Hurt Me Like You Mean It [BL]

[Thisbookcontains,explicitandmaturescenes—nor*pe.Notadvisedforviewersunder18,protectthypurity]LanceDixonisdrowninginadebtthatisn’this.Hisparents’financialmistakeshavefallenentirelyontohim,andhislifehascollapsedintoaconstantstruggletostayafloat.Hehasneverdeniedwhatheis.Lanceisamasochist,andmostpeoplehe’sdatedcouldn’thandlethattruth.Everyrelationshipendedthesameway,leavinghimwithneedsnoonewaswillingtomeet.Everythingshiftsonanighthedrinkstoomuchandendsupventingtoastranger.Inamixoffrustrationandalcohol,Lancejokesthathe’dsellhimselftoanyonewillingtopayoffhisdebt.Thestranger,AnselLowell,doesn’tbrushitoff.Heaskshowmuch.AndwhenLancetellshim,Anseloffersadeal:threemonthslivingunderhisterms,inexchangeforclearingthedebtcompletely.Thedealisstraightforwardandseemsalmostlikerelief.Butasthedayspass,thedynamicbetweenthemdeepensinwaysneitherexpected.Whatbeganasasimpleexchangegrowsintoaconnectionthatisfarmoreconsuming,andfarmoredangerous,thaneitherofthemintended.[Excerpt]LancemeanttopullawaywhenAnselsteppedcloser,buthisbodydidn’tmove.Ansel’shandhoverednearhisjaw,justcloseenoughtomakeLance’sbreathcatch.“Doyouunderstandwhatyouagreedto?”Anselaskedquietly.Lanceswallowed.“You’repayingoffmydebt.Istaywithyouforthreemonths.That’sit.”AhintofasmiletuggedatAnsel’smouth,whichmadehimmoredangerousbecauseofit.“No,Lance.That’sthesurfaceofit.Iwantyoutohearthetruth.”Lance’spulsestumbled.AnselleanedinjustenoughthatLancecouldfeelthewarmthofhisbreath.“I’mgoingtotakeupspaceinyourlife.I’mgoingtohaveyouwhenIwantyou.I’mgoingtolearneveryweaknessyoutrytohide,andIwillusethem.Iwillclaimyou,piecebypiece,untilyoucan’ttellwhereyourchoicesendandminebegin.”Lanceexhaledshakily.“DoyouworstMr.Lowell,Icanhandleit.”