Chapter 9
9
W esley woke up with start, as if he were supposed to be somewhere. He lifted his head slightly off the pillow and looked around, gaze darting from the bedside table to the bathroom door to the bed, and the man lying next to him.
The boy lying next to him.
Zeke.
Everything fell back into place, and he dropped his head down again with a smile and a sigh, turning a bit to watch Zeke sleep.
Their evening had been perfect. A textbook-perfect first date. He couldn’t believe that he’d almost blown it up for both of them by overthinking things. So typical. What an idiot. He’d saved it though with a little humor and a kiss.
Lesson learned: worry less, trust his instincts and just see what happens. At this point, he didn’t think he could ruin things as long as he meant well.
Man, was it weird not to have to get up and go someplace. He didn’t have to go anywhere. At all. All day. They could order food and a sub would bring it to them in bed.
What a great fucking idea.
Zeke took a deep breath, snuggling right into him with a sigh. “Wesley…”
“Right here, boy.” Zeke was warm and smelled like sex, and Wesley wasn’t complaining one bit. He could lie here and hold Zeke all damn day long. “Not going anywhere.”
Zeke licked his lips, cock growing against his thigh. That curly dark hair had escaped from its tie, and it framed the angular face. “Tell me you’re not a dream.”
“Dreamy maybe, but not a dream.” God, how was he going to resist this one?
Actually, why was he worried about that?
“Mmm…Dom McDreamy, I like it.” Zeke chuckled softly. “Good morning, Sir.”
One finger traced a lazy circle around his nipple.
“Good morning to you, naughty boy.” He caught Zeke’s hand in his. “How did you sleep?”
“It was amazing. My second night without nightmares.”
“Your second in a row?” Wow. He felt pretty good about that. But he reminded himself that Zeke had real trauma issues and fear that he didn’t seem to have dealt with. “Do you usually have nightmares?”
“Every night. Every single night.”
“Okay, now you’re just boosting my ego.” He lifted Zeke’s face and gave the boy a kiss. He knew that wasn’t true, that this meant something big to Zeke, but so far, humor had worked in his favor. “Which I appreciate because I’m a Dom and what Dom doesn’t have an inflated ego, right? But first man in this bed and first night without a nightmare? I mean… what’s next? Baby-daddy?”
He stroked a thumb over Zeke’s cheek and winked at the boy to make sure Zeke knew he was playing.
“You are just about adorable, Sir.” Zeke caught his thumb between his teeth.
“Right? I am cute as fuck.” He tugged on his thumb gently. “Kidding aside, I’m glad you slept well.”
“I did. Thank you, Sir.” Zeke leaned back a little, sighed softly. “What is on your plans for today? Anything fun?”
“Mm. Yes. You.” He rolled up on his side and admired Zeke’s relaxed smile. “You are my plans today. I’m thinking maybe tomorrow too. Are you busy? Got any hot dates I’m keeping you from?”
“You are my date, Sir. I’m busy loving on you.”
“Okay, then I have questions.” He winked at Zeke. “I always have questions. Maybe you should make us some coffee and bring it back to bed.”
“How do you take it, Sir? You’d already made yesterday’s cup when I sat down.” Zeke slipped out of bed, shivering into a robe.
“I like it strong with a splash of milk.” He watched Zeke slide into some slippers. The lover in him felt badly for the poor thing, getting up when the bed was so warm. But he’d keep it inviting, and he wanted Zeke to do some simple service to help with his headspace for their talk. The boy would be plenty rewarded when he came back to bed.
“Strong with milk. Yes, Sir. I’m going to have a caramel latte.” Zeke blew him a kiss.
Zeke had a sweet tooth. Good to know. He ducked into the bathroom and washed up a bit, then climbed back into bed and looked around the room. The space was mostly bed, with stacks of books acting like bedside tables, and a cabinet on the wall that likely hid a television.
A creature of habit and a creature of comfort. He’d already disrupted the first, now he was going to poke at the second. That was his role after all, to find boundaries and breaking points.
He could hear singing coming from downstairs, the sound remarkably lovely, a rich, warm tenor. Zeke had a lovely voice on top of being a musician, and he still hadn’t heard the boy play. It reminded him of everything else he didn’t know about Zeke, and the things Zeke still didn’t know about him.
It was wild—to feel this deep connection, this heavy draw that they were experiencing. He’d had moments once or twice, but nothing like this. Nothing like the way he wanted more of every time he looked at Zeke.
“Did you want a biscotti? I have cranberry and white chocolate or almond and dark chocolate.”
“The almond one sounds great,” he called back.
This was the least resort-like cabin he’d ever seen. It was more of a home. Zeke had completely moved in and obviously had no plans to leave.
A man couldn’t live the whole of his life hiding in a resort, could he? It didn’t seem healthy.
Or, honestly, fun.
He didn’t know what he wanted yet, but he knew for sure that whatever was happening between them couldn’t have a future beyond this week if Zeke wouldn’t leave the resort.
But he didn’t have to worry about that today.
“Hurry up, boy, it’s getting lonely up here.”
“Coming!” Zeke came up with two mugs and a little plate with two cookies on it. “Ta-da!”
Awww . How cute was that?
“Good boy. Hop back in here where it’s warm.” He took his mug, then held back the covers for Zeke.
Zeke kicked off his house shoes and handed over his coffee and biscotti before sliding off his robe and crawling back into the covers.
He waited for Zeke to get settled, then handed back the boy’s coffee and set the plate down on his lap. He got one arm around Zeke’s shoulders so the boy could snuggle while they talked. “Thank you for braving the cold for me.”
“Of course. It was my pleasure, Sir.” Zeke beamed at him.
The boy was happy, that was for sure. Happy with him or happy to have someone to serve. Or both. Hopefully both. “What are your safe words?”
“Major and minor, Sir.”
“Hm.” He chuckled. “Clever and appropriate. So, this is going to sound like a ridiculous question, but given your history, I want to ask—what are your expectations when you use your words?”
“When I say minor, I need to discuss what’s going on, let you know something that is wrong so you can either address it or not. When I say major, any scene stops because I feel as if my heart, my life, or my body is in danger.”
“I’m glad you put so much importance on your heart. I agree with your expectations. I also expect complete honesty in those moments. It doesn’t do either of us any good to spare each other’s feelings or worry about being tactful.”
“Yes. I may… I may feel the need to use minor a bit more than usual, because I get scared, Sir, but I will try to be thoughtful.”
Thoughtful? No. “Don’t be thoughtful, be truthful. Use them as often as you need to because those words are there to protect us both.” It was traumatic to unknowingly push a sub too far, he’d learned that firsthand, and he never wanted to be there again. He needed all the information. “Don’t try to tough out your fear. That is something we have to work through together if you’re going to shake it, and I have to understand what you need. I promise I will move slowly and give us both time.”
He already had some ideas. Zeke was much too concerned about doing something wrong and making mistakes.
“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it.” Zeke sipped his coffee, obviously enjoying it.
That wasn’t the acknowledgement he was looking for, which probably meant that Zeke was more nervous about working together than he let on. He didn’t push it. He’d find out.
Today. He was going to find out today.
“Hard limits?” He took a sip as well and hummed. “You make good coffee.”
“No knife play or watersports. No breath play. And I don’t like lying. If you’re going to hurt me, I deserve to know.”
“Wow.” He puffed out a breath. He was glad he liked asking questions because he learned things about Zeke in the most unexpected ways. “I will never lie to you. Not in bed, not at dinner, and definitely not in-scene—that’s taking away your right to consent.”
“Yes. Yes, exactly!” Zeke’s expression was fierce. “That is absolutely right. That’s wrong. I will never lie to you. That’s a basic thing.”
He nodded, meeting Zeke’s intensity because it’s what the boy needed. “No lies. I promise.”
“I promise too, Sir. No lies.” Zeke pressed one hand over his heart, that palm hot as hell.
He covered Zeke’s hand with his. “I’m going to be good to you, Zeke. I’m going to make sure you get what you need so you feel safe. I know that isn’t how it went for you last time, but I’m not that guy. I’m not him. I know the rules. I respect them, and I respect you.”
“I felt so stupid before. For a long time, I really believed I was at fault for the mistakes that he made. But I wasn’t. I was at fault for my mistakes.”
He nuzzled Zeke’s hair. “We all make mistakes, and we have to own them.” That Dom wasn’t making mistakes; he’d been abusive on purpose. Wesley sighed. He knew that he had to address these things, but he wanted this talk to be positive. “What do you miss the most? What are you craving?”
“I miss having someone to trust with my heart, with my worries, with my body.” Zeke glanced up at him. “Does that make sense?”
He nodded, even if it didn’t give him everything he was looking for. “It does, and I need all of that from you.”
“I’ll do my dead-level best.” Zeke brushed his bottom lip with one thumb.
“I don’t doubt it.” He kissed that naughty thumb. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“Why me? What made you pick me?”
“That’s an easy one. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and talented. And you’re interesting. You have needs I recognize. We have great chemistry. Plus, you spilled something on me so I had no choice but to talk to you. I could argue that you picked me.”
Zeke pinked and ducked his head. “I didn’t even see you, I swear, but I guess I did.”
God, he loved that blush. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me at that moment. I wasn’t sure what this place was about really, but I figured it out fast.”
“It’s a great place. I knew it was safe when I walked in.”
“Would you ever consider leaving?”
Really ? Of all the things he could have asked, that was what came out of his mouth?
Fuck .
“I mean, hypothetically. Under the right circumstances, uh—whatever those might be.”
“If I could, yes. It’s a scary thought, but… if I could.”
Well, that wasn’t a no, and it let him relax a little about only being here for a week. “I’m very glad to hear that.” It was hard to keep from jumping straight into how Zeke would deal with his crazy life, and he forced himself to shelve that thought for now.
Right this second, he needed to navigate through—hell, navigate to —their first scene.
So, he laid it out for the boy.
“I like floggers. I like cuffs, toys, obedience, edging, bondage. I love a boy on his knees. I love soft things, too—feathers and velvet. I don’t mind eye contact if it’s respectful. I don’t believe in punishments. I do believe in rituals. I can’t trust a sub that won’t use their words; that’s a deal breaker.”
“I use them, Sir.” Zeke caught his gaze, dark green eyes like holes in a blanket. “I did use them.”
“I believe you. But I’m different.” He met that intense gaze and held it, every bit as serious. “Let me prove it to you.”
Zeke nodded and took a long, deep breath. “I can do that.”
Another gift.
“Brave boy.” He rewarded it with a kiss—slow and deep, long enough that they both needed to stop for air. “I should reserve a playroom. We’ll ease in, I don’t need anything special today, but the last thing I want to do is risk ruining this safe space for you.”
He had no intention of using a flogger today. He didn’t even need cuffs. Not yet. They needed to start slow.
“It’s available online in the app, Sir.” Zeke grinned suddenly. “Weird, isn’t it? A rustic gay cowboy-run BDSM resort with an app?”
“There’s an app?” He really needed to read his email. “I missed the profiles and now the app. What else have I missed I wonder?”
“I’ve been here a while.” Zeke grabbed his phone and opened up the app. “I’m not sure what Doms get that’s cooler, but here’s what I get.”
Fascinating—there were training videos, a forum, basic menus, outings, and something called special requests.
“I better—hang on.” He set his coffee down, slipped out of bed, and found his phone where he’d plugged it in last night. As soon as he got back under the covers, he downloaded it and found the email with his username and password. “Oh, I have a bit more than you do in my app.”
His version had everything in Zeke’s plus sub profiles for the unattached subs in attendance that week, an inventory of toys and tools, and the same special requests section, which he tapped on immediately.
The menu sort of stole his breath. Private rooms. Public rooms. Trainings. Subs and partners to do scenes alongside.
“Jesus, this is like a BDSM amusement park.”
Zeke’s laughter was merry as anything. “While glamping.”
“Right? Are you looking at this special request thing? I could plan a public scene. Not that I’m into public scenes. Outdoors sex, sure, but privately. Are you into public?” Zeke didn’t seem like the public type at all. In fact, he seemed like exactly the opposite.
“No, Sir. I’m a private person. I find it hard to relax and focus if I’m worrying about everyone else.”
He nodded. “I was pretty sure that was the case, and it works for me.” He chose a simple, private room with just the basics—a comfortable couch, a couple of chairs, cushions for kneeling, no decorations or distractions.
Although they had an Old West room, a barn room, and something that looked a lot like a bedroom from the 1970s…
“Are people really turned on by shag carpet?”
“I—Maybe? Maybe they pump in porn music and you can get your pornstache on…”
“Bow-chick-a-bow-wow…” He laughed and swiped the app closed. “We are all set. Should we shower? We should shower. And then we will eat something and spend some quiet time clearing our heads.”
“I have a great shower. You like it hot? I’ll start us up, if you want, Sir.”
“I do like it hot. Both the temp and you.” He’d planned on taking a kiss, but Zeke was already moving toward him, and they met in a playful rush. He grinned against Zeke’s lips just before their tongues tangled.
Zeke was eager, sexual, and obviously hungry for him, the kiss making his eyes cross.
“Mm. Naughty. Boy.” He got the words out one by one around their kiss. “Shower.” He pulled back, fighting the ache in his balls and the pull of Zeke’s skin. “Go.”
“Mmhmm…” Zeke licked his lips, but he went, didn’t he?
“Good boy,” he whispered under his breath. He took a breath to make sure he was in control of his half-hard dick before he slid out of bed and moved slowly toward the bathroom, letting the cool air help straighten his spine.
Zeke was singing again, the sound muffled by the water.
He bet the boy sang all day.
“Are you serenading me?” He leaned in the bathroom doorway, watching Zeke test the water.
“I am. Are you okay with it?”
“I am so okay with it. I love it. I love that you’re relaxed enough to sing around me.” That was a form of trust after all.
“My world has a lot of music in it. I’m glad you understand.”
He wasn’t sure he understood as much as appreciated, but either way, he liked it. “Are you ready for me?”
“I am. I have towels in the warmer; the water’s hot.”
“You have a towel warmer? Damn.” Zeke liked his little comforts. He stepped into the bathroom, then into the shower, and held a hand out for Zeke to join him.
“I do. I love how it keeps me snuggly.” Zeke came right to him, face lifted.
“Hello, boy.” He smiled down at Zeke. He wasn’t a terribly tall man, and Zeke wasn’t even as tall as he was. They fit nicely in the shower together. It wasn’t roomy, but it wasn’t too tight either.
“Hello, Sir. This feels so good.”
It did. A kiss would feel better.
A blow in the shower was going to feel even better than that.
He caught Zeke by the nape and kissed the boy, letting his need show, making no secret of where he wanted things to go.
Zeke arched against him, cock filling against his thigh, sliding them together.
It was astounding that they’d managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to get any sleep. But he felt great, and this felt better. He rocked into Zeke, giving the boy a little friction, just to hear that moan.
“Damn, that’s fine as frog hair…”
“If I didn’t know where you were from before, I would now.” He’d never heard that expression in his whole life. He understood it though and caught Zeke by one butt cheek, pulling him even closer.
Zeke’s lips parted as he arched, that lean body rubbing hard, driving them together.
Fuck, that felt so much better than he’d expected it to that it forced a groan from somewhere deep inside him. He’d had a plan, but plans could change so he decided to go with what felt good and just see where it took them.
Zeke’s moans were musical, deeper than his singing voice, more raw.
He moved so his back was against the shower wall and used both hands to tug the boy’s ass close. He rocked his hips away from the wall but otherwise let Zeke hump to his little subby heart’s content.
“You’re so hot, Sir. Delicious.” Zeke nibbled his jaw.
He was hot. As in hot for Zeke. Jesus, the boy could cook up some friction, even in the damn shower. He rocked again, meeting Zeke where he could, chasing his own pleasure. He wanted to get Zeke off, that was his goal, and if he wasn’t along for the ride, the boy could finish him with that absolutely perfect mouth.
Zeke kissed him again, tongue flicking against his.
Speaking of perfect mouth.
He nipped Zeke’s tongue lightly.
“So mean,” Zeke bit him back, so careful.
He pinched Zeke’s ass hard enough to bruise. “So naughty.”
Zeke purred, deep in his throat. “Me, Sir?”
“You. Unless my hands are on someone else’s ass.” He pinched the boy again… to test.
Zeke cuddled right in, cock jerking against his leg.
“Mmm.” He put his arms around the boy and held him, wondering how anyone could mistreat someone so sweet and so willing. So eager to please. Zeke handed him another gift so easily he could already feel that high creeping in, sitting deep in his balls and making his cock hard.
Zeke was putting that trust right in his hands. Zeke belonged to him, at least for now, for today to start.
“I want your mouth, boy.” His spine tingled as he heard his own voice, both strong and weak at the same time. That was the secret. He could be both and still have everything he wanted.
“Yes, Sir. It would be my pleasure.” Zeke slowly knelt, sliding down to kneel at his feet.
The best part was that he believed every word Zeke had just said. He was halfway to high with anticipation. “Good boy.”
Zeke moaned for him, tongue sliding up to trace his cock, slow and sweet as hell. He was glad he was leaning against the wall already because Zeke made his knees weak. He threaded his fingers into Zeke’s hair and watched the water roll over the boy’s shoulders.
Zeke didn’t hurry. That sweet tongue explored every inch of his cock, then started on his balls.
He watched, which was a turn-on by itself, but that tongue was magic. “Hungry boy.”
“Yes, Sir. Starving.” Then Zeke surged up, taking his cock in in a rush.
His eyes crossed, and he had the barest spark of a thought to tell his boy to go easy, but he couldn’t hold onto it. There was no way. His toes curled, and he tightened his grip in the boy’s hair as he clung to the last bit of rational thought he had.
He just watched as Zeke sucked him, swallowing him down. Zeke knew what to do if it was too much and thank God because he couldn’t help thrusting as he started to come, every nerve he had on fire.
Zeke took him like a dream, eyes opened, focused on his face, taking him in.
He stared right into those eyes until he could breathe again. He forced his fingers to open and let go of his boy’s hair, then straightened up, head falling back against the shower wall. “Damn, boy.”
Zeke slowly let him go, humming low. “Yes, Sir.”
“Come up here.” He hauled Zeke to his feet and kissed him. “Naughty boy. I have plans for you.”
“Naughty? Moi? Never say so!”
“Already said it. And I have this feeling it’s not going to be the last time.”
Zeke went wide-eyed, and it was so damn cute. Hot, too.
The shower might not be for long though, so he grabbed the shampoo.
Zeke leaned hard. “Thank you, Sir.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He chuckled and stuck Zeke under the water, ignoring the boy’s erection. He planned to ignore it for a while. Maybe even most of the day.