by K. C. Wells
Kel’s staccato breaths and moans filled the quiet room, along with the slick sound of his fingers fucking his ass.
“Can you imagine what would have happened if my new client had gotten to hear that?”
“He didn’t.” His joke no longer seemed amusing, and Luc’s mood was totally understandable.
“I cut the sound as soon as I saw what you’d sent me.” Luc’s eyes gleamed. “And while we’re on the subject… it looks like we need a new rule.”
Uh-oh. Kel swallowed. “We do?”
Luc’s smile sent a shiver of apprehension skittering down his back. “Oh yes. Because as of now?” He pointed to Kel’s crotch. “That’s mine. You don’t get to play with it without my permission.”
“For how long?” Kel gaped. He can’t do that. Can he?
Luc shrugged. “Until I say otherwise. Until I decide that you’ve learned your lesson. How long is a piece of string?”
Kel couldn’t decide if Luc taking charge like this was a pain in the ass, or a real turn on. Then he remembered Luc’s text. He isn’t finished.
Luc walked out from behind his desk and went to the wide chair by the window. He sat in it and beckoned. “And this is where you get over my knee.”
He’s not really gonna… Kel couldn’t get his feet to move.
Luc arched his eyebrows. “Today, boy. You, over my lap, ass high.” He patted his thighs.
What shocked Kel most was that some part of him wanted this. He approached Luc slowly, trying to remain calm, but inside he was buzzing. When he reached Luc, he stood beside the chair, a tremor rippling through him. Luc waited in silence as he lowered himself awkwardly, putting out his hands to touch the floor to steady himself.
Luc rubbed his shorts-covered ass, before landing his hand firmly on one cheek. The shock ricocheted through Kel, and he gasped, sudden tears stinging his eyes. Then another, only this one was harder, and Luc rubbed his ass again. By the fourth or fifth blow, Kel was breathing easier—until Luc reached under him, unfastened his shorts, and roughly pulled them down, baring his ass.
“Beautiful ass.” Luc squeezed first one cheek, then the other, before caressing them gently. Then he landed a sharp smack, and the sting that followed made Kel wince. Luc rubbed the affected area, before repeating his action, only this time landing his hand with more force, two or three blows at a time.
Each time Luc’s hand came down with a crack, Kel gave a jolt, but he didn’t call out for Luc to stop. Involuntary tears pricked the corners of his eyes. What filled him with shame was his hardening shaft, caught between Luc’s thighs. When Luc reached under and cupped his balls, squeezing them, Kel groaned out loud. Then it was back to spanking him, Luc landing ten or more sharp blows with one hand, while the other pulled on Kel’s dick.
“Fuck, you’re hard.” Luc paused to stroke Kel’s ass cheeks, as if his rubbing would erase the spanking. Kel cried out as Luc tugged on his cock, his ass hot and stinging. He knew he was close, but he fought to hold it back, his whole body shaking from the effort.
“Kel?” Luc’s voice was unexpectedly gentle. “You can come now.”
Kel moaned, and seconds later, he creamed Luc’s hand, trembling uncontrollably, Luc’s hand softly caressing the heated skin. Luc slid his hand under Kel’s T-shirt and stroked his back, so gently Kel wanted to weep. When his heartbeat had returned to its normal rhythm, Luc helped him to stand, rising with him.
“Lesson learned?” Luc’s lips brushed over his neck, and Kel shivered. He could only nod, his emotions in turmoil.
I liked it. He spanked me—and I liked it. He didn’t question Luc’s authority to do it. It just felt… right. What came to mind was the day when, as a little boy, he’d broken a pane in Luc’s greenhouse with his ball. Luc had been okay about it—his father had not. Kel had received a swift spanking, one which had brought tears to his eyes, the memory of which had lingered for days.
Yet moments after Luc had delivered his punishment, the pain and humiliation Kel had endured was already fading, leaving him with the warm glow that always followed an orgasm.
With Luc, I’m continually learning new things about myself. The realization filled Kel with a sense of achievement, another indication of just how far he’d come in a short span of time. I’m not the Kel I was.
The thought pleased him.
Luc kissed him, his lips warm and soft against Kel’s, his hands gentle on Kel’s back. “You haven’t answered my question.”
Kel sighed. “Lesson learned.” He reached down to pull up his shorts, but Luc stopped him.
“How about we get in bed and cuddle for a while?”
Kel couldn’t think of anything more perfect.
The previous day’s spanking had left no real aftereffects, apart from a hot face when he recalled Luc’s hand on his backside. Luc had left the house early for a meeting in Charlotte, but judging by the length of time he’d taken to get his ass in gear, he was apparently reluctant to leave Kel for the day.
Kel knew exactly how Luc felt. Their night had been disturbed by bouts of wakefulness, which had led to other activities. Kel’s favorite recollection had been awaking from a light sleep, to find Luc already inside him, his gradual penetration made easier by his last load that he’d left there, with the aid of a butt plug. No words were exchanged, only Luc’s soft kisses on Kel’s shoulders and neck as he gently moved in and out of Kel’s body with a reverence that made him feel like he was the most precious thing on the earth.
He didn’t want it to end.
The last thing Luc had said before leaving the house had been, “Behave yourself today.” There’d been a twinkle in his eye, however.
Kel had grinned. “I’ll try.”
The phone rang, startling him out of his pleasant memories. He smiled, half-expecting to see Luc’s name on the screen. He wants to get his own back for yesterday.
What shocked him into silence was seeing Troy’s name there.
It took Kel a moment to react. He clicked on Accept. “Hey.” He hadn’t spoken with Troy since they’d parted company after graduation from MACU. Troy’s email from back in March had gone unanswered, much to Kel’s shame.
“Hey. Is this a good time to call?” Troy sounded his usual cheerful self.
“Sure.”
“Only, I’m gonna be passing through Elon—if you’re still living there, that is—and I wondered if we could meet up for a coffee or something?”
“Yeah, I’m still here.” For the moment anyhow. “When are you passing through?”
Troy chuckled. “Er, this afternoon.”
Kel laughed. “Still doing things last minute, I see.” It was as if the years since he’d last seen Troy rolled away. “Sure. You have any idea where you wanna meet, or would you like me to suggest somewhere?”
“Can I leave that up to you?”
Kel knew exactly where to go. “You still got a thing for Krispy Kreme? Because they got a coffee shop in Burlington.”
Troy groaned. “Lord, you’re evil. Like I’m gonna say no to that. Three o’clock okay?”
“Three o’clock is fine. I’ll see you there.” Kel disconnected, still smiling. It would be good to see Troy and catch up. The first thing Kel was going to ask would be what brought Troy to North Carolina. The last he’d heard, Troy was headed for Tennessee.
Then a thought occurred. Troy might not sound like he’d changed much, but he sure had. Just how honest can I be with him? Kel had spent so long hiding himself from his fellow students that it was almost ingrained, but that was in the past. Did that mean he could be true to himself? No more hiding?
Kel was going to play this by ear.
Troy’s eyes lit up as he caught sight of the donuts on Kel’s tray. “Double dark chocolate. You remembered.”
Kel laughed. “Your guilty pleasure. How could I forget?” He placed the coffees on the table and sat in the opposite chair. Troy’s appearance had changed little. He still had that same shock of black hair, and those piercing blue eyes. No wonder I was c
aptivated by him. Troy was pretty with a capital P.
“I was sorry to hear about your parents,” Troy said suddenly, not meeting Kel’s gaze. “You must be devastated.”
“They got it right when they said time heals all wounds,” Kel admitted in a low voice. “It just does it slowly, that’s all.” He didn’t want to talk about his parents. “Anyway, tell me your news. Like, what brings you here of all places?”
“Two things, really. The most important being… I’ve met someone.” Troy’s creamy complexion reddened.
“That’s awesome!”
Troy’s smile lit up his handsome face. “She’s awesome. Her name’s Ruth, and she lives in Raleigh.”
“Ah-ha. That explains it. You’re on your way to see her.”
“Not exactly.” Troy took a sip of coffee. “Kel, she’s… she’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She’s so… caring. She always wants what’s best for me. She’s helped me make some tough decisions about my future, just by listening and giving good advice. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.” He sighed. “I hate being away from her, but it won’t be for long. The best thing I ever did was fall in love with her. She makes me a better me, if that doesn’t sound too weird.”
Kel couldn’t help smiling. “I love how your face lights up when you talk about her.”
Troy chuckled. “Stop that. You’ll make me self-conscious. And just you wait. One day you’ll meet someone who makes you glow from the inside out.”
Kel stared at him, his heart pounding. “And what if… what if I already have?” His pulse quickened.
Troy widened his eyes. “Seriously? Aw, that’s fantastic. What’s her name?”
That got Kel’s heart hammering. He took a couple of deep breaths. “It’s not a her. It’s a him.” Lord, I can’t believe I said that.
Troy stilled, his mouth open, his face frozen in a dazed look, and sweat popped out on Kel’s brow. Damn it. I should’ve kept my fool mouth shut. But before he could stammer out another word, Troy’s expression thawed, and he gave Kel a hesitant smile.
“I can’t say I’m surprised.”
It took a second or two for his words to register. “Say what?”
Troy sighed. “I always kinda suspected it. There was even a time where I thought… I thought you might have been attracted to me. It was just a feeling, nothing more, and I never confronted you about it.”
Kel wasn’t about to confirm a damn thing. “Oh wow,” he said with a nervous chuckle.
Troy gazed at him, his eyes warm. “I think you’ve picked a hard row to hoe, but I’m glad you’re happy. You are happy, right? He… he treats you okay?”
Kel smiled. “From the way you described Ruth? I think she and Luc came from the same mold. Because Luc definitely makes me a better me.”
Troy heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s great.”
Kel gazed at him inquiringly. “I have to say, your reaction wasn’t at all what I expected.” Which had to be the understatement of the year.
Troy’s lips twitched. “Let me guess. You were waiting for the fire and brimstone sermon?”
“Kinda, yeah.”
Troy clasped his hands in front of him on the table. “Well, for one thing, not all Christians are the same. For another, that’s sort of related to the second reason why I’m on my way to Raleigh. You see, I was going to work with a preacher in Tennessee, only—”
“I remembered that part. Did it fall through or something?”
Troy’s eyes darkened. “It didn’t fall through. I went there and spent a few weeks, getting to know the congregation, the preacher, his family…” His face tightened. “Some of their views didn’t strike me as truly Christian. Especially when it came to ‘love thy neighbor.’ That was fine—as long as the neighbor in question wasn’t gay, or lesbian, or bi, or transgender, or—”
Kel held up his hand. “I get the picture.”
Troy nodded glumly. “I spent a lot of time in prayer about it. Then came the day that I felt the Lord was telling me to look elsewhere. So I decided to look for another ministry.” His face brightened. “And I found one. St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church in Raleigh. That’s where Ruth goes, too. Everyone is welcome there.” He gave Kel a shy smile. “You’d be more than welcome to join us.”
Secretly, Kel wasn’t sure he was ready for that. “I’ll bear it in mind,” he said politely. Thankfully, Troy changed the subject, and they talked about Kel finishing his MBA, and the kind of career opportunities that were open to him once he was done studying. When Kel glanced at his phone, he was astonished to see they’d been talking for a couple of hours, sustained by two rounds of coffee and maybe two or three donuts apiece.
“I’d better get home.” Luc would be back by then, probably wondering where Kel was.
“Of course. Thanks for meeting with me. I was dreading it, to be honest.”
“Why?” Kel frowned.
“Because you’d lost your parents, and I thought you might have been… depressed. But just looking at you, I can tell this Luc is really good for you.”
“He is,” Kel confirmed. “And falling in love with him is the best thing I ever did.” He couldn’t deny it any longer. He’d fallen for Luc, heart, body and soul.
“And he feels the same way about you?”
Kel’s chest tightened. “I don’t know,” he replied truthfully. “He cares for me, that much is obvious. But whether it’s love or not?” He hoped so. Lord, he hoped so, with all his heart.
Troy threw his arms around Kel and gave him a fierce hug. “I’m gonna be praying that it is,” he whispered, before releasing him. “Now, you promise to stay in touch and let me know how things work out?”
Kel nodded. “I promise. Just as long as you promise to send me an invite to the wedding.” He grinned.
Troy’s cheeks flamed. “You sound like Ruth’s parents. They keep asking when we’re gonna set a date.” His eyes twinkled. “Hey… we could always make it a double wedding.”
Kel rolled his eyes. “Whoa there, Speedy. Not so fast.”
Troy snickered. “Just putting it out there.” He glanced down at their table. “Did we really eat six donuts between us?”
Kel huffed. “Don’t remind me. Luc is gonna want to know why I’m not hungry.”
Troy sighed heavily. “Can’t hide a thing from Ruth. It’s like she sees straight through me.”
Kel could understand that feeling only too well.
Kel started the dishwasher on its cycle, then went into the living room area. It was a hot evening, and Luc was sitting on the couch in nothing by a pair of skimpy shorts. He wore his reading glasses, which Kel had to admit made him appear even sexier.
Luc placed his book face down and looked up with a smile as Kel approached the couch. “Hey. Kitchen all tidy again?”
Kel nodded. He’d gotten on with the dinner preparations as soon as he’d arrived home. That hadn’t left much time for conversation. Not that he was in the mood to talk. Since leaving Troy, he’d done nothing but think about Luc.
How does he feel about me? I mean, I can’t just come out and ask if he loves me. That sounds… wrong. But hiding his own feelings felt equally wrong.
“What are you reading?”
Luc’s smile hadn’t dimmed. “Remember that movie we saw? The really cheesy one about the dog?”
Kel snickered. “How could I forget?”
“Well, it got me thinking about the book. It’s been so long since I read it. So… I’m discovering it all over again.” He tilted his head to one side. “You want to watch TV or something?”
I’m not sure what I want. Then it came to him. “Actually? Would you read it to me?”
Luc’s face glowed with pleasure. “Really?”
That did it. “Really. It’s too damn hot to do anything else.”
Luc pointed to his shirt. “Then take that off, and come sit by me.”
Kel had a much better idea. He stripped off his T-shirt, then
lay down, his head in Luc’s lap, his feet propped up on the arm of the couch. “How about like this? Would this be all right?”
Luc’s smile made it obvious that would be just fine.
Kel got comfortable, Luc’s arm draped across his waist, while he held the book with his free hand. Luc started reading, his pace steady and even, and Kel lost himself in the words, Luc’s voice, Luc’s warmth, Luc’s scent, and the feel of Luc’s body beneath him.
I could lie like this for days.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on the sound of Luc’s voice, until it seeped into his bones, and he drifted off into a deep, restful sleep, Luc’s fingers gentle as they played with his hair. Kel’s last conscious thought before sleep was of Luc.
Let him love me too?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Something had changed, and Luc was dying to know why.
Kel was quieter, more contemplative, and that was usually a sign that he had a lot on his mind. But the signals were confusing. For one thing, there’d been a whole lot of snuggling going on. Evenings where they’d sat on the couch, Kel’s head in his lap, or more often than not, Kel’s head against his chest, while Luc held him.
Not that Luc was complaining. An evening spent holding his boy was pretty goddamn perfect in his book. But he couldn’t help wondering what had prompted the need to be close.
Then there was the sex.
It was like a switch had been flipped inside Kel, and as far as Luc could make out, it dated back to his spanking. Since then, Luc couldn’t get over the change in him. The closest he got to it in his thinking, was that Kel had finally gotten over his initial fears that wanting rough sex somehow made him depraved. The boy who’d ridden him the previous night, for instance, had had no qualms about demanding Luc not be gentle, and that had ended with Luc pile-driving into Kel’s hole, before filling him with his cum.
There was only one thing that would make the situation any better, but Luc wasn’t going to push Kel on that score. It was enough that Luc had gotten to the point where he could admit to himself that he loved Kel. What kept him going was the hope of one day hearing those words from Kel’s lips. Until then, he was going to make sure Kel knew Luc wasn’t going anywhere, and that while Kel was away from him at school, no one else would be sharing Luc’s bed.
