Fate

by E. M. Denning

  Fate

  E.M. Denning

  Copyright Notice:

  This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  License Notes:

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your retailer and buy a copy for yourself. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Artwork: Designs by Dana

  © 2019

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Thank you!

  COMING SOON!

  Also by E.M. Denning

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  The club was far busier than River had expected it to be. He’d never been to this particular club before, but he needed a change of pace. His other club was filled with the same people he saw all the time, and he wasn’t compatible with any of them; the ones he might have been already had boys of their own and weren’t looking for new ones. It was time to branch out.

  He just hadn’t quite expected the crowd at Thunder to be as thick as it was. Wall to wall leather. Doms as far as the eye could see. The variety at the club pleased River. He took a few tentative steps into the crowd, his bare skin prickling with gooseflesh. Anticipation welled up in him so thick it made his hands shake.

  River made his way to the bar and ordered a glass of apple juice.

  The bartender was too slammed to make polite chit chat with River, but he didn’t mind. He carried his drink through the club, taking little sips here and there as he surveyed the room. He was a little disheartened that he’d been there for three whole minutes and not one person had approached him yet. River did happen to catch a bit of interesting conversation while he moved through the club.

  Did you hear that Zane is back?

  No way! All the boys are going to cream their pants. Is he looking?

  That’s the rumor.

  I’m glad he’s back. He’s been out for a while now.

  River didn’t know who Zane was, but he was already intrigued. The thought of having someone who everyone else wanted wasn’t unappealing, and River’s cock thickened at all the fantasies that rolled through his head.

  River’s attention turned to the front of the club, where a demonstration was being held. A sub, older than River’s twenty-three years, was led up to a cross and restrained—wrists above his head, feet apart, his back turned to the crowd.

  The Dom strode onto the stage. He petted the sub’s back. River wanted that. Not the cross. He was too afraid to do things like that. But he wanted someone to pet him and soothe him. Someone to look after him and protect him.

  “What’s a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this all by yourself?”

  River turned and appraised the man who spoke. He was tall and broad and should have checked all of River’s boxes, but the sight of the bullwhip on his hip made River’s stomach crawl.

  River took a step back from the imposing man. “I’m watching the demo.”

  The man put his hand on his whip. “All alone?”

  River didn’t think he meant to be as threatening as he seemed, but every cell in River’s body screamed at him to get away. But this was a club. No one knew him here, and he had one shot to make a good first impression.

  “You’re a skittish little thing.” The Dom reached for River, but River took another step backward.

  “I’m here with someone,” River blurted.

  The Dom dropped his hand but raised his eyebrows. “Really? You’re not collared.”

  “It’s new. Too new for all that.” River’s grip tightened on his glass.

  “Who are you with, boy?”

  Shit. Shit. Shit. River took a breath and said the only name he could think of. “Zane.”

  “Zane? Really? Well, this is new, then. Tell me, though.” The Dom had a calculating look in his eye. “What are you doing all the way over here?”

  “There’s so many people. I was told to wait by the bar, but I had to move. It was too busy up there.”

  “So you’re a lost boy, is that right?”

  River nodded and to his horror, and his relief, the Dom tilted his head. “Follow me. I’ll take you to him.”

  “Thank you, sir.” River was so very fucked. There were so many ways this could go wrong. First of all, Zane could laugh in his face. He could blow his cover and River would have to leave Thunder humiliated, and not in the fun way.

  River had two choices: walk out the door or follow the guy with the whip and hope that Zane wasn’t going to make a fool out of him. River almost headed for the door, but then the whip guy turned and pointed to someone sitting on a couch. He had an arm tossed over the back, and it looked as though half the guys in the place were trying to get his attention.

  “There he is. Hey, Zane,” the guy called out.

  Zane turned his head, and River got a look at his profile, and holy shit Zane was gorgeous. A short, well-trimmed beard, a dusting of grey at his temples, thick forearms that poked out of a dress shirt with rolled up sleeves. And suspenders, River noted. That was interesting.

  In all his ogling, River was only semi aware that he’d missed his window of escape. Now he stood in front of Zane, who eyed him with curiosity.

  “I found him in the crowd. He says he belongs to you.”

  River trembled and wrapped his arms around himself. Zane was going to deny him. He was going to turn him away, and River would have to flee the club, the last one within a comfortable distance to his house, and he’d be done. He’d have to resort to finding a Dom online, and that was a whole other ball of shit River didn’t want to deal with.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?” Zane stared at River. His eyes were twin blue flames and River shook from the intensity they carried.

  “I’m sorry…” River started.

  “I’m sorry… Daddy,” Zane said coolly, then patted his lap. “Come here; sit with Daddy.”

  River squeaked and Zane gave him a look. It was a look River had seen other boys get and he was sure it meant that Zane expected his obedience.

  Unsure of his movements, he moved closer to Zane, who grabbed his hand and yanked River down into his lap. “Now, that’s better, isn’t it, baby boy?”

  “Fuck me sideways.” The guy with the whip started to laugh. “I thought this kid was pulling my leg.”

  “I… I told him it was new. He wanted to know why I didn’t have a collar.”

  Zane smoothed a hand down River’s leg to… comfort him? River couldn’t be sure. He only knew he needed more of that. River had discovered kink a while ago, and he’d been around long enough to discover what he liked and didn’t like, and what he craved the most.

  Even more than the props, the trappings, and the frills, River craved the affection. The bone-deep connection that only came from two people who were perfectly suited as Daddy and boy. River yearned for it—the care, the attention, the discipline. He wanted it, but with all his hang-ups, finding a Daddy had proven to be difficult.

  “It is new,” Zane confirmed. He held River a little tighter.

  At least that wasn’t a lie.

  “I thought it would be fun if our first interaction as Daddy and boy was here at the club, but I can see that I shouldn’t have left you unsupervised. You wandered off on Daddy, and that s
imply won’t do.”

  River trembled, and fear clawed at him and made his skin itch. He shifted uncomfortably on Zane’s lap.

  “You’ve freaked your boy out, Zane.”

  Zane reached up and petted River’s head. “It’s okay, baby boy. Daddy’s not mad.”

  Was River dreaming?

  Zane waved a hand, dismissing whip guy. “Now if you don’t mind, Clint, my boy and I need to have a little chat.”

  Clint winked at River. “Be good for Daddy.”

  Unable to speak, River nodded. He only completely relaxed when Clint turned and disappeared back into the crowd.

  “Now, little one, care to tell me what it is about Clint that has you so terrified?”

  River turned to look at Zane and blinked. “Sorry?”

  “Your bones are practically rattling, you’re shaking so hard.”

  River swallowed. “The whip. He seemed interested in me, and I saw the whip.”

  “You do know things like that have to be negotiated, don’t you?”

  River tried to pull away, but Zane held him firm with his powerful arms.

  “You’re going to talk to Daddy like a good little boy.” Zane’s voice was low but firm, and River squirmed. He smiled at River, who was certain he’d never seen anything so beautiful. “Do you want to talk out here, or did you want Daddy to take you some place where others won’t be listening?”

  River couldn’t decide, which was unusual for him. He typically knew exactly what he did and didn’t want. But now, he was sitting with a stranger who likely wanted answers as to how River ended up in this club, and more specifically, in his lap.

  Zane chuckled and stood with River still in his arms. Instinctively, River clung to him. “What are you doing?”

  “Well, it’s not usually the place of little boys to question their Daddies, but in this case, I don’t mind. I’m taking you somewhere we can talk. It’s crowded down here, and the furniture has ears.” Zane motioned to a guy who was currently serving as a footstool.

  River let himself be carried through the crowd. He did, however, hide his face in the crook of Zane’s neck. The embarrassment unfurled, a low heat in River’s stomach that spread through his body. Shame fueled shame and River grew hard as Zane carried him up the stairs and to a private room.

  River half expected Zane to extract himself from River, who’d grown clingy in his state of burgeoning arousal. Instead, Zane headed for a big chair in the corner and he settled them into it. When River tried to move, Zane held him firm.

  “Now, baby boy, tell Daddy what you’re doing here tonight.”

  “I’m really sorry I gave Clint your name,” River blurted, but Zane pressed his fingers to River’s lips.

  “Shhh. That’s not what Daddy asked, is it?”

  River shook his head.

  “Use your words.”

  He swallowed past a lump of emotion. “No, Daddy.”

  “So let’s try again. Tell Daddy why you came here tonight.”

  River wet his lips. It took him a minute to get going, but Zane didn’t seem to mind. “I usually go to Tails, but everyone knows me there. And I’m not compatible with anyone who’s not taken. I thought I’d come here and try to meet someone.”

  Zane hummed and skimmed his hand up and down River’s legs. He’d chosen to wear a pair of tight but soft pants instead of leather or the usual go-go boy shorts. Right now, however, he wished he were naked and at Zane’s mercy.

  “How’d you get my name?”

  River felt himself blush. “I was walking around, trying to get a feel for the place, and your name was mentioned. So when Clint approached, I panicked a little. I didn’t mean to give him your name.”

  “Shhh,” Zane soothed. “Daddy’s not mad, but this does put us in an unusual situation.”

  “It doesn’t have to. I can go.” River tried to get up, but Zane tightened his grip.

  “Is that what you really want?”

  River shook his head, and Zane gave him another dazzling smile.

  “That’s what I thought. What’s your name?”

  “River.”

  “I’m Zane, but you can call me Daddy.”

  River wet his lips. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s very simple, sweet boy. Your presence here will have ruffled some feathers. You understand that I can’t walk down there and tell everyone it was a simple misunderstanding. I’d already been swarmed by a hoard of greedy, needy subs. I wasn’t even sure why I came tonight, and I was just about ready to leave.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Zane grimaced. “No more of that. There’s no harm done. In fact, this is quite the fortuitous turn of events.”

  “It is?”

  “Tell me, River, do you believe in fate?”

  “No…”

  “Well, allow me to try and change your mind.”

  Chapter Two

  Zane. Was. Bored.

  Bored out of his skull, in fact.

  A lot of his friends at the club thought he’d resisted returning because he was still getting over his last relationship. That had been the truth at the beginning, but over time, Zane realized he didn’t miss the club, and being there reminded him why. It wasn’t the fault of the club, or the people. He truly loved both. It was something inside himself that felt like it had broken. Maybe this wasn’t the lifestyle for him anymore. Maybe he should hang up his leathers and find a proper boyfriend.

  The unappealing nature of that thought was the only thing that kept his ass in his seat. A demonstration had started on the stage, and Zane would stay until the end of that. It would be rude to leave in the middle of someone’s show. Zane drained the rest of his water and settled back against the couch, thankful that he’d chosen to sit in a section of the club far away from the mass of too-eager submissives.

  Then, Clint had come to him with a wide-eyed, terrified boy. Zane saw the way the kid kept his distance from Clint, and if Zane hadn’t known Clint to be an excellent Dom—the very definition of attentive and caring—Zane might have thought he’d done something to the kid.

  According to Clint, the boy had said he belonged to Zane. He could tell Clint was curious as hell, and Clint had a big mouth. If Zane really wanted all the attention he’d been getting as a single Dom to disappear, the best way to rectify that was to not be single.

  That was how he found himself upstairs with a lap full of boy. River, he’d said his name was. He seemed eager but afraid, and that was a dangerous combination for someone like Zane to see in a person. It brought out his Daddy instincts. From the moment he’d seen River downstairs, wearing his fear like a beacon, Zane had wanted to protect him and put him at ease.

  “What if you were my boy? At least for a little while.”

  River blinked at him. “I don’t understand,” he whispered.

  “I haven’t been around much in a while, and it’s… People won’t leave me alone. I’m trying to figure out what I want, if I even want to be here, but I have to practically beat the submissives off with a stick.” Zane ran a finger down River’s cheek. “I could take care of you for a while. Bring you around here, let you meet people in a less intimidating atmosphere.”

  Already, Zane’s inner possessive nature was railing against him. He didn’t want to play matchmaker for River. He wanted to keep him. But Zane wasn’t certain of anything anymore. If River was into the lifestyle, Zane would be better off letting him find someone who was certain.

  “But if people think I’m with you, how am I going to find someone else?”

  “Well, it’s simple.” Despite the idea sounding all sorts of bad and wrong, he voiced it anyway. “We’ll pretend to be together for a little while. I’ll bring you to the club. We’ll hang out here together, and then, when enough time has passed and you’re more comfortable with the place, we can break up.”

  River frowned. “You want me to pretend to be your boy?”

  “It’s
just an idea. We don’t have to do it.”

  “What would you tell people about me?”

  “I’d tell them we weren’t as good of a fit as we thought.”

  River shifted in Zane’s lap and, without looking, Zane guessed it was because River was hard. Hell, so was Zane. It had been a long time since he’d had a lap full of beautiful boy. Then, River’s frown deepened.

  “I’ll just go,” River said. “I probably won’t fit anyone here either.”

  “Wait, please. Tell me what you mean by that.”

  River shrugged. “I’m boring.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”

  “Because good little boys tell their Daddies when they have a problem. If you don’t tell me, I can’t make it better.”

  The look of utter defeat on River’s face was something Zane never wanted to see again.

  “I have too many limits. Too many rules.”

  “That doesn’t make you boring.”

  “I don’t like many of the usual things other guys like.”

  “Tell me your limits.”

  River’s shame radiated off him. “It’s easier to list the stuff I allow.”

  “Okay, so do that. It’s all right, baby.” Zane cradled River closer to him. He wanted to hug the sadness out of the boy.

  “I like spankings and orgasm control, denial, chastity, but not with cages. I like humiliation, but verbal stuff only, not like… I don’t like being hit. At all. Other than spankings. Spankings are fine. But no floggers. No crops.”

  “No whips.” A terrible feeling washed over Zane, and he couldn’t stop the question from coming out. “Did someone hurt you?”

  River laughed, but it was choked by sadness. “It would make sense, right? But no… I’ve never been hit. Never been abused. Never had a mean Dominant. I’ve tried different things, but they all… they scare me. I’m a huge fucking chicken shit.”