I’m going to die….
WYATT ACTED without thinking. Every instinct he had told him to hold on to Shy for dear life, to protect him from Randy Grant. How the man even came to be there when he should by rights have still been in the hospital was immaterial—he was there now, and damned if Wyatt was going to let him get his hands on Shy again, much less hurt him.
He’d suspected this encounter would have to happen at some point, this showdown with the obnoxious older man. But he hadn’t expected it to be today of all days. And certainly not here. Right this minute, he wanted nothing more than to smash his fist into Grant’s face. Cause him pain, although nothing like what he’d probably inflicted on Shy over the years. His first consideration was for Shy. He needed to take care of him before anything else.
Shy trembled in Wyatt’s arms, and his heart ached for him. What a terrible position to be in. He wanted to take him away from here immediately, but somehow he knew with Grant here, that wouldn’t be so easy. Wyatt tightened his grip, trying to convey his reassurance to Shy that he was safe, he wouldn’t let Grant have him.
Grant’s lip curled up into an ugly sneer, his gaze fixed on Wyatt and Shy. He took a step toward them, but Lukas quickly stepped between them.
“Randy, I’m surprised to see you here. I didn’t think they’d let you out so soon. How are you doing? Do you want to sit down somewhere? Maybe we can get a drink?”
If anything, Lukas’s intervention had the opposite effect of what was intended. Wyatt guessed that it was the inference that he was some kind of a weakling who should be under a doctor’s care.
“I’m here because I signed myself out,” he snarled, still in a low voice. Although something about the situation was beginning to draw the attention of others in the room. Perhaps it was the combative posturing that was going on. “I had to call a cab to get home. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t get any answer on the house phone.” He glared at Shy, who remained silent, shrinking back against Wyatt.
Grant attempted to step around Lukas, but Wyatt’s mentor kept blocking him. Grant gave up, at least for the moment, meeting Wyatt’s defiant gaze, his own eyes narrowed. “I knew you were trouble the first time I saw you. I should have taken care of you then and there. When I got home and realized Shy wasn’t there, I walked across the street and noticed you were gone too. So I made a few calls, put two and two together, and here I am.”
“Well, all’s well that ends well. Have you seen the buffet? They have quite the layout. I’m sure you could use some better food than what you’ve been getting.” Lukas laid his hand on the other man’s arm, as if he intended to steer him away from the conflict, but Grant shook him off.
“Forget it. I don’t have time for this shit. I want to go home.” He pointed at Shy with an imperious gesture. “Come with me. Now. I will deal with you when we get home.”
Wyatt felt Shy’s entire body begin to quiver in his grasp. Damn that Randy Grant all to hell, he had no right to do this. None at all.
“Forget it, Grant,” Wyatt spoke up for the first time. He released Shy just long enough to move him protectively behind him. Shy wound his arms around Wyatt’s waist, his head buried against Wyatt’s back. “He’s not going anywhere with you. Not now, not ever. You don’t own him, and never have.”
“I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to Shylor. He knows who I am to him, even if you don’t, and don’t ever doubt he will always obey me. So kindly remove your hands from him now. You will have no contact with him in any way. And do not ever come near either one of us again.” He glanced at Lukas. “You need to explain to your boy there the sad bad facts of life, and remove those rose-tinted glasses he’s wearing. Time he learned how the real world works.”
Wyatt wanted to pounce on Grant and beat him to a pulp, but he knew violence would solve nothing. As if reading his mind, Lukas said, “Just hold on there, Wyatt, let me handle this.”
“There’s nothing to handle, Lukas,” Grant said. “Just stand aside and we’ll be going. Shy, to me. Now.”
“No. Shy, don’t move. Randy, stop,” Lukas continued. “You have no right to come in here and talk to him like that. None at all.”
Grant snorted. Wyatt was surprised at how unruffled he seemed. Maybe the doctors had put him on some kickass drugs before he checked himself out. Hopefully whatever it was would keep him docile long enough for Shy and him to make their exit.
“You know what right I have. Are you going to dare to stand there and lecture me on my lifestyle when you’re no better yourself? Are you going to play the hypocrite, or should I remind you of some of the subs I’ve seen you with over the years? The things I’ve seen you do to them?”
“Having a sub is one thing, and yeah, I’m not ashamed to admit it.” Lukas drew himself up to his full height, staring Grant down. “But this? This is not that. What you have with Shy… that’s just wrong. You don’t know the first thing about being a Dom. It’s not just laying down the law and proving who’s the boss. It’s caring for someone else totally and completely. You don’t treat him well at all and you never have. And damn me for not opening my mouth before. That’s on me. But no more. I’m not doing it. He’s not yours, he’s his own man. It’s up to him what he does.”
Wyatt cheered internally at Lukas’s words, thrilled to have him stand up for the two of them. The next moment he was shocked to see Lukas turn and beckon Shy to come out from behind him.
“Shy can make up his own mind. Can’t you, Shy?”
Wyatt’s blood ran cold. He couldn’t ask Shy to make such a choice. Shy was too fragile. He needed time, time away from Grant. Time to heal. And yes, he was afraid that if he was made to pick, Shy might revert to habit and automatically return to what he knew. Dammit, Lukas, what are you doing?
Silently, he willed Shy to remain where he was, and for a long moment, he believed that was just what would happen. But slowly, he felt Shy’s arms ease away from him, felt the absence of his body as he stepped around Wyatt, toward Grant. Wyatt thought his heart would surely break, lanced with a pain so great it took his breath away, leaving him speechless. But he was powerless to do anything other than watch.
The look of triumph in Grant’s eyes was obscene as Shy slowly moved toward him, step by step. As if he was sleepwalking. A look of horror crossed Lukas’s face, and he flashed a look toward Wyatt that seemed apologetic. Lot of good that would do now. Wyatt couldn’t bear the thought he was losing Shy already, when they’d barely had a chance to explore their new relationship. Right after Shy admitted he loved him. Didn’t love trump everything? Didn’t love conquer all?
Most of all he couldn’t stand the idea that Shy would be hurt again by this man. That was the worst part. He just knew Grant would have the worst possible punishments in mind for what he considered Shy’s transgressions. He couldn’t bear to know what would be happening just across the street from him. Hot tears threatened to blind him. He reached out for Shy without thinking, a low moan escaping him, but Lukas restrained him.
“He has to choose,” he said simply.
Wyatt could do nothing but watch Shy walk away from him, toward Grant. In the back of his mind, he knew Lukas was right, but at the same time his heart said no, and he silently cursed Lukas for doing this.
Suddenly Shy stopped, maybe halfway to Grant. As Wyatt watched in amazement, he straightened himself to his full height, setting his feet apart as if intending to take root there.
“What are you doing? Get over here.” Grant was beginning to grow belligerent now. Shy flinched. But he continued to stand his ground.
“Lukas said I need to choose, and that’s just what I’m doing,” he said, his voice surprisingly calm. “And I choose Wyatt.”
Wyatt thought he hadn’t heard right. He blinked in amazement, mouth dropping open. Did Shy actually choose him over Grant? Was that possible?
Grant was openly glowering now, his face suffusing a deep red. “What did you just say?” he asked.
“I thought I didn’t deserve any better
than you,” Shy continued, his slender frame beginning to shake slightly. “I thought I must be a really horrible person to receive everything you’ve ever done to me. What my mother did to me. But then I met Wyatt… and he showed me that I am someone who deserves to be treated with respect. To be loved even.”
Shy’s voice broke, as if choking with sobs, but he held up his hand, as if to stop anyone from interfering. “You have no idea what love even means, Randy. Wyatt does, and now I do too. I love him. I’m going to make a life with him, if he’ll have me. I want to make something out of myself, be something other than your doormat. Your servant. Your personal whipping boy.”
“You ungrateful little bastard,” Grant snarled, all pretense of calm having dropped away. “You are mine. I paid for—” He stopped himself suddenly, as if all too aware he was about to admit to something most people would not only find unconscionable but very illegal. And they were far from alone. In fact, Wyatt was surprised to find quite a few people had stopped to listen, drinks in hand. Some looked amused, but most seemed horrified by what they’d been hearing.
“Hey man, leave the kid alone,” someone spoke up.
“He made his choice, now live with it” came from someone else. A chorus of murmurs began to grow.
Shy turned and looked back at Wyatt, his eyes speaking volumes. Wyatt held his arms open and Shy ran into them. Wyatt clasped him, stroked his head, murmuring soft words. Grant took two steps in their direction, and he clutched Shy even more tightly. Before Grant could get any closer, Lukas had grabbed his arm.
“Let it go, Randy,” he said. “You have a reputation to consider. Think of your company.”
The hellish fury on Grant’s face was indescribable, almost comic. Under other circumstances, Wyatt would have laughed. But now all he could think of was keeping Shy safe.
“You think you’ve won some great victory, don’t you?” he hissed at Wyatt. “Take him then. I don’t care. He means nothing to me. Never did. There are more like him.” He turned to glare at Lukas. “Think you’re so clever, don’t you? Remember that next time we meet.”
“Save your threats, I don’t see that happening,” Lukas said. “I know Bobby’s kicked you out of the club. Have a nice life, Randy. Not that you deserve it.”
Grant spun about without another word. Those people unlucky enough to be standing behind him parted, allowing him to leave the room as quickly as he could.
The show over, everyone returned to mingling, and appreciating art, and whatever else they’d been doing.
Wyatt regarded Lukas over Shy’s bent head. “Thank you,” he said. “I wasn’t sure you would….”
“Stand up for you?” Lukas shook his head. “After what I said before, I guess I have that coming. I thought you were wrong, I admit it. I figured Shy would only get hurt by being with you. That you weren’t thinking clearly. But then, seeing you two together today, and listening to what you both said… I had a lot to think about. And I didn’t like myself very much. I knew what he was doing, and I didn’t do anything about it. I owe you an apology, Shy. A great big one.”
Wyatt kissed the top of Shy’s head. Shy turned around, facing Lukas. “It’s okay,” he said. “I understand. I do. Randy has a way of making people believe he’s right even when he’s wrong.”
“That’s why he’s so good at what he does,” Lukas said. “Wyatt, you can’t stay there, of course. Not at Masterson’s house. Not now. That’s too close to Randy, and there’s no telling what he might try if you go back there.”
“But I have to,” Wyatt protested. “I’m house-sitting, remember? I have an obligation to be there.”
“I remember. Don’t worry, I’ll find someone else. Tell you what, I’m going to take you back so you can grab your stuff. Then I’ll find you a hotel, just for tonight. Tomorrow we’ll work something out.”
“Is that all right with you?” Wyatt asked Shy. He wanted to make sure Shy had a voice in everything that happened to him. He didn’t want Shy to ever feel helpless again.
“That sounds good,” Shy said.
“All right, let’s go then. I’ll follow you, so you can leave John’s car there, and you can get your stuff, and I’ll drive you to a hotel.”
Suddenly, the world seemed a much brighter place than it had just a few minutes ago.
Chapter Sixteen
WYATT AND Shy collected what little stuff they had at Masterson’s house—most of that Wyatt’s since Shy had brought very little—while Lukas kept an eye out for Grant, in case he decided to make more trouble for them. The house across the street remained dark—no sign of its owner, and the car wasn’t in the drive.
Afterward, Lukas drove them to a motel in north St. Louis County, figuring it would be a good idea to put a little distance between them and Grant. They’d stopped along the way and picked up burgers and fries at a fast-food restaurant. Lukas left them with some money, in case they wanted to get something later. A convenience store was just a short walk away, but Lukas cautioned them not to go any farther than that, just to be safe.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Lukas promised as he was leaving. “We’ll figure out something more long-term then, but for right now, you should be okay.” He gave Wyatt a significant look. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he had something to say… in private.
“Be right back,” Wyatt told Shy. “Pick whichever bed you want, doesn’t matter to me.” He gave Shy a reassuring smile before following Lukas out the door.
“Is something wrong?” Wyatt asked.
“Not wrong, I just want you to remember how fragile Shy is right now. I know you know that”—he held up one hand in a placating manner before Wyatt had a chance to respond—“and I’m not saying you’d hurt him. I’m not blind. I can see how you two feel about each other, and I do remember what it was like to be young and in love. Just… move at his pace, okay?”
“I’d never do anything he didn’t want,” Wyatt protested. “Trust me.”
“I do trust you. If I didn’t, you two wouldn’t be sharing a motel room, believe me. I’d have separated you and made Shy go with me. I just want you to be prepared to stop if Shy can’t handle something, okay? Whether he says anything or not. You’ll just have to know when to leave it alone. I can’t honestly say I know everything about what happened with Randy and him, but I know enough to think Shy’s had a very rough time of it.”
Wyatt understood Lukas’s concern. In fact, he shared it. He intended to be very gentle with Shy. Sure, he wanted to make love with Shy, but that was far from his only interest in him. Not even his main interest. There was so much more to a relationship than sex—at least he thought there should be. He’d never had one that lasted long enough to test his theory. But he intended to find out with Shy.
“All right then, I’ll call you tomorrow.” Lukas gave Wyatt a quick hug before pulling back with a self-deprecating chuckle. “You know how us old people get. Worry all the time about you young whippersnappers.”
Wyatt had to smile at that. “Lukas, you’ll never be old. Ornery maybe, but not old.”
“Ornery I can live with.” Lukas laughed.
Once he’d gone, Wyatt returned inside.
This motel room might not be anywhere near as luxurious as Masterson’s place, but Wyatt thought it was perfect, because he was able to be there with Shy. This was a dream come true.
The room contained two double beds. They sat together on one as they ate their dinner and watched a little television. Wyatt couldn’t even say what programs they watched. Maybe something with a detective. Or police officers. He was too aware of Shy’s proximity to be aware of much else.
Shy had claimed the bed farthest from the door. Wyatt couldn’t blame him for that. Probably made him feel a little more secure, no doubt.
“Let me know when you’re ready for sleep,” Wyatt said. He expected Shy was probably tired, after such a trying day.
“I’m ready for bed now,” Shy said, “but I’m not tired.”
&
nbsp; “Are you hungry? We can walk over to the convenience store and see what they’ve got.”
“I don’t want food,” Shy replied.
Wyatt shot him a baffled look. “Then what—”
“I want to be with you,” Shy said in a low-pitched voice that was already doing things to Wyatt. “I want you to make love to me… please.”
“A-are you sure?” Wyatt hadn’t expected the question of sex to arise quite so soon, no pun intended, even though they were sharing a motel room. He’d anticipated they’d end up in the same bed, sure, following the pattern they’d established over the last couple of nights, but just to sleep. He discounted Shy’s attempted blowjob as nothing more than misdirected gratitude, and an expectation that didn’t exist.
But everything had changed, hadn’t it? Shy had been set free. He didn’t have to answer to Grant any more. Or anyone else. He was his own man now. And he wanted Wyatt to make love to him of his own volition. Wyatt was both ecstatic and apprehensive. He couldn’t forget Lukas’s parting words. He would not hurt Shy, no matter what. He didn’t want to take anything between them too quickly. And yet he wanted him… very much.
“I’m quite sure.” Shy took Wyatt’s hand in his and placed it against his chest. Wyatt could feel the rhythmic thump thump of Shy’s heart beneath his palm. “My heart belongs to you already. I’ve never felt this way before, Wyatt. I’m a little scared, but I know what I want. And what I want is you.”
They came together in a gentle kiss. Then another, and another, Wyatt allowing Shy all the freedom he desired. He tasted and nibbled Wyatt’s lips in between kisses, and by the time they stopped for breath, Wyatt’s lips throbbed, but with pleasure, not pain.
“Can I ask a favor?” Shy asked softly.
“Ask me anything you want.”
“Can I touch you?”
Shy’s request went straight to Wyatt’s heart. He didn’t even want to imagine what life with the Keeper must have been like, if Shy had been reduced to asking permission for everything he did. Thank God that was over now, and he’d never have to live under Grant’s rule again.
No Way Out Page 18