DEREK
“Have a seat, Omar. You’re not in trouble or anything. I just want to talk to you.”
“You’ve been here a few months now, Omar. How are you finding it?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Omar was a man of many words!
“Can you answer a question for me honestly, Omar?”
“Er . . . yeah?”
Derek chuckled. “I promise you, it’s nothing bad. You’re a brilliant worker. Considering you’ve never worked behind a bar before, you can serve drinks quicker than anyone here. Me included.”
“Oh . . . er . . . thank you.”
“I just noticed you don’t feel comfortable with some of our more . . . flirty customers. There are hundreds of bars in London that don’t have horny queens trying to tempt the staff into the labyrinth.”
Omar’s eyes widened, and he looked down at the floor.
“Omar, what’s wrong? You can tell me anything, and it stays between us.”
“I have to work in a gay bar,” he mumbled.
Derek could understand that. A sense of community and belonging was important. But why a sex club?
“You know there are lots of bars in Soho that are a bit more PG in terms of their clientele.”
“Do you not want me here?” he asked, still not making eye contact.
“Omar, look at me.”
His head snapped up, like he was unable to control it.
Jesus, was the kid submissive as well? There was no way this place was right for him if that were the case, but the thought of him being somewhere Derek couldn’t keep an eye on him made him feel sick.
Some arsehole would take advantage of Omar, like the cunt Kieran had bothering him.
“Omar . . . I just want to understand why you chose a sex club over a regular gay bar. I have no issues with your work. You’re excellent. I just want you to feel comfortable here, and sometimes you look freaked out by some of our more . . . friendly customers.”
Omar giggled, which was adorable. “I tried a few places in Soho, but they wanted experience. Sorry, that sounded rude.”
“No, it’s not rude at all. It’s honest. Are you comfortable sharing why you want to work in a gay bar?”
“I’m looking for my brother.”
That wasn’t what Derek was expecting him to say. He gestured for Omar to continue.
“My brother is gay, but my parents asked him to leave ten years ago, and I haven’t seen him since. I know he moved to London, so I hoped that if I worked in a gay bar, he might come in. I don’t have any way to contact him.”
“Do your parents know you’re gay as well? Sorry, Omar, that’s me making assumptions, but I have seen you eyeing up some of the guys in suits.”
He blushed but couldn’t hide his smile. “Yeah, I’m gay as well, and yeah, they know, and . . . we don’t speak anymore.”
Derek’s heart went out to him. How could parents do that to their own children? And do it twice? How hard had it been for Omar to come out knowing that what happened to his brother was going to happen to him? Derek promised himself, he was going to help Omar find his brother.
Knights Corner was busy at lunchtime during the week, especially on a Tuesday, as that was a popular day for people to be in the office. Derek had booked ahead, but still hadn’t been sure if Kieran would cancel at the last minute. He seemed skittish.
“What would you like to drink?
“A pint of Pepsi Max,” he replied, looking overly interested in the menu and not making eye contact.
That made sense. He was working after their lunch, so he’d need to be alert given his job.
Derek was going to order a soft drink as well, but he was feeling anxious about this lunch, which was unusual.
He didn’t get anxious about things, but he could feel the tension radiating off Kieran.
It would probably only take one wrong word for him to blow.
He added a beer to the order and sent it through to the bar.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Fine,” replied Kieran, still studying the menu.
“Kieran, will you look at me?” His voice was sterner.
He immediately obeyed. His eyes widened, as if he was surprised he’d complied so easily.
Fuck. Derek’s cock thickening was not something that should happen, but he was only human and Kieran was a stunning man.
As a teenager, he was this brown-haired, unblemished little mouse.
Now his hair was bleached, he had tattoos up to his neck, his nose and ears were pierced, and he had a fire in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
Behind all that bratty bravado was someone who craved order and control.
It radiated off him and pushed all of Derek’s buttons.
He sent a mental note to his cock to stand down.
This was about Kieran, and not Derek’s libido.
“You look like you don’t want to be here, Kieran. I know we can’t put the past behind us in one conversation, but I don’t want you to feel you don’t have a choice here. If you don’t want to have anything more to do with me, I’ll respect your boundaries.”
Derek hated saying it, and knew it would be a challenge if Kieran took him up on the offer, but he would do it if that’s what he needed.
“You don’t look like you want to do that,” said Kieran, with a smirk.
That was his bratty side coming back out – Derek’s kryptonite.
“I won’t lie and say I’d be happy to have you disappear from my life after we’ve just become reacquainted, and I think I can help you.”
“Help me, how?”
“If you are interested in the same lifestyle as me, I could introduce you to the right people who would treat you a lot better than that guy in the club.”
Kieran flushed and looked back at the menu.
It was endearing and made Derek wonder how flushed his whole body could be.
Kieran was covered with ink, but the blank skin he could see showed he was pale, so it would be a beautiful flush when he was in the throes of pleasure.
Derek knew some doms who would be a great match for Kieran and help him explore his limits in a safe and respectful way.
The idea of someone he knew having their hands on Kieran made his stomach clench, though, and he knew it was jealousy, but he couldn’t be that person for him.
At least he could make sure he was with someone safe.
He suspected the abusive guy from the club was only one of many.
Before they could talk any more, Langdon arrived with their drinks. The guy seemed to be everywhere in this place. Did he not have enough people working for him? That prompted an idea in Derek.
“Langdon, are you short-staffed?”
“Sebastian and Gregory are on at me to hire more people, given how busy we’ve been, but finding the time isn’t easy.”
Derek understood that, but it was something you had to make time for. It paid off in the long run.
“I know someone who could be a good fit for you,” said Derek. “He works for me. Best barman I’ve ever had, which, considering he’s only done the job for four months, says just how good he is.”
“Why are you trying to offload him, then?” said Langdon, with a frown.
“My club isn’t the right environment for him. The customers can be a bit . . . forward.”
Kieran snorted, making Derek and Langdon laugh.
“He wants to work in a place that’s part of the community. Soho wanted experience, but he’s picked it up quicker than anyone I’ve seen, especially the cocktails.”
“Your place does cocktails?” asked Langdon.
“Some patrons like to look posh before they get their dick sucked by a stranger.”
This made him laugh. Kieran flushed and went back to looking at the menu. Derek couldn’t help but chuckle.
“If he’s as good as you say he is, then tell him to call me tomorrow. How quickly can I have him?”
“I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow and then introduce you both.”
Langdon smiled and left them to it.
“Have you chosen your food? You’ve looked at the menu enough,” said Derek.
Kieran glared at him, but all Derek could do was shrug, which made Kieran laugh. He’d take any progress.