by J. M. Dabney
Gage didn’t waste time escaping, and he disappeared through the door before he had time to respond. He was too nervous to sleep. His emotions were in knots, tangled in the uncertainty of what could’ve been and the darkness of reality. For seventy-two hours, he’d belong to Gage, but when their time was up, he’d move on with his life. The older man wasn’t meant to be his. Yet, he’d always remember the man he loved calling him beautiful.
What Had Gage Been Thinking?
The suit Gage wore was perfectly tailored and highlighted the broadness of his shoulders while concealing the slight curve of his belly. The wave of his silver hair tamed enough that he looked presentable. He sat in the back of the limo their host had sent for them. Derrick was seated across from him between Pure and Raul. They looked out of place in their own suits while Derrick looked comfortable in slacks and a button-down shirt. The top two buttons were undone to expose the collar.
He’d stood beside his bed that afternoon staring down at the two boxes. The length of plain leather was supposed to be the one that graced Derrick’s neck, but when it had come time for him to choose, there was only one choice. What the fuck had he thought when he’d secured the chain around Derrick's throat? He’d imagined his boy wearing nothing except the chain while Derrick was in his bed.
He’d bought the leather collar with Pure in mind, but the one Derrick currently wore was purchased for his boy. His attraction could no longer be ignored. He just couldn’t give in to what he’d dreamed of since his boy’s college graduation. He imagined all the ways he’d take care of his boy. How he would make sure Derrick never wanted for anything. Claiming him would be easy, isn’t that what he’d always wanted?
Just let him go. And hadn’t he given Liv the same advice? What happened if the monster the Major created burst forth and he hurt Derrick? He couldn’t allow that to happen. Livingston had believed himself incapable of love and wanted a better life for Fielding, but in the end—he shook his head and adjusted the cuffs of his linen shirt. His watch and a leather cuff concealing the scars which might peek from under the fabric. Those lines in different degrees of recovery showed as proof of why, in three days time, he had to let Derrick go.
His ritual of cutting each morning was weeks overdue. Alex knew of them and hiding the evidence was useless, but new bandages would’ve had Alex on his ass.
The vehicle pulled to a stop outside a towering iron gate. Gage instantly took inventory, and the guard at the gate didn’t appear to be holding anything other than a clipboard. The house beyond the fence was three stories that screamed obscene wealth, and he briefly made eye contact with Pure and Raul. After the driver and the guard exchanged a few words, the gate started to open with the grinding of metal against metal.
They’d reached the point of no return. Once inside, they were on their own. Alex would set up at a safe distance and await the rest of the team’s arrival later that night. He’d hoped to have them stay in Powers and away from the action, not because he didn’t need them, but because he just wanted to protect Derrick. While most of what happened inside had to appear to be nothing more than a role, once he’d had his hands on Derrick, it had turned into more.
He’d relished the so-called lessons, and when Derrick’s weight was on his lap, he’d barely resisted pressing his lips to his boy’s ear to whisper his intention to keep him. That couldn’t be though. He felt like a fraud, and he couldn’t let Derrick into his head.
They made the short trip around the circular drive, and the large front door opened. As a man in a tux opened the car door, all his attention was on the man that stepped onto the porch. He appeared to be a few years older than himself. Cultured and perfect. He slipped out of the back, and as he straightened, he buttoned his suit jacket. He took two steps forward to allow the other men out.
“Mr. Gage, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m Maurice Forester.”
He schooled his features as he moved forward and accepted the man’s extended hand. Forester had the look of a man who had everything handed to him.
“Please, call me, Hayden. I was surprised that I was invited to attend. You have a very exclusive club.”
“We just have similar tastes, and fresh blood is rare.”
Forester looked past him, and he nearly growled at the interest that bloomed in the man’s cold blue eyes. He pivoted on his toes to find Derrick’s gaze trained on the ground and his boy was playing with the lock where it rested between Derrick’s collarbones.
“I was unaware you’d be bringing your own entertainment and security with you.”
“My boy goes everywhere with me along with his personal security. I pay them exceptionally well to protect what’s mine.”
“We are a group with rules. Unless you expressly share your toy…he will be off-limits. It would be a shame not to be gifted with a sample.”
Derrick barely suppressed a jerk at Forester’s mention of having a sample, and he hated that those words affected his boy so strongly. Sharing wouldn’t happen. If someone even looked as if they were going to touch his boy, they’d realize he wasn’t as cultured as he looked. “My boy and I have an agreement. He’s signed himself over to me. I own everything, especially his pleasure and I’m not a generous man.”
“Very well. We have readied a room for you. You’re one of the first to arrive. My other guests embrace a rather fashionably late philosophy. I’ll have my assistant Saler find your security a room. Would you prefer one close to you or will any room do?”
“Any room should be fine. My boy doesn’t need them when I’m around, but they are to be at his beck and call.”
“Very well. Dinner is at nine, and then we’ll have a meeting to discuss the rules of our event. Please, until then make yourselves at home.”
He couldn’t resist studying what he could see of the house—mentally calculating escape routes. Raul and Pure would stake out the house later under the guise of their roles as Derrick’s security. They were shown to the second floor to an extravagantly decorated bedroom. The driver placed his and Derrick’s suitcase on the bench at the foot of the bed, his garment bag in the closet and left without a word. Saler asked if there was anything they needed and when he replied no, Saler led Pure and Raul from the room. He could see their reluctance to leave, but he needed time alone with Derrick before dinner.
His boy stood completely still in the middle of the room, and as Derrick was told, he remained still waiting for orders. He removed his suit jacket and strode to the closet to hang it on velvet covered hangers. When he would normally roll up his sleeves, he refrained. The weight of his secrets exhausted him more every day.
“Strip,” he ordered without turning around.
When he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed Derrick hadn’t moved. He rushed across the room and wrapped his hand around the front of his boy’s throat.
“Daddy gave you an order, boy.” He didn’t even recognize his voice, and he fisted his free hand in the front of Derrick’s shirt and tore it, buttons pinged off the hardwood floors. “Drop your pants to your ankles and bend over the bed.” He shoved Derrick back and felt like a sick fucker as Derrick obeyed.
Pale, fuzzy cheeks were exposed, and then Derrick bent over—Derrick’s hands sinking into the thick covers.
He had no doubt Forester was watching. The man didn’t trust him. It was in the too polite smile and friendly demeanor. He was too welcoming for a stranger. While his bank account had probably helped, if what was going on here even came close to what he expected, then he needed to convince the bastard he was who he said he was.
He approached the boy. Derrick was so beautifully masculine. His belly wasn’t cut but had just the slightest softness to it. His cheeks were plump. He bent over Derrick. His chest to Derrick’s back. “When I say to do something, do it,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry what?”
“I’m sorry, D…Daddy.”
“Now you’re going to be punished. Don’t disob
ey again.”
He straightened in a rush and turned to the side. He curved his hand around Derrick’s opposite hip and brought his hand back, he paused only long enough to build anticipation, and then he struck. Derrick’s cheeks jiggled under the force. “You will receive twelve. You will count them for me and thank me for each one, is that understood? Start at two, boy.”
Each time his hand met his boy’s...his—he needed to remember that Derrick wasn’t his—but it was so hard to do as his boy counted and thanked Daddy for punishment. His body didn’t want to pretend, and each strike was harder than the last. His pale ass was red and blooming with perfect welted handprints. He could sense Derrick wanted to fight, to move away from the pain, but every yelp was music to his ears. He noticed the change in Derrick’s breathing and the subtle lift of his boy’s hips.
He gave Derrick the last one then sat down on the bed. His boy’s beautiful eyes were half-mast, and he pulled Derrick into his lap. The trembling of Derrick’s body and the way his boy melted into him was heaven and hell. He kissed Derrick’s forehead as he soothed his boy. He enjoyed the panting breaths against his chest. “My beautiful boy, you have to listen to me. I only do it to help you learn. You could get hurt if you don’t obey.”
“Yes, Daddy, I’m sorry.”
If there were mics in the room, the words were spoken too low to be picked up. The lines were already blurred. Gage had imagined this for too many years. Derrick was always the one he jerked his cock to at night. Fantasized about the blissed-out look, but when he was alone once again, he’d know his boy’s ecstasy. Derrick seemed to go limp, and his breathing evened out. He didn’t control his urge to smile as he stood to gently lay his boy on the bed. He was too restless to sleep or join Derrick on the big bed.
He stripped Derrick of the ruined shirt, his shoes and socks, until his boy wore nothing except the collar. He grabbed the soft blanket at the foot of the bed and shook it out before laying it over his sleeping boy. Derrick mumbled in his sleep, and he left him to prepare for the evening. When he exited the bedroom, an enraged Pure was staring at him, and Raul just looked amused.
“I’m going for a walk. My boy is napping. No one gets in, am I understood?”
“Yes, sir. He’ll be safe and sound.” Pure’s answer was pushed through clenched teeth.
He nodded and headed for the stairs to make a loop of the house. If he wasn’t mistaken, him and Pure were going to have issues after this operation was over. That wasn’t much of a surprise. Pure could joke as much as the rest of them, but sex wasn’t something the other man ever spoke lightly about. Everyone assumed Pure just waited for when he met someone worthy, but he’d always thought it was more than that. There was something haunted in the big man’s gaze. He’d been shocked when no one pried because that’s what the Trenton team did best. Secrets weren’t something they tolerated.
“Hayden, I thought you’d be resting.”
He turned to find Forester typing away on his phone, and he wondered if every camera was linked to the device.
“I’m a restless man.”
“Please have a seat.” Forester motioned to the chair across from him. “Your background check showed you were in the military.”
He took the seat offered and tried to appear relaxed. “I enlisted in the Navy right out of high school. It wasn’t my calling, but I wanted out of Texas.” He was thankful Hunter used as much of his real information as possible, and the Navy hadn’t been what he’d always wanted to do, but it had been his way out.
“Very noble profession. It says you work in Public Relations.”
“Yes. I work for a Security company, let’s just say they’re not very civilized, but they pay exceptionally well. Off the books, I work with private clients to make...situations disappear. I can’t speak about them. Trust is a very valuable commodity in what I do.”
“Your bank account says you’re very well sought after.”
“I take pride in what I do. It also allows me to travel quite a bit.”
“And your travel companion is rather beautiful. Is your agreement exclusive? I have acquired some exceptional party favors.”
“He pledged his loyalty to me, and to be respectful of my boy, I don’t play with others. For the time being that works in my favor, I may get him a companion at some point. I’m restless and easily bored, he has yet to bore me. He’s still willful enough to make punishing him...interesting.”
The quick smile that tilted the man’s lips proved that he’d watched the punishment take place. He wasn’t surprised but more pissed off at the man daring to look at his boy.
“I find the punishment more enjoyable, but unlike you, I find variety works best for me. A few of my guests will bring their own entertainment but will also take advantage of what I provide, but I will respect your wishes. We believe very much in consensual play. There’s too many who think breaking their toys is the point. I find them barbaric.”
Shit, if that were true, then he wouldn’t find Cameron there. Safe and consensual had nothing to do with the people who probably purchased his niece. Although, the man could speak all the pretty words he wanted, they’d know more later.
“I’m being informed my guests are beginning to arrive, would you like to greet them with me? Maybe become familiar before tonight’s festivities.”
He agreed but was in no mood to socialize. He hadn’t made it around to check the place out as he’d wanted. He’d prefer to know every path of escape especially since he’d left his weapon in the hotel suite. They’d discussed that it wouldn’t look good to be armed. That in no way meant that they were any less dangerous. They all excelled at hand to hand, close quarter combat. He stood and followed the other man to the front entrance. Limos started to line up to drop off passengers. Most were alone, but a few had guards. He recognized some faces from the news. These men were the who’s who of the rich and famous.
The last limo stopped at the base of the steps and the man who stepped out set him instantly on edge. It didn’t get much better when a boy who looked far too young and nothing but skin and bones exited. The collar around his neck had chaffed the skin raw. This was a broken boy—nothing more than a shell with no spirit left. He made a note to speak with Raul and Pure to have them keep an eye on the man.
“Francois, what a pleasure you could join us again.”
He glanced from the corner of his eye and noticed his host voice was tighter, not as polite. The bastard’s expression wasn’t much friendlier, and he wondered why the man received an invite when it appeared Forester and the other man weren’t friends. He was impatient to return to his room to speak with his team. If this was a dead end in finding Cameron, at least he could save someone.
What the Fuck had Derrick Been Thinking?
Derrick peered in the mirror and didn’t recognize himself. He’d thought Gage had prepared him for what would happen when they started the mission. Everything had changed the moment Gage’s rough hand wrapped around his throat. He was horrified at how his cock had hardened as the pain of his punishment had morphed into something else. The agony had bordered on pleasure, and then at the fifth strike, he felt the first drop of precum on his thigh. He had no longer played his role, and as Gage had pressed his cock to his ass, his shame bloomed hotter at the lack of response on the other man’s part.
He’d hidden his tears as Gage had positioned him on his lap. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but he’d felt exhausted. He hadn’t awakened until Gage had returned. When Gage had stretched out beside him, he hadn’t hesitated to curl against the bigger man’s side. They’d spoken in whispers and pretended they weren’t discussing a new development. Gage wanted him to keep an eye on a boy who’d arrived with one of the other guests.
“We’re due at dinner,” Gage called through the door.
“Yes, Daddy, I’m coming.” That title for Gage flowed too easily off his tongue. He realized that when they returned home after finding Cameron things would return to normal for Gage. Him, not so
much.
He exited the bathroom wearing an identical outfit to the one he arrived in and was thankful. He found being naked around Gage okay, but not altogether comfortable, so he didn’t think he’d handle it around strangers. As much as the act was fake in his heart, he had always belonged to Gage. As much as he wanted to tense, he remained relaxed as Gage approached him and undid another button to expose the collar.
“Boy, your collar is to remain exposed at all times.”
The door opened behind Gage, and he smiled at Pure and Raul. Without a word, they took their places on either side of him. He took comfort in their protection. It was decided that no one would touch him other than Gage. Same as earlier, Gage took point, and the other two men watched his six. They made their way downstairs silently into the massive dining room. Men lined the table, and it was easy enough to find the boy he was supposed to watch.
He doubted the boy was more than eighteen wearing nothing more than leather pants and a collar. It wasn’t like his, but thick and black with a large ring—a leash attached to it. He was painfully thin with sunken cheeks and eyes. The boy was kneeling behind the man’s chair with his back to the seat. He wanted to tell the boy to get up.
He was surprised when he was offered the chair beside Gage, and Pure and Raul placed themselves in the shadows not far behind where they sat. He kept his gaze on the table.
“Welcome, it appears everyone is here. I’d like to introduce the newest member of our group. Hayden Gage. He brought his own boy, so please respect his ownership. Another season has passed, and it is an honor to be among you all again. Please, enjoy dinner, and we’ll retire to the study and let the games begin.”
He ignored most of the conversation, and he reached for nothing as men in tuxedos moved around placing plates. He jerked as he was completely skipped, then the plate with the bowl of soup on it that had been placed in front of Gage was moved in front of him, then wine filled his glass to the halfway point. Gage tenderly stroked his cheek.
