by K. C. Wells
Heath breathed a sigh of relief. Crisis averted. “Okay, go ahead.”
Maxwell took another mouthful of pizza before continuing. “When Eli and Jarod first hired me, I thought it was going to be a simple job. You know, chauffeur to a rich guy and his younger boyfriend. I mean, I’ve seen it all before. At least, I thought I had. But then we got to Secrets….”
Heath chuckled. “I know the feeling.”
Maxwell nodded, his eyes a little brighter. “Right? It was like… this whole other world. I sat there slack-jawed, because I had never in my life seen anything like that club. I kept looking around, waiting for the shock to wear off, for the horror to hit me and send me running out of there, screaming.”
“I’m guessing that didn’t happen.”
Maxwell’s brow furrowed. “After they told me that I could go for the day, I went home, got on my laptop, and looked up some of the things I’d seen. It got me wondering what kind of people would want to use… things like that. And then I met Maggie, and my education began. And wow, what an education.”
Heath said nothing, just let him speak.
Maxwell leaned forward, lowering his voice. “One day, Maggie snuck me up to the third floor. There’s a bank of cameras there, with a guard who keeps an eye on the club. She bribed him with pain au chocolat to let us sit and watch what was going on. I… I’ve never….” His gaze met Heath’s, and his pained expression made Heath’s chest tighten. “Forgive me if this is too much information, but… I got… hard. And we’re not talking just a little bit. We are talking ‘I could have smacked a man around the head with my cock and given him the mother of all concussions’ hard. I saw these two men who were visiting from a club in Manchester. The Dom spanked his sub, then got him on his knees and stuffed his cock in the guy’s mouth.” Maxwell shivered. “It was an effort to keep myself from whipping it out and stroking one off right there, let me tell you.”
Heath grinned. He’d had a similar reaction to the first BDSM book he’d read.
“Seeing my reaction—not my erection, mind you—Maggie and I made repeat trips to watch the cameras. Every time we did, I learned new things about men and the way they gave themselves over to each other. But….” Maxwell took a long drink of his coffee. “I admit, what I saw in the club had me thinking that things were kind of… established. I mean, you have your Doms, and then you have your subs. So in my head, that’s how things were. My problem—which I decided not to share with Maggie—is what if you’re not certain you’re either?”
Suddenly Heath saw what had prompted this visit for coffee and pizza. Our conversation in Subspace…. He waited, sure there was more to come.
“I saw Ellis being spanked by Wayne once. I wanted to know how it would feel to have that hand land on my arse, but at the same time, I yearned to know how Wayne felt, delivering those blows, feeling that flesh heat up….” Maxwell stared at him. “What struck me was that I could see myself in either position, which was ludicrous, because that would never happen. You were either a Dom or a sub, with no gray areas. At least I thought so, until I wandered into your conversation with the other guys. That had my head spinning.”
Heath nodded. “I know what you mean. I thought the same thing, but when they were saying some of their Doms bottomed? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Then I thought about what happened with Nick, a guy Rob and I met the other day. Based on his height and build, what he was wearing, and how soft-spoken he seemed, we assumed he was a sub. But he wasn’t. Or at least, he said he wasn’t.” Heath shrugged. “That led me to talking with Xavier about assumptions, and how so many end up being wrong. I realized, especially after talking with the others, that I love to bottom. I love how it feels when I get fucked. So why is it so hard to believe that a guy who is usually a Dom wouldn’t like it too? I think we all get it in our heads that things have to be one way or another, and if I’m learning anything, it’s that real life doesn’t work like that.”
For the first time, Maxwell seemed to perk up. “So it’s not weird to wonder about both sides of this lifestyle?”
“Why would it be?” Heath thought back to his conversation with Xavier, and one point came to mind immediately. “You heard the guys. Sometimes a man needs to be submissive, and at other times dominant.” He reached out and touched Maxwell’s hand. “Maybe that’s you. Maybe you’re a switch.”
Maxwell sat back and stared up at the ceiling. “Possibly. I don’t know. All I do know is, it’s all a jumble in my head, and I’m trying to get it all straight.”
“Maybe that wasn’t the best word to use,” Heath said, smirking.
Maxwell snickered. “Good point.” He took another drink. “When I wouldn’t open up to Maggie, she suggested I talk with the guys. Then the conversation I walked in on opened up a whole new avenue of thought for me.” His cheeks flushed again. “I like to be… open to new things, and this….” He grinned. “It’s about as new as you’re going to get.”
That made sense. When Heath had ventured between the covers of his first BDSM book, he’d been instantly taken with that world and the people who inhabited it. “Okay, here’s an idea. Do a little… exploration.” When Maxwell arched his eyebrows, Heath smiled. “Why not? You don’t want to regret not looking into it if you’re genuinely interested.” Heath took a drink of his coffee, then set the cup back down. “You are interested, aren’t you?”
Maxwell sighed. “Like you wouldn’t believe. I want to experience it all, from both sides of the fence, so to speak.”
“Then do it. Life’s too short to have to look back and wonder what-if.”
Maxwell sat up straighter. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good man!” Then Heath frowned. “I just realized something, and I think it’s going to blow Rob’s mind.”
“Oh?”
“Well, Subspace is meant to be for submissives only. What happens if a switch wants to come up?”
Both of them burst out laughing, and when they found the other customers glancing in their direction, they laughed harder.
Maxwell sighed contentedly. “I’m glad I asked you to come here tonight.”
So was Heath. He was fairly certain he’d made himself a new friend.
XAVIER CLOSED the car door and sagged into the driving seat. He was exhausted, and home seemed so far away. He glanced at the clock on the dash. It was already eleven. Way too late to stop and see Heath, no matter how much he wanted to. The logical, practical thing would be to get home, grab something to eat, then crash for five hours so he could turn around and be back at work for six. Seeing Heath wasn’t logical.
Fuck logic. Fuck practicalities. I haven’t seen him since the weekend.
Xavier groaned and scrubbed a hand over his head. This project was going to kill him.
The only benefit had been his boss. Mr. Church had stopped at Xavier’s door and peered inside. When Xavier looked up, Mr. Church gave him a nod.
“I’m very impressed with what you’ve been doing, Xavier. Keep up the good work.”
The acknowledgment of his dedication to the job meant a lot. “Thank you, Mr. Church.”
Okay, so it hadn’t been much, but Xavier knew Mr. Church didn’t hand out praise lightly. If he made it a point to stop at Xavier’s door, then there must have been a good reason for it.
When his phone rang, Xavier glanced at the caller ID. He pressed a button on the steering wheel and answered the call. “Hey, what’s up, Kyle?”
“Where are you?”
“Just leaving work. Why? What’s going on?”
Kyle huffed. “I got the idea that maybe you were here at the club.”
What Xavier wouldn’t give to be there. That was a much nicer prospect than driving home. “No, why? Should I be?”
“Well, your boy was here.”
For a second, Kyle’s words didn’t compute, until Xavier realized it was Wednesday. “Yeah, they’re having a book club up in Subspace. Heath seemed excited about it.” Which made sense, considering his whole
life was about books. “But he should be gone by now.” He’ll be home. In his bed. And God, I wish I was with him.
“Yeah, he left a short while ago, with Eli’s driver, Maxwell.”
“What?”
Kyle chuckled. “Not sure I’d like the idea of my boy being here without me.”
Xavier was about to retort that Kyle didn’t have a boy, until he remembered that neither did he. Heath isn’t mine. The thought was a sobering one. Up until that moment, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted Heath to be his. Lover, friend, sub—the labeling didn’t matter. What made it worse was that Kyle was right. As glad as Xavier was that Heath was now a member of the club, Xavier wasn’t sure he wanted him there without Xavier to keep an eye on him.
And how are you going to do that, when you’re virtually chained to your office chair all the hours God sends?
Yeah. Maybe with Xavier’s schedule, it wasn’t a bad thing that Heath was making friends. At least he’d have someone to talk to.
I can’t very well expect him to sit at home, waiting for me to find time to see him. After all, he has a life.
A second later, Xavier spoke out in the darkness of the now-empty parking lot. “And where’s mine?”
From the car speakers came Kyle’s voice. “Xav? You okay?”
No, he wasn’t. He really wasn’t. But Xavier wasn’t about to bare his soul.
“Thanks for letting me know, but I trust Heath.”
Kyle chuckled. “Obviously.”
“But for now, I need to go home and sleep. I’ll talk to you soon.” He ended the call.
Go home. Sleep. Just get through the rest of the week.
Because the weekend meant only one thing.
Heath.
Chapter Sixteen
BY THE time Thursday night came, Heath was starting to worry. Something was definitely wrong with Xavier.
Not that Xavier had said as much, of course. It was just something in his voice over the phone, a weariness that Heath couldn’t ignore. Maybe his work is getting to him. God knew Xavier worked bloody hard. At what, exactly, Heath still had no idea, but he obviously put in the hours, and they were taking their toll.
He needs someone to take care of him. To put his needs first for a change.
Needs….
Heath smiled to himself. If Xavier had needs, Heath was going to do everything in his power to meet them. And if that meant sacrificing a night of being on the receiving end of Xavier’s magnificent cock, well, Heath was sure he could rise to the challenge.
In fact, something was rising just thinking about it.
What worried him was his lack of experience. All he really wanted was for Xavier to lie back and let Heath blow his mind—literally—but he wasn’t sure how to go about it. I don’t want to be like every other guy he’s been with. I want to be… better.
Then a thought occurred to him.
You own a bookshop. Find something on the subject.
However, there was something more important that needed to be taken care of. Heath got out his phone and constructed a text to Xavier.
Tomorrow night. Dinner at my place. Not taking no for an answer. Be here at seven thirty. And you’re staying the night.
Smiling to himself, Heath pressed Send. He was imagining Xavier’s amused expression as he read it. A minute later, he got a reply.
Bossy, aren’t you?
Heath grinned. You have no idea. His fingers flew over the screen. And you love it. See you tomorrow. Then he pulled up a browser and typed. When the heading “How to Wow Him in Bed” appeared, Heath clicked on it.
God bless the internet.
XAVIER SANK into Heath’s comfortable armchair and closed his eyes. Thank God it was Friday. His latest project was finished, and he didn’t intend to do any work that weekend. Heath’s text had spurred him on to get all his work done before he left, so he could relax and breathe that evening.
That’s what the weekend is for, right? And he was determined to take some time for himself. God knew he’d felt guilty enough, sneaking out of work at six o’clock on a Friday night, trying to avoid bumping into his boss. Six o’clock wasn’t exactly late, was it?
A soft clink sounded next to him, and then Heath whispered, “Glass of red wine. Thought you might need one. Dinner won’t be long.”
Xavier could have kissed him. A night of being looked after was exactly what the doctor ordered. “Dinner smells good,” he murmured, opening his eyes and reaching for the glass.
Heath chuckled. “Don’t get too excited. I didn’t make it myself. It’s Marks & Spencer’s finest beef bourguignon, with their mashed potato, followed by a raspberry panna cotta. The wine was recommended by the shop assistant.”
Xavier savored the wine’s smooth tannins. “They did well. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Absolutely nothing, except sit there and look gorgeous.”
He chuckled. “I think I’m too tired to do gorgeous.”
Warm lips pressed against his cheek. “Rubbish. You can pull that one off without even trying.” Heath stroked a hand down Xavier’s neck, his fingers straying under the open collar of Xavier’s shirt, then moved lower to just brush over his nipple.
Xavier shivered and closed his eyes, concentrating on the sensations. “Oh. I like this.”
Another soft kiss, this time at his temple. “Whatever you need.” Then those gentle fingers were gone. “Dinner first.”
It wasn’t until a moment had passed, with Xavier sitting there, listening to the sounds of Heath putting out plates and opening the oven door, that his words finally registered.
Whatever you need.
It was too much to hope that Heath meant what Xavier thought he meant. Then he remembered their conversation, and the hairs stood up on his arms. God, what if he does? He couldn’t recall the last time he’d bottomed, and the prospect of teaching Heath how to pleasure him was a delicious one.
His weekend had just taken a whole new direction.
DINNER HAD been delicious and the perfect amount of food. Xavier hated that overstuffed feeling that always threatened to send him to sleep after a large meal.
Right then he really wanted to remain awake.
“Everything’s washed, dried, and put away,” Heath announced. His words sent a flush of guilt through Xavier. He’d been on strict instructions to stay in his chair.
Xavier regarded him thoughtfully. “What do you have planned for our evening?”
Heath walked over to the armchair where Xavier sat and extended a hand to him. “Bed,” he said simply.
“No TV tonight?” Xavier teased, as Heath pulled him into a standing position before leading him to his bedroom.
Once inside, Heath closed the door behind them. “No TV, no phones. Just you and me.” Heath moved in closer, pushing Xavier up against the door, and kissed him on the lips before kneeling to remove his shoes and socks.
Xavier caressed his short layers of hair as Heath concentrated on his task. “You’re going to take care of me, are you?”
Heath raised his head and smiled. “I am. But be warned. I’m in no hurry.” He unbuckled Xavier’s belt. “And my plans don’t include whatever you’ve got lurking behind this zipper.”
Xavier narrowed his gaze. “Okay. This sounds like torture.”
“You’re going to have to trust me.”
Xavier needed confirmation. “Just so we’re clear here….”
Heath stilled and focused on him, his hands resting on his thighs. “You can get us to our destination, if that’s okay, but just this once, I’ll be in charge of the vehicle.” He tilted his head. “If you’re all right with that.” His face flushed.
Xavier gestured to his own clothing. “Less talking. You still have a job to do here.”
Heath resumed his task with a sigh. “Are you this bossy when you’re being fucked?”
Xavier snickered. “I’m worse. Why do you think it doesn’t happen very often?”
“Now it makes sense.” H
eath helped him step out of his pants, then folded them and placed them on a chair by the door. Xavier stood there, bare-legged, his cock beginning to take notice, pushing against the soft cotton of his briefs. Heath’s mouth was inches from it, but he ignored it, unbuttoning Xavier’s shirt and heading upward.
Xavier sighed as Heath explored him with gentle hands that stroked and caressed, warm fingers that teased his covering of hair, before pressing his face into Xavier’s belly, his hands following the curve of Xavier’s arse. Heath’s sweet, chaste kisses to Xavier’s stomach were delivered with such feeling that Xavier was stilled, his heart pounding.
This was different. And he loved it.
When Xavier’s shirt hung open, Heath looked up at him and grinned. “Have I mentioned how much I love looking at you? I could do it for hours. Touch you for hours. But usually we’re in the middle of a scene and I don’t get the opportunity. So often, we’re locked in this heady race where you can’t wait to fuck me and I can’t wait to be fucked. So tonight is for me.” He planted another kiss on Xavier’s belly. “To explore.” He hooked his fingers through the waistband of Xavier’s briefs and pulled gently downward. “To tease.” Slowly, so slowly, Xavier’s dick was exposed, and when Heath freed it completely, it bounced up, the head pointing toward Heath’s lips. Heath’s eyes glittered. “To make you gasp, whether it’s with pleasure or frustration.” He lowered Xav’s briefs all the way down, then helped him step out of them. Heath rose to his feet, slipped the shirt from Xavier’s body, and placed it with his pants. Then he took Xavier’s hand and led him to the bed. “Lie down.”
Xavier chuckled. “And you call me bossy.” He wasn’t complaining, though. Heath was confident, sexy, and absolutely adorable. Xavier got onto the bed and lay in the center on top of the bed covers, his head supported by a pile of pillows. Heath joined him, placing his hands on Xavier’s thighs to gently part them before kneeling upright between them.
Xavier’s breathing quickened. “Just so you know? This is turning me on.”
