Stay (His Command Book 3)

by Piper Scott

  “What would they think if they saw you restrained by your own tie, in your own bed, while your pregnant lover takes advantage of you in any way he wants?”

  The words were coming more easily now, Adrian’s tongue more familiar with degradation than his hand was familiar with pleasure. But the result was immediate—like a storm that formed when hot met cold, pain and pleasure collided, and Sterling was their meeting point. He gasped, his abs clenching as he struggled against his bindings.

  Adrian had never seen something half as pretty.

  “And look how hard you are.” A smirk crept onto Adrian’s face as his confidence grew. The hand coiled around Sterling’s shaft pumped to accent his point, and Sterling tried to thrust up into its tight clutch. “You like this. You like it when I own you.”

  There was no answer, so Adrian took it upon himself to drag a reply out of Sterling. Gently, making sure to test Sterling’s limits, he pinched the frenum he’d admired just minutes before.

  Sterling’s howl was only muffled by Adrian’s quick thinking—he closed his free hand over Sterling’s mouth, hoping that the noise hadn’t given them away.

  Despite the way he’d cried out, Sterling was still rock-hard.

  “Shh. You have to be quiet.” Adrian leaned down, heart hammering. He removed his hand from Sterling’s mouth and replaced it with his lips. The kiss was crushing, made desperate and needy by Sterling. Adrian allowed it, and as he did, he stroked Sterling’s shaft to help him climb back to the peak he’d fallen from. When Sterling’s cock twitched, Adrian squeezed harder than he knew was comfortable, and Sterling whimpered into his mouth.

  Adrian’s cock throbbed.

  For a while, Adrian navigated Sterling’s pain and pleasure, allowing Sterling to get close to coming before killing his orgasm with a measured dose of pain. A squeeze. A pinch. A slap. Sterling’s genitals were his to play with, and he played with them how he wanted.

  And each time Sterling fell from the height of pleasure and landed at rock bottom, the climb back upward was that much more satisfying. Adrian saw the lust dragging at his eyelids and softening his gaze. Sterling loved it, and that made Adrian love what he did even more.

  Precum leaked from the slit of Adrian’s cock. It rolled down his shaft and made him want to shoot, but he held back on the pressure growing inside in order to see what he’d started through to the end. Sterling was beside himself with pleasure, and Adrian was close to the end as well—but where Sterling gasped and bucked his hips to try to push himself over the edge, Adrian was calm and collected. The expression of unabashed enjoyment on Sterling’s face, and the animalistic ways he tried to see that pleasure peak, were enough to stoke Adrian’s fires. He’d driven Sterling into a wild state, stripping him of his decorum to grant him total freedom.

  It was intoxicating to watch. Adrian needed to see more.

  Another calculated pinch led Sterling to cry out into Adrian’s palm. Sterling’s cock throbbed despite the pain, and Adrian bit down on his lip as he held back a smirk. There was nothing quite as hot as a man who got off on being made to submit so fully.

  Sterling deserved a reward.

  “You’ve been good,” Adrian whispered. He parted his hand from Sterling’s mouth and kissed the corner of his lips. Sterling, gasping for breath, did his best to kiss back. “I’m so impressed with you. Are you ready for your reward, baby? You’re going to love it so much.”

  He’d reached the part of the project where the blank canvas was no longer so blank. Adrian saw each step going forward, and he knew exactly what he would do.

  The bottle of lube was left on Sterling’s bedside table, almost depleted from their last few weeks together, but full enough that it would see them through the night. Adrian reached for it, and when he settled back over Sterling, Sterling’s lust-heavy eyelids lifted. The plastic snap of the cap was the first sound that hadn’t been muffled or hushed since they’d begun to play, and it spoke of a promise Adrian intended to keep.

  He lowered himself down Sterling’s body until he sat on his knees, then drizzled the lube onto Sterling’s abused cock as Sterling took ragged breaths.

  “Good boys who behave themselves get the best rewards,” Adrian whispered. He watched the lube slide down Sterling’s shaft, tinted blue by the exterior lights. When it pooled at the base of Sterling’s cock, Adrian dipped his fingers into it and worked it back up until Sterling’s cock was fully covered. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” Sterling uttered. The muscles in his arms were corded as they fought against his restraints. Adrian wondered at their strength and took pride in knowing that he was the one who’d brought Sterling to such total submission.

  Without a word, Adrian lowered himself onto Sterling’s lap and allowed Sterling to penetrate him.

  Sterling sucked in a breath and tugged at his restraints, but they held. Adrian, shocked at the sudden fullness, rocked his hips as his cock twitched and his groin tightened. He couldn’t come. Not yet. Not when he still owed Sterling his reward.

  Adrian sank forward, resting his hands on Sterling’s hips as he rode Sterling’s cock. The angle was perfect, and every time Adrian lifted his ass and sank back down, Sterling brushed along his prostate and left him seeing stars.

  When had sex last been so good? Consumed by need and directed by pleasure—both his own and Sterling’s—Adrian panted as he set the pace. Sterling worked him with more fervor than he usually did, each intake of breath rasped, and Adrian held back for nothing. He rewarded Sterling with his body, but at the same time, he was rewarding himself.

  He needed this.

  He needed Sterling.

  Back arched, hips rocking at a constant pace, Adrian threw his head back and rode Sterling for everything he was worth.

  “Fuck,” Sterling panted. He thrust beneath Adrian, but the efforts were mostly useless. Adrian was the one in control, and he was the one who set the pace. “Holy fuck, Adrian!”

  “You feel so fucking good.” Each downward motion put pressure right where it needed to. Adrian wanted to come more than ever, but he held back. “So—ugh!—so good.”

  “Let me come inside of you,” Sterling begged. The words he spoke were marked by urgency. “Please. I want—”

  Adrian reached forward, back hunched as he closed some of the distance between his body and Sterling’s. Both of his hands found Sterling’s chest, and he pinched Sterling’s nipples. Sterling hissed out through his teeth, and his thrusting turned frantic. Every push upward brought Adrian new pleasure, and in return, Adrian gave Sterling pain.

  The bed shook. Tears beaded in the corners of Adrian’s eyes. A thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead and chilled his arms, and he tightened his hole around Sterling instinctively as he twisted Sterling’s nipples.

  There was no warning before Sterling’s knot inflated save for the primal, staggered cry that broke from Sterling’s lips. The sound of it, so guttural and raw, pushed Adrian over the edge, and he choked back a cry of his own as he shot his seed across Sterling’s tight stomach and chest.

  When Adrian released Sterling’s nipples and slumped across his body, almost too weak from orgasm to undo Sterling’s restraints, Sterling kissed the top of his head and pistoned his cock in slow, deliberate ways. The knot didn’t allow him much movement, but he gave Adrian everything he could, and Adrian cherished it.

  The tie came undone. Sterling lifted his arms carefully from where they’d been stuck, then wrapped them around Adrian to hold him close. Adrian’s cheeks were red-hot, and he was sure that he was blushing.

  “I’m so happy for you and Gabriel,” Sterling whispered as they laid together in the silence. “This is a big first step, and I know it’s going to mean a brighter future for both of you.”

  “I think so, too,” Adrian whispered.

  But for Adrian, the biggest step had already been taken. Absolving himself of guilt and allowing himself to cast off the bitter person he’d been before never would have happened if it hadn’t bee
n for Sterling—if it hadn’t been for their little ragtag family.

  That night, when Adrian fell asleep, there were only good dreams. And when he woke up the next morning, Sterling’s arms were still wrapped around him, holding him close.

  Against all odds, he’d found his way—and Adrian didn’t think he’d ever be lost again.

  29

  Sterling

  The blue-green patina of Stonecrest’s copper roof drew the eye, and as Sterling stood by the curb, hands in his pockets, he observed it. The sun beat down on his shoulders, the day particularly warm. He’d left his suit jacket in the car, his shirt light enough that the heat wasn’t oppressive.

  Adrian stood at his side, solemn. He’d tried to fit into one of his more formal shirts only to discover that it was a little too snug around the midsection, so he’d opted for a t-shirt and a pair of jeans instead. Sterling thought he looked no less stunning for it—and frankly, the thought that Adrian was beginning to outgrow some of his closer-fitting clothes gave Sterling a high he still hadn’t come down from. It was a reminder that their little family was growing.

  “This is… this is it,” Gabriel murmured. He stared at the toes of his shoes and rubbed his arm nervously. “I just… they’ll teach me how to be happy, right?”

  “Only you can teach you how to be happy.” Adrian ruffled Gabriel’s hair, but Gabriel shrank into himself like he was more afraid than ever. “The counselors here are going to give you the tools you need to make sure you can find that happiness, but you don’t have to worry. You’re going to do great.”

  The confidence in Adrian’s voice was inspiring. Sterling watched the exchange, allowing some of his pride to shine through on his face. Every day it became more evident that Adrian wasn’t the same young man Sterling had caught flipping through his phone on club grounds. In just a handful of months, he’d matured significantly, and Sterling couldn’t wait to see how he could continue to evolve in the months to come.

  “Thank you,” Gabriel murmured, but it didn’t sound like he meant it. He picked at his sleeve and kept his head lowered. One day, when the damage to him had been undone and he was on the road to recovery, Sterling hoped he’d hold his head high and conduct himself with confidence. Until that day came, he was grateful that Gabriel had the courage to accept that he needed help.

  The iron gate barring Stonecrest’s grounds from the rest of the world opened. Sterling looked up to find the culprit, and smiled when he spotted the young man dressed in a gray collared shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows. The counselor’s face was unfamiliar, but his expression was kind. Sterling had hoped that Owen Ellis would have come to meet them, but it was more than likely that Owen was taking time off after the birth of his twins.

  That was fine. Sterling trusted that an institution run by Crawford Daniels would have top-notch employees. No matter who saw to Gabriel’s care, he’d be well looked after.

  “Hi. I’m Counselor Kendrick.” The counselor’s smile brightened. “Are you the Lowe family?”

  “We are.” Adrian stepped forward, taking control of the conversation. Nothing would crush his will, and Sterling admired him for it. The ebb and flow of power between them suited Sterling, and he felt that it fit Adrian as well. “I’m Adrian, and this is my brother, Gabriel.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Counselor Kendrick held out his hand, and Adrian shook it. Gabriel lurked behind Adrian like a shy child hiding behind his father. While introductions were made, Sterling remained by the car. Today was for Adrian and Gabriel, and he didn’t want to interfere.

  “Gabriel?” Adrian asked.

  On command, Gabriel stepped forward, but his head was still lowered. “Hello, Counselor Kendrick.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Counselor Kendrick’s tone was warm, but not patronizing. He spoke to Gabriel like the individual he was, rather than the stereotype Baylor had turned him into. “We have your room set up, and a guided tour of the facility ready. Are you set to go?”

  The moment was tense, the emotions on the air palpable. Fear, Sterling knew. It radiated off Gabriel like heat from blacktop beneath the summer sun. But paired with the fear was excitement and positivity, both from Adrian and Counselor Kendrick, who’d both come to support Gabriel in different ways. There was nothing to fear here. By their attitudes alone, everyone let Gabriel know that he would be safe here.

  Adrian rubbed a hand against Gabriel’s back. Gabriel turned toward him, ran the back of his hand beneath his eyes, then latched his arms around Adrian’s neck and held himself close. For a moment, Adrian looked too surprised to do anything, but then he closed his arms around Gabriel’s waist and held him in return.

  Even though the Lowe family was broken, Adrian and Gabriel had done their best to string it back together. They turned to each other for support in the same way that Sterling had stepped up to make sure that Clarissa never felt like she was alone. In Adrian’s touch, and in the kindness of his eyes, Sterling knew that he would always be there for his brother.

  “Let’s get you inside, Gabriel,” Adrian said softly. He drew back from the embrace and laid a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “It’s going to be great. You’re going to be given all the tools you need to make the future yours.”

  “Many of our graduates have gone on to do great things with their lives,” Counselor Kendrick agreed. “They’ve become doctors, lawyers, teachers… but no matter your path in life—whether your ambition is to achieve greatness or not—the most important thing is that you choose it. That’s what we’re here to give you the chance to do.”

  Gabriel nodded. He took his first step forward and looked timidly over his shoulder at Adrian, then took his next step with equal hesitance. When he stepped off the sidewalk and onto Stonecrest grounds, Sterling couldn’t have been more pleased. Gabriel wasn’t his brother, but the baby on the way meant he would always be connected to the Lowe family, and seeing Gabriel off on his new start was a victory.

  “You’re going to call, right?” Gabriel asked. He stood by Counselor Kendrick, looking small. “You’re going to come visit on visiting days?”

  “Of course I will.” Adrian smiled. “And if you want, Sterling can come, too.”

  Gabriel didn’t look too sure about that. He glanced at Sterling, but immediately dropped his gaze when Sterling met his eyes. “Maybe. But… but can you bring the baby? Please? I’d like to meet her.”

  “You think it’s a her?” Adrian looked at Sterling, the light in his eyes problematic, but only because it made Sterling want to sweep him into his arms and kiss him hard. “What say you, oh master sperm donor?”

  Sterling choked back a laugh. “The factory’s not equipped to sort its products, so all shipments are mixed. I’m afraid I can’t say.”

  Adrian winked, then looked at Gabriel again. “Well, whether the baby is a boy or a girl, we’ll bring them to meet you, okay?”

  “Okay.” A tiny smile curved Gabriel’s lips. “I’m happy for you, Adrian.”

  “I’m happy for me, too,” Adrian said.

  Sterling didn’t doubt it. Adrian could refuse to answer his question, and he could snark all he wanted, but he couldn’t change the look on his face. The injured man Sterling had met all those months ago was gone.

  Adrian was whole, and whether or not Sterling remained in his life, Sterling liked to think that would never change.

  Sterling rented a private parking space at an all-hours parking garage not half a block from The Shepherd. After Gabriel’s emotional send-off, Adrian was quiet and a little melancholy, so they’d walked the half-block together in relative silence. Sterling kept an arm loosely draped around Adrian’s waist, offering support while Adrian worked through his feelings. When they got back to the penthouse, Sterling intended to spoil him. Until then, touch would have to do.

  The exterior staircase leading to the third-floor back entrance wasn’t all that much farther now. Sterling turned the corner into the alleyway behind The Shepherd, ready to relax at home, when Adrian held out
an arm to block Sterling’s chest and forced him to stop. Sterling was about to ask what he was doing when he saw the issue.

  Clarissa sat on their stairway, nose buried in her phone.

  Dressed in tight jeans and a white, breezy blouse, an ankle crossed over her opposite knee, she bounced her foot casually. Unhurriedly, she looked up from her phone to meet Sterling’s gaze. Her lips twitched to the side. “Busted.”

  Sterling rubbed at his eyes, hand stretched across the bridge of his nose in mild irritation. He’d been keeping news of Adrian and the pregnancy secret in case something terrible were to happen. If Adrian decided to leave him, or if he decided to get rid of the baby, or if his health took a turn for the worse, Sterling didn’t want anyone to be disappointed.

  Especially his chatter-mouth little sister.

  “So.” Clarissa stood and tucked her phone back into her pocket. She brushed off the back of her jeans, then crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to guess you’re not walking with your arm around Adrian because you both happened to be involved in a freak Krazy Glue incident.”

  Sterling said nothing for a long moment, then he dropped his hand to look at her with his most deadpan expression. “You’re right. It was Gorilla Glue.”

  Clarissa snickered. “Darn. I thought they’d upped their game since the last incident. Guess it’s back to the drawing board.”

  The fact that Clarissa was joking was a good sign. It meant she wasn’t angry.

  When she was angry, she let Sterling know.

  “So.” She pushed her lips to the side and looked between them. “I’ve been wondering what’s been going on lately that’s been keeping you from the club, so I decided to come check up on you, only to find you weren’t home. You are pulling a Marcus.” She held a hand to her forehead dramatically. “How could you lie to me like that?”

  “It gets worse,” Adrian volunteered.