“So am I to be locked away like the mad man in the attic then? Only let out at dark of night?”
He turned so fast Logan nearly walked into him. “You see? It’s started already. No, you fucking idiot. Listen, the clients choose—where, when, how. Not us. Never us, however much we want to. They are paying for the privilege of opening up their deepest fears and desires. Who are we to bugger it up for them? Christ, Logan, you’re going to have to come to terms with all this, or our relationship won’t work. And if you can’t cope, fuck off now before I get in any deeper.” He turned his back again, not wanting Logan to see the tears in his eyes, unable to wipe them away. He was enfolded in a pair of firm male arms and felt tears on his neck.
“Oh, Cal. I’m so sorry. I know it’ll be hard for both of us,” Logan said despairingly. “I will try; I promise. Keep shooting me down like you did then every time I’m a prick, and it will all be fine. Make sure you keep reminding me, because I want you to be my life. And if there are bits of your life I can’t share, then all I can see is how lucky I am to have the rest of it. Now, feed the beast, or I won’t have the strength to look after you later.”
Caleb sniffed very inelegantly. He sensed Logan finding himself a tissue and blowing his nose.
Caleb spoke softly. “Remind me to show you our roof garden later, for our eyes only.”
“Well, yee ha. I can sit up there and plot your next loving, then.” Logan injected an upbeat, albeit watery, note into his voice.
Oh, thank you, my love, I hope that strength of understanding gets us through the days, weeks, years ahead.
Chapter Nine
They hadn’t long finished Doris’s superb apple pie before an intercom rang. Rising from the table, Caleb went to it and spoke into the mouthpiece. Only then did Logan realize it was set so only the person speaking into it could hear what was said at the other end.
“Right, that’s fine; I’m opening the gates for you. Park out front, and I’ll be at the door to greet you. Good.” He turned back to Logan and gave him a swift, hard kiss so full of promise it had Doris sighing into her teacup. Logan returned the kiss every bit as lovingly.
“I’ve got to go. Can you find your way upstairs? Or Doris will show you our private entrance down here, and our garden. Just ours.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Course he will.” Doris spoke briskly, as if to hide her emotion. “I’ll show him where the dishwasher is as well. And I guess the fridge.”
Both men smiled as Caleb left the room. She turned to Logan, handing him a cup of tea and a tissue.
“He’s a good man, you know. If you can cope with this vocation of his, you’ll be the best thing that ever happened to him. I’ll be here with a shoulder if you need it. Show me when you can’t manage, not him. Never him. But I can tell you you’ll need a good inner strength to survive. It’ll be hard.”
“I know.” After blowing his nose, Logan spoke, voice somber. “Doris, I’m going to have to deal with it. Because he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She gave him a hug. “He’s the lucky one, I think.”
Surprise and pleasure on his face, he returned it.
“My brother and I are very touchy feely. Well, you know he is; now you know I am too.”
“Your brother?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
“Didn’t he tell you? Typical, just kept up the Doris the wannabe Dominatrix, I bet. The bugger loves to torment me; he has done since we were kids. Mind you, I can give back as good as I get. Ask him about the request he got to give a talk—and no, I’m not telling; ask him. We’re so different no one ever guesses we’re related. Yes, Caleb is my big brother.”
He began to laugh. After a moment, Doris joined in, tears streaming down their faces for the best of reasons: mirth.
“Gah, I needed that,” he said when they finally stopped laughing. “And to be honest, he did tell me you were his sister, but not to let you know. But I couldn’t keep it to myself, so now it’s you who mustn’t let on you know I know.”
“Mmm okay, our secret. Look, I’m just warning you,” she said soberly. “You’ll probably need that sense of humor you’ve got more often than not. But like I said, I’m here for both of you. Now, I’m sure you want to know where the dishwasher is.”
“Not really, but I really would like to know where the fridge is!”
***
The first thing Caleb heard when he finally entered the flat a couple of hours later was the soft sounds of someone playing guitar. He stood entranced, listening to the melody as it rose and fell, its sweet notes speaking of love and emotion.
Logan looked up as he entered the room.
“Hope you don’t mind.” He gestured to the guitar in his hands. “I saw it on its stand and couldn’t resist; it’s a lovely instrument.”
Moving fully into the room, Caleb bent his head for a kiss. “You’re welcome to it; I never got past two notes, and while that might be good enough for status quo, it never worked for me. The music’s amazing. What is it called?”
“A thank you to my lover for the pleasure he brings to my life. You like it?” He saw the flare of passion in Caleb’s eyes as he realized the meaning of the title.
“Perfect, bloody perfect. God, Logan, we must make this work. We bloody must.”
Logan’s smile was somber. “Yes, I know. Oh, Doris gave me a casserole for us to eat up here. She said to tell you she was going to her Dominatrix meeting.”
Caleb laughed. “Dominatrix meeting. More like a witch’s coven. The local branch or whatever you call it of the SWRI—Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes. They make jam and have speakers about loads of stuff. When we set the school up, someone asked D what I did for a living. She told them I was a sex therapist. So bugger me if they didn’t ask if I wanted to speak about my job at one of their meetings.” He rolled his eyes, inviting Logan to share the idea of him standing in front of a room of women of all ages, discussing his work.
Logan sputtered. “What the hell did you say?”
“I declined gracefully and threatened Doris I’d spread about that she was a Dominatrix in the making.”
“And what did your sister say to that? Thanks for the brotherly love?”
“So she told you, did she? Nah, she just said she wished.”
It must be good to have a relationship with a sibling like that. Logan realized that was something he hadn’t experienced in a long while. His sister was busy, happily fulfilled in her marriage, living thousands of miles away, and obviously embarrassed to be around him after her great tell-all session. As for his elder brother, all they had in common was sibling rivalry.
Logan changed the subject. “So, food?” He watched Caleb run his hand over his hair, the action tightening his T-shirt over his body and sending that now-familiar zing to his groin. Oh ho, let’s eat first, I need to get my strength up.
“Yeah, sounds good. Wine?” Caleb took a bottle out of the fridge.
He nodded. “Yes, please.” A thought struck him. “Can you drink, I mean if there are clients in?”
Caleb laughed. “I don’t think a glass of wine will make me unable to perform.”
Logan leered. “Oh, good.”
“Food, man; I’m hungry for that first.”
“Bugger.”
As before at the cottage, they sat side by side while they ate. Neither said very much, but the silence was pleasurable, companionable.
“D said to leave the plates and stuff, and she’d run them through the dishwasher in the morning.” Logan stood up. “But I’ll rinse them. You go and sit in the lounge.”
Caleb nodded. “Cheers, don’t be long.”
“No chance; don’t start without me.”
Smiling a slow sultry smile that sent promises of all things sexual, Caleb spoke huskily, “No chance of that, either.”
Logan watched as Caleb sank wearily into the soft cushions of the settee.
“You look knackered,” he said as he sat down next to
him a few moments later. “Tough time?”
Caleb nodded. “Physically knackered? No.” Well not yet anyway. “Mentally? Yeah, it’s going to be a tough few days, I think. Oh, that is bloody good.” He rolled his head as Logan moved behind the settee and started to massage his shoulders. “Mmm. There are lots of other bits that could do with a massage. You don’t need to stop there.”
“Slave driver. Let’s go to bed then, and you can tell me where it hurts.” He pulled Caleb to his feet and walked into the bedroom. Earlier, he had turned the covers back, leaving soft music filling the air, determined he would welcome Caleb with warmth and a relaxing, sensual atmosphere. The sheer drapes at the window fluttered gently. The scent of incense surrounded them. Definitely set for seduction. He hoped anxiously Caleb would like it.
“Fucking marvelous. And so are you. Take me. I’m yours.” Caleb fell onto the bed, facedown.
“Lazy sod, get those jeans off and move your butt. That cock of yours is twitching to get into my ass, so don’t you dare deny it its pleasure.” He watched the deep, sexy smile that appeared on Caleb’s face. Noticed the speed at which he stood up and got undressed.
“Come on, slacker,” he was told, “How can I give my cock its pleasure when you’ve still got those boardies on?”
So it’s not going to be needed elsewhere tonight, then? Logan realized just how happy that made him feel. He moved. Kicked off his shorts and stood chest to chest with Caleb.
“I’m here. I’m yours. So?”
“So.” His legs were swept from under him, and they bounced onto the bed. He saw Caleb reach into the drawer, and saw him holding a condom and gel. “Next?”
“Don’t know how long I can hold out here, Logan. I’m horny as hell.”
“Mmm, I can see that. Well, look at me. Am I any better? Get on with it, for fuck’s sake.”
“Turn over and get up on all fours.”
He heard the command in Caleb’s voice. Oh ho, Dom tonight, was it? “Yes, master.” There was a laugh in his voice. He was too hot and horny to be offended or take Caleb’s instructions too seriously. But he hurried to do as he was bidden.
“Good.” There was a short sharp sting on his butt, and then the lubricating gel around his ass as Caleb slowly inserted one and then two fingers into him.
“Touch yourself; get that cock nice and hard. I’m going to fuck your ass oh so good. You’re so ready.”
He welcomed the gentle probe as Caleb’s condom-covered cock began its subtle movement, testing his anus to see how ready he was. Well, he knew the answer. Fucking ready. He opened his mouth to say so.
The phone rang.
In disbelief, he saw Caleb move away and pick up the phone from the table and answer it.
“Ryder. Yes. No, no problem. That’s why I’m here. Yes, call at any time. No, you weren’t interrupting anything.”
What? Nothing, eh? He saw Caleb listening intently to the person on the other end.
“No, no, don’t worry. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He was picking up a shirt as he spoke, his cock still hard, and the condom wrapped around it like a lover. “Yes, it will be fine. I promise you. Yes, where? Okay, well, get the Jacuzzi ready then, just as you both like it. Right, five minutes now. I’m going to ring off. I’ll keep the phone on me on my way to you.” He paused before speaking again. “Any time, I told you that. Yeah, hold that thought. Three minutes.” He threw the phone onto the bed and looked at Logan, his eyes sad, begging for understanding. He didn’t get it.
“I’ve got to go.”
“I heard. You weren’t doing anything important. Maybe you ought to take the johnnie off. Or are you keeping it on, ready for your clients?” Shit. Logan knew he sounded bitter. He tried to say something else, but the look in Caleb’s eyes as he threw the condom in the bin and dragged his jeans on stopped him.
“I told you what it would be like. This is the reality, Logan. They call; I run. I don’t have a normal job. It’s unique and personally tailored, so whether we are eating dinner or eating each other; at the start, middle, or end; I stop whatever I am doing and go. You either get used to it or…” He shrugged.
“I’m trying, Cal, I’m trying but… Give me time. Please.”
“I’ve got to go. Don’t wait up; I don’t know how long I’ll be.” Caleb picked up the phone, turned, and left the room, the dismay on his face obvious. Logan watched him with a heavy heart.
“Come back to me, Caleb. Help me, please.” But he spoke to a closed door.
Chapter Ten
Fuck it. It had started. Caleb was heavyhearted as he left the flat. He’d hoped for a few more days before the reality of on call twenty-four hours a day while clients were there hit. But if he was truthful, he knew there could be potential problems with these particular two clients, lovely, loving, and hopeful that his help would work. He had sensed Logan’s last plea, couldn’t go back and answer him. And in all honesty better to find out earlier rather than later if Logan couldn’t hack it.
He had to change his mind-set pretty damn quick. For his client’s sake as well as his own. He ran down the stairs leading to the guest wing and knocked on a door.
A pretty blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl answered. Her short robe buttoned incorrectly, her hair standing up on end as if she’d been running her hands through it; she grabbed his hand, pulling him into the room.
“Oh thank you, thank you,” she said emotionally. “I just can’t get her to stop crying. We just can’t get it right. The more we try, the worse it is.” She sniffed, and he gave her a hug and a brief kiss on her cheek.
“Come on, Rena, you’ll be fine. Where’s Kiri?”
“In the Jacuzzi. I did like you said.”
“Come on, then.” He took her hand and led her into the bathroom. There, surrounded by bubbles, was the blonde girl’s opposite. Petite with curly black hair and skin the color of a fine chocolate, she was doing her best to smile.
“Oh, Ryder. We tried; we really did. It just won’t work. It feels wrong.”
A long night ahead, then.
“It’s not wrong. Kiri, just something new. Something different for you both, but something very precious.” He hoped his voice sounded positive, upbeat. “Okay, Rena, are you going to get into the water? Hold Kiri. You both need a hug.”
“’Kay.” She started to open her robe, but hesitated.
“You want me to turn my back until you get in?” His voice was teasing. “I will if you need me to.”
“No.” The resolution in her voice was strong. “No, I’m fine. And I want Kiri to see me come to her.”
“Atta girl,” he said as she dropped the robe and slid into the water. “Okay now. Hug.” He watched as they did, and then instead of taking off his clothes and sliding into the water with them as he normally would, he merely rolled his jeans up and sat down on the edge of the bath. As long as it didn’t jeopardize his work, he would amend his hands-on way, whenever possible, to honor Logan. “Right, let’s start at the beginning. You love each other?” he asked, although he was sure he knew the answer.
“Oh, yes.”
“Of course.”
“Well that’s the first hurdle over. So you want to show that love in a physical way?”
Nodding, they held on to each other, looking to him for guidance.
“So, what are you doing now?”
They looked at him as if he were mad. “Um. Er…”
“Hugging,” he reminded them. “And it feels good?”
“Oh, yes.” Two voices in unison.
“Right. So how about kissing each other? On the cheek. Great. Now on the lips. No tongues though, not on a first kiss.”
They both laughed, and he saw them relax.
“Spoilsport,” Kiri said. “Not even a little bit?”
He looked at them mock-sternly. “Tut tut. You want to be seen as forward? Oh, go on then, just a wee hint.”
There was a contented sigh as their lips met, and they melted toward each other. When they broke
apart, they were both breathing heavily.
“Oh, that’s good. Ready to move on?”
They nodded. The water frothed and swirled around them. Now relaxing, neither girl looked at him. To them, he was just their helper, their teacher. To him, their bodies were not sexual; they were his pupils, his students, and the materials he would work with.
“Okay, so shut your eyes. Touch one of your nipples; feel how good it is. Now think: the next person to touch your nipple will be your lover. Think how much better that will feel. So keep your eyes shut and try to find one of your lover’s nipples. It doesn’t matter if you can’t find it at first; think of the fun you’ll have trying. Fumbling can get you touching all sorts of interesting places.” He saw with satisfaction the laughter on their faces as they did as he bade.
“When you find that nipple, give it a gentle tweak, a little pinch. Yes, that’s good.” His voice was soft and mesmeric. “Very, very good. So now, you want to know a little bit more about that luscious body you are in love with? Of course you do. Take your hand off your own nipple. Keep caressing your lover’s. Good, just like that. Now walk your other hand down her body, under the water, until you find her clit. Okay, now move those fingers a little lower. See how nice and wet and lubricated she is? It’s so easy now to slip a finger into her and stroke. Does it feel good? Of course it does. It’s your lover you are touching; your lover who is touching you. In and out; feel her undivided attention.” He watched as they melted into each other’s touch.
“So you like this touching and finger fucking? That’s good. Shall we get out of the water now and try the next step? Gently, that’s it; hold the thought of how good you feel.” He stood up. “Don’t worry about getting dry. Your heat will dry you off in no time.” He took each girl by the hand and drew them out of the water.
Walking backward, he guided them into the bedroom, glad to see they held hands as they faced him.
Riding Ryder Page 6