Chapter 17
17
User 76539
Conman
Asshole
Liar
Cheat
Charlatan
T he texts had been coming about one every thirty seconds from various numbers for eight hours. At first it was irritating. Then it was infuriating.
But ‘charlatan’?
That was just silly.
Still, it was affecting his work, and he headed someplace quiet, calling Neil.
He needed someone who wasn’t working with him now to help shut this down.
Neil would know who to talk to.
Neil answered, and he could hear the street noise in the background. “Hey, Chris. Good timing, I was just getting off shift. How are you?”
“I need advice. Can we meet? I can come to the café, or we can meet somewhere.”
There was a quiet moment, and he could sense the hesitation. “Is… I mean, Leo…”
He shook his head like Neil could see him. “It’s not Leo. We’re good. In fact, he’s my next call. This is about harassment. I need help.”
“Shit. Okay. Let’s meet.” That seemed to get Neil’s attention. “We could do the café, but that’s out my way. Do you want to meet at the bar?”
“Let’s meet at Les’s. That’s a perfect spot.” And they could sit in the back and talk openly. “I appreciate it, very much.”
“Of course. I’ll see you there soon.” Neil hung up right away, probably to call Isaac and check in. He knew Isaac worried when Neil was late; it was sweet. And probably smart too.
He called Leo, because he wouldn’t hurt his Sir for love or money, and he wanted to deserve whatever spanking he got.
“Hello, boy. Are you on your way home? I was thinking about spaghetti.”
“No, Sir. I’m heading to Les’s. I—I have a—” He sighed, trying to figure out how to say he needed help without upsetting Leo.
“Okay. Take a breath and try again.”
He sucked in a deep breath. “I need help with something. I called Neil because he’ll be able to tell me who I ought to talk to.”
“And he’s meeting you at the bar?”
He didn’t hear anything in that question that gave him an idea how Leo felt one way or the other.
“Yes, Sir. I’m heading there now, and so is he.” He needed to breathe, to hold onto his temper, and he’d managed all day.
“Okay, good. I hope he can help. Have a beer and try to relax. We’ll talk when you get home.”
“Yes, Sir. Do you want me to buy food or just call on my way?” Thank you. Thank you so much for not snarling.
“Just call when you’re on your way. I’ll have dinner waiting.” There was a brief pause and then Leo added, “Be careful coming home later. I love you.”
“I love you.” More than anything. “I won’t be late. You have my word.”
“Good boy. See you soon.” Leo didn’t hang up first. He never did.
“Yes, Sir.” He hung up and got to the club before Neil did. He ordered a Coke at the bar, and then headed to a booth. He had another sixteen texts.
“Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting; the traffic was slow.” Neil slid into the booth across from him, then froze. “Whoa. You look pale. What’s going on?”
Chris handed his phone over without a word, and Neil took it. He read the texts, his eyes going wide.
“Fucker.” Neil scrolled on and on, it was almost comical how many there were, if it wasn’t so cruel. “This is all that shit Edward, you think?”
“Yeah. Zack. Edward. It has to be some sort of a program, right? No one can do this sort of thing all day.” Could they?
“I don’t know how this stuff works, but I’m sure it’s some kind of robo-dialer. I can have someone call you. Get a new number tomorrow. Only share it with people you trust.” Neil grinned at him “And me.”
“And you. Thanks. I don’t want it to get around, but I need this to stop.” He was trying to keep his temper.
Neil leaned toward him a little. “We’ll make it stop. We’ll try the cops first, and if that doesn’t work—and I have to be honest, Chrissy, with something like this, it might not—if it doesn’t stop, our community has ways of handling bad actors. You’re one of us, and that means something.”
“I know. I’m not going to keep this a secret from Leo. He has my back, but I’m trying hard to keep my temper. It’s important to him, but I just want to go beat that little fuck into a grease spot on the ground.”
“Oh, I hear that. And he deserves it. Maybe your Master will have an idea about a better way to channel that energy.” Neil winked at him. “He’s a big guy.”
“He’s amazing. A huge ocean of calm.”
“He does seem to be. I wonder how he does it?”
“Magic. I’m fairly sure it’s magic…” He wasn’t even being sarcastic. Not really.
“So things are good? A couple of months ago, you’d have been going off the deep end over this Edward thing. You look amazing—I mean—a little pale today, but even pale, you look good, man.” Neil rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, buddy. I know. I’m telling you. He’s amazing. He does it for me.” Chris was happy.
“Good. He can be an odd egg, but we like him.” Neil sat back in his seat. “Anything else you need me to do? Can I take you home? I want you to feel safe.”
“I—” The phone went off again.
User 25493
U think u can satisfy him
We know
We’re going to fuck u up
Fuck him.
“I’m fine.”
“All right. Well, let me walk you out? Maybe you should turn that off. You don’t need all that crap buzzing in your pocket all night.”
“You’re right about that.” He texted his Master to say he was heading home, interrupted by a dozen more texts before he turned it off. “You know… I’ll take that ride.”
Neil smiled as he slid out of the booth. “Good. I feel better about that too. Come on. I’m parked up the block.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. This is unnerving as hell.” He wasn’t a cop after all. He was a trainer.
“It’s harassment, for sure. Stalking maybe. Hard to prove who’s behind it. Let’s hope it stays just in your phone.” Neil kept close as they walked down the sidewalk, eyes everywhere but on him.
“If it doesn’t, I’ll be aggravated. I don’t need that kind of shit.” And he wasn’t going to be nice about it.
Neil walked him around to the passenger side of his SUV and held the door for him, then went around and climbed in. “I haven’t driven to Brooklyn in a while.”
That was ridiculously chivalrous, but he didn’t bitch. “No? Must be nice, being a café owner now,” he teased.
“Oh, yeah. It’s a life of luxury for sure.” Neil laughed. “Early mornings, hot kitchens, customer service…”
“Yep. That’s you. Spoiled brat.”
“Mm. So bratty.” Neil turned on the radio and headed for the bridge. It wasn’t a long drive and, when they arrived, Neil parked along the curb and insisted on walking him into the building.
“Would you like to come up? Meet the kittens?” He didn’t need a guard, but he did need a friend, and this was part of the deal with Neil. This was friendship.
Neil smiled. “Oh, hey. That would be cool. I won’t stay long.”
“Sure.” They headed up to the apartment, and then down the hall.
He opened the door to the frantic meowing of Dot and Spot. “Oh, y’all. I’m home. Where’s your daddy?”
Leo had been stretched out on the couch and sat up, then hauled himself to his feet. “Having a nap.”
“I brought company. He gave me a ride home.” And Chris found himself vibrating. He needed a nap in the worst way.
“Oh. Hey, Neil. Thanks for bringing him home.”
“My pleasure. I was promised kittens.” Neil picked Dot up and cooed at her.
Leo took his hand and pulled him in close, big arms wrapping around his shoulders. “You had a good talk?”
“He’s going to help me, so yes.” He leaned hard against his Master. “It’s been one hell of a day.”
Neil traded Dot for Spot. “I should go and let you two get on with your evening. Your kittens are so cute.” Neil put Spot down. “Even if I am more of a dog person.”
“We can hook you up with one of those too, Neil.” He winked over, rolled his eyes. “Thanks, buddy. You rock.”
“Anytime, cutie.”
He flipped Neil off, and they both cracked up.
“He’s going to need a new phone number, Leo.” Neil gave them both a wave and saw himself out. “Have a good night.”
“What’s wrong with your phone?” Leo hadn’t let him go yet.
“I’m being harassed. I had to turn it off.” That was honest and gentle all at once.
Leo shifted him to arm’s length. “Are you okay?”
He opened his mouth to say yes, but it wouldn’t come out. What did was, “I don’t know.”
Leo searched his eyes for a moment. “Let’s go sit, and you can tell me.”
“Okay. Okay, yes. Please, Sir.” He nodded, swallowed hard. “There’s nothing I want more.”
Leo took his hand and pulled him through the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water for each of them before leading him to the living room. “Is it Zack”
“Either Zack or his pet. Probably both?” He wasn’t sure, all the way.
Leo nodded and sat, letting him settle with him. “Okay. When you’re ready.”
Chris nodded, handing over his phone. “They won’t stop. The texts.”
Leo took the phone and turned it on, putting in his code. He started to scroll, and a deep frown settled on his face. “Jesus. This is awful. This has been going on all day?”
“Since six a.m. I needed Neil to help me speak to someone. I can’t live like this for days.”
“No, no.” Leo nuzzled his hair and shut the phone off again. “That was a good call, to go to Neil. I’m proud of you for that.”
Anyone watching them would think Leo was a calm, steady presence for him, but he knew his man too well. He could feel the tension building in Leo’s arms, the slight increase in heart rate.
“I don’t get it. He broke up with me. I didn’t throw a fit. I wasn’t an asshole. He broke up with me .”
Leo sighed. “I don’t like it. I think I need to talk to some people. Did Neil mention talking… to anyone else?”
“He said—” Chris closed his eyes to search his memory. “He said that our community took care of our own. That I belonged here.”
Sometimes Neil was such a Dom.
“Good. That’s what I needed to know.” Leo sighed and seemed to relax again. “I’m glad he reminded you that you’re part of the community; you should feel included.”
“I’m trying, Sir. I am holding onto my temper with both hands.” In fact, he was fighting it with all he had.
“I know. You’re super tense. Let’s try…”
He barely had time to blink. All of a sudden, he was on his back and pinned to the couch, wrists held tight in Leo’s hands and legs pinned with one big knee. “This.”
His eyes flew open, his breath huffing out of him in a rush. “Master?”
“Well? Let’s see that temper.” Leo gave him an evil grin.
“What? I’m trying to be good!” Oh, he knew this game, and he loved that Leo was here with him. “I’m trying not to be an asshole!”
“Good? You’re a naughty boy. But you can’t get away from me!” Leo wiggled his fingers, giving him the barest hint of a possibility that he might get his hands free.
“Oh, fuck that. I so can.” He held Leo’s gaze, pouring all his love into his expression.
Leo laughed. “Oh? Prove it.”
He started fighting, easy at first, then harder. He trusted Leo, balls to bones, and his Master could take it.
“That’s it. You’re allowed to be angry. Let it out, boy.” Leo let him struggle, let him sit up, then pushed him back down again.
“Stop it! Back the fuck off!” He sucked in a deep breath and growled.
“Not gonna happen, boy. You want to fight, you can fight me.”
“I was being fucking good!” And Leo knew it, dammit.
“You were.” Leo leaned close to his ear and whispered, “This is your reward.”
“I know. Fuck me. Thank you. I need this.” He needed this more than anything.
Chris went to town, fighting, allowing himself to breathe, to focus, to trust.
“Me too.”
Leo let him get free, and he jumped off the couch, but it didn’t last long. His Master’s big arms caught him and pulled him in and lifted him up and over one shoulder. “Watch your head, boy,” Leo said, carrying him through the bedroom door.
He chuckled, ducking his head and nibbling a little on Leo’s shoulder. It was only fair.
“Naughty.” He heard Leo hauling out his cuffs, and then he landed on his back in bed. “There’s only one way to deal with a boy like you.”
He made a face, then stuck his tongue out at his Sir. Come on, love. I need you.
Leo tweaked one nipple hard. “Pull that tongue back in if you want to keep it.” His wrists went into the cuffs quickly and Leo tightened the straps.
He groaned and arched, the pressure around his wrists setting him free.
“You know what’s coming, don’t you, boy?” Leo’s fingers yanked his sneakers off and tossed them, then worked his jeans open and roughly tugged the jeans and his briefs down and off. “You can fight all you want. Those cuffs will hold you.”
“I was so fucking angry. I’m burning with it.” He groaned deep in his chest, the words buzzing inside him.
“They’re awful people.” Leo grabbed lube and tore open a condom. “Nobody loves you the way I do.”
“No. No one ever has.” He knew that. It soared inside him.
Leo pushed one of his knees back and slick fingers pressed against him, slipping steadily deeper inside. “Nobody fucks with my boy. You’re mine.”
“Yes. All yours. Fuck… Master.” His eyes crossed with the pressure.
His Master seemed just as impatient as he was and didn’t tease him for long, Leo’s heavy cock replacing the fingers quickly.
He gasped, the stretch wild. They didn’t do this often, but his Master was possessing him, taking him, driving everything else out of his mind.
“My boy.” Leo drove into him, picking up a steady, heavy pace right from the start. Fingers wrapped around his prick, surprisingly gentle for their size and despite their rough energy.
“Yours. Master… Master, I need you.” He’d done everything he was supposed to, and he was having his reward, right here.
“Show me, boy. Show me how much.” Leo rocked him hard. “Show me now.”
His eyes flew open, and lightning shot through him in a jolt. His balls tightened, and he shot, shuddering through every pulse.
“Yes. Fuck, yes!” Leo grunted, hips hammering him for a few wild seconds before sucking in a shaky breath and coming with a roar.
“M-master. Oh, fuck. My Master.” He panted, fighting to catch his breath. “Love you.”
“Love you, boy.” Leo let his leg go so he could relax but stayed hanging over him, staring into his eyes.
“Thank you, Sir. I needed you.”
His Master nodded. “I really needed that—and you—too.” Leo slipped away and tossed the condom, returning with a warm cloth to clean him up. Leo took his time, sliding the cloth over his skin before tossing it to the floor.
He watched Leo, his entire body melted into the sheets.
“Good boy.” Leo loosened the straps and unhooked them from his cuffs. “How do you feel? Arms okay?”
“Yes, Master. I feel… glad to be home. Very glad.”
“Mm. Good.” Leo stretched out next to him. “Come here.”
Chris moved over, his body twinging and letting him know that he’d held his Master deep. “Hey. I’m going to have to get a new phone, I think.”
“Mhm. New phone. New number. You’re amazing, you know. Did you eat? Are you hungry?” Leo was so close his breath rustled Chris’s hair when he spoke.
“Probably, but this is more important.” They could eat late. They knew how.
“This is the best. We needed to work off some of your energy.”
“It’s maddening, Sir, the things they said, but the constant buzzing? It was insane.” But he’d kept it together, and he knew Leo had his back.
“They knew what they were doing, and I think they expect a reaction. You’re not going to give them that satisfaction.” Leo sighed. “We’re not going to turn that phone back on, okay? Just leave it off.”
“Yes, Sir.” He wasn’t going to argue at all.
“Good boy.” Leo chuckled. “They got my hackles up.”
“Yeah, me too. It’s a shit-ton of negativity to be needling at you.”
“Normally people don’t get under my skin. I’m good at rising above. But this—this is different. This is much different.”
“It feels like an attack. Like it could blow up, and I swear to you, I don’t deserve it.” He hadn’t been an asshole to Zack. He knew he hadn’t been.
“Of course you don’t. It really doesn’t matter what happened anyway, even if he were hurt, which we both know he is not, this is extreme. Period. It’s stalking.”
“Yes. I don’t want to—I’m not a coward, you know that, but I just want to live my life, you know?” Chris wasn’t stupid—this was hate, pure and simple, and people lost families, friends, jobs…
Their lives.
People died from this sort of thing.
“You heard what Neil said. We’re on it.” Leo tucked him just a little closer. “Trust that.”
“Right. I belong here.” He held Leo close, melting into all that heat. “Right here.”