That stopped him. “Just how many men have you gone through it with?”
“Enough.” Clint glanced over his shoulder. His expression softened. “You were never meant to read the Master/slave contract. That’s for my more extreme arrangements. I’m sorry it upset you. In my defense, I did tell you I had very specific tastes.”
“I didn’t know your tastes were so…so…”
“What?” He turned. “Depraved? Fucked up? How quick you are to judge when you have no idea what it means to live this lifestyle. You only know what you just read.”
“Let me guess. You want to show me nights of endless pleasure.”
“And days.”
The cocky son of a bitch. As much as Evan wanted that, he refused to sign a contract to get it, not one with so many troubling terms. “I’m sorry, Clint. I can’t be that man you’re looking for. I’m not a submissive, or slave, or whatever else you want to call it. I’m not okay with what I just read.”
“Like I said, this is the wrong contract. How about we just talk through some basics? This is a negotiation, Evan. We have to reach a mutual agreement.”
“If we can’t?”
His expression fell along with his shoulders. “I think you know the answer to that question.”
“Why does it have to be like this? Why can’t we just be together?”
“That approach hasn’t really worked out for me in the past.”
Frustration mounted, hanging in the air between them, tightening the tension. Evan didn’t want this, to have to sign some contract to be with Clint. He wanted someone to spend time with him because he wanted to, not because he was contractually obligated to.
He wanted Clint. Clint wanted him. Why wasn’t that enough?
“Please, Evan. Sit with me. Let’s talk this through. Nothing is off the table.”
Evan dropped his attention to the contract. By the time he finished striking out the terms he refused to agree to, there wouldn’t be much left. “I won’t quit my job. I don’t want an allowance, either.”
“Understood.” Clint’s eyes began to dance as his expression lifted. “I need you at the store anyway.”
“No abuse. The first time you raise your hand, I’m out.” He grabbed the back of the chair and pulled it out to sit.
“It’s not abuse,” Clint explained as he took his original seat. “It’s intentional pain. There’s a difference.”
“Intentional on whose part?” He pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and removed the cap.
Clint’s gaze bounced to the pen in Evan’s hands. “What are you doing?”
“Striking out the sections I won’t agree to.”
“But, it’s the wrong contract.”
“Are you seriously arguing with me right now? I’m sitting. We’re talking. Negotiations are commencing. Go with it before I change my mind.”
“Strike away.”
As much as Evan wanted to strike it out, he wanted to know what Clint meant by intentional. He made a note instead and read it aloud. “Explicit permission must be given before the master can inflict any intentional pain on the submissive.” That was a sentence he never thought he’d ever say, let alone write. Let alone agree to.
“Agreed.” Clint made the same note on his copy. “For the record, you’re mixing your terms. I only insist on being called Master if you’re my slave. Since you’d be my submissive, not my slave, the correct term is Dominant. You can shorten it to sub and Dom if it’s easier.”
“What am I supposed to call you, then?”
“Sir.”
“Whatever,” he grumbled, refusing to accept the spark deep in his belly as anything close to interest in calling Clint by any name other than the one given to him. “Sections three and five are not happening.” Gone was the financial support section as well as the section granting Clint the right to share Evan. “You know what? I’m also not okay with section four.”
Clint lifted his gaze, holding him in it. “What’s wrong with living here?”
“I have my own place. Besides, do you have any idea how hard it is to find affordable apartments in this city?”
“You won’t need one. You’ll have your own room.”
His own room? Why wouldn’t he be staying in Clint’s room with him? This arrangement grew stranger and stranger by the minute. “What about when this is over?”
The deafening silence rang between them. After a tense stillness that even made the air brittle, it was so tight, Clint said, “I’ll be sure you’re taken care of.”
“Taken care of?” Evan’s mouth fell open. “I refuse to be some kept man. I can take care of myself.”
“Keep the apartment, then.” He made a note. “When your lease is up, we’ll revisit this portion of the contract. Now, let’s talk about your acceptable behavior both inside the playroom and in public. We’ll start with public first.”
“No.” Evan pushed away the contract. This was too much. It was all too much. He didn’t want to be told how to act. He didn’t want to give control of his own actions over to someone else. Anger and uncertainty kept his muscles tight. And fear. Definitely fear. “What is the matter with you? Why do you need this?”
Clint did the same and stood, moved to the other side of the room and pulled Evan to his feet. He rested his hand against Evan’s cheek and ran his thumb under his eye. “I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that. I’m not some monster ready to lock you in the highest tower.”
It certainly felt like he was trying to lock him away like some princess. “Why can’t it just be you and me?”
“Trust me, Evan. It’s for the best this way. What’s your hesitation? Let’s talk about it.”
He searched Clint’s eyes. What was his hesitation? Clint had already assured him they wouldn’t do anything Evan didn’t explicitly agree to. “I’m scared. I’m not going to lie.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little fear. It can be a powerful aphrodisiac.”
“I don’t think I can do this,” he muttered and released a shaky breath. He wanted to be with Clint more than anything. Would he be willing to try something way, way outside his comfort zone to make that happen? Clint was willing to talk it through. Evan should be willing to do the same. With another breath, he added, “Let’s just take a step back.”
Instead, Clint took a step forward. “I want you, Evan. I want to hold you to me, skin to skin, to feel our flesh melt into each other. I want to be inside you when I lose control, our bodies connected, so close I won’t know where I end and you begin. I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Evan swallowed hard. He’d never had anyone say such powerful words to him before. He’d never had anyone’s words make him hard before. If he didn’t feel everything Clint just described soon, he’d pass out from the overwhelming desire coursing through him and racing his pulse.
“How about we forget the contract for now?”
Evan blinked. Twice. “You’d do that?”
“For you, I would. Sign the NDA and give me one night with you in the playroom. If you don’t experience more pleasure than you’ve ever known, if you don’t want to beg me to bring you back the next day, and the day after that, I won’t bring it up again. Deal?”
Swallowing again, he licked his lips, everything suddenly very, very dry. He was about to delve into a lifestyle he’d only seen in the movies. After a quick signature on the non-disclosure agreement, he set the pen on the table. “Deal.”
10
Clint led Evan up the stairs and to his room at the end of the hall. Why would he be nervous? He’d had several lovers, and none of them had made him nervous. Why now?
He knew why, and the reason stared back at him with wide, crystal blue eyes. Evan was curious, but scared. Clint had seen it before, last night when he’d mentioned a playroom and Evan had nearly passed out on the stairs. He wouldn’t do anything the smaller man didn’t want to do. They’d only known each other a few days. Having sex this soon was off the table. He had no intention of d
oing anything more than fooling around to test the waters.
Besides, this went against every rule Clint had put in place to purposely avoid these types of situations. He didn’t want to give Evan the wrong idea. This was about sex. Raw. Dominant. Gratifying. It wasn’t about feelings. It wasn’t about finding an emotional connection. It was all about control. Evan had it over Clint.
Clint wanted it back.
“Set the wine next to the bed.” He kicked off his shoes and removed everything but his silk boxers. His erection, heavy with need, tented the thin fabric and drew Evan’s attention. Dear God, if the man kept jumping his gaze to Clint’s groin, he’d come undone. If he didn’t release the load he’d been carrying since first laying eyes on Evan, he’d have a case of blue balls that would never go away.
“Take off your clothes,” Clint ordered and sat on the bed. They’d have to take this slow. Tonight, they’d explore only. He refused to cross the line into sex until they had a contract in place. That was one rule he wouldn’t break.
Evan colored and visibly swallowed, but didn’t hesitate to remove everything he had on.
Clint nearly lost control right there. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. “Sweet Jesus, Evan. How many hours do you work out a day?”
“Not nearly enough.”
“I think it’s exactly enough.”
Evan lowered his gaze to the tent pole between Clint’s thighs and licked his lips. “Is that for me?”
“It’s because of you.” He motioned at Evan. “Come here. Let me get a closer look.”
He kicked off his boxers as Evan moved toward him. When he straightened out on the bed, Evan widened his eyes at Clint’s erection. “Holy Jesus.”
Clint lifted himself with his elbows and frowned. “What is it?”
Evan bounced his gaze to Clint’s face. “That thing is huge. There is no way it’s going to fit.”
“And that scares you?”
Evan glanced at Clint’s dick. “That scares me.”
He chuckled and opened the top drawer of his nightstand to grab the lube. “We aren’t having sex.” Unfortunately.
“Then why are we naked?”
“To get to know each other.”
“Ever heard of going for coffee?”
“This is so much more fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “There are so many other ways for us to get to know each other.”
“Such as?”
Clint rose to his feet, his hard cock bobbing as he walked toward Evan. He pulled the smaller man into his arms and covered his lips with his own, moving slowly, gently until Evan’s tension melted. He explored, making sure to cover every inch, before allowing the kiss to grow more urgent and voracious.
Evan kissed him back with a hunger that equaled his. When he fisted Clint’s cock, he broke the kiss and stepped out of reach. Evan rounded his eyes as if he’d just gotten caught sneaking liquor into church. “What did I do wrong?”
“I want to spend more time above the waist before we go right for the prize.”
“The prize?” Evan’s eyes danced in a tease. “You really think a lot of yourself, don’t you?”
“You’re the one who commented on the size of my dick.”
He colored beautifully and Clint couldn’t stand it. He leaned in, taking Evan’s mouth and kissing him with everything he had. They fell to the bed and wrapped themselves together, kissing feverishly, hands everywhere, legs intertwined. When Evan’s hand found Clint’s cock again, he let him fist it, stroke it. Clint did the same to Evan before bringing both together and fisting them. They’d have time to explore later. Right now, he wanted Evan to come again, this time with him.
He grabbed the lube and slathered on a generous amount, making sure to cover both erections. Once both were completely slick, he brought them back together. “Take your hand and wrap it like mine.”
“Yes, sir.” He met Clint’s hand and they stroked together. Evan shuddered when Clint used his free hand to thrust his fingers into his lover’s hair and tighten his hold, keeping Evan’s sweet lips exactly where he wanted them.
“That’s it. Perfect.” Clint rocked his hips, moving their cocks together and leaning in to kiss him.
Evan moaned and matched Clint’s pace, grinding his hips in time with the strokes. “Oh, God. That feels amazing.”
“Bet I can make it feel even better.” He squeezed some of the lube onto his finger and ran his hand up and down the rounded slit of Evan’s ass. “Look what I found.”
“Yes,” Evan hissed. He relaxed and pushed against Clint’s slickened finger, giving him permission to penetrate.
Slowly, deliberately, Clint sank his finger into the tight little hole and curled it, brushing the end against the pebble in a “come here” motion. Evan jerked and sucked Clint’s tongue. Hard.
“Oh, Jesus. Oh, shit. Too soon. Too—Clint!” Evan stiffened as he came and pumped out thick pulses of sweet nectar. Clint didn’t slow and stroked them both, driving himself closer to the edge.
Evan shuddered and leaned into Clint. He brought his other hand to Clint’s balls and took them in his palm, rubbing his middle finger up and down the tender spot between the scrotum and anus.
“Yes,” Clint moaned. “Oh, yeah. Just like that.”
Evan tightened his grip and rubbed his cock against Clint’s. The friction sent him over the edge, and he rocked his hips hard, thrusting his cock into Evan’s grip as the first of his orgasm slammed into him.
“Jesus!” Clint hollered and lost his rhythm, but that didn’t slow Evan from milking him, pulling his life from deep inside his balls like an oil drill.
Evan rocked his hips against Clint, keeping a steady friction between them until they both slowed, spent.
“Holy shit,” Clint groaned and rolled to his back. “That was a good one.”
“Most definitely,” Evan agreed, panting.
After cleaning himself, he stared at the ceiling until he recovered. It took several minutes. He realized he was hungry and asked, “Have you eaten?”
“I had a salad around seven.”
Clint sat up and swung over the side of the bed. “Let’s order in. What are you in the mood for?”
“Since it’s after eleven, I think our only choice is pizza.” He moved in behind and rested his chin on Clint’s shoulder. “You have a habit of keeping me up past my bedtime, you know that?”
“All the more reason to have a room here.”
“Why a separate room? Why not here with you?”
He pushed off the bed and walked into the bathroom to wash his hands. Evan was still in the same position when he returned, his eyes wide as he waited for the answer. God, he looked so damn innocent. So delectable. Clint fought the urge to move in for round two and instead grabbed the robe off the back of the door. Glancing over his shoulder, eyeing Evan in his delicious nakedness, he tossed him the robe and went to his walk-in closet to dig for his spare.
By the time he found it and slipped it on, he exited the closet to find the door open and Evan gone. Shit. Not again. “Evan?” When he didn’t answer, Clint hurried out of the bedroom and down the stairs, cursing himself for not answering the question. It probably scared him off. “Evan?”
“In here.”
Clint glanced over the banister to find his lover in the kitchen cutting up cheeses and adding the slices to a plate of meats. He’d found a box of crackers Clint didn’t remember buying. Hell, he didn’t remember buying meat or cheese, for that matter. “What are you doing?”
“Let’s just have a light snack. I don’t want too many carbs this late.” He grinned. If Clint hadn’t already fallen for the playful gleam in his eye when he smiled, he would have believed the gesture to be genuine.
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s great. Why wouldn’t it be? Now, are we allowed to eat in the dining room? Or is it strictly for contract negotiations?”
“What’s going on?”
“Grab the wine,” he called out as he shuffl
ed toward the dining room. “I left it in the bedroom.”
“Where you also left your mind.”
Evan laughed like a hyena. Yet another sign the man was inching closer to completely losing it. “Good one.”
Ah, Jesus. Something told him no matter what he said next, he’d regret it. That didn’t stop him for at least trying to explain. He caught up to him just as Evan sat in the same chair he’d occupied during the awkward negotiations. “Listen, Evan.”
“You know, on second thought, I’m not really hungry.” He stood and thrust out his chin. “I’d like to be shown my room now.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?” There went that hysterical laugh again. “I’m just learning my place.” The smile slid from his face. “Which is, apparently, not next to you.”
“Christ, man. Don’t do this. Don’t let your fears and doubts drive you to be…this.”
“This?”
“This!” he roared and motioned at Evan, who jumped from the sudden outburst. “The separate room is so you have privacy. Away from me. Some of the things we may do… You’ll want time alone.”
“Why?”
“To recover.”
He sucked in a sharp breath. “Physically?”
“Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Some of our play will push your limits. It will push us both.”
He paled as his mouth fell open. “Will it hurt?”
“Only if you ask me to inflict pain.”
“Ask you?” he practically cried. “Why would I ask you for something like that?”
Clint sighed and pinched the skin between his eyes. “Please, Evan. Can we not have this discussion right now?”
“Show me.”
He stilled and stared. The man’s pale eyes were bright, wide, curious. “Excuse me?”
“Show me what you mean. Right now. I mean it, Clint. If your kink is too much for me, I’ll walk away tonight. No regrets. No hurt feelings.”
“And if it’s not?”
“We already agreed to one night in the playroom.”
Clint deliberated his choices. He could order his sub to his room, but deep down knew that would go over about as well as telling him to calm down. He could promise to show him in the morning and risk the man having nightmares that would be far worse than anything he’d ever experience in the playroom. That fear shining in Evan’s eyes, that wide-eyed panic over the unknown had the man close to stroking out. The unknown would send him over the edge.
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