Healing Him

by Laura N Andrews

  “What’s the time?” Trav asks as he steers the car into a parking space.

  “Four twenty-five.”

  Travis is beaming with excited enthusiasm as we make our way to the building. Shoving all thoughts of Ryan aside, I let my brother’s excitement rub off on me and brighten my mood. As we reach the front door, I lead the way and step inside. There’s a good-looking man on his phone to the right of us, and a woman standing off to our left. The man turns to see us and his wide smile transforms his face. He’s even hotter. Trav’s jaw actually drops. Before the smile, he seemed unapproachable. Too good-looking. His black-and-silver hair and beard accentuate his angular features. Grinning like we’ve made his day, he’s absolutely stunning . With his distinguished hairstyle, blue eyes, and lean, tall build, he reminds me of Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

  Confused, my brother and I stand there as he lifts his hand in a wave. The woman must be Dakota, and I assume this guy is the real estate agent who’s trying to sell the place. Just as we take a step towards the woman, the silver fox replies to the person on the phone. “Sorry, Greg, I have to go. My clients just rocked up. I’ll call you later.” He hangs up and slides his phone into his left pocket as he offers his right hand to me. “You must be Henry.”

  I’m speechless for a moment before I take his hand. “Ah, yes.”

  “Dakota,” he says. Travis and I must look hilarious, because he laughs boisterously. “Not what you were expecting, huh?”

  This is Dakota? I shake my head. “W-we thought you were—”

  He holds up his hand before offering it to Travis. “Don’t sweat it. I get it all the time. People always assume, with a name like Dakota, I’m a woman.” He smirks after shaking my brother’s hand. “As you can see, I’m all man.”

  “You got that right,” Travis murmurs, earning a smirk from Dakota.

  I chuckle. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed. I’ve just pictured you as a woman, so I’m surprised.”

  Mr Dakota Edwards laughs. “It’s cool, man. It’s not like you’d write in your emails, ‘so, Dakota , is that a man’s name or a woman’s name?’”

  “True,” I admit, enamoured. Our real estate agent is as charming as he is attractive. Neither Travis nor I can keep our eyes off him. “Anyway, it’s great to finally meet you. And by your latest email, Travis and I were really excited to check this place out.” I let my eyes wander around the room. “The location, the space, the fact that it’s already decked out how it should be, these are all really great signs.” The place is much bigger than it seems from the outside.

  “Exactly.” Dakota’s face turns serious now. “And of course, later down the track, you can always alter the layout. But you’ll want this reception area near the door anyway, and besides the toilets and showers, you have two workout rooms. One for general gym use, which is much larger, and a small one for classes.”

  Travis turns to me. “Classes?” He’s right; it isn’t part of our plan to host classes.

  I shrug. “Maybe we’ll knock that wall down and make the gym bigger?”

  Dakota nods. “The previous owners used it as a room for classes, but of course you don’t have to. But, if you don’t mind my opinion, I’d suggest leaving it for a little while.” When it looks like we’ll disagree, he adds, “Even if organised classes aren’t part of your plan, you can always knock the wall down later. And besides, maybe until you decide you definitely won’t do classes, you could use it as a ladies’ room.”

  “Ladies’ room?” Travis frowns.

  “Yeah,” he says with a shrug. “Females who’d prefer to work out without men’s eyes on them.”

  Travis considers it. “It’s a little sexist, isn’t it? What if men don’t want to be gawked at?”

  Dakota looks at him a moment before he shrugs. “It’s just an idea. Maybe think on the classes. Could bring in more customers. For example, you could have classes two days a week; one is yoga and the other self-defence. Different ends of the spectrum. Something to consider anyway.”

  He’s right. It’s smart to wait. “We can always leave it for later.” I face my brother. “If we knock the wall down too soon, we won’t have the option to have separate rooms. Or we will, but we’d be paying to have another wall built in again.”

  “Precisely.” Dakota smiles. “Now, if you like, Lauren and I will stay out of your way and let you both have a look around. Let us know if you have any questions.”

  “Thanks, man.” I stride over to the main gym area and start picturing where we’d have what equipment.

  Once we’re out of earshot, Travis whispers, “What the fuck? I so did not picture our real estate agent as a man. A fucking sexy man, at that.”

  I chuckle. “Neither did I.”

  “How old do you reckon he is?”

  “Maybe late thirties?” I guess with a shrug. “Even though he’s got that silver fox thing going on, I don’t think he’s forty just yet.”

  “Hmm. Me neither.” Travis bites his lip. “He isn’t wearing a ring.”

  I groan. “If you’re thinking of trying to tap that, wait until everything’s sorted okay? Until he’s not our agent anymore, and we’ve bought a place.”

  He scoffs. “What do you mean try ? If I want him, I’ll have him,” he jokes before turning serious. “And when you say buy a place, you do mean this one, right?”

  I meet his eyes. “What do you think?”

  Travis nods. “I really like it. Everything about it.” He lets his eyes run over the empty room. “And you’re both right about the wall. We’ll keep it for a while. Who knows? Maybe in the meantime we’ll meet someone who’d like to teach a class. He’s right about it potentially bringing in more customers.”

  “Agreed.”

  After we look around and talk things through with each other, we head over to Dakota and the other agent. With our initial budget of $350,000 and the owner having an asking price of 360k and up, we’ve made up our mind. The owner will most likely say no, but it’s worth a shot to offer a little less. Standing beside my brother, I tell both agents we’d like to put in an offer of $350,000 dollars, with a settlement of fourteen days.

  The woman, Lauren, smirks at us as she pulls out her phone.

  Dakota shakes his head with a smile. “You know what the answer will be.”

  I cross my arms and shrug. “Yeah, but it’s worth a shot.” I lower my voice. “If they say no, we’ll offer 360k.”

  He gives us a crooked smirk and nods. While she speaks on the phone, excitement has my blood pumping. We’re actually going to buy this place. It’s going to be ours! We’re going to own a gym.

  Lauren speaks up. “Hold on.” She covers her phone, and says, “They’re adamant they’re not going below three hundred and sixty thousand.”

  Smiling at Trav, I let him take this one. He grins at her unapologetically. “We’ll offer the three sixty then.”

  She nods and tells whoever’s on the phone about our latest offer. When she grins at us, we know their answer. After she hangs up, it’s a bit of a whirlwind. Dakota and Lauren have us fill in and sign a bunch of paperwork along with our offer form and it’s done. We’ll have to wait for the owner to accept it in writing, but it’s just a formality. Travis and I have just bought a gym!

  Trav scratches his head. “So, when will we be able to start work on the place?”

  Dakota grins at him. “All going well, you should be able to start as soon as the settlement takes place in two weeks.”

  “Sweet! Will you, uh, give us a call after the settlement, when everything is all finalised?” my brother asks.

  “I can email, or call.”

  “You can call. Here.” Travis whips out his phone and hands it over. “Just put your number in, and I’ll text you so you’ve got my number. Then you can call me to set up the meeting. And then again, you know, when it’s all done.”

  Dakota raises his eyebrows at me and I shrug. He takes the phone, doing as he’s asked. I’m too busy staring at my older b
rother. Who is he and what has he done with my confident, non-babbling brother?

  “There you are,” Dakota says, handing his phone back.

  “Sweet. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  After saying our goodbyes and shaking hands—Travis holding on for a little longer than necessary when he shakes Dakota’s—we head to the car and drive home.

  * * *

  On Thursday night, I visit my best friend Kristen and her girlfriend Lindsay. They’re over the moon for me and Travis, and excited to be regular customers at our gym. “You know we’ll be telling everyone to go there, right?” Lindsay asks. “You’ll be so popular.” Dinner is delicious, and it’s always great to see them, but unfortunately, Ryan still occupies my thoughts.

  During work on Friday, I message Trey and Travis to suggest going out for a dance. When they both come back almost immediately confirming their interest, my mood brightens a little. It isn’t until I return home from work when I finally receive a message from Ryan.

  Ryan: Hey, what are your plans tonight?

  I scoff. Really? If he were my sub, he’d be in big trouble. Not hearing from him all week has led me to believe Ryan isn’t interested anymore.

  Me: Heading out with my brothers

  After sending my response, I start a bath. With the day I had and my workout this morning, my muscles need a nice soak. As the tub fills with water, I stride into the kitchen and see what food we have. My brother calls out from the living room, “I was thinking of just making spaghetti on toast. Something real easy.”

  “Sounds good,” I reply. “I’ll make a simple salad as well. Just having a bath first.”

  “Cool.” As I pass him, Travis turns to me. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “You just… you’ve been quiet. And you haven’t mentioned the guy you’re seeing. Or seen him this week. Things okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m not sure what we’re doing.” Even after receiving a message from him, I’m dubious about what he wants from me. Checking my phone, I see there’s no new messages. Is he expecting an invitation for tonight? After his silence all week, I’m too annoyed to invite him anywhere. If he were really mine, he’d be getting a spanking for punishment. Just as I slide into the bubble bath, I receive a reply, which is followed by a string of texts.

  Ryan: Oh. Can I come?

  Me: You want to?

  Ryan: Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?

  Me: Ryan, I figured you weren’t interested anymore.

  Ryan: I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier in the week. Been busy.

  Me: You can be busy and reply to messages, Ryan. Your silence was rude and not appreciated. I don’t like to be ignored. I guess you can join if you want.

  Ryan: Well when you put it like that, how can I refuse? :P

  Me: I need to be honest with you, Ryan. In case my texts are unclear, as a lover, you’ve annoyed me. As a Dom, you’ve displeased me. Last weekend was great, and I thought I understood what we were doing. But your silence this week has left me unsure.

  When a few minutes go by without a response, I place the phone down and close my eyes. Almost five minutes later, my phone rings.

  I see his name on the screen and take a deep breath before answering. “Hello.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir,” Ryan whispers. My breath catches at the honorific and his wavering voice. “I was about to reply, but the text was getting too long and I figured I should just talk to you. Plus, I wanted to hear your voice.”

  “You did?” Any anger dissipates.

  “Yeah. I um… I’ve missed the sound of your voice.”

  “You could’ve called me any day this week,” I point out gently.

  “I know. Fuck. I just…” He sighs loudly before continuing in a rush. “Last weekend was great for me too, Henry. Like, too great. Like, it-scared-me great. And I… I freaked a little. I don’t know what I’m doing with a Dom. I swore I wouldn’t be a sub again. Ever. And then there was the part about your father, which I know is unfair. It was just a lot for me in one weekend, you know? Everything that was said and done. It was a lot. I’m feeling things too soon, and everything is just happening fast. I’m sorry I didn’t message or call. You’ve been on my mind all week, and I didn’t know how to… how to say…”

  Poor boy. He’s lost.

  My heart is thundering. I sit up straighter and grip my phone tightly. I’d hate for it to drop. “Say what, Ryan?”

  He whispers, “That I really like you. But that I’m…”

  “Scared?” I finish.

  “Yeah.”

  Oh, Ryan….

  I clear my throat. “It’s okay to be scared. We’re both in this thing together. No one’s ever… I’ve never felt this way about someone before. As a Dominant, I’ve never let someone fuck me before. That should say a lot about how I feel towards you. It’s one of the reasons why it hurt when I didn’t hear from you.”

  “I really am sorry, Sir.”

  “You’re forgiven. But, Ryan, I need you to let me in a little. Can you tell me why the stuff with my father was hard to take?” When he’s quiet, I add, “Would you rather tell me now on the phone? Or when we’re face-to-face?”

  “Maybe some time when we’re together.”

  “Okay.”

  When you’re ready, baby.

  “So, you’ll see me again?” His uncertainty is undoing me.

  “Yes, Ryan. My brothers and I are heading out. Come with us.” It’s not a request.

  “I’d like— I’d love to. I want to see you.”

  This man. My grin is unstoppable. “Okay. Does this mean you don’t mind my brothers knowing about us? If not, come to mine and we’ll all go together.”

  “Yeah. Sounds good.”

  “You’ll stay over at mine tonight,” I tell him.

  “Yes.” He clears his throat. “Sir?”

  “Yes?”

  “What are you doing right now?”

  “I’m having a bath.”

  “Really.” The word is full of a sexual huskiness. “You’re naked, huh?”

  “Yes. It’s usually the case when someone bathes,” I tease.

  “Oh.”

  “What are you doing, Ryan?”

  He sighs. “I’m about to have a shower. I must’ve just missed you. I went to Andy’s after work, and now I’m all sweaty.”

  Holding the phone in my left hand, I grasp myself with the right. “Ryan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Strip.”

  He gasps through the phone. “I-I’m already naked.”

  “Oh, I see.” I stroke myself slowly. “I want you to touch yourself. Right now. Grasp your thick cock and stroke yourself.”

  “Shit.” There’s a few noises and a groan. “Sir….”

  “Mm. Good boy.”

  He gasps into the phone. The praise I give him as he obeys me has my cock hardening even more than my touch. Everything he says, and the sounds of his breathing, makes me really horny.

  He moans. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you all week. I want you.”

  “You want me, boy?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Show me how much you want me. Fuck your fist until you’re hard and throbbing. I want to hear you beg me for your orgasm.”

  A few minutes later, his breathing quickens. “I’m so hard. You’re making me so hard.”

  “Good,” I praise. “What time can you be at mine?”

  “What? Oh. Um. Ah. Seven? We could maybe have a few drinks before we go.”

  “Okay. Now listen to me, Ryan.” He just moans. “Ryan? Boy, stop touching yourself!”

  “What? Why?” Now he’s whining. Good, that means he’s stopped.

  “Don’t touch yourself again, understand? Besides cleaning it, you’re not to touch your cock again.” I let go of my own. “The next thing to pleasure your cock will be either my hand or my mouth. You can beg for your orgasm when you get here. Got it?”

  He groans
. “Yes, Sir.”

  Hiding the effect his submission has on me, I add, “Ryan? Come over whenever you’re ready.”

  He chuckles. “Will you let me come before we go out, Sir?”

  “Unless you want to go to the club hard and uncomfortable?”

  Ryan curses. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

  “Good boy.”

  Chapter Nine

  Just before half past six, there’s a knock at the door. I’m off the couch and opening it in approximately two point five seconds. Travis watches me from the couch. I told him only a few minutes ago Ryan is the guy I’m seeing. Standing there in all his sexiness, Ryan Scott grins widely. He’s chosen blue jeans and, in contrast to my black tee, he’s wearing a white one. It emphasises his tanned skin.

  “Hey,” he greets.

  I feel like I’ve been hard ever since I told him to touch himself. Because of this, I have no shame in throwing out my hand, gripping onto his nicely ironed tee, and yanking him to me. Giving him a bruising kiss, all teeth and lips and passion, I finally release him, allowing him to breathe. “Hey,” I say.

  Ryan smiles as he rubs himself against me. He murmurs into my ear, “Have you been as hard as me this whole time, Sir?”

  “Yes,” I reply. He groans. “Come.” I grab his hand, shut the door, and to Travis’s mirth, I tell him I’m giving Ryan a tour. I’m pretty sure he mutters something along the lines of, “A tour of your cock,” but I ignore it. In my room, I close the door before we’re both grabbing for each other. Gone are our shirts, away with our jeans, and too-da-loo to our briefs. In less than a minute of entering my room, we’re naked and on my bed.

  “I love your lips,” Ryan says.

  “Mm… I think they love you back.” I press him down onto his back and move between his legs. My fingers comb through his hair, pushing it back from his face. Our tongues make love as I grind down on his cock. Between licks and pecks, I speak into his mouth, “You’ve had me so hard. Ever since I told you to touch yourself.”

  “You’ve been hard? What about me ? You’re evil, Sir. Making me hard and then leaving me in the lurch.” He grips my ass, hands separating my cheeks. I gasp as the cool air meets my crack. “Do you want me inside you, Sir?”