Aaron had to go. Connor was sick and tired of Josh being on edge all the time, which was only exacerbated by Aaron’s lazy-ass attitude toward everything. It wasn’t that he was a bother, but he sure didn’t do fuck. Plus, Noah was coming home tomorrow, which meant Indy probably wanted to come back as well. He’d texted Connor to say he’d left to carry out his revenge plan, but he promised he’d return as soon as he was done.
More importantly: Connor wanted his sex life back. He and Josh hadn’t had sex since their bet, aside from a fast mutual blow job. Connor wanted to fuck Josh properly, and there was no doubt Josh needed to be worked over well. He was so tense Connor kept having to yank him back out of a starting episode. He’d already found a solution for today, but it was time to get their privacy back.
He’d waited three more days to see if Aaron got the hint himself, or for Josh to say anything, but when neither moved into action, Connor decided he was done. They were having breakfast, as always prepared by Josh. He’d fixed Connor oatmeal with nutty toppings as he called it, which meant a crunchy layer of various nuts and seeds he’d baked in the oven, with some maple syrup on top. Connor loved how Josh insisted on making a hearty meal for “his man”, as he dubbed Connor. The deep satisfaction that expression gave Connor had no equal.
“Aaron, what’s your plan for today?” Connor asked.
Aaron jerked up from the newspaper he’d been reading. “Erm, hadn’t really thought about it.”
Connor held back a sigh. What else was new? “I can’t help but notice that seems to be a recurring event.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been here six days, and I’ve seen no indication of you getting a job, or even moving any closer to obtaining one. You haven’t contacted Professor Kent about that room either.”
Aaron had the decency to look embarrassed. “Yeah, I know. Noah is coming home tomorrow, right? Well, I figured I could maybe use your apartment, Connor, since you’re staying here, or if you guys wanted to go to your place, I could stay here with Noah.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Connor caught Josh freezing to his spot. Before he could say anything, Connor put his foot down. “No. You’re not moving into my apartment, and you’re not staying here any longer. We gave you time to get your act together, but you seem to think that’s an ongoing invitation. It’s not. Deadline is tomorrow. When Noah comes home, you’re gone.” Having said his piece, Connor took another bite of the delicious oatmeal concoction Josh had made for him. Damn, the man could cook.
Aaron’s spoon clonked out of his hand, splashing milk over the breakfast bar. “But where am I supposed to go? You can’t just put me out on the street. And it’ll be two days before Christmas then.”
“I don’t give a fuck, and sure we can. You’ve had plenty of time to find something. It’s not our fault you didn’t use it. Call Kent and ask if you can stay with him. Book a motel. Or sleep in your car. I don’t care as long as you’re gone in two days.”
Aaron paled and Connor almost felt sorry for him. He wasn’t a bad kid, but holy fuck, he was spoiled as all get-out. He needed one hell of an attitude adjustment.
“I’ll figure something out,” Aaron mumbled. He quickly finished his cereal and went upstairs, leaving his bowl on the counter.
If there had been any doubt in Connor’s mind about Josh's opinion on what he’d told Aaron, it was gone when he was rewarded with a fierce kiss.
“Thank you,” Josh whispered in his ear, hugging him tightly. “God, I need you, Connor. I need you bad.”
Connor kissed him hard. “I know, baby. I have a surprise for you today. I need you dressed in comfortable clothes and ready to go after lunch, okay? Don’t eat too much. I promise, it’s a good surprise, and you’re gonna love it.”
Josh's eyes lit up, then sobered. “What about Aaron?”
“I’ll tell him to entertain himself outside of the house this afternoon. Maybe he can go job hunting. I don't care, but I’ll make sure he’s gone.”
He felt good enough about what he had planned with Josh that he interpreted Aaron’s muffled remark when he informed him of their plans as enthusiastic consent. It even helped to suppress his worry about what Indy was about to do. Indy was wicked smart, and his plan was solid, but it still had risks. If one of the men reacted differently, if they got violent… Indy knew how to defend himself, but what would happen if he accidentally gave away his identity?
Still, Connor didn’t see another way. The sheer nerve of these guys to request an appeal communicated loud and clear what caliber men they were. The lowest. Connor had no doubt they would sink to unfathomable depths to get off—and in the process not only blame Josh but destroy him. He couldn’t let that happen. And as much as he believed in justice and the system, he also knew this was one of those cases where being innocent didn’t mean you had the law on your side. No, what Indy was doing had Connor’s wholehearted blessing. He could only hope he would be okay.
At one o’clock, Aaron left with an expression that tempted Connor to slap it off, but he let it be. He wanted to save his energy. “Come on, baby, let’s go.”
Josh hadn’t asked once where they were going. Despite his aversion to surprises, he trusted Connor enough to surrender completely. Not that Connor wasn’t planning on springing this on him, but he’d thought it best to wait till they were in the car.
“You curious where we’re going?” he asked once they were on their way. It was a twenty-minute drive, he’d seen on Google Maps.
Josh nodded. “But the fact it’s just us is reward enough. Fuck, Aaron was getting on my nerves. Thank you so much for stepping in.”
Connor smiled at Josh's trust. “I’ll tell you anyway since I don’t want to blindside you. I’ve booked us an appointment this afternoon with Master Mark, as he calls himself. He’s a Dom who gives private lessons to couples to teach them the Dom/sub relationship.”
Josh's head whipped around. His mouth slightly agape, he was clearly trying to digest what Connor had told him. “He’s gonna dominate you, too?”
The mix of worry and indignation in Josh's voice made Connor want to pull over and kiss the man senseless. How telling it was that Josh's first concern was for Connor.
“No, baby. He’s going to teach me to be a Dom and you how to be a sub since we’re both newbies at this. I filled out this entire list of preferences, and he emailed me a contract that states what he can and cannot do. He won’t sexually engage us for instance, only help us pleasure each other. You didn’t think I’d be content watching another man touch you, or let you touch him, did you? You’re mine, Joshua.”
Josh put his hand on Connor’s thigh. “I don’t want to have sex with Noah anymore,” he said softly. “Will you please be there when I tell him?”
Connor’s entire body glowed at these words. Josh chose him over Noah. He’d never expected it to happen so soon. Of course, Noah felt the same, but Josh didn’t know that. Maybe it would be better for Josh's self-confidence if he was the one to break it off, not Noah? Connor would have to think on that, maybe discuss it with Indy and Noah. He wanted to do what was best for Josh.
“Thank you, baby. You have no idea how happy that makes me. I’m sure Noah will understand, and we can tell him together. How do you feel about my surprise? We can cancel if you want to.”
“Fuck, no, I don’t want to cancel. I can’t wait. You surprise me, though. You’re always so private about sex, and this is a huge step. You sure you’ll be okay with it?”
“I’m a little nervous, but mostly because I want to do right by you. I figure being so private about sex was to protect myself since I wasn’t out and my experiences were so disappointing. I have no qualms about fucking you in front of this Master Mark if it helps me to take better care of you.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes when Josh spoke up again. “Connor, would you be open to ditching condoms?”
Connor shot him a quick look sideways. “Is that what you want, baby?”
“Noah and I never used them because we were exclusive, and I would love that with you, too. I love the sensation of cum dripping out of me, and now that we’re exclusive, too, I thought maybe you’d… I dunno, am I going too fast here?”
Connor reached for Josh’s hand, which was still on his thigh. “I’d love that. We’d need to get tested first, right?”
“I had my check up the week before we started…dating, I guess we could call it? I could show you the results. Noah, too, since we always go at the same time.”
Connor smiled. “I believe you, baby. I get tested monthly because of my job. I’m due next week, actually.”
Josh sent him a careful smile. “Does that mean we could go without today? I’d love that.”
Connor thought it over. He wasn’t taking any chances of passing anything on to Josh, but the reality was that he hadn’t had a hook-up in months. Barebacking Josh… He was hard just thinking about it. “I reckon we can go bareback today.”
* * *
They pulled up to a nondescript single family home that lay back from the road, surrounded by trees. Huh, not what Josh had expected. He’d figured it would be some seedy sex club or an industrial building of some sort. Since Connor seemed confident they were at the right place, they got out and rang the doorbell.
The door was opened by a forty-something guy with friendly blue eyes, a wide smile, and long, dark hair pulled into a ponytail. “Hi guys, come on in. You must be Connor and Josh. I’m Mark.”
Josh shook his extended hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said.
“You too. We’re gonna go down into the basement, so follow me.”
Josh reached for Connor’s hand, finding himself unexpectedly nervous. Connor gave him a reassuring squeeze and led Josh down the stairs into a softly lit area. Two leather couches were positioned across from each other with a sturdy-looking wooden coffee table between them.
“Grab a seat. We’re gonna start by going over your preferences and getting to know each other a little bit. Feel free to ask me anything. In order for this to work, you guys need to feel like you can trust me, so ask whatever you need.”
Josh lowered himself so close to Connor their legs were pressed together.
“You’re the sub, Josh, am I correct?”
Josh blushed, cursing himself as his cheeks reddened. “Yeah. I guess Connor told you?”
“He did, but it was clear from your dynamic as well. You were looking to him for reassurance and guidance. That’s a good thing, by the way. It means you already have the natural urge to follow his lead. Neither of you has much experience with this, correct?”
Josh shook his head. “I was talking to a friend about…sex, and he mentioned I might have submissive tendencies. When I met Connor, I told him, and we wanted to explore it.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place.” Mark shot them a friendly smile. “Let me start by explaining a little. There are many misconceptions about BDSM or the Dom/sub relationship. What many people call BSDM is merely being creative in bed, like spanking, or using restraints. Even when one partner is dominant, technically it’s still not BDSM. True BDSM is a lifestyle that most of the times happens outside the bedroom as well.”
Josh looked at Connor, suddenly uncertain. Had they misunderstood?
“No, don’t worry, Josh, it’s all good. From what I understand you guys are at the beginning of exploring your need for submission and Connor’s wish to dominate. I’d love to help you with that. Maybe you’ll both be happy with a little more Dom/sub dynamic in your sexual relationship, and maybe along the way you discover you want more. Either way is fine. I wanted to make sure you understood the terms we use.”
Josh nodded, sighed in relief.
“To keep it simple, I’ll refer to Connor as the Dom and Josh as the sub, though those may be terms you’ll never fully grow into. Now, I don’t know if you’re aware, Josh, but there are several types of subs. Some get off on being humiliated, treated like crap—sometimes literally. We’re talking licking boots, being chained up like a dog, or similar scenarios. Others are about physical domination, wanting to be physically subdued. They crave feeling weak and want the Dom to physically overpower them. This is where bondage comes in, being tied up or restricted in some way. Then there’s a group who likes pain, ranging from mild to extreme torture. And lastly, there’s a group that just wants to be dominated in a general sense, without going to extremes. They relish relinquishing control without taking it too far. If you had to put yourself in a group, Josh, which one would you pick?”
Josh's head automatically turned to Connor, but when he realized it, he stopped. This wasn’t something Connor could and should decide for him. This was about him, about what he craved. “The humiliation thing is definitely not me. Anything with bodily waste, and I’m out. I like some pain, but I don’t know how much. And I love it when Connor takes over, makes me stop thinking. So maybe the last group?”
Mark nodded as he wrote down notes on a clipboard. “Have you guys experimented with pain?”
This time, Josh did look to Connor for permission, but before he could say anything, Connor answered. “A little. I spanked Josh, and he almost came from just that. Plus, he digs it when I take him hard and rough.”
Josh couldn’t help but smile at the pride in his man’s voice. He realized how healing this was for Connor, the man who had such negative experiences with sex. For him to bring such pleasure to Josh, that had to feel so good for him.
Mark noted something down again, smiling. “We’ll definitely explore that more, then. Anything else you want to add, Josh?”
Josh swallowed. Fuck, this got so personal. “Two things. One is that I have PTSD, and violence is a trigger.”
Mark nodded. “I’m aware. Connor gave me the necessary info. We’ll make sure to stay away from anything that could trigger you. I work with multiple veterans with PTSD, and they’ve all seen improvement in their symptoms. The release and relaxation you find through your sub experience with Connor will help you find more balance elsewhere as well.”
Josh's heart flooded with love all over again. He should’ve known Connor would think of it, would know his needs. He always did. “Thank you, baby,” he said, leaning in for a quick kiss.
“What was the other thing?” Mark asked. “You said you had two things.”
“Right. Well, it’s three, actually. I’ve discovered I like it when Connor uses me to get off. Like, when he fucks my mouth or my ass and forbids me to come. It gives me a rush to make him come, I guess.”
Mark nodded. “That makes sense, considering your profile. You’re a sub with a deep need to please and pleasure, Josh. It’s important Connor learns to utilize that without feeling selfish. And the last thing?”
Despite Mark’s friendly and casual attitude, Josh wasn’t sure about the last topic. Connor had shown more openness than he’d ever had before, but would he be okay with this? On the other hand, Mark would notice anyway as soon as they’d undress.
“Connor here is…erm, well endowed.” He shot a quick look sideways, but Connor’s face was stuck in neutral. “Oh, fuck it. Look, his cock is huge, and I love it. I can take him, and it feels incredible, but it means prep is crucial. Whatever we do, we need to factor that in.”
Mark’s eyes shifted to Connor. “You didn’t mark that on your online application. Any reason?”
Connor’s jaw ticked. “It’s not something I like to talk about.”
“You don’t like to talk about it, or you don’t like that your cock is big?”
Josh almost held his breath. Mark was getting awfully personal. “It’s been nothing but a nuisance, so no, I don’t like it.” Connor’s voice was gruff, but he was talking, which Josh considered a major victory.
“I love it,” he piped up.
“You don’t see it as a problem?” Mark asked. “You can be honest.”
“Hell, no. As Connor said, I love it when he takes me hard and deep, and with his cock, well, it’s always hard. The only downside is the time we need to take to loosen me up, but no, I don’t see it as a problem at all.”
“If I hear you correctly, you’re seeing it as a good thing since you love the mix of pain and pleasure it brings you,” Mark said.
Josh nodded. “Damn right.”
“This isn’t sex therapy, Connor, but I want you to think about what Josh said. Maybe your size has resulted in some negative experiences before, but Josh loves your anatomy. It brings him exactly what he needs, so maybe you can learn to see yourself in a new way.”
Mark looked at his notes. “You’re both physically healthy, correct? No physical injuries or limitations we should take into account? How’s your sexual stamina?”
Josh let out a giggle, his mind wandering back to the night of their bet. “Connor has exceptional stamina,” he reported.
Mark raised an eyebrow. “Wanna expand on that? This could be interesting to play with.”
Josh didn’t dare look at Connor. “I made him come five times a few days ago. The first three times were easy, but after that, I had to work for it.”
Mark whistled between his teeth. “That’s impressive. Definitely something to work with. Okay, we need to talk a little more about you, Connor. How do you see your role as a Dom with Josh?”
Connor cleared his throat. “My goal is to bring pleasure and release to Josh. I like bossing him around, and I get a kick out of using him sexually or disciplining him, because he loves that. But I won’t do anything that could be harmful to him, physically or emotionally. So for me, the whole humiliating thing is a big no as well, and so are all the extremes.”
“Sounds like you guys have figured out what you want from this. Connor, you filled out the extensive list of things you don’t want to do here. Did you talk about these with Josh?”
“No. I didn’t tell him we were going here until we were in the car.”
“Okay. In that case, Josh, I need you to approve what Connor filled out for your limits, okay?”
Josh shrugged. “I don’t need to. I trust him.”
Mark smiled. “I’m glad you do, but consent is the foundation of BDSM in any shape or form, and consent can never be implicit. I’ll give you guys a few minutes to read the list and sign it both, okay? When you’re done, strip and go through that door. We’ll start with a low-key session where we experiment with some discipline. Sounds good?”
They both nodded.
“One last thing. I’ll also need you to come up with a safe word, Josh. This is something you can use in a scene when you want to stop, or when you’re close to your limits. You can use green, yellow, and red to indicate being fine, getting close to your limits, and stop immediately. If you want to use different words, that’s fine, but make sure they’re not something you’re likely to use in everyday life.”
Mark disappeared after handing Josh a set of stapled papers. It was a long list of all kinds of elements and sexual tools, Josh guessed, you could choose or choose not to do with Master Mark. Spanking, paddling, handcuffs, being gagged, cock rings, what the fuck was a humbler? And more importantly, how the hell was he supposed to choose when he didn’t know anything about this?
Safe words. Limits. He had no limits when it came to Connor, only a blind trust Connor would take care of him. Maybe that was too naive when they started considering things like being gagged and cock rings.
“I figured we’d start conservatively, go from there,” Connor said, his voice sounding as insecure as Josh felt inside. Somehow, that made Josh feel less of a wimp.
He read through the list, saw which ones Connor had ticked off as ‘yes.’ Being blindfolded, that sounded like it could be fun. Spanking and paddling were a definitive yes. Handcuffs were fine, as were silk ropes. Cock rings and other restrictive devices…Well, he figured Mark knew his shit and wouldn’t do anything that caused permanent damage, so why the hell not?
He noticed Connor had crossed out penis-enlarging devices. Yeah, good choice. The Beast would suffice. Reading through it all, he didn’t disagree with Connor on anything. He grabbed the pen, signed at the bottom and handed the paper to Connor, who studied him with a guarded expression.
“What?” Josh asked.
“I should’ve asked you if you wanted to do this, instead of deciding for you. It’s hard sometimes to distinguish between dominating you in the bedroom and in everyday life. I’m sorry I crossed that line.”
Josh didn’t think, just did what came naturally and climbed on Connor’s lap. “We’re good, baby. Did you see I agreed with every single thing you checked on that list? I trust you because you know me well. I’ll let you know if you ever go too far, okay? You know I’m no pushover.”
He leaned in and brought their mouths together. Connor’s mouth was hot and impatient, wanting more. When Josh pulled back, Connor’s hand came around him, dragging him close again.
“Connor, we have to…” Josh managed before Connor plundered his mouth again.
Josh gave up and dove in deep. When Connor scooted forward, he wrapped his legs around his waist, locking his arms tight around his neck. Connor stood up, two strong hands holding Josh's ass, pressing him close.
“I need you,” Connor growled.
“But Mark is…”
“I don’t fucking care. All this sex talk has me horny as fuck. I’m about to explode, and I want to do that in your ass.”
Connor put him down on the coffee table where Josh unwrapped his legs, somewhat dazed. Connor yanked off his shoes and within seconds, had dragged Josh's jeans and boxers down. Without a word, he produced a package of lube from his back pocket, almost threw it on Josh, who was still wearing his shirt. Connor’s belt came off. Next, he popped his fly and reached for his cock, kneeling in front of Josh.
Josh didn’t even think but scooted down toward Connor, pulling up his legs and opening wide. Fuck, yes, this was what he needed. Connor lubed up his cock, then his fingers. Josh pushed down at the first contact, allowing Connor entrance. This truly was the one downside to Connor’s size, their inability to do a quick fuck.
He moaned loudly when Connor added a second finger and hit him deep, grazing his sweet spot. His hips moved, rocking back against Connor’s fingers. “Don’t you dare come, you hear me? You’re not coming until my cock is all the way in,” Connor ordered.
Three fingers. How the hell had he gotten so horny so quick? All he could think of was that cock inside of him. Mark had to be wondering where they were, would probably come to check on them at some point, and yet Josh didn’t care. He needed Connor too much. All this because of his shitty excuse for a brother. Josh did a quick mental check. Fuck, he hadn’t come in two days. No wonder he was so fucking on edge. And Connor, too.
Connor loosened him up with little finesse, but Josh couldn’t care less. He was as impatient as Connor, wanted to get the fuck on with it. Finally Connor lined up his cock against Josh's hole, pressing gently as if asking permission to enter. As always, Josh cringed a little when the head pushed in.
Connor’s hands circled his waist to drag him even lower. Josh didn’t need to be told to hold on to the edges of the table. He pushed down, inviting Connor in. Inch by inch Connor slid home until his entire dick created that indescribable sense of fullness. It felt different, without a condom. Nothing between them anymore. God, he loved it. Josh let out a long sigh that mingled with a low grunt from Connor.
“I see you guys have gotten a head-start on things,” an amused voice commented. They both froze. “No worries, you’re not the first couple that gets their game on in here. I always consider it a good sign, means you’re excited for things to come. But let’s move it into the chamber, shall we?”