Page 21 of The Devil's Mercy

Only, some of those fantasies had been confirmed, had they not? Titus’s admission that he was in charge, that he ruled over Aodhan, meant he was every bit as dominant in real life as he’d been in Cal’s imagination.

The doctor had gotten to experience it firsthand.

All while he’d been playing with Cal on the side.

Lying and using him.

Pretending to care.

“I’m not jealous,” he stated more clearly. “I’m livid. You tricked me. Both of you. And now you want me to believe it’s because of some twisted sense of desire? Ever consider asking me out instead?”

“Aodhan would never have gone for something so simple. No, he needed to be led to that conclusion on his own. There was no other way.”

“You’ve just confessed to tricking him, too. What would he think about all of this, huh? If he found out it was all a manipulation to get him to dance to your tune?” When he didn’t receive a reply, he tried a different angle. “Conclusion? What conclusion?”

“Have you ever dreamed of me, little monster?” Titus eased a second finger into his hole. “I still think of the way you looked at me that first time we met.”

It’d been in the police station, where Cal had already spent the past four days being interrogated. Titus had walked in to get Bruce, and the two of them had locked eyes. To say his first thought wasn’t that Titus Mercer was the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen would be a lie.

“Answer the question, Cal,” Titus suggested. “Or, would you rather I replace the hook and string you back up? Hmm? We can try this again some other time, maybe tomorrow, when you’re once again brought to the state of exhaustion and too tired to fight.”

“I haven’t thought about you in years,” Calix stated. “But before you reach for the hook, don’t take it personally. I tried hard not to think about anything from my life here.”

“I didn’t ask if you’ve thought about me. I asked if you’vedreamedabout me.”

He swallowed and caught himself just before he shifted on his feet and gave his nerves away. “Yes. Happy?”

“In what capacity?”

“I…” Was he ordering Cal to describe his wet dreams to him? Good Light. That was too far. He—

Titus slipped a third finger into him and stretched them, scraping against the tender parts that were already rubbed raw.

“You saw how I looked at you the day we first met,” Calix whispered, hanging his head. “Of course I’ve dreamed of you. Not of this…exact setup, but…”

“It’s not too far off.” Titus kissed his shoulder lightly again. “I know this is difficult for you, that you still need time to adjust, but don’t push me too hard, little monster. There’s a reason even someone like Aodhan Solace submits in my presence.”

Why did that make it sound like Aodhan was worse than Calix was even imagining? A master manipulator and a cold-blooded killer, but what else?

“Who is he?” Calix couldn’t help but ask weakly. “Who is he really?”

“Mine,” Titus replied, then made a soothing sound in the back of his throat before Cal could react to the claim. “And yours.”

If they’d taught him anything at all by doing this, it was that Aodhan had never once ever really been his. No matter how badly he wanted him to be. Then, and now. “No.”

“Are you saying you don’t want him anymore? He’ll be pained to hear that. But if you’re good for me, maybe I can be convinced to keep this conversation between the two of us. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt you.”

Calix’s brow furrowed.

“Or you can keep acting tough, Detective. Whichever direction you lead, I’ll follow.”

“…Why? Why are you doing this? If it’s just because you wanted me, fine. I’m right here. I’m tied up and I can’t fight back. Just fuck me and get it over—”

“That’s your problem,” Titus cut him off. “You’re always trying to do things the easy way. If you’d used the brain I know you have that day in the school parking lot, for example, the two of us never would have met.”

“Don’t.” He’d always wondered what the other man truly thought of him, but he’d also always known he never wanted to hear it. “Don’t bring that up.”

“Why not? It’s our beginning, isn’t it?”

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