by Brina Brady
“Were you on vacation?” Emilio asked.
“I took the boy I was protecting to the airport. He didn’t need my protection anymore.”
“Are you upset about him leaving?”
Emilio was hoping James would show some interest in him, but so far, he didn’t display any sexual appetite. James would make a perfect protector since he had already saved him from a beatdown. He was handsome, dark hair neatly cropped against a bronze-skinned face, and sparkling brown eyes. His jaw was firm and strong, and his nose was perfect for his face. There was an odd lightness about his eyes, though, and a small curve to his lips, as if there were something terribly funny only he knew the answer to, and there was that brief, wicked glance Emilio caught. A hint of danger surrounded, but he never felt as secure or protected as he did in that moment with James, who saved him from one of Marco’s thugs. James didn’t even know him, but he worshipped his strength, something he didn’t have because he was always the victim.
“Why are you in trouble?” James changed the subject.
“I had an argument with someone, and now my boss wants to beat me up for losing money.”
“Are you sure you’re Rafe’s cousin?” James swallowed some of his beer.
“Yes. Why?” Emilio feared James didn’t approve of him.
“What kind of work do you do?” James scanned Emilio’s bare feet.
“I’d rather not say.” Emilio could tell that James had already figured out what he had been doing. He wondered why he was so interested in his line of work. Were the words dirty slut written all over him? Did he smell like one?
“So, your job requires you to take off your shoes and shirt?” James laughed at him.
His sarcastic tone and husky laugh embarrassed Emilio. He wasn’t going to allow James to make him feel like he was a cheap whore. He wanted to see if he could turn around James’s negative opinion of him.
“I entertain men for money.” Emilio figured he might spike some sexual interest from James by boldly informing him what he did for a living. If James could benefit from his entertainment, he might like him and not make fun of him.
“I figured as much.” James’s blank expression never changed as he spoke.
“Do you want me to entertain you?” Emilio whispered his question with his eyes down. Emilio felt the need to pay James back for helping him and hopefully he’d see him in a better light.
“I’m not laughing at you because I’m judging you. I find you funny especially after what you’ve been through. Learn to respect yourself. I’d never take advantage of you when you’re hurting. Sex is the last thing you need to be thinking about. I’m here to help you, and I don’t want anything for it.”
“I’m sorry if I insulted you. I just wanted to pay you back for helping me and that was the only way I knew how.”
“We have a four-hour drive ahead of us, so try to relax. You’ve been through a lot today.”
Talk about being shot down, Emilio was hoping James would let him give him a killer blow job, and maybe he’d want to become his protector. Emilio moved to lie facedown because his ass and legs hurt. For the next two hours, James read a covered book. Why did he have to have a cover on the book? Was it a dirty book? Emilio stared at the book until he fell asleep.
When he woke up stiff and in pain, he winced. James handed him two aspirins with water.
“This will help the pain.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll stop as soon as the driver finds a pharmacy for the cream.”
Emilio looked at James
“What are you staring at?” James asked.
“I wanted to ask you a question, but I wasn’t sure you would answer me or you might get pissed at me.”
“Ask me. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me anything.”
“Rafe told me about the Gay Protection Society. I guess you’re a protector without someone to protect, right?”
James nodded. “You came just in time. In two days, we’re having a party where the protectors will pick a protectee.”
“I hope Rafe lets me get a protector. He told me the protector gets sex on demand from the guy he’s protecting. Is that true?” Emilio’s legs and ass hurt more now than when he had fallen asleep. Soon the aspirins would take effect or he hoped so.
“If they are bonded, they do. I wasn’t bonded to my last guy, but I didn’t mind since he wasn’t going to be with me long.”
“So, you didn’t fuck him?”
“I didn’t say that. I said the protector gets sex on demand if they’re bonded. It’s an agreement they make.”
“Rafe said you can say no to any of the protectors who pick you and wait for one you want. Is that right?”
“Yes. However, since you’re with Rafe, he’ll keep you with him. I don’t know if he’ll let someone else protect you.”
“That won’t work since we’re cousins. Do you think Rafe will let me go to the party?”
James laughed. “Where are the rest of your clothes and shoes?” He ignored Emilio’s question.
“I had to leave them behind or get beaten up.”
“You definitely require some serious protection and discipline. I’m sure if you explain your needs to Rafe, he’ll figure something out.”
James opened one of his suitcases and pulled out a shirt. “Put this on. It’ll be a little big, but you can’t hang out like this. Rafe will take care of buying you some clothes.”
“Why is that necessary inside the limo?” Emilio asked.
“I didn’t ask you to wear this shirt. I’m telling you to put it on now.” His stern tone told Emilio he had better listen.
“Yes, Sir.” He felt like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“We’re going to stop for dinner, but you’re not going in there the way you are now. You can wear my sandals. They will be too big, but no decent restaurant permits barefooted customers.”
“I’m not poor. I just had a thug chasing me.”
“You fucked up when you accepted to fuck for money, so if you’re not poor, why are you working as a rent boy?”
“I liked it until today. Are we going to stop at my apartment?” Emilio didn’t want to tell James that his parents closed his credit cards and bank accounts. He didn’t want him feeling sorry for him. James probably thought he was a loser and he pretty much felt like one today. Being called a faggot didn’t help matters either.
“No. We’re not turning around. Your pimp might be waiting for you to come home. So, that would be a stupid move.”
“I guess so. I really would like my electronics and clothes.”
“Your priorities are off. They are not important, but your safety is. No more talk about going to your apartment.”
“You don’t understand how important they are to me.”
“You sound like a spoiled brat. Stop making demands.”
“I’m sorry.” Emilio lowered his eyes, ashamed of his behavior.
“Rafe isn’t going to be happy with your career choice.” James’s voice was sharp.
“Did you kill that man?” Emilio changed the subject to avoid any more discussion on his job.
“If you’re referring to the man in the church, no.”
“He wasn’t moving,” Emilio said.
“He was unconscious, and that’s all. The fucker had a weapon. I’m glad you called Rafe.”
“Did you take it from him?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“In my back pocket.”
Emilio put on the huge shirt that almost reached his knees. James was very bossy, but he turned Emilio on. Why couldn’t James like him enough to be his protector? Emilio stared at James, enthralled at the gorgeous masculine features. He’d never be as tall as James or as strong. Emilio wanted James. Now.
CHAPTER THREE
Emilio
After four long hours with two stops, James and Emilio arrived in Ojai. The limo driver parked in his cousin’s driveway, where Rafe was s
itting on the front porch with a can of beer. He ran to the limo, and when Emilio stepped out, Rafe took Emilio in his arms. Rafe held him tightly for a few moments and kissed him on top of his head.
“I’m so happy you’re here with me,” Rafe said.
“Me too,” Emilio said. “James saved me.”
“James is an excellent protector.” Rafe turned to James. “Thanks, James. Come in and check out the second group of guys,” Rafe said.
James followed them inside Rafe’s house. They settled in the kitchen around the table.
“Are you guys hungry? I can order a pizza,” Rafe asked.
“No, we stopped for dinner, and I picked up some clothes and shoes for Emilio. He didn’t even have shoes on his feet.”
“Thanks. Send me an email with how much they were so I can reimburse you. I really appreciate you picking him up,” Rafe said.
“They’re on me,” James said.
“Thanks. I’m going to get the files for you to check.”
“I’m glad you called Rafe for help. That man was dangerous, and he could have killed you,” James whispered and ruffled Emilio’s hair.
“Thanks for helping me in the church and for buying me some clothes and shoes. I enjoyed our dinner too.” Emilio loved when James touched him and made him feel like things between them were good.
Rafe returned to the kitchen with a folder. “Go through these and see which one you want. I have an idea which one you’ll pick.”
James fumbled through the pictures and then read the files while Rafe poured Emilio a glass of chocolate milk.
“Thanks. You remembered I love my chocolate milk at night,” Emilio said.
“Of course I remembered. We’re going to have a long talk later.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“Not yet, you’re not.” Rafe’s voice was firm but gentle.
“That’s good. I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”
“Hand me your phone,” Rafe said.
“Why? It has all my friends’ numbers in there.”
“Hand it over. You can’t call anyone while you’re in my protection. I don’t want anyone to know you’re here,” Rafe said with a firm tone.
“Don’t your parents know you live here?”
“No, I never told them where I live, but you know my father has a big reach so I want to keep you safe from him. Also, don’t put your friends in danger by calling them. Your boss will take their phones and track you.”
Emilio handed his bright lime-green phone to Rafe. It was the last thing he wanted to do. He hated the thought of being isolated.
“No social media either. I don’t want you online at all.” Rafe’s voice turned into a Marine order, which made Emilio nervous. Emilio knew from the past that when Rafe ordered him to do something, he had better listen because he wouldn’t like the consequences if he didn’t.
“Yes, Sir.” Emilio made a disgusted face.
“You better listen to Rafe,” James said. “He knows how to protect you.”
“Tell me which one you want.” Rafe faced James.
“Dante Medina. Beautiful green eyes.”
Part of Emilio had wanted James to protect him, but he picked Dante. The disappointment settled in, and without thinking, he blurted out, “Why do you want him?”
“He has sub experience,” James said with a smile.
“What’s that?” Emilio asked.
“Do you know what BDSM is?” James asked.
“Fifty Shades. I saw the movie a couple of times. I kind of know a little about it.”
“I’m a Dom, so I want Dante because he is a sub.”
“Is that the only reason you picked him over anyone else?” Emilio asked.
“I considered taking you, but I don’t want to mess around with Rafe every time something goes wrong. Plus, he didn’t say you were available,” James said.
“We need to have a serious discussion before I allow any protector to take you on,” Rafe added.
“I want to be protected and bonded with someone other than my cousin,” Emilio said, wrinkling his nose.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Rafe said. “Cousins can’t bond anyway, silly.”
When James stood to leave, Emilio said, “I’m still available.”
James gave Rafe a look, and they both laughed.
“Let’s sit on the porch so I can smoke while we talk,” Rafe said.
Rafe opened the sliding door to the porch with Emilio at his heels. Lighting a pipe between his lips, he inhaled deeply. They gazed at the beautiful, sparkling pool circled by chaise lounges. Emilio scanned the forest, looking past the Jacuzzi. The ten-foot-high fence kept strangers out. No one could see anything in the yard or on the porch, since there were no nearby houses and plenty of mature trees. Regardless, the fence stood high enough to provide them with complete privacy. Rafe found the perfect home to hide from his father and anyone else he didn’t want to see him or know where he was.
“So, tell me why you waited two months to contact me,” Rafe said.
“I had this really good job.”
“Good job, my ass. Did you go to school?”
“No. I couldn’t go. You know that if I did, your father would have found me.”
“What the hell were you doing for two months?” Rafe raised his voice and shifted into Marine mode again.
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Emilio, I don’t give a fuck what you want to talk about. You’re now taking orders from me. Tell me exactly what happened on your job that you ended up in trouble.”
“This customer was hurting me, so I ran away from him, but one of Marco’s thugs followed me.” Emilio lowered his eyes, ashamed of what had happened.
“Who is Marco?”
“He’s my boss. If we complain to him, he gets crazy and beats us up. I was afraid of him.”
“My father told me you were whoring around for money. Is that what you were doing tonight? Working with one of your johns?”
“He knew?” Emilio didn’t know his uncle still talked to Rafe.
“Yes. I told you a long time ago that my father knows everything. Why the hell were you renting your ass out to strangers?”
“It was something I knew I could do really well and get paid.”
“You don’t need money. You have lots of money in your bank account.” Rafe raised his voice.
“My father closed all my credit cards and bank accounts when he found out what I was doing.” Emilio knew Rafe would have issues with his job, but he hadn’t ever seen him so angry with him.
“Explain why you were doing that shit?”
“I wanted to get some experience and money, but then I ran into this mean guy.”
“You have a lot to learn, Emilio. I want the best for you, and what you were doing is not the best. What did this customer do to you that made you run away with half your clothes?”
“He shoved an iced dildo up my ass, and then he beat me with his cane. I ran out of there before he killed me. Because I left my customer, my boss will damage me permanently if he finds me.”
“Promise me you won’t sell your ass anymore?”
“I promise.”
“That’s a good start. If I ever catch you doing shit like that again, I’ll handcuff you to a bed day and night. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand. Are you going to let me go to the party so I can have a protector and get bonded?”
“Friday night is our next party. You have to go naked, and the protectors will either choose you or not. You keep going to parties until a protector picks you. Do you still want to go?”
“I’m okay with partying naked.” Emilio grinned.
“I’m sure you are, but I need you to bartend too. I’m going to give you a file of all the protectors and guys needing protection with names, photos, and drink preferences. Make the new guys feel comfortable and be respectful to the protectors. I know I taught you how to bartend so that won’t be a problem. Ri
ght?”
“Right. Will any protector pick me when I’m bartending?”
“The available protectees will wear a collar, and each will have his own color. I’m going to give you the lime-green one since you like that color. Sometime during the evening, a protector will pick up a tie matching the color of the protectee’s collar and wrap it around their neck if he wants one of them. In your case, they would use a lime-green tie to claim you.”
“Do you think anyone would want me since I’m related to you? James surely didn’t want me.”
“James wants a sub and to be honest, we usually never get any guys with sub experience. Naturally, he jumped on it. James is very independent, and he doesn’t like taking orders. He doesn’t want to answer to me when it comes to you.”
“So no one will want me because of you?” Emilio asked, feeling defeated.
“I can guarantee some protector will want you, but you must follow their rules. If you mess up, they will beat your ass with a belt. So be good,” Rafe threatened.
“Mess up? What does that mean?” Emilio asked with raised eyebrows.
“It means you follow their rules. You don’t go anywhere without your protector. If you’re told not to use a phone or go on the Internet, you don’t. They might assign chores. You do them in a timely manner, and you never talk back when your protector corrects you.”
“Are we going to be in the same group?”
“Of course. I told you we live and travel with five couples. James and Dante will be in our group. Mateo and his new girlfriend, Anouska, will be in our group as well.”
“I hope someone wants me in the first group.”
“I wanted you to stay with me for a while, but I know how you are. Believe it or not, I want you happy and close to me. Plus, I’m getting a protectee from group two.”
“See, you’re not going to want me around when you’re bonding with your protectee.”
“I always want you around me. His name is Alek. I hope you guys become friends.”
“Did you meet him?”
“Not yet. I only spoke to his uncle. He has two Russian mobster groups after him.”
“What did he do?”
“Nothing. You’re going to the doctor for some tests tomorrow morning. If you bond with a protector, make sure he uses condoms. Our protectors are tested often, but we don’t know how safe you are after what you’ve been doing with all those dirty men.”
