The idea came to Aiden a little after two in the morning, when he finally got tired of lying in his bed, fuming uselessly, and started thinking of ways to get back at Zain.
It was obvious that his hostility didn’t bother Zain at all. But there could be another way to get under his skin. The asshole wanted him to be cooperative? He could be very cooperative. In fact, he could be very cooperative right now.
Grinning, Aiden sat up in his bed and pushed his sheets off.
He glanced at his nearly naked body—his dark blue boxers were the only things he was wearing. He thought for a moment but then decided against getting dressed.
He padded out of his room and headed toward Zain’s bedroom. It was a good distance away from his, and the walk gave him a chance to second-guess himself.
Was it really smart? Probably not.
Would it piss Zain off? Without doubt. And that was the only thing Aiden truly cared about. Pissing the asshole off. Inconveniencing him. Getting under his skin. He would do fucking anything to be more than a thing not worthy of His Highness’s time.
The house was eerily quiet. It was creepy, even though Aiden knew it was nowhere near as abandoned as it seemed: there were at least a dozen security guards patrolling the house’s premises and there was some staff that stayed overnight. But it was very quiet and dark at this hour.
Aiden actually got lost before he finally found his way again and came to a halt in front of Zain’s room.
He pushed the door open. It wasn’t locked. But then again, why would it be? The man was in his own house, on his own private island that was very well guarded.
Aiden tiptoed to the bed and stared at the man in it.
The French windows were open, letting the glow from a security light spill into the room, casting shadows on the wall.
Zain Rahim was asleep.
Apparently even heartless monsters slept. But of course, unlike Aiden, he was a free man and could sleep like a baby. It wasn’t like he was burdened with a conscience.
Aiden’s gaze roamed over the man’s sleeping form with growing resentment. Apparently it wasn’t enough that the asshole had pretty much every privilege in the world; he was also ridiculously fit. Aiden wanted to find some flaw, but try as he might, he couldn’t. The bastard was built flawlessly, his body the epitome of masculine strength without being ridiculously buff.
Zain was sprawled on his stomach, his muscular arm hugging his pillow, drawing attention to the width of his shoulders and the narrowness of his waist and hips. He was naked from the waist up, the white sheets bunched down around his hips, his back strong and corded with muscle under the smooth skin. His shoulders rose and fell with every breath.
For a moment, Aiden vividly imagined grabbing the white pillow next to Zain, pressing it against that black hair, and smothering him in his sleep.
The thought was immensely satisfying.
Alas, considering Zain’s physique, he had some doubts about his ability to overpower him. And Aiden didn’t really want to become a murderer, no matter how tempting the dick made it.
He could get his revenge in other ways. More creative ways.
Operation Annoy-Zain was a go.
Aiden grinned and flopped down in the free space next to Zain. “Hello!”
The man next to him stiffened, his even breathing coming to a halt. Slowly, he turned his head and stared at Aiden’s grinning face with his dark, intense eyes.
Aiden grinned wider, refusing to be unnerved. He was made of sterner stuff.
“What are you doing here?” Zain said, his voice husky from sleep.
Stretching out on his side, Aiden blinked at him innocently. “I’m here to ask questions about Gadiel.”
A beat passed.
“Out,” Zain said, his voice very, very quiet.
Aiden shivered.
Don’t you dare chicken out, he told himself sternly.
“No,” Aiden said, making a show of getting comfortable. “I’m keeping my end of our deal, aren’t I? You promised to tell me stuff about your brother, so I can become a perfect little sex pet for him. I’m all ears.”
A muscle by Zain’s left eye twitched.
Aiden gave him another innocent smile.
“Out,” Zain repeated, in a tone that made it clear that disobedience was unthinkable.
Aiden despised the part of him that wanted to meekly do as he was told. Fuck that. He wasn’t going to let this man’s will crush him—that would be the ultimate, final enslavement. That would mean he had accepted what he had been turned into.
Aiden made a thoughtful sound. “No, thank you,” he said after a moment. “I’m very comfortable where I am.”
The expression on Zain’s face was priceless: cold fury mixed with deep incredulity, as if his mind couldn’t grasp the concept of his commands not being obeyed. Aiden could barely keep himself from laughing.
“Get out of my bed,” Zain said flatly.
Aiden pretended that he couldn’t hear him. “So, here’s the first question: does your brother prefer to top or bottom?”
Zain took a deep, audible breath.
Aiden yelped when he was suddenly thrown over a wide shoulder and carried like a sack of potatoes.
He was dumped on his ass in the corridor, and the door slammed shut an inch away from his nose.
Aiden stared at the closed door.
And then, he grinned.
His butt kind of hurt, but Operation Annoy-Zain was off to a very promising start.
***
Next night he’d half expected to find Zain’s door locked, but it wasn’t. Then again, installing a lock to keep Aiden out would be the equivalent of admitting that Aiden was significant enough to get under his skin, so of course that arrogant dick wouldn’t do it.
That played right into Aiden’s hands.
He hadn’t seen Zain at all that day—his helicopter had left very early in the morning and returned well after supper—and Aiden was… antsy. He couldn’t wait to see him. He couldn’t put his plan into action if the villain wasn’t there, after all.
Zain was sleeping on his back this time, his long, muscular arm stretched across the empty space beside him.
Aiden scowled once again at his perfect physique—he somehow looked arrogant even in his sleep, the dick—before walking over and climbing into the bed again. But Zain’s arm prevented him from lying down. After a moment’s thought, Aiden crouched beside him and poked him in his smooth chest. Did he wax it? Or was he naturally smooth? Aiden had kind of thought that with such an abundance of facial hair Zain would be hairy all over, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Aiden moved his fingers to Zain’s arm to check if he had hair there. He did.
“Out,” Zain said, without opening his eyes.
“You’re getting repetitive, you know,” Aiden said, turning on the lamp on the nightstand. “So, does your brother prefer to top or bottom?”
Zain sighed. It was the most long-suffering sigh Aiden had ever heard in his life. It made him grin. He knew he’d won.
“Probably the latter,” Zain said, his eyes still closed. “I once walked in on him having his asshole licked.”
Aiden pulled a face. Just imagining Jordan walking in while someone ate his ass made him extremely uncomfortable. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s a bottom though. Some tops like having their asses eaten.”
Zain’s expression became pinched. Clearly it wasn’t a topic he ever wanted to contemplate or talk about. “Gadiel’s never had to lift a finger to get anything in his life. I can bet you anything that he’s the type to lie there and order someone to pleasure him. Topping would be too much effort for such a spoiled brat.”
“It’s kind of weird that you care so much about him when your opinion of him is so low.”
“He’s my brother,” Zain said, as if that explained everything.
Maybe it did.
“Hmm,” Aiden said, drumming his fingers thoughtfully.
“Stop groping me.”
Startled, Aiden looked down. His fingers were on Zain’s—very hard—stomach.
Snatching his hand away, Aiden flushed. “I wasn’t—I wasn’t groping you, you conceited dick! I was thinking.”
“Go think in your room.”
“No.”
Aiden grinned when he heard Zain sigh through his gritted teeth. Seriously, annoying Zain was his favorite thing in the world.
“Can I ask you something?” Aiden said. “How are you so okay with your brother being gay? I thought it was taboo in Islam.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m okay with it. But I know better than to think it’s something that I can change.”
“But it is taboo in Islam, right?”
Zain finally opened his eyes and regarded him for a moment. “There are many things that are taboo in Islam, including consensual sex between a man and a woman who aren’t married. But realistically, few men remain virgins until marriage—unless they marry very early. I’m certainly not a virgin. I may not be happy about Gadiel’s behavior, but shunning my brother for doing something taboo would be the height of hypocrisy.”
I’m certainly not a virgin.
Wetting his lips, Aiden glanced at Zain’s virile, strong body. He didn’t doubt that for a moment. A man like this wouldn’t be a virgin. Women of every religion, age, and race probably flocked to him.
“That’s surprisingly reasonable of you,” Aiden said.
Zain’s eyes narrowed. “Surprisingly? Just because I’m a Muslim?”
“Because you’re a dick,” Aiden said, huffing. “Don’t bring religion and prejudice into it. I have nothing against Islam. I’m not religious myself, but I’m a firm believer that everyone should believe what they want to believe. I didn’t expect you to be reasonable because normally you act like you know better than everyone else.”
“I’m many things, but I try not to be a hypocrite,” Zain said, closing his eyes again. His lips curled into something unamused. “By Muslim standards, I’m a sinner of the worst kind. I’ve done enough to end up in Jahannam in the afterlife.”
Aiden looked at him curiously. “And it doesn’t bother you?”
Zain gave a sleepy shrug. “Sometimes it does, but I’m not the most devoted Muslim out there. I’m not a firm believer in everything the Quran says. My religious education was… spotty at best. Let’s just say I was disillusioned early about the necessity of following everything the Quran says. Children learn by example.”
Aiden stared at him, now burning with curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you were here to learn about Gadiel, not me,” Zain said, very dryly. “I’m going back to sleep. If you don’t leave within the next fifteen seconds, you’ll be locked up in your room again.”
Aiden didn’t want to go yet. He wanted to stay. He wanted—needed—to learn more about this man, because… “know thy enemy” and all that. “That wouldn’t be very fair, would it? When I’m just following your orders and trying to learn stuff about your brother in order to become the perfect little sex pet of his dreams?”
“Five seconds now. And stop saying those words.”
“But I’m being cooperative here! Hey!”
He was hauled off the bed and unceremoniously dropped on the floor of the corridor again.
“Ouch! My butt hurts,” Aiden complained, rubbing his abused ass and scowling up at Zain.
The bastard gave him an unimpressed look, somehow managing to look impossibly superior despite wearing only a pair of black boxers, his dark hair rumpled from sleep. “Say thank you.”
Tearing his envious gaze from his tall, powerful body, Aiden blinked up at him, utterly confused. “What?”
Dark eyebrows lifted slightly. “I don’t make empty threats. If you were still in my room, I would have been forced to follow through and lock you up again. So say thank you.”
Spluttering indignantly, Aiden choked out, “You insufferable ass—”
“I’m still not hearing a thank you.” Zain’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. He made a mock-thoughtful sound—or at least it seemed mocking to Aiden. “Come to think of it, a mere thank you wouldn’t be enough. We can’t have you showing this attitude with Gadiel. He’s far less thick-skinned than I am. From now on, you will watch your tone. Insults will not be tolerated. You will address me respectfully. Remember your place.”
Rage filled Aiden’s chest.
“And what is my place, Your Highness?” he bit out, glaring at the floor resentfully.
Zain put a finger under Aiden’s chin and tipped it up.
The contact made Aiden shiver violently. Was it revulsion? Maybe it was the rage. Either way, he couldn’t breathe. He wanted to squirm away from the contact, his skin burning where the other man was touching him.
“You don’t have one,” Zain said softly, his eyes boring a hole in his face. “You will be whatever I want you to be.”
Aiden shook his head dazedly. He was trembling, his ears were ringing, and his head felt floaty and weird.
“Right,” he croaked out. “Because I’m a lowly slave and you’re my owner.” His tone was supposed to be sardonic, but he missed the mark by a mile.
Silence fell—and it felt a little weird. A little off. A little something.
“That’s ridiculous,” Zain said, his voice low and rough. His eyes seemed black. Were they not brown? “I told you you weren’t a slave. Much less mine.”
Aiden moistened his lips with his tongue. They felt dry. Parched.
“Go,” Zain said, letting go of his chin and stepping back. “Return to bed—your own bed. If you disturb my sleep again, you will regret it.”
Aiden stumbled to his feet and strode away, a hot feeling twisting his stomach into a knot.
He told himself it was hatred, but there was a weird edge to it.
Something he couldn’t put his finger on.
