Page 47 of Destruction

When Tennant has him on the ground, his foot holding him to the mat, my cock thickens. It becomes hard to focus as I watch TennantownBenjamin on the screen. By the time they’re both naked, and Tennant is ready to shove into Benjamin without lube or prep, my cock is rock-hard, and my body is almost overheated with desire.

When Tennant knocks Benjamin out, my heart is racing and I ache all over from the need to be fucked.

“Where’s Benjamin now?” I ask, concerned about Tennant knocking him unconscious then just leaving him. I know he wouldn’t do that, but still… I also know how it feels to go up against Ten, and that’s after years and years of training. I’m sure Benjamin is feeling every hit, since the fucker never pulls his punches.

“In his room. I asked Soren to sit in with him, so he wouldn’t wake up disoriented and alone.”

I nod, the worry easing a bit.

Jude takes the tablet from me and leans forward to set it on the coffee table. “What was the point of that?” he asks, his voice thick and laced with desire.

Hollis finally pushes away from the door and comes to sit in the chair opposite the one Jude and I are sharing. “The point,” he says slowly, “was to show you what Tennant got up to today.”

“Are you going to punish me for taking what you freely gave, Tesoro?” Tennant asks in a mild tone, though there’s something lying underneath the carefully modulated words that has my desire receding, and fear taking center stage.

In all my time of knowing Hollis, he and Ten have always been on the same page. Even when they disagree, they somehow manage to make it seem like they’re one unit. Right now, there’s a tension in the air, one that fills my lungs with fear and makes my heart beat fast.

Jude slips his hand into mine and I hold it tightly, grateful to have a lifeline in the maelstrom.

“No,” Hollis finally says. “I am not cruel like that. What I want to know is…do you plan on giving him back?”

“No,” Tennant replies. “The thought didn’t cross my mind.”

“Isn’t he engaged to one of them?” Jude asks. “That pretty much means you have to.”

Tennant sneers. “Ignacio doesn’t deserve him. He’s half-trained because Ignacio failed him. Il Padrone and Lio have a Family to run, they can’t be everywhere at once. Benjamin is Ignacio’s, which means he’s his responsibility. That he didn’t take care of him shows he must not really love him as he says.”

“That’s unfair,” I snap. “People show love in different ways. You know exactly what that’s like. Just because Ignacio was taking his time with Benjamin, doesn’t mean he didn’t care.”

“It’sexactlywhat it means, Little Prince,” Ten argues. “The second Hollis became mine, I started working with him. He’ll never be as proficient at fighting as the rest of us, but he’s shown he’s more than willing to kill and die for the Family. His position means he doesn’t need such a heavy hand as you or Jude.

“Benjamin is Emilio’s Second. He should have started training the moment he was appointed. Not only that…it’s not just sex.”

I squeeze Jude’s hand harder in mine. I saw and heard that on the video. The Martellis use sex as a way to connect to one another, and to keep each other in their places. While I’m sure they all care for one another in some way, because love isn’t stagnant, I know their individual relationships are what matter—much like our relationship can’t be impacted by what Hollis did to and with Lio.

What I saw on the video, however… Tennant and Benjamin have a connection that goes far deeper than one-time sex, or a simple release, or Benjamin being Tennant’s type. It…was like watching Hollis and Tennant having sex, if I’m being honest. The…trust and care between them matched what I’ve seen between my lovers.

Sex is just sex…Thatwas more.

“That’s why I’m going to let you keep him, Love.” Hollis’s voice jars me back to the topic at hand.

“What do you mean?” I ask. “I mean, I’m happy that Tennant seems to have found someone else who’s perfect for him, but Benjamin hates me, remember?”

“Good thing you’re not part of my decision then, Amore,” Hollis says. “Benjamin is his problem, not ours. I’ll let you keep him, Ten. He’s yours. I’ll protect him because you are mine, and I’ll always protect what’s important to you, but I also don’t want Emilio breathing down my neck because he’s terrified for his best friend’s life.

“Roman is right that Benjamin isn’t a fan of his, but maybe him being around more will help with that. It’ll give him a chance to get to know Jude, too.” Hollis shrugs. “I didn’t plan for this when I gave you permission to fuck him, but…you’ve never asked me for anything.”

“I’m yours, Hol,” Tennant says in a voice I’ve never heard from him before. Sounding almost vulnerable.

“You are,” Hollis agrees. “And nothing will ever change that, but… I want you to have this—him—too.”

Tennant goes to his knees in front of Hollis and says something so quietly that not even I can hear it. Hollis grabs a handful of Ten’s white blond hair and pulls his head back.

“You’ll make it up to me,” Hollis tells him. “When this shitstorm is over, I’ll take you away for a while, maybe a few weeks, and show you just howmineyou are. For now…” Hollis leans over Tennant and kisses him hard.

When the kiss ends, Tennant says, “I’ll be yours forever, Tesoro. Sei il mio universo.”

Hollis gives him an indulgent smile. “Sei la persona a cui tengo di più. Which is why I’m giving you this. Because I know nothing will ever stand in the way of you being mine.”

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