Victim (Damaged Devils #16)

Chapter Seven

Cannon hadn’t truly known where to start with getting his life together. He only knew he had to get some shit straight. There was no future in him wallowing in self-pity or drinking himself into an early grave. Maybe he had needed that time on ice. Possibly he needed to remember he had done good things during his time with the FBI. He had stopped bad guys from doing worse things. Mostly, Cannon simply recognized he had been wrong about some things.

As much as Cannon had known in his heart Knight had never deserved the hell Cannon had put him through, there had been a small part of him that brushed that knowledge aside. After all, Knight took him back time and time again. When Knight had met Royal, and found real love, it had been easier to blame Royal than himself. That wasn’t the case, though. If Royal showed Knight half the intensity Xan had shown him, it was no wonder Knight would do anything to keep him. Even if that meant marrying a contract killer for the CIA. Unfortunately, that line of thought circled all the way around to him, believing what was easy. Xan was right. A lot of these people they killed were better off dead. While Quentin’s money had proven that was all it took to make charges disappear, that was exactly why it had enraged Cannon. Quentin might be a good man, but he was one in a million. Too many times, it wasn’t the good guys using their influence. That didn’t mean Jake was on the take with every single one. Jake didn’t run the entire country. But if there were people out there like Royal, taking these people out before they could use their influence to do whatever they wanted, well then, who was Cannon to argue?

That meant Cannon owed some apologies. It had been hard as hell, swallowing his pride. He hoped he didn’t have to do it again. It wasn’t like he had forgotten Royal got him fired, but then again, maybe he’d gotten himself fired. Cannon didn’t know which way was up any longer. Seeing beneath Xan’s hard shell had truly fucked with him. He felt like he didn’t know himself anymore.

Cannon thought he would do his research on the drug house and try to get back on track. His mind wouldn’t cooperate. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way Xan had held his stare as he fucked him. Holy hell. It had been the hottest moment of his entire life, and that was saying a lot. Knight was pretty damn smoking in bed. There had been a reason he couldn’t stay away.

Thankfully, his doorbell rang, pulling him from his thoughts and the forgotten surveillance video. He checked the peephole. Xan stood on the other side. He was in a suit and was back to looking like the cold agent Cannon had dealt with since crossing Quentin. Cannon prepared himself to get his feelings hurt when Xan pretended they hadn’t slept together. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Hey.”

Xan didn’t respond. He stepped inside, forcing Cannon to take a step back. Xan kicked the door closed behind him as he overcame Cannon and claimed his mouth. Immediately, Cannon couldn’t breathe. He was kindling, and Xan tossed a lit match. Cannon burned. But more than that, a feeling in his chest stirred. He felt alive, like he hadn’t in years.

“I got to work and couldn’t stop thinking about you.” Cannon’s heart soared at the confession. Xan kept going. “I needed to come back and find out why.”

Cannon ran his hands up Xan’s chest. “Have you figured it out?”

Xan shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Then you’d better keep trying.” Cannon reclaimed Xan’s mouth.

The room spun. Cannon’s back hit the door. Buttons went flying as Xan ripped open his shirt. Cannon fought through gasps as Xan kissed a path down Cannon’s body, biting and licking. All Cannon could do was watch as Xan dropped to his knees. If anyone had ever acted so desperately to have him, Cannon couldn’t recall it. Then his dick was in Xan’s mouth, and it took all Cannon’s strength to stay upright.

“Fuck.” Cannon dragged out the word as his head hit the door.

Xan had no mercy in his heart. He scrambled Cannon’s brains. Cannon was ready to do whatever Xan asked. Xan sucked and bobbed. He swallowed. Cannon switched between trying to watch and fighting the pleasure to keep his eyes open. Dirty images flew through Cannon’s head. He wanted to do everything with this man. Cannon knew in his heart Xan would do everything with zero reserve. God, he couldn’t wait to find out.

Sounds came from the back of his throat. He ran his fingers through Xan’s hair, fighting the urge to use Xan. His breathing turned ragged as he neared the edge. Cannon’s skin tightened. His toes curled. Xan shot to his feet and claimed his mouth, swallowing Cannon’s cries as he finished him off with his hand. Cannon wasn’t disappointed. It was Xan. They were together. He had never been happier, and that fucked with him hard. Xan had seemingly come from nowhere to take over his every thought. The guy had gone from threatening Cannon’s life and job to becoming the reason Cannon wanted to keep breathing. It was scary as hell. He didn’t want to stop.

Goddamn. Cannon was every bit as responsive as Xan remembered. He had begun to wonder if he had simply made their encounter bigger in his mind. No. His memory wasn’t big enough. Xan was fascinated. People didn’t hold his interest. Mostly because he rarely trusted anyone, especially anyone who didn’t come from his same background. It didn’t make sense for it to be Cannon who caught him. They couldn’t be more different. Outside of the jobs they held, they had nothing. Well, they both enjoyed a daily workout. Their time together at the cabin had been peaceful. The sex was off the charts and they both liked the same TV shows and music. Damn it. They had shit in common. He fucking wanted this.

Xan couldn’t stop kissing him. “I’ve never wanted to watch someone come again so badly in my life,” he admitted between kisses.

He felt Cannon smile against his lips. His stomach nearly growled from the hunger that one gesture caused. Cannon’s hands found Xan’s belt.

Xan stopped him. He wiped the cum on his hand on the tail of Cannon’s ruined shirt. “Not yet. I only want to come inside you and I know you’re still sore.”

Cannon’s expression had Xan fighting a moan. He looked exactly like a man who had just been well loved. “I don’t want you suffering.”

A smile exploded across Xan’s face. He genuinely liked Cannon. “I can take it.”

Cannon licked his lips. “But you don’t have to. If you need to be inside me, I’m willing.”

Xan went flush against Cannon. “Baby, I want you more than willing. I don’t want to take it easy so I can maybe have you later. When I take you, I need you completely ready. I plan to fuck you hard.” His gaze dropped to Cannon’s mouth. He couldn’t resist stealing another nibble of Cannon’s plump bottom lip. Need clawed at his insides, but he wasn’t weak. Still, he knew Cannon didn’t understand. In this way, they were as different as two people could be.

He chose to explain. “Orgasm denial was a big part of our training.” Xan watched Cannon’s expression snap closed, but he kept going. If they planned to do this, Cannon needed to understand him. “Men tend to think too much with their dicks. They needed to break us from that. Some people were very literally broken. Needless to say, I don’t consider waiting for you as suffering, especially because I’m choosing to be patient.” Xan swiped his lips across Cannon’s. “You deserve better than to be used. Even when I’m rough with you, never doubt you’re being cherished.”

Cannon was the one who came for the kiss this time. He sucked Xan’s bottom lip before curling his tongue upward, as if trying to lick the roof of Xan’s mouth. Xan’s knees weakened. He had to force himself to stay upright. Cannon kissed like a man who loved to use his mouth and had expert-level training. He tested Xan’s will. Xan had to find something else to do before he made a liar of himself. At the moment, he felt weak. He took a step back. “Let’s get cleaned up. I’ll take you to dinner.”

A sexy smile lit Cannon’s features. “I’d love that.” His gaze slid past Xan. Cannon’s features changed, turning confused. “Holy shit.” He fixed his clothes and headed toward a monitor on his coffee table. It was obvious he had set up a surveillance center in his living room. “ Is that who I think it is?” He pointed at a man on the screen.

Xan moved to stand at his side. An ex-police captain who had been forced into retirement due to suspicion of illegal activity stood in the driveway of the drug house. He looked around, as if watching to make sure no one saw him. Cannon snatched up his phone and quickly scrolled before pressing the device to his ear. In the otherwise silent room, Xan heard the ringing on the other end.

“Hamilton.”

“I know who the supplier is.”

Xan stared at Cannon while he broke down the clues that had finally snapped together in his mind. They painted the full image of a station on the take, finally solving months of missing seized drugs and evidence disappearing. Pride grew in Xan’s chest. Cannon had just solved something the DEA had been working on forever and couldn’t crack. Cannon had been put on the case only because deaths from the drugs traced back to that house had started crossing state lines. Even in his resentment toward the FBI, he couldn’t stop his amazing mind. Xan was in trouble. He wanted to keep him.