Friends, Sexcapades, And Love Affairs - 10. No Walking In The Rain

Chapter Ten – No Walking In The Rain

Mike felt good, almost like laughing for no reason. One night sleeping next to Jared, and he was as good as new. His friend was good enough to be rented by the hour or sold in a bottle, and just as he thought that, Mike realized how weird that must have sounded. It was such a good thing that no one could hear his thoughts, or they would have believed him to be an absolute basket case. Jared would have gotten the joke, but Mike still chided himself internally just for thinking something that could be misunderstood.

“Mike, aren’t you in a good mood today?” One of the janitors asked him and offered him a broad smile.

“Yeah, I slept so well.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Young people today, always glued to their phones, they never sleep.”

“I know,” Mike said with a long sigh. “I often do that. Don’t sleep, I mean.”

“So, how did you manage to sleep so well?” The man asked him as he saw about his business. “Just so that you remember and repeat it.”

“I slept with my friend,” Mike said without overthinking.

The janitor straightened up, and Mike bit his lips. Of course, that sounded wrong. But it appeared his verbal blunder wasn’t the reason why the janitor was so serious all of a sudden.

“Good morning, Mr. Armstrong,” the janitor said quickly.

“Good morning, Danners. Do you have everything you need?”

“All here. I’m almost finished on this floor.”

Mike turned in slow motion. He had said the wrong thing, and Ryan had been there to overhear it. Was the universe having an elaborate plot against him?

“Mike,” Ryan said and nodded as he brushed past him without even looking down.

“Ry – Mr. Armstrong,” Mike said automatically.

He needed to bite his tongue. He needed one of those medieval torture devices that sent a rusty nail through the victim’s tongue so that they never spoke again against the regime, the church, planets turning, or who knew what else. This morning, he had a knack not only to think the wrong thing but also to say it out loud.

Guided by nothing but instinct, he took off after Ryan, his sneakers making squeaky sounds on the polished floor. “Mr. Armstrong,” he said in a heartbeat, “I was wondering if you could spare a moment.”

“I’m already late,” Ryan said in a terse voice. “Can it wait?”

Mike could continue to be his usual self. He would say ‘yes’, and then he would spend the entire day, if not the whole week, torturing himself over the misinterpretation of his words. “It would only take a minute,” he insisted.

Ryan stopped and eyed him carefully. “All right. Should I step into your office, then?”

“It’s way down.”

“Exactly.”

“We’ll take the elevator!” Mike said brightly.

Ryan appeared a bit surprised but followed him to the elevator. Mike could feel sweat coming off all his pores. What was he doing? Was he really stopping his boss from attending some important meeting only because his big mouth had run like a broken mill? Apparently, he was.

Fortunately, the elevator was empty when it stopped. Mike hurried to keep the door and invited Ryan inside. No, he wouldn’t inhale Ryan’s sexy cologne. Holding his breath was impossible, though. Cursing at himself, he followed Ryan inside and closed the door, probably using way too many moves to appear that he was still acting like a normal person.

“Well?” Ryan asked.

Mike was standing with his back at his boss, registering his presence as the elevator began moving smoothly. Everything at their company was top notch. The elevator had soft music in the background, and it smelled great. Well, not as great as Ryan, that was sure.

“I didn’t sleep with Jared!” Mike blurted out.

“What?” Ryan asked, visibly irritated.

“What I said earlier, it’s not true! I mean, I slept at Jared’s house, in his bed, with him, but we only slept.”

The way he said it, it sounded like he was digging his own grave.

Ryan sighed. “Why would I care, Mike? Do you have any idea what this looks like?”

Mike froze. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

The elevator stopped, and he got out. He almost slammed the door in Ryan’s face. “Sorry!” He exclaimed. “I had no idea you would get down --”

Ryan’s eyes were menacing as they bore into him. Mike took a few steps back and considered, for a moment, to make a run for the server room and hide there. There was no need to do that because Ryan grabbed his arm and pushed him in that direction.

He could protest. He could ask Ryan what he thought about how that looked like now. But Mike remained silent. His curiosity involved other things. Ryan pushed him through the door to the server room and then closed it behind him.

“Mike,” he said in a tone that brooked no contradiction.

“Yes,” Mike replied in a meek voice.

“Do you want to drive me nuts?”

“Um, no?”

“No? Then why do you get me in close quarters with you? Do you think I’m some sort of robot once I put a suit on?”

“Um, no?”

“Is this your usual way of carrying a conversation?”

“Um, yes?”

Ryan let go of his arm and pushed both hands through his hair. “All right.” He appeared to struggle with himself not to burst into … something that Mike had no idea what could be. He didn’t know the guy that well. “About Jared.”

Mike stiffened. “He’s just a friend, I swear.”

“Do you usually sleep with your friends?” Ryan crossed his arms over his chest and looked at him with a quirked eyebrow.

Somehow, that looked a bit amusing. Despite himself, Mike snickered, then he pursed his lips, hoping Ryan hadn’t noticed.

No chance for that. “Something funny?”

“No, just … your eyes … are funny,” Mike managed to say with some difficulty. His tongue was like lead in his mouth. Pissing off his boss, aka his crush, aka the man who kissed like an angel, aka Ryan Armstrong who was now puffing through his nose like a dragon, was a bad idea for starting his morning. Yet, there he was, doing all that.

“Funny? Like funny how?” Ryan moved toward him, cocking his head and quirking that eyebrow even more.

Mike began laughing without controlling himself anymore. Oh, God, he was so going to get fired now. But, suddenly, Ryan started laughing with him. They stared at one another, laughing as they had just seen the funniest show on earth.

Mike managed to gain back his breath. “Ryan, I swear, Jared is just a friend. But when I’m sleeping with him, I sleep so well, that’s all.”

Ryan caught him in his arms. Mike had to look up and strain his neck a little. All right, now things weren’t funny anymore. They were tense, and too much in a good way to be a good thing. “You don’t know me, so let me tell you this one thing. It takes little to make me jealous.”

Mike could swear he was blushing. He had to. His cheeks were on fire, and the tips of his ears were burning. He moved his eyes lower.

“Are you blushing?” Ryan’s voice was deep and had the superpower to send a tsunami of sensations across Mike’s body. The fact that Mike could also feel the other’s hot breath on his face didn’t help either. “So cute.”

Mike looked up now after staring stubbornly at Ryan’s chin. Their eyes connected. Ryan’s eyelids dropped, and Mike wondered why. He wouldn’t be kept in the dark long. Ryan’s lips descended on his like summer rain.

It lasted little, though. Ryan pulled back with a long sigh. “Mike,” he started with regret written all over his handsome face. “You’re truly something. But I need to behave.”

To say that he wasn’t shaken would have been a lie. But Mike struggled to regain his composure. “Sure. I mean, I should, um, behave. Not pull you here first thing in the morning,” he added quickly.

“You didn’t exactly do that.”

Mike exhaled. So, he was off the hook.

“But you did contribute to it,” Ryan added. “I have a business to run. So, stop messing with my head.”

“I’m not,” Mike protested.

“Oh, really? Making me jealous the moment I see you doesn’t count as that?”

“I didn’t want to make you jealous. I didn’t even know you were there.”

“Ah, so you intended to keep it all from me. Your sleeping,” Ryan made air quotes, “with Jared.” Then, he laughed again. “I’m just pulling your leg. I hoped there was an explanation, and thank you for giving it to me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You’re always this polite?”

“I try to. You know, when I’m not awkward and nervous.”

Ryan chuckled and shook his head in mirth. “Have you thought about what I asked you? About this weekend?” The deep dark eyes were hypnotizing. Mike couldn’t tear his eyes off Ryan’s face.

“It’s been everything I kept on doing this entire time,” Mike admitted in all honesty.

Ryan exhaled. “Me too. Let’s see each other there.”

Mike didn’t step down and didn’t protest, as Ryan’s hand cupped his cheek for a brief moment. He had so many questions. Why? What would happen once they met at that company party? Would they dance in front of other people? Most probably not. But what would happen then? That remained the biggest question.

And it would have to wait for an answer until it happened. If he called Jared now, his best friend would tell him to wait and see, without becoming overly anxious and playing out scenarios in his head.

Then he would just focus on work. That would make the crazy thoughts in his mind shut up for a change. Because there was no way, there was absolutely no way Ryan Armstrong could fall in love with him, as Jared had said. Maybe it was a fling; Mike wasn’t sure he could cope with that being true. Ryan had said the opposite; Jared believed there was a chance for romance, hearts beating as one, and all that jazz.

And Mike? Well, he needed to rein in his emotions. If this was how falling in love looked like, it seemed like a pretty dangerous thing. Right now, he wanted nothing but to start dancing around his desk, dreaming of how he would feel, dancing in Ryan’s arms.

***

On days like this, Jared wasn’t thankful, as usual, for the silence. His work was partly done in crowds, and partly in absolute solitude, as he focused on postprocessing his photos so that they would become magazine-worthy.

But today, the solitary nature of his passion that fortunately was the way he made a living didn’t cut it for him, for some reason. The number one cause of the restlessness he felt was strongly linked to his love life, or, better said, its peculiarities. He could understand Mike and Ryan being forced by circumstances to keep a low profile for their interactions. Adrian and Edward had their own agreement. Yet, still, he was the one who felt unhappy. Where Mike was hopeful and anxious, and Adrian was cocksure and determined that he would have things happen his way, Jared felt that he was nowhere.

He and Chris didn’t have any reason to hide their relationship, as far as he knew. And Chris, as busy as he was, didn’t belong to the rarefied layers of some sort of aristocracy like Adrian’s sophisticated lover.

It was raining, unnaturally so for the time of the year, and the laziness covering the city with its muddy blanket was getting to him. Jared took a sip from his tea, still not convinced to go back to his computer, and continue the retouching work on his latest batch.

He had never been in a relationship. Everything was new and mind and soul-consuming. He didn’t even need to close his eyes to recall the sensation of Chris’s fingertips tracing invisible trails on his skin.

He was daydreaming on a workday, in no mood to do what he usually loved doing. Jared exhaled and looked through the rain-streaked window. Would it be okay to call Chris? Tell him how much he missed him already?

Physically wise, their relationship was great, beyond outstanding. They fit in bed, or at least that was what Jared hoped it was true on both sides. Yet, it still felt like some strange relationship faux-pas to call Chris out of the blue and ask him to meet. As adventurous as Chris seemed when they were together, in his work, he appeared to be the epitome of seriousness. Disturbing him from his daily routine, which probably included manipulating gazillions of dollars and talking to important people, so important that probably never moved on foot like normal people, was not, definitely not, the right thing to do.

Jared picked up his phone. “Hi,” he said softly, the moment Chris picked up.

“Hi, sexy,” Chris drawled.

Good. That meant he wasn’t caught in an important meeting.

“Do you think we could meet?”

There was a short pause. “Where?”

Always the efficient man.

“I might sound crazy, but I love walking in the rain.”

“Only walking?”

Jared breathed out. The thrill of anticipation was making his palms sweat. He moved the phone from one ear to the other. “Yes. No.”

Chris’s soft chuckle sent eddies of warms down his spine as if there were lips touching each sensitive spot in their wake. He was in it deep.

“I might sound indecisive, but I’m actually a pretty average person,” Jared joked.

“Nothing about you is average.”

Just the right words. Chris knew what to say to mess up his mind. There was no wonder he was successful in his line of work. Jared frowned for a second. Was Chris successful? His penthouse, expensive clothes, and manners said everything about it, but had Chris ever told him anything about his work?

He was getting worked up over details, once again. That wasn’t important. Their relationship was still too young to include discussions about how their days went; one day, they would get there. The stage they were in involved walks in the rain, in the middle of the workweek.

Jared’s voice went low as he explained to Chris where he would like to meet.

“I’ll see you there,” Chris promised him.

Was he all right in the head to ask for a date out of the blue like that? It was too late for any regrets, and it looked like Chris had agreed to it.

Jared put the cup tea on his desk as he rushed to get dressed. A fraction of an inch was missed, and there was liquid dripping on the wooden floor. Jared cursed and turned to clean up the scene of the crime. His mind was a bit in pieces these days, he thought to himself, as he patted the wet area with tissues. He needed to pay more attention to details.

That didn’t stop him from feeling like a teenager rushing off to his first date. Chris was his first boyfriend. While he often told himself not to believe in fairytales, he hoped Chris to be the one. On his part, he would do all that was necessary to make it happen. And if Chris was busy most of the time, that meant that they only needed to make the best of the hours they had for themselves.

His old umbrella was in a sorry state, but in a place with sunny weather in summers and dry winters, that was to be expected. With a shrug, Jared tucked it under his arm. He had a feeling that he wouldn’t make much use of it, anyway.

***

Not a soul in sight, as he had suspected, Jared pondered as he looked around. If there was one person in the entire city to know all the parks with all their secrets, that had to be him. The place was no longer trendy, and the few metal bars that had once served to those wanting to either exercise to get muscles or display the said muscles were rusty and looked as abandoned as the rest. Stubborn vegetation had found its way through the cracks in the asphalt, another sign of neglect.

Jared had picked this spot because it was like that. The chances of anyone disturbing them were slim. The only worry he now had was that Chris might miss the place. Chris had counterattacked his doubts earlier over the phone by saying he was a bit of geocaching aficionado, but Jared seriously doubted that was the case. His lover was humoring him, and that was a good sign.

Now, if only the satellites in the sky handling triangulation or whatever they were doing since Jared wasn’t as technically inclined to care, would carry Chris’s steps to him. Jared tipped his head backward, balancing the crooked umbrella on his shoulder to look at the sky. Sending map coordinates over the phone could hardly be considered romantic.

He just hoped all the rest was romantic enough. The drops falling on his face were warm, there was no one else in sight, and Jared felt his skin getting hot, only thinking of Chris rushing through the rain to meet him.

“I thought you said that you liked walking in the rain.”

Jared turned on his heels at the sound of the voice. He smiled as he looked at Chris, at the rain making his dark hair shine, the way he had both hands stuffing the pockets on his jacket, looking like a movie star.

Maybe it was just his mind, his seduced mind running away with him, but that was how Chris looked to him. Darker stains of water marked the shoulders of his jacket, but he didn’t seem bothered at all. He looked younger than his age, standing there, in tight jeans and expensive kicks. Jared had expected to see him in a suit, prepped up like for a meeting with wealthy clients, not like this.

Not that he was complaining.

“Well, for now, as you can see, I’m not walking.”

“Don’t be a chicken, Jared. Do you like the rain? Prove it.”

Jared laughed. He dropped the umbrella to the ground with large, theatrical moves.

“I wasn’t expecting you to get rid of your belongings like that,” Chris commented, visibly amused.

Jared walked over to him. “Now I’m walking. Don’t complain.”

He was about to link one hand through Chris’s arm, but Chris snuck one hand around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. For a second, he was baffled; not that he hadn’t expected it. After all, nobody calls their hotshot lover in the middle of the day, when ordinary people work, for a walk in the rain.

Chris’s lips were hungry on his, and his initial surprise turned into the same lust. Jared could feel another hand sneaking into his hair, pulling it free from its string. In the silence around them, the sound of their kisses was loud like thunder.

The sky above was grey, but it wasn’t cold. Jared hissed as Chris managed to reach under his t-shirt and pinched one nipple, hard. A fine rain was wetting his shoulders, too, now. Unlike Chris, he hadn’t even bothered with a jacket.

Chris pushed him toward the old metal bars, not missing one moment to kiss him, bite him, and torture his skin. He seemed rougher than usual, but Jared couldn’t blame the guy. He wasn’t, obviously, the only one with expectations from their meeting.

“Turn,” Chris ordered shortly, and Jared obeyed. “Hold on to that.”

“Like this?” Jared wrapped his fingers around the rusty metal bar in front of him. “I should be glad this is no thunderstorm.”

He gasped as his ass was smacked one time, hard.

“No mouthing off,” Chris said abruptly.

Jared felt his lips curling into a smile. So that was the game they played. He had to be the naughty one, making his lover give up on some fantastic deal that could fill up the coffers for years and years, all for a thrilling rendezvous.

The next move was unexpected. His t-shirt was pulled over his head and let to hang on another metal bar; it moved slightly in the wind, like a flag of surrender. Now he felt exposed a little more than it was comfortable.

“Oh, wow,” he whispered.

Chris’s hands covered his chest and brushed over his nipples over and over again. Jared pushed back his ass to meet the other’s crotch in the middle.

“Easy,” Chris called softly. “Your delicious rump is going to get it soon enough.”

Jared could feel his heartbeat stepping up, ringing an emergency. The place was deserted, yes, but anyone could walk in on them.

Chris placed a kiss on his shoulder, chasing down small droplets of rain like a thirsty man. If there was one rational thought left in his mind, it was long gone. Chris continued to stimulate his nipples while kissing his way over Jared’s shoulders and upper back.

He didn’t need to do anything except to hold on to the metal bar in front of him like it was his lifeline. These were the words Chris spoke into his ear, between soft licks and grunts that gave away the desire that ran between them like electricity.

The rain fell calmer and calmer, as their need grew higher. Chris knew what to do, using just one hand to unbutton Jared’s jeans and pushed them lower. Then, his fingers moved to tease Jared’s balls from behind, the skin between them and the asshole. A rogue thumb then slid inside the crack and pushed against the opening.

“Not a very good boy, are you, Jared?”

“I guess not,” Jared murmured in reply. The warm rain falling down his back made him shiver, but not because it made him cold. Each frisson had to do more with how sensitive he felt everywhere, his skin on fire.

And he could blame it all on Chris and his maddening hands and lips everywhere. Now the fingers that had teased all his erotic spots were focused on his backdoor. Jared gasped a few times, as his unwilling resistance was breached, but he was thankful that at least Chris had come prepared, and his ass got the desired consideration.

This was no walking in the rain. It was fucking in the rain, plain and simple. Not that there was anything plain and simple in how Chris’s fingers moved around, opening him, punishing him, only a little, and making the entrance large enough for what was to follow.

A few smacks on his wet skin made Jared moan shamelessly. Chris pushed his cock inside, the lube making it reasonably doable, but still too tight, so tight that his breath caught in his chest, in his throat, coming out eventually in the shape of a keening sound.

“Easy there,” Chris encouraged him, and then he bottomed out in Jared’s ass.

Jared knew that it had to be the craziest thing he had ever done. And Chris seemed to like public sex since this wasn’t the first time they were doing it in plain sight. Of course, this was much forward and riskier than before.

Chris wrapped one arm around Jared’s chest to steady himself. As if he could read what was on Jared’s mind, he whispered into his ear, “I don’t care if anyone comes. I will continue to fuck you. Do you understand, sexy? Do you understand how crazy you make me?”

Jared wanted to have a comeback to that. But the idea, only the idea that someone could walk up on them and witness them like that, hot on hot body, wet skin smacking against wet skin, made him weak to the knees.

“Would you like that? To be seen while I’m taking you? How I own you?” Chris continued to tease his ear with small licks and dirty words. “Your expression right now,” Chris said as he made Jared turned his head, “drives me insane. Do you have any idea of how you look?”

Jared couldn’t make a sound that would make sense. The desire was boiling inside him, beyond safety levels, and was rendering him speechless. Not that he was quiet. No, he was moaning and grunting and gasping and begging while Chris fucked him.

It was like something inside him was coming loose, undone. Chris knew how to move, how to choose the right angle, how to hold him. Jared could barely stand while his pleasure grew hot and heavy, spreading its tendrils like lightning on a dark sky, sending his sanity ablaze.

Suddenly, Chris changed tack. He stopped the moving of his hips and began fondling Jared’s cock. It was an assertion of dominance, in a way, as Jared saw it, as the hand on his cock wasn’t loving, but firm; it wasn’t careful, but determined. Then it let go and cupped his balls, and Jared shivered.

“You’re such a lovely boy. I like holding you in my hand like this.”

Jared understood what Chris meant by that. His manhood, Chris was holding it.

“Now, come for me, beautiful boy,” Chris whispered in his ear, as he began pumping Jared’s cock.

This time, he moved again, and between the sensations in his ass and the hand squeezing his hardon, Jared knew he was playing a losing game. He moaned loudly as he came messily; he looked down, impressed with his own load, as it spurted from Chris’s skillful hand.

“Good boy.” Chris kissed his neck.

His true reward followed quickly. Without a condom between them, Jared could argue with anyone who cared to contradict him, that it felt better. Or maybe it was just his desire to have Chris so close to him.

Chris pulled out of his ass after a while, all the time allowing Jared to feel each twitch of his cock that still didn’t seem to go all down. When Chris came, Jared noticed, he lasted a while. The only term of comparison was himself, which wasn’t much, but Jared thought that had to be the case. Chris was a man who knew a few things about how to take care of his own pleasure.

“You look nice like this,” Chris commented and slapped his ass one last time. He played a little with his cum, smearing it around.

Jared breathed out and steadied himself with some difficulty. “And I thought we would romantically have a nice walk in the rain.”

Chris chuckled and picked Jared’s t-shirt, to hand it back to him. Jared winced as he pulled the wet fabric over his skin.

“Now, I need to send you home,” Chris said.

He didn’t look messed up at all. His hair was all wet, and his clothes weren’t any better, but Jared could bet he didn’t look as messed up as him. Chris was careful, tucking his cock back into his jeans, and then kissing him one more time on the lips.

“Take a hot bath, drink something to regain your strength, then go to bed, and dream of me.”

“Is that an order?”

“Sure, why not?”

Jared wanted to spend a little more time together, but Chris was right. He needed to go home and try not to catch a cold. His blood was cooling down, too, and now the fine droplets still falling didn’t feel as warm.

“I’ll take you home,” Chris said.

“Don’t you have work?”

“It could wait while I fucked you. I think it can wait while I take you back home safely,” Chris replied with a smile.

Jared just nodded.

“Your umbrella.” Chris pointed out at the item on the ground, its metal sprigs sticking out everywhere.

“I don’t think I could use that again. But I’ll take it to a trash can,” Jared added hurriedly.

“Such a good boy,” Chris commended him again.

Jared burst into laughter. “Do you want me to call you daddy or something?”

Chris’s smile was cryptic. Jared had to settle for no answer.

On the backseat of a cab, they held their hands together but didn’t speak too much. Chris appeared not to mind the driver as he leaned in and kissed Jared sweetly before bidding him goodbye.

Later that evening, Jared meditated for a while over how his date hadn’t gone as he had imagined it. But that didn’t make it wrong, just different; and Jared decided that he needed to lower his expectations of what relationships were. No, modify them. There was no lowering them if things were different.

And, that night, he did dream of Chris, a reenactment of their encounter, only that, this time, it was followed by a slow walk in the rain.

***

“You look great!” Jared turned Mike around, patting down some invisible creases. “I think Ryan will fall head over heels when he sees you. I mean, again.”

Mike blushed profusely. Even if it was his best friend complimenting him, he still felt a bit embarrassed. Yet, he had to admit that the deep purple silk shirt and the dark suit looked good on him. He no longer appeared lanky, with stooped shoulders. In the full-size mirror, he stared at a new and improved version of himself, lean, graceful. The straight shoulder cut made him sit straight without any efforts or reminders.

“Don’t I look a bit, I don’t know, like I’m trying too hard?”

“It’s all right to try a little harder when your crush invites you to have a dance with him.”

“And I’m not weird? Or funny?”

Jared looked at him over his shoulder in the mirror. “I wouldn’t use either to describe you right now. I’d said you look classy. And sexy.”

Mike snickered. Jared smiled at him. “You’ll be fine, Mike. I’m glad for you.”

“Jared, is it okay for me to feel so queasy in my stomach?”

“I suppose those are the butterflies. It’s all right. They are completely normal, given the circumstances.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

Jared’s encouragement could work wonders for his mood. But, as cautious as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to express all of his enthusiasm and excitement. Fears, such as someone seeing him and Ryan and getting the wrong idea – or the correct one! – were almost gone from his mind. All was supposed to be done in moderation, and that was his middle name.

“You’ll knock him off his feet, I’m sure,” Jared continued his pep talk.

“I’d rather he stands, you know, so that we could kiss.”

“Good point. I won’t say ‘don’t be nervous’ because I think Ryan likes you and your insecurities all bundled up together.”

Two simultaneous pings noticed them both they had a new message.

Jared was the first to pick his phone up. “Can you believe this dude?”

Mike looked at his phone, too, and moaned. “Now, I’m back at being the ugly duckling.” From a pic on the shiny screen, Adrian stared at him, all dressed up in what looked like a very expensive suit. It was very conservative looking, which only made Adrian’s rebellious looks to stand out more.

Jared patted his back. “You’re a gorgeous swan, too. Just look, you’re transforming,” he added, pointing at the reflection in the mirror.

Mike sighed. “Thank you for everything, Jared. You’re the best friend I could ever have.”

“I’m glad you feel this way.”

“Do you have any plans for the weekend? With Chris?”

“We’ll probably spend it in bed, fucking,” Jared replied. “Not that I complain. Just as the next red-blooded guy on this planet, I enjoy fucking. Only that … never mind.”

“What’s wrong?” Mike asked. “I mean, you can talk to me if you want.”

Jared sighed. “I’m probably overthinking everything. I feel he kind of … dominates me? Ugh, I’m just talking nonsense.”

Mike turned away from the mirror. “Hey, I don’t think that. If that’s what you feel, it means something he does makes it that way.”

Jared’s answer was a strained smile. “Then, here it is. Everything we do, it’s his choice. He doesn’t even like the word ‘boyfriend’. He prefers to be, some sort of protector or whatever, for me. I asked him, jokingly, of course, if he wants to be called ‘daddy’ and he didn’t reject the idea. I mean, he said nothing.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

“Not hard enough, probably. And that’s my fault. I think I need to make my point of view clear enough. I can’t just go around, complaining, while I’m not even trying.”

“I’m sure he’ll listen to you. I mean, who wouldn’t? You’re always so nice.”

“I guess. And you’re nice, too. Now let’s pay for your outfit and then get you a haircut. Nothing extreme, I promise. But just enough for Ryan to see that you made an effort.”

“All right.” Mike touched his hair, all self-consciously.

“You’ll be fine,” Jared promised him once more.

***

Adrian felt a small tremble of anticipation in the pit of his stomach. Yeah, he wasn’t used to luxury except now and then, so wearing a suit that must have cost thousands of dollars and being chauffeured around were all new to him. To hide his slight discomfort, he cleared his throat and looked out the window. Edward had sent his employee to get him, and that had been a bit of a surprise. Now they were heading to Edward’s place, apparently.

The winding road climbed, and Adrian began to understand. They were out of the city and now heading toward the area where only high-end real estate could be seen as far as eyes could see.

He snorted under his breath as the property came into view. A frigging mansion. He wasn’t completely surprised. Even if Edward worked, he didn’t do it for a living, obviously. He came from money, big money, by what Adrian could say while looking out the window, at the manicured park - calling it a lawn seemed unfit - and the tall white colonnades guarding the front.

“We’re here, sir. Please allow me to get the door for you,” the chauffeur said politely.

Adrian felt a bit weird to wait in the car while the chauffeur got out and hurried to hold the door. Rich people were kind of assholes. What? Did their hands fall if they opened a damned car door? But he didn’t want to cause an unwarranted scene or make the chauffeur uncomfortable, so, for the moment, he played along.

He thanked the chauffeur and then buttoned up his jacket as he took in the front door. He had a spring in his step as he hurried up the marble stairs. If it were a butler getting the door, he would tease Edward over the silver spoon in his mouth for days.

It wasn’t another employee, though, but Edward himself. He appeared to be in casual dress as he welcomed Adrian, wearing a loose shirt with matching pants and loafers that made him look more approachable than usual.

His face broke in a broad smile as he saw Adrian. “Adrian, you look amazing.”

“Thanks. But don’t tell me you’re going to show off at your fancy club wearing these clothes. Not that they don’t look good on you, but I fear that I would look well overdressed in your company.”

Edward laughed. He grabbed Adrian’s hand and pulled him inside. “I will change, obviously. But I wanted to show you my humble abode, first.”

“Humble was the first thing that came to my mind, the moment your chauffeur pulled us into the driveway.”

Another good-natured laugh followed. Edward pulled him by the hand and began walking around, explaining things. Adrian didn’t quite listen. Between the lavishness of the place and Edward’s warm hand on his, he must have lost his sense of hearing.

A grand staircase led to the upper floor, and Edward continued his lively presentation of the place as they walked up.

“And this,” Edward said as he pushed open a door, “is where I sleep.”

Adrian grinned. Edward was enthusiastic as a twelve-year-old hosting his first sleepover, and Adrian wasn’t any better. There had to be a reason why Edward was showing him his inner sanctum. Without hesitation, Adrian walked inside, following Edward’s invitation.

“A big place,” Adrian commented. “Any staff lurking around, doing the vacuuming?”

“No. The employees in charge of the place work normal hours, and they don’t live here. And, of course, they have the weekend free.”

“Really? And who makes Your Majesty his tea, then?”

Edward smirked. “You’re pulling my leg. I knew you would. That’s why I wasn’t sure, at first, if I should show you the house.”

“Your chauffeur doesn’t work normal hours,” Adrian pointed out.

Edward shrugged. “No chauffeur does. It’s the nature of the job.”

“So, he has to sit there, in his car, waiting for us, with nothing to do?”

“No, there is a part of the house he can use if so inclined. I’ll send him a text when we’re ready.”

“Ah, I see. So, no maid could walk in on us and scream in a sexy French accent?”

“No, and why should she scream?” Edward asked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“Because,” Adrian said matter-of-factly and pulled Edward into a kiss.

Edward leaned into his touch but pressed his palms firmly against Adrian’s shoulders. “You shouldn’t wrinkle your suit.”

Adrian sighed, pretending to be heartbroken over that little warning. “I knew to wear such a thing would be a pain. No one ever smiles in those photo shoots advertising such luxury clothes. I always suspected that all those models must have some sticks up their anorexic asses.”

“Good thing such clothes, as you say, come in larger sizes, too. You look great in the suit I picked for you, Adrian.”

Edward was already making a beeline for the door when Adrian caught him by the elbow. “Hey, give me some sugar.”

“Sugar is bad for you, Adrian. You know, rotten teeth and all,” Edward teased him but allowed to be drawn back.

“I like living dangerously,” Adrian replied and closed his lips over Edward’s enticing mouth. “Can we have sex at this fancy party?” he asked and let Edward breathe for a moment.

“No, not us, at least,” Edward said mysteriously. His dark green eyes were shining, as were his lips. Adrian wanted to smooth him so hard until he couldn’t breathe anymore. “It’s all about showing off, and, of course, titillating other people’s senses.”

“Titillating? You’re intriguing me more and more.”

“Don’t worry. While you’ll be on display, so to speak, I won’t allow anything more. It appears that I feel a tad territorial tonight.”

“What? If you hadn’t been this much into me, you would have shared me around or something?” Adrian quirked an eyebrow, only half-joking.

“No. But in the past, I did allow my partners to enjoy the attention of others quite overtly. Just to be clear, that is not going to happen tonight. I will allow everyone to be seduced by your gorgeous looks from a polite distance, not anything more. Anyone dares to touch you, you come to me.”

Adrian burst into laughter. “Like I’d let a bunch of rich perverts to feel me up just like that.”

“No, not just like that,” Edward said airily. “They could offer you what you may think to be obscene sums of money, and that for more than just to feel you up, as you say.”

“Oh, screw me sideways. So, you allowed some of your former lovers to have sex with the highest bidder or something like that?”

“Only with a condom,” Edward said. “And never to suck off anyone. Their mouths belonged to me for the time being.”

“Well, at least, you were a bit territorial even then,” Adrian said as he contemplated the new findings inwardly. “By the way, I promise not to give in unless I’m promised an entire golf course or something extreme like that.”

Edward patted his cheek. “Don’t even think about it, Adrian. There are plenty of fools in the world, and you’d be surprised how willing they can be to part with their cash. If it’s not hard-earned, it’s easy to kiss it goodbye over a whim.”

“Ah, and that’s why you work, to have a sense of value for the cash you’re spending,” Adrian said.

“And, of course, because I’d rather not spent my active years twiddling my thumbs.”

“That’s great. Now, you should have told me I would witness people having sex in public and stuff like that.”

“Our club is private; there’s nothing public about it. But, of course, many encounters have the potential of voyeuristic value, which is why some don’t mind flaunting their perversions in this manner.”

“Perversions? I thought it was a club for upstanding gentlemen.”

“Your language must have rubbed on me. You keep talking about them as a bunch of perverts. I consider them, and myself included, to be capable of living as free as a person can.”

“All right, but given the circumstances, if I had known, I would have jerked off at home. Now I’m going to be a walking boner,” Adrian pointed out.

Edward placed one hand on top of his crotch. “I can see that you are already that. Hmm, this must be painful,” he teased, both with his words and his fingers as he traced the shape of Adrian’s cock through the fabric.

Adrian winced. “Now, I’ll have to hold you responsible.”

Edward purred, as his eyes became hooded and inviting. “Responsible? Your ability to get it up so fast qualifies you for the position, Adrian. Of course, any consequences, I’ll assume them all.”

“Then give me a hand already or something.” Adrian challenged Edward with his eyes, not moving at all and enjoying the sensation of being handled like that.

“A hand? We risk staining your suit,” Edward pointed out.

“Oh, so you’re willing to see me walking about, pitching a tent, then?”

“No.” Edward leaned toward him and whispered in his ear. “I’m not going to give you a hand, but something else.”

“What?”

“Head,” Edward said simply.

Adrian’s cock twitched desperately. Okay, so maybe pushing Edward toward the enormous bed, impeccably made, and ramming into him until they both lost their voices, wasn’t in the cards. But getting his cock sucked sounded pretty good, too, unless Edward just wanted to tease him, and he would really have to live through the torture of visiting a kinky sex club as he tried hard to behave.

It was no joke. Edward dropped to his knees and fiddled with Adrian’s belt, his eyes never leaving Adrian’s.

“Your Majesty, you’re too sexy for your own good. Are you sure your patients don’t fall crazy in love with you? Your coworkers? People on the subway? Oh, wait, you don’t take the subway.”

Adrian lost track of what he wanted to say. Edward nearly chomped on his cock, stopping his teeth close to the skin, like some kind of kinky warning. Then Adrian felt the hotness and moisture of the mouth wrapped around his cock, and he didn’t care about teasing Edward at all.

Instead, he looked in the mirror installed by the bed, and his breath began quickening, just as his heartbeat. Damn, he looked sharp in that suit. The beautiful man servicing him on his knees was there to complete the picture.

“Oh, fuck,” Adrian whispered. Edward was working him hard, efficiently, but that didn’t make it any less pleasant. “You’re such a good deepthroater, Your Majesty. Make sure not to choke, though.” The immediate response was his cock made to hit what was probably the back of Edward’s throat if he could tell. “Or choke, I don’t mind. I’ll give you first aid if need be.”

He was trying to be funny just to take the edge off what he felt. Edward was too good, so much better than his casual one-night-stands or random quickies. It wasn’t fair that he was this good. It meant that Adrian would come soon. “Fuck,” he whispered in frustration as he began shooting in the warm mouth tormenting him.

There was a point in what Edward had told him. No risk of staining his suit as Edward swallowed it all.

With a broad grin splitting his face, Edward got to his feet. “You taste great, Adrian. I love it.” He patted his lips gently.

Adrian smirked and took Edward by surprise as he knelt in front of him.

“Adrian, what are you doing? There’s no need --”

Even someone like Edward could be made to shut up for once. Adrian found the way to pull down Edward’s pants fast, and soon it was his mouth on a hard cock. Edward could run his mouth all he wanted. The desire was reciprocal.

Edward didn’t protest anymore. Instead, he ran both hands through Adrian’s unruly hair and held his head to fuck his mouth. Adrian didn’t mind; actually, he enjoyed someone a bit rough from time to time. Too many people fell to his feet and acted obediently. Adrian liked someone with a bit of spunk.

Speaking of which, he wasn’t the only one with loaded balls. Edward didn’t voice his release in coarse words, and his moans were subdued, held in, but Adrian could really appreciate the mouthful.

He stole a glance in the mirror. That position was jerk off material, too, with him dressed so nicely, and giving his lover head like he meant it.

Edward was breathing hard, and his eyes were glassy when Adrian stood up.

“Nice meal, Your Majesty. I appreciate the flavor.”

Edward laughed, but he looked a bit wasted. “I see you’re learning fast. I’m glad you like it. As they say in porn, there’s more where that came from.”

“I’m counting on it. Now, do we brush our teeth, or we go to your party and let others smell cum on us? That might make some people crazy, seeing what a bunch of perverts they are.”

Edward laughed as he straightened Adrian’s tie. “I don’t dismiss your idea altogether. But let’s look the part. Here is a mint,” he added, as he went to pick up a bowl from the nightstand.

Adrian laughed and took one. “I’m glad you’re so well prepared.”

“Always.” Edward flashed a broad smile at him. “Now, I will go downstairs to dress.”

“Do you need any help?”

“Let’s be serious for a moment, Adrian. If you came to help me, we would not leave the house.”

“Point taken. Can I jump up and down on your bed?”

Edward pursed his lips comically. “This isn’t a sleepover, Adrian.”

Adrian smirked. “But it will be, right? Once we’re done with the perverts.”

Edward laughed and shook his head. “Sure, why not?”

“Yes,” Adrian shouted his victory, closing one fist and bringing his elbow down. “I’ve always wanted to have a sleepover with someone as sexy as you.”

“You shower me in compliments,” Edward said. “Make sure to save a few for the people I will introduce you to. I want you to be courteous.”

“Sure thing. Now go downstairs and dress up. My balls are refilling, so you’re on the clock. In five minutes tops, if you’re not ready, I’m coming for you.”

“Five minutes? All right then, let’s not wait one precious moment,” Edward replied.

Adrian watched Edward’s behind as he walked out the door. That was one nice ass, and he would so love to tap it. Later, of course, since obligations came first, but he would do it, without a doubt.

TBC