the party’s atmosphere. Conversations quieted, the music becoming louder in comparison. Footsteps approached from behind him and his mother’s face hardened as she looked over his shoulder.

The hackles on the back of Jordan’s neck rose. He already knew who he would see before he turned around. He turned, and sure enough, Leon was there in one of his track suits, a crowd of his associates behind him.

“Isn’t this cozy? Family and community all together.”

“What do you care about the community?” his mother snapped. “You turned your back on us years ago.”

“No, I’m still a part of it. Just not in the way you all wanted. Pinning your hopes and dreams on one kid.” He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “As if that would make a difference.”

“Look around, Leon. One kid did make a difference. My kid.”

“Mom.” Jordan warned her off and stepped in front of his mother. He and Leon had one rule when it came to their war — no family would be harmed — but he didn’t trust the other man to stick to his word. “What do you want, Leon?”

Leon answered with a smug grin. “I came by to get a plate. Food is for everybody, right?”

Jordan wanted to wipe that cocky smile off his former friend’s face. But he didn’t want any trouble. There were too many vulnerable people around and he didn’t want the police or the P-Bots showing up. The quickest way to get rid of Leon would be to let him have what he claimed to have come for.

“Help yourself,” Jordan said through gritted teeth.

Leon snapped his fingers. “Go and get me a plate. And skip to the front of the line, I don’t feel like waiting.”

An underling took off to do as ordered. Jordan and Leon stood locked in a stare down, everyone around them tense. Leon moved, shifting to take a step closer to Danny.

“You must be the boyfriend. I’ve heard about you.” He held a hand out. “I’m Leon.”

Danny glared, not accepting the handshake.

Jordan gently pushed Danny behind him. “You don’t talk to him.”

“Why? Scared I might steal him too?”

Anger flared in his chest, bright and hot. His right palm tingled, the tell-tale sign that electricity was about to spark, until Danny slipped a hand into his. The power immediately retreated.

Leon grinned. “Careful, buddy. We wouldn’t want to shock the residents with any displays of anger.”

He took another step closer, although now his attention was solely focused on Jordan.

“You came to flex in my space. I’m here to do the same in yours.”

Of course. Leon never could let any slight go. Jordan didn’t react but he wanted Leon and his people out of there. The longer they were there, the more likely someone from either side was going to do or say something that popped off a fight. Thankfully, Leon’s underling returned at that moment with three foil-covered plates. Leon backed off.

“I’ll be seeing you soon.”

He left, his sycophants trailing behind him.

Jordan watched them leave, tense and wondering if he’d imagined that Leon had seemed to look right at Danny when he’d made that final remark.

Chapter Twenty-One

A

t the end of the long day, Danny returned with Jordan to his apartment. Jordan held tight to his hand as they walked back to his bedroom.

“Shower with me?” Jordan quietly asked.

“Of course.”

They disrobed before they went into the bathroom. Jordan turned on the water, testing it to make sure the temperature was right before pulling Danny under the three shower heads with him. Mesh sponges in hand, they tiredly soaped each other up. Danny was tired physically but Jordan’s weariness went deeper than that, he could tell. He’d lost his relaxed mood when Leon showed up and it never returned.

Blinking water from his eyelashes, Danny looked up at his boyfriend. “Thank you for taking me to the block party. I enjoyed myself.”

“I’m glad you came. Everybody enjoyed meeting you. And I haven’t ever spent that much time at the party. It was nice.”

“I’m glad you gave it a chance.” Danny hesitated before bringing up the elephant crammed into the shower with them. “I’m sorry Leon showed up and ruined it for you.”

Jordan’s full lips momentarily thinned with displeasure before he responded.

“He’s never come before. But like he said, he couldn’t resist getting a little payback on me, even if he had to make the entire neighborhood uncomfortable in the process.”

“He’s a jerk.”

Jordan huffed a laugh. “Yeah, he is. Come on, let’s dry off and go to bed.”

He twisted off the faucet and they stepped out onto the bath mat. Jordan reached for a dry towel, but Danny stayed his hand.

“Can I serve you tonight?”

Jordan looked surprised at the request but gave his permission with a nod.

“Yes, you may.”

Danny grabbed one of the big bath towels from the rack. He reached to start drying Jordan, but this time he was the one stopped.

“Take care of yourself first, angel.”

Danny hurriedly swiped the towel over his limbs and torso. When he was dry, he abandoned that towel for a fresh one to start on Jordan.

He began at the top. Stretching up on his tiptoes, he gently patted Jordan’s head and face dry. He moved to smooth the towel down the thick column of his neck, dabbing at droplets of water on his collarbone. When it came time to dry his chest, Danny spread the towel over both hands. Cupping firm pecs, he rubbed the towel in slow circles to dry golden-brown skin.

Danny followed the trail of silky black hair down to dry Jordan’s abs, allowing his fingers to play over ridged muscle once the water was gone. Jordan’s arms received special attention. He stepped close and used his tongue to lap away one sparkling droplet on the cut of Jordan’s left bicep before he dried all the way down his forearm, finishing with his hand. Their bodies brushed together as he circled around to repeat the process on the right arm. Jordan watched him, quiet as always, his gaze so fierce and intent that a shiver traced down Danny’s spine.

He went to his knees, slowly so he didn’t injure himself on the hard tile. Wrapping the towel around Jordan’s muscled thigh, he patted him dry from hip to foot. Before he moved to the other leg, he paused. Before his eyes, Jordan’s cock began filling with blood, rising proudly from the thatch of dark curls at his groin. Danny looked up at his Dom.

“May I touch?”

Jordan gave a tight nod for his answer.

Danny momentarily abandoned the towel. His fingers flicked away some of the water glistening on his lover’s veined shaft. His tongue took care of the rest. Then he pursed his lips and blew a soft breath to dry the moisture his mouth left behind. Bringing the towel back into play, Danny patted crisp pubic hair and heavy balls dry. Danny sighed at the virile beauty before him, his breath making his lover’s cock twitch before he moved on to the other leg.

By the time he stood to dry Jordan’s back, most of the water had evaporated from his skin. Still, he rubbed the terry cloth from wide shoulders to narrow waist to ensure no moisture remained. And finally, he dried the firm, muscled curves of his ass. There was so much strength there. As if it prove it, a muscle flexed when Danny let the towel fall away. He tossed it over the towel rack before returning to stand in front of Jordan.

“All done?”

Danny shook his head. “Not yet.” He quickly grabbed what he needed from the bathroom closet then grasped Jordan’s hand to tug him out to the bedroom.

“Sit down.”

Jordan let himself be pushed to sit on the foot of the bed. Danny climbed on behind him. Even after their hot shower, Jordan’s muscles were tense. Danny was going to take care of that right now.

He poured a little of the oil he’d brought from the bathroom into his palm. The scent of coconut rose in the room as he rubbed his hands together, warming up the oil. He set his fingers on the side of Jordan’s neck and began massaging the column in circles.

Jordan groaned.

“Too hard?”

“It’s perfect.”

Smiling, Danny continued. As he massaged tight muscles, he thought about how much he loved their contrasts. His small, dark topaz hands gliding over huge muscles wrapped in amber gold skin. It was a lovely sight. He would have to paint it soon.

As he moved down Jordan’s back, the big man began to relax under Danny’s ministrations. His thumbs got a good work out as he dug them into knot after knot, smoothing them away. When Jordan sighed with pleasure, his head falling forward on his neck, peace and happiness flowed through Danny. This is what he’d wanted — to care for Jordan, soothing his stress and tension away. He leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“Better?”

Jordan stirred, lifting his head. “Much better. You’re too good to me. Too good for me.”

Danny didn’t believe that at all. Jordan was a good man and he deserved care and love. Even now, Danny was still filled with the urge to serve him. He wanted to be at his Dom’s feet. There was only one thing left to do. He slipped off the bed and kneeled naked on the floor in front of his lover.

“What are you doing?’

“What do you think I’m doing?” And then, because that was a little to sassy to suit his mood, he bowed his head. “I want to serve you, Sir. Make you feel good. Will you let me?”

He waited, his head still bowed. Jordan put a finger beneath his chin and tipped his head up.

“I would never want to see you scared or in danger. But I’m so glad I heard your yell and found you that night.”

Danny kissed the thumb that Jordan brushed over his lips. “Me too.”

Jordan took his hand away and braced both of them on the bed behind him. “I want you to serve me, angel. Make your Dom feel good.”

Warmth and happiness spread through Danny’s chest, even as desire pooled low in his belly. He pushed Jordan’s knees apart so he could slip between them. Taking his cock in hand, Danny stroked him a few times, working up pearly beads of pre-cum from the tip. He touched his tongue to one, tasting the heady musk of a powerful man. His mind starting to feel soft and floaty, Danny lapped the head once, twice, before succumbing to his need to suck it into his mouth.

He moaned when he had Jordan’s cock thick and heavy on his tongue, receiving an answering groan from above. Danny sucked, lips sliding up and down at a pace that pulled groan after groan of pleasure from Jordan’s throat. The fingers of one hand gripped the sheets, and his thigh muscles flexed and trembled when Danny licked down to tongue his balls. It was a fantastic rush to know that he gave this powerful man so much pleasure that he trembled from it.

Danny’s cock ached, but he didn’t touch it, choosing instead to let his desire simmer in his blood while he gave all of his effort to making Jordan come. When Jordan was close, his cock pulsing against Danny’s tongue, he pulled off and looked up at his Dom. Jordan stared down at him with his eyes so full of lust Danny nearly came from the heat of his gaze. This was perfect and amazing. There was only one thing he wanted.

“Touch me,” he breathed. “Take control.”

Jordan cupped the back of his head with one big hand. Danny opened his mouth wide, ready when Jordan pushed him down onto his cock. Everything that was submissive in him glowed and shivered with delight as Jordan took over, forcing him to take the thick shaft he fed into his mouth and down his throat. At that moment, Danny wasn’t concerned with superhero fights or electricity or villains, he only wanted to make his man — his Dom — feel good. Jordan’s bicep flexed as he worked Danny up and down on his shaft.

“I’m coming, sweetheart. You want to stop?”

He eased up slightly on his grip, giving Danny space to answer yes or no.

Danny shook his head. There was no way he wasn’t seeing this through to the very end. He breathed through his nose as Jordan pushed him down again.

“Damn, baby. So good. So good. Ahh!”

Jordan shouted when he came on Danny’s tongue. Danny drank him down, fondling his balls, making sure every drop was released.

Once Jordan’s cock stopped pulsing in his mouth and his hand dropped away from the back of his head, Danny pulled away. He’d just wiped his lips when Jordan hauled him up to straddle his lap and straight into a fierce kiss. It was frantic and rough and Danny clung with his arms around Jordan’s broad shoulders, grinding his stiff cock against his abs for relief from his unfulfilled desire.

“Give me that oil,” Jordan said as soon as they parted.

“You don’t have to.”

“Give me the oil, Danny.”

Danny jumped at the firmly voiced command, stretching forward to grab the bottle he’d abandoned earlier. He passed it to Jordan, watching as he poured a good amount into his palm.

When he wrapped his big, calloused hand around Danny’s cock, Danny dropped his head back with a husky moan. Jordan gave him a slow hand job, steadily working him to climax at a deliciously slow pace. When he finally reached it, his hips pumped of their own volition, thrusting his pulsing cock in Jordan’s fist. Then he slumped, sweaty and satisfied, against his Dom’s chest.

Jordan wiped his hand on the sheet, then wrapped his arms around Danny, pulling him into a hug.

“Danny, I—.”

Danny raised back up at the note of deep feeling in Jordan’s voice. He cupped his face, gently running his fingers over the rough stubble of his low beard. As he gazed into Jordan’s eyes, he could see the love in their depths. But it was behind a shadowed veil of other emotions that kept him from speaking the words. Danny wouldn’t force him to say what he already knew. “It’s all right. When you’re ready, okay? When you’re ready.”

Jordan nodded then pulled him close again to tuck his face into the curve of Danny’s neck.

Danny held him tight, letting him breathe and just be. Jordan might be the Dom, but Danny instinctively understood that sometimes Dom’s needed space to recover too.

Eventually they made it under the covers and Jordan switched off the light. Assuming they were going to sleep, Danny settled down against his chest. But Jordan spoke into the darkness, his voice a low rumble beneath Danny’s ear.

“I’ve known Leon since we were kids. We were always together, from elementary all the way through high school. I was the dumb football jock. It was Leon everyone assumed would go on to make something of himself. He was a demon on the basketball court, racking up more points and records than any other point guard in the school’s history. But he was also sharply intelligent and fiercely out and proud. Teachers pointed at him as someone other students should look up to. Neighborhood parents welcomed him into their homes and were thrilled to have him as a friend for their kids.”

Danny lay there quietly, listening to the spontaneous confession. He didn’t want to interrupt and break Jordan’s flow, so he stroked the back of his hand to show he was awake and engaged.

“But I knew the truth. Leon was smug in his intelligence. And when the eyes of the neighborhood elders weren’t on him, he loved the thrill of petty crime. Leon sneered at people behind their backs for not realizing it was him knocking over their mailboxes and slashing their tires. I won’t lie. I thought it was funny and joined in right along with him. So did Travis, my cousin and the third in our group. He was two grades behind me in school. Travis started hanging out with us because he looked up to me. I let him tag along because I liked being admired and showing off.”

“The three of us moved up from knocking over mailboxes to stealing cars so we could race each other. Joyriding and street racing were all fun and games. Until it wasn’t. The fun and games ended the night Travis died.”

∞∞∞

YEARS HAD PASSED but the memories were still sharp enough to cut Jordan to the quick. His grieving aunt, slapping him across the face in front of everyone at the funeral. His mother, furious at her sister for striking her child. His father, noticing the electricity sparking on Jordan’s clenched fists and hustling him away from the gravesite before anyone else noticed too.

After the funeral, it was weeks of tense silence and hushed whispers behind his parent’s closed bedroom door. His aunt hated him for his involvement in her son’s death. As a result, the relationship between his mother and her sister was irreparably damaged, which lead to a huge rift in the family. Ashamed of the hurt he’d caused, and grieving his cousin, he’d nearly taken off with plans to disappear for good. But his father had seemed to read his mind and knew what he was planning. He’d taken a hiatus from work in order to help him get through it.

Jordan continued the story, determined to get it all out in one go. “But even after the tragedy, I didn’t clean up my act. I took advantage of my developing skills, using them to do exactly what we’d always done. Leon was there every night, egging me on.”

“Until one night, I was out by myself and saw a couple of punks harassing a homeless guy. That shit didn’t fly with me so I jumped in to help him. The punks took off and the man was grateful. I went home but I didn’t tell anyone what I’d done.”

“I started going out at night, at first patrolling my immediate neighborhood and then branching out. And that’s when I realized. The powers I’d been granted by whatever fluke of nature or unknown deity weren’t meant to aid my petty crimes or as an advantage on the football field. They were given to me to help those that needed saving. So that’s what I did. I slowly learned how to become Blaze.”

I didn’t feel absolved for Travis’s death. But with each person I saved, and every young person I helped turn away from crime, I felt less awful for the role I played in it. I tried to convince Leon to change too.”

Why commit crimes when we can stop them? It’s just as much of a rush.

Man, you’re crazy. I’m not putting my life on the line for people I don’t know.

“Unfortunately, Leon didn’t see it that way. He wanted to continue living his life on his own terms. As our senior year drew to a close, his crimes escalated. It wasn’t just vandalism and joy riding. He got involved with a ring of guys boosting cars to chop up for parts to sell. The summer after we graduated, Leon went too far. He hurt someone while stealing their car.”

“When I stopped him and turned him in to the police, I thought I was helping. In the eyes of the town, he’d always been a good kid. I figured they’d do some scared straight type shit with counseling and community service. But Leon spent several months locked up and ended up losing his college scholarships. The neighborhood turned against me, blaming me not only for Travis’s death, but for leading Leon down the wrong path with a bad crowd. I shouldered that blame, because a few months of good deeds didn’t make up for the previous years of being a punk. And maybe I was responsible for Leon’s trouble. It shouldn’t have taken as much as it did to get me to knock it off with the teenage criminal routine. If I’d spoken up sooner—.”

“No.”

Jordan abruptly stopped as the fierce little voice came at him in the dark.

“You were all teenagers who made some pretty damn horrible decisions. I won’t try to tell you you didn’t do anything wrong. Because obviously you did. But you made a choice to turn your life around and I know you had to work hard to make that happen.”

You’re still haunted by those past actions, which is why you don’t usually interact at the yearly cookout. You think they’re still judging you. And maybe some of them are. But I heard lots of good things about you today, praise for the work you do in the community, the jobs you give, the people you help. And that’s all without any of them knowing that you’re Blaze.”

The sheets rustled as Danny propped himself up on one elbow.

“It’s time you stopped punishing yourself. Leon is responsible for his own choices. He wasn’t given amazing superpowers like you, but there are lots of people in the world who’ve turned their lives around without them. He could have recovered from his mistakes. Instead, he decided to become an even bigger criminal. That’s on him. Not you.”

Jordan stared up at his lover, feeling unbelievably lucky. Danny was able to get him to talk so easily. It was a relief to have unburdened himself and to know that Danny was still willing to stay by his side even after learning of his horrible past.

“Thank you for listening.” He pulled him down into a tender kiss. “Thank you even more for seeing me as a good person.”

“You are a good person, Jordan. Good and worthy and I’m proud to be by your side.”

“And you’re warm and sweet and I’m so damn lucky to have you.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

G

eek Fest was coming up soon, and Danny had a sudden idea to customize some of the art prints he planned sell. Since he also needed tablecloths and other supplies for the booth, he made a quick run to the craft store. He’d get what he needed, then head over to Jordan’s to watch the V.P. Fair fireworks from his balcony.

The store had short hours because of the holiday. Danny made it in thirty minutes before closing. He rushed around, getting everything he needed. Once he finished shopping and checked out, Danny ditched the cart and walked out of the store with his hands full of bags. He had a ways to go to get to his car when a young Caucasian man with what looked like an honest to God bowl cut approached him.

“Hey, cutie. Where you going?”

Apprehensive about being approached like this, Danny didn’t make eye contact with the stranger when he responded. “Home,” he said in an even tone.

“Can I come?”

The man asked the question with a flirtatious grin, but Danny still had that nervous feeling of is this guy here to flirt or hurt? in the pit of his stomach. Again, he gave a one-word answer, hoping Bowl Cut would leave him alone and go handle his business in the store. “No.”

“Oh, you’re too good for a little company?”

Danny wanted to snap back with a retort but decided it was best not to engage. He kept walking, increasing the speed of his strides. And he switched the bags in his right hand to his left so he could grab his pepper spray in case the guy tried anything.

“Since I can’t come with you, I guess you’ll have to come with me.”

The guy reached for him but Danny was ready. He raised the pepper spray and blasted him in the face. “I don’t think so, asshole.”

“Fuck, that burns!” the guy yelled, frantically scrubbing his hands over his eyes.

Danny was glad he’d managed to get the upper hand but he didn’t stay to gloat. He took off running for his car. But before he’d made it, someone grabbed him from behind. Damnit! There’d been two of them and he hadn’t even noticed. Dropping his bags, Danny twisted around and raised the spray again, ready to blast this guy too.

“Not happening, buddy.”

The man yanked the keychain out of Danny’s hand and flung it over the row of cars.

Unable to believe that he was being accosted again, Danny fought, grunting and cursing from the effort, his face twisted in a snarl of anger and fear as he struggled to get away. Unfortunately, the man had muscles on top of muscles and hands the size of dinner plates, one of which slapped over his mouth right as he dragged in a breath to scream.

“No superhero here to save you this time, little man,” he said with a cruel, taunting laugh.

Danny’s eyes widened as he recognized that this was the same guy who’d grabbed him in the alley the night he’d learned Jordan’s secret identity. Which meant this assault wasn’t random, and Danny knew exactly who’d sent these lowlifes after him.

The giant brute picked him up, squeezing him in a bear hug until all of the air vacated his lungs and spots danced in front of his eyes. Unable to breathe, Danny stopped fighting and sagged in the big man’s grip. When there was no possibility of him screaming for help, the man tucked Danny under his arm like a football, and hauled him across the parking lot to a shiny black limousine.

Bowl Cut appeared again, his eyes red and streaming tears. He opened the rear passenger door to reveal Leon sitting in the forward facing backseat, dressed in a navy blue Gucci track suit, tennis shoes that were so expensive Danny couldn’t afford to even speak their name, and a haircut with a lining and fade so sharp, it looked as if his barber had used a laser beam to cut his hair.

The brute set Danny on his feet. He staggered for a moment, getting his bearings and sucking much needed air into his lungs.

“Hey, Danny. Come and take a ride with me.”

Leon smiled, his eyes sparkling, but the glimmer was as cold and bright as light reflecting off a machete’s edge. Even if he hadn’t been manhandled to the car by Leon’s goons, Danny wouldn’t have gotten in there with him. This man was scary.

“No, thank you.”

The smile dropped in an instant. “That wasn’t a request.”

The brute shoved Danny hard in the middle of his back, and he went flying forward to land on his knees on the floor of the limo. Danny scrambled up to the seat across from Leon, cringing against the door when the brute got in and sat down next to him. Bowl Cut tried to get in too, but Leon stopped him by raising a manicured hand. In the midst of his terror, Danny noted that Leon’s nails had a sheen of silver glitter. Irrationally, that pissed him off. Evil people shouldn’t be allowed to use pretty glitter polish.

“You’re not bringing the smell of that pepper spray into my ride to make us all choke. Find another way back.”

“Yes, sir.” Bowl Cut glared at Danny before nodding and closing the door.

During Leon and Bowl Cut’s exchange, Danny sneakily tried to open the car door. It was locked of course, and nothing happened when he tried to unlock it. Great. Child lock on one side of him. Big mountain of a man who liked giving painful, spine breaking bear hugs on the other. He wasn’t getting out of this car until they let him out.

The limo pulled out of the parking lot with a smooth, barely noticeable hum, taking Danny on a ride he had no desire to go on. He sat there, arms crossed over his still aching chest, trying to put up a front that he was more pissed than scared. “What do you want with me?”

“I’ve got a problem and I need you to help me solve it.”

“Unless you need an official logo drawn for your gang or whatever, I have no way to help you with your problem.”

“That’s cute. First of all, I run a business, not a gang. Second, my problem is I’m tired of your sparky boyfriend messing up my money.”

Danny managed to pull off a nonchalant shrug. “I can’t help you with that. Blaze does his own thing.”

“I’m aware of that. But when he finds out I have you, he’ll back off and let me run my business in peace.”

“Have you considered running a business that doesn’t involve criminal activity? Then you wouldn’t have to resort to kidnapping to get yourself off of Blaze’s radar.”

“You’ve got a smart mouth. And I’m tired of listening to it.” He nodded at the brute.

Before Danny could turn to see what that head nod meant, a thick cloth was pressed over his nose and he inhaled a sickly, sweet scent. Panicked, Danny tugged and scratched at the big hand, trying to get the cloth away from his face. But it was no use. His hands fell to his lap as the strength ran out of his limbs. And soon, his eyes became too heavy to keep open.

“He’ll find me,” Danny managed to get out as the drug started taking effect.

The last thing he saw was Leon’s smug grin and a glittery fingernail tapping his chin. The crime lord’s words came to him through a fog, echoing in his head.

“I’m counting on it.”

***

The garage was quiet today. Jordan gave his team off for the holiday and closed the garage to customers, but a few people came in to work on their own cars. Jordan was there because he rarely took a day off. So was Nina but her reasons for showing up to work on a holiday were family related. His phone dinged as he was putting the paint gun away. He didn’t always answer his personal phone during the work day, but since it was Danny’s ring tone he went ahead and took his phone from his pocket. Danny had sent him a text. Jordan opened it to a picture of Danny, bound and unconscious in the back seat of an unfamiliar car. Jordan frowned. Before his brain had a chance to fully comprehend what he was seeing, his phone beeped again and another message came through. If you want him back in one piece, you’ll meet me at Fair St. Louis at eight o’clock.

Jordan shot to his feet, ripping off his respirator mask. Several light bulbs exploded overhead, popping one after the other in rapid succession.

Nina rushed over; her eyes wide with alarm.

“What’s wrong?”

“Leon has Danny,” he said still staring down at the phone.

“What? Where?”

“At the Fair.” Jordan threw the answer over his shoulder. He was already on the way to the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, he stepped in and turned back to face Nina.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get him back. No matter what it takes.” The elevator doors closed on Nina’s worried face and took him down to the lair. By the time it stopped, Jordan was halfway undressed. He left his coveralls and shoes in the elevator, the shirt he discarded on the floor on the path to his leathers.

As he geared up, he considered all the places Leon could have taken Danny. The Fair was always packed with huge crowds of people, vendor stalls, and stages for performances. That made for lots of places to hide. But Leon wouldn’t waste time hiding. He wanted Jordan to come to him for whatever he had planned and was using Danny as bait. Which meant he’d be in the most obvious place. And the most obvious place was the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the towering monument that rose high over the fairgrounds.

Jordan dressed in record time. He dropped down into the seat of the Challenger and started it up. As soon as the engine was ready, he stomped on the gas, leaving rubber on the ground as he peeled out, flying through the underground tunnel. He shot up the ramp, going so fast the tires briefly left the ground. Jordan stayed in control of the powerful car, steering it into the right lane and quickly heading for the riverfront.

His in-dash video phone connected as he tore through the streets. Jordan took his attention away from the road long enough to see it was Big Rob’s face on the small screen.

“What?”

“Nina told me what’s going on. Let us help you.”

“I’m not going to waste time stopping to plan anything out. I want Danny away from that piece of shit as soon as possible.”

“Blaze—.”

Jordan cut him off. “If you want to help, meet me at the Arch. That’s most likely where Leon is holding him. I can use you and whoever you bring as backup.”

“We’ll be there.”

Blaze ended the call without another word. Hands tight on the steering wheel and gaze locked on the road, he sped to the riverfront with grim determination.

∞∞∞

COLD WIND BUFFETING his face brought Danny back to consciousness. A blindfold covered his eyes, and his mouth tasted like he’d been force fed a bag of cotton balls. He worked his tongue around in his mouth, trying to work up moisture. “You villains have got to stop knocking me out,” he croaked as soon as he was able to speak. A voice spoke up over the gusting wind.

“Careful there. Wouldn’t want you to fall.”

The owner of the voice untied the blindfold, letting it fall away. Danny opened his eyes and took in his surroundings in growing horror. Open sky above his head. Metal beneath his bare feet. The Mississippi river across and below him. He was six hundred and thirty feet in the air, on top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

“Oh, shit! Oh, fuck!” He didn’t need a second warning to be careful. He froze to the spot, terrified one wrong move would send him plummeting over the edge.

Leon stepped from his side to stand right in front of him.

“Hi, Danny. I told you you were going to help me.”

Danny gaped at him, too scared to think of a comeback.

“But I was kidding. You won’t fall unless I want you to.” He tapped Danny’s wrists, which were tied behind his back.

Danny realized he was bound to a pole, the metal cold where it touched his spine and the back of his head.

“The base of this stand is magnetized. Like my boots but more powerful.” He lifted a foot, demonstrating how the sole of his boot almost immediately slammed back down to stick to the metal below it. “Still, I wouldn’t move too much.”

The knowledge that he was somewhat secure gave Danny only the slightest sense of relief. He was still higher than he’d ever planned to be unless he was sitting in a plane seat and snacking on peanuts. He realized something. The ground below was full of revelers but none of them were reacting to the extremely out of the ordinary sight of people standing on top of the Arch. They were high up, true. But it wasn’t full dark yet, people should be able to see them.

“Why doesn’t anyone see we’re up here?”

“That’s courtesy of my friend, Lady Shade. She’s got us masked. We won’t be seen until I want us to be seen.”

Too scared to move more than his head, Danny looked to the side to see a woman with long black hair, holding a black lace parasol. She stood still as stone, her hair and dress untouched by the wind. She looked weird, but didn’t appear to be an immediate threat. Unlike the man in front of him. Danny turned back to Leon.

“Why are we up here? You couldn’t hold me hostage in a basement?”

“I want to recreate a little magic from years ago.”

“What magic?”

“Jordan didn’t tell you how he got his powers?”

“He told me there was an accident.”

“Typical,” Leon said with a snort. “Of course he left out all the good parts since they don’t make him look good. Would you like to know exactly what kind of accident there was?”

Danny had to yell slightly to be heard over the wind. “I’m literally a captive audience. I can’t stop you from saying whatever you want to say.”

“True. But you’re curious. And you want me to tell you this story. Lucky for you, we’ve got time to kill.”

Danny wouldn’t admit it but Leon was right. He did want to know the full story of the night Jordan had received his powers.

“When Jordan, Travis and I were kids, we liked to boost cars. We didn’t keep ‘em. Just used ‘em for street races and joyriding, then left them on the side of the road for the cops to find. Except one night, the police showed up right as we boosted a sweet Mustang Cobra. We ditched it and took off running with the police in pursuit.”

“It started to storm. We knew we’d have a better chance to get away if we went up high, so Jordan suggested we climb to one of our rooftop hangouts. To put more distance between us, we kept going ready, to jump to the next building. We’d made that jump a dozen times before but that night Travis didn’t make it. He landed on the edge, pinwheeling and yelling. Jordan tried to run back and help but Travis dropped. I heard him hit the ground even over the noise of the storm.”

Danny regretted giving his silent agreement to hear this story. He didn’t want to hear anymore, but Leon continued.

“You should have seen Jordan’s face when Travis fell. It was hysterical. His mouth open and eyes all big, hanging over the side of the building while Travis went splat. I wanted to laugh but had to keep up appearances that I gave a fuck about my so-called friends. Jordan stayed on his knees, screaming in the rain like he was in a fucking R&B video. I wasn’t about to sit around and get caught by the cops, so I took off again. And that’s when the power line came down.”

Danny listened as Leon told the story, speaking without an ounce of remorse or sorrow. He sounded as if he were sharing harmless youthful exploits, rather than the unpleasant death of a young man. “You’re evil,” he whispered, the wind snatching the words out of his mouth. Somehow Leon heard, or read his lips, because he agreed.

“Yes,” Leon said matter of factly. “Jordan always suspected something was up. But he just thought I was an asshole. It wasn’t until he caught me fucking his boyfriend on top of Travis’s memorial that he really knew.”

Nausea twisted Danny’s stomach. He’d known that Jordan’s former lover had betrayed him — he hadn’t realized it was in such a disrespectful manner. “If you think you’re going to do that to me...”

“Nah, that’s not what I want. What I want is to see that self-righteous, glorified bug-zapper’s face when you go cartwheeling off this monument. It’ll be even better than watching Travis fall, I know it. Might have to get my phone out and snap a pic so I can have more than just a memory of it.”

Fear and disgust and rage pulsed in Danny’s head. This monster had traumatized him and planned to kill him to get revenge on Blaze for stopping his criminal behavior. He wasn’t dumb enough to pull against the restraints but he lost enough of his cool to yell in his captor’s face. “You know what I can’t wait to see? Blaze kicking your ass!”

“He can try. But I’m ready for him.”

Leon pulled a red foil packet from his pocket and tore it open. He dropped his head back and dumped the contents into his mouth, holding it there for a long moment before he swallowed, his Adam’s Apple bobbing up and down. Leon raised his head and grinned at Danny. He shook his arms out and bounced on his toes.

“Pure, un-cut Croton, baby. My strength is increasing exponentially, fear response is diminished, and I’ll feel no pain. Which means, I’m about to hulk up and beat the brakes off your boy. Try not to cry too hard when he’s laying bloody at your feet.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

E

very street leading to the riverfront was blocked off. Blaze didn’t give a fuck. He crashed through barriers, laying on the horn in warning for pedestrians to get out of the way. When he reached the riverfront section below the Arch, he brought the Challenger to a hard stop, tires squealing on the pavement.

He jumped out and sprinted up the bluff steps to the base of the monument, expecting to see Leon standing there with Danny and a dozen of his Red Vests in front of him. But they weren’t there. In fact, there was nothing out of the ordinary. People milled around, eating fair food and drinking from plastic cups. On the hill behind the Arch, people sat on blankets, waiting for the fireworks to start.

Blaze spun around in a slow circle, confused. He’d been sure this was the place Leon would take Danny for his showdown. He wished the tracker was still active on the card he’d given Danny. But those were only for temporary use, and it would have deactivated weeks ago. He would have to find Danny on his own.

Frustration started to build in his chest, and he clenched his fists. Then as he looked at the Arch, towering over the grounds, it hit him. Leon always saw himself as above everyone else. He would want to take this fight to the highest ground possible. Leon wasn’t at the Arch. He was on it.

Blaze walked to the base of the steel monument. He took a deep breath, got a running start and jumped. Magnetizing his hands and feet helped him stick to metal so that he could spider crawl up the side. Fairgoers yelled and screamed when they saw what he was doing, but he ignored them and kept climbing. Even using his powers and his strength it was a tough climb. The higher he went, the stronger the wind grew, until he had to fight to stay attached and not get knocked off by a strong gust.

When he reached the top, an odd disorienting shadow kept him from seeing more than an arm’s length in front of him. Blaze waved his hand in front of his face. The veil or whatever it was lifted, revealing Leon, a black-haired woman he didn’t recognize, and Danny. Danny was bound to a metal pole, his hands behind his back. Jordan took a step toward him but he couldn’t get to him without clashing with Leon who blocked his path.

“Danny! Are you okay?” he called out.

Danny barely moved when he answered.

“I’m fine,” he shouted back. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m going to get you out of this, I swear.”

“You guys are so romantic.”

Blaze looked at his enemy. Leon stared back, a cocky grin on his face.

“Thank you, Lady Shade,” he said to the woman.

She bowed her head before disappearing into thin air.

“I had Lady Shade use her powers to mask our presence. Wouldn’t want the fair-goers to see us and set off a panic before we could start our little get together.”

Furious that Danny was in this position, Blaze glared at Leon, fighting the urge to blast him with heart-stopping electric bolt. “Family is supposed to be off-limits Leon. I know you’re a piece of shit, but I thought you’d at least stick to that one rule.”

“He’s family?” Leon raised an eyebrow. “Did you put a ring on it?”

“No, but—.”

“I’m talking! I am sick to my fucking guts of you running around this city, policing everybody like having powers made you a god.”

“Is that what this is about? You’re jealous because I’m enhanced and you’re not?”

“Please.” Leon scoffed. “I’m not jealous of Jordan Wells.”

“You are!” Blaze shouted over the rushing wind. “You’ve always been jealous of me. Jealous I was a better football player even though you owned the damn basketball team as the starting point guard. Hell, you were jealous I was better at stealing and racing cars. Every little thing that I had, that anybody had, you always wanted for yourself. I can imagine how it’s been eating at you all these years that I have super powers and you don’t.”

“Shut up,” Leon snarled. You might have had a few wins on me. But I had the grades, the guys, and the scholarships. My life was set, until you decided to be a self-righteous prick and turned me in for the same shit you used to do.”

“I never went as far as you did and you know it. I didn’t physically hurt anyone.”

“Really? Let’s ask Travis if he was hurt. Oh, wait...” He trailed off, a shit eating grin on his face.

Fury and years’ old shame and grief burned low in his gut. Blaze hastily closed his mind to it. He wasn’t going down that road or he might end up doing something rash. “You got me up here, Leon. What do you want?”

“I want to take you on one on one. You win — you take your little chocolate drop home and I won’t bother him again.”

“And if I lose?”

“If you lose, you stay out of my business forever.”

Blaze would have immediately agreed. But he knew it wasn’t that simple. “And?”

“And... Danny goes splat!” he said as he loudly clapped his hands together.

“Fuck that. I’m not risking his life over a pissing contest. Let me take him down right now and I’ll leave your entire operation alone. If you still want to fight, you and I can settle it once he’s safe on the ground.”

“You don’t dictate the terms here, Jordan.”

Leon was right, as long as he had control of Danny, he could neither dictate terms or brute force his way out of this. He changed tactics. “You couldn’t beat me in high school in our play fights. What makes you think you can beat me now?”

“I had a boost to my stats.”

“He took Croton!” Danny shouted.

“But wait, there’s more.” Leon pulled a pair of gloves from his back pocket. They were black leather, with huge metal spikes across the knuckles. “The way I see it, you’ve got three options,” he said as he pulled on the gloves. “One, refuse to fight me and try to get your boy. But I’ll try to stop you and we’ll end up fighting anyway. Two. Throw me off the Arch and kill me to get me out of the way without any fuss. Three, man up and fight me.”

“You know I’m not a killer, Leon.”

“I don’t know what you get up to in that suit when you’re running around playing God.”

Blaze clenched his jaw, determined not to lose his temper. “Fine. Let’s fight.”

“Wise choice. But be careful where you throw those bolts of electricity. Wouldn’t want a loose spark to hit your lover.”

Blaze snapped his head over to look at Danny. His eyes were wide with fear, the expression matching the icy terror that shot down Blaze’s spine. By binding Danny to a metal pole, he’d essentially turned him into a lightning rod. If one of his bolts missed Leon and hit that pole, he could electrocute his lover. He would have to be careful using his power, especially since extreme emotion — like fear for Danny — made it more erratic. Leon had set things to his advantage well, hobbling Blaze’s ability to use his greatest weapon.

This was dangerous. The most dangerous fight he’d ever been in, with the highest of stakes. There was barely any room to maneuver. Too many steps left or right and he’d fall off the edge. Too many back or forth and he’d slide down the side. At least if he fell that way, he might be able to stop his fall. And of course, he had to be careful not to knock into Danny.

He put his guard up. Leon took the first swing right as the first firework went off overhead with a loud boom and shimmer of colorful sparks. Blaze ducked, and went to come up with a punch as he usually did. But his focus was split between so many details — keeping an eye on Danny, watching to make sure he didn’t get too close to the edge, calculating how much voltage he could safely use, that he forgot to keep his feet magnetized as he moved. Between the force of his swing and the buffeting wind, he almost lost his balance. He aborted the punch and quickly steadied himself. Damnit.

“C’mon, Jordan!” Leon taunted. “It’s just like our old play fights, remember? You should be able to beat me easily.”

Before Blaze could calibrate, Leon hit him with a double-punch combo to each side of his torso. Those metal spikes made their presence felt when Leon’s fists collided with his flesh. But Blaze didn’t let it faze him. While Leon was in close, Blaze threw his head forward. Leon managed to bob to the side and avoid most of the head butt, but the blow was enough to rock him back in those magnetized boots.

Blaze steeled himself and took Leon’s punches while he got acclimated to this fighting environment and studied his opponent. Leon hit him with an uppercut to the jaw, an elbow to the cheek, and more punches to his flanks. The Croton made the other man as strong as an ox and the hits hurt like hell. But Blaze took them all, watching and analyzing Leon’s fighting style.

If he was going to win this fight, he would have to concentrate. He narrowed his focus, eliminating the elements that weren’t top priority. He pushed aside thoughts of using his power so that he wouldn’t have to worry about a rouge surge hitting Danny. And he wouldn’t even look at his lover since he was as safe as he could be at the moment. There was nothing he could do to help him until he defeated Leon. For the time being, his only concern was on keeping his feet magnetized so he didn’t fall, and punching Leon. Now, he was ready to dole out punishment of his own.

Blaze’s fist shot forward, striking Leon with a double right jab to the face, chased by a left hook. Normally he would have followed up with a kick to the torso since his opponent was usually shielding their face by that point. But he couldn’t risk taking his feet from the metal beneath him. Instead, he dropped down low and punched him in the gut. At the body blow, Leon wisely stepped back out of range.

Leon laughed and swiped a gloved fist over his bloody mouth. “There he is. I was starting to think you were too scared to do anything more than be a tomato can.”

“Not scared. Just making adjustments.” He shook his arms out and raised his guard again. “I hope you enjoyed those hits you got on me. Because you won’t get another one.”

“We’ll see about that.”

He swung but Blaze was ready for him. He blocked the hit with his forearm, then blocked the next one Leon threw immediately after. Before Leon could recover, Blaze punched him in the throat. On instinct Leon’s hands flew up to protect the area from more damage while he struggled to get his breathing restarted. Blaze gave him no quarter. He hit him with strike after strike, always on a different part of the body, moving faster than Leon could even think about blocking.

Blaze kept punching but Leon bounced back each time like an inflatable bop bag. Croton really did kill the fear and pain receptors. Taking a risk, he raised a knee and slammed it between Leon’s legs. Apparently, Croton couldn’t block all pain, because Leon screamed and doubled over. Blaze took advantage, punching down and striking Leon on the temple. He brought his knee up again, this time catching Leon on the chin. Bone crunched and a tooth went flying. Leon swayed backward, arms pinwheeling. If it wasn’t for those boots he would have fallen on his ass.

It was time to end it. Leon had staggered back out of his range, so Blaze slowly stepped forward. He grabbed Leon by the throat with one hand, his arm muscles straining as he lifted him in the air. Those boots fought against him, trying to bring Leon back down, but Blaze held him firmly.

Leon choked and coughed under the force of Blaze’s grip. Fireworks crackled above their heads, washing them both in red, then blue, then shimmering gold.

“You won’t kill me,” he wheezed.

“No, I won’t. But this fight is over. With my hand on you like this I don’t have to worry about a stray spark hitting Danny. I can electrocute you enough to knock you out, take Danny, and leave you up here unconscious.” He squeezed, and let enough power rise that Leon would feel the buzz on his skin. “It’d be a shame if while you were out of it you rolled off and fell to your death.”

“Wow, I guess you’ve got me.” Leon coughed again. “But who’s got your boyfriend?”

Blaze whipped his head around to look at Danny. The woman was back. She stood directly in front of Danny who eyed her warily. When she pursed her lips and blew out a tiny breath, Blaze didn’t expect anything to happen. But somehow, that tiny breath knocked Danny back as if he’d been struck by a gale force wind. The pole snapped from its base under the force of the invisible gust. With nothing to hold him, Danny plummeted over the edge, screaming as he fell.

“Jordan!”

“Danny!” Blaze roared his name, as if the sheer volume of his voice could stop his fall. He dropped Leon and sprang forward, sprinting to reach Danny. Without hesitating, Blaze dove off the Arch after him. A blast of his power gave him enough speed to close the gap and catch Danny in his arms. But he didn’t have a way to stop their free fall.

Blaze reached out, trying to use his electromagnetic power to bring him to one of the legs of the Arch so he could control their descent. But they’d fallen dead in the center, he was too far away to reach it. He had only seconds. He could use his power to slow their descent and hopefully form a cushion to lessen their impact.

Unfortunately, from this height and velocity, he didn’t know how much good it would do. But he had to try. He might break every bone in his body when he hit the ground but hopefully, he would take all the damage and Danny wouldn’t be harmed as much.

“Hold on, baby,” he yelled to be heard over the rushing wind.

Danny didn’t respond. He just looked at him with eyes open so wide the whites showed all the way around.

Blaze started gathering his power, building a sphere of electricity around them, when suddenly the air turned as cold as a meat locker. Before he had a chance to process the incongruous change in temperature, a thick sheet of ice shot up beneath him, and he landed on his back with a solid thump. The second he hit, he started sliding down what appeared to be a gigantic ice slide. Blaze tightened his hold on Danny, making sure he didn’t tumble over the edge. They whooshed down the ice slide, going so fast that castoff ice and slush flew up in their faces. At the bottom, they shot off into the grass. Their momentum propelled them forward, and they tumbled and rolled for several feet before they came to a stop.

A crowd of shocked on-lookers rushed over and formed a circle around him and Danny, asking what happened, phones out and recording. Blaze ignored them all in order to focus on his rightfully terrified lover. “Are you okay?”

Shivering, his face ashen beneath the normally rich brown of his skin, Danny nodded.

“I’m in one piece.”

Fireworks were still going off over their heads as Blaze stood and helped Danny to his feet. A slim blond pushed through the crowd. Blaze hadn’t ever worked with him before, but he knew who he was by the short, white fur coat he wore despite the July heat. “Frost. Thank you.”

“No problem. I was already on the fairgrounds so I ran over as soon as I heard what was up. The others arrived right as I was throwing up the slide.”

Blaze looked behind him to see Ignite flying up toward the top of the Arch, using his flames to melt the ice slide as he went. Helios floated to the ground, a defeated but still cocky Leon in his grip. Lady Shade was nowhere to be seen. Nina and Big Rob arrived and started working crowd control. Nina was in jeans and a T-shirt but her mask hid her face. She held her electrified escrima sticks in her hands, twirling them around as a deterrent to those trying to push forward and get closer on her half of the circle. Behind him, Rob was in full gear, his deep voice booming as loud as the fireworks.

“Y’all get back. I said get back!” He stomped his foot and the ground rumbled beneath them. Everybody backed up then.

Rob looked over his shoulder at Blaze. “We’ve got it from here.” He nodded at Danny. “Go get him taken care of.”

“Thanks, man.” He cast a nod of gratitude at Nina, then swung Danny up into his arms bridal style and sprinted back to his car.

Jordan got Danny settled in the passenger seat, buckled his seat belt, then hopped over the hood to get to the driver’s side. He went back the way he’d come since those barriers were already destroyed.

“Do you have any injuries?” he asked as he drove at only a slightly slower speed than he had getting there. “I can get you to the hospital faster than waiting for an ambulance.”

“No,” Danny said quietly. “I want to go home and rest.”

Jordan hoped he was okay going back to his place. His security system would come in handy in case Leon’s crew tried to exact revenge for their boss’s defeat and capture. Thankfully Danny didn’t protest when it became obvious what route they were on. Jordan activated his in-dash phone and placed a call.

“Dad. Can you come by my place tonight? I need you to take a look at Danny.”

“Is it an emergency?”

Jordan looked over at Danny. He didn’t have any visible injuries, but he was still ashen, and he sat there in the seat, limp as a ragdoll. “I don’t think he needs to go to an emergency room but it’s still vital that he’s seen soon.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, son.”

They ended the call. By now Jordan had arrived at the first entrance to the lair. He sped through each one, noticing that Danny didn’t react or even so much as move at any of them. In the garage, he lifted Danny out of the passenger seat. He didn’t protest or even tease Jordan about being carried. He lay still and silent in Jordan’s arms, face tucked against his chest. Terrified at Danny’s shutdown, Jordan wanted to squeeze him tight, and reassure them both that he was okay, but he restrained himself. He needed to stay calm.

The elevator ride was quick as always, and in the apartment, he carried Danny straight back to the bedroom. Jordan gently set him on the edge of the bed then stripped him out of his clothes. He got Danny into one of his pajama tops that he liked to wear when he slept over, smoothing the too big shirt over his shoulders, then helped him get beneath the covers. After seeing the smallest of shivers, he went to the linen closet to grab an extra blanket. He spread that out over Danny as well.

Jordan pulled the armchair next to the bed, prepared to sit and keep watch. But before he could sit down, a chime sounded, alerting him that someone had used a guest code to take the elevator to the apartment level. His father had arrived.

“I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” he assured Danny before leaving the room.

In the entryway, his father stepped off the elevator, dressed casually for the holiday and carrying his black medical bag. He blinked, casting Jordan a surprised look. Only then did he realize he was still in his gear. He tugged off his helmet, letting it dangle behind his shoulders.

“Hey, Dad. Thanks for coming. It’s Danny. We had a situation earlier.”

“The one down at the Arch? Cell phone videos of it are already on the news.”

“Yeah. He says he’s not hurt. But he’s listless and quiet. Too quiet.”

“From what I saw, he’s probably in shock. Take me to him.”

Jordan led the way back to his bedroom. His heart squeezed when he looked at his lover. Danny was already a tiny thing, but tonight he looked especially small and vulnerable huddled beneath the blankets. He barely made a bump laying there in the center of the big bed.

“You did the right thing helping him get warm,” his father said as he went to sit in the chair Jordan had put next to the bed. He set his medical bag on the floor.

“Hi, Danny. Remember me? I’m Dr. Wells, Jordan’s father.”

Danny turned his head to look first at Jordan then at his father.

“Hi.”

“I heard you had an exciting night. Do you mind if I take a look at you?”

“Okay.”

His father looked back over his shoulder. “Son, I know you’re worried. But give me a moment to examine him. I’ll call you back in as soon as I’m finished.”

Jordan didn’t want to leave, but he understood the need for privacy. He leaned down and placed a kiss on Danny’s forehead, trying not to freak when he felt how cool his skin was. “I’ll be right outside.” He quickly strode from the room and closed the door behind him.

In the hall, he paced. “Home. Adjust temperature to Danny’s setting.”

The system replied in a crisp robotic voice. Raising temperature.

He continued pacing, fists clenching and unclenching, but there was no one to fight. There was nothing for him to do but wait. Just as the tension started to become unbearable, the door opened. His father stepped out into the hall, pulling the door closed until it was open a crack.

“How is he?” Jordan asked, his voice tight with worry and fear.

“He’ll be fine. I gave him a sedative to help him sleep. Right now, he needs warmth, rest, and fluids. Maybe some orange slices when he wakes up. Keep an eye on him and if anything changes, give me a call.”

The tension bled out of Jordan’s shoulders. He nodded, relieved. “Will do.”

His father hesitated. “I’m glad you called me. It’s been some time since you asked one of us for help.”

“Dad.”

His father held up a hand. “No, that wasn’t a reprimand. Simply letting you know that I’m happy to be included and you’re always welcome to ask. Bring Danny by the house when he’s feeling better. Your mom and I would love to see you both.”

Jordan couldn’t help but snort at that. “He might not even want to see me once he’s recovered. Not after what he went through tonight.”

His father smiled and reached out to squeeze Jordan’s shoulder.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Before the sedative took him under, he had nothing but good words to say about you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate you saying that.”

“You need to get some rest too. Super powers or not, you look wrecked.”

Jordan huffed a tired laugh. “I feel wrecked. Leon knows exactly where to hit to hurt the most.”

“It’s a shame that boy went down that path,” his father said shaking his head. “Well, I should go and let you sleep. Which you’d better do. Dad and doctor’s orders. Expect your mom to call and check-in.”

“Of course.”

After the elevator door closed on his dad Jordan went to the kitchen. He placed a grocery delivery order for everything Danny might need or want for the next few days, poured a glass of water and went back to his bedroom. Gently pushing open the door, he walked into the room on silent feet, not wanting to disturb Danny’s much needed rest.

Jordan set the water glass on the nightstand and looked at Danny. As his father had said, he was sleeping peacefully, his face calm and breathing even. He’d almost died. Leon had set up his scheme, forcing him to relive Travis’s death in the most traumatic way possible, with callous disregard for Danny’s life. Thankfully this time, he’d managed to prevent a horrific tragedy.

A relieved breath shuddered out of Jordan’s chest. He stood there for a long moment, head bowed, thanking whatever entities were listening for getting Frost to them on time, and ultimately sparing Danny’s life.

After several deep breaths, Jordan stepped away from the bed to gear down. He tossed the suit on the chair. He’d return it to the garage later. No way he was letting Danny out of his sight. He pulled on a pair of his pajama pants and slid into bed next to Danny, folding the extra cover away from his side so he wouldn’t get too hot. Laying a gentle hand on Danny’s chest, he let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat reassure him as he fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Four

D

e ja vu hit Danny when he woke to Jordan softly speaking into the phone. Unfortunately, this morning after wasn’t nearly as pleasant as the last one. His head spun as he remembered falling from so high up, certain he was about to die with thousands of St. Louisans to witness. The spinning intensified, so Danny screwed his eyes shut, sucking in tiny breaths in an effort to calm himself.

He focused on Jordan’s voice, not worrying about the words, just letting the deep timbre of his lover’s voice soothe him back from the edge of terror. It didn’t take long, and soon he was able to understand Jordan’s side of the conversation.

“I can’t leave him. He’s asleep right now but when he wakes up, I need to be here for him. Tell me what the deal is over the phone.”

Danny frowned, wondering if something was happening with Leon, who as far as he was concerned should be under the county jail. He spoke, letting Jordan know he was awake. “What’s going on?”

Jordan spun around. He studied Danny for a moment before holding the phone away from his face to answer.

“The local heroes are getting together for a meeting. They want me to come by.”

“You should go,” Danny said as he propped himself up on one elbow. It could be important. Especially after last night.”

“No.” Jordan shook his head. “I need to be here to take care of you.”

“I’m fine.” He wasn’t actually but he knew that the other heroes wouldn’t have called Jordan the morning after he’d nearly died if it wasn’t important. “Leon is in custody and this place is alarmed better than the Louvre. Go to the meeting.”

Jordan hesitated, clearly reluctant. But Danny didn’t waver. Finally, he nodded and raised the phone again.

“Rob? Yeah, I’ll be there. What’s the address? All right. I’ll see you soon.” He looked back at Danny after ending the call. “I’ll only be gone for one hour.”

“Take your time. Bring me back some donuts.”

“You got it, boss.”

He came over and leaned down for a kiss. Unashamedly needy, Danny raised his arms to wind them around his boyfriend’s neck, squeezing tight for a long moment. Jordan returned the hug, rubbing his back in slow up and down sweeps. When he felt like he had enough of the soothing comfort, Danny blew out a deep breath and released him.

“You’re sure you want me to go?” Jordan asked as he straightened.

Danny nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Okay.”

Jordan squeezed Danny’s hand once then left the room, taking all his strength and energy with him.

Once the elevator hummed on its descent to the ground floor, Danny got up to use the restroom and shower. He had clothes there but after pulling on a pair of his briefs, he chose to dress in one of Jordan’s shirts. Even freshly laundered it still held a lingering scent of him and he needed that right now. Then for good measure, he went into the gigantic walk-in closet and snagged one of his hoodies too.

Wrapped in his boyfriend’s clothes as if they were a security blanket, he went out to the kitchen, the floor cool beneath his bare feet. It was only when he sat down with a glass of orange juice and a breakfast bar that it truly hit him.

He’d nearly died last night. Leon had ordered him thrown off the Arch like he was no more important than a sack of rotten potatoes. He’d survived the fall, thanks to the combined efforts of Jordan and Frost. But holy shit. He’d been the pawn in a game between hero and villain and nearly lost his life for it. It wasn’t an experience he wanted to repeat.

What did that mean for him and Jordan? Caleb had mentioned taking action to protect him in the cyber world but what about the physical world? He had no illusions that he could turn himself into a bad ass warrior and didn’t have any particular desire to do so. Still. Something had to give. He’d been mugged, cyber harassed, physically assaulted in his own damn house, drugged and kidnapped all in the space of a few months. Much more of this and he’d end up pulling a Rapunzel, except he’d be the one locking himself away in a tower where no one could get to him rather than an evil adoptive mother.

Before Danny could come up with a solution to their problem, a sudden wave of exhaustion swamped him from head to toe. His limbs dragged and his eyelids drooped, ready to close. Whatever little burst of energy he’d had, it was gone. And he was probably still feeling the effects of last night’s trauma. Danny got up and stumbled from the kitchen, down the hall to the bedroom to crawl back into bed. He scooted over to Jordan’s side, laying on his pillow. Surrounded by the comforting scent of his boyfriend, Danny fell back asleep.

∞∞∞

DRESSED IN CIVILIAN clothes — a black T-shirt, black jeans, and a black baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, Jordan drove to the address he’d been given. In an older, out of the way neighborhood, he pulled up to a decommissioned fire station.

One of the wide garage doors was up, so he walked into the ground floor level. Ignite stood there waiting.

“Do you own any clothes with color?” he said by way of greeting.

“Black is a color.”

Ignite laughed. “You’re the last one to arrive. Follow me.” He closed the garage door before leading the way upstairs to where everyone had gathered around a long butcher block table, sitting in metal folding chairs.

All of the known superheroes in St. Louis were there. Ignite. Helios, the high school science teacher who’d gained his powers in a freak solar flare incident. Frost, the short blond who had the power of cold and ice. Sonica, a teleporter with a scream that could shatter glass. Big Rob aka Bulldozer — he could control earth and rock and was virtually indestructible. Stardust, a tall, slim dancer who had the ability to hypnotize with a shimmery golden aura. His cousin Nina, who fought under the alias Amina, without the benefit of superpowers. Caleb was there too, although Jordan guessed he’d be serving in a support role.

And to Jordan’s surprise, Lieutenant Strong sat at the head of the table. Strong had retired from the superhero gig a few years back. He’d been the one to help train Jordan before he’d taken on the Blaze persona. Jordan acknowledged his former mentor with a nod, receiving one in return. He grabbed one of the few empty folding chairs at the table, spun it around and sat down with his arms resting on the seat back.

Helios, dressed in a powder blue Polo shirt, khakis and horn-rimmed glasses stood. “Welcome everybody. Thank you all for coming.”

A murmur of greetings went around the table before Helios continued.

“The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the formation of a group, a league of heroes, all working together to protect the city of St. Louis. We’ve all done our part to stop crime, help civilians, or step up when there’s a catastrophic event. But I think we can do more. Crime isn’t going away. And now that Pruitt has all but taken over the police force, many people are too afraid to go to them for help. We can be the ones to step in and fill that void, and stand as a united front of hope and strength for the people of St. Louis.”

Jordan listened as Helios gave his speech, equal parts annoyed and impressed at his earnest enthusiasm for doing good.

“A group like this could have a big, important impact for years to come. That’s all I have to say for now.” He turned slightly, holding out a hand in a polite gesture to Lieutenant Strong. “Strong, the floor is yours.”

Strong didn’t stand, but he commanded their attention. “This city is on the verge of something big. I can feel it under my skin. The Croton on the streets. Criminals gaining access to military grade gadgets and weapons. Enhanced people joining the ranks of the black hats. And something about Pruitt and his police bots makes my teeth itch. Believe me when I say, forming a league right now is the best thing you all can do.”

“Are you coming out of retirement for this?” Nina asked.

“No. I’ll be your director behind the lines, calling the plays. And Caleb—.”

“I’ll be the guy in the chair.”

“The rest of you will be out there in the streets, taking on missions big and small. And now you’ll have backup in place when shit hits the fan.” He flicked a quick glance at Jordan. “Membership is voluntary. But once you’re in, you’ll be expected to treat this as a serious, committed endeavor, and you’ll be sworn to secrecy for all things pertaining to the group. It’s a big responsibility. Take the time to think about it before you join up. Once we know who’s in, we’ll work out the rest of the plan.”

Ignite leaned back in his chair. “I don’t have to think about it. I’m in.”

Jordan wasn’t surprised that the impulsive Ignite was the first one to say yes. He spoke up before anyone else could throw in their metaphorical chips. “I want to thank all of you who came to help me rescue Danny. Especially you, Frost. You saved his life and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Nina leaned over and stage whispered to Big Rob, “I can hear the but coming.”

Jordan hit his cousin with a quick side-eye before continuing. “But, a group like this isn’t for me. I work better on my own.”

“You can’t be a lone vigilante forever, J,” Rob said.

“Why not? If we band together aren’t we just a group of vigilantes? So, what’s the difference?”

“The difference is we can be more effective working together rather than doing our own thing individually.”

Jordan wasn’t convinced. He’d sworn off working with other people years ago. “Sorry. I’m not a joiner.” He stood up and spun his chair back around to push it under the table. “Thanks for the invite but I’ve got to get back to Danny. I wish you all the best.” He nodded at them all and went back down the steps.

Thirty minutes later, Jordan returned to his apartment, carrying a baker’s box filled with a variety of donuts. He found Danny in the kitchen, on the phone with his roommate. Jordan dropped a kiss on the top of his head on the way to set the donuts on the counter. He listened as Danny finished his conversation.

“Scott, I swear I’m okay. Blaze got me to Jordan immediately after the rescue. Yes, I saw a doctor. Okay. I’ll be home in a day or two. I still have a lot to do for Geek Fest.” He laughed at whatever Scott said on the other end. “Thanks for caring. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and set the phone on the counter.

“You weren’t gone long.”

“I told you I wouldn’t be.”

“What did they want? If you can talk about it.”

“They’re forming a group and they want me to join.”

“Are you going to?”

Jordan shook his head. “No. I work better on my own.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

Jordan changed the subject. “Sounds like Scott was worried about you. He’s a good friend.”

“Yeah, he saw the news. But he’s cool now.” Danny opened the bakery box. “Oooh, powdered with jelly!” He picked up one of the powdered lemon jelly donuts and took a bite.

“I think I should have gotten you healthy food.”

“No way,” Danny said, licking lemon jelly off his thumb. “Comfort food is the cure for my trauma.”

Jordan went around to where Danny sat, happily munching on his donut. He looked at him, conflicting emotions taking up all the room in his chest.

Danny stopped chewing. “What?”

“I am so sorry about last night.” He reached out to brush powdered sugar off Danny’s cheek with his thumb. “I never in a million years would have thought Leon would do anything that horrible. He’s an asshole and a criminal but that Croton must have really messed up his head if he was willing to go that far.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m okay.”

“Danny—.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I will be discussing this with my therapist very soon. But right now, I’m alive and kicking, so I’m concentrating on that as my win for the day. I want to chill and watch fluff movies and not think about what could have happened.”

Remembering that his father had said that Danny needed calm and rest, Jordan agreed. “All right. Movie marathon. You get first pick.”

Danny laughed. “I get all the picks.”

They spent the rest of the day ensconced on the couch, watching low-stakes movies.  In the evening, when Danny started to nod off, Jordan got them up and to the bedroom.

In just a few minutes, he had Danny undressed and in bed. Danny was tucked under the covers, his lashes slowly drifting down to rest against his cheeks when he spoke.

“Good night, Jordan. I love you.”

Jordan’s heart clenched at the soft whisper. Danny had told him he loved him once before. He’d heard it the night of their role play down in the lair. He’d worried that it was only a heat of the moment thing, especially since Danny hadn’t said the words again after that night. For him to say it now, even after what he’d gone through because of him... He had to believe that it was true.

Quickly removing his clothes, Jordan slid between the sheets and pulled him into his arms. Danny was asleep by the time Jordan answered. “I love you, too.” With his love tucked safely against his chest, he drifted off to sleep.

∞∞∞

“JORDAN. JORDAN, HELP!”

Jordan looked around, straining to see through the pitch-black night. He was on a roof top. One he recognized, but had hoped to never see again. The same one Travis had fallen from. He hadn’t been back to this spot since that night. But he was here now and someone was calling for help.

“Jordan!”

The voice came again and Jordan realized it was Danny. He whipped around looking for his lover, ready to jump into action and save him. But he couldn’t see anything.

“Where are you?” he shouted. At that moment, the moon slid from behind the clouds. Moonlight spread across the rooftop, revealing in slow stages a pair of familiar Chucks, then jean clad legs, a T-shirt, and finally his boyfriend’s terrified face. He balanced precariously on the edge of the rooftop, arms out to his sides in an attempt to hold himself steady.

“Danny!” Jordan immediately started to run to him but his feet didn’t move. He was stuck, something unseen holding him fast. “Can you get down?” he called out across the rooftop.

Danny shook his head. “I can’t!” he cried out.

“Damnit.” Jordan fought and pulled, until he was able to take a single step forward. Then another. And another. It was a slow slog, as if he were sinking in the tar used to black the rooftop. But he continued on, determined to reach his lover. He was almost there, when an invisible force shoved Danny backward.

Jordan suddenly broke free. He lunged in a desperate bid to grab hold of Danny’s hand. But he was too late. Their fingertips brushed but he couldn’t grab hold. Danny fell, screaming his name as he disappeared into a void of endless darkness.

“Jordan!”

Jordan jerked awake. He sat up, his face and chest drenched in cold sweat. He looked down. Danny was there by his side, safe, asleep, and lightly snoring.

“Fuck,” he whispered the curse so as not to wake him. Jordan lifted the sheet to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Danny was safe. It was only a horrifying nightmare. He reached out a shaking hand and patted Danny’s arm to be sure. He was there, solid and real. After a few moments, when his racing heart calmed, Jordan flipped his pillow over and lay back down. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be getting any more sleep tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Five

N

early a week had passed since the incident with Leon at the Arch. Cell phone footage had played on the news for a day or two, and people had tried to find out not only Blaze’s identity but Danny’s as well. Thankfully, only Danny’s closest friends and family had recognized him in the dark videos, and they didn’t rat him out as they didn’t want to see him hounded by the press. Over time, with a little help from Caleb, the videos started to disappear from the internet. Once they were out of sight, they were out of the public’s mind, and St. Louis moved on to the next topic.

This morning, Jordan and Danny had just finished breakfast, and were sipping the last of their iced coffees. Danny sat across from him, drumming his fingers on the island counter. Even without the drumming fingers, Jordan could tell that he was restless and had something to say. And he knew exactly what was on his boyfriend’s mind. “You’re ready to go back to your place,” he quietly said.

Danny looked up in surprise.

“How did you... Yeah. Geek Fest is coming up soon and I’ve got to get ready for it. There’s too much to do to try and work from here.”

Jordan didn’t want to interfere in his boyfriend’s livelihood but he wasn’t ready to let him out of his sight. It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest that Danny move his entire office here to his place but he held the words back. If Danny wanted to leave, he had to let him go without pulling any overbearing superhero boyfriend crap. “I understand. I’ll drive you home this morning if you’re ready.”

“I’m ready,” Danny said with a firm nod.

Danny got up and came around to Jordan’s side of the island, sliding his arms around his waist in a now familiar and cherished embrace.

Jordan hugged him back, holding him close. He loved these hugs. The feel of Danny’s slender body pressed against him was the most comforting, settling feeling. Danny leaned back to look up at him. Jordan took him in — dark hair and brows, sunlight falling over the smooth brown of his skin, eyes as black as onyx sparkling with happiness, full lips curved in a sweet smile. He was gorgeous. And Jordan loved that they could have these quiet times together like this — in the light, where he never thought he would be.

“I’m probably going to spend all day working but I was thinking, once I get caught up maybe we could have that talk about...” Danny paused and bit his lip. “You know.”

Jordan knew what he meant. A collar for Danny to represent their committed D/s relationship. To be honest, he’d forgotten about it. Not because he didn’t want to collar Danny as his own. Because he did. He’d love to see Danny marked with his leather. But lately his thoughts had been consumed with his lover’s recovery and safety, leaving little room for anything else.

“We will,” he said for now. “Go get your stuff ready while I clean the kitchen.”

Danny squeezed him tight, then disappeared from the kitchen, leaving Jordan to start putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

An hour later, he drove up to Danny’s house. Dropping him off this time was worse than when he’d taken him back home after Lattimer’s attack. His muscles were tense and senses on edge as he pulled up to the curb, as if he expected someone to jump out from the bushes and snatch Danny from his side. Not wanting to worry him or guilt him into returning to his place, Jordan kept his concern to himself. Thankfully, Danny was used to him being quiet and didn’t notice anything wrong.

“I’ll see you later, okay?”

Jordan nodded. He leaned over to give Danny a kiss goodbye then watched as he got out and went into the house. Danny waved before he went inside, the door closing behind him. Jordan sat there with the car idling for a few moments before he forced himself to drive away.

He swung back to his shop, walking into a full garage, his crew already hard at work. Nina was with a customer; she acknowledged him with a nod when she spotted him. After she finished, she came over to where he was preparing to apply a customized logo full-length rear window decal to a pick-up truck.

“Where are you coming from and why do you look more broody than usual?”

“I just dropped Danny off at his place,” Jordan said as he grabbed the squeegee and application solution.

“Ah.”

“What’s that mean?”

Nina shrugged. “I knew you’d have trouble letting him go home.”

“I shouldn’t have let him leave,” Jordan said more to himself than to Nina. “I should have kept him here with me.”

“Are you an evil villain keeping him locked up in your tower of doom?”

He threw an annoyed glance at his cousin. “No.”

“Then you had to let him go home. It was his choice to do so.”

“I’m worried about him after what happened.” He didn’t even have to close his eyes to see Danny falling, screaming his name, desperately reaching for him. Nina put a hand on his arm, distracting him from the painfully vivid memory.

“He’ll be fine. And if he isn’t, he’s smart enough to ask for help.”

“He wouldn’t have to ask for help if I hadn’t put him in the path of danger.”

Nina pulled a rag from her back pocket, wiping her hands before tucking it away. “I don’t have superpowers. And yet, I go out and do my part to help those who need it. Do you remember how it went down when I first started fighting?”

Jordan huffed a dry laugh. He remembered the arguments they’d had when he’d first discovered she’d embarked on her own career as a vigilante after snooping in his room and learning he was Blaze. He’d tried to talk her out of it, pointing out the danger and risks, and reminding her she didn’t have enhanced abilities.

Determined to fight, she’d ignored all his protests. When he realized she wasn’t going to quit, he’d helped train her in order to up her chances of staying safe, then turned her loose to do her thing. Now her specialty was putting the fear of her electrified maces into domestic abusers, and providing safe escort to victims escaping bad situations.

“What’s your point?”

“My point is what I do is my choice. Danny chooses to be with you. And he chose to go back to his own space.” She paused, pulled the rag back out of her pocket, and wiped her already clean hands again. “Just like what Travis did was his choice.”

Jordan immediately stiffened when she said her brother’s name. “He made the wrong choice hanging around me.”

“You can’t fault him for wanting to hang out with his cool, older cousin.”

“I wasn’t cool. I was awful.”

“Well, you’re cool now.”

“Yeah, so cool I caused a split in my family,” he said with a snort. “You and your mom barely get along because she hates that you work here with me.”

“Mom handles her grief differently. I love my brother and I miss him every day. But I won’t let that stop me from loving another family member. It’d be different if you didn’t give a shit. But you’ve shown remorse. And you’ve changed for the better. I can’t tell her how to grieve her child. But she allows that grief to influence too much of her life — none of it in a positive way. And so do you.”

Jordan’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Your guilt over Travis’s death affects nearly everything you do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that you’ve done so many good works for the community through the shop, and for the city as Blaze. I only wish your motivation for everything wasn’t solely based on guilt. But it is and because of that, it’s affecting your relationship with Danny. I can see it happening. Can’t you?”

∞∞∞

Later that evening, Jordan sat on the couch, alone in his dark apartment. He pulled his computer onto his lap. After logging on, he went to his long-abandoned Facebook account. He hadn’t updated his profile much after Travis’s death, so he didn’t have far to scroll to find pictures of them together.

Moving his finger over the mouse pad, Jordan double-clicked on a shot of them at one of his high school football games. He was in full team gear, minus the helmet. Travis stood next to him, his face serious as he looked at the camera. The kid had always tried to look cool and tough on the outside, but underneath he was a happy dork with a love for science. Looking at the date, Jordan was reminded that this picture was taken only a few weeks before that fateful night.

Travis had died because of him. Danny had almost died because of him. The fear that next time he wouldn’t be so lucky sat in his gut, as cold and hard as a block of frozen concrete.

Jordan closed the laptop with a snap and rose from the couch. Since he wasn’t going out tonight, he might as well get some sleep.

He walked through his dark apartment, passing through spills of moonlight on the way back to his bedroom. The bed was perfectly made. Empty. No smiling Danny curled beneath the covers waiting for him. Jordan stripped off his clothes, leaving them on the floor to get in bed. He missed Danny. Feared for him out there in the world where he couldn’t protect him.

Pulling the covers up to his waist, Jordan lay back on his pillow. As tense as he was, he figured he’d be up all night, staring at the ceiling. But he closed his eyes, and minutes later, he fell into a restless sleep.

Jordan!

No, not this again. Jordan’s sleeping mind realized he was back in his horrific nightmare. Knowing what was going to happen, he didn’t wait. He immediately began making his way to the disembodied voice. It was a struggle but he fought even harder. He was already half way across the rooftop by the time the light from the moon revealed Danny to him.

Jordan kept going, straining through the thick substance pulling at his legs, desperate to have a different outcome than in the previous dream. It wasn’t to be. A shadow became solid and shoved Danny. He fell. Jordan dove for his hand. Missed. Danny’s scream echoed as he disappeared from sight.

Jordan!

Jordan lunged out of his nightmare, immediately reaching for Danny. But the other side of the bed was cool, the pillow undented. Danny wasn’t there. He rolled over and looked at the clock. Two o’clock in the morning. He couldn’t call him at this hour and say, hey I had a bad dream. Just checking to be sure you’re alive.

With a frustrated sigh, Jordan sat up. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t exist with the constant worry for Danny’s safety burning under his skin. When would the next criminal pop out of the woodwork to harm his innocent lover? It was only a matter of time before more bottom feeders figured out Blaze and Danny were connected. Or Leon would blab to one of his associates his and Danny’s identities — if he hadn’t already. And they would use that knowledge — use Danny — to hurt him. Every day Danny remained associated with him was another day where his life was in danger.

Jordan knew what he had to do.

∞∞∞

DANNY WALKED INTO his bedroom and dropped his bag on the floor. It felt strange to be back at home, as if he’d been gone for a month rather than one week. He stood there for a moment, listening to the familiar sounds of his house. The fridge clicking on, the humidifier Scott always left running, the quiet hum of the air conditioner. He was lucky to be hearing them again. Danny laughed and shook off his maudlin moment. Geek Fest was in two weeks. He had so much to do to get ready and he needed to get to it.

By the next evening, his work room was in a state of controlled chaos but he felt confident he’d have everything together on time. He’d sent off the last designs to be printed. His cousin had agreed to come over and help him pack merch in exchange for art lessons. And he’d designed and ordered banners for his booth. He was exhausted, his brain mush, but it felt good to have everything nearly ready to go.

Finished working for the day, Danny went downstairs to get something to eat. The ringing doorbell stopped him before he made it into the kitchen. Changing course, he went out to answer it, smiling when he saw Blaze through the stained-glass panels. “Hey,” he said as he swung the door open.

“May I come in?”

Danny laughed. “So formal. Were you bitten by a mysterious man in a dark cape since I last saw you?” he teased as he stepped aside to let Jordan into the entryway. Jordan wasn’t one to laugh often but when he didn’t even smile Danny’s brow creased in a worried frown. “Is everything okay? Did something happen with Leon?”

“No. He’s still in specialty lock up awaiting trial.”

“Thank goodness.” He was glad to hear that Leon hadn’t escaped. But he didn’t relax. Jordan was clearly tense about something and his mood set off nervous flutters in Danny’s stomach. “Then what’s wrong?”

“We need to talk.”

Those four words and the sad, resigned look on Jordan’s face was all it took for Danny to know what was coming next. He went stiff, his fists clenching at his sides. “Don’t. Don’t you dare pull that self-sacrificing, it’s too dangerous for us to be together crap.”

“I almost got you killed Danny. Leon threw you off the fucking St. Louis Arch. If I hadn’t caught you—.” He stopped and looked away, a muscle flexing in his jaw.

Danny tugged on Jordan’s shirt, waiting until he looked down at him again. He noticed the tired lines around Jordan’s eyes. But it was the determination in the golden-brown depths that scared him. Jordan was determined to break up with him. Danny protested anyway. “But you did. I trusted you to keep me safe and you did.”

“You shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. And you wouldn’t have been if I’d left you alone the way I was supposed to.”

“Jordan, please —.”

“I’m sorry, Danny. But I can’t put your life at risk like that again. I care about you too much to let that happen.”

Completely blindsided, Danny didn’t know what to say to stop this from happening. In shock, he stood as still as stone when Jordan leaned down and pressed a final, gentle kiss to his forehead. Then, without another word, he walked back out the front door, and out of Danny’s life.

Danny stared at the stained glass set into the door. The colors blurred together as tears welled up, only coming into focus again when the tears free spilled over his lashes.

Chapter Twenty-Six

B

laze crouched on a rooftop in the dark summer night, eyeing the street below. He was waiting for a gray van to pass by. Reports had it as the vehicle a pair of jewelry store thieves were using as their getaway car. As he waited, he thought of Danny. He’d done the right thing ending their relationship. The unselfish thing. Danny’s life was far more important than his selfish desire to be with him. Unfortunately, he’d had to hurt Danny emotionally in order to keep him physically safe.

Down the street, a fast-moving vehicle came into view. It matched the description of the heist van. Blaze didn’t waste any time. He jumped down, landing on the hood of the vehicle, denting the metal beneath his boots. The driver swerved in surprise at his sudden appearance. But the guy was good, it only took a second for him to recover and swerve deliberately, trying to dislodge Blaze from his perch.

Blaze locked eyes with him. Palms placed flat against the hood, he sent a burst of electricity through it, frying every single wire and moving part on the engine. The van shut down dead, slamming to a stop in the middle of the street.

Blaze leaped backward off the incapacitated van, kinetic energy propelling him through the air. He landed on his feet, and waited for the punks to get out. They did. One had a machete. The other had a flamethrower. Blaze didn’t give a damn about either. He hit them both with a bolt of power that knocked them back on their asses. His guard up, Blaze carefully moved in closer, keeping an eye out for signs that either of the two men was conscious and still able to resist. His caution was warranted.

When he was in touching distance of the flamethrower wielding thief, the man sat up and pulled the trigger on his weapon. Blaze spun out of the way just in time, as hot air and even hotter fire whooshed by in the spot where he’d been a second before. That weapon was dangerous and could easily harm an innocent bystander, or start a fire in one of the surrounding buildings. He needed to take it out of commission immediately.

Moving quickly, he got behind the fire wielder. He struck out with a low snap kick, hitting the man behind his left knee. His leg buckled, and he started to fall to the side. Before he hit the ground, Blaze had the weapon in hand. Not wanting it to fall into anyone else’s possession while he was occupied, he slung the strap over his own shoulder to keep it close while he restrained the man. Then he took care of Mr. Machete.

The man turned out to be a coward, dropping his blade and shaking so hard Blaze actually thought the man was going to piss his pants in fear. Thankfully he didn’t, and Blaze didn’t have to worry about avoiding stepping in urine as he zip tied the man’s hands behind his back.

Hauling both men over to a street sign post, he whipped out another zip tie to loop it through their wrist restraints, and around the post. That would hold them until the police arrived. They’d be there soon; he could hear the sirens wailing in the distance.

Blaze should have taken off at that point, his part was done. But he stood there in the middle of the street. A wave of ennui washed over him as he stared at the restrained criminals. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? He remembered his cousin dying because he’d thought petty crime was fun. Yes. That’s why he did this. Atonement for his sins.

He didn’t deserve love. Not from anyone. And definitely not from Danny. Their relationship had been a sweet interlude that he’d been lucky enough to enjoy for a short time. But he didn’t deserve it. He never would. No matter how many jewel thieves or crime lords he took out, he would never deserve anyone as good and pure as Danny. Blaze had no right to imagine a life with him, to imagine collaring him as his submissive when their connection had nearly led to his brutal death. He’d been right the first night he’d ever laid eyes on Danny.

The little angel was not for him.

∞∞∞

DANNY SAT HUNCHED over in bed sketching, too morose to give a shit about his shitty posture. For days now, he’d drawn nothing but melancholy gray hearts crumbling into dust. It was depressing art that none of his fans would want to see. Not that it mattered since he didn’t post any of it anyway. He didn’t even save any of the sketches. He’d stirred enough to repost some old art so his social media feeds didn’t go dead but that was it. Yesterday morning, he’d received a terse text message from Jordan: Stop drawing me. That was fine with him. Right now, he didn’t care if he never drew another superhero in his life. Which sort of sucked since superhero fanart was his bread and butter.

But he couldn’t draw another hero, not after his own hero had pulled a villain move and broken his heart. Danny didn’t want to say or even think his name. It hurt too bad. He looked up at a quiet knock on his closed door. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly and Scott peeked his head around. “Hey. I wanted to check on you.”

Danny shrugged. “Status report: Shitty. Same as yesterday and the day before that.”

“I’m sorry.”

Another listless shrug. “It is what it is.”

Scott came further into the room. “Also, I finished your vest. I didn’t know if you still wanted it after... what happened, but either way the piece is yours.”

Danny reached up and took the proffered item of clothing. The leather was soft under his hands, the smell of it reminding him of Blaze. Tears sprung to his eyes. “Thanks,” he said as he tried not to cry. “I hope you don’t mind if I look at it later.”

“Not at all. In fact...” Scott took the vest back and rushed over to the closet to put it away. “There,” he said after he snapped the closet door closed. “Out of sight out of mind.” He stood there for a moment, looking unsure of himself. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Danny appreciated his offer. And he was tired of sitting alone in his room. “Do we have any ice cream?”

Scott immediately brightened. “Yeah, we do. I’ll be right back.”

He rushed from the room and Danny got up to put his tablet away and turn off the playlist of heartbreak music he’d been listening to. A few minutes later, Scott returned, a bowl of vanilla ice cream in each hand, bottles of caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, napkins and a can of whipped cream squeezed beneath his arms, and a jar of sprinkles tucked under his chin. “Bedside ice cream parlor at your service.”

The sight of his tall, gorgeous, and ripped friend standing in the middle of his bedroom, looking like a puppy eager to please made Danny smile for what was probably the first time in days. “Thanks, Scott. This is perfect.”

They spread out their dessert bounty on Danny’s bed. Once they’d sprinkled and drizzled their favorite toppings over triple scoops of vanilla, Scott asked if he wanted to talk about the break up. Danny said no, so Scott changed the subject without missing a beat. But once he made it down to the last melting swirls at the bottom of his bowl, Danny changed his mind. He chose his words carefully, mindful of the fact that he couldn’t reveal Jordan’s secret identity.

“It hurts that he thought we should break up for my own good. Why does someone else get to decide what’s good for me?”

“I know it hurts to lose someone you cared about.”

Danny heard the hesitation in his friend’s voice. “But?”

Scott looked off to the side, chewing on his bottom lip for a long moment before he looked back at Danny and answered. “But maybe Blaze was right to break up with you.”

Danny’s mouth dropped open. He was so surprised, he didn’t even think to try and pretend Scott had it wrong. “How did you know?”

“The night you came home all dreamy eyed over a new guy you’d met, I knew there was no way Blaze bought you that club membership and then moved on and forgot about you. After that, it was pretty easy to figure out that Blaze and Jordan were the same guy once your life was in weekly peril. And I did see the pictures that stalker superfan posted. You drew you and Blaze. Not you and Jordan. I know you, Danny, and you’re too loyal to draw yourself sexing one man while dating another.”

“I guess when you add it all up it’s pretty obvious.”

“Yeah,” Scott said with a soft laugh. “Anyway, I know this guy looks hot in leather and it’s gotta be exciting dating a superhero but I don’t want my best friend dying because of some dude. There’s plenty of other leather daddies out there for you to fall for, Danny.”

“But I love him,” Danny said with fierce intensity. “Blaze, Jordan no matter which persona or which name I love him. I don’t want anyone else. I have to at least try to make it work instead of rolling over and giving up on us.”

Scott sighed. “Just be careful. Maybe take a self-defense class or something so you can Judo chop these motherfuckers who keep coming after you.”

Danny snorted a giggle. “I will.”

They talked for a while longer before Scott took the dishes and toppings back to the kitchen and went to bed. Danny went to the bathroom to wash his ice cream sticky hands and brush his teeth, then returned alone to his bedroom. He turned off the overhead light, leaving only the nightstand lamp on as he crawled into bed.

Danny rolled over to look at the closet door. The vest was behind it. The first fetish gear he would have worn. He remembered his excitement when he’d sketched out the design, dreaming of Jordan’s reaction to seeing him in the fetish wear. Now he never would because they were finished as a couple. The tears came again, hot, racing down his cheeks to soak his pillow before he could wipe them away.

Danny turned his face into the pillow to muffle his sobs. Not because he was embarrassed for Scott to hear him cry but because if he didn’t, he would scream and scream at the ache in his chest. The hurt was especially painful because he felt as if he’d been cut loose. Abandoned. Jordan hadn’t collared him but he’d wanted that and he’d thought Jordan did too. Even without the collar, he’d already started to feel as if he belonged to Jordan. But now he was alone. Heartbroken. And without his Dom.

∞∞∞

BLAZE SETTLED HIGH up in a tree across from Danny’s house. From here, he had a clear sightline into his former lover’s bedroom. He realized he was being a creeper staring into his window but he hadn’t been able to resist the pull drawing him to Danny’s home. He just wanted to be sure that he was okay. When he’d first arrived, Danny was being consoled by his friend and roommate. Now he was alone, curled up in bed, his shoulders shaking with sobs that Blaze couldn’t hear.

His heart ached watching his sweet Danny cry. He wanted to go to him, comfort him, tell him everything would be okay. But he couldn’t. He’d made the decision — the right decision — to walk away from him. Eventually, Danny would heal from their breakup and he would move on and find someone else to love. At that thought, Blaze gripped a thick tree branch so hard it snapped in two. With a silent curse, he let the severed piece drop to the ground.

Blaze looked up as the leaves suddenly rustled above his head. A man dressed in a yellow and white suit, with a soft, golden glow surrounding his form descended from the night sky.

“Helios,” he greeted him shortly.

“Hello, Blaze.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you, so I had Caleb track you down for me.”

Blaze crossed his arms over his chest. “You found me. Talk.”

Floating in mid-air, Helios clasped his hands behind his back, looking for all the world like a professor about to give a lecture. “I’d like you to reconsider joining our team. You have skills and knowledge that would be of great use to us, and the city of St. Louis.”

“I’m not interested.”

“It would be beneficial to you as well.”

“I’m not interested,” Blaze repeated.

“Why not?” Helios asked with a frown drawing his brows together. “You’ve worked with most of the heroes in town at one point or another. Why not make it official?”

“Because I do this gig on my own terms. I don’t want to punch a clock for some corporate superhero overlord.”

“It won’t be like that. Our main goal will be coordinating our efforts more effectively. Imagine how the situation at the Arch would have gone if you’d had one of the flyers there with you from the beginning.”

Blaze clenched his jaw. Helios had a point. If he or Ignite had been there the chances of Danny nearly falling to his death would have been near zero. It didn’t matter now. He’d ended things with Danny so he wouldn’t have to worry about his involvement in any future life or death situations. From now on, the only crimes he needed to focus on were ones that he wasn’t personally involved in.

“Look. I see your point about having coordinated teams. And I appreciate that you think I can bring something worthwhile to the table. But I’m not interested in being part of a group, or the face of hope for the city. If you guys need me on occasion, I’ll step in and help out. But that’s the extent of my involvement.”

Disappointment was clear on Helios’s face. “I understand. Thanks for hearing me out.” He turned to go, slowly drifting away.

Blaze called out to him. “Helios.” The hero stopped, looking over his shoulder with an expectant expression. Blaze didn’t care that he was about to burst his hopeful bubble. “Don’t come here again. I don’t want to draw attention to him.”

Helios’s face fell into disappointed lines again. “You’re here,” he pointed out.

“I blend into the night. You’re powered by the fucking sun.”

Helios sighed. He dimmed his glow completely and returned to Blaze’s side. “I’ve lost someone I love too. Unfortunately, he is truly gone and I’m not getting him back. Ever. You’re lucky. Your love is still alive, and you have a chance to make things work with him. Don’t waste that opportunity in favor of brooding.”

“I’m not brooding,” Blaze snapped.

Helios raised an eyebrow. “You’re crouched in a tree in the dark, staring into his bedroom window.”

Beneath his helmet, the tips of Blaze’s ears burned. “Whatever. I didn’t break up with Danny so I could brood. I did it to keep him safe.”

“The team can help with that too. Come by anytime and let us show you what we can do to keep him and all of your loved ones safe. If you don’t like what we have to say we won’t try to get you to join again.”

Blaze didn’t answer.

“Think about it,” Helios said before flying off.

Blaze watched as the streak of gold arced overhead, headed toward downtown. When he looked in Danny’s window again, the room had gone dark. He could just barely make out the outline of Danny’s sleeping form. Blaze sat there for a few minutes more, drinking in the sight of his former lover. This was the only time he would do this. After tonight, he wouldn’t come here again. Wouldn’t see Danny again.

He looked his fill for several long moments. Then, with a silent goodbye to the man he loved, Blaze dropped out of the tree, and disappeared into the night.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

D

anny decided to hit up a late-night spin class. After doing nothing but working and moping for days, he’d realized he needed to get out of the house and into a better headspace. If he didn’t, his time at Geek Fest would be a bust. Nobody wanted to buy art from a cranky dude in a booth. Twenty minutes into the class, he was definitely experiencing a change in mindset. He didn’t know if it was the aggressive music they were playing tonight or what but his mood had shifted from sad to mad.

As he pedaled to the driving beats of hard rap and screaming emo rock, he grew angrier and angrier. A little at himself. A lot at Jordan. If this were a movie, he’d be at the start of his origin story metamorphosis, and become a hardened, bitter crime fighter in his own right.

Sweat dripped into his eyes. He ignored the burn, refusing to slow down long enough to wipe his brow. It was his fault that Jordan had to keep saving him, right? Because he was helpless. Couldn’t fight. Didn’t know how to handle a weapon. It was too dangerous for someone as weak as him to be with a superhero. Bullshit. He’d never made any claims at being a fighter. Jordan knew that and shouldn’t have wasted his time if he wanted a fellow vigilante he didn’t have to worry about for his lover.

Danny clenched his teeth, baring them in a silent growl as he followed the instructor’s directions. He rose up off his bike seat, leaning forward and pedaling even faster as they raced down an imaginary straightaway. His thigh muscles were screaming nearly as loud as the music by the time he lowered his butt back to the seat, taking one hand off the bike to rage-pump his fist in the air along with the rest of the class. Then it was back to a steady, furious pace, the bass thumping so hard his ear drums vibrated with it.

Jordan’s self-sacrificing hero act was bullshit. It was an out, an easy way for him to end things between them because he didn’t know how to handle his own demons. Why do the work to face old trauma when you can avoid it by dumping your boyfriend in the name of keeping him safe instead? Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit. Danny pedaled even faster.

“All right everybody, let’s cool it down with an easy ride around a quiet lake.”

Danny looked up in surprise at the class leader’s instructions. Disappointment swamped him when the music changed to something that sounded like it belonged in a classy elevator. Damnit, he wasn’t ready to cool down. He wanted to keep riding until his fury burned itself and the hurt no longer sliced through his heart. Unfortunately, the class was coming to an end. He reluctantly slowed his roll and cooled down along with everyone else.

After the music stopped and the instructor thanked everyone for coming, Danny got a towel and wiped off his stationary bike. He was taking a drink from his water bottle when a guy about his age came up to him.

“Wow, you were a beast on that bike today.”

Danny swallowed and wiped some of the sweat from his face before he responded. “Thanks. I guess I had a lot of energy to burn.”

“Sometimes it’s like that,” the man said with a friendly grin.

Danny smiled politely and grabbed his gym bag. “Have a good night.” He stepped around the guy and made his way through the gym to the front doors. The warm night air was sticky on his sweaty skin as he left the cool air conditioning behind.

Ready to get home and jump in the shower, Danny headed straight for the parking lot down and across the street where he’d left his car. He’d just stepped up onto the opposite curb when footsteps rushed up behind him. Danny tensed. Screw this. He wasn’t waiting to get attacked this time. He went on the offensive, spinning around and swinging his gym bag wide as he yelled. “Get back!”

Too late, he recognized the guy from class who’d chatted him up. Danny couldn’t stop the momentum of his swing but luckily the guy jumped out of the way before he got whacked in the face with a canvas duffle bag.

“Hey! Sorry, dude. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was going to ask if you wanted to get an after-class smoothie.”

“Oh!” Danny felt like a complete fool. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been attacked a lot recently and I thought you were a criminal sneaking up on me and this time I wanted to be ready to fight and uh... yeah.” Danny stopped talking. It wasn’t like he could explain his run-ins with St. Louis’s villains to a random stranger. And since the guy was slowly backing away with his hands up, it was clear the smoothie invitation was off the table.

“Okay. Well... you have a good night.”

He hurried off, casting a look back over his shoulder at Danny as if to make sure he wasn’t going to be followed and attacked again.

Danny groaned in frustration. He didn’t want to go out with that guy. But he didn’t want it spread around spin class that he was a paranoid weirdo who assaulted people with gym bags either. Shaking his head, he continued on to his car.

Right before he reached the parking lot, he passed by a short break between two buildings. Something made him stop. Maybe it was the way the hair lifted on his arms. Or the heavy shadow that moved just enough to catch his eye. Whatever it was, he knew who lurked there hidden from sight. He turned and faced the darkness.

“Why are you here?”

A disembodied voice floated out from the alleyway. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Danny’s eyes went wide before narrowing with renewed anger. “You don’t get to do that. I don’t need or want you following me around the city like a shadowy bodyguard. You think I want that? Knowing you’re out there watching me even though we can’t be together? Sorry, I’m not down with the tortured lovers separated by fate routine.”

His blood started pumping as hot as it had when he’d been on that bike. Danny stepped into the dark alley. As his eyes slowly adjusted to the lack of light, he was able to distinguish Jordan from the rest of the shadows. Once Danny could see him clearly, he walked right up to stand stood toe to toe with him. The mask hid most of Jordan’s face and Danny couldn’t read his eyes, reminding him of the night they’d first met.

“You’re stuck. Stuck here in the dark. Stuck behind that mask. You won’t let yourself move on or forgive yourself for your past and that’s not a ride I want to be on. So, I guess you were right to break up with me.”

“Danny—.”

“No!” He raised a hand and poked Jordan in the chest, right in the center of the Blaze logo. “You didn’t let me talk last time. But since you decided to stalk me, you can do me the courtesy of listening to me now.”

Jordan nodded once, lips pressed together in a firm line as if he were holding himself back from speaking.

“You know what really stings? The fact that you didn’t want to try any other options to keep me safe. Back when Lattimer hacked me, Caleb said he could help with my security. Did you think of trying that first?”

“No.”

“Of course not,” Danny said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Scott suggested that I learn self-defense. Did you think of teaching me to protect myself?”

“You told Scott?”

“I didn’t. He’s smart, he figured it out. Now answer the question. Did you think of teaching me self-defense?”

“No.”

“And I know you didn’t consider giving up your life as Blaze. Before you say anything, I don’t want or expect you to. But the fact that you saw a problem in our relationship and your immediate solution was to dump me hurts!” His voice rose at the end until he was near shouting. Danny had to take a second to calm himself so he didn’t keep yelling, and draw attention to them in the alley. “If you really cared about me — if you really wanted us to be together, you’d find a way to make it happen. But you gave up so easily, I don’t see how you could have meant it the night you told me that you loved me.”

Jordan’s eyes widened behind his mask. “You heard that?” he asked in surprise.

It pained him to admit that he’d heard Jordan’s confession only to later doubt that it was real. His jaw tight, Danny nodded.

“I’m sorry. As your boyfriend, as your Dom, I was supposed to keep you safe. I failed too many times, and I didn’t want it to happen again.

With fury still sizzling in his veins, Danny struck out with a verbal hit. “You were never my Dom. Since you never bothered to follow through and claim me.”

Jordan recoiled as if Danny had physically struck him.

Danny immediately regretted the harsh words. They might not have ever made it official, but Jordan had always been a wonderful and caring Dom to him. “I’m sorry. That was low.” He brought his hand back up to Jordan’s chest, but this time rather than poke him, he let his palm rest over Jordan’s heart. “I wanted to hurt you because I’m hurting and that was wrong.”

Jordan gently grasped his hand and raised it to his mouth to kiss Danny’s fingers.

“Don’t apologize. I deserved that.”

Suddenly tired, Danny leaned in to rest his head on Jordan’s chest. “I don’t want to exchange hurts. I just want us to be together.”

Jordan stroked his back, the slow caress soothing Danny’s remaining anger away.

“Why can’t I stay away from you?”

The question was soft and low, as if Jordan was speaking to himself. Danny lifted his head and answered him anyway. “Maybe because you’re not supposed to.”

“I can’t put your life at risk. It’s too dangerous.”

Danny managed a small teasing smile. “Didn’t I tell you you’re not the boss of me? You don’t get to decide what’s too dangerous for me. I make that decision, no one else.” He paused to take a fortifying breath before his next words. So far, he’d only said them when his defenses were down from passion or exhaustion. It was time to be clear and upfront with his feelings.

“I love you, Jordan. And I want to be with you. If you feel the same way, you’ll figure out how to get around the blocks between us. The blocks here in the present regarding my safety. And the emotional ones from your past.”

Jordan’s grip tightened for the length of a heartbeat but he didn’t otherwise react to Danny’s mention of his past.

“Please think about what’s more important to you, being with the man you love or holding on to fear and guilt.”

Danny didn’t want to go, but he’d said all he had to say. Now it was up to Jordan to make his own decision. He pulled his hand free from Jordan’s gentle hold, turned around, and walked away from him with his head held high.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

J

ordan did think. For days after his alleyway discussion with Danny, he’d hardly done anything else. And he’d come to a realization. He might be the superhero, but Danny had all the power over him. The power to make him smile and laugh. The power to bring him out of the shadows and dark and into the light. The power to help him care about something more than work and fighting bad guys.

He didn’t want to give Danny up. The nights returning home to someone that he loved had been the best nights since... the best nights since before he’d become enhanced. Going back to cold sheets and an empty apartment had sucked away all the joy he’d experienced during his brief time with his lover. Jordan wanted laughter in his home and donuts on Sundays and passionate sex and love. He wanted Danny’s love.

Jordan was determined to give their relationship another chance. But his first priority was Danny’s safety. He wouldn’t approach him again until that was addressed. Which meant, he would have to give up working in solitude and reach out for help.

He got in the car and drove to the old firehouse. Strong was there, along with Caleb. The two of them sat together at the table upstairs, jotting down notes from whatever they were discussing on yellow legal pads. They looked up when Jordan walked in.

“I knew you’d be back,” Caleb said with a knowing grin.

Jordan sat down at the table and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t be smug. Tell me how you can protect Danny if I join.”

Caleb hopped up from his chair, clearly excited to share what he’d been working on.

“We’re coming up with lots of stuff that can help. First, like I mentioned after his accounts were hacked, we’ll tighten up his online security. All of his accounts — banking, social media, cell phone — will be encrypted. Any personal details that aren’t necessary for his job, such as his address, will disappear from the internet. And I can have a First Family worthy security system installed in his house and connected to our network by the end of the week.”

Also, we’re working out the protocols to get the entire team involved on rescue if any of our families are ever attacked. And we bought a safe house. It’ll be able to withstand an apocalypse by the time I’m finished with it. Last, anyone you guys deem close enough to need protection will receive one of these.”

Caleb reached down and dug around in his bag. He came up with a white box, and opened it to reveal a slim silver watch. “If the black button is pushed, it will send a silent alert both to headquarters and to the appropriate hero. And of course, it’s got a tracking chip in it.” Caleb paused in the list of security measures he was rattling off to eye Jordan. “You already have a tracker on him, don’t you?”

“I did. I haven’t replaced it.”

Caleb snorted. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? Anyway, you’ll need to get his consent for all of this, including the tracker.”

“I will.”

Strong finally spoke up. “Does that mean you’re on board?”

Jordan looked at his former mentor. He’d suspected that Helios hadn’t shown up to talk to him of his own accord. “Why’d you send Helios to try and convince me to join instead of Nina or Rob?” Strong’s answer confirmed his suspicion.

“Because I knew you needed to hear cold-hard facts, not an emotional plea from friend or family. Thought I’d do what I could to prevent you from making the same mistake I made.”

“I appreciate it,” Jordan said with a nod. Years ago, Strong had let his relationship crash and burn in favor living life alone as a superhero. Jordan had always assumed that would be his life too. He was beyond glad that it wasn’t.

“Do you guys have a name for the team?”

“Not yet,” Caleb answered. “If you have any suggestions, let us know.”

Jordan snorted a laugh. “I’m a foot solider. I’ll leave the planning and naming up to the two brains of the operation.” He stood, preparing to leave. “And my answer is yes, I’m officially on board.”

“Excellent.” Caleb grinned and tossed him the white box. “Take this and I’ll get started on everything else.”

Jordan caught the box and waved goodbye. He’d taken care of his concerns regarding Danny’s safety. Now there was only one thing left to do before he could go and claim his man.

∞∞∞

The sun was sinking over the horizon when Jordan drove up to Whispering Pines Cemetery. He pulled into a parking lot that was empty save for one dark green pickup truck with the cemetery’s logo on the side. A man he assumed was the groundskeeper was closing the gates. Jordan got out of the car and walked over to the entrance anyway.

“I’m closing up. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

Jordan didn’t want to wait until tomorrow. He needed to do this now. Taking out his wallet, he pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and held it up. “Fifty dollars to let me inside for twenty minutes.”

The man started to reach through the black iron bars for the bill, then he pulled his hand back.

“You’re not going to do anything nasty in there are you?”

“No. I want to pay my respects to someone important to me.”

“Okay, then.” The man took the money. “Twenty minutes.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jordan could have waited until the groundskeeper was gone and easily jumped the eight-foot fence. But he wanted to do this as his regular self, without using any of Blaze’s superpowers. The man held open the gate to let him pass through. Jordan thanked him again, then set off on the winding path through freshly mown grass. By the time he reached his cousin’s plot there was just enough of dusk’s light remaining for him to read the headstone.

Travis Morgan. Beloved Son and Brother. And beneath that, two dates with a span of time between them that was far too short.

“Hey, man. I wanted to come and talk to you, and get some things off my chest.” Jordan huffed a laugh and looked up at the steadily darkening sky. “Unburden my soul I guess.” He stared at the sky for a long time, gathering his thoughts and his courage for what he wanted to say before he looked back down at the headstone.

“I’m sorry, Travis. For every decision I made that night. I wish I could take them all back. I wish I’d been a different person and that we’d never been in that situation in the first place. But wishing won’t make it happen, so all I can do is stand here at your grave and sincerely apologize for my mistakes. I won’t know if you forgive me until we see each other again. But it’s time for me to forgive myself.” He placed a hand on the headstone and closed his eyes. The gray stone was cool and smooth under his palm.

“I will always be sorry for the part I played in your death. I will continue to work on being a better man than I was back then, and continue helping people who need it. But from now on, I’m going to do it without the constant self-punishment. I met someone and I love him. He made me see that if I want to truly live this life I’m lucky enough to have, I have to let go of the guilt I carry. Your sister has been telling me the same thing for years. But you know me, it took a cute guy to make me sit up and pay attention.”

He paused to laugh softly, remembering their school days when Travis, two years behind, but smart enough to help Jordan with his classwork, teased him that the only way he’d crack a book to study was if there were pictures of hot twinks pasted inside. Then he’d printed off pictures from the internet and did exactly that with Jordan’s science book. Shaking his head at the memory, Jordan got back on track.

“So, that’s what I’m doing, what I came here to say. I won’t let go of your memory but I’m putting down the guilt.”

As he said the words, the tightness he’d carried between his shoulder blades for so long it had become a part of him, loosened and eased away. Jordan drew in a deep, cleansing breath. A breeze blew, rustling the leaves overhead as he released it.

“My twenty minutes are up. I’d better go before I get locked in, like that time we hid in here to look for Old Man Feenburg’s ghost.” As Jordan smiled at the memory, he realized tonight was the first time he’d smiled while thinking of Travis since he’d died. “I miss you, man.” He lightly tapped his fist against the smooth stone in goodbye. Then he went back the way he’d come, away from his past, and toward his future.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

D

amnit. This outlet should work,” Danny muttered to himself in irritation. Kneeling down in front of the floor outlet, he wiggled the cord plugged into it in hopes that would make it work. He didn’t want to have to go through the hassle of tracking down convention staff to verify he paid for electricity at his table.

“Can I help?”

Danny froze for a second. That sounded like Jordan. He popped up from behind the table to see if it was him. It was. Jordan stood there, dressed casually in a dark gray T-shirt and jeans, a one-day pass wristband around his right wrist. Danny was surprised to see him. He hadn’t heard from him since their confrontation in the alley almost two weeks ago. He wondered why he was there but realized he hadn’t answered Jordan’s question. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

Jordan came around the table and squatted down next to him.

“There’s no power in the outlet but there should be. I paid for electricity.”

Jordan held a hand over it. “It’s not getting any juice.” His hand sparked blue for a quick moment and a small bolt zapped the outlet. “It is now.”

Danny looked up at his table. The electronic card reader he’d plugged in blinked green for ready.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They were so close kneeling together on the floor. Danny needed breathing room. He stood up, but that didn’t help much once Jordan stood too. There was little space behind the table, and most of it was taken up by a chair and his merch tubs. The most Danny could manage was to put half an arm’s length of space between them.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you. But I know you have to work, so I thought I’d help out first. If you don’t mind.”

Talk. Talk about what? He doubted Jordan would show up here to tell him he’d thought about it and didn’t want them to be together. A tiny spark of hope started to burn in his heart. “I don’t mind. That’d be great actually.”

“Tell me what you need me to do.”

Danny gave him a run-down of everything at the booth and how to handle transactions with customers. As the artist, he’d do most of the interacting but if he needed a break or the booth got super busy, Jordan’s assistance would be appreciated.

Throughout the day, Jordan worked hard. He minded the booth when Danny needed a break and went on a snack run for him and the people at the tables on either side of him. He even put on one of the T-shirts with Danny’s art printed on the front. The shirt was too small for him and his muscles, but it worked perfectly to get people to stop and check him, and subsequently Danny’s merch, out.

Danny was having a great day with sales and he’d met some cool fans of his work. At noon, there was a lull in visitors to his table. Most people had gone to hit up the food court for lunch. He was about to take a quick look at his current sales tally when a scream pierced the din of noise in the convention center.

“What was that?”

Jordan eyed the crowd, looking for the source of the scream. “Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good.”

The cause of the problem was revealed when a woman jumped up on a table at the end of their aisle, kicking all the merch to the floor. A group of people wearing all white, from their fitted skullie caps to their shoes, and armed with what looked like prop stun guns from a popular TV show, lined up in front of her, blocking anyone from getting to the table she’d taken over. The woman held up a megaphone and started shouting into it.

“This entire building is filled to the brim with filth! Lewd renderings and worship of problematic characters. You all must be stopped. You must be shown the way to art that is pure and good and serves society in a positive manner. We will not allow you to poison the minds of the people any longer. Pack up your filth and leave, because we are closing this show down.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Oh, great. One of those.”

“Who are they?”

“The Purity Alliance. They talk big and cause a ruckus online but they don’t do any real harm.”

“Those weapons they’re carrying look real enough.”

“They’re prop guns,” Danny said with another eye roll.

A security guard walked up to the group, demanding the woman get down from her grandstanding. She lowered her megaphone but didn’t move to leave the table. Instead, she nodded at one of her foot soldiers. At her signal, the man grinned and took aim with his gun. A red blast shot out from the muzzle, striking the security guard square in the chest. The guard fell to the ground on his back, his arm frozen in the raised position he’d had it in when he was hit.

Danny’s mouth dropped open with shock. “Uh... Maybe they’re not props.”

People started screaming and running. More security guards rushed over, but they too were frozen stiff by the not prop stun guns before they could do any good. Jordan shoved Danny to the floor.

“Get down!”

“At least it’s not me they’re after this time.” Danny mumbled as he crouched behind the table.

Jordan kneeled down next to him and started undressing, whipping his shirt over his head and shucking off his jeans.

Danny looked at him with his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. Jordan hadn’t brought his gear so why the hell was he undressing? Then he put the belt back on. Once it was closed around his waist, Jordan pressed a hand to the buckle. Liquid black material spread out from the buckle, covering him all the way down to his feet and up to his head. Danny reached out to touch it. It was even tighter than his leathers, but otherwise appeared the same as his usual Blaze gear.

“What the...?” He trailed off when Jordan pressed a hand to his ear and started speaking.

“Caleb, we’ve got a disturbance at the Geek Fest. Send Sonica since she can pop in fast.”

Danny’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re working with a team?”

“Yep. It was the best way to keep you safe. Stay down. I’ll be right back.” He pressed a kiss to Danny’s still open mouth then disappeared to fight.

Danny peeked his head up over the table. Blaze ran up to the group, taking out one of the Purity Alliance members before he even knew what hit him. The rest of the group spun around to take Blaze on, but at that moment, a woman dressed in a pink and black costume popped in behind them.

Danny immediately clapped his hands over his ears. That was Sonica, her scream could knock a person unconscious. She let loose with a volley, directing it at the PA guys in front of her. The blast was loud enough to ring in Danny’s ears and affect those unlucky enough to still be near the fight.

Some of the soldiers turned to face Sonica. They fired their stun guns, trying to hit her, but she easily disappeared and reappeared in a new place each time, remaining untouched. Even though the bad guys had both a numbers advantage and those huge stun guns, Blaze and Sonica took them down in no time.

Once the Purity Alliance members were all subdued and restrained, Blaze jolted the security guards back from being stunned, then disappeared into the crowd.

Sonica stayed a few minutes longer, keeping watch as the newly arriving security guards escorted the Purity Alliance members from the hall. She waved at the crowd, cell phone camera flashes going off all around her. “Get back to your con, everybody. Have fun!” Then she popped out.

A minute later, Jordan snuck back into Danny’s booth. Danny stood up, needlessly rearranging things on his table, acting as if he didn’t have a superhero redressing himself at his feet so no one would notice anything going on. But once Jordan stood back up, fully dressed, Danny spun around to face him.

“I know we said we’d talk later. But I have to know what’s going on. You’ve got new toys and a team and... What is happening?”

Jordan scrubbed a hand over his head and took a deep breath. “You were right. I was letting my past dictate too much of my present. With the guilt I carried for the way Travis died, I assumed you would be hurt too if you stayed with me. And since I didn’t want that to happen. I pushed you away. Luckily for me, you called me on my bullshit and made me see that I was making the biggest mistake of my life.”

Danny choked on a laugh. “I’m sorry I yelled at you that night.”

“Don’t be. You were braver than me and it was everything I needed to hear. Now, I hope that the fire that burned within you to fight for our relationship is still lit because I have something to offer you and another gift for you later.”

He pulled a slim silver watch from his pocket.

“A watch?” Danny asked, confused. He’d never asked Jordan to get him a watch.

“It’s more than that. If you press the black button, it sends a message to me and headquarters that you’re in trouble. And it’s chipped with a tracking device. It’s one of the security measures Caleb came up with to keep the loved ones of the Arch City Guardians safe.”

“Arch City Guardians.”

“That’s the team name.”

“And you’re on it.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I’m surprised. I never thought—.” Danny stopped and shook his head. “Okay. You’re on the team and you want to give me a watch with a chip in it.”

“I didn’t plan on giving it to you right after a fight in the middle of a convention hall.” He took another deep breath. “I’m sorry for hurting you, angel. If you can forgive me, and if you still want me, I want to be with you. I always have. So, I’m asking you. Will you accept this watch and be with me?”

Danny’s heart pounded. This was happening. And maybe they weren’t in the best place to speak of love, but he needed to hear those words from the man in front of him. “Is there anything else you want to say?”

Jordan’s brow creased in question for a moment before it cleared and a slow smile curled his lips.

“I love you, Danny.”

Danny smiled, taking a step to close the gap between them. “I love you, too. And I accept your watch.”

“Yeah?”

Danny nodded and raised his arm. “Yeah.”

Jordan’s smile was tinged with relief, as if he’d worried that Danny would say no.

“Okay.”

Jordan clasped the watch around his wrist. It fit him perfectly, the silver metal band and shiny face glinting under the bright lights. He hadn’t expected a high-tech gadget like this when he’d told Jordan to find a way for them to be together. But if this is what it took, he’d wear the watch every day. Then he remembered that Jordan had said he had two gifts for him.

“What about the other gift?”

“That one has to be given in private,” Jordan softly said.

When Jordan brushed his finger down Danny’s throat, he knew immediately what he meant. “Oh!” Danny reached out and pressed his hands to Jordan’s chest, leaning in and melting against him. “I’m so glad you came back to me,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry I let you go,” Jordan whispered back. “But you can believe it won’t ever happen again.”

“I do believe it. I believe you.”

Jordan leaned down and brought their lips together to seal his promise in the softest kiss. As Danny kissed him back, he thought that couldn’t wait for this day to end so that they could go home, and he could finally have what he’d been dreaming of for so long.

∞∞∞

DANNY UNLOCKED THE front door and walked into the house, Jordan behind him. “I’m exhausted,” he said as he tossed his keys on the entryway table.

Sales at his booth had exploded after Blaze and Sonica’s appearance. He didn’t have much Sonica art, but what he did have sold out in minutes. And of course, his Blaze merch had sold so fast his card reader had practically been smoking by the end of the day. A few customers had looked at Jordan with questions in their eyes, one even commenting that he was big enough to be Blaze. Jordan had simply shrugged and handed them their receipt.

Danny tiredly slumped into the living room, kicked off his shoes, and flopped down onto the couch.

Jordan walked over to stand in front of him. “You want to go to bed?”

“Yeah, I —. Wait.” He sat up straight, suddenly wide awake. “You have another gift for me, right?”

“I do. But I can wait until tomorrow if you’re too tired.”

Danny vehemently shook his head. “I don’t want to go to bed until I have it.” He went up on his knees on the couch, waiting.

Jordan pulled a black satin pouch from his pocket before he sat down next to him. “I had this made for you. I wanted you to have something special, just like you.” He reached into the bag. When he pulled his hand out, a submissive’s collar lay on his big palm.

The collar was a slim black leather band, with a tiny metallic blue J pendant hanging from the center. Jordan flipped it over so Danny could see the inside. Lightning bolts and angel wings were tooled into the leather.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Then, Daniel Griffin, will you accept my collar and be my submissive?”

Danny looked up from the collar and into his Dom’s eyes. They were no longer shadowed. Now the golden-brown irises were clear, shining with love for him. “Hell, yes,” Danny enthusiastically gave his answer. He turned around so Jordan could put that beautiful collar on him.

Warm fingers brushed his throat as his Dom lifted the collar to his neck. A sense of peace and love and security washed over him when the collar clicked closed at his nape. Danny smiled, bowing his head, fingers toying with the little J. He turned back around to face his lover.

Jordan smiled too. He reached out to place his hand over Danny’s for a moment. Then he pulled him onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him.

“You’re mine now.”

Danny tilted his head back to smile up at his lover. “I’ve always been yours. I love you. Jordan. Blaze. Both sides of you.”

“My sweet angel. I love you, too.”

∞∞∞

THE ARCH CITY GUARDIANS will be back for more love, sexy times, and adventure in Arch City Guardians 2: DR. Z.

Epilogue

One Year Later.

D

anny was down in the lair, sitting at the workstation Jordan had built for him. He was working on a new piece of Dr. Z, a new favorite among St. Louis’s heroes, while Jordan geared up for the night across from him. He drummed the fingers of his left hand on the desk top as he looked over what he’d drawn so far, trying to think what would make the picture really pop.

The gold band on his ring finger caught the light. The sparkle made him smile and reach up to touch the leather band around his throat. He wore both the ring and the slim black collar proudly. Danny looked up at Jordan just as he pulled on his glove over the matching gold wedding band on his hand.

His life was amazing. The web comic he’d created had become so popular he had plans to have it printed and he took a self-defense class once a week from one of the members of ACG. Thankfully, he had yet to need any of those lessons. Although his life was no longer in weekly peril, with Jordan, it was still exciting and full of love.

Fully dressed in his Blaze gear, Jordan came over to him. He spun Danny’s chair around to face him, and leaned down with his hands braced on the arm rests.

“I’ll be back late tonight.”

Danny looked up at his lover. The black leather mask covering half his face couldn’t disguise his handsomeness. “I’ll be in bed, possibly waiting. Maybe asleep. Either way, I’ll be here for you.”

Jordan smiled. “Give me a kiss for luck.”

“You don’t need luck, you’re a bad ass,” he teased. “My bad ass.” But he raised his face to kiss his husband anyway.

“I love you,” Jordan said against Danny’s lips.

“I love you, too.” Tablet in hand, Danny rose from his chair as Jordan stepped back and strode over to his car. Once he got in, Danny waved. Then he turned around and headed for the elevator, because he knew Jordan liked to check out his ass in the rearview mirror before he drove away. The Challenger roared to life, drowning out the sound of the elevator doors gliding open. As Danny took the elevator back upstairs to the apartment that had become their home, redesigned to accommodate both of their tastes and needs, he smiled at his reflection in the doors.

Claimed by his Dom and married to his favorite superhero. Danny couldn’t be happier.

Author Note

This story was a treat to write! Although I’m only a few years into reading comics, I’ve always been a big fan of superheroes and their adventures. I’m a member of Generation X, so as a kid, some of my favorite cartoons to watch were X-MEN and Batman: The Animated Series. When the Marvel Cinematic Universe hit the screens, I was into it and really loved RDJ’s portrayal of Iron Man. But once Bucky and Steve’s story started to play out, I was truly hooked!

It took me several years after that before I had the idea to write my own superhero series — with a lot more love and smexy times — but once the idea took shape, I couldn’t shake it. Blaze was the first character I imagined. You may have noticed he’s a little influenced by Batman, one of my favorite heroes.

While the Caped Crusader has his fierce Catwoman to love, I wanted our dark and broody hero to have someone soft to love him and give him comfort. And thus, Danny was born. I had a lot of fun writing their adventures. Poor Danny had a rough time getting attacked every week, but lucky for him, his hero was there to save him each time.

I truly hope you enjoyed reading BLAZE! Thank you so much for your purchase, and I hope you’ll return for the next story in the Arch City Guardians series... DR. Z!

Love,

Christine

P.S. Stop by my website to check out extras like my BLAZE writing playlist, Arch City Guardians hero stats, puzzles, games, and cool aesthetics. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter, where you’ll receive an exclusive free short story and much more!

www.ChristaTomlinson.com

More by Christa Tomlinson

Arch City Guardians Series

BLAZE

DR. Z

Heartthrob Heroes Shorts

Valentine’s Day Hero

The Sergeant Series

The Sergeant

The Detective’s Pleasure

The Sergeant: A Christmas Story

An Officer’s Submission

A Sniper’s Devotion

Heartbreakers Series

Gage

Nate

Max

Star Force Fighters Series

Starlight Dreams

Starlight Desire

Between the Ropes Series

The Rookie and the Vet

In His Corner

Free Reads

A Second Chance for Three

The Supreme Might of Love

Thank you for reviewing BLAZE! The links to post your review on Amazon and/or Goodreads are below.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YS3VWS5

CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YS3VWS5

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YS3VWS5

DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07YS3VWS5

AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YS3VWS5

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46127035-blaze

BLAZE – Arch City Guardians #1

Superhero Romance

Published October 6, 2019

Kindle Unlimited

Sale Price $3.99

Table of Contents

Blaze

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Epilogue

Author Note

More by Christa Tomlinson