Equation for Love by Sutherland, Fae (13 ebook reader TXT) 📗

what had happened at their first meeting, and the way Skye had seemed very quiet and thoughtful when Liam had left... Well, Liamwasn't sure the other man would even show

up.He glanced up as the cocktail waitress passed by,

shaking his head at her friendly, questioning look. He didn't want a drink. What he wanted was Skye to show

up.As if in direct answer to his thought, Liam's gaze

wandered to the left and relief he probably shouldn't feel swept through him at the sight of Skye making his way through the gaming tables toward the bar in the center of the casino floor. Liam hadn't gotten attached to any client in a long time, but he already knew Skye posed a risk in that department. But he wasn't going to pull back, not yet. Right now, he still felt like he had controlofthe situation.

Control was what today's lesson was all about, in

fact.His lips twitched as Skye approached. The man

stood out like a quirky, sexy sore thumb. He wore another faded, retro T-shirt and ragged skinny jeans clinging to his slim hips. A pair of narrow blue suspenders and his black-rimmed glasses finished off the look, topped with messy, black hair going every which way. Some might mistake him for just another hipster, but Liamknew different. Skye wasn't a coddled twenty-something trying to come off as "indie" and "underground." He was just awkward and probably hadn't bought himself a new wardrobe since he started college. The man was seriously obsessed with his numbers.

He was also mind-bendingly appealing. Liam didn't even like brainy, geek types. But, oh, he liked Skye. His cock was alreadyhalfwayto hard inside his jeans.

"Hey."

Skye glanced around as he sat down. "I apologize. I'm still getting used to navigating these places. It's like they purposely make it impossible to find your way around incasinos."

Liam grinned. "They do. If you can't leave, you'll keep spendingmoney."

Skye blinked, like it hadn't occurred to him. "That actually makes sense." He shrugged and exhaled a nervous-sounding breath, looking around again. The Gaudi Bar was one of Liam's favorite haunts. There was something soothing about the vaguely under-thesea, stained glass feel of the place in the middle of the casino chaos. "Interesting choice. Why did you want to meet here?"

"Because things changed a bit withour first meeting. If we're going to continue in the direction we were heading, then a little renegotiation is in order. Neutral territory."

Skye's brows shot up. "Negotiations? We had a deal, and it was you who decided I wanted something different, not me. I don't think it's fair to change the parameters now."

Liamshook his head, gesturingto a passingcocktail waitress. "Two seven and sevens." Then he turned his focus back on Skye. "I'm not talking monetary negotiations. What I'm talking about is your submission and how deeply you want to explore that. Or don't want to explore it. Either way."

Skye's cheeks went all ruddy and he ducked his head, giving Liama quelling look fromunder his brows. "I do not think this is the place to be having such an...intimate conversation."

Liamlet out a soft laugh as the waitress brought the drinks, reaching up to hand her his card. "No tab; give yourselfa nice tip."He gave the drink in front ofSkye a little nudge as she went to handle the bill. "Have a drink, Skye. This is Las Vegas. No one is going to overhear, first ofall, and eveniftheycould manage over the dinof the machines and the dealers and the tourists, they wouldn't care. Because this is Vegas, professor, and what you're doing, what I'm doing, isn't against the rules."

Skye gave him a look, lips pursed. "There are no rules here."

Liamgrinned. "Exactly."

Skye didn't say anything for a minute, then took a sip of his drink, shrewd black eyes examining Liam across the smalltable. "CanI ask yousomething?"

Liam didn't need to be psychic to know what was coming. The softer ones, the newer ones, always wanted to know why, how, what made himdo what he did. Like he might be a lost soul they could save. There was nothing lost about Liam's soul and nothing tortured about his past, whichusuallydisappointed them.

He shook his head. "I'd rather you didn't. There's no good answer to that question, professor, and whatever one I gave would just end up disappointing you, since youcan't imagine beinginmyshoes."

Skye gave him a wry smile. "Well, I'm in my shoes and those are uncomfortable enough at the moment. I rescind the question I was going to ask."He went silent as the waitress returned with Liam's card and a flirty smile. When she was gone, Skye met Liam's gaze. "WhyamI here, then?"

"I already told you. Because the other night you learned something about yourself you can't ignore. Shouldn't ignore, anyway. And if I'mgoing to teach you about it, whichI'd like to, thenI need some info."

Skye narrowed his eyes, expression wary. "Like what?"

"Do you know anything about BDSM?" Considering Skye's reaction the other night, he was going to guess no. You could never tell, though, so it was best to ask.

Skye shook his head. Thenshrugged. "I Googled."

Liam's brows lifted and he smiled. "You did? When?"

Skye shifted in his seat, taking another drink and not meetingLiam's eyes. "After. Youknow."

Oh, Liam knew all right. So Skye had grabbed his laptop and gone Googling for information. He wasn't at all surprised, now that Skye had mentioned it. It was the kind ofthinghe should have expected. The manwas a scientist. Of course he would want as much informationas possible.

"And what did youfind, Skye?"

Skye met his gaze. "A lot of very strange things. And ifyou think for one second I'mletting you do some ofthat"--he shook his head--"you've lost your mind."

Liam laughed. "Yeah, I imagine some of it made your eyes just about pop out ofyour