It hurt like hell. He should’ve told Luis to prepare him better, but he didn’t want to draw it out any longer. Luis had taken over, kissing him and made sure he was at least in the mood to have sex. His mate had tried but failed. Miserably.
His eyes closed of their own accord, and only the pain kept him from drifting off. His mate carefully fucked him, but it didn’t matter how slowly he moved. It simply hurt, but it forced Gerome’s mind away from the other pain inside him. He breathed deep, trying to ride the ache so it’d distract him. It worked partially. His mind refused to worry, and he gave up his struggle. He forced himself to relax, to enjoy it, but it didn’t work. He wasn’t aroused. He didn’t want to have sex. The kisses before the sex—the cuddling, the making out—had been nice, but it brought nothing.
Gerome wiped his face to hide the tear slipping out of his eye. He gripped his cock and pretended to stroke it. Luis needed to come, then the mating would be complete.
Clenching his teeth, he forced himself to concentrate on the feeling of his mate inside of him. Luis didn’t stop fucking him. His hand stroked his hip, caressing him. Soft lips kissed his shoulder, and Luis murmured something. Gerome didn’t listen. He prayed it would end soon.
Finally, Luis pushed deep and came, not with a hot, pleasurable sound but more with a sob, but at least, he came.
A slight pinch on Gerome’s neck allowed him to take the first deep breath. Done. Finished. They’d succeeded.
Luis, pressing soft kisses to his shoulder, lay behind him. Gerome drifted off, not even caring to clean up.
Luis pulled out and put his hand on Gerome’s shoulder. “Can I finish you with my hand?”
What was he saying? They were done. There was nothing to finish. “No.”
“But you didn’t come. Do you want to stay like this? I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you.”
“No. I don’t need to come. Go to sleep. You did what was necessary.” Gerome forced his voice to be steady. Nausea rolled in his gut, and he swallowed hard. He couldn’t be sick now. He needed to get some rest, then look for his baby.
“Shit. Did I hurt you? Please tell me I didn’t hurt you.”
“Shut the fuck up. You did what was necessary, and now it’s over. You can go sleep now... or whatever. I honestly don’t care.” Gerome ran a hand over his face. This was so wrong. So fucking wrong. Yes, Luis had done what he was supposed to do, but still, he’d dreamt of so much more.
If he never saw Luis again, it’d be too soon. To think of having to spend the rest of his life with him... he was going to puke, no matter that he hadn’t fed. He simply couldn’t stop it.
Gerome sat up, swallowing against the rising bile. He was not going to look weak by sprinting to the bathroom. He was not going to allow his mate to see his tears. Luis had to believe he was the strong one. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to control him.
With shaking hands, he pulled the blanket up, covering himself. He couldn’t let his mate see how much he hurt, and he didn’t mean the pain in the intimate parts of his body. For years, he’d looked forward to his first time with his mate, but it had all gone so wrong.
At least, it was over, they wouldn’t have to fuck again, and he could focus on looking for his child and Alex, of course. Gerome rubbed a hand over his face. First, he’d contact the trackers and see if they had anything. And then, he needed to sleep. As soon as they found where Alex was being held, they had to move, and he needed to be ready to fight. As tired as he was, he wouldn’t be able to do anything against a kidnapper.
Gerome cast a glance over his shoulder, but Luis didn’t look at him. He lay there, a stoic expression on his face.
There was nothing left to say. “You can sleep now. I don’t know if I will be around when you wake up. I need to get going as soon as I have news from the trackers or my father’s men. Feel free to do what you want here, but don’t leave the apartment.” Gerome had to swallow twice to stop his voice from wavering. Luis was innocent as well, and he shouldn’t have snapped at the man, but he couldn’t help himself. Luis had done the best he could by trying to make it good for both of them, even if he’d failed.
“But I don’t have to stay with you. It’s done. You have a mark if I’m not mistaken. We can pretend this never happened.”
Gerome slowly leaned over the man he called his now. “Listen closely, I allowed you to fuck me. I didn’t like it, I didn’t want it, and it won’t happen again. But, no matter what, I own you. You will do as I say. That doesn’t apply to things of everyday life, but if I tell you what to do, you will say, ‘Yes.’ No, hesitation, no pouting, nothing. Do as you’re told, or you will learn the consequences. And believe me,” Gerome’s voice dropped to a near growl, “I will put you in place.”
He stared at Luis’ dumbstruck face. That should have made the point. He didn’t want to go all badass on Luis, but there was no way around it. He couldn’t allow the man to think he could run this show. It was dangerous with a kidnapper on the loose. And it was simply not custom. A mate had to stay with his or her owner. Luis would learn it, whether he wanted to or not.
If Luis just continued to live as he wanted, Gerome would lose every last ounce of respect his father had for him. It was time for Luis to suck it up. He had done the same.
Gerome texted the trackers, but they had nothing new. His father’s men were supporting them, and they would call the minute they had the tiniest bit of a trace. That was all they could do for now. He lay back and closed his eyes. The worry he’d tried to suppress for the last hour or so welled up full force. He could only hope his and his father’s men would find something.