by CJ Bishop
“Twenty thousand dollars is a lot of money to have floating around an apartment with no security system.” Kaplan said. “I opened an account for you at the New York bank and deposited the money in there.” He withdrew a small envelope about the size that typically comes with a batch of roses, and offered it to him as well. “Your PIN number is inside, as well as your bank account number. I don't know either. I asked them to give it to me in a sealed envelope. This is your account and your money. No one needs to know your account number or PIN but you.”
Abel fingered the bank card and envelope. He had a difficult time wrapping his mind around the reality that he was, in a sense, holding twenty-thousand dollars in his fingers at this very moment.
“If you like,” Kaplan said. “I can keep that for you in the safe on the plane, until we get home.”
Nodding slowly, Abel handed both items back to him. “Yes...thank you.” he murmured.
“It isn't a problem.” Kaplan smiled and returned the card and envelope to his wallet. He gazed at Abel's face as the boy averted his eyes. “If it you want to confirm that the money is there, in your own personal account...you are welcome to call the bank.”
Abel shook his head. “No.” he whispered. “I believe you.”
Sighing softly, Kaplan straightened away from the chair and touched Abel's lower back. “It's been a long day.” he said quietly, his fingertips pressing lightly against Abel's skin through his clothes. “We should..relax.”
Swallowing tightly, Abel allowed the man to guide him towards the bedroom. He had just been handed twenty-thousand dollars—time to start earning it.
Remember why you're doing this. It's for Savannah. There are no other options. You can deal. You have to.
* * * *
Devlin grabbed another shift though his body, and mind, was long overdue for a rest. But going home just didn't seem like the best option right now. His time alone with Abel yesterday was too much to just stop and think about. If he could, he would keep going until he dropped from sheer exhaustion—then perhaps he could just sleep without dreaming. Somehow bypass the unbearable pain that cut through him with every thought of the boy.
Where had he gone? The question wouldn't leave him alone. Even Cole didn't know where he was, or what he was doing. All Devlin knew was that Abel had been in a state of devastation when he'd walked out on him at the club. He worried about where that mind had taken him. God, please, please take care of him. Watch over him. Keep him safe. Please.
When he checked in on Savannah, the girl was asleep. Though even then, her face seemed tense, troubled. She was worried about Abel...and Devlin. Confused as to what had went wrong between them. Join the club, sweetie. I don't have a clue.
He glanced at his watch; barely eight-thirty. Morning seemed an eternity away. But when it came, the cycle would start all over again—how to get through the next night without the thoughts and dreams of Abel's touch, his heavenly kiss, annihilating his heart and mind.
Baby, what the hell happened? Why won't you tell me? The same old questions to which there were no answers. New ones cropped up, squeezing his heart tighter; Where are you tonight? What are you doing?
Chapter Nine
Heart Of My Heart
How long until the beast surfaces?
Kaplan's touch was light, even tender, as he stood behind Abel and slowly removed his jacket then rubbed his knuckles gently down the center of his back. Lips touched the back of his head and the man breathed him in, dipping down to draw in the lingering scent of the Egyptian musk. His body pushed lightly against Abel's, the man's firm crotch snug on the boy's softly rounded backside.
Abel swallowed with effort, his fingers curling into tight fists as he battled the panic struggling to surface. He isn't Craig, he isn't going to hurt you, he isn't forcing you to do this. But it felt forced—in its own way. When one chose something because it was their only option—was that really a consensual decision?
It doesn't matter. The deal was made. He was here. Now he just had to...bend over and take it.
His eyes closed and he swallowed again, throat thick, aching with the strain of emotion. Without permission or consent, his mind jumped back to the coffee shop...Devlin's offer. He bit his lip and squeezed his eyes tighter against the stinging tears.
He had almost been free. It was right there, sliding into his palm as Devlin had taken his hand, just...giving it to him free and clear. And when he had reached for it, accepted it—Poof! It was gone. Ripped away so suddenly he didn't have time to adjust. All his chains snapped back around him, squeezing, dragging him down. And somewhere in the back of his mind...he swore he could hear God laughing, thoroughly amused by his cruel little trick.
You win, Abel thought now, chin tucking down to his chest as Kaplan slowly tugged his shirt loose from the waistband of his pants. Happy now? I give up...conceded defeat...I get it now—you hate me and you will never let anything good in my life. I won't fight you anymore. Let him fuck me. Let them all fuck me...it's all I'm good for now...all I was ever good for.
Hands moved around his waist, fingers unfastening his pants, sliding the zipper down slowly. Breath stalled at the base of his throat when Kaplan reached down inside his pants, cupping his cock through the expensive briefs—then massaged gently. Hot breath puffed at the back of his neck as the man's hunger for Abel slowly swelled and ebbed. How soon till he lost control?
Kaplan's free hand began to pluck loose the buttons of Abel's shirt, starting at the bottom. When half the buttons were unfastened, he rubbed his hand inside, caressing Abel's hard stomach then up over his chest, his thumb dragging over a firm nipple. He drew Abel tighter against him and brushed his lips across the boy's ear. “I've never laid eyes on a boy more beautiful than you.” he murmured with a rasp to his voice. “The first time I saw you up on that stage...the way you moved so seductively...I knew I had to have you.”
He kissed the curve of Abel's jaw. “But not there...not some dirty little dance in a dingy booth.” He groaned and let his free hand descend down inside Abel's pants with the other hand, both rubbing, massaging, getting Abel's cock nice and hard. “I wanted you in my bed...all to myself...no boundaries.” He sucked Abel's neck. “No club rules to stop me from sliding my cock into your tight, sweet, hot, beautiful ass and fucking you so good.”
Abel trembled—hands and eyes squeezing tighter. Just accept your fate. But panic spiked his heart rate when Kaplan pushed down the front of his briefs, freeing his cock, then began to stroke him, hand over hand, squeezing and dragging along the full length of his shaft, massaging the head. The fierce erection was inevitable—the man knew how to use his hands. But the physical pleasure it incited did little to quell the roiling panic and fear—and in fact heightened it, bringing to the surface the way Craig used to administer a thorough blow job to get him hard before fucking him.
And the fact that Craig had deliberately made him cum in his mouth a few times, had made Abel even more sick and ashamed because—physically—that part of it had felt good, causing him to think that he somehow liked what Craig was doing to him, when he didn't.
And now Kaplan was creating the same effects—inciting intense physical pleasure while Abel's mind resisted, the battle causing nausea to mingle with the sexual ecstasy rising up.
To Abel's shock, Kaplan covered his cock with his briefs and withdrew his hands, caressing back across Abel's hips, gripping lightly. His lips rubbed over Abel's cheek, warm breath bursting against his flushed skin. “Seduce me.” he whispered, breath slightly quickened. “I've been dreaming of you using this elegant body to drive me wild.” His hands moved up and down Abel's body, the man's crotch hardening against his ass. “Dance for me, angel. Make me want you till I beg for it.”
Kaplan stepped back, his touch falling away. For a brief moment, Abel experienced a shiver of relief. He turned slowly to see the man walking over to an expensive stereo. Dance for him. Images of Devlin arose, unbidden. Abel had delighted in seducing Devlin, taking gre
at pleasure in turning the man on until he was nearly in tears, pleading with Abel to take him all the way.
Tears welled up but he forced them back down and swallowed the ache in his throat. He could give Kaplan all he asked for—he'd done it many times over for his customers at the club. Only difference was—at the club, there was a limit to what the customer received from the dancer. Here in this room...there were no limits, no boundaries, no rules. Whatever Kaplan demanded of Abel—he would get.
* * * *
At the soft chuckle from the doorway, Cole thrust his hand behind him without turning and gave the heckler the finger.
“Is that an invitation?” Gabe smirked. “If so, I'm in. I know what that finger can do.”
“Fuck.” Cole laughed.
“Precisely.” Gabe entered the dressing room as Cole tugged on his pants. “So...did the octopus get any tentacles in you?”
Groaning, Cole fastened his pants. “I've never seen anyone with such fast hands. And grabby ones, at that.”
“Well, shit.” Gabe murmured, grinning. “Can you blame him for wanting grab your goods?” He reached over and palmed Cole's crotch, squeezing just enough to incite a whimper in the man. “Your goods are...great.”
“Well, I appreciate the compliment.” Cole shook his head, chuckling. “But I wish that guy didn't think so.”
“Bet you made wad off of...his wad.” Snickering, Gabe scooped up the bills lying on the counter and thumbed through them.
Cole's face twisted with a bit of disgust. “He blows his wad every time I rub my ass on his crotch.” he said. “He never makes it through an entire dance.”
“Well, at least you both walk away with a wad in your shorts.” Gabe winked, then grunted when Cole punched him in the arm. “Hey—that's a good thing.”
Cole scowled. “The money ain't always worth it.” his voice dropped. “There's...other things I would've rather been doing than getting that guy off.”
“Like what?” Gabe folded the bills neatly and handed them to Cole, then lounged against the edge of the counter.
Like taking you home with me and fucking you all night long. The words stuck in his throat, a bit surprisingly. He'd never had qualms about saying exactly what he thought to the man. It wasn't their way to censor themselves. But suddenly the words felt too...raw. As if all he saw Gabe as was a piece of ass to fuck. And though they had always talked to each other that way, it made him feel a little queasy now for Gabe to think that was all there was to it. Well, what do you want him to think it's about?
Fuck, he didn't know. Ever since that day at Abel's, his head had been in the clouds and clears thoughts were a thing of the past, or so it seemed. Suddenly everything Gabe said and did was magnified, and he found himself analyzing it all like some freaking chic.
“Earth to Cole.” Gabe snapped his fingers in front of Cole's face.
“Huh?”
Gabe chuckled. “Go on a little trip there for a minute?” he smirked. “I asked what you would've rather been doing than rubbing your ass in the octopus' crotch.”
“Anything.” Cole mumbled.
“No.” Gabe shook his head and grinned. “You had something specific in mind. Don't tell me you were gonna steal one of our hot little dancers and take them home with you.”
Close. Cole shrugged and smiled, “I'll never tell.” his eyes grazed over Gabe's body, then up to his face. That something taunted him from behind the man's light blue eyes. Cole ached to dive in and seek it out, but was also a bit apprehensive; how would it change things between them? He liked their casual relationship. Yet, if truth be told...hadn't he always craved just a little bit more from the man? “So how about you come home with me instead?” The words were out before he could contemplate them. But then, what was there to contemplate? It was what he wanted.
Grinning, Gabe pushed forward and grabbed at Cole's mouth with his soft lips. “Took you long enough.”
“What?” Cole drew back a little, though not too much—none too eager to withdraw from Gabe's mouth.
A soft groan sifted up Gabe's throat and he smiled wryly, teasing Cole with a ghost of a kiss. “You've wanted to ask me to come home with you since we were out at the bar.”
That funny, tickling quiver zinged through his chest and all the way down. “So...if you knew,” Cole's breath puffed a little, causing Gabe's smile to widen. “Why did you make me say it?”
“Because.” An eyebrow slowly dragged up—so fucking sexy—and Cole nearly jumped the man. Gabe tucked his fingertips into the front of Cole's pants and tugged him close. “You've never officially invited me to come home with you. Just wanted to hear how it sounded.”
Cole's heart pounded like crazy, though still uncertain just why Gabe was having this effect on him. “And how does it sound?” his voice depicted a slight tremor that he couldn't account for.
Delivering the kiss that had been teasing him, Gabe whispered, “Sounds...promising.”
Cole squeezed the man's hips beneath his fingers. “It is.”
* * * *
Just a quick break, a moment to rest his eyes—and he was out. The dream grabbed him, pulling him in, wrapping around him in the form of Abel's arms, his warm body. Once in, Devlin had no will to resist. His arms encased the boy, holding him so tight, his kisses smothering Abel's mouth, his face, throat, drinking him in, breathing him like the air that had been denied him.
‘Why did you run from me, baby?’ the agonized question exploded through Devlin's mind, never reaching his lips—yet Abel someone heard him and grabbed his face, kissing him with warm passion, tears dripping from his amber eyes and wetting Devlin's face.
He could feel the boy's desire for him, need to be close to him—as he'd felt it during his last visit to the club. Abel hadn't wanted to let him go...but believed he had to. ‘Why, baby?’
But the boy just continued to cry through his kisses, clinging to Devlin, pleading—without speaking—for Devlin to hold onto him and never let go.
Devlin came awake with a start, a shaky hand swiping across his face to find it wet with tears. In the dream...it had been Abel's tears wetting his face. He sat forward in the chair, heart racing, mind reeling. It had been so real—Abel's need for him.
It was just a dream. The boy doesn't want you anymore. Devlin sank back against the chair, new tears forming and slipping free. “It wasn't just a dream.” he choked quietly, recalling the way Abel had held him...made love to him that last time. The boy hadn't wanted to let him go.
Devlin leaned forward on his knees and rubbed his hands over his face, choking on a sob. “I can't just walk away, baby.” he whispered thickly. “I won't.” He shook his head and buried his face in his hands. I love you too much, Abel...I won't ever let go.
Chapter Ten
Take Me Away
A measure of the man's suave composure began to slip away as the need inside him burned hotter. The music flowed as Kaplan discarded his clothes down to his snug boxer briefs and got comfortable on the bed as Abel let the music take over and began a strip tease that instantly hardened the man's cock.
Imagining he was back at the club, Abel slithered out of his clothes, one article at a time, then used the tall, polished wood bed posts as substitutes for a dance pole. His hands caressed the sleek, dark surface as his body curved and swayed, sliding sensually down the length then up again. His hips dipped out then forward, seductively rubbing his crotch to the post, his tongue snaking out to lick the slick wood.
Kaplan's breath puffed forcefully through his nostrils, heated eyes burning into Abel's flesh. One hand dropped to his crotch and rubbed his cock through his briefs. He swore softly, his fevered gaze beckoning Abel to come closer.
His bare feet sinking into the soft bed covers, Abel stood over the man wearing only his briefs and let the music infiltrate his body. His hands caressed all over himself as hips swayed and dipped low, grazing Kaplan's bulging crotch with his ass then ascending just when the guy began to lift up to him. He sank low again,
using his whole body to slither and curve over the top of the man like a snake about to claim its prey, his hot breath scalding Kaplan's chest, throat, lips before drawing back and rising to his feet again.
Kaplan caressed his hands up Abel's calves as the boy continued to sway and shift so smooth and fluid. Abel's fingers pushed down inside the band of his shorts and slowly worked the briefs down over his hips, body curving and twisting around to give the man a nice view of his perfectly rounded ass. He teased and taunted him, affording glimpses then taking it away before finally working the briefs all the way off.
When the fear crept in, he shoved it back as he continued to gently rock his hips above the man, locking his fingers behind his head and slowly descending once more, grinding his ass firmly on the man's steel hard cock. Kaplan ran his hands up Abel's thighs as the boy began to rise back up again—then gripped, his fingers gouging into Abel's legs and pulling him back down on him, causing Abel straddle him. His breath caught sharp but was swallowed in Kaplan's hungered kiss as the man sat forward and crushed Abel in his arms.
