Where There’s a Will (Mythic Beast #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Will

I awoke in my own bed for the first time in four months and debated whether to roll over and go back to sleep, go downstairs and work out, or go see what Angie, my house manager, had stocked in the kitchen.

We often take a break during long tours, and I intended to make the most of the seven weeks of downtime before we started the second half of the tour. The first half had been in Europe, and the second half would be in North America.

The European portion had been a rousing success, thankfully, selling out the biggest venues in Europe’s largest metropolises, twenty-six cities in sixteen weeks, and there was every reason to believe the shows in the U.S. and Canada would be just as successful. All the experts had told me I was taking too big of a risk, going from Lord Byron who performed alone with random people behind me, to becoming the front man for Mythic Beast, and maybe I had, but it’d been totally worth it.

I have a team now, a band who helps me create the songs and the visuals to go with them. We travel together, we play together. We’re a family. Or at least, we spend more time together than most families.

I adore my bandmates, but we all needed some time apart.

And I needed to get laid in the worst kind of way. Not just someone to fuck, because there’s plenty of that on the road, but someone to dominate.

But Lord Byron has to be careful about that kind of thing. I could call the Rolling Thunder guys and order one of their pro-sub girls, but I was in the mood for a little gay twink, and the bikers don’t have those on the menu.

I’d been around people twenty-four/seven for months, hardly any time alone at all, and now I was home and my bed was fucking empty . One way or another, that needed to be rectified.

But first, I needed food.

I slid some shorts on and made my way to the kitchen, where I saw a note on the fridge I hadn’t noticed at one in the morning when I’d arrived home. A reminder of what Angie had sent me via email, but I focused on the fact my car was ready to be picked up. I’d bought a 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible before we left on our tour, and I’d had it taken it to the RTMC’s classic car shop to have the upholstery redone, everything under the hood tuned up or replaced or whatever was necessary so it would be dependable, modern brakes and suspension, and Bluetooth installed in such a way it still looked original, but I could make and receive calls through the speaker system. They called it a resto-mod, updating an old car with modern shit, but I wanted the modern stuff mostly hidden.

I looked at the clock and noted it was nearly three o’clock, which didn’t surprise me because I’d needed to catch up on sleep. Okay, so a shower and then go pick up my car, and I’d get food while I was out. I hadn’t driven in months, and I looked forward to having some fun in the Stingray.

Security had brought me home the night before, checked the house, and left. No one knew I was home, and I wasn’t planning to go anywhere, so at my request, my home-based team wasn’t scheduled to arrive until the following day. I should be fine to drive to the biker’s classic car shop and back by myself, though.

* * * *

Davy

The MC had finally hired someone else to help handle their upholstery work, so I wasn’t working seven days a week morning till night anymore, but they hadn’t found someone capable of handling the front desk since Pixie left. So, while I was no longer working super-long hours and barely staying caught up, I found myself helping out the mostly useless new girl late in the day when people came to pick up their cars and bikes.

I saw him walk in the door, and my dick nearly went hard. Long hair, eyes that made me want to melt, and a hand I immediately envisioned around my throat. He walked like liquid sex, and then he smiled.

“Sir? What can I do for you?” I meant to sound professional, but it came out as if I was his submissive.

One of his eyebrows cocked and he gave me a crooked, knowing smile. Up close, I could see how startlingly blue his eyes were, and my dick throbbed, threatening to go hard, but I’ve been trained to keep that from happening, so I managed.

“So many ways I could answer. I understand my car’s ready? Sixty-seven Stingray?”

“Oh, I did the upholstery on her and she is sweet . The cars are listed by name though, so I’ll need your name to get the paperwork and keys.”

“You don’t…” he stopped, gave another considering look, and said, “Will Bryant.”

I pulled his name up, discovered someone had already paid what was due, and turned to the board behind me to retrieve his key, then remembered it would be in the key box, since it was locked up in the yard.

“Looks like you’re already paid up, Mister Bryant.” The useless temp stepped back in, and I told her, “Mister Bryant paid for some extras, and there’s a note to walk him through everything. It’s all yours until I get back.”

She didn’t even look at me, just at the next guy in line, and I walked around the counter and motioned for the sexy rich guy to come with me.

“The patch says your name is Davy,” he noted.

“Yeah. How long have you had the Stingray?”

“A buyer bought it at auction for me a few days before it was delivered here. I’ve only seen pictures of it. What time do you get off work, Davy?”

My cock twitched in my jeans this time. “We close at six, Sir.”

“As much as I like hearing you call me Sir, let’s hold off on that until it might mean something. I’m Will.”

I used my palm to open the gate to the high-dollar yard, and then punched in the code for the key box once we were inside.

I offered the key to him. “There’s no fob since you didn’t want us to mess with the door locks or install push-to-start.”

“I’m sorry. I thought you were…” he sighed. “I’ve been out of the country, and I’m afraid I’m not at the top of my game. I seem to have gotten the wrong signal. My apologies.”

Damn, I hadn’t meant to give that impression. “No, Sir, I’m pretty sure you got the right signals, but I need to handle the business part before we move to something else. I love my job, and until recently, I haven’t dealt with customers. I don’t want to screw it up.”

He smiled again, and I nearly fell into his eyes, even more vibrantly blue in the sunshine than they’d been in the reception area.

“Okay, Davy. Tell me about my car, and then we’ll talk about where I’m going to take you for dinner, yes?”

My dick pulsed in my pants and started to grow, so I focused on keeping it soft. I’ve been trained better than this. I should be able to keep from embarrassing myself with a hard-on.

“Yes, Sir. That’s good.”

I showed him the retro-looking buttons on the steering wheel to use for making and answering calls. He started the car and pulled out of the space, out into the open, then turned it off, and I watched as his long legs come out of the car and he easily stood, sexy as fuck. He walked around the car, opened the trunk and hood, and looked everything over carefully. Eventually, he sat back in the driver’s seat and looked all around the passenger compartment.

“You do excellent work, Davy. The upholstery looks factory.”

“Thank you, Sir. She’s gorgeous. Do you need to talk to Bubbles? He worked on the suspension and…” I trailed off when he shook his head.

He stood and looked down at me, and I had to force myself to meet his gaze rather than look at his feet.

“I believe this ends the business portion. What do you like to eat, Davy?”

“I’m not a big fan of Chinese food, but I like most everything else. Well, not those vegan places.”

He laughed, and I had to look down to keep from falling into those deep blue eyes. The most beautiful blue I’d ever seen. He was like this completely unreal person, but he was standing in front of me.

“You really don’t know who I am?”

I looked back up and met his gaze again. I didn’t understand the question. He’d told me his name. I didn’t want to sound rude, so I said, “You told me you’re Will Bryant, Sir?”

“Yes. Yes I am.” He looked at his wrist and back to me. “Fifteen minutes until you close? Let’s go find Bash, shall we? You aren’t in the closet to your boss, are you?”

I shook my head and walked him into the shop. Bash saw us when we were twenty yards from him, and he wiped his hands clean and smiled when we neared. “Will, it must feel good to be home. How was Europe?”

“Exhilarating and exhausting. The car looks great. Thanks so much.” He looked at me and back to Bash. “I’d like to steal Davy away before ya’ll close. Any problem with me absconding with him a little early?”

Bash looked at me, back to Will, and back to me, “Anything you need me to handle so you can leave early?”

I shook my head. “I finished the last of the three small jobs about thirty minutes ago and went up front to help. She’s kind of struggling, so she might could use another person. I’ll get started on the Carrera with the dog damage first thing in the morning.”

“Then have fun. Will’s family. You’re safe with him.”

“Good to know.” The word family means more to the bikers than it does to most people.

“Go change shirts while I talk to Will.”

I nodded and went to the locker room.

* * * *

Will

“Something I need to know?” I asked.

“Davy’s a good kid. He was pretty damned gullible before he came to us, but we’re working on that. If you’re just playing with him, be upfront about it, yeah?”

Kid? “How old is he?” I asked.

“Twenty-four, I think. Maybe twenty-five.” He shrugged. “I guess that makes me old, calling him a kid?” He shrugged. “He’s a man, but I guess we’re a little protective of him.”

“He seems sweet, and he doesn’t know who I am. I know I’ll have to tell him before the evening ends, but I’m looking forward to…” I shrugged. “It’s been a long time since I got to know someone who doesn’t think they already know me.”

“Yeah, I can see how that might be a novelty. Just don’t bruise his heart too badly if you can help it.”

Davy came out wearing a plain white t-shirt and fresh jeans worn in all the right places, and he looked sexier than he had a right to. He still wore his work boots, and that just added to the picture.

The thing is, I got the feeling he didn’t have a clue how hot he looked. It was endearing, and I understood why the bikers felt protective of him.

I tossed the keys to my Aston Martin to Bash. “It looks like this one’s up next on the oil change schedule. Get to it when you can, and get with Angie to let her know when someone can bring it home. Also, if it needs any maintenance, you know the drill.”

“I do. If it’s just an oil change we should be able to get it back to you tomorrow. If it needs more, we’ll talk to Angie.”

“No rush.” I have plenty of cars, and it’s good having mechanics you trust. Worth their weight in gold.

Davy and I walked outside in silence, and I asked him, “Do you want to drive home now, so I can take you home later and your coworkers won’t know how long or short our date was?”

He looked a little horrified, and he shook his head. “No, Sir. I rode my bike today. I can either follow you on it, or ride with you to the restaurant. Whatever works for you.”

“What do you have?”

He shrugged and looked embarrassed. “It’s just a little Honda five-fifty. Vintage, from the seventies. Bash helped me rebuild the engine a few months ago. It’s nothing special, but I enjoy riding it when the weather’s nice.”

“And what if I want to get you drunk and take advantage of you?”

He met my gaze about a second and a half before looking down with a shrug. “I don’t drink more than a beer if I’m going to be on my bike, and I won’t have more than two mixed drinks with a meal when I’m not driving.”

Was there a history of substance abuse? I’d need to know at some point, but it felt as if I should keep things lighthearted until I had him sitting somewhere in a restaurant. “Okay, sounds like that’s a discussion for later. I asked you what you like to eat, and you told me what you don’t like to eat. So, how about multiple choice? Steak place, Italian place, or fancy frou-frou restaurant with a little of everything?”

“I’m not dressed for a fancy restaurant.”

I looked him over again — faded jeans and a white shirt that hugged his thin, muscled body. Simple but fashionable.

“We’re both in jeans and a t-shirt, and I think I want to treat you to something special. Ever been to Magpies ?”

“No, Sir.”

“Get in the car, Davy.”

* * * *

Davy

I slid into the passenger seat, and he started the car and looked over at me. “Seatbelt.”

We both locked them in, and he said, “We haven’t negotiated power exchange, and I’m no longer a customer.”

Right, and I was still calling him Sir .

“I can’t explain why, but it feels as if…” I looked out the side window and then back to the front. “I want to show respect. If it bothers you, I’ll stop until you give me permission.”

“Doesn’t bother me, just trying to get a handle on where your head is.”

“How did I know you were a Dom, and gay, when you walked in the door? It’s a mystery, but I’m not in the habit of flirting with customers. Actually, I usually don’t interact with the customers, but…” I shrugged. He didn’t need to know about our problems finding someone to replace Pixie.

“You aren’t from here,” he noted.

“I grew up in the middle of South Florida, far from the beach. Ran away to Miami and met a guy who…” He didn’t need to know those details. “A bunch of shit happened, and I came to Chattanooga looking for a job.”

“You enjoy your job?”

“I do.”

“When was your last relationship?”

“It’s been years. I mean, I’ve played with some local Doms, but there aren’t any strings. I have this friend whose Master kind of looks out for me when I meet people. They take me out with them, sometimes, and Razor negotiates on my behalf.”

I’d met Razor and Matty, so this made sense to me. “Any reason you aren’t with someone?”

Damn, he was digging deep, but I gave him the answer. “I had to work on myself. Letting someone else support me didn’t work out so good, so it was important I figured out how to support myself and then prove to myself I can do it.”

“And have you done that?”

“I believe so, Sir. I work a lot, so I haven’t been actively looking for someone, but my schedule recently got freed up a little.”

“So, if you find the right Master, you’re interested in something long-term?”

I wanted to ask him if he was interested in someone long term, but I merely gave him the truth. “Yes, Sir.”

“I’m home for seven weeks and then I’ll be gone four months. We’ll talk about what I do later. Not yet. I just want to tell you up front that I’d love to find a little slave boy to move in with me and follow my every order, and I’ll have lots of time to dive into those possibilities in the coming weeks, but then I’ll be gone a while. I can fly you out to see me on the weekends, or if you can get some time off you can come longer.”

He paused while he gunned the car to get ahead of the one we were beside so he could slide into traffic in that lane.

“I’m getting ahead of myself,” he said. “Let’s see how tonight goes, yes?”

His phone rang, and I snuck a look at him. How had he managed to have the exact right amount of scruff. Not a beard, and not just merely the day after shaving, but that level of scruff that’s beyond sexy.

He pushed the button on the steering wheel. “Kyleigh! You’re on speaker in my new car. I love it! Did you talk to Maggie?”

“I did. She’ll have someone meet you at the side door and seat you in the back, away from the other patrons. I gave her the instructions you requested.”

When had he requested special instructions? Maybe while I was changing clothes.

* * * *

Will

This restaurant is both steakhouse and frou-frou. Davy only thought there were three choices.

I have a great gal who handles all my travel arrangements, and she can almost always get me reservations on the fly. I’d told her to make sure anyone who waits on us wouldn’t treat me as Lord Byron, and to get us in a side door, since I’m not in disguise.

I’d only intended to see the bikers, and they not only know who I am, but I’m one of the few people who isn’t affiliated with them and is welcome in their clubhouse.

Generally, I have to travel with security whether I’m in disguise or not, but I wanted to just be a random guy with Davy for a few hours before I had to tell him who I am.

“You have an assistant call ahead for you?” Davy asked. “But you don’t want to tell me what you do yet? I need to know it isn’t anything illegal.”

Well, good for Davy. I was liking this boy more and more. “Completely, one thousand percent legal. You have any hobbies? What do you do when you aren’t at work?”

“Until recently, I worked, slept, and ate, and there wasn’t time for much else, but the MC hired a new guy to handle some of the load, so I’m working eight to ten hours a day, five days a week instead of twelve to fourteen hour days seven days a week. I mean, I’m grateful I was able to get a whole lot of overtime and build up some savings, but it’s nice, having some time off. I’m taking a martial arts class once a week, and Razor, he’s one of the martial arts guys, helped me come up with a workout routine I can do at home without any equipment.”

I smiled. “Working out is one of my hobbies, too. Which martial arts?”

“The one I picked is a mix of several styles. It’s a self-defense class that lasts six weeks, but they have this Krav Maga thing that looks interesting, and I’m thinking of taking those classes when this one finishes.”

“Anything else?”

He shrugged, and I parked close to the side door of Magpies.

“What do you like to drink?” I asked when it didn’t appear he had anything else to say.

“I’m kind of picky about beer, and I don’t like the normal stuff. I like peach screwdrivers. Peach brandy. Not daiquiris though, because I don’t care for rum. I won’t do tequila shots, but I’ll drink a margarita sometimes.”

“Dark beer? Light beer?”

“Oh, I like Belgian White, but not everyone has it.”

Interesting . I’d expected some run-of-the-mill light or blond beer, and he’d come up with something intriguing.

“Any food allergies?”

“No, Sir.”

“Any other allergies?”

“I have some fabric allergies. A handful of synthetic fabrics. I’m safe with cotton, usually, but I always wash anything new before I wear it. Also, the chemicals in some sofas bother me, so I don’t sit on cloth furniture with shorts on, or without a shirt. I use dye-free and perfume-free laundry detergent, and I’m careful about soaps and lotions.”

“Good to know. I’m guessing latex is a problem?”

His face blazed red, completely adorable, but he met my gaze and said, “Yes, Sir. I have non-latex condoms, but not with me at the moment.”

“Well, depending on how dinner goes, we might need to make a stop on the way home.”