When Matt’s legs started to tremble, Steve wrapped an arm around his thighs and pulled him closer, trapping him there so he could torture him with his tongue. Steve’s other hand stroked up and down Matt’s body, wherever he could reach. The cheek of his ass, his thigh. His ribs. His spine. Everywhere Steve touched it left a trail of fire that fed the burning need inside Matt. Need that went right into his bones. He’d never not need this man. It was more than this. More than sex. More than anything he’d ever had before. Steve looked after him, but he found joy in it. He did it because he cared about Matt, not because he was obligated to.
Matt had spent so much time afraid to believe that any of this could be real. He’d half expected that Steve would get sick of him and he’d be out on the street, again. But Steve touched him like he was a treasure. He looked at Matt like something inside him melted when he did. He cared about Matt and his books and his interests and his future. He didn’t care about the past. He didn’t care about his mistakes. He cared about who Matt was now. The realization was enough to make him want to cry, if he wasn’t half gone from pleasure already, he might have.
“Master,” Matt choked back Steve’s name, though it remained on the tip of his tongue. “Please.” He didn’t even know what he was asking for. He knew he needed Steve, and he trusted Steve to take care of him, like he’d always done. There was so much Matt wanted to thank him for, but right then wasn’t the moment.
Steve hummed against Matt’s pucker and Matt bucked, earning him another sharp crack on the ass.
Matt panted, his voice sounded desperate and not quite his. “That’s cheating.”
Steve laid another sharp smack on the other cheek and Matt keened but managed to stay still.
“Please. Oh fuck. Please.” Matt babbled as Steve’s hand wrapped around Matt’s cock.
“You’re so ready for me, aren’t you, Matty?” Steve bit the cheek of Matt’s ass, and a finger circled his hole. “You’re all open and needy and desperate for me.”
“Uh. Yes. Fuck. Please. I am.” Matt gasped when a finger slid deep inside him. “So ready.”
Behind him, Steve stood, and a condom wrapper crinkled. He slid his hand up Matt’s spine. He shuddered when Steve’s touch completely vanished. Matt lifted his gaze to see Craig kneeling in front of Alan. His hands were clasped behind his back. Alan had a handful of Craig’s hair, but he didn’t seem to yank or tug. He got so absorbed in watching what went on in front of him that he nearly forgot about what was going on behind him, then he felt a hand on his hip and blunt pressure at his entrance. Steve gripped Matt’s other hip and slid in at a pace that could only be described as torturously slow.
When Steve sank all the way into Matt’s ass and he felt the scratch of fabric against his bare thighs and the ghosting of a hemline on his skin, it made his body vibrate. Steve’s fingers gripped Matt’s sides, and he slammed into him. Fully clothed and ferocious, Steve claimed him in front of his very best friend in the world. He owned Matt in that moment and all the ones after it.
Steve fucked him rough at an unforgiving pace. It lit Matt up from the inside out. Matt’s arms trembled and threatened to give out, but Steve was there to catch him. He wrapped an arm underneath Matt and gripped his shoulder. His other hand dug into Matt’s hip so hard he knew he’d bruise later.
He was out of his mind with ecstasy, riding a high he never thought possible. Then Steve slammed into Matt. The command to come barely registered through Matt’s fog of lust, and when it did it was as if a million fireworks went off in his brain. An explosion of ecstasy stole Matt’s breath as he painted the coffee table with his release.
His legs trembled, and his body was a lead weight, but Steve didn’t let him fall. He gathered him up, though Matt felt like a bag of bones in a sack of skin, as if he’d literally been fucked apart, and pulled Matt into his lap. Matt leaned his sweaty head against Steve’s chest. His fingers gripped onto Steve’s shirt, fisting a handful of the fabric as he drifted away.
***
Matt practically vibrated in the seat next to Steve, who wouldn’t tell him where they were going. Alan and Craig had left a while after Matt had drifted back to planet earth, sore and sated. It wasn’t even a little strange to wake up in Steve’s arms to find that they still had an audience. A very appreciative audience. Craig’s wide-eyed appreciation was enthusiastic, and Matt wondered if Alan had ever fucked Craig in front of anyone else. Matt thought no, simply because of how awe-struck Craig seemed to be. From what Matt understood, Craig had a not-so-great introduction to the lifestyle that put certain things in a bad light. Alan had been slowly reintroducing him to things, but Matt thought Craig looked pretty interested in going further. He told himself to ask Craig later if he could get another minute alone with him.
“What are you thinking about?”
Matt turned his head. “What?”
Steve reached over and placed his hand on Matt’s knee. He gave it a squeeze before returning it to the steering wheel. “You were pretty lost in thought. Everything okay?”
Matt grinned. “Everything’s great. I was actually thinking about Craig.”
“Should I be jealous?” Steve raised an eyebrow, but his features were soft. He clearly wasn’t jealous at all.
“I’m glad they stopped by. Craig is nice. He’s easy to talk to.”
“Sounds like you made a new friend.”
Matt took a deep breath. “I did. At least…I think I did.” Matt looked out the window but didn’t pay attention to where they were going. It didn’t matter where he went so long as he was with Steve. It had been nice to spend time with Craig. Even though Alan had brought him over, Craig wasn’t obligated to spend time with Matt, but Craig's response seemed genuine. He let him help plan the engagement party and seemed to like his ideas. Whenever he made a suggestion Craig seemed to like, or whenever he said something that made Craig laugh or smile, something warmed inside Matt.
Craig didn’t shun him or make fun of him or shut him down. He listened. He didn’t have to listen to Matt, but he did. It made Matt feel as if he was worth something after all as if there was something about him worth liking. Craig had even begged Matt to send him a list of his favorite books later.
When the car came to a stop, Matt jerked to attention. “We’re here.” His brow furrowed. “Where is here?” Matt surveyed his surroundings and found himself in front of a strip mall. There was a bakery on one end. Some sort of thrift store was nestled between it and a pizza place, and next to that was a jewelry store.
“Come on, Rory’s waiting.”
“Rory, Sir?”
“A friend of mine. Come on. Out you get.” Steve reached over and unfastened Matt’s seat belt. Matt climbed out of the car and scanned the strip mall again, wondering which one they were going into. When Steve headed toward the jewelry store, Matt swore he felt his insides liquefy.
“Master?” Matt leaned against the car, unsure if he could get his legs to move.
Something flickered in Steve’s gaze and that’s when Matt realized he’d said Master instead of Sir.
Instead of correcting him, Steve held out his hand. “Come along, darling, Rory is waiting.”
Matt took a breath, then a step, and another. Steve grabbed his hand, entwined their fingers and opened the door, tugging Matt in behind him.
When the bells above the door chimed, a short man with blue hair, almost the shade of cobalt, and a grace that Matt envied, glided over to the pair. He opened his arms and Matt bristled. He didn’t like the idea that Steve was so comfortable with this man that he felt entitled to touch him. Then the man threw his arms around Matt instead. Matt recovered his senses after a moment and patted the man on the back.
The man clutched Matt’s arms and pulled away. “Look at him, Steve. He’s adorable. That hair. Those cheekbones.” The man, who had to be Rory, gasped. “Those eyes.” Then Rory turned and punched Steve in the arm. “And you mooned after him for two years. You’re a fool, Steve.”
Matt didn’t bother hiding his smile. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that this man was so familiar with his Master after all.
Steve rubbed his arm. “Alan has a big mouth.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “Oh, please, give me some credit. I’ve been to your restaurant. I saw the way you looked at him. Everyone did. Honestly, Steve. You think you’re so mysterious.” Rory slid over to the door, flipped the sign to closed and locked the deadbolt. “Now, I believe you had some collars you wanted me to show you.”
Matt’s head snapped to the side, and he stared at Steve. “A collar?”
Steve cupped Matt’s cheek. “Yes, Matty. A collar. If you want a big ceremony at the club, we can arrange that, but I was serious when I put that collar around your neck. You’re mine, Matty. I’ve never put a collar on a sub before. You’re my first and my last. I know I might be moving things along really fast, but damn it, I’ve waited two years. I don’t want you to have any doubts about how much you mean to me.”
Matt gripped onto Steve because the floor turned to liquid, or maybe his knees did. He was sinking, or floating, he wasn’t sure. Nor was he sure he cared. Steve wound an arm around Matt’s waist and Matt buried his face into Steve’s chest.
“You’re my everything.”
Steve kissed the side of Matt’s head, then reached down and squeezed his ass.
Matt and Steve watched as Rory dug under the counter and came out with several black jewelry cases. The first few didn’t interest Matt. They were beautiful, gold chains with elaborate pendants of varying sizes. One pendant was in the shape of a paddle. They were nice enough, but they didn’t seem like something Matt would wear. They were too flashy.
Matt saw Rory sort of smirk when he popped the next case open. “This one’s an antiqued bronze chain with a matching lock and key.” Rory shoved the case toward Matt so he could have a better look.
“It’s beautiful.” The key looked like one of those old style skeleton keys and the lock pendant had an intricate ivy-like design on the front. When Matt looked closer, he noticed that the strands of ivy formed a figure eight, an infinity symbol. The key had a similar infinity symbol hidden in the design as well. Matt looked for the clasp, then he noticed that there wasn’t one. To get the chain on and off, the lock needed to be opened.
“It’s gorgeous.” Matt said. He looked at Steve. “I love it.”
“Then we’ll take it.”
Rory grinned and removed the chain from the case. That’s when Matt noticed the key was on a separate chain. He’d been so enamoured with studying the intricate designs that he hadn’t even seen it.
Rory’s eyes sparkled as he held the chains out to Steve. Steve reached out and unclasped the leather collar. Matt felt its absence and almost reached for his bare neck. He felt naked without it. Then Steve opened the lock using the skeleton key and slid the chain around Matt’s neck. The lock snapped shut with an audible click. Matt instinctively touched it and watched in awe as Steve unclasped the other chain and fastened it around his own neck. Matt might have liked to do that, but he knew he shook too badly to make an attempt.
Steve leaned in and brushed a kiss against Matt’s lips. “I’m sorry I have no pretty speeches planned or a big fancy ceremony like the ones in your books. We can do it later, if you want, but I couldn’t wait any more, Matt. You’re mine. You’re mine forever. I waited two years and then I almost lost you because I’m stupid. I won’t be stupid anymore. You’re mine and I’m keeping you.”
“I don’t need speeches and ceremonies.” Matt wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist. “You’re all I need.”
Steve kissed Matt, then turned to Rory. “Send the invoice to the club.”
Rory shook his head. “Are you nuts? You think I’m going to make you pay for this, Steve? We’ve been friends for years. You finally found your forever guy. It’s my gift to the both of you.”
“Rory. Let me pay.” Steve argued. Matt squeezed closer to Steve. He used his authoritative voice, the one that sent the wait staff at the restaurant scrambling.
Rory rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t argue with me Steven. We’re friends. Friends give each other gifts. If you bring this up again I’ll tie you to a post and whip you.”
Matt’s eyes widened, and Rory winked at him with a huge grin on his face.
“Every good Dom was a sub at one time.”
“Oh, now that’s a story I need to hear.”
Steve shifted uncomfortably. “We’re going to be late.” Steve slid an arm around Matt’s waist and steered them both toward the door.
Matt laughed all the way to the car until Steve wrapped his hand around the back of Matt’s neck and hauled him in for a kiss. Steve kissed him breathless until his head swam. Matt pulled away and rested his head on Steve’s shoulder. He reached up and touched the chain that hung loosely around his neck.
“Thank you.”
Steve kissed the side of Matt’s head. “Thank you, Matty. You’re a gift. The greatest gift I’ve ever been given.”
Later that night, after a dinner that was entirely too long for Matt’s liking and a mind-blowing sex session that still had Matt weak in the knees, he lay in bed, curled up next to Steve. His head rested on Steve’s chest and he traced patterns on Steve’s skin with his fingertips.
“When is this engagement party?” Steve asked.
“Next week. They need to go back to work the week after and they want a few extra days beforehand to explore. Craig is contacting the guests. All we have to do is talk to the kitchen and work out a menu for that night.”
“And you’re sure you’re okay with getting on stage?”
“Oh, you mean our scene? Yes, I’m sure. I’m a little nervous, but I’m not terrified or anything. I’m mostly afraid that I’ll fuck up somehow.” Matt closed his eyes and tried to push his fears away, but no matter how much he wanted to believe Steve’s assurances that he wasn’t a fuck-up, he couldn’t help it. History had a way of repeating itself.
“You’re not going to fuck up, darling.”
When Matt scoffed, Steve caught his chin and tilted his head up so Matt could look at him.
“You’re not going to fuck-up, Matty. All you've got to do is listen to me, okay? That’s your only job. That’s the only rule you need to remember now. Listen to me and trust that I will never do anything to harm you. I will always have your best interests in mind. All you have to do is listen to me. Okay?”
It sounded so perfect in theory. Listen and let go. Matt would love to do nothing but that for the rest of his life. He liked the life he was building with Steve, but that’s what terrified him. One wrong move and it could all disappear. Just like all the other times he’d lost everything. But unlike those other times, this would kill him. Losing Steve would be a loss from which Matt knew he’d never recover from.
Listen and let go. It sounded so easy. Matt wanted it. He wanted it more than anything. For Steve, he could try.
“Okay.” Matt finally managed to say.
Matt expected Steve to push him to open up, but he didn’t, and Matt couldn’t help the gratitude he felt. It had been a long day and Matt’s exhaustion seeped right into his bones. Even his skin felt tired.
Matt reached up and touched the chain that hung around his neck. He couldn’t keep his hands off it. It had become his most prized possession. “Steve?”
“Yes, Matty?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now get some sleep.” Steve kissed the top of Matt’s head, then ruffled his hair. “Goodnight, darling.”
“Goodnight, Master.”
Matt found out in the week that followed that listening to Steve wasn’t the only thing he had to do. He had to arrange a menu with the chef for the engagement party and organize a guest list with Craig. The guest list, considering the last-minute timing of the event had been a daunting task. Somehow, Craig and Matt managed to track down all the people on the list and confirm if they were able to attend or n
ot. Craig’s Uncle Hank was the only one who couldn’t attend. It didn’t seem to bother Craig much though.
“You’re sure you’re not bummed that your uncle can’t come?”
Craig shrugged a shoulder. “He’s away on business, but…I think something happened.”
“Something bad?”
Craig stirred his tea and sighed. “I don’t know, honestly. When I called him he sounded weird.”
“Maybe he had a bad day?”
“It’s possible. I worry, you know. He’s the only family I have, and he’s been good to me and Alan.”
“He’ll be at the wedding though, right?”
Craig nodded. “He swore up and down that he wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Craig’s face lit up. “He even asked if he could give me away.”
“Awww. That’s sweet.” Matt smiled for his friend even as his own heart broke. There was no way Cam would ever want to do something like that for him. Cam thought he was a whore, someone who was using a man for a place to stay. It was the furthest from the truth that he could get, yet Cam wouldn’t listen to any other explanation. To Cam, Matt was a dumb kid who could never do anything right.
“Matt? Are you okay?”
Matt frowned. “I’m okay.”
“You sure?” Craig furrowed his brow and frowned at Matt.
“I’m not going to dump my problems on you on the morning of your engagement party.”
“Matt, come on. Please. Steve and Alan are best friends, so we’re going to spend a lot of time together. I like you and I’d like to think that one day, we’ll be best friends, too. So, come on, future best friend, tell me what’s bothering you.”
What He Craves: Desires Book 2 Page 12