Chapter 3
Jaylin put on the suit Brent told him to wear and dutifully waited for the car to pick him up, trying not to let his stomach twist up into knots at what would be expected of him after dinner.
Dinner was at Eclipse, which wasn't Jaylin’s favorite place.
It was very fancy and very expensive, so not only did Jaylin always feel woefully out of place, but the portions were also very fancy and thus very small.
He always ate something before going out to Eclipse, even if it was only seasoned rice, because he tried to choose dishes as protein rich and vegetable-heavy as possible.
Carbs were cheap and other food groups weren’t, so Jaylin tried to take advantage of going out to eat by balancing his diet.
Walking into Eclipse never failed to make Jaylin feel small, especially with the way Brent kept his arm curled around Jaylin’s waist. Jaylin always felt like the servers knew exactly what he was there for, because there was no other reason for a powerful, wealthy older man like Brent to look twice at someone like Jaylin.
They were seated at a nice secluded table and Brent ordered wine for the both of them before Jaylin could say that he was fine with just water. Great. Now he’d be expected to finish at least one glass.
Jaylin didn’t really like drinking. He’d had a couple of foster parents who drank, and Jaylin… wasn’t interested in losing control like that. Wasn’t interested in the way the bottle made someone prone to hurting someone else.
He didn’t completely get why Brent bothered to order him drinks either. It wasn’t like he needed to coerce Jaylin into bed. Jaylin was already sleeping with him. It was just another power play. It wasn’t as if Brent ever asked Jaylin what he wanted to drink.
Brent gave him the usual smirk as he slouched back in his chair, taking up all the space on the other side of the table for two.
Jaylin couldn’t help but zero in on how big he was, how the wine glass looked so small in his large hand, and think about what Brent might want to do with him later.
Brent liked to hold Jaylin down. He liked how both of Jaylin’s wrists could fit in one of Brent’s bigger hands.
Liked how he could keep Jaylin still with the press of his big body.
Jaylin had given up trying to do anything but take it.
Fuck, but he really didn’t want to spend the night at Brent’s. He’d rather be sent home no matter what time it was then spend the night in Brent’s bed, trying not to tremble as the larger man wrapped himself around Jaylin’s body, trapping him in place.
He fought down the shiver at the memory of last time. Of being jolted awake with a cry as Brent roughly bullied his way back inside him, before shoving him face down into the mattress to fuck him so hard Jaylin had had to choke back begging him stop.
When Brent had finally, finally come inside him with a grunt and rolled off of him to head into the shower, Jaylin had had to clap both hands over his mouth to keep the sobs in.
He’d limped for the next two days, and had felt so ashamed going to his classes, as if somehow his classmates or teachers would know why he was walking funny.
But spending the night was something Brent had been demanding of Jaylin more and more often lately. More of Jaylin’s time, more from Jaylin’s body.
More, more, more.
“So,” Brent said, looking confident and at ease. “How did you spend your Saturday, hm?”
Jaylin’s hands clenched in his lap. He resolutely didn’t say anything like I spent time with your arch nemesis. Brent would be worse than furious if he found out about Hiro. Maybe not like break off the arrangement , but more like take it out on Jaylin.
Jaylin was well aware he was playing with fire, risking what he had.
But a part of him got a strange satisfaction from what had occurred.
One of Brent’s least favorite people had bought Jaylin hot cocoa and cookies and wanted to help him study, and had even seemed a little impressed by him, somehow.
“Mostly studying,” he said, which was true. “I had my tutoring with Aditi at nine like usual, and then I worked on my paper for business law.”
“That little girl still schooling you at statistics?” Brent asked, his mean smile playing around his lips.
“Aditi’s really smart,” Jaylin said quietly. Not arguing exactly, but wanting to defend his—friend. “Definitely smarter than me. She’s getting a full ride to MIT.”
“And how’s the paper coming?” Brent asked, dismissing Aditi completely. “I expect you to get a good grade on it, pet. Don’t want you wasting my tuition.”
My tuition. Brent never failed to remind Jaylin that he was the one paying Jaylin’s way.
“It’s going good,” Jaylin said. “I’m almost finished.
” He’d dictated the whole thing that afternoon, and was now just doing the arduous task of painstakingly reading it over and over to try to ferret out typos.
He’d gotten an 80% on his last paper solely because he’d had grammatical issues and his voice to text had spelled things incorrectly.
Brent nodded and then changed the subject again, bored with talking about Jaylin.
He had spent the last couple weeks working hard on a case, including late nights and weekends, and was happy to vent to a captive audience.
Maybe that was why he’d been demanding to see Jaylin more. It was a way to get out frustration.
When they were finished eating, Brent waved off dessert and paid the bill. He put a heavy hand on Jaylin’s hip as he led Jaylin back to the car, where his driver Ernie was waiting for them.
Once they were inside, Ernie flicked a glance at them through the rear view mirror and rolled up the privacy screen.
Jaylin swallowed as Brent’s hand slid up his thigh.
The entire drive back to Brent’s house, Jaylin told himself the same thing he always did. It’s worth it, it’s worth it, it’s worth it.
***
When Brent was finally done with him, Jaylin stumbled to the master bath’s shower to rinse off. Brent let him go without fuss, happy enough to let Jaylin clean himself up.
Sore and exhausted, Jaylin let the warm water beat down on his back for a few precious minutes, keeping his head tilted forward to keep his hair from getting wet.
His body ached from the hard fucking, and his scalp hurt from the way Brent had pulled on his hair to coax his body into a prettier arch.
When he knew he shouldn’t push the shower any longer because Brent was waiting, he went through the motions of cleaning his body. He no longer wrinkled his nose at the mess, having long gotten used to the fact that Brent didn’t like using condoms.
When he was finished, he toweled himself dry, still moving gingerly.
His wrists and hips hurt, like they were about to start blooming with bruises, and Jaylin dreaded what they might look like come morning.
Brent knew he wasn't supposed to leave marks.
It was the only other rule Jaylin had set down. Brent had promised.
Brent hadn’t been great at keeping those promises, lately.
Jaylin shoved aside his frustration as he went to brush his teeth. If he was brave enough to try to bring it up, he knew what Brent would do. He’d apologize in that saccharine way he did, saying that he didn’t realize he was holding Jaylin’s wrists that tightly.
“I won’t do it again, pet.”
Or worse, Brent would get annoyed with him. Jaylin could picture that too. “Really? You’re complaining about a few little bruises? After everything I give you? Pet, I’m disappointed.”
So Jaylin wasn’t going to bring it up, even if it bothered him.
There was no point. He wasn’t going to win.
So he might be a little bruised. So what?
It was nothing in the grand scheme of things.
He shouldn’t complain. All things considered, he had it great right now.
He didn't have to pay for rent or school, and that was huge.
He got help with some of his other bills, and some free meals besides. Things were fine. Good, even.
Jaylin had nothing to complain about. He just had to remind himself of that.
***
Jaylin woke up before Brent did, Brent’s arm heavy around his waist, and he spent several long minutes just lying there, heart pounding loud in his ears as the weight pressed him into the mattress.
When Brent finally stirred, he rolled fully on top of Jaylin and grabbed a fist full of Jaylin’s hair, tilting his head up and to the side. “Morning pet,” Brent purred into his ear.
Jaylin gritted his teeth against the sick feeling he always got when Brent touched his hair, the panic at being held down. “Morning,” he managed, and braced himself for whatever might come next.
This time it was a blowjob, which Jaylin was grateful for. It was easier than being fucked and way less messy, and all he had to do was ignore the hand clenched in his curls and relax his jaw and throat so that Brent could use him rough, the way he preferred.
Once Jaylin had finished him off and Brent was laying back in the sheets looking satisfied, he’d given Jaylin permission to go.
Jaylin stumbled out a thank you and hurriedly threw on his clothes, then grabbed up his backpack with his toiletries and outfit from last night. He didn’t want Brent to change his mind. Especially when he had somewhere to be in a few hours.
He left Brent in the bedroom and pulled out his phone to call for a ride, using Brent’s account because he was allowed to coming and going from where Brent wanted him to be. He kept an ear out while he did so, listening for the shower to start.