by K. C. Wells
At last Rob seemed to give up and turned to go out the door, giving the contract one final longing glance as he left. Alex let out a sigh of relief. From now on, anything important would be kept at Leo’s apartment. Home wasn’t safe anymore.
After stowing the contract in his laptop bag, Alex got into bed and turned out the light. Rob’s intrusion had completely ruined his mood, and it was a long while before he was able to relax enough to get to sleep.
THURSDAY morning, and it looked likely to be a busy day, seeing as Manchester’s main shopping center, the Arndale, had started up its late-night hours in the run-up to Christmas, which usually meant more customers wanting to eat out after spending an evening shopping for presents. Alex shook his head. It was still only late October, after all.
Alex and Adam were busy in the restaurant, getting the tables ready for the lunchtime trade. It was still early, however, and the two young men were being meticulous—especially as Sev was in the bar area checking on the alcohol stocks. The radio was on in the kitchen, and the sound of seventies rock filtered through. Alex smiled. Luca loved his rock music, bless him.
“So, you found out yet what your guy does for a living?”
Alex looked up from his task to see Vittorio leaning against the doorframe, a cup of coffee in his hand. Vittorio was smirking. Alex had known at some point, someone was going to start up this particular conversation. And if he’d been a betting man, he could’ve laid money on that someone being Vittorio. “Yes,” he replied shortly. Maybe if he ignored Vittorio long enough, he’d take the hint. Yeah, right….
“So, do I take it you’re gonna be naked, wearing a dog collar, and leashed to his coffee table on all fours while he props up his booted feet on your back while watching TV—or maybe jacking off all over you?” Vittorio was grinning. His voice must have carried, because Pietro suddenly appeared in the doorway behind him, eyes wide. Sev was flashing Vittorio warning looks from across the bar, but he didn’t leap in to stop the conversation.
Alex took a deep breath. If he didn’t do something now, Vittorio would think he had a license to mouth off about this whenever he felt like it. He straightened, eyes meeting Vittorio’s. He couldn’t believe he was about to do this…. “What are you going to be doing on your next night off, Vittorio?” Alex asked innocently. His clear voice rang out in the empty restaurant, steady and true.
Vittorio shrugged. “Dunno, maybe going to the cinema with some mates, grabbing a few beers. Why? Did you and your Dom wanna join us? Not really sure it’s his kind of thing, y’know?” He winked at the others, enjoying having an audience, as usual.
Alex smiled sweetly. Vittorio seemed to have forgotten his last disastrous attempt to have a laugh at Alex’s expense. Oh well… seemed like he needed another lesson. Here we go…. “Well, on my night off, I’m going to be servicing my hot-as-fuck boyfriend with a kick-ass blow job before he takes me to bed, ties me up, and fucks me all night long with his gorgeous, seven-inch long thick cock, making me come several times, if I’m lucky. Then we’ll probably end up in the shower, where he’ll fuck me again.” He smiled once more, ignoring the loud gasps from Pietro, Adam, and Sev. “Don’t know ’bout you, but I think I got the better deal.” He waited, heart beating fast.
Suddenly the sound of hands clapping rang out. Pietro was applauding him, a broad smile on his face, and then Adam joined in, grinning. Vittorio was red-faced and openmouthed, staring at Alex in disbelief. Eventually he gave Alex a short nod before turning and disappearing back into the kitchen, pushing past Pietro, who was doubled up with laughter by now.
Alex let out his pent-up breath in one long, shuddering exhale.
Adam came around to where he was standing and clapped him on the back, still grinning. “Dude, your mouth really needs a censor. That was ace!” Adam shook his head. “Man, I’m beginning to think I’m playing for the wrong team. Don’t get me wrong—I’m straight—but, fuck, that sounded hot, even to me.” He winked at Alex. “Think your mate could wrangle me an invite to that club too?”
Pietro stopped laughing. “Actually,” he said, addressing Adam, “you’ve just reminded me of something. What did this mate look like? The one who dropped off the invitation?”
Alex listened as Adam gave Pietro his previous description. Pietro’s eyes narrowed, and there was noticeable tension in his jaw. Alex was puzzled. He opened his mouth to ask if Pietro had recognized the description, but unfortunately, Sev chose that particular moment to intervene.
“Back to work, people!” He glared at the three of them, but no one was fooled. Sev was a pussycat. Pietro mumbled under his breath and made his way back to the kitchen while Alex and Adam continued their task of making the restaurant look perfect.
Sev came to stand beside Alex, his eyes dancing with amusement. “You did well, Alex, standing up to Vittorio like that. Leo would be proud of you.” Sev shook his head, chuckling. “That man is certainly blessed.”
Alex frowned. “What do you mean, Sev—blessed?”
Sev fixed his gaze on Alex. “Most people are lucky in this life if they find one person who is everything they need. I was blessed with my Sofia, God rest her soul. But Leo? Fate has been very kind to that man. He’s been blessed with not one, but two beautiful men in his life. His Gabe was a lovely soul, and I wept the day he died. I never thought to see him find another. And then he walks into my restaurant and finds you.” Sev surprised Alex by giving him a brief but fierce hug. “You were just what he needed.” He pulled Alex’s head down—Alex was a good few inches taller than his boss—and kissed the top of his head. “God bless you, boy.” He picked up his clipboard and walked into the kitchen, whistling happily.
Alex stared after him in amazement. Sev made it sound as if he and Leo were somehow fated to be together. And yet why wasn’t that thought scaring the shit out of him? In fact, if anything, it gave him a warm feeling inside. Leo… his fate? Alex smiled to himself. He could live with that.
“WHAT on earth has tickled you two so much? I can hear you laughing clear across the club!”
Leo wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and regarded his business partner, who was standing in the door staring at him and Miles with an amused expression. Miles was still laughing quietly to himself. “Come in, Thomas,” Leo said, still chuckling. “Miles was just telling me what Alex has been up to this morning.” He retold the conversation Miles had just shared with him after receiving a phone call from Pietro.
Thomas’s face creased with laughter. “Well! I never would’ve thought Alex had it in him.” He grinned. “Looks like you’ve picked a good one there, Leo. Will I be seeing a membership application from him crossing my desk any time soon?”
Leo smiled. “He’s looking through the contract and drawing up his limits as we speak.” Thomas nodded approvingly. “We’re meeting tomorrow night to finalize details.” At least Leo hoped that was what they’d be doing. Hopefully Alex hadn’t developed cold feet in the intervening time.
Miles sobered. “Actually, now you’re both here, there’s something I need to tell you.” Leo stared at him, caught immediately by his serious tone of voice. “Pietro didn’t ring me to tell me about Alex. That was just an added bonus. He rang to tell me about the person who sent Alex the pass for the club.”
Miles had Leo’s full attention. “Who was it?” he asked quietly.
“Dorian,” he replied, his expression clearly unhappy.
Leo let out a long, drawn-out sigh. Now that made sense. “Is he here today?” Dorian was a spoiled little rich kid who came from money. He spent most of his days at the club, with no need to work. Miles nodded. “Ask him to step in here, would you, please?” Miles got to his feet and left the office.
Thomas was eyeing Leo carefully. “You’re not going to do anything rash, are you?”
Leo gave him a tight smile. “What do you suggest I do with him?” Leo’s mind was in a whirl. That little shit. He could so easily have ruined everything, and all because he wanted Leo for himsel
f. “This infatuation has got to stop… now.”
Thomas smiled. “Why don’t you leave all the talking to Miles and me?” he suggested. “Just stand there, don’t smile, and leave everything to us.”
Leo took a calming breath. Actually, that sounded like a good idea. Because if he were honest, right now he didn’t trust himself to speak to Dorian without succumbing to the desire to beat the crap out of him.
Miles poked his head around the door. “I’ve got him out here.”
Thomas waved him in. “Leave him out there to stew in his own juices for a minute.” Miles nodded and entered the office, closing the door behind him. “You and I are going to deal with this.”
Miles looked intrigued. “Any ideas of a suitable punishment?”
Thomas grinned. “Yeah, actually I’ve got the perfect punishment for our little pain slut out there.”
Leo glared at both of them. “You’re letting him stay a member?”
Thomas gazed at him with affection. “Leo, I love you like a son, but you’re not exactly thinking clearly right now. Dorian did what he did because he wanted to be your sub, and this was his way of getting rid of the competition. It would’ve worked too. He had no way of knowing how deeply you already felt about Alex.” Leo caught his breath, and Thomas smiled, a knowing smile that lit up his face. “Yes, lad, it’s that obvious—well, to those who’ve known you for as long as I have.”
Leo couldn’t deny it: Alex had gotten under his skin, into his head, and definitely into his heart.
Thomas gave Leo a warning glance. “Remember, say nothing.”
Leo nodded, his jaw set. He walked to the window and leaned against the frame, facing into the room.
Thomas gestured toward the door, and Miles opened it. “Come in, please, Dorian.”
The slim young man made his way cautiously into the office, his eyes growing wide when he spied Leo.
“Dorian.” Thomas gestured toward the empty chair facing him. Dorian sat down, clearly nervous as Miles came around the desk to stand next to Leo, his arms folded. “We’d like to talk to you about the invitation you delivered to Alex Daniels.”
Dorian froze and then opened his mouth to speak, but Thomas interrupted him. “Please do us all the courtesy of not denying it, all right?” His glance was glacial.
Dorian swallowed, his eyes flicking constantly to Leo. He gave a faltering nod.
“Good, thank you for that. Now, as to the matter of your punishment….”
“P-punishment, Sir?” Dorian’s eyes were huge. “But… but….”
“Don’t push it, boy.” Miles’s face was hard. “Your action nearly resulted in the breakup of Master Leo and his submissive.”
Dorian’s eyes couldn’t get any larger. Leo’s face was impassive as he watched the sub start to tremble. “Su-submissive?”
Thomas nodded slowly. “Alex will shortly become a member of this club. Is that going to be a problem for you, Dorian? Because if it is, you’d better say so now, and we’ll terminate your membership forthwith.”
“It… it won’t be a problem, Sir.” Dorian looked in Leo’s direction, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, Master Leo. I didn’t realize… that is….”
“And that’s another thing,” said Thomas. “There will be no further requests from you concerning Master Leo. Is that completely understood?” His voice hardened. Leo admired his partner so much. He was the only man Leo knew who could make Doms quake in their boots.
Dorian nodded, his head bobbing energetically. “About… about my punishment, Sir,” he began timidly.
Thomas nodded. “You are banned from the group room for a period of one month.”
Talk about hitting Dorian where it would hurt. The sub virtually lived in the group room, often getting fucked by three or four Doms at a time. Leo bit back a smile. The man was a genius.
Dorian caught his breath, but clearly had the sense to say nothing. He lowered his head.
“That will be all, Dorian. You may go now.” Thomas waved his hand dismissively, and Dorian got up and went to the door, where he paused to glance back at Leo. There was an expression in his eyes that told Leo the boy was regretting his actions. Maybe there’d be no further episodes after all, and Leo could concentrate his attention on giving Alex what he needed—as long as Alex could meet the need growing steadily in him, the need to share his life with the boy on a more permanent basis.
LEO read down Alex’s list with interest. Alex perched on the sofa next to him, trying not to look at him. Embarrassed? Nervous? Leo couldn’t tell. He finished, and he was literally floored by Alex’s responses. The fun they were going to have, working through this list….
He smiled at Alex, trying to put him at his ease. “I’m proud of you, boy.” His words were simple but heartfelt, and he watched as they took effect. Alex was smiling broadly now, the tension across his shoulders and back easing before Leo’s eyes.
“It’s okay?” Alex asked, a slight edge of anxiety creeping into his voice.
“Oh, it’s much better than merely ‘okay’,” Leo said, putting the contract on the table. “There’s a lot of scope here for a great many scenes together.” Part of him rejoiced at that realization.
Alex finally sat back on the sofa with a relieved sigh, relaxing against the seat cushions.
Leo sensed he hadn’t been sure how the list would be received. “What specifically were you worried about me seeing on the list?” he inquired.
Alex shook his head, blushing. “It wasn’t any one activity particularly,” he acknowledged quietly. “It was more a case of how you’d… you’d look at me when you saw all the… the stuff I wanted to do.” That adorable blush deepened.
Leo was enchanted. “Alex, all this list tells me is that you’re being really honest about where you want us to go, and you’ve given me some very specific pointers to get us started. I, for one, always like to start a journey with a map to guide me. Your map is brilliant.”
There was no mistaking the glow about his boy. Alex looked so beautiful Leo’s heart ached. On the heels of Thomas’s observation a few days previously, Leo made a discovery of his own: he was well on the way to falling in love with his new submissive, and it didn’t scare him one little bit.
“How do we start?” Alex was eager. “I’ve thought of my safewords.”
Oh. “Tell me.”
Alex leaned forward, his face shining. “I thought, ‘pasta’ for when I want to stop something, and ‘Chianti’ to slow things down.” He regarded Leo intently. “What do you think?”
Leo chuckled. “Well, seeing as neither of them is something you’re likely to say in the middle of getting fucked, I’d say they’re perfect.”
Alex laughed. Leo reached out and touched his cheek lightly. He pulled Alex into his lap, wrapping his arms around him, and darted his tongue between soft lips. He let out a low moan as Alex deepened the kiss, eagerly moving against Leo, his hips rocking gently. Leo slipped his hand lower and cupped Alex’s burgeoning erection. Alex groaned, pushing his cock firmly against Leo’s hand, increasing the pressure, hips moving faster now, his breathing more rapid. Fuck, this boy got him so hot so fast.
Leo broke the kiss, leaned away from Alex, and reached under the cushion beside him for the item he’d hidden before leaving the apartment to pick up Alex. He pulled the object into view and watched as Alex’s eyes grew large and round, his lips parted.
“Like it, boy?” The collar was black leather, sturdy, and would be loose enough if Leo wanted to grab it while they fucked. It fastened at the back, secured with a lock, the key to which was already hanging about Leo’s neck. Alex was staring at the collar, unable to look away, and Leo knew with a fair degree of certainty what must have been going through his mind: this whole situation had just gotten very real….
Oh. My. God. Alex was looking at a collar. An honest-to-goodness BDSM collar. Which could only mean one thing….
Leo was staring at him fixedly, as if he were waiting for the penny to drop. It didn�
�t merely drop; it plummeted from a great height.
“What should I do?” Alex whispered, suddenly incredibly nervous now that they were really going to do this. He was greatly relieved when Leo put down the collar, took hold of his hands, and rubbed his thumbs in leisurely circles on the backs of his hands.
“Breathe, boy.” Leo took deep, cleansing breaths, and Alex mimicked him, breathing in time with him. He closed his eyes, focusing on the unhurried movements, their synchronized breathing. “That’s it. Good boy.” Leo’s voice brimmed with approval.
Calm restored, Alex opened his eyes slowly. Leo was regarding him with a slight smile.
“Better?”
Alex nodded, his eyes once more on the collar. He felt like such an idiot.
“And as for what you should do,” Leo continued, “once this collar is on, you will address me as Sir. Every time you speak to me. Is that understood?”
Alex nodded, unable to tear his gaze away from the collar.
“Do you remember what I expect from a submissive, boy?” Alex’s gaze flickered up to Leo’s face as he nodded. “Tell me, then.”
“To obey you, to accept your domination, to please you,” Alex whispered. He panicked as he remembered something, hastily adding, “Sir.”
Leo chuckled. “You’re okay, boy, you’re not wearing it yet.” He straightened, nudging Alex to slide from his lap.
Alex scrambled off and seated himself once more on the edge of the cushion, his eyes fixed on Leo, forcing himself to look away from the collar.
“Just remember: if you forget, I’ll have to punish you.”
“What would be my punishment?” Alex whispered, needing to know.
“I think one spank for each time you forget sounds about right.”
Alex caught his breath. Spanking. Even his parents had never spanked him as a child. And just for a second, Alex wondered how many spankings he might conceivably earn if he were very bad at remembering to call Leo “Sir.” Just as quickly, though, he dismissed the idea. Surely the aim was to earn Leo’s rewards, not his punishments… even though the idea of this particular “punishment” was making Alex so fucking hard right now.