Page 28 of Dark Seduction

“If your relationship is solid with what’s his name—”

“Daniel.”

“Yes, of course, Daniel James. The reason I handed you this assignment...” Now it was an assignment which meant it wasn’t for one or two days, but it could go on and on. “Daniel James was known to me and referred to me by someone in your office. And when I discovered that you and Daniel were partners, you were the perfect one to take care of Charles. He’s a valuable property and will be worth billions in a few years if we can keep him out of those bondage clubs.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

“That’s where Daniel comes in. He knows how to take care of someone like Charlie. He knows where to find him if he’s missing.”

“Daniel has his own business to take care of, and I know you didn’t hire me just to babysit Charles St. John. Well, did you?”

“All I can say is do your best, Cole. I have to go now. Business you know.”

I stared at the phone, glanced around the room, and wondered where Sam had gone to and then I remembered.

When I strolled out of the bedroom, I looked around and saw that the breakfast dishes were sitting on the bar. I placed the few dishes in the dishwasher when I heard the shower and voices. “No. Don’t do that, Charlie.”

I stood a few minutes and there was a long silence before I opened the door to see Charlie naked again and sprawled across the bed with his legs extending to the floor. His cock was hard, and he had his fist wrapped around that monstrosity of a dick.

Daniel had been holding a towel, and when I entered he glanced up at my face and threw the towel over Charlie’s hips, and it made a tent over his cock. “Oh, there you are, Cole. I missed you. Daniel was trying to convince me to take a shower, but I wanted to lie here and play.”

I glared at Daniel, “Adults don’t play like that, especially with another man’s partner. Daniel, I need to see you before I leave.”

“Where are you going?” I pulled away, turned and headed back to the bedroom, and Daniel followed.

“What’s wrong, Cole.” I stopped and narrowed my eyes.

“What do you think is wrong? What were you doing in that room with that pervert, and he was naked?”

“I’ve seen naked men before. I was trying to get him into the shower.”

“Did it occur to you that something was wrong with that scene?”

“Not in the least. He’s twenty years old, and I’m not interested in him. I wanted to help you and him by trying to be of comfort to him. He’s damaged. Can’t you see that? That could be you—”

“No it couldn’t.”

“If you hadn’t met me first with what you were playing with, you could have wandered into Julian’s place or his life, and that would be you lying somewhere in a basement tied up on a filthy floor.”

“I still say that wouldn’t be me.”

“Maybe not, but sooner or later you would have found your way to that environment, whether it’s now or later in life.”

“Was that you? I mean Charlie. Was that you sometime in your life.” Daniel walked away from me after releasing me from his arms.

Minutes passed and still he hadn’t answered my questions. “I’m going back to my apartment while you try to be your brother’s keeper. I can’t live like this with Charlie in here with us, knowing he’s trying to use you. Send Sam back to me when you see Jay. You have your puppy to keep you company. You can keep him, or if you’re too occupied with Charlie, and I suspect you will be, then bring the puppy to me to keep Sam company.

“I don’t think they want to be separated. How long will you stay at the other apartment? Does that mean that you don’t want to be with me anymore?” I heard the pain in Daniel’s voice, and I had inflicted enough, but it was something I had to do to save our relationship.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to be around Charlie. When you get him out of your life, then maybe we can get back together under one roof.”

“You’re breaking up a family, Cole. Sam won’t take it well. The puppy is young he might adjust. I’m old and I won’t.”

“I’m not breaking up our family, Charlie is, and he knows what he’s doing.”

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