Room at the Top

by Jane Davitt

  Jay rose, spun, and went down to his knees, every movement coordinated, smooth, just the tiniest wobble as his knees touched the carpet.

  Liam pursed his lips and went back to sit in his chair, where he could see them both. He felt his connection to them like reins in his hands, not frayed by irritation as it had been at the start, but strong, alive. “Better, Jay, but not perfect. Again.”

  Austin whimpered and Liam smiled.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Liam had only been gone for two days, but one of them had been Friday and Jay was already finding Austin impossible to deal with. Okay, maybe not impossible, but definitely unpleasant. He’d insisted they make plans for Friday night, knowing Austin was going to need the distraction so he wouldn’t just sulk about missing out on their usual night with Liam.

  They’d gone out to dinner, and that was fine, but some kind of technical problem at the movie theater meant that their movie had stopped suddenly halfway through, and after that everything had gone to hell. Austin had gone back into cleaning mode when they got home. Jay went into the kitchen to find him scrubbing around the faucet with an old toothbrush.

  “You don’t think that’s a little OCD?” Jay asked.

  “Yeah, cleaning is OCD,” Austin said sarcastically.

  “I don’t mean cleaning in general. I mean doing it with a toothbrush.”

  “This place is filthy. Can you move a little? Yeah.” Austin went back to work.

  Jay sighed. “It isn’t filthy.”

  “Please. Like you’re a good judge. You’d probably sleep in a trash heap and not notice.”

  “You’re being a jerk,” Jay said. “I know you’re stressing about Liam being gone, but that’s no excuse.”

  Austin dropped the toothbrush into the sink next to a bowl of white powder Jay assumed was some kind of cleanser and not, you know, cocaine. “I know. I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound all that sorry, though.

  “Patrick missed a Friday now and then.”

  “I know.”

  “Liam left us his key. We could go over there tomorrow, maybe work out or something?”

  “No.” Austin’s jaw set like concrete. “Not without Liam there.”

  “He said we could.”

  “Yeah, well, we don’t have to do everything he says. Our lives aren’t one long kinky session with Liam micromanaging every fucking second.”

  “No,” Jay said slowly, “because that’s not what we want, any of us. It doesn’t mean that he’s ordering us to go there when he gives us a key and the security code and says we’re welcome to crash there if we like.”

  “What would be the point?” Austin pulled off what looked like half a roll of paper towels and started to dry behind and around the faucet. “Look, I know I’m in a shitty mood. Maybe just stay away.”

  Jay moved to the fridge and took out a bottle of juice, then poured himself a glass. “Right, because that makes sense. You’re mad ’cause Liam went away, so I should go away too?”

  “Not go away. Just, you know, avoid me.”

  “And that’s different how?”

  “I don’t know,” Austin said.

  “You know he’s coming back, right?” It wasn’t the first time Jay had asked the question, but he wasn’t sure what else to ask.

  Austin glared at him. “Yes, of course.”

  “Then why are you so freaked out?”

  “It’s just so easy for him, you know? To leave. It’s not like we matter to him or anything.”

  “Are you insane?” Jay asked, not even trying to keep the warmth from his tone. “You don’t really think we don’t matter to him, do you?”

  “Maybe,” Austin said sullenly. “Not enough, anyway.”

  It wasn’t often that Jay took charge of things between himself and Austin. It was less to do with his submissive tendencies and more to do with the fact that drifting was easier than making a decision. Austin generally picked the movies they saw, the restaurants they went to, even some of Jay’s clothes. Jay liked it that way. Now and then, though, he took a stand and this was too important to ignore in the hope that it would go away.

  He took a sip of juice, then set the glass down. “Austin. You need to stop doing whatever the hell it is that you’re doing and come and sit down.”

  “No. I want to do this, and I’m not in the mood for a lecture or you trying to cheer me up.”

  “I could make you.”

  Austin snorted. “Dream on.”

  “I could beg you.”

  “Your puppy dog eyes work on Liam. They don’t work on me.”

  “Yeah, they do.” Jay got closer, ignoring the irritated jerk of Austin’s shoulder. He put his arms around Austin and nuzzled into the back of his neck. “That’s why you’re not looking at me right now. ’Cause if you do, you’ll cave and we both know it.”

  “You really think so, huh?” There was a subtle softening in Austin’s stance that told Jay to keep pushing. Austin didn’t want to feel like this, miserable and upset—no one would—but he needed some help getting out of the hole he’d dug.

  “Look at me and prove me wrong.”

  Austin let go of the wadded paper towels and turned within Jay’s arms, a bored expression pasted on his face. “Fine, I’m looking. Not caving.”

  “Gotcha.” Jay swooped in and kissed him, hanging on when Austin struggled, patiently waiting for Austin to kiss him back.

  If Austin had really fought to free himself, Jay would’ve let go, but his efforts felt more like his way of testing how determined Jay was. Jay could get behind that. The first thing he did when Liam tied him down was tug hard to prove to himself that he wasn’t going anywhere. Nothing beat that first delicious rush of arousal when the bonds held.

  “Love you,” Jay said and bit down on Austin’s lip. “Love you so fucking much, and I’m not going anywhere unless you’re with me.”

  Austin made a small, hungry sound and rolled his head to the side to expose his neck, inviting a bite there. “Show me.”

  “Show you I love you? Yeah, I can do that.” Jay licked the side of Austin’s neck before using his teeth, and felt him shiver. He pressed his body up against Austin’s, his cock hardening, the quick intake of breath from Austin telling him that he wasn’t alone in that. “Trust me?”

  “Always.”

  Good to know.

  “Going to tie you to the bed and do wicked, naughty things to you.”

  Austin’s hands tightened on Jay’s arms, an involuntary response more honest than his bored, “Same old, same old.”

  “You’re gonna pay for that,” Jay promised him. Being in charge, if only fleetingly, was exhilarating and scary. He wasn’t sure how Liam did it. He tried to sound as sure of himself as Liam always did. “And after you’ve come so hard you need help adding two and two, we’re going to talk, Austin.”

  “You’re gonna have to make me to do that too,” Austin said. It was possible that he was playing now, just a little bit, and that made Jay feel more confident.

  “Bed,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  Austin allowed himself to be led into the bedroom, let Jay undress him and find the silk scarves tucked under the mattress. Even let Jay tie him to the bed frame, all without saying anything aside from the occasional murmur of agreement.

  Jay tugged at the scarves where they were looped around the frame, making sure they were snug enough to hold even if Austin fought them. Then, grinning, he licked Austin’s ankle. “I don’t care if you talk,” he said. “I’m not Liam, I’m me. This is just us, and that’s okay.”

  “Better than okay,” Austin said, then squeaked when Jay bit his toe. “Hey!”

  “I like that,” Jay said. “That’s a good sound. Make it again.”

  This time he bit Austin’s knee, and Austin did squeak again. “Just don’t bite anything important.”

  “You wouldn’t care if I did.” Jay licked Austin’s balls and then bit at them, but gently, careful not to really hurt. No matter what Austin said or lik
ed with Liam, he didn’t want to be hurt right then and Jay knew it. Jay knew Austin inside and out—sometimes, maybe better than Austin knew himself.

  Austin’s cock was stiff, flushed pink. Jay loved his coloring, the way his little nipples got pink and tight when he was turned on, the way his eyes went kind of hazy and warm. There wasn’t anything about Austin that Jay didn’t love—okay, maybe there was the occasional thing he didn’t like, but that was the exception to the rule. “I love you so much,” he said. “More than anything. More than anyone.”

  “Me too,” Austin said, lifting his head and looking at Jay like he was worried.

  “No, it’s okay,” Jay said. “I’m good. I’m so happy, with you.” To prove it, he bent down and took the head of Austin’s cock into his mouth.

  “Considering where your mouth is right now, I really hope so,” Austin said.

  Jay pulled back and glanced up the bed at Austin. “Okay, I’m starting to see why Liam makes us shut up.”

  Austin pouted at him, all fake contrition. “Am I distracting you?”

  “Yes. From something very, very…” Jay didn’t bother to finish his sentence. Far more important to get the solid weight of Austin’s cock back where he wanted it, lying heavy against his tongue. He didn’t move for a few seconds, luxuriating in having his mouth filled, then took in a little more until the head of Austin’s cock had nowhere to go, pushing against the back of his mouth, blocking his throat.

  He breathed through his nose and put his hands under Austin’s ass, encouraging Austin to arch up and managing somehow to take him deeper. He could still breathe in, but it was restricted, and a thrill of arousal went through him. He loved literally having his breath taken away, though he’d never been able to explain why to Austin or to Liam without stumbling over his words. It felt like the ultimate surrender of control.

  Liam’s version of breath play, mindful maybe of Austin’s worried frown, had been as simple as it got. He tied Jay to the bed and told him to hold his breath until he was given permission to exhale. A tissue placed over Jay’s nose and mouth, as light as the air he was denied, let Liam see when Jay lost the battle. Jay, gasping for air, his heart pounding with excitement, his dick rock hard, took with an exultant grin the spanking he got for not lasting as long as Liam had wanted him to.

  “That’s a start,” Liam told him. “We can take this further, but if you ever—ever—try to do this when you’re alone—”

  “I won’t, Sir,” Jay promised. “I swear. Just with you.”

  He’d obey that promise now because he’d meant it when he said it, and he wouldn’t want to have to admit to Liam later that he’d broken it. Instead he eased back and sucked harder on the head of Austin’s dick.

  “Jesus,” Austin gasped. “Jay, too much. Unless you want me to come, which I’m going to, soon, if you keep that up…”

  Jay had to pull off to answer. “Not yet. I want you to come in me.”

  Austin groaned as Jay found lube and slicked himself up, keeping his eyes locked on Austin’s as he worked his fingers into his ass.

  “You don’t get to fuck me,” Jay told him. “I get to fuck myself on you. It’s gonna feel so good, your cock inside me, all hard and thick.” He straddled Austin and eased back, the head of Austin’s cock pressing against his hole. The stretch was always intense in the first half minute or so, but this time Jay didn’t want to take it slow. He wanted Austin deep in him now.

  They both cried out when Jay rocked back, Austin arching upward beneath him. Austin couldn’t get much leverage being flat on his back with his hands and feet tied, so Jay had to do most of the work. That was fine by him since it meant he could move as fast and roughly as he wanted. He loved quick, hard penetration and didn’t really see the point in drawing out orgasm—maybe when he was old he would, but for now his recovery time was still short enough that he’d rather increase his chances of getting to come twice.

  “Told you I was in charge,” he panted. “You like it, don’t you?”

  “Yeah. God, Jay, I’m so close. Don’t stop.”

  “Not gonna stop, not even if you beg me to. Gonna come on you, all over you—leave you tied up and watch it dry on you while I feel your spunk drip out of me.”

  Austin moaned, a raw, guttural sound that drove Jay crazy. He used his crude words like a flogger, arousing them both to the point where there was no turning back. Later he’d remember what he’d said and blush, but in the moment he didn’t care. “God, you’re stretching me. Hurts, Austin; every time I slam down on you it hurts, I’m taking you so deep. Love it, love you.”

  He leaned forward, changing the angle slightly, braced on one hand, and ran his free hand up Austin’s chest to his left nipple, pinching it tightly. He felt the heat in the trapped flesh, how hard the nipple went as he rolled it. “Should’ve clamped these. Tight, really tight, so every time you moved, it hurt. Punish you for moving, ’cause it’s me fucking you, but you wouldn’t stop trying to fuck me, would you?”

  “Love fucking you.” Austin’s eyes were hazy now. “Worth it.”

  Jay groaned in agreement. “God, yes. It’s all worth it with you.” He moved his hand to Austin’s hair, using his grip to pull Austin’s head up so he could kiss him, a bruising clash of lips and teeth.

  He sat back, tasting blood—his or Austin’s, he didn’t know which—and oh God, yeah, there, just there, the heat and burn going nova as Austin’s cock slid deep, digging in, touching all the right places.

  “Fuck! Fuck—”

  He threw his head back, unable to keep his eyes open in the first moments of his climax, his muscles locking, the arch in his back forming a deep curve. He forced his eyes to open, focus, needing to see his spunk jet out and strike Austin’s skin. He didn’t touch his dick, his hands clenched into fists on his thighs.

  “Need you with me—”

  Austin shook his head, his chest heaving with every ragged breath. It wasn’t a refusal; Austin was lost in his own world right then, his cock like iron inside Jay. Jay ground down on him, his asshole tender enough it made him wince with pleasure and pain, teasing a last spurt from his cock and triggering Austin’s climax.

  He loved that, the feel of someone coming inside him. Loved it so much that he’d been kind of a slut for it before he’d met Austin, taking chances he shouldn’t have. There was nothing like it, the pulse, the tug of skin stretched to its limit—with Austin, it was better than it had ever been with anyone else.

  Jay whimpered as the last bit of pleasure was wrung out of him, collapsing onto his outstretched arms. Austin was still coming, mouth open, and Jay leaned to kiss lips soft with distraction.

  It was typical for Austin to be limp and pliable after an orgasm, and tonight was no exception. He barely moved as Jay crawled off the bed to untie him, and was still lying in the same position when Jay lay down again, though he tugged Jay closer with an arm, willingly becoming Jay’s pillow.

  “Was that good?” Jay asked as he snuggled up. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it anyway.

  “Mm. Good. Great.” Austin turned his head and kissed Jay’s hair. “When did you get so smart?”

  “I’ve always been smart.” It was hard to summon enough energy to be offended.

  “Then now you’re brilliant. That’s what Liam would say. Brilliant.” Austin sounded relaxed and maybe a bit sad.

  Jay rubbed a fingertip over Austin’s nipple, watching it go hard and tight. “I don’t remember you getting this upset about when Patrick had to cancel a session, or whatever.”

  “Yeah, well. Patrick was different.”

  “He was a sweetheart, but we were just…we didn’t matter to him the way we do to Liam. He didn’t need us. Liam does.” Austin sighed, and Liam ran his hand down Austin’s side to his ass, giving it a gentle pinch. “Yes. He does. Why can’t you see that? We turn up, and he just switches on, someone home. It’s special to him, what he has with us.”

  “Sure.”

  “Austin, it�
�s his daughter’s freaking graduation—”

  “I know.” Austin sounded exasperated. “It’s not about that. God, how can you think I mind him… It’s not that.”

  “So I keep guessing what it is, or do you cut to the chase and tell me?”

  Austin rolled to his back and threw up his arm, covering his eyes. His body was still damp with sweat, flushed with pleasure. Jay caressed him, unable to keep his hands off him even when his body was smugly satiated, replete.

  “I told him he could fuck us, yeah? Said we were both okay with it.”

  “Uh-huh.” The thought of it, Liam in bed with them, orchestrating the sex with the same deft assurance he did when he was their dom, was a huge turn-on. Jay’s dick began to thicken in a hopeful way. What would he order them to do to each other, to him? How far would he take it when it came to adding some pain to the mix, an edge of intensity he and Austin always found to be just out of reach? Jay didn’t know, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t imagine it.

  “You like that idea,” Austin said. “I can’t even see you and I know you’re so fucking turned on by the idea you’re drooling.”

  “I don’t drool, but the rest, yeah. So are you.”

  “We thought we didn’t want that.”

  “Yeah. So did Liam. Things change.”

  Austin moved his arm away and sat up, staring down at Jay with a painful intensity. “Too much? For us and for him? Because I asked him a few weeks ago, Jay, and I don’t see him being the kind of guy who takes long to make his mind up about something, and now he’s gone. We pushed too hard, too soon. We ruined it.”

  Finding out the root cause of Austin’s depression wasn’t the relief Jay had expected it to be.

  “He’s coming back.”

  “Yes, but is he coming back for us, or because this is where he lives?”