by Romilly King
"It's about my business," Ash went on and Richard's hopes plummeted.
He tried not to let his disappointment show on his face, "If you want to tell me I'd like to know but please don't feel you have to," Richard said.
"I think it's something you should know," Ash toyed with his wine glass, "I think you need to know how we started and what we are now."
Richard rested his chin on his hand and let Ash talk.
"As you know, Brio and I were in college together. Brio was, well Brio's a genius and I'm no slouch in the brains department." He flicked his eyes at Richard, wrinkled his nose in wry self disparagement. "He was a double major in psychology and neural biology, I was a computer major specializing in developing algorithms. We had the idea of combining both disciplines and using it to predict compatibility within teams.
"The college sport's teams trialed it first of all and not only did it work but they loved it, their success rates went through the roof. Then normal businesses heard about it and as a tool, the HR departments couldn't get enough of it. We licensed it, sold a ton of it, and then we got into sex because we were really interested in sex!"
Richard raised his eyebrows at Ash, unsure where this was going.
"Repeat custom is a good thing for any business," Ash said. He took a deep breath, "and we found a way to hone the sexual compatibility of Emptor and Venditor allocations so Emptores kept coming back."
Richard was stunned and it must have shown on his face.
"It's kept quiet" Ash said, "but basically the tests Delphic runs, thanks to us, give a highly accurate indication of sexual resonance between people, particularly at the more expensive kinkier end of the scale."
"Holy shit," breathed Richard.
"Delphic is the most successful agency in the USA, it has the highest number of repeat customers, the most loyal Venditores, and a rating of 93% for contract success. It's successful because we helped them make it that way, Brio and I." he almost looked guilty, "A successfully sexual connection makes for a more meaningful connection all around. Sexuality can unify people where other measures fail. Brio did the psychology, I did the computer programing and together we built an algorithm that looked for sexual compatibility markers within the test results and produced a probability match."
"Surely that doesn't work," said Richard, "if it did every online dating site would have a huge success rate."
"Yeah but everybody lies about sex, about what they want and what they like," Ash said, "They even lie to themselves. What we did was find a way around the lies, we isolated the microexpressions for sexuality, and then we made it visible so you can match it with similar ones."
"The charts," Richard said.
"Yeah, the charts."
"So you work for Delphic."
"No, I work with Delphic."
"Did you get me at a discount?"
"That's what you take from this?" Ash asked disbelievingly, "I tell you the secret to sexual compatibility and you ask if I got a discount?" He shook his head, "And for the record, no, I did not get a discount. I don't need a discount. And I had nothing to do with who was chosen for the interview."
They were both silent for a moment.
"Wait a minute," Richard said eventually, "so, if you can find people's perfect sexual partner how come Brio is 'in a bad way'?"
Ash grimaced and ticked points off on his fingers, "Because one, it's not exact, we're learning all the time. Two, Brio is a unicorn, he's out there in terms of his needs, and three we can only search amongst those that are tested and that is a pretty small pool to fish in."
"Will this help you with the algorithm?" Richard indicated the two of them and doesn't know how he feels if it does. If their contract will cause Ash to tweak the numbers. Part of him would do anything for Ash but another part of him doesn't want to be part of the learning curve.
"I've not been taking notes if that's what you mean," Ash says.
Richard glanced down, ashamed.
Ash reached across the table and took Richard's hand, "I wanted to tell you before you found out some other way," his thumb rubbed gently back and forth across Richard's knuckles, "I wanted to be honest with you, you deserve it."
"Thanks, I think," Ash was taking a huge risk in telling him this, clearly it wasn't common knowledge but Richard didn't know what to make of it.
Ash managed a weak smile, "One thing it has reinforced" he said, "Everybody really does lie about sex, you are so much more than I thought I wanted!"
"Charmer," Richard forced himself to tease.
"Have I ruined our last evening?" Ash asked.
"No," Richard shook his head firmly.
"Good," Ash stood up and pulled Richard to him, "Let's go to bed,"
He led Richard to the bedroom, undressed him, and tucked him into the soft sheets before stripping himself and sliding in next to him. Both of them naked. For one night only. Ash pulled Richard tight against him and curled his body around him, their hands clasped together under Richard's sternum.
Richard lay quiet, his thoughts rolled slowly, dipping between pain and pleasure, loss and love. Eventually, he fell asleep with Ash's breath warm on the back of his neck.
#
"What time is it?" Ash mumbled into his pillow.
"Getting up time," Richard said, starting to shift away.
"Uh uh, not yet." A strong arm snaked around Richard's waist and tugged him closer. "Little bit more," he said and buried his face in Richard's neck, snuffling into the thin skin of his neck.
Richard smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. He wished he could give that to Ash, just a little bit more, but the contract was about to run out and according to Delphic's rules they couldn't contract again for weeks. That was assuming Ash chose to renew their contract, something he had never specifically said he would do.
Richard wanted to ask, had planned to ask, but he hadn't in the end. It had felt too much like begging, and while he'd grown accustomed to begging for sex, he couldn't beg for this. It was too important to him.
"Hey, you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," Ash said, and Richard turned away.
"Ricky," Ash said, putting a hand on Richard's arm. "What is it?"
"It's nothing. I just . . . wasn't expecting what it would feel like to finish our contract," Richard said, which was true as far as it went, although it barely touched on the turmoil he was feeling.
"Yeah," Ash said. He flopped back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling "It's weird, isn't it?"
Weird? That didn't even begin to cover it. Richard thought of the painful wait ahead of him. How long would he keep the faith if he heard nothing? How would it feel in the end to have either Ms. Sara or Ms. Maisie call him and ask him if he wanted to find another Emptor?
Richard felt like he was breaking.
He couldn't let Ash know that though, not when he had no idea how Ash felt about him. But he couldn't walk away without saying something either.
"I care about you a great deal, Ash," Richard said quietly. He didn't mean to reveal too much, but his voice betrayed him, too raw for there to be any doubt as to how much he cared.
"You think I don't? Fuck, Ricky," Ash rolled over and stared him straight in the eyes. "I went into this thinking I'd find someone who could give me what I wanted with no strings attached and I did everything I could to make sure it stayed that way: appointments for sex, keeping my distance..."
"Insisting on a full-time Venditor wasn't the best of ideas then, nor was isolating us so that the only person we had to talk to was each other."
"Maybe." Ash dropped his head and sighed in agreement. "Probably. But it's too easy to fake it if you're only meeting up once a week or every few days.
"This is not something I do, Ricky, it's something I am. I don't want a Venditor who puts up with it; I want someone who responds honestly, shows me their vulnerability, their real submission. I couldn't take the chance that the algorithm would let me down and you'd just endure it,
that you would have friends on the outside who would tell you to 'Think about the money!' or say, 'It's only two weeks!'
"This turned out better than anything I'd hoped for. Seeing the way you responded to the spanking, the way you wanted it, I just . . . I knew that it was real for you too. And once I saw that . . ." Ash's expression was full of wonder. "I care about you too, Ricky. I care a hell of a damn lot."
Richard nodded jerkily, he wanted to believe it with his whole heart but the long separation stretched ahead of him and he was all too aware of how quickly things could change. He and Ash had flared and burned like sodium in water, spinning wildly in their circumstances. That kind of chemical reaction could burn out just as quickly and maybe that was what the algorithm ensured, instant attraction, glorious peaks of lust, and then onto the next compatible contract.
Ash sighed. "Come on. Let me make you some breakfast before you go."
The rest of their time together passed by in a blur and then Ash was walking him to the door. Richard had brought his car, and that was how he was going to leave.
"See you, Ricky," Ash whispered against his temple, his arms strong and sure around him, and Richard wanted to believe it was a promise.
"Goodbye, Ash," Richard said, his voice cracked as he lifted his head for one last kiss.
Chapter Nineteen
Richard returned to his dark apartment feeling like a small animal creeping into its home to lick its wounds. He received a call from Ms. Maisie that evening, checking in on him and letting him know he'd received a $1,000 tip. He'd tried to be excited about that but it was difficult to show the proper level of appreciation when the call reminded him that it would be weeks before he could see Ash again. If he ever saw him at again.
He kept thinking of Ash at his computer, an idea sparking and Ash diving down the rabbit hole into the world of numbers and what-ifs. What was it Ash said about embryo relationships in the past, "I would get involved in something and when I raised my head six months would have passed. I tend to get a bit obsessive."
He imagined Ash looking up from his computer, becoming aware of snow hanging on the dark trees outside his window and realizing it was winter and Richard had been gone half a year and he hadn't noticed.
#
Richard found it hard to leave the apartment. He found he didn't want to interact with anyone. He sorted his cupboards, ordered groceries, and drew up a schedule of the pre-study he needed to get through before graduate school.
Two days after his contract ended he made himself dress tidily and went to visit his Father.
"Hey Dad," his Father looked good, his hair combed and his color good. He sat in an easy chair beside his hospital bed with his hands folded on his lap. He looked up at Richard and smiled but didn't speak.
"You look, great Dad," Richard perched on the bed and reached for his Father's hand. Last time he had been here the back of his hand had been blue-black with bruises from the IV and the skin had been nearly transparent. Now the bruises were just faint colors and the hand was dry and cool in his grasp.
"How are you feeling?" Richard asked not expecting an answer.
"I think he must be excited," A woman in business casual had entered the room, a bright smile on her face, "Not long now is it, Eric," She spread some files on the tray table at the end of his Father's bed, "I'm so glad you made it back in time," she said to Richard, "We just need a couple of signatures before your Dad leaves,"
Richard felt his heart rate pick up and a thin sweat broke out on his skin. Shit, oh shit, Dad was being moved.
"I'm sorry, but what? What do you mean before Dad leaves?" His voice was high and strained. He looked at his Father, his innocent and vacant expression, the only sign of emotion a faint uptick of his lips as he looked out of the window. "I don't understand,"
The woman looked up from her files. "Have I got it wrong?" she asked worriedly, "I thought your father was moving to Foothills Care today?"
"Foothills?" Richard knew Foothills, he had visited it, toured it, from its spacious rooms with huge windows overlooking expansive gardens to its therapy suites for art, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. It was the gold standard for residential care in the area and Richard had admired it from gabled roof to sunny terrace. Admired it and discounted it as way beyond his means for his Father.
He had desperately wanted all that for his Father but he had realistically aimed lower, same ethos, less pricey bells, and whistles.
"Sorry, I'm confused," said Richard.
The woman smiled brightly at him, "These are such stressful times for the families," she said, "It's hard to keep track of everything, but honestly it is today that he is moving," She handed him a buff folder. "If you could just check the details and sign the release form at the bottom,"
Richard's hands shook as he opened the folder and scanned the pages. Release form on top, medical summary, and medication schedule underneath. He flicked through the pages quickly. Authorization for transfer by private ambulance. Room allocation at Foothills; ground floor, west wing, deluxe. Then on the last page, a badly photocopied duplicate of the residential invoice dated six days before. It had been paid in full for the next two years and the bottom line was a staggering number.
Richard clenched his fist and pressed it to his mouth. He felt his throat closing up and tears prickled at his eyes. He blinked rapidly. "Right," he managed to say, "Sorry, my mistake," He cleared his throat, "Do you have a pen please?"
He blindly signed his name at the bottom of the release form and his Father looked up at him, "Good to see you, son," he said suddenly.
"Yeah, you too Dad,"
The moment of lucidity passed and his Father resumed his endless watch of the world outside the window. Richard blindly handed the signed form back to the woman. She smiled sympathetically at him and patted his hand.
"He will be so happy there," she said, "It is the best of the best,"
"I know," said Richard, he could barely get the words out.
Richard sat quietly with his father until the transport arrived. A pretty nurse with an air of quiet efficiency gathered his Father's few belongings and his copious paperwork. The orderly that accompanied her had a wicked sense of humor and had Richard's father smiling in bemused delight within seconds.
Richard trailed them through the hospital corridors to the private ambulance where he kissed his Father's cool cheek and promised to visit soon. His father didn't turn around to look at him as the door closed and the ambulance rumbled off.
Slowly Richard backed up until he stood against the rough stone of the hospital entrance. He was aware of people moving past him, of the noise of cars and the smell of gas fumes from the parking lot. His brain whirled with slow fragments of memory.
He remembered how Ash had reacted when he found out Richard became a Venditor to afford care for his Father.
He remembered Ash naked above him, sinking onto his cock. He remembered the feel of Ash around him, tight and slick and hot. Ash had said it was motivation.
The memories whirled faster, all the small pieces circled.
"I want you to always be happy Ricky,"
"I knew that it was real for you too. And once I saw that..."
"I care about you, Ricky. I care a hell of a damn lot,"
"See you, Ricky,"
But Ash hadn't said anything about renewing their contract. And with his Father's residential placement paid for Richard wouldn't even have to go back to Delphic.
He gently banged his head back against the stone wall.
#
Ash's house glowed in the afternoon sun when Richard parked his car outside. A cloudless summer sky arched above it and the arms of the forest curled around it. Richard closed the door of the car quietly and made his way to the impressive entrance. The high walnut doors were unlocked and Richard slipped inside.
The living room was shaded and cool, the curtains were drawn across the view. Richard glanced at the kitchen clock. Three o'clock. He smiled. Time for their af
ternoon session.
Serenely Richard entered the bedroom. Ash was lying on the bed, he was dressed in his favorite ripped jeans and an old t-shirt so faded it was hard to tell what color it had been originally. He looked up at Richard silently, his face blank.
"How did you do it?" asked Richard.
"Computer expert, remember,"
"Why did you do it?"
Ash shrugged, not meeting his eyes.
Richard started to undo the buttons of his shirt. He slid it from his shoulders and toed off his shoes. He glanced up as he undid his belt to see Ash watching him.
He pushed his pants and shorts down and stepped out of them. When he folded his arms behind his back he felt a profound calm slip over him.
"My safeword is Vista," he said.
Ash's nod was so small it was barely perceptible.
Richard walked over to the bed and with grace acquired through practice, he slid onto it, his arms still locked behind his back. He maneuvered himself until he was positioned on Ash's thighs. Same place, same dynamic, different time.
Richard looked down at Ash whose expression remained blank but whose jaw was clenched tight.
Once again Richard remembered Ash lowering himself onto Richard's cock. What would motivate me?
"My motivation isn't money," he said quietly, "It stopped being money so fast it made my head spin." Despite the deep calm that infused him he felt his eyes prickle with tears, "My motivation is to please you and because I love you,"
Ash surged upwards.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
The sheets were cool on Richard's admittedly hot ass. He squirmed against them; as soon as they got back from the airport Ash had paddled him hard on his sunburnt bottom and then fucked him. It had stung and burnt in the most marvelous way and Ash had let him come because he took his spanking so well.
Ash was already asleep beside him, dead to the world, and sleeping like a brick as usual. Despite the heavy happy feeling inside that accompanied his rise from subspace Richard couldn't sleep, a combination of jetlag and excitement no doubt.