Ch. 7: Insanity

“In your car?” Isaac gulped. He tried to sound calm, but the question came out so breathless it sounded like a whisper.

“Where else?” Lucien’s tone was casual, but his gaze made Isaac’s cheeks flush.

“But you have a meeting.”

“It can wait.”

Isaac didn’t want to ruin Lucien’s schedule because of him, so he decided to make it short and quick. He climbed inside the car and was immediately struck by its luxurious interior.

The spacious cabin was adorned with opulent details, from the plush leather white seats to the gleaming wood paneling. But what truly captivated Isaac was the ceiling, adorned with thousands of tiny lights that twinkled like stars against the dark backdrop. Isaac tore his gaze away from the starlit ceiling and settled into the luxurious seat, feeling twice as nervous as he settled in. Lucien on the other hand, sat comfortably.

“The envelope–”

“Your knot is loose,” Lucien cut him off, his gaze fixed on Isaac’s chest.

Isaac lowered his chin and glanced down at his crooked black tie. He had tried after Lucien’s remark, but it didn’t turn out as well as he had hoped.

“Did you wear it to impress me?” Lucien inquired, amusement and something else passing through his gaze.

“Of course not!” Isaac snapped a beat too quickly.

Lucien’s smile widened, and Isaac reddened. He lowered his gaze, shifting in his seat. How big was Lucien’s ego for him to think Isaac wore a tie just for him? Then again, why did he wear one? It wasn’t like he was an official employee. But strangely, Isaac had spent twenty minutes in the bathroom trying to tie a proper knot, which now, upon reflection, seemed like an unnecessary amount of effort for someone he shouldn’t care about.

“Come here.” Lucien gestured for Isaac to approach. Sensing his hesitation, Lucien added, “I won’t touch you unless you want me to.”

Isaac’s throat tightened and his heart tripped. ‘Unless you want me to.’ Those five words caught Isaac’s mind. He sat still in his seat, his hands tightly clenched on his legs.

“I just want to fix your tie. What dirty thoughts are you having?”

“I’m not having any dirty thoughts!” Isaac hissed.

Lucien smiled. Fucking handsome, Isaac thought to himself. He was secretly glad Lucien rarely smiled, or his heart wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Hesitant at first, he finally leaned forward. Isaac tried to keep his expression neutral, focusing on Lucien’s crisp black shirt as Lucien undid the knot. Lucien’s face was inches from his own, and the scent of his cologne filled Isaac’s nostrils. It was a sophisticated blend of woody and musky notes, underscored by hints of citrus and spice. A wave of heat rose up Isaac’s neck. Why did Lucien have to be so outrageously attractive? His closeness, the heat of his body, and his skilled hands made Isaac’s stomach flip. He tried to breathe as quietly as he could, hoping he wouldn’t hear his heart pounding against his chest.

Isaac made the mistake of looking up and meeting his gaze. Lucien’s piercing eyes penetrated him, and pulled him in like a magnetic force, leaving him stunned by their beauty. Isaac swallowed hard and dropped his gaze, feeling hot and dizzy.

Lucien gave Isaac’s tie a gentle tug, and when Isaac looked down, it was tied perfectly. He brought his fingers to the soft fabric.

“You’re really good at this,” he admitted.

“I enjoy tying things,” Lucien replied with a flicker of amusement in his dark eyes. “Call it a hobby of mine.”

Isaac tried not to have any dirty thoughts but failed terribly.

“I thought you said you would teach me,” Isaac frowned.

“Then I won’t have an excuse to do it the next time,” Lucien replied smoothly, his deep voice making Isaac’s heart race, and suddenly, he couldn’t think straight. No, he couldn’t think properly since he had stepped into Lucien’s car. It was a mistake on his behalf, and he desperately wanted to open the windows for some fresh air. The growing tension was too suffocating, and the car felt more cramped than it should. “So, what’s this envelope about?”

“It’s the contract you gave me.” Lucien stared at him, so he clarified, “I’m turning down your offer.”

“No.”

Isaac’s spine straightened at the immediate rejection. “No?”

“I’m offering you a job that pays triple what you’ve earned before and in better circumstances than any of your other jobs,” Lucien pointed out firmly. “And yet you want to resign?”

“I can’t resign if I haven’t signed it,” he said pointedly.

“Would you like a pen?”

Isaac gritted his teeth. “This isn’t a joke.”

“Who said I was joking?” he deadpanned, and Isaac realized Lucien was dead serious. Lucien wasn’t open to negotiating, and even if Isaac tried, he would lose miserably.

“Tell me why you won’t sign in,” Lucien said, but rather than actually entertaining the idea, it seemed like he simply wanted to know what lousy excuses Isaac could come up with.

“I have my reasons.”

Lucien’s dark brows rose when he queried, “Which are?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Then I’ll make it my business,” he replied smoothly.

“You’re crazy,” Isaac snapped. He froze when he realized what had slipped out of his mouth.

Lucien laughed softly. “Crazy doesn’t even scratch it, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me that,” Isaac growled.

“I could call you other names, but you think you can handle them?” Lucien remarked casually, eliciting a deeper blush from Isaac. “Isaac, just because you’ve caught my eye doesn’t mean you can misbehave. I’m being very considerate of you right now.” Lucien’s velvet tone only made his warning more intimidating.

“I’m not working for someone I don’t trust.”

“Like how you trusted Mr. Leon? He didn’t hesitate to sell his building to me.”

Something about his words made Isaac flinch, but he refused to let him see that it did.

“I’ll find another job,” Isaac replied curtly, putting back his armor.

“I’ll get you fired.” Lucien paused. “Or I’ll buy their business.”

Isaac glared at him, anger scratching his chest. Lucien wasn’t just crazy. He was insane.

“If trust is all you need, I’ll give it to you,” he offered. Lucien traced the tip of his shoe up his ankle before reaching Isaac’s inner thigh.

“Wait,” he gasped, but Lucien pressed his foot gently against Isaac’s crotch. Isaac doubled over, holding onto Lucien’s leg so he wouldn’t add more pressure.

“You’ve been squirming in your seat like I wouldn’t notice your erection. Did you get hard when I tied your necktie?” Lucien mused. “Or did you want me to tie something else?”

He cast him a dark glare.

“Of course–” but a muffled groan cut off Isaac’s sentence when Lucien’s foot teased him more. The pressure felt good, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy him, and Isaac wondered if he was crazy for wanting more.

“Do you do this with all your employees?” he glowered.

“Isaac.” Lucien’s deep, rough voice made his chest tighten when he softly reminded him, “You’re not my employee.”

Isaac’s cheeks were now brighter in color. Beneath those unreadable eyes, Isaac saw something that sent heat curling through his stomach. His captivating looks, his piercing eyes, his commanding voice, his tattoos, and his addicting scent. Everything made Isaac’s mind go wild.

“You’re going to burn a hole in me if you stare any harder,” Lucien chuckled. “Do you want me to press harder?”

Isaac nearly let out a whimper when Lucien added pressure with the flat of his shoe. There was no point in hiding it; he could see the outline of his erection through the seam of his pants, and he could feel his briefs growing damp too. Isaac knew he should resist, to maintain some semblance of control over the situation, but the allure of Lucien’s touch was intoxicating.

“Undo your pants,” Lucien said.

“What?” Isaac replied with bewildered eyes.

“Undo your pants. I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t want to,” he lied.

“Like hell, you don’t,” Lucien smirked. “Your body is loving every second of this. You wouldn’t be looking at me with those needy eyes if you didn’t. Go on. Take it off.”

Isaac gritted his teeth. “There’s something very wrong with you.”

But there was probably something very wrong with Isaac too, because he undid his zipper and lowered his pants. His cock sprang up as soon as he tugged his underwear down his waist. He was already fully hard. Lucien smiled at Isaac’s size before meeting his gaze.

“I knew I’d like you the second I laid eyes on you.”

Isaac’s eyes widened. Before he could reassess the situation, Lucien ran his hand up Isaac’s length. His back arched, and his toes curled as more pre-cum dribbled out of his tip, pooling onto his taut abs. Isaac shivered under his touch, feeling a sexual rush he had never experienced before. With just a couple of strokes, Isaac’s cock was already twitching, desperate for release.

He squirmed in his seat, biting his lower lip so hard he feared it might tear. Lucien was close enough to embrace, and for a moment, Isaac was tempted to pull him in for a kiss, but the intimacy felt overwhelming. He looked away to distract himself, but Lucien grabbed his jaw, forcing him to maintain eye contact.

“Where do you think you’re looking at? Focus on me,” Lucien growled, his commanding voice and firm touch causing Isaac to gasp as he climaxed, spilling onto his stomach. Isaac’s body shuddered with the force of his release, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he rode the waves of pleasure. Lucien withdrew his hand, leaving Isaac’s skin twitching in its absence.

It hit him in a rush, and Isaac’s eyes widened at the mess he had made. His lips parted to say something, anything, but he almost choked on his breath. Heat flared his cheeks. Isaac stared at Lucien with bewildered eyes, but what shocked him even more was how much he didn’t hate it. He almost craved for more, and that terrified him. Everything felt so wrong, yet sinfully right.

“Don’t look like that with anyone else but me.” Lucien’s tone carried authority, and the commanding edge of his voice made Isaac’s lower stomach curl with heat.

“Possessive much?” Isaac smirked coldly.

“Psychotic, even,” Lucien replied with a curve on his lips, his eyes both dark and light.

Isaac stiffened. He just heard a man call himself psychotic and thought it was incredibly hot. Something had to be wrong with him.

“I’m running late for my next meeting, but I trust you’ll find a way to compensate.” Lucien pulled out a tissue and wiped his hands, reminding Isaac of what he had just done. “Oh, and regarding the contract, return it to me once you’ve signed it.”

He wasn’t taking no for an answer. Isaac could almost hear the smirk in his voice.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”