by Bailey Bradford, Ethan Stone, T. A. Chase, Sean Michael, L. M. Somerton, Morticia Knight
“Oh, fuck,” I moaned when I felt the need rising. “I’m gonna come.”
Javi arched his hips up to take me deeper and the orgasm rushed through my body. It seemed as if electricity traveled through every part of me and I cried out as I emptied into the condom.
Javi jacked himself and shot a large load onto his stomach. Exhaustion washed over me as I rolled off him and lay next to him. I peeled off the condom and tossed it on the floor.
“Thanks, Romeo,” I mumbled.
“Thank you, Champ. That was awesome.”
He snuggled up against me and everything was perfect in that moment.
* * * *
“Wake the fuck up!”
My transition from comforting sleep to wide awake was fast and startling. I sat straight up and stared right into the red eyes of Officer Kirchen. Officer Edgewater stood a few feet away holding onto Javi, who was still naked.
“I’m sorry,” Javi murmured. “I was downstairs using the bathroom when they came in.”
“How did you get in?” I asked.
Kirchen chuckled. “Called the alarm company and said we were doing an inspection and not to worry when they got the signal.”
“We won’t be interrupted,” Edgewater snarled.
“My father is rich.” I hated the idea of begging for my life but didn’t see an alternative. “He’ll pay you to return me to him. Alive, Javi and I are worth a lot. Dead, we’re worthless.”
Kirchen and Edgewater eyed each other.
“It’s true,” Javi said. “He told me he’d pay me whatever I wanted if I kept Adam alive.”
“We’d still lose our jobs,” Kirchen said.
“Who gives a fuck about your job?” Javi asked. “With all that money you could disappear and do whatever you want.”
“Shut up.” Edgewater slapped the side of his head.
Kirchen grabbed me and yanked me out of the bed. “Let’s tie them up in the bondage room ‘til we can figure this out.”
It dawned on me that he had to have been here before to know about the bondage room.
I winced as Kirchen wrenched my arm behind my back.
“I’m surprised a rich boy like you would sleep with a worthless piece of shit like Campos. Felt like slumming, huh?” Kirchen tightened the hold.
“You just wish you could be half the man Javi is.”
Kirchen shoved me to the wall and pushed against me. “I ain’t no fucking hustler selling my ass on the street.”
“No, but you’re a dirty cop and that’s worse in my eyes.” I snarled.
They walked us down the stairs and into the BDSM area. Javi was forced face down on the leather table and had his hands cuffed to the table legs.
Kirchen put me on the St. Andrew’s Cross, tying my hands and feet securely.
“Stay here like the bitches you are while we discuss what we’re going to do.” Kirchen growled.
They chuckled as they left the room.
“You okay, Adam?” Javi asked.
“As good as I can be.” I wiggled to see how tight the straps were—there wasn’t much give.
“I’m sorry about this, Champ. It’s my fault they found us.” He turned his head and we made eye contact.
“Don’t blame yourself, Romeo. We’re not dead, yet. I’m not giving up. You shouldn’t either.”
“I never said I was giving up,” Javi said.
There was a cracking noise and Javi raised his right hand. A second crunching noise followed and he lifted his left arm.
“How did you do that?”
“Remember me telling you I could dislocate my thumbs?” Javi snapped them back in place. “Painful, but gets the job done.”
He untied my restraints and I stepped free. We embraced and kissed for a moment.
“Any ideas of what to do?” Javi asked. “I could get us out of the club but we’d be naked with nowhere to go. We’d be caught again right away.”
“Can we take them by surprise?” I asked. “Pretend to still be tied down? There’s some leg restraints in the hole in the wall. I could use those somehow.”
“Can you handle one of them in a fight? Remember, they have guns.”
“I think so.” I paused. “I’m sure of it. I can do it.”
Javi kissed me. “I believe in you.”
I grabbed the leg restraints and got back in position on the cross, holding the cuffs so it wasn’t obvious. Javi got back on the table with his arms stretched down the legs.
Kirchen and Edgewater returned a few minutes later, which was long enough for me to muster up every ounce of courage and bravado I had. They stood between me and Javi.
“As much as we appreciate the offer for the money,” Kirchen said to me, “we just don’t trust you enough to not come after us anyway.”
“Stupid bastards,” Javi snapped and they turned to him, taking their focus off me.
I stepped off the cross, took the chain in both hands, wrapped it around Edgewater’s throat like a garrote and pulled him back so he was off balance.
“What the fuck?”
Kirchen grabbed for his gun but Javi sat up and threw an uppercut, taking Kirchen by surprise and knocking him on his ass.
Javi leaped on the cop, knocked the gun out of his hand then proceeded to throw a barrage of punches. Kirchen tried to fight back, but the continual blows to his face and head were too much.
Edgewater struggled but was unable to get a good footing and quickly passed out. I snatched the pistol from his holster and aimed it at Kirchen.
“Javi!” I yelled. “Enough.”
Javi stopped and climbed off Kirchen, whose face was bloody and swollen. Javi yanked the cop to his feet and made him sit in the sex swing and lie back. Using Kirchen’s own cuffs and some leather straps, Javi secured Kirchen’s arms and legs to the chains of the swing. The cop looked like a sex pig ready to get gang-banged.
We then secured Edgewater to the cross and left the room.
“We did it!” I hugged Javi and swung him around. “You were awesome.”
“You were incredible, Adam. I am very impressed.”
We high fived.
“We make a great team, don’t we?” I bumped his shoulder with mine.
“Yes, we do.”
“It doesn’t have to end, you know.” I wasn’t thinking through what I was saying. I was speaking without much thought.
“What do you mean?”
“You can come back to Portland with me,” I said. “You can live with me. My dad can find you a job. You don’t have to live like this anymore.”
He smiled sadly. “You’re sweet, Adam, but it wouldn’t work. Our lives are so different I don’t think they’d mix.”
“What kind of life are you living, Javi?” I grabbed his hand and squeezed.
“It’s been fine for years. I’m still alive.”
“You’ve been lucky. Lucky that you’ve had enough food and a place to sleep most of the time. Lucky some crazy guy hasn’t picked you up and raped or killed you. I’m offering an opportunity. We don’t have to be together, though I’d like it if we were, but that’s not what this is about.”
He lowered his eyes. “Thank you, but…”
“Don’t answer just yet,” I said. “Think about it.”
“Okay,” he murmured. “I’ll think about it.”
Javi and I pushed a couch and chairs up against the bondage room door so we could stay close. We slept in shifts just in case and waited for my dad to arrive. The room was soundproofed so if the cops woke up and began making noise no one, including me and Javi, would hear them.
At noon the next day, I was napping when Javi woke me up.
“Your phone is ringing.”
“Dad?”
“Adam, I’m just outside the club.”
I ran to the door, unlocked it then threw it open. I’d never been so glad to see my father. Barry was also there. I embraced them both.
“Barry,” I said. “I am so sorry about Dean.”
&nb
sp; “You have nothing to apologize for, Adam.”
Javi approached us warily, as if he were afraid of my father. “Dad, this is Javi. He saved my life.”
Dad was a big man, taller than me and very muscular. He could be very imposing and Javi stepped back a little when Dad approached him.
“Thank you, Mr Campos.” My father gripped Javi’s shoulders then hugged him.
Javi stood there like a rag doll for a moment before returning the embrace.
* * * *
Three days later, Dad and I were on a private plane headed back home to Portland. Barry had resolved all the legal issues. I’d been taken in for questioning and had told the authorities my version of events.
Kirchen’s and Edgewater’s stories had been very different and originally I hadn’t been believed. However, when asked why they’d come to the club and tied us up instead of arresting us, their story had fallen apart. Turned out they weren’t such good buddies after all. Edgewater had been the first to make a deal and Kirchen had quickly confessed.
Javi had stayed with us at the Bellagio while everything was straightened out. As much as I wanted him to come with us, I hadn’t asked him again. We’d said goodbye at the hotel and I doubted I’d ever see him again.
“I’m sorry Javi didn’t come, son,” Dad said as we buckled up and prepared for takeoff.
I nodded, trying to hold back the tears.
The pilot’s voice came over the speakers. “We have a slight delay, Mr Brand. Last-minute change.”
Damn it, I just wanted to get out of there and try to put it all behind me, including Javi.
I was surprised when the plane door opened and Javi appeared sporting a huge grin.
“Hey, Champ,” he said.
“Romeo!” I unbuckled, ran to him then kissed him. “You’re coming with us?”
“I don’t know if it’ll work, but for now I’d like to try.”
“What changed your mind?”
He glanced at my father. “Your dad talked to me. He said he would find me a job. I won’t be a kept man and I still think you deserve better, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It’ll work.” I kissed Javi. “I’m sure of it.” He didn’t seem positive but I was sure enough for the both of us. “Come and sit down, we’re going home.”
About the Author
Ethan Stone has recently returned to Oregon and is working on re-growing his web feet. He has been obsessed with two things in his life: books and all things gay. After spending years trying to ignore the voices in his head, he finally decided to sit down and listen to them.
What he discovered was a perfect union of his two obsessions. Ethan used to have a day job that paid the bills. He wore a uniform to work and he looked damn sexy in it. Now he gets to wear sweatpants and watch movies all day.
Email: [email protected]
Ethan loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Ethan Stone
Uniformity: Compromised
Uniformity: Damaged
Uniformity: Recruited
MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB
T.A. Chase
Dedication
Everyone has mountains that need to be scaled—literally and figuratively. This is for those who face those mountains with courage and grace.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:
Audi S5: Audi AG
Chapter One
Stepping in the bar was almost like getting hit by a car from the noise. Not that Toby Schwartzel had ever been struck by any kind of moving vehicle. He didn’t think a bicycle counted. He paused in the entrance to give himself a chance to adjust to the sound level and to scan the crowd, searching for any of the guys from the firm.
“Hey, Toby. We’re over here,” Simpson called from one of the back corners.
After acknowledging him with a wave, Toby wound his way to the bar where he ordered one of his favorite microbrews. While he waited for the bartender to pour it, he glanced around, checking out the possible hook-ups. It was Friday night and Toby didn’t have to work during the weekend, so he was looking for a little fun.
“Here you go, Toby.” Gray slid his mug across the wooden surface.
“Thanks, Gray. This is for you.” He slipped a five-dollar bill in the tip jar before taking a sip.
“I see your friend finally dragged himself out from whatever rock he’d been hiding under.” Gray jerked his head over toward the corner where Toby’s gang hung out.
“What friend?” He frowned as he tried to figure out whom Gray was talking about. All his friends were accounted for. Well, that he knew of anyway. He’d been so busy working on closing a big deal for a client during the last three months that he lost touch with a few of them that he didn’t see all the time at the office.
“Brockhoff. Saw him come in with Simpson.”
Someone yelled for Gray at the other end of the bar, so he shot Toby a quick smile before walking away.
Toby was frozen to the floor. What the fuck is Jensen Brockhoff doing back in town? Why the fuck hasn’t he called me in six years? The bastard couldn’t be bothered to tell me he was leaving. All I got was some ridiculous email about needing to get clean. Now he didn’t worry about letting me know he’s back. I should just leave.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out to see he had a text from Simpson.
Get your ass back here, fuckhead.
He should’ve known Simpson wasn’t going to let him leave.
I think I’m heading home.
Sighing, he pouted as he sent that reply. He’d been eager to relax, drink and take some stranger home to fuck him into his mattress. It’d been a while since he’d had sex with someone else. Lately, it had been his hand and his dildo.
Fuck no! Brockhoff isn’t here to see any of us. He wants you.
There was a winking smiley face at the end of Simpson’s text.
Toby rolled his eyes, still not convinced it was the best idea for him to go over there. He wasn’t sure he could control his need to punch Jensen in the mouth for leaving like that. Get a fucking grip! It’s not like you were partners or anything. Just friends with benefits. It wasn’t like he owed you anything. Yet he did think that Jensen at least owed him the respect of telling him that he was leaving town, instead of just disappearing. Maybe he shouldn’t feel so bad since Jensen hadn’t informed anyone else either.
Tough. You deal with him, Simpson. I’m going home. I’ll see you in the morning.
He finished his beer then set the mug on the bar, turning to push his way through the growing crowd to get to the door. Just as he was about to make his escape, Simpson stepped in front of him.
“Don’t be a fucking coward, Toby. Go back there and face that ass.”
Toby shook his head. “I have nothing to say to him. It’s not like we were in a relationship or anything, Simpson. We were just fuck buddies.”
“Bullshit. I know you thought you were more than that to Jensen. Hell, I was just a drinking buddy of his and I was pissed when he bugged out like that. All he sent you was some idiotic little email that explained nothing. I poured your ass into bed when you drank yourself stupid for almost an entire week after he disappeared.” Simpson grabbed Toby’s arm. “I’m not going to let you run away from him. Don’t let him take this away from you.”
“I don’t want to face him. I don’t have anything to prove to Jensen or you for that matter, asshole.” Toby poked Simpson in the chest as he took a step toward him. “I’m frigging embarrassed that I reacted that way. We never made any promises to each other.”
“Then why are you running from him? Go back there. Have a good time. Pick up some guy and take him home. Prove to Brockhoff you don’t give a flying fuck about him or what he did.” Simpson took a hold of Toby’s wrist before draggi
ng him off to where the rest of their friends were standing or sitting.
As much as Toby didn’t want to go, he also didn’t want to cause a scene. He wasn’t interested in having everyone stare at him while he pitched a fit about not going anywhere with Simpson.
“I hate you,” he muttered at Simpson.
“Whatever, asshole. Suck it up and prove you’re over him,” Simpson whispered in his ear then nodded in the direction of Jensen.
That was the thing. Toby wasn’t sure he would ever be over Jensen Brockhoff. Toby reluctantly turned to face Jensen and seeing him for the first time in six years, his mouth dropped open. Jensen’s smile held a hint of hesitation as he met Toby’s gaze.
“What the hell happened to you?” Toby couldn’t help asking.
“Fell off the side of a mountain,” Jensen answered before easing to his feet then limped over to where Toby stood. “It’s great to see you again, Toby.”
Jensen was about to hug him and Toby shook his head. Toby took a step back, staring at his ex-lover the entire time. Jensen’s light brown hair was caught back at the nape of his neck, so his face was exposed to the light. Jensen had a black eye, a split lip, and a bruise on his right cheek. He also wore a brace on his right wrist and Toby had already noticed the limp.
“You look like shit, man,” Toby commented, trying hard to ignore just how much he wanted Jensen to wrap his arms around him. But he couldn’t accept that anymore. Friends didn’t hug like that, even friends who used to be lovers.
Jensen chuckled. “Well that’s what happens when your first belay holding your rope malfunctions and you drop thirty feet before the second one can take up the slack. Unfortunately, it wasn’t soon enough and I hit the side of the mountain. Busted up my face, my wrist, a couple ribs and twisted the shit out of my ankle.”