Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition

by 6 Author Anthology

  He opened his eyes quickly before his imagination ran to places it shouldn’t go. I’m seeing my boss in those terms a little too often, I need to work off some excess energy. And I have the perfect opportunity in two nights’ time. The Dragoons and Dungeons invite-only party that’s being hosted by Merlin.

  “Who the fuck is this?” A harsh female voice dragged Zeno back into the present, and he looked up to see a woman towering over him. At one time Zeno imagined she’d have been very attractive, but he recognized Botox when he saw it, and her hands gave away what she was trying to hide on her face.

  “I’m here to do the minutes, ma’am.” Zeno kept his voice soft and non-confrontational.

  “I wasn’t aware we’d sanctioned any such thing.” The woman turned around, and the rest of the execs glanced at one another and shook their heads. “I didn’t think so.” She turned back to Zeno and leaned in close enough for him to catch a mix of nicotine and peppermint. “I suggest you shut down that laptop and get the fuck out of here. Let me know your manager’s name, too. I’d clear out your drawer, if I were you. You won’t be working for us after today.”

  “I think I should tell you—” Zeno held up his hand, but the woman’s face twisted into a mask of anger.

  “You don’t tell me anything. Get out. Now.”

  ****

  With an impatient sigh, Liam checked his watch and increased the length of his stride. The call he’d taken had overrun, and he was in danger of arriving late for the meeting. To add insult to injury, he hated board meetings at the best of time, but such things had to be done, especially with a newly acquired company.

  The one good thing about the meeting was the opportunity to pass on his personal work ethic, particularly when he’d had reports of bullying and harassment seemingly rife in the business. No one had best try that kind of shit now that my name is on this company.

  Head held high, Liam strode into the room and glanced around. Not all the looks he received were friendly, but then, he wasn’t there to make friends. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d sat at a meeting that was hostile or filled with suspicion.

  These were the top execs, men and women who, for the most part, only cared about their own status and salaries. Well, that’s going to get shaken up a little. Treat your employees well, and they’ll pull out all the stops when you need it most.

  It was then that Liam spotted Zeno, his personal assistant, who looked more than a little flustered, and a woman who was invading the younger man’s personal space. To his surprise a protective urge washed over him, along with a growl that threatened to rumble free at the sight. With a loud cough, Liam quickly banked it down. However, he still glowered at the woman.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “My name’s Nicolette Ayling. I head up marketing. I don’t know who thought to send this up here, but I’ve told him to get out. He and his manager will be looking for new jobs by tomorrow.”

  “I don’t think so.” In half a dozen strides, Liam took his place at the top of the table. Liam glanced at Zeno, who pushed the geeky black-rimmed glasses back up his snub nose. “You all right, Zeno?”

  “Fine, Mr. Williams. I was about to explain that I work for you and it was your decision to have the meeting minuted.” Zeno wriggled his fingers, and for a second, Liam was captivated by their length and imagined them handling something far more animated than a laptop.

  It wasn’t the first time, and Liam doubted it would be the last, but not only was he Zeno’s boss, there was the little matter of their age gap. With a curt nod, Liam pushed it from his mind. No good wishing and dreaming for what can never be.

  “Excellent. Now that’s sorted, we can begin. If you’ll take your seat, Ms. Ayling.”

  “I didn’t realize. If we’d been told—”

  “Sit.” Liam growled the word. “I believe my assistant was doing just that. Right, let’s call this meeting to order, shall we?”

  Two hours later, and most of the looks Liam was receiving were friendlier and accepting. But Liam kept his triumphant smile to himself. Experience had long since taught him to never reveal his feelings.

  “Are those minutes going out, Zeno?” Liam glanced over as he spoke, and Zeno nodded.

  “Yes, sir. Already disseminated.”

  “Excellent. You go ahead and wait for me in the foyer downstairs. I may be a few minutes yet.”

  “Yes, sir.” Zeno closed his laptop tucking it under his arm, and a smile flitted across his face.

  Liam nodded and waited while Zeno got ready to leave the room. Fuck it. When he smiles like that, I just want to bend him over the nearest desk. He’s like an angel that I want to completely debauch.

  With his attention on Liam, Zeno bumped into Nicolette as he stepped out from his desk.

  “You clumsy idiot.” Nicolette hissed at Zeno. “Have you any idea how much a pair of shoes like this cost?” She pointed at an asymmetrically colored pair of shoes, and Liam waited for the other man’s reply. He wasn’t disappointed.

  “Well.” Zeno tapped his top lip with the tip of a perfectly manicured finger. “If they were real Jimmy Choo, I’d say sixteen hundred dollars, give or take. But since they’re imitations, albeit good ones, I wouldn’t pay more than half that.”

  “How dare you.” Nicolette’s face went pale, and she turned her attention to Liam. “You should sack him.”

  “What for? Telling the truth? Madam, if he says they’re fakes, then believe me, they are.”

  “I paid good money for these.” Nicolette glowered from Liam, to Zeno, then down at the shoes.

  “If you genuinely believed they were designer shoes, you were deceived. If you knew they weren’t but paid more than he suggests, then you were ripped off.”

  “I’ll get going, Mr. Williams. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  “Very good. Is there something I can do for you, Ms. Ayling?” Liam asked. Fuck, I hope it’s something quick. I’ve had enough.

  “Well.” Nicolette moved closer, until the smell of her perfume threatened to make Liam gag. “I thought that since you’d taken over the firm that I work for, that perhaps we could discuss a more personal merger. How about drinks, with dinner afterward? See how things progress after that.”

  “Sorry. Not interested.” Liam wasn’t sorry in the least. She’s the last fucking thing on earth I’d do. A vision of a naked Zeno, his glasses precariously balanced on his nose as he bent over a desk, flashed unbidden into Liam’s mind.

  “Well, how about skipping the drinks and going straight to the main event?”

  “I already said I wasn’t interested. Now is there anything else?”

  “Fuck you.” The woman turned on her fake designer heel and stormed away.

  “Not a hope.” Liam muttered at her retreating back. “Anyone else want to speak to me personally?”

  To his relief, no one did, and in the elevator, Liam leaned against its wall. For all the money he had, and the good he did with it, there was still something missing from his life. Or rather, that special someone. No one looking at Liam Williams, entrepreneur, billionaire, philanthropist, playboy, would also add the tag lonely man.

  If he was honest, the one man he wished would look at him was Zeno. Since starting to work for him, the younger man had become almost indispensable to Liam. A hot flush of lust had burned down to a steady flame of unrequited love.

  Fuck it all to hell. Thank the gods I have a night out coming up.

  Straightening up, Liam shoved the self-pity aside and strode from the elevator and glanced around, looking for Zeno. The other man was sitting in a chair, laptop open, those slender fingers flying over the keyboard.

  Although Liam owned a great deal of beautiful artwork, right then, with the light from a stained-glass window falling on him, Zeno was possibly the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The light left a multicolored mosaic in Zeno’s dark hair. Yet again, heat pooled in Liam’s groin as blood headed south.

  Nope. Not for you. Down, boy, beha
ve yourself. You’re a good decade older, and his boss. What kind of position would that put him in? It’s not like he’s shown any interest in you. Liam was glad he’d buttoned up his jacket. It would hide a telling bulge since his cock seemed to have no interest in listening to its master.

  “Hey. You ready?” Liam called out, and for second, as Zeno looked up, a smile on those full, too-kissable lips, Liam’s breath caught in his throat.

  “Just let me shut down. Don’t you have a dinner or drinks date?” Zeno looked around and for a moment Liam was confused, but then he barked a laugh.

  “What? With a woman who can’t tell fake from genuine? No fucking chance. Let’s get out of here. This place had a bad reputation for good reason. I think we’ll need to put more than a few good people of mine in before we’ll change its primitive mindset.”

  “I wish there were more like you. Actually no, I don’t. There’s only one you. I wish more people thought as you do.” Zeno nodded, then pushed his glasses up his nose.

  “I started at the bottom. I worked hard, got some good breaks. Some don’t get those breaks, and no matter how hard they work; they can’t lift themselves up far. Doesn’t mean they’re not good, decent people. Jobs define what a person does, not who a person is.”

  “I like that attitude.” Zeno trotted around to the far side of the car as the chauffeur opened the door for Liam.

  “Glad to hear it. Right, let’s get back to the office. I feel in need of a decent coffee before I look over the reports I have on this place. It’s going to be a long, slow process.”

  “I can do some data extrapolation for you.” Zeno looked up as he fastened his belt.

  “Do what?” Liam blinked. The only thing he’d heard was strap, and now his mind as well as his cock was almost out of control.

  “Um, data. You know, facts and figures. I can help with that.”

  “Ah, yes.” Liam nodded. Fuck. This is getting out of hand. “I’d appreciate that. We can discuss it, over that coffee. Okay?”

  “Sure.” Zeno nodded, then fixed his gaze out of the window.

  Still unable to unfasten his jacket, Liam closed his eyes, willing his body back under his control.

  Chapter Two

  The mansion came into view as Liam drove the car past the gates and made his way along the winding driveway. There was no chauffeur tonight. Liam, like many of his friends, would drive themselves and stay the night. Knowing Adam as he did, Liam was certain that the party was likely to still be in full swing well into the following day anyway.

  A smartly suited valet greeted him as he pulled up outside the wide stone steps leading up to the house. Liam grabbed his overnight bag, handed over his keys, then jogged up the steps. The servant greeting him as he stepped through the doors and into the house was a marked contrast to the valet.

  Golden hot pants and an open, sleeveless leather vest contrasted perfectly with his dark skin and showed off long, toned legs and solid, silken pecs. His golden falcon mask was decorated with glittery feathered and sequins.

  “May I see your invite, sir?”

  “Of course.” Liam offered the embossed card, and servant ran a hand-held scanner over it, nodding when the red light turned green.

  “Thank you, sir. Your room is on the next floor.” He snapped his fingers and another servant, his outfit silver with an owl mask, came over. “Show Freyr to room seven.”

  “This way, sir.” The silver owl took Liam’s bag and led the way upstairs with an unashamed sway to his hips.

  Liam had to admit, the silver material looked little more than sprayed on, and the view of the pert silver ass in front of him, promised much for the rest of the party. Once inside his room, Liam began his transformation into Freyr.

  Stripping off fully, the first thing Liam donned were black leather shorts with a zip fly. Over them went a customized leather kilt. Liam had styled it on Roman soldier garb, with overlapping leather plates, topped by fake fur around the waist.

  His thick-soled biker boots had a customized fur cuff that matched the ones at his wrists. He donned a necklace that at first glance looked like a horn, but on closer examination was a thick cock attached to a chain and which nestled between his pecs in his copious chest hair.

  A shoulder armor harness went on next, and his final item was a helmet-mask combination with horns. Liam stared into the mirror and stood tall.

  “Behold the god Freyr.” Liam chucked. Then looked around at the tap to his door. Leaving the mask in place, he went to see who his visitor might be.

  The character before him wore a wizard’s hat and mask combination, decorated with stars, moons, and pentacles, a chest harness, leather shorts, and boots.

  “I put a spell on you.” The man’s wand was a long, slender black dildo, and Liam laughed out loud.

  “Come in.” The moment the door was shut he gave the man a hug. “Good to see you, Adam.”

  “You, too, Liam. All hail to the god, Freyr.”

  “Thank you, oh mighty wizard. I like the masked ball theme.”

  “Fits you perfectly since you like to strut your stuff as a Norse god. I decided the servers would either be cats or birds. A predator or prey, depending on your preference. There are unattached subs here as well as a few lone Doms like yourself. As you know, the whole of my basement is one big playroom, but I have organized it so that there are private rooms as well. Downstairs, there’s a gaming room, my husband’s idea. There’s a place for dancing, or you can go out into the gardens. The dungeon playroom will also have displays from a couple of expert Doms and their subs, and guests can participate if they wish. I hardly need remind you of my rules, but since it’s protocol, please do not attempt to poach another Dom’s sub while here, everything that’s done must be with mutual consent, and with regard to the personal safety of all parties. This is a safe place for everyone who comes here. Abuse will not be tolerated, and if I find anyone breaching these rules, they will be blacklisted.”

  “Excellent.” Liam nodded.

  “Maybe tonight you’ll find the perfect sub.”

  There was something about Adam’s smile that made Liam hesitate before replying.

  “It will take a very special sub. I thought I’d found him with James.”

  “I know that. He broke your heart when he left. I’m sorry he deceived you, but not everyone is a gold-digger. He used you to feather his own nest before flying off with his long-term lover. Forget him. Move on. You owe it to yourself to find happiness.”

  “Thanks.” Liam truly appreciated his friend’s concern, but he wanted, needed that special someone. One to be his.

  “In fact, I think I have the perfect candidate. I know this one quite well. He had a bad experience with an abusive Dom.” Adam cracked his knuckles. “He was the one crying when I’d finished with him. He’s very cautious as a consequence. Come with me.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Exactly.” Adam cut Liam off. “I don’t want you thinking. I want you to look, and I want you to feel.”

  Since he was ready to join the party anyway, Liam shrugged and followed his friend from the room. Halfway down the stairs, Adam stopped and pointed, and Liam knew exactly who his friend was pointing at, despite there being several men in the huge entrance hall.

  The sub wore platformed high-heeled shoes and swayed his hips as he walked, head held high. The leather cock ring and sheath encased a dick of decent length that was currently tied with black silk so it lay tight against his belly.

  From nipples rings hung three tiers of golden chains, one dotted with blue crystals. His collar had the same blue crystals. Then Liam took in his mask and headdress, and he chuckled.

  “That was not the reaction I was looking for.” Adam scowled at Liam, but Liam was unrepentant.

  “He’s fucking gorgeous, Adam. But more than that, he’s got a sharp wit to warn would-be Doms if they see it.”

  “See what?” Adam leaned forward. “What am I missing?”

  “The headpie
ce. That’s from Maleficent.”

  “I don’t get it,” Adam murmured. “It’s a movie, right? With Angelina Jolie.”

  “Yes. But it has a twist. In this story, Maleficent is shown to have a heart. She was misunderstood. Underneath everything, she just wanted to be loved. He wants to be accepted, to be loved.”

  “But he won’t make it easy. Is that it?”

  “Yes. Like the fairy in the tale, he’s put up a wall of thorns. They have to be cut back to reveal the vulnerable heart.”

  “If you know him that well already, then I suggest you go make his acquaintance. He is a sassy brat, and that’s why I like him so much. Reminds me of my husband. Well then, Freyr, a god, should have no difficulty in taming a wild fae. All he needs is the right Dom.”

  “The right Dom.” Staring at Maleficent, something niggled at Liam. Something familiar, but he knew without doubt that if he’d seen this sub before there would be no way he’d have forgotten.

  With an impatient sound of frustration, Liam stomped down the rest of the stairs, pleased that Maleficent saw him and remained where he was. Liam strode over to the other man.

  “Just what are you looking at?” Maleficent stuck his chin out at Liam.

  “Maleficent.” Liam growled the word. “And since I’m the god Freyr, you should be kneeling at my feet.” Liam folded his arms and stood with his legs apart.

  “I don’t believe in gods.” Maleficent shook his head, and a slender-fingered hand went to push the mask up his nose as if it was sliding down. “One thing out of place. Just one, and I’ll go to Merlin. You’ll be out of here and blacklisted.”

  “Merlin.” Liam murmured the name. “You wanted some time off because you were going to be away for the weekend, playing a form of Dungeons and Dragons. What you really meant was BDSM, Zeno.”

  “Liam?” His name was a breath of sound, and Liam nodded.

  It was a chance beyond all chances Liam could have envisioned. An opportunity to show Zeno not only what it could be like with the right Dom, but to see if Zeno fitted him as much as he’d always imagined he would.