by M. A. Innes
“Kyle!” It came out low and whispered, but with an edge of arousal that let me know he wasn’t upset—just turned on.
“You could play the sexy, innocent guy in the locker room who gets taken advantage of by the bigger, mean jock.” I was starting to warm up to the fantasy and the quiet gasp on the other end of the phone told me Nick was too. The fact that I hadn’t let him come the previous night might have had something to do with how easily aroused he was.
“Yes.” His voice squeaked out, and I knew it made him even more embarrassed.
“No touching your cock.” A moan broke the silence. “You don’t have permission, do you?”
“No.” Nick’s voice was breathless and I could hear how hard he had to be. “You said I couldn’t come, Sir.”
“Why can’t you come?” Just thinking about what happened when he was over at my house the night before made me even harder. Reaching down, I pushed my pants and boxers out of the way and took my cock in my hand.
A whimper escaped, and I knew if I was over there he’d be climbing all over me. “Because I’m your dirty little slut, and you’re the only one who gets to give me permission, Sir.”
“Good boy.” I pictured him rubbing his cock against me as I jerked myself off. His needy thrusts made me crazy. They made him feel deliciously humiliated but he couldn’t seem to fight it.
“Are you—” His voice broke, and he had to take a deep breath before he tried again. “Are you playing with your cock?”
“Yes. I’ve got my cock out and—” The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the house. “Shit. My parents are home early.”
They weren’t supposed to be back for days. I’d been looking forward to having the house to myself for a little while longer. I’d always hated their trips before, but now with Nick things were different. I’d thought about seeing if he wanted to stay the night with me before they’d gotten back. That fantasy disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“No, something must be off.” I didn’t want to deal with their drama. Straightening my clothes, I tucked my cock back into my pants. “I need to go see why they’re home. How about I pick you up a few minutes early and we’ll grab something quick before we go to work?”
It wasn’t what I wanted to suggest but until I knew what was up, I couldn’t promise anything else. Nick seemed to understand. “Sounds good.” There was an awkward pause before he continued, “Let me know if you need anything.”
He was so cute.
“With my parents, who knows? I’m just glad they’re big on the whole work thing. It’ll give me an excuse to escape if things go bad.” My parents were normally good at pretending I didn’t exist. I had to have been an accident because they’d never been that interested in me.
I’d had nannies that’d raised me until I got to middle school. Then my parents decided that I could stay home by myself and my nanny was gone. The whole ignoring me thing had continued until they’d asked about dating and I’d made some kind of vague comment about not dating anyone.
It wasn’t a clearly straight enough response, even though I couldn’t remember exactly what I’d said, and then they’d started taking more of an interest in what I was doing. Evidently, the possibility of me dating a guy freaked them out enough that they felt parenting was in order. Or at least they were going to pretend to.
They finally decided it was some kind of a phase, because I was obviously only trying to be trendy, and backed off. I hadn’t pushed one way or the other because I didn’t care what they’d thought. College was just around the corner and already paid for by a trust my parents had set up as a tax write-off when I was younger.
It was locked up tight enough that they’d have a hell of a time denying me access to the funds so I wasn’t worried. I’d have four years, more if I decided to go for a master’s degree, to figure out a plan even if they never wanted to see me again. Maybe I should have been more hurt by their behavior, but I didn’t care.
With a quick good-bye and a few last teasing words just to make Nick crazy, I threw the phone onto the bed and got up to head downstairs. If they’d been home on their normally scheduled day, I wouldn’t have bothered to even say hello but with them cutting their visit short, I wasn’t sure ignoring them would be a good idea.
It was probably something to do with my father’s work but a nagging voice in the back of my head said I wasn’t going to get that lucky. It was the same little voice that had kept poking at me to figure out what was going on with Nick. It wasn’t giving me a warm feeling this time.
It didn’t take long to hear low, frustrated whispers coming from the living room. Whatever was going on, they weren’t pleased about it. Walking through the room, I was heading toward the kitchen, trying to be casual when they stopped me.
“Kyle. We have an issue that we need to discuss with you.” My mother’s tone was clipped and even before I saw her narrowed eyes, I knew she was pissed at me.
Not sure what I’d done, I shrugged and went to sit down on one of the chairs that framed the couch. My father was giving me this look like he wasn’t sure what to make of me and I suddenly had a feeling I knew what was going on. They knew about Nick.
“Yeah?” Slouching back in the chair, I tried for bored and casual.
“Kyle, manners.” Her rebuke was automatic and lacked the hostility she’d started out with.
Not wanting to seem like I was trying to piss them off on purpose, I gave her a short apology and straightened up in the chair just enough to make them think I was listening to them. I’d learned how to play the game a long time ago, and it was second nature at that point.
“We had a distressing phone call yesterday.” My mother started out but my father quickly interrupted.
“I don’t like having to adjust my schedule because you’re crying out for attention.” He frowned and looked disgusted.
I was confused. “Cry for attention?” I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. Were we discussing my relationship with Nick or had they heard about something else? I couldn’t think of anything else I’d done lately which would make them crazy.
They liked my job and thought I was showing good initiative. I hadn’t done anything stupid and now that we weren’t in school, there weren’t any phone calls from the principal to talk about my behavior. It had to be Nick, but the way they’d phrased it was weird.
They both shook their heads like I was being deliberately obtuse. Finally, my mother spoke again. “We thought we’d made our opinion clear about the bisexual nonsense. We’ve given you a lot of freedom but we will not have you embarrassing this family by bringing unwarranted attention to yourself. We have a position to maintain in this community.”
I loved the fact that no parenting at all was supposed to be something I was thankful for. Ignoring that part, I tried to think of how to respond. I wouldn’t deliberately make things worse for myself, but I wasn’t going to back down either. That just wasn’t me.
“I’m bi. It has nothing to do with you. Most people don’t care these days. If you got a call from one of your friends, they’re probably the only person who was upset. I’m assuming this was about going to dinner last night, and I refuse to apologize for taking someone to dinner.” I was going to try to keep Nick out of their craziness, but I wasn’t sure I could manage it.
He had enough on his mind without me adding any more stress. Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to be able to keep it from him completely because he’d want to know why we couldn’t hang out at my house any longer. He was worried about how his mother was taking his being gay, but now they seemed like the saner parents. That was saying something.
She huffed and my father straightened up in his chair. “That attitude is not acceptable. We expect this behavior—”
“No. Stop right there.” I’d played this out in my head enough times that I knew what I was going to say. “I will not stop dating whoever I want. I will continue to behave reasonably in public, but that is not for your benefit.”
<
br /> I’d seen enough crazy shit online about kids just out of high school who’d done stupid crap, getting their acceptance letters pulled, that I wasn’t going to do anything to mess up my future. I didn’t care what they thought. Maybe a few years ago it would have been different, but I’d been on my own so long, they were more like crappy roommates than parents.
“If you try to make things difficult for me, I’ll make it very clear around town what homophobic assholes you are. Companies are more aware of that shit now, and it won’t do your business any good to get branded with that. Aside from a few of those ultraconservative crazies you know, most businesses won’t touch any company with that stigma with a ten-foot pole.” I’d done my homework. Even the grocery store I was working for had an inclusive policy that would make it impossible for my father to keep working with them if they found out.
I didn’t think most CEOs and owners cared, but it would be bad for business if they were outed on the local news as working with idiots like my parents. I didn’t want to ruin my father’s business, but if they backed me into a corner, I’d do it. I had no grand expectation about how things would be when I left for college. If I was lucky, I’d get a card at Christmas and a phone call on my birthday so they could tell people they talked to me.
“And just in case you’ve lost your mind—you kick me out and everyone will know. I’m not going to hide like I’ve done something wrong. I’ll let everyone know what you did and how I’m having to live with my boyfriend since my parents kicked me out. You’d never be able to hold your heads up in town again.” Maybe it was taking things too far, but there hadn’t been any reason to trust them in a long time and I wasn’t going down without a fight.
Blank stares faced me. The nothingness that was radiating from them was creepy. I wanted to know how I’d gotten stuck with parents like them. Good grades, good behavior (except for everything with Nick), and sports hadn’t been enough for their approval or attention.
If I’d actually cared, I would have probably turned into one of those kids who acted out for attention, but I’d been living for so long with the goal of escaping to college, I hadn’t even considered it. They couldn’t change their minds now that I was trying to live my own life.
My father spoke first. It was like I was an employee who’d disappointed him. “If that’s the way you feel, then we won’t bring this topic up again as long as your behavior in public is above reproach. If you bring scandalous attention to my business or this family, you will not like the consequences.”
I figured the worst thing that could happen was that they’d kick me out. Since school was starting soon, I wasn’t that worried. I would possibly have to find a place to stay for a few weeks, but with my job, it wouldn’t be that hard to pay for it until the trust kicked in. Then money wouldn’t be an issue because they’d set aside enough for room and board along with living expenses and tuition. If I was creative and got a part-time job, I could make it stretch for a master’s degree or even longer.
The language in the trust was clear about that. It specified that it would pay out necessary expenses, like the tuition and living costs, as long as I was enrolled in an accredited college or university at least part-time. There were no clauses about my behavior and no way for my parents to dissolve the trust without my signature.
And there was no way I’d hand over that money.
My future, and maybe even my future with Nick, was dependent on a college degree. I didn’t have any trade skills that would give me something else to fall back on, so I needed a diploma. I also couldn’t imagine not being with him that fall.
I’d been planning—obsessing over—it for so long that it was the only future I could see.
Not the sanest thing but I’d felt crazier when I’d been trying to figure out my feelings for Nick. So on a scale of normal to nuts, it didn’t seem that bad. Deciding I was done with the conversation, I nodded to my father and stood up.
Heading back to my room, I tried to decide what to do. I was safe for now, but I didn’t know how long it would stay that way. I packed my old backpack with important papers I would need for college and anything that could be used to get cash and headed out the door only remembering my uniform at the last minute.
Once I got to the car, I realized I had no idea where I was going. The only thing I’d been thinking of was that I had to get the important things out of the house just in case. Nick was the first thing that came to mind so I headed over to his house.
Picking up the phone, I dialed his number. He answered after only a few rings. “Hey, how’d it go with your parents? Everything okay?”
“No.” I sighed. “Someone saw us at dinner and called them. They’re going ape-shit. I’ve got it handled for now, but I needed to get out of the house. Is it okay if I come over there? I know it’s weird with your parents—”
“Yes. Mine are going to act strange but as long as you don’t mind that, you’re always welcome over here. And just to be forewarned, they’re going to ask questions but they won’t kick you out.” He sounded so sincere that it made my stomach hurt.
“I don’t mind weird.” I forced out a laugh, trying to keep things from getting heavy.
He must have understood that because I could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again. “That’s really clear.”
“Naughty boy.” My grin was real now and I suddenly couldn’t wait to see him. “I’m almost there. Behave.”
“I’m not going to promise that.” He laughed, but it came out more like a giggle and I could almost hear him blush.
“If you want permission to come, slut, you’re going to have to promise that and anything else I want. Aren’t you?” I let my voice drop low and let it fill with all the heat he always made me feel.
I heard the phone rattle and I could picture him fumbling with the phone, embarrassed and turned on. “Yes…yes, Sir.” He was breathing fast, and I knew he was hard.
“No touching that cock, slut.” I growled out the words.
He squeaked and I could hear the phone moving like he was shaking his head. “I’m being good.” His whine shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was. I loved knowing I could make him needy and crazy.
Pulling up in front of his house, I turned off the car. “You’d better be good because I’m here and I’ll know if you’ve been playing with yourself. If you’re not hard and dripping, then you’ll have to be punished.”
Sex practically dripped from the word and I heard him moan.
“Come open the door, little slut. Don’t make me wait.” Disconnecting the call, I got out of the car. Making him nuts was just what I needed to distract me. I was just lucky he would love it as much as I would.
Chapter 9
Nick
It was bound to get interesting. With my parents already home and Kyle coming over, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Pushing down the rising panic, I climbed off my bed and headed downstairs. I wasn’t ready for them to meet yet, but Kyle wouldn’t have asked to come over if he hadn’t needed to escape. I was almost to the front door when the bell echoed through the house.
I heard Mom ask Dad if they were expecting anyone. An exasperated voice came from the kitchen. “I don’t want to talk to salesmen today.”
Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t think of anyone who ever wanted to, but I refrained from saying anything. Trying to stop them from getting curious, I called out. “I’ll get it.”
That didn’t help.
As I opened the door to Kyle’s wicked grin, they came out of the kitchen. My mother’s curious voice sent nerves flying around my stomach like bees. “Who is it, Nick?”
“It’s…” I wasn’t sure what to say. We hadn’t talked about public titles. Boyfriend was the truth, but I didn’t know what Kyle was comfortable with me saying and I had no idea what I could force out of my mouth.
Kyle started to snicker. I wanted to throw something at him. Giving me a shrug, he mouthed, Up to you.
That wasn’t helpful.
“It’s Kyle.” Denying who Kyle was to me felt wrong. I pushed back the worries about how my mother would behave and opened my mouth again. “We work together and we’re dating.”
That was as neutral as I could think to label it.
I didn’t think I would describe what we were doing as dating though. Sure, we’d gone out together, but it didn’t feel like regular dating. I might not have gone on dates before, but it wasn’t like I was living in the dark. I knew what seeing someone looked like. We just weren’t anything that normal to each other. I wasn’t sure it needed another label. Whatever we were to each other, I liked it. It felt right.
There wasn’t a good way to explain that to my mother.
Kyle must have found it funny because he was trying to hold in his laughter—and not doing a very good job of it. Was he having the same problem that I was? Was he laughing because I was overthinking it? Probably. My mom frowned but didn’t make any comment and my dad just stood there watching everything unfold.
Finally finding her voice, my mom spoke up. “Well, invite him in. Don’t leave him lurking on the porch.”
Stepping back, I made sure they couldn’t see my face and whispered low to Kyle so they wouldn’t hear. “Sorry. I have no idea what they’ll say.”
He gave me another one of those shrugs that should have meant he didn’t care, but it didn’t feel that way. He hadn’t gone into detail about whatever shit his parents pulled. I had a feeling he wasn’t as disinterested in my parents’ response as he claimed.
I still wasn’t in the right frame of mind to talk about things with them, but it looked like I was out of options. There was no way on earth she was going to let us escape without more information. I just hoped he was ready for the interrogation. Adequately preparing someone for meeting her was impossible.
Shutting the door, I tried to go around them and take Kyle up to my room. My mom stood there with a neutral expression on her face, refusing to budge. “We’d like to get to know Kyle, Nicholas.”
