“Have you got someone waiting for you, Mr. Lowenstein?” Landry asked his customer.
“No, son. I’ll be sending my daughter to pick up the box. I like to walk and you know my place isn’t far from here. Why do you ask?”
“Just a car idling out there. Must be for someone else. Ignore me.”
“I’ve decided on the oak. You want to ring me up?”
“Good choice. I prefer that one too—it’s such a warm, golden shade.” Landry walked Mr. Lowenstein to the register. “I can give you a ten percent discount as you’re such a great customer.”
“You’re a good boy. You always look after me.” He handed over his credit card. Landry hand wrote a receipt and recorded the sale in the ledger. “I’ll put a ‘sold’ label on it right away.”
“Rebecca will be in this weekend.”
“No problem.” Mr. Lowenstein slipped Landry a ten-dollar bill.
“You know, you don’t have to do that.”
“It’s my pleasure, young man. You provide good service and that’s a rarity in this day and age.”
“Well, thank you, I appreciate it.” Landry escorted Mr. Lowenstein to the door, using it as an opportunity to check if the car was still parked opposite the shop. He opened the door, setting the bells jangling. “Have a good evening.” The car was still there. There was an hour to go before Landry could close up and he was now alone in the store. He peered between the goods in the window to see if he could spot who might be in the car, but it was impossible and the light was fading fast. “I’m probably being paranoid,” he muttered, but when he got back to the cash desk he picked up his phone and dialed Gage’s number.
“Roskam.” Gage sounded impatient.
“Oh, hi, Gage… It’s Landry. I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you. I shouldn’t have called.”
“It’s fine,” Gage said, his tone softening. “It’s nice to hear your voice. How’s your day been?”
“Okay. Busy.”
“What’s wrong, Landry? You sound worried. Has that English idiot come back again?”
“No, I haven’t seen him, but there is something… Probably nothing. Now that I’ve called you, I feel stupid.”
“Tell me. Right now, Landry.”
“There’s a car parked outside, opposite the shop. It’s been there a while and it has its engine running. I’m pretty sure there’s someone inside it because I think I saw the glow of a cigarette. I haven’t been able to watch it the whole time because I’ve been dealing with customers and I don’t know how long it had been there before I spotted it, but it seems a bit odd. People who park on the street tend to get out and go into the local businesses. They don’t just sit there, not for so long anyway.”
“Can you see the plates?”
“Not from here. I could if I go around to the side gate, but the shop’s still open and I can’t leave it.”
“Give me five minutes, I’ll get some uniforms to drive by. They can get the plates and make it obvious that they’re checking the vehicle out.”
“Really? I don’t want to get you into trouble for doing something you shouldn’t.”
“You’re reporting a suspicious vehicle and that’s perfectly legitimate. There will be a patrol in the area and it won’t take them a moment to have a look. I need to get off the phone to sort this out, okay?”
“Sure. Thanks, Gage. I hope I’m not wasting anyone’s time.”
“You’re not. And I will be by later.”
Landry hovered behind the cash desk, not sure whether to stay where he was or take another look out of the window. He edged down the center aisle but before he got to the door, a Seattle PD patrol car cruised past. It stopped and two officers got out. They started across the street, hands on their holsters, but before they reached the strange car it peeled away, narrowly missing them. Landry gasped and flung open the door.
“Are you guys okay?”
One of the cops was talking into his radio while the other came toward Landry. “Are you the one that called this in?”
Landry nodded. “I wasn’t sure…”
“Seems like you were right to be concerned. We’ll run the plates and report back to Detective Roskam. I suggest you go inside, sir. Leave this to us.”
Both cops got into their vehicle then did a U-turn and sped off in the same direction as the mysterious car. Landry shivered and flicked the catch on the shop door. If any more customers came, he would hear them.
Chapter Ten
“Thank you for texting that you were on your way. I’m still a bit spooked. Hearing somebody coming into the apartment would have given me a heart attack.” Landry sat cross-legged on his bed watching Gage unpack his overnight bag.
“I’m sorry I’m so late. When we ran the plates on the car, it came back as stolen, so I got hold of the CCTV footage for part of the route. We got a nice clear image of the driver and passenger in the car when they pulled up at a stop light. It didn’t take long to get a match on their pictures.”
“So who were they?” Landry asked the question, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.
“Bōryokudan. More commonly known as Yakuza.”
“That’s the Japanese mafia, isn’t it?”
“Organized crime syndicate, yes. The two men we identified are low=level members of a group known to be operating in Seattle. Hired muscle.”
“So was it just a coincidence that they were parked on the street here? Having a coffee break maybe?” Landry asked hopefully.
“I doubt it, but we’re unlikely to find them I’m afraid. False plates on the car…they’ll be long gone. There was too much traffic to warrant a high-speed chase. The question is, why were they watching you?”
“I have no idea. They could have been watching another business, couldn’t they? Do you think it’s something to do with the case you’re working on?”
“Well, I don’t believe in coincidences but it’s too late to do anything more about it today.” Gage stretched, yawned. “I have to be up early and so do you.”
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sleep.”
Gage took off his pullover, mussing his hair as he did. “Oh, I can think of a few ways to wear you out. And besides, I owe you a punishment from this morning. The kind of teasing you engaged in demands the stiffest of penalties. By rights, I should lock you in chastity for at least a week.”
Landry gaped. “You wouldn’t.” Though stiff penalties sound kinda good.
“Of course I would, but you’re in luck because I didn’t bring the cage with me.”
Landry let out the breath he’d been holding. “That’s…fortunate.”
“Bad planning on my part, but I brought something else instead.” Gage dumped a tangle of leather and chains on the bed. “Take your clothes off, Landry.”
Swallowing, Landry tried to work out what Gage was planning. His cock, already half hard just from watching Gage remove his sweater, stiffened further. He clambered off the bed then undressed, folding his clothes as he went. His skimpy Batman underwear was doing little to contain his erection.
“Stop.” Gage, still wearing his T-shirt and jeans, stalked around the bed. He patted Landry’s ass. “Are you ready for me?”
“Yes, Sir.” Hanging around waiting for Gage to turn up had given Landry plenty of time to prepare.
“Good boy.” Gage slid a hand under the silky fabric of Landry’s briefs to squeeze his backside. “You weren’t good this morning, were you? Deliberately flouting my rules has to be addressed. After I’d left, did you come?”
Landry nodded, his face heating. “I couldn’t help it.”
“Sir.”
“I couldn’t help it, Sir. I was frustrated because you had to leave.”
“So you’re saying it was my fault that you touched yourself, blatantly, in front of me?”
“Yes?” Landry attempted to look innocent.
“Spare me, you little brat. You knew exactly what you were doing and you were enjoying it.”<
br />
Gage picked up the leather and chain spaghetti from the bed. With a bit of deft untangling, he freed a leather belt with two wide wrist cuffs attached to it by short lengths of chain. He fastened the belt around Landry’s waist, cinching it tight, then he buckled one of Landry’s wrists into each of the cuffs. Landry found that he could only move his hands a couple of inches in either direction. There was no way he could reach anything interesting. Nor could he undo the cuffs or the belt.
“Very nice. Now, I want you to lie on the bed and spread your legs apart.”
It was awkward, but Landry found that by using his elbows and wiggling his butt, he could get into position. Gage adjusted the pillows so that Landry’s head was supported. “Have you ever been edged?”
“No.” Landry gulped.
“Then I shall enjoy showing you how it works,” Gage said. He stripped to his underwear—navy-blue boxer briefs that Landry really, really wanted to investigate.
“I know what it is,” Landry said, trying not to sound desperate.
“I’m sure you do.”
“Then shouldn’t we discuss it?”
“This relationship is not a democracy. Spread your legs a little wider.”
“It isn’t?”
“I’d say it’s more of a benevolent dictatorship.”
“Not so benevolent from where I’m lying,” Landry muttered. His balls ached and his dick seemed to be in accord with the whole dictatorship thing.
“You have a safe word, Landry. Nice choice of underwear, by the way.”
“Stop smiling. They’re comfortable and fun. There’s nothing wrong with that and, besides, Batman is a stud.”
“The positioning of the bat. That’s…interesting.” Gage yanked Landry’s underwear down so that the elastic waistband wedged beneath his balls.
“Oh!”
“Where’s your lube?”
“Nightstand drawer.”
Gage pulled the drawer open. He produced the dispenser of lube and then Landry’s favorite dildo. “Interesting.”
Landry’s face heated. “A boy has to be able to entertain himself.”
“Not anymore, you don’t.” Gage slathered the toy with lube. “Pull your knees up.” When Landry’s knees were somewhere near his ears, Gage pressed the end of the sizeable rubber dildo to Landry’s hole. “Deep breaths.” He applied steady pressure and Landry’s eager body swallowed the toy with little more than a slight burn. Gage pushed it in and out a few times, making Landry squeal. “Okay, legs down. That’ll give you something to think about other than your dick.”
Landry clenched his inner muscles, working the toy hard. “Feels so good… Need to come.”
“Not gonna happen any time soon.” Gage pumped some lube into his palm then rubbed his hands together. He wrapped his fingers around Landry’s straining cock before giving it a couple of tugs.
“Fuck, fuck, fuckety fuck.” Landry squeezed his eyes shut. He was so close to coming it hurt but then Gage released him. Landry’s dick bounced, almost hitting his belly. When he opened his eyes, he found Gage standing next to the bed, fisting his own hard shaft.
“Not fair!” Landry couldn’t even see properly because Gage still wore his briefs.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be your turn again in a few minutes.”
Landry groaned. “How long are you going to keep this up?”
“Sir.”
“Sir. How long are you going to keep this up, Sir?”
“Well, that depends on how contrite you are for what you did this morning. I don’t recall an apology.” He slapped Landry’s dick. “And you still won’t get to come.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Well, you don’t sound too sure about that, sweetheart.” Gage switched his focus to Landry’s cock. This time he ran his thumb over the tip, pressing his nail into the sensitive slit. Landry jerked his hips, raising most of his body off the bed. Gage immediately let go of him.
“Aargh! You bastard… Sir.”
“You might want to consider being a little more polite. I can keep this up all night.” He slapped Landry’s dick again.
“I’m sorry!” Landry wailed. “I promise I won’t do it again.”
This time Gage squeezed and stroked Landry’s shaft for a full five minutes, never hard or fast enough to allow him to come. Landry tried to stay quiet in an attempt not to betray how close he was to orgasm but Gage gave him a knowing smile then released him once more.
“No!” Landry drummed his heels on the bed.
“Good subs don’t have tantrums.” Gage, who had slipped his hand inside his underwear once more, glared. He stripped off his shorts before climbing onto the bed where he knelt across Landry’s thighs. He flicked Landry’s cock with his finger, hard enough to sting, then did it again and again.
Landry yelped. “That hurts!”
“It’s supposed to.” Gage reached for Landry’s balls, letting them settle on his palm before squeezing, applying steady pressure.
Landry didn’t dare move or complain. The slight hurt made him want to come even more. He worked the plug in his ass with desperation.
“You look like you might be able to come without me helping you along,” Gage said. “We can’t have that.”
He shifted his position so that he knelt inside Landry’s spread legs then hoisted Landry’s calves onto his shoulders, bending him back. He removed the dildo with care. Landry ached to be filled again.
“Please… Need you in me, Sir.” Landry tugged at the cuffs attached to the waist belt.
Gage moved so that the tip of his cock teased Landry’s entrance. He paused to glove his shaft before slicking it with more lube.
“Please! I’ll do anything…”
“Anything, huh?” Gage drew circles on Landry’s belly, leaving a glistening pattern of lube.
“Sir!”
Gage pushed forward so that just the tip of his cock entered Landry’s body. “So hot.” Gage moved far too slowly for Landry’s liking, but there was nothing he could do but pray that Gage would give him what he needed. Gage thrust once, sliding deep, nudging Landry’s prostate. Then he stilled.
“No, no, no.” Landry muttered a selection of expletives under his breath.
“Such a dirty mouth. Perhaps we should stop while I gag you.”
Landry clamped his lips shut, shaking his head frantically.
Gage chuckled. “You’re enjoying yourself far too much.”
Landry pouted.
In response, Gage jacked his hips without warning. He pistoned in and out of Landry’s channel, harder and harder. Desperate to come, Landry sobbed his frustration. Gage reached between their bodies to grasp Landry’s cock. One sharp tug was all it took. Landry’s vision blanked and he came hard, screaming through his release, body jerking. Gage grabbed Landry’s hips, holding him in place while he thrust into him a few more times. Muscles cording, he came, lips slightly parted, eyes shining. Landry had just enough awareness to know that he wanted to be responsible for putting that expression on Gage’s face again and again.
Gage pulled free then leaned forward for a long, slow kiss. “Let me get rid of the condom then I’ll be back.”
Landry lay there, limp as a noodle, with a huge smile on his face. When Gage returned, he removed the cuffs and belt, dropping them down the side of the bed. He cleaned Landry up a little with some wipes, nudged him to one side then lay next to him, pulling the covers over them both.
“Just because your hands are free doesn’t mean you’re allowed to touch.”
Landry snuggled close, soaking up Gage’s warmth. “Yes, Sir. I mean no, Sir. I mean… I don’t know, you’ve turned my brain to Jell-O. Strawberry flavor, because that’s my favorite.”
“Your mind is a fascinating place,” Gage murmured. “I hope you have sweet dreams.”
Landry closed his eyes. “They can’t fail to be the best dreams ever.”
* * * *
Landry started work the next day with a spring in his step. He
was tired, but it was a good kind of tired and he couldn’t seem to get the smile off his face. Gage had left early, but not before mutually satisfying blow jobs. It was almost better than coffee. Almost. The day kept improving because Prisha, Landry’s friend from the Eastern Emporium across the street, had shown up mid-morning with two take-out cups of latte and a bag of freshly made samosas. Landry had eaten three and caught Prisha up on all his latest news, including a few unsubtle hints about Gage and details of his adventure with the Yakuza.
Not that it was that much of an adventure, really. I’ll bet Gage has more excitement in five minutes than I get most days.
It was a dull day that started dry but developed into something wet and miserable in the afternoon. The rain began around four, darkening the sky enough that Landry had to turn on extra lamps in the store. By five the monsoon showed no signs of abating. Landry hadn’t seen a customer in an hour and the street was deserted when he peered out of the window. He didn’t mind. He’d had a good morning for sales—enough to make target and then some and, despite frequent paranoid glances outside, no strange cars had parked anywhere close. Gage had texted twice, using strings of strange emojis that Landry guessed the detective didn’t understand.
Landry took advantage of the quiet spell to empty the jewelry cabinet and give it a good clean. He was a bit of a magpie and loved trying on the rings and bracelets. The most expensive item, an antique gold and diamond ring, was priced at over a thousand dollars, but it wasn’t his favorite. That honor fell to a more modern ring, a flat silver band designed for a man that had a narrow strip of inlaid mother-of-pearl. It fitted Landry’s middle finger perfectly, but he couldn’t afford it and it would take years to save up enough money to buy it. Still, when he put everything back into the newly polished cabinet, he made sure to hide it at the back, where only the most curious of customers might spot it.
The Lucky Cat Page 10