Lucien's palms were slick with sweat.

He stared through the glass, heart hammering against his ribs.

Don't get hurt… please don't get hurt.

The buzzer blared, and the violence began.

The crowd's roar shook the basement walls.

Leon moved like a blur of lethal intent, his every punch echoing with a sickening thud.

He looked more at home in this iron cage than in a classroom.

Leon caught a heavy blow to the ribs, but he didn't even blink.

He didn't feel the pain.

The only thing Leon felt was the heat in his chest, knowing Lucien was watching him from the shadows of the balcony.

Lucien was the prize waiting at the end of the blood.

The referee stepped in, Leon's gloves went up.

He didn't look at his opponent, or the money flying onto the mat.

He looked straight at Lucien and flashed a slow, predatory smirk.

Lucien finally exhaled.

The door to the lounge groaned open minutes later.

Leon walked in, smelling of steam and cold adrenaline.

He scooped Lucien up without a word, burying his face in the crook of Lucien's neck.

Leon inhaled, long and slow.

"You got hit," Lucien muffled, his voice small against Leon's shoulder.

"Didn't feel a thing."

Leon's grip was heavy, unyielding.

"I used to pick a trophy before every fight," Leon rasped, his voice a low frequency against Lucien's skin.

"A greasy burger… a bottle of expensive whiskey… anything to make the blood worth it."

Lucien went still—a cold instinct warning him to run.

"Leon… what are you saying?"

"I looked up during the second round," Leon murmured, his teeth grazing Lucien's earlobe.

"I saw you leaning against the railing, watching me."

"I won that fight in record time just to get back to you."

Leon pulled back, his steel-gray eyes dark with hunger.

"You're my trophy tonight, baby."

Lucien's breath hitched. "No, I'm not—"

Leon didn't argue.

He sat Lucien on the edge of the prop table, caging him in.

"Eat a little, then we go," Leon promised, his thumb tracing Lucien's lower lip.

"Eat what? We just had dinner!"

Leon leaned in, his breath hot.

"Lift your shirt," Leon commanded.

"Bite the hem. Don't let go."

Lucien bit into the white cotton, his eyes red and wide.

The muffled whimpers he made were pathetic, helpless.

Leon stared, his jaw setting tight.

He looked like a wolf finally allowed a taste of the lamb.

Lucien's shirt slipped from his teeth as he gasped for air.

"Leon, please—"

Leon's palm covered Lucien's throat, not squeezing, just grounding him.

"I didn't say you could let go."

Leon crashed his lips against Lucien's.

It wasn't a kiss, it was a possessive claim.

Lucien felt like a bowstring pulled to the breaking point.

Leon finally pulled back, breathing hard.

"Good boy."

Lucien delivered a sharp kick to Leon's shin the second he was free.

"Liar! Jerk! You're a bully!"

Leon didn't flinch.

"I'm sorry, baby," Leon lied, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"I couldn't help it."

Lucien hopped off the table, hissing as the fabric of his shirt rubbed against his chest.

The stinging was sharp, sudden.

Lucien glared, tears pricking his eyes.

"Look what you did! It hurts!"

Leon lifted the hem, his gaze tracking the red, swollen marks on Lucien's pale skin.

He looked like he wanted to bite them again.

Leon sighed, pulling two Band-Aids from his kit.

He applied them with clinical precision, smoothing the edges.

Lucien's face was nuclear.

"This is so humiliating. I'm wearing Band-Aids because of you."

"Deduct the points, baby," Leon whispered, towering over him.

"I'll earn them back tonight."

Lucien stomped back to the dorm... fuming.

The lights were on in the living room.

Jamie sat on the sofa... a bag of chips in his lap... eyes glued to the game.

"You're back," Jamie said... his gaze locking onto Lucien.

Lucien ducked his head... pulling his collar up.

He didn't want Jamie seeing the marks... or the swelling.

"You were a star today," Jamie jumped up... waving his phone.

"The costume was killer... I took a dozen photos."

Lucien let out a breath... forcing a small smile. "Thanks... I'm going to bed."

Jamie leaned in... the smell of salt and grease following him.

"So... are you dating that guy from the phone calls?"

Lucien's face flared. "No... not exactly. Not yet."

Jamie shrugged... popping another chip. "Just a situationship then... fine by me."

Lucien's ears burned.

It wasn't a situationship... it was a predation.

Leon was using him like a chew toy.

"By the way," Jamie gestured toward the window.

"There's a black car downstairs. It's been there every night... I think some rich kid moved in."

Lucien's heart skipped a beat.

He walked to the window... pretending to check the weather.

The black sedan sat under the streetlamp... idle.

Leon hadn't left.

Lucien grabbed his jacket... his hands shaking as he reached for the door.

"I... I forgot something. I'm staying out tonight."

"Have fun," Jamie called out... not looking away from the screen.

Lucien sprinted down the stairs... bursting into the cool night air.

He ran straight for the car.

Leon sat in the driver's seat... scrolling through his phone... a frown deepening the lines around his eyes.

Lucien tapped on the glass.

Leon looked up... the door flying open before Lucien could blink.

Lucien threw himself into Leon's chest... the impact rattling his teeth.

Leon's arms clamped around his waist... a reflex... pulling him into the warmth of the car.

"What are you doing here?" Lucien muffled into the man's coat.

Leon stroked his back... his touch unnervingly soft.

"I missed you."

"You bit me," Lucien grumbled... his voice turning into a pout.

"It still hurts... you probably broke the skin."

Leon's Adam's apple bobbed.

"I'll fix it... I'll buy you ointment."

"Well... hurry up then," Lucien climbed into the passenger seat. "I'm tired."

Leon didn't argue.

He pulled over at a pharmacy... returning a few minutes later with a bag.

He tossed a small box onto Lucien's lap... a strawberry cake from the bakery next door.

Lucien's eyes lit up. "The last one?"

"The very last one," Leon murmured... watching Lucien dig in with a plastic fork.

Cream smeared Lucien's bottom lip... a white streak against the dark red.

Leon didn't start the engine.

He just stared.

"Why aren't we moving?" Lucien swallowed... his face heating under the weight of that gaze.

"The medicine is bought... take me back to the dorm."

"Jamie's probably asleep," Leon shifted the car into gear. "Don't wake him."

They reached the apartment in record time.

Lucien made a break for the guest room... his feet barely touching the carpet.

Leon caught him by the elbow. "Medicine first."

"I can do it myself," Lucien reached for the tube.

Leon held it over his head... a foot out of Lucien's reach.

"You'll miss a spot. I'm doing it."

Lucien glared... his fists balled at his sides. "Fine... just get it over with."

They stayed in the living room... the heater humming in the corner.

Lucien loosened the belt of his silk robe... the fabric sliding off his shoulders.

Leon's eyes darkened... his jaw tightening as he peeled back the Band-Aids.

The skin was still red... angry... reacting to the cool air.

Leon squeezed a drop of mint-scented gel onto his fingertip.

Lucien shivered when the cold hit his chest... his breath hitching.

"Don't move," Leon commanded... his voice dropping into that dangerous register.

"I need to be thorough."

"This is your fault," Lucien hissed... his knuckles turning white as he gripped the sofa cushion.

"My fault," Leon agreed... his thumb tracing the curve of the mark.

"I'll apologize all night... if you let me."

Lucien didn't answer.

He waited until Leon finished... then bolted for the bedroom... the door clicking shut behind him.

Leon stood alone... staring at the locked door.

He rubbed his thumb against his forefinger... savoring the lingering heat.

His breathing turned heavy... the silence of the apartment echoing in his ears.