Page 6

“Right.”

“You be sure to show the boss a real nice time.” Jules winked as the other men chuckled amongst themselves.

Jimmy’s face was suddenly too hot, and he wished he could melt into the floor. He practically sprinted to the door when they released him, using the key to slip inside and shut it quickly.

The room was dimly lit, the air much cooler inside than out in the hall, and it felt good on his blushing face. He saw Cold sitting at a large desk, and the only light in the room emanated from a small lamp behind him.

Cold wore a gray sweater that hung nicely on his broad shoulders, the snug fit revealing a much more trim physique than Jimmy had first suspected. He was also surprised to see a thin pair of black reading glasses perched on Cold’s nose as he worked on several thick ledgers spread out in front of him. He appeared relaxed and made no effort to acknowledge Jimmy’s presence.

“Good evening,” Jimmy said quietly, not sure how to proceed.

“Bathroom is around the corner,” Cold informed him, not even looking up from the sea of papers. “Shower, then put on the robe hanging on the back of the door.”

“I-I took a shower this morning,” Jimmy protested weakly. He swallowed hard as he added, “Sir.”

Cold sighed, obviously annoyed. He took off his glasses, set down his pen, and finally lifted his head to stare Jimmy down.

Jimmy froze under the icy gaze, understanding at once how the mob boss had earned his name. His eyes were piercing, and Jimmy was certain they were going to drill holes right through him. He felt trapped, glued to the spot, and he couldn’t look away.

“Allow me to make myself very clear, Mr. Poe,” Cold said slowly, speaking as if Jimmy was a child. He steepled his fingers together, his eyes never leaving Jimmy’s. “I have been kind enough to offer you this little arrangement to take care of your debt. I expect to get my money’s worth, and—”

“I’m sorry, really, I just have this weird thing about showering in other places that aren’t my house? And—”

Holding up a finger for silence, Cold’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. His entire posture had shifted, tense and ready to strike.

Jimmy shut up.

“Last chance,” Cold warned. “For the next seven hours and fifty-seven minutes, you are mine. Your body is my property. You will do whatever I ask of you without hesitation. Please me, and I will ask you to return again. But if you fail to do so and you waste my time, I will make sure you regret it.”

Jimmy believed him.

“Now.” Cold sighed, appearing to relax again. “Any questions?”

A thousand questions came rushing to the surface, but only one managed to make it all the way to Jimmy’s lips. “D-do you do this a lot? Let people, you know, do this to pay you?”

Cold looked surprised, an expression Jimmy felt certain he did not show often. It faded as quickly as it appeared, and he answered simply, “No.”

Jimmy waited for more details but decided none were coming when Cold resumed his paperwork. He obediently hurried to the bathroom, grateful he could shut the door and have a moment of privacy.

Holy crap.

He was in Roderick Legrand’s private room, and they were gonna do stuff. Sex stuff. He knew it was rather juvenile and this whole situation was insane, but his imagination was running through all sorts of debauched fantasies. It wasn’t so wrong if he was looking forward to this, he decided. He was making the best of the hand he’d been dealt.

After taking a deep breath, he stripped off his clothes. He didn’t want to keep Cold waiting.

Showering quickly and using the products he found in the bathroom, he hopped in and out as fast as he could. He pulled the robe on, grateful for the thick fabric when he stepped back into the cool main room.

“Bed,” Cold said, his pen still moving and eyes on the papers before him. “Get… comfy.”

Jimmy did as he was told, stretching out across the massive bed with a smile. It was easily the most comfortable bed he’d ever been in, and he sighed as he snuggled up against the pillows. He knew better than to speak, waiting patiently for Cold to tell him what to do.

“Go ahead and get yourself ready for me,” Cold said briskly. “You’ll find what you need in the bedside table drawer.”

Jimmy quirked his brows, rolling over to inspect the contents of the drawer. He blushed when he found a bottle of lube and several dildos. He was relieved to see they were at least new and still in the package. That was considerate of him. Jimmy grabbed the lubricant and one of the smaller toys.

Cold’s eyes flicked up for a moment, and he smirked at his selection. He said nothing and returned to his work.

Jimmy didn’t understand what was so amusing. The smallest toy was still at least seven inches. He set the toy and lube aside for now, slouching so his head was nestled in the pillows. He tried to relax, letting his eyes close and running his hands down his chest. Untying the robe, he opened it up to expose his lean body, still damp from the shower.