Diablo never asked how much David paid for an hour with him. Just from the share he received, he knew it was a sum that the man in front of him could easily spend on anyone he wanted — an escort, a prostitute, or a mere gold digger. Besides, David could have bought a Ferrari or a Bugatti with that money — something that would show off his wealth. Perhaps he even had one; however, since he always arrived to see Avery on foot, he had no way of knowing.

Regardless, learning that the CEO was willing to pay that much for just an hour, several times a week for months, made him think, which was never good. No matter how much he convinced himself that David only came because he enjoyed anonymity, or that he chose the demonic-looking companion because he, too, hid his identity, or because he seemed out of reach, the fact remained that David chose him. Deep down, he hoped that whenever those dark eyes looked at him, he wasn't just imagining something more in them, something gentler. 

“You’re in my space.” Diablo grabbed the wealthy man’s suit lapel and, instead of pulling him closer, pushed him gently away. David took a step back, but instead of looking offended, a faint smile appeared on his lips — almost a challenge, daring Diablo to try again.

The companion raised an eyebrow, though the mask covered it. Keeping his eyes fixed on the man in front of him, he tilted his head slightly and gave a short command with all the confidence he had. “Sit.”

David wasn’t a dog, nor had he ever expressed an interest in being controlled. But just like the four-legged creature, he didn’t mind obeying orders and was just as loyal to his master. At least in this room.

The tall man moved to the black leather couch and sat down. Right in front of him was a small, raised platform that could be used as a table. However, the pole in its center clearly revealed its primary function. 

Although Diablo wasn’t a dancer, months of working there had taught him a few moves.

He walked slowly toward the platform, grabbed the pole, and pulled himself up. Then, holding onto it with his fingertips, he circled around it as if he were so light that he didn’t need to worry about gravity — or maybe he simply didn’t care. 

Suddenly, he moved in closer, sliding his other hand up above his head and gripping the pole so he could lean his back against it. He glided smoothly down until he reached his knees. 

He knew David liked seeing him this way the most.

The dark gaze never left him, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to discern where the man's irises ended and his pupils began.

"Come here." The two of them were alone in the room, and although the sounds of the club could still faintly be heard in the distance — mainly the music and the bass from the speakers — Diablo heard his husky tone perfectly clearly. That was why he was surprised the CEO still hadn’t realized who stood before him; Avery had never tried to alter his voice.

“Don’t you want to see me dance?” Diablo teased, knowing he was impatient. And although it pleased him that David wanted him in his lap immediately, he hesitated because being close to him made it difficult to think, and he was still trying to keep his distance from his feelings.

"I love seeing you dance," David assured him, unaware that he had stopped his companion's heartbeat for a moment and that he had to remind himself to breathe.

"But?" he asked, careful not to let his internal turmoil slip into his voice.

“I want you closer.” David said the same thing every week, and it pleased Avery just as much as the first time he heard it, when he realized he had begun to feel something more for the CEO. He was his guilty temptation, the reason he would end up in purgatory. Still, he believed it would be worth it. And that was without even knowing what his lips or body felt like.

He had to remind himself that he was playing a demon, so he wouldn’t fulfill the request too quickly. Diablo was the one who did what he wanted, when he wanted, and everyone else adjusted to him, not the other way around. That was his entire charm.

“Or what?” He tilted his head to the side, not moving an inch.

Even though Diablo had not fulfilled his request, David did not look unhappy. Quite the opposite. He was enjoying the companion’s defiance, and Avery was certain he still relished this game of cat and mouse, even though it was nothing new. The same thing over and over again, yet David still devoured him with his eyes as if he were his last meal before death.

“Do you want me to punish you?” David’s smile stood in stark contrast to his words.

“That’s my job.”

The horned companion placed his palms on the edge of the platform in front of him and leaned slightly forward. He wasn’t afraid of falling, knowing the CEO would catch him in an instant; besides, he would land face-first exactly where the man likely wanted him most.

“And what is mine?”

The smile that spread across Diablo’s face after the question boded no good.

First he moved one hand to his knee, then did the same with the other. While he used one to keep his balance, with the other he slid a little higher and dug his fingers into the man’s thigh just below the place that, if Diablo played his cards right, was meant to indicate how much the CEO enjoyed his presence.

“To sit and try to resist,” Avery said after bracing himself against his thighs and lifting his face higher so he could meet his eyes. Without a sufficient dose of confidence, it might have looked like an awkward position, but with him… there was a reason men liked eye contact when getting their dick sucked.

David could not take his eyes off him, that much was certain. He had long stopped thinking purely with reason, and so Diablo knew it was time to move closer, just as he had wanted from the beginning.

Moving into the man’s lap, one leg on each side of him, was a position the companion found himself in so often that it felt as natural as walking. First he settled comfortably, then he moved his fingers to the man’s tie, and with his other hand he covered his face, his palm resting on his cheek and his thumb along his jaw.

Their eyes were locked.

One of the things that made David unforgettable to Avery was that, while other visitors to the club had no hesitation focusing on his body, the CEO, even from this close, looked into his eyes first, even though his hands had long since been resting on his hips. It made him feel special.

Diablo could not afford to lose himself in his dark eyes or let it show on his face how much influence the CEO had over him, though. Instead, he shifted to his usual move. He brushed his thumb along his jaw, slid down his neck, ran the pad of his thumb over his Adam’s apple, forcing him to swallow dryly, and before he could move any lower, he tugged on his tie with his other hand. It made the companion lean closer while the other man tilted his head up, bringing them as close as possible without their lips touching.

“You love provoking me.”

They were so close Avery could almost feel the movement of his lips against his own.

“It’s my life’s mission.”

He could have said it was his job, since honestly, how many people were paid to pretend to be a succubus, or in his case more likely an incubus? With the amount of money Avery had when he first started making a living this way, it could easily be said he survived on the energy of his clients instead of proper meals.

“I could give you better.”

This close, he could see every emotion reflected in the eyes of the far-too-attractive man. Alongside lust and amusement, there was something far too tender and dangerous for a place like this. Especially when David was paying for this interaction, and when Avery’s heart was far too vulnerable where he was concerned.

“Like what?” he asked, even though he knew it was not a good idea.

“You could be my husband.”

Avery’s heart skipped in his chest, but since he was already used to these offers of his, he managed not to let it show. Instead, he leaned back slightly to create some space between them, trying to maintain his nonchalant facade.

“Oh really?” He tilted his head to the side again, a careless smile on his lips.

“A ring on your finger would suit you.” It seemed David was not giving up on convincing him today.

“If I were to marry every client who told me something like that…”

For a brief second, the CEO’s expression changed, and it did not look like he liked Diablo speaking about other men in front of him.

“I am the best one for you,” David declared in such a firm tone that it sounded like he was stating a fact rather than his own belief.

Avery laughed, though in truth, he thought the same.

“Shouldn’t I be the one to judge that?” the horned companion asked as he toyed with the man’s tie, sliding it between his fingers.

“You can.” The CEO nodded. “But first you’d have to accept an invitation to a date.”

“I don’t let myself be bought out, you know that,” he reminded him.

“We both know I’m not talking about buying you out for the rest of the night.” His gaze darkened slightly and he looked more serious. Their entire interaction felt less playful and more like business, though not the kind conducted in this building.

“We both know you’d lose interest the moment I took off the mask.”

Judging by the way David frowned, he disagreed. But Avery knew it was the truth. He had verified it firsthand.

“I’m loyal to you.” The CEO’s voice was surprisingly gentle as he looked into his eyes just as firmly as he held his hips in his hands. “Always. Everywhere.”

Diablo let out a short laugh. He could not turn this into an argument. He could not provoke negative reactions in his client, and certainly not have a serious conversation with him as if they actually had something between them. That was not in his job description, and this was still, after all, his job.

“Right now, we’re here.” He leaned back in closer and wrapped his arms around his neck, sliding his right hand into his hair so he could tilt his head back and look down at him. “So let’s enjoy it while we can.” His tone had returned to something seductive.

For a moment it seemed the CEO would steer the conversation back and continue persuading him, but then he responded to his provocation. First with his hands, sliding his palms down to his thighs, and then with words. “Don’t you dare pull away.”

The horned companion gave him a wide smile before leaning down and briefly biting his lower lip. “I make the rules here.”

It was the first time he had dared to go this far, probably the closest they had ever come to a kiss, but today he felt especially bold. Maybe it was because, as a demon, he still had the CEO wrapped around his finger, or maybe it was simply an attempt to test whether the lipstick on his lips was truly kiss proof.

When he pulled back from his mouth and focused again on his eyes, the first thing he noticed was how wide his pupils were. As if he were not in a room with a man tempting him, but with a drug that had taken over his senses.

“Do you want to see me dance?”

David did not answer immediately. It was difficult after what he had just experienced, and Avery enjoyed having this kind of power over him at least once. The CEO had the upper hand most of the week, even if he did not know it.

“The pole is too far,” he argued when he finally found his voice.

“I never said anything about the pole.”

Jonah and the other strippers did not dance only around the pole. They danced with chairs, with handheld poles, and with practically anything that suited a theme. Of course, there were also lap dances, and although Diablo did not officially offer those, he had learned how for the CEO.

By now, Diablo knew how to move his hips, how to run his hands over his body, and how to drive the man beneath him insane.

Most lap dance movements involved thrusting, but the demonic companion always made sure to adapt them to their dynamic. Although they had never slept together, he knew the CEO was strictly a top, and Avery liked to consider himself a power bottom. So even now he sat in his lap and moved as if riding him, humping him through their clothes, even though he knew his leather pants wouldn't be able to handle much.

David did not even try to hide what these movements were doing to him. He gripped his hips tightly, then his thighs, and then slid his palms to his ass. All in a way that did not stop him from continuing the sensual motion.

Diablo knew he would get hot, so he took it upon himself to loosen his tie and unbutton his shirt. He wanted to feel him under his fingers as much as he was allowed, and honestly, David would probably allow him anything. At least here.

“Touch me.”

The companion took his hand and moved it to his chest, where there were no clothes between them and he could feel his touch against bare skin.

Of course, the CEO cooperated immediately, moving across his chest up to his neck, gripping him in a way that made him feel the dominance in his touch, yet still without restricting his breathing.

They were both breathing heavily, and although their tight trousers meant they would later have to take care of themselves, they both accepted it as a risk that simply came with their interactions and was worth it.

They had exactly one hour, and after it Avery always had to head to the restroom. Maybe it would be easier to drop his boundaries and sleep with him, but the companion had a strict rule regarding anything physical in the club, whether it involved kisses or something bolder, and he had no intention of breaking it for anyone.

So David left unsatisfied in terms of his needs, yet with a smile on his face and a promise that he would return the next day.  Just like every other time.