Page 68 of Gambler's Conceit
Caleb takes the cup and fills it with water to rinse off the shampoo. “From last night. Perhaps I should have called you then. The two of us would have had an easier time wrestling Seven into submission.”
Seven’s expression goes dark. “I didn’t need to be wrestled into submission,” he says in a low growl. “And you know it. If you wanted to dunk me under the water, you’d do it.”
I don’t know what the fuck had happened the night before, but it had clearly left an impact on Seven.
I take the cup from Caleb, and Seven lets me tip his head back so I can carefully pour the water over his head.
Caleb meets my eyes, his expression unreadable to me. Then Caleb says, “Since you keep suggesting it, pet… do you want Havoc to hold you under?”
My cock throbs, and I fight against the guilt and arousal warring inside me.
“I’m not suggesting anything,” Seven protests. “Just because you have athingabout wanting to see me cry doesn’t mean I want to cry for you.”
“Did I say anything about crying?” Caleb rubs Seven’s throat again. “We’ll start for just a few seconds. Havoc will push you down. You can claw at his arm if you want to be let up.”
I bark out a nervous laugh. “What makes you think I’ll agree to this?”
Caleb smirks at me. “The way you looked every time either one of us mentioned it, for one.”
Seven’s gaze meets mine. “Is that what you want?” he asks. “To feel me struggle?”
The words make my cock twitch, but I try to keep my expression neutral.
I obviously don’t do a very good job, because Seven gives a harsh laugh. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. The more I protest, the more the two of you want it, right?”
“I’m not…” I make a frustrated sound. “If you’re into getting roughed up, yeah. I want to. But if you really don’t like it, I can punch Caleb here.”
“Being roughed up isn’t the same as being suffocated,” Seven says, and I get the feeling he’s not just talking about a breathplay kink.
Caleb licks the shell of Seven’s ear, and Seven shudders. “Imagine it, pet. Havoc’s large hands on your throat, holding you down. Your breath, your life, will be entirely in his hands. All your thoughts will be focused on the burning in your lungs, and the very real possibility that you could be snuffed out of existence, just like that.”
Seven licks his lips nervously, but he shudders, too. “I don’t… I don’t want that,” he whispers.
My face is hot with arousal, and I remind myself that I need to respect whatever Seven decides. I’m not a monster who beats innocent people.
But I am the kind of guy who shoves a man up against a bathroom stall and bruises him up and gets off on hearing his pained cries.
I shove those thoughts aside and focus on Seven.
“You don’t want that?” Caleb’s arm moves, and I assume he’s holding Seven’s cock underneath the water from the way Sevenstarts to squirm. “For those few seconds, you won’t need to even remember that I exist. It’ll just be you and Havoc.”
Seven swallows hard, his eyes darting up to meet mine. As nervous as he looks, there’s longing there, too. What the fuck happened to make him so desperate to escape Caleb? Or is it just that he really wants what Caleb’s suggesting?
“I…” Seven bites his lip as Caleb’s arm moves again—jacking Seven off, maybe?—and Seven whimpers. “Yes. Just as long as it’s Havoc. Not you.” He casts another glare at Caleb, but it’s less withering than before.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this hard just from a few words.
He wantsme, not Caleb.
Caleb loosens his grip on Seven so he’s only holding Seven’s shoulders. I slide forward and move my hand to his throat.
“If you need to be let up, just scratch my arms,” I tell him seriously. “But I won’t hold you down for too long.”
“Yeah?” Seven asks, challenge in his tone now. “You don’t wanna be scratched anyway? Don’t wanna feel me struggle?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Yes, but you need an out.”
“I’ll keep watch,” Caleb says as he rubs Seven’s shoulders. “Seven can struggle all he likes.”