Chapter 11
It’s been two weeks since I followed him home from the club, and it’s impossible to get that man out of my head.
Memphis bloody MacIntosh has taken up penthouse residency in my mind.
He’s in my dreams, ones that end up with me waking up with my hand around my rigid knob and a hard-on that won’t go away until I come—usually with his face in my mind and his name my lips.
And when I come? It’s so hard I feel like I’m going to go blind or pass out at the intensity.
After spending time with my dads and hearing what I hate to say are sensible reasons for Memphis not coming home, my thoughts are on Memphis showing signs of being a boy when he was at home and being so blind to them.
I was still in training at Bound, and while I knew who I was, I hadn’t learnt the subtle cues from boys and littles.
The littles at the club were never shy or held back what they wanted.
But that was because they were all part of teaching me.
It took much more practice to understand the nuances of a shy or nervous boy.
The hardest part is admitting to myself that I want him. And that Pops is right: Memphis needed to find his own path before coming back, not just to here but to me.
At least while I’m working, my mind is occupied.
I can focus on my classes. It’s when I get to the gym that my mind wanders back to him, which is exactly where I am when I hear Saint’s voice.
He’s supposed to be working today. I look around, and my jaw drops.
He’s talking to Roman and bloody Memphis.
What the hell? I thought he’d realise how screwed up my head is over the whole Memphis is back mess.
Why hasn’t he mentioned them getting together to me.
He must feel my scrutiny, because he looks in my direction. He nods, then continues to talk. Memphis smiles and gives him a hug when he finishes talking. The spike of jealousy that courses through me has my feet moving towards them. By the time I reach them, Saint has let go of Memphis.
I pull Memphis away from my brother and fix Saint with an I’ll deal with you later look.
Then turning my attention to the object of my every desire, I see a mix of nervousness and defiance.
It’s the same look he had when he dismissed me on the street.
Now, he’s looking so beautiful, and I know I should be reminding him that I told him to stay the fuck away from me, but I lost that when I followed him.
Then the fucker bites down on his bottom lip and looks up through his long dark blond eyelashes, and any angry words melt away, and I pull him hard against me.
I’m kissing him before I can even register what’s going on.
And god, what a kiss! His mouth is so soft; his lips taste of strawberry, and as they part on a muted sigh, I dip inside to get my first taste of his tongue.
I can’t stop from exploring his mouth as my arms wrap tighter around him, holding him against me.
He tastes so sweet, I don’t ever want to stop.
Eventually, I slow down and pull back. I look into his glassy eyes; his irises have reduced the icy grey to a thin ring around blown pupils.
I watch as his tongue flicks along his bottom lip before he sucks the puffy, tender flesh into his mouth.
I try to loosen my grip on his body, then realise his legs are around my waist, and I’m cupping his perfect arse in my hands.
Then it hits me what I’ve just done and who I’ve done it with. The man I’m supposed to be angry with. I want to tell him to fuck back off to where he’s been for the past seven years. I can’t because he’s my boy. He’s always been my boy. Fuck!
“I think you should, perhaps, put me down, Daddy,” Memphis whispers against my lips. “People are staring.”
“Then maybe, baby boy, you shouldn’t’ve climbed me like a tree.” God, calling him that that felt so right. Just as Daddy slipped beautifully from his lips. “I don’t want to see you hug my brother again, not without my say so. Do you hear me?”
He giggles, fucking giggles, then wriggles. My cock throbs, trapped painfully in a tight jock, which thankfully, will save me from any further embarrassing moments. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Brat! I’m going to put you down now, and then when I’ve finished my workout, we are going to talk.” I slowly move my hands from his arse to his waist as his legs lower back down to the floor.
“Should I wait here for you?” He looks unsure now I’ve let go of him.
Knox walks up to us at that point, his eyes on me rather than Memphis. “I’ll keep him with me, Royal.”
I look at Memphis. “Are you okay with that? I won’t be long.
” I know that I should call it quits on my workout, but I need the time to get my head straight and my dick soft again.
How do I feel? Is it possible to simply let go of the anger I’ve held against him?
I still remember the feeling of hurt I had when I’d gone to my dads’ house and found him gone without even saying goodbye to me.
He nods, then without another word, walks back with Knox. “I hope Noah knows about you talking to Roman,” I say to Saint.
He laughs as he punches my shoulder. “Of course he does, dickhead. We don’t have secrets. He’s around here somewhere, doing some drawing with the kids. Stop trying to shit stir.”
“Fuck off,” I grumble and go back to working out.
Kris, one of the members, approaches me as I step up onto the treadmill. I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a good guy—and also a Dom. “Hey, Royal. Can I have a word?”
“Yeah, of course. What’s up?” I cross my arms over my chest as he scrubs his hand through his hair.
“Um, it’s about your brother.” He looks cagey, worried even.
“Which brother, Kris, because you don’t have a good vibe coming off you.”
“Drake.” He looks around before continuing.
“I think the guy he’s with is dangerous.
Drake was with him last night at Bound, and he looked scared.
His Dom had a strong grip on his neck and was shoving him into one of the private rooms. I don’t know the dynamics of their partnership, but I do know an unhappy sub when I see one.
They were in there for a long time, then Master Rees came out alone.
Now I may have overstepped my mark, but when Drake didn’t come out, I went in the room.
He was sobbing in the corner and had some nasty welts on his body. ”
“Fuck, Kris. Did you call any of the staff? Cole? Where the fuck was Rees?”
“He wouldn’t let me, but I helped him up and got him cleaned and dressed. Rees had left the club by then. I have reported it, but I thought maybe it would be good if you and Saint knew too. I’m sorry, man, but Drake wouldn’t let me do anymore to help.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” My youngest brother has always been private.
We know he joined the army when he was straight out of school but there’s a gap of a few years before he did this bodyguarding, and we jokingly called him a spy, he never talks about his work.
It came as a surprise that he liked to submit; he’s a well-built, tattooed hunk of a man.
I wrongly thought he’d be a Dom. “We’ll check in on Drake and sort out Rees.
You’re a good man.” I’ve never liked the guy, but I trusted Drake.
I need to know if this has happened before, because I’m going to make damn sure it doesn’t again. I was going to kill that fucking Dom.
“Yeah, Drake’s a good kid. I like him. Let me know if you need me.” He pats my shoulder and goes to catch up with his friends.
I wonder where he is today. Maybe I should go check on him, find out what happened, but he’s not easy to track down if he wants to be alone and with Memphis waiting for me, I don’t have a chance.
No longer in the mood to finish, I clean my space, then I wander off to find my brothers and the man I seem to have claimed.
I’ll tell my brothers about it, and we can work out what to do.
This is not what I want to be thinking about right now, not with my boy here.
That’s fucking with my head already. I know my instincts are right: that’s he’s my boy.
I’m not sure how to handle it. The idea of him being with anyone roils in my stomach, like snakes writhing and ready to snap and bite.
It’s the getting over his desertion, of him staying away for so long that’s so hard.
If I’m angry with him, it could break us before we start.
Where has he been, what has he done, what does he do now?
And the most important question, is he staying?
Because if this is only a visit, then I’m not touching him again.
As I approach the office I can hear voices, and someone laughs as I push the door open.
The talking stops when I step inside. Saint is in the office chair with his boy on his lap.
Knox is leaning against the radiator, smiling happily.
God, my brain is all over the place. Maybe because the object of my every thought is lounging on the sofa.
He sits up straighter, his eyes sparkling as he smiles at me. “Have you finished?”
I nod, thankful it’s the weekend. We need time to talk and to process. “I need a quick shower. Then do you want to go and get something to eat? Just the two of us,” I clarify, not wanting my brother with us.
“Don’t worry, bro, I’m not gonna gate-crash. I’ve got plans with Noah.” Saint gives his boy a squeeze.
The mention of his sub reminds me of Drake. “I need a word with you.” I tip my head to the door.
Saint narrows his eyes at me. He says something to Noah, who gets off his knee. I walk back out with Saint and Knox following and shutting the door. “What’s up? Because if this is to rant about me talking to Memphis, then forget it.”
“No, it’s not. I know you don’t have the same issues I have with him.”
“It didn’t look like there were any issues with him when you had your tongue in his mouth and your hands on his arse. Don’t play games with him, Royal.”
“That’s not what this is about.” I tell them what Kris told me.
The anger is visible on their faces as they listen. I’m not surprised by the snarl Saint lets out; his lifestyle is more like Rees’. And treating a sub badly is the ultimate sin. “I’ll fucking kill that bastard. I’ve never liked him.”
“We’ll sort it together. He won’t get away with hurting our brother.” Knox already looks ready to maim.
“You’ve got plenty on your plate to deal with, Royal. You need time with Memphis; you’ve got talking to do. We’ll go to Bound tonight.”
I don’t like this idea; we always stick together. It’s how it’s always been. I look towards the office and know I have to let him do this. “Drake isn’t going to be happy with us interfering, you know that. Tell me what happens.”
“I will. I’ll call rather than come over, You’ve got a lot to work through.” Saint grins. “But be sure, brother, because that boy’s got it bad for you.”
“I not telling you anything until we’ve talked, but I’m hoping it will be okay. He’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
Saint accepts that with a nod before opening the door again. “Come on, trouble. We’ve got things to do.” Noah stands up, gluing himself to Saint’s body. Those two are total exhibitionists; it wouldn’t take long to have them fucking in here, even with us present.
I look at Memphis. “I’ll go and get showered. It won’t take long.”