Derek
“Is it okay if I sleep here? I don’t want to be on my own tonight.”
“Of course. Let me get you something to wear.”
He grabbed some of his smaller clothes that no longer fit but would still drown Kieran.
“The room is all made up. Can I get you anything?”
“I know you have a lot of questions, but please, can we talk in the morning? I just need to sleep.”
Derek wanted to pull him into his arms and keep him safe. Gone was the sassy young man who’d been teasing him recently. There was no doubt in Derek’s mind that someone had hurt him, and when he found out who it was, they’d need to run. Even if it was Grant Kincaid, he didn’t give a fuck.
“We can talk when you’re ready, okay?”
Kieran nodded, looking tearful. He couldn’t make eye contact.
It was as if he was ashamed of something, which made Derek prickle more.
The body language and his wanting a shower caused all the dots to connect, and he wanted to rip someone apart.
Right now, though, he had to be here for Kieran and give him everything he needed.
“Let me get you some more water,” said Derek.
“Can I . . . er . . . would it be okay . . .”
“You can ask me anything, Kieran,” he said, taking hold of his hand.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” he mumbled, his face going red.
“Come on,” said Derek, keeping hold of Kieran’s hand and guiding him into his room. “Do you have a side you prefer? I can sleep on either.”
“The right, please.”
“Get into bed, and I’ll get you a drink.”
He left Kieran alone and went downstairs to the kitchen.
This wasn’t how he envisioned Kieran being in his bed the first time, but right now he needed comfort and to feel safe.
Derek could give him that. Hopefully, he wouldn’t get excited in the night and press up against Kieran.
Derek was a cuddler, so it was highly likely he’d seek the body lying next to him in the night and pull it close.
If what he thought had happened was the case, that would be the last thing Kieran needed.
Once he had the water, he stopped by the spare room to get some additional pillows, which he could use as a safety barrier.
Walking back into his room, Kieran was under the covers, lying on his side facing the centre of the bed.
He looked so young and vulnerable. It was heartbreaking to see him like this.
Derek put a water bottle on each bedside cabinet and dropped the pillows onto the bed.
He picked up his sleep shorts and a T-shirt, going into his en suite to change.
After he’d brushed his teeth, he went back into the room.
Kieran hadn’t moved, but he was still awake.
Derek got into bed, and Kieran immediately snuggled into him.
He wrapped his arms and legs around Derek like a koala bear.
The spare pillows would not be needed after all.
He just needed to be here for Kieran and to give him the comfort he clearly needed.
Derek woke up with his arms wrapped around Kieran.
The last time he’d looked at the time it had been three o’clock, but he didn’t know what time it was now.
It took a few seconds for his brain to come back online.
Kieran felt so perfect in his arms. Derek’s cock was achingly hard and pressed against the crease of Kieran’s arse.
Oh fuck!
He gently eased himself away from Kieran, who was dead to the world.
Not wanting to disturb him, he went to the family bathroom to have a piss, although it took him a couple of minutes for his cock to calm down.
It was nothing. Just morning wood, and a warm body pressed up against him was going to do that.
Thankfully, Kieran had been asleep and wouldn’t have noticed.
The last thing he wanted to do was freak him out.
He’d been through something last night, and Derek hoped he’d be able to talk about it today.
Derek took a shower and thankfully had some clothes in the spare room, so he didn’t have to disturb Kieran.
Once he was dressed, he went downstairs.
He wondered when Kieran had last eaten, and even if he wasn’t hungry, he needed to eat something.
Not knowing when Kieran would wake up, he opted to make a breakfast bake.
Looking in the fridge, he had sausages, bacon, potatoes, cheese, spring onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.
Thankfully, he’d had the shopping delivered yesterday morning, which was his weekly routine.
He knew there were beans and eggs in the larder, so he got to work, closing the kitchen door so as not to disturb Kieran.
Everything was cooking in the oven when Derek heard footsteps above. He washed his hands and quickly dried them before opening the kitchen door. Kieran barrelled into him, hugging him tightly.
“I thought you’d gone,” he said, his voice cracking.
“I’m not going anywhere. I wanted to make you some breakfast, and you were fast asleep.”
“Your bed’s really comfortable.”
“Well, the mattress cost me four grand, so I should hope so.”
Kieran chuckled, which was wonderful to hear after last night.
“I didn’t think I was hungry, and then I smelled the food. What did you make?”
“A breakfast bake.”
“I’ve not had one of those before. What’s in it?”
“Everything!”
Kieran chuckled again. They were still hugging, but Derek wasn’t in a hurry to stop. This felt right, even if the circumstances that brought him here were heartbreaking.
“Did you want to take a shower before breakfast?”
Kieran nodded and pulled away from the hug. Derek missed his warmth, and he hated seeing the look on his face. He looked lost and broken. Derek wasn’t a violent man, but if he ever met the person who’d had done this to Kieran, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself from going too far.
Derek finished getting things ready for breakfast while Kieran got changed.
He’d found Kieran some more clothes to wear, and he’d offer to go over to Kieran’s flat and pick up some clothes if he wanted to stay.
He probably would if there was nobody else at home, which is what he’d implied last night.
Within ten minutes, Kieran was inhaling his breakfast, which was good to see.
“I know you have a lot of questions,” said Kieran between mouthfuls.
“You only have to tell me if you’re comfortable, and you can stay here as long as you want.”
“Thank you. Hassan will be home tomorrow, so it’ll just be another night.”
“Of course. Where is Hassan?”
“He went away with Omar so they could spend some time together.”
“I still can’t believe that, you know. The past few months, your best friend’s brother was working for me.”
“I can’t believe he thought Hassan would step foot in a sleazy sex club.”
“That’s my baby you’re talking about.”
Kieran snorted. “Hassan’s a bit more vanilla than me.”
“Not sure about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just a vibe I get from him.
“You think he’s a dom?” asked Kieran, looking at him in surprise.
“No, I get more daddy from him.”
“A daddy? Hassan?”
Derek nodded. Kieran looked as if he were pondering it, rather than dismissing it out of hand.
“Hmmm, I could see that, although if he has some guy calling him Daddy in the flat, Sarah and I will rip the piss out of him.”
Derek chuckled. He could see Kieran doing that, but he knew it wouldn’t be to ridicule. Just that banter only close friends who are more like family could get away with. He had that with Edward.
“So . . . er . . . shall we . . . maybe we can sit in the living room.”
“Of course. Do you want a cup of tea?”
“I think I’m gonna need something stronger.”
It was ten o’clock in the morning, but based on the look on Kieran’s face, Derek was going to need something stronger as well.
“I’ll get something for us both, and I can clean up later. Get comfy.”
Kieran nodded and left. Derek went into his office, which is where he kept the good stuff.
He knew Kieran drank vodka, but he thought a brandy would be better.
He grabbed the vodka bottle as well, though, just in case.
Once he’d poured their drinks, he went into the living room.
Kieran was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, with a blanket wrapped around him.
He seemed so small and fragile. Before he could overthink it, he sat next to Kieran on the sofa.
“I thought brandy might be a good choice, but I’ve got vodka if you prefer.”
“This works,” he said, taking the glass.
He took a sip, winced, and shuddered. “Good stuff,” he croaked, making them both laugh.
“Can I just get it all out, and you can shout and scream after I’m done?”
Derek tensed, but nodded his agreement, taking a sip of brandy himself.
“You remember that guy who you threw out of the club?”
He nodded.
“Well, talk about a small world. He’s the guy Grant sent to mentor me at the shop.
And before you say anything, I don’t think Grant knows the history I have with the guy, Carl.
That’s his real name, or at least the one he goes by.
Just call it a hunch, and I know Grant is dangerous, but I also know if he knew what had happened with Carl, he wouldn’t have brought him to the shop. ”
Derek could see what he was saying, but based on the way he was in the club, the guy screamed abuser. How could Grant have someone like that working for him? The man clearly had few morals, but even hardened gangsters had some red lines as to who they allowed within their organisation.
“He said nothing to Grant, and neither did I. Grant said he’d given me the best person to support me at the shop, so I didn’t even know if he’d believe me if I said something, and then he said he was going away to Boston for two weeks, and Carl had been nothing but polite in front of Grant.
When I got back to the shop, he wasn’t there and didn’t show up until closing.
He said he wanted to clear the air . . .
and he apologised for what he’d done, but he made a good point. I didn’t use my safe word.”