As soon as he spotted the CEO on Saturday night, he knew something was wrong. His steps were more forceful, his face more serious, and a fire burned in his eyes. He looked angry—something Avery had seen before, usually after long days at work—but this time, it was different.

“Let’s move upstairs,” was the first thing he said, and instead of a flirting tone or an expression of how much he had missed him, even though they had seen each other the day before, he sounded far too serious. 

“Let’s go.” 

Whatever was happening, Diablo had no intention of dealing with it in front of people, and he certainly didn't want anyone to overhear their conversation and know that someone could speak to him like that. It wasn't that David was insulting him, but it sounded all too much like he could give him orders rather than the other way around.

Their path through the club was the same as usual, and soon they were moving up the stairs toward the familiar door. Behind it, however, things were less ordinary. 

David took the initiative, just as he had on that first night when he already knew the companion's true identity, and led Diablo by the hand to the couch, pulling him directly into his lap. Instead of typically resting his hands on his hips, he placed his palms on his ass, gripping him possessively.

“You’re ballsy today,” Avery commented, though he didn't protest. Still, he wanted to know what had led to this change. 

“I have tough competition,” the CEO replied, his tone clearly suggesting that whoever he meant, he wasn't thrilled with them... perhaps even repulsed. 

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Diablo answered honestly, and because confusion seeped into his voice, he didn't sound as confident and arrogant as he should in this role.

David narrowed his eyes, looking almost dangerous if his hands weren't still where they were, and the only description Avery could manage while looking at him was "hot." 

“You—” The horned companion felt pressure on his backside as the CEO squeezed him firmly in his hands. “—and that pornstar.”

Suddenly, Diablo understood perfectly, and his reaction was, of course, a wide, almost provocative smile. “Are you jealous?” 

Judging by the way the dark-haired man looked, he was, and he wasn't trying to hide it at all. 

“That would be stupid,” he said almost through gritted teeth. The anger in his eyes and his firm grip contradicted his words even more.

“Why?” Long strands of hair fell onto the man's wrist as the companion tilted his head. 

“You’re not mine.” It looked as though it pained him to utter those words. 

That was the truth. Although the CEO constantly told the companion he was only his, always and everywhere, the man with horns never returned those words. Unlike David, he realized that his body was practically public property, almost like a piece of art in a museum that could be looked at but not touched.

“I'm not,” Avery confirmed, and although a look of distaste remained on David's face, he didn't choose to convince him otherwise. The companion took advantage of this and continued: “But I'm certainly not Dax's either.” 

It seemed his words quickly caught the CEO's attention, judging by how his touch became more tender and his eyes more open to reality rather than his internal conflict.

“Everyone knew he was coming. I didn't even know who he was,” he admitted truthfully. “Still, everyone was waiting to see what would happen when we were in the same room—” 

Until now, the tempter from hell had his hands on the man's neck, holding him in his palms, but now he slid one higher so he could tease the edge of his jaw with his fingertips. “I couldn’t let him be the one person who could resist me.”

This time, the CEO was already drawing breath for a protest, but Diablo quickly placed a finger on his parted lips and leaned into his ear. “I also couldn't get in trouble with my boss again, so I asked him for a photo. Nothing more.”

“Really?” David turned his head slightly, and suddenly their lips were far too close. Naturally, the companion's gaze flickered to them for a brief moment before he re-established eye contact. 

“Really,” he confirmed. “Like I said, I didn't even have a clue who he was.”

From the front row, he watched as the other man's lips spread into a smile. It seemed he was finally satisfied, but he still asked another question: “And you didn't like him?” 

Diablo frowned as if it were the stupidest thing he’d ever heard. “Mr. Favorite Versatile Performer?” He sounded almost offended as he said it. “Certainly not. I’m the main attraction. I don't need anyone stealing my spotlight.”

Not that he meant it one hundred percent seriously, but the fact that he consistently had people's attention and interest put money in his pocket and food on the table, so he didn't take it lightly. Though… if he were being honest, he kind of loved it when people went crazy for him. It was addictive. 

“You’ll always be the main star to me,” David said without hesitation.

“Good.” Avery sounded far too satisfied for someone who, in his civilian life, was still panicking about how their relationship was supposed to evolve. However, he still had a pathetic crush on the man beneath him, so he thoroughly enjoyed his words and devoted gaze. He couldn't help himself. 

Since the CEO's tantrum finally seemed to be over, Diablo returned to his signature move and grabbed him by the tie. Even though their faces were already so close, he felt a greater sense of power this way, and that was exactly what he needed. 

The demonic companion thought he had him firmly in his grasp like this, but he was wrong. David had one more shocking question in store.

“What about you?” 

“What about me?” 

The CEO’s broad smile suggested that his curiosity boded no good. 

“Are you vers?”

Although it wasn't the first time they had talked openly about sex, David had never asked him anything so direct. They always just hovered on the edge of flirting, using their hands to aid their imagination, but never without clothes, never with official terms. This question caught Avery genuinely off guard. 

“Wouldn't you like to know?” he replied cheekily. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his preferences, but it was strange to talk about it now, when David also met him in his other job and knew his identity. It was suddenly so intimate, and he felt vulnerable, though he didn't want to show it outwardly. 

“I would,” the CEO assured him. “You always sit in my lap, but I didn't want to assume.” 

That was true. Their position on this couch was always the same.

“What about you?” Diablo turned the question back on him. “Are you strictly top?” 

Unlike the companion, the dark-haired man had no problem answering directly. “I’ve tried both. I haven't found a liking for bottoming yet. But I’m still open to finding someone who could change that.” 

Judging by how intensely he looked into his blue eyes while saying it, it was clear to whom David would give that power. 

“I’m flexible,” the horned companion answered simply.

“But you have a preference?” It seemed this information wasn't enough for the other man. 

“I like both,” Avery elaborated further. “But the way I’m sitting should say it all.” As proof of his words, he moved in the man's lap just as he would if they were naked now and their bodies joined. Simultaneously, his fingertips firmly gripped the back of the dark-haired man’s neck, so the strength and tempo of his movements were meant to speak for themselves.

“You’re perfect for me,” was the first thing David said, right after he hissed as if in pain, but they both knew it was something else. Especially when Diablo was no longer sitting so comfortably, as he felt something prodding him when he moved closer like that. 

This was the moment when they were again so close and again so honest that the companion couldn't control his gaze, and after the desire to kiss the other man flooded him, his eyes betrayed him.

It was impossible for the CEO not to notice, but instead of reacting to it and reminding him of their kiss, he asked another question. “Have you still not changed your mind about that date?” 

In that second, Diablo lifted his gaze and met his eyes again.

“We already spend too much time together as it is,” was the first thing he said. 

It was the truth. They saw each other every day except Sunday, so it could actually be argued that David was the person he spent the most time with, and yet they barely knew anything about each other. Or rather, they didn't know the most essential things. 

“But you’re always working when we do,” the CEO pointed out.

“If I say I’ll think about it, will you be satisfied?” Avery’s mouth reacted before his mind, and he issued this challenge without thinking it through. It was too late, though; it was already out in the air. 

The radiant smile on the attractive man's face suggested it pleased him, but he expressed it aloud nonetheless. “More than that.” 

“Then I’ll think about it.”