Endings and Beginnings Read online

  If he’d thought JJ was still before….

  “You… you’re asking me on a date?” JJ seemed dazed. “But… you’ve only just met me.”

  The last thing Darren wanted was to panic him, because right then, JJ was like a lovely colt facing the hurdle of jumping a fence.

  “Not an official date. Just a getting-to-know-you kind of thing. For one thing, on an actual date, I wouldn’t take you out for burgers and chips.”

  It had the desired effect. JJ smirked. “Oh wow. Big spender.”

  Darren grinned and pressed on. “Yeah, because for a real date? We’d go to a nice restaurant. The kind where we both dress up and they serve drinks in something besides plastic glassware. You know, like Severino’s or something like that.” He knew as soon as he said it that it was a declaration. He was telling JJ in his own way that there was going to be another date.

  What is it about you, JJ?

  Time to dial it back a little. The colt was looking… well, coltish.

  He tilted his head to one side. “You’re not vegan or anything, are you? Scott’s come to the salon a few times to get his hair cut, and he’s told me more than once he doesn’t eat meat.” Darren grinned. “Except Ben’s. Scott thinks it’s funny, so I give him a pity laugh.”

  JJ look startled. “No, I’m not vegan. I don’t have problems with meat.”

  Darren chuckled, and JJ’s ears pinked.

  “I mean—”

  “I know what you mean,” Darren assured him. “So, burger and chips? My treat?” He pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled through to Contacts. He handed the phone to JJ. “Your number? Before you change your mind about the burgers.”

  JJ’s thumbs danced over the keys. “I won’t change my mind,” he murmured. He handed the phone back to Darren. “I work most evenings, but Ben is fairly flexible if I need to swap a night.”

  Darren nodded. “The salon closes at five thirty, so I can be available after seven most evenings. I’ll call you, and we can set up a time.”

  “Okay. How about I meet you wherever we’re eating?”

  “I could pick you up. I have a car.”

  JJ flushed. “No, that’s okay. I’d rather meet you there.”

  Darren wasn’t stupid. JJ didn’t trust him enough to share where he was living. Not that I can blame him. He’s only just met me, for God’s sake. “That’s fine.”

  JJ glanced across to the monitors. “Looks like I’m about to get busy.”

  “That’s okay. I was about to get going anyway.” Darren held out his hand across the bar. “I’ll see you soon.” It was a statement of fact.

  JJ shook it. “Okay.”

  Darren withdrew, and with one last wave to JJ, he exited the club. He crossed the street, feeling in his pocket for his car keys. He couldn’t hold back his grin. Looks like the gaydar was functioning just fine after all. Then it hit him.

  What are you doing? He’d never been one for acting on impulse, but he had to admit, this whole situation felt really good.

  More than that—it felt right.

  WHAT THE hell just happened? JJ stared at the departing Darren, taking in the neat blond hair and slim, lean figure. He was still trying to work out how it had progressed so fast from serving Darren a glass of juice to agreeing to go out for a bite to eat with him. That had certainly been unexpected. And he still couldn’t figure out why the hell he’d said yes.

  “JJ?”

  The hesitant voice pulled him from his thoughts. Peter was standing at the bar.

  Okay, another first for this evening. He’d seen Peter around the club, but so far they hadn’t exchanged more than a couple of words, which was fine with JJ. He couldn’t think for the life of him why Peter would want to talk.

  Peter said nothing, clearly waiting for JJ to speak. JJ didn’t trust himself. After an awkward silence, Peter cleared his throat.

  “I know we’ve not had much of a chance to talk since you started working here, but I just wanted to ask how things were going.”

  “About the same as they were when Thomas asked me the same question a month ago,” JJ replied brusquely. He was not a discourteous man, but he found it difficult to be polite with someone who only a few days previously had expressed happiness at his father’s death. There were things going on that he couldn’t fathom, and until he unraveled this mystery, he wasn’t about to make friends with Peter.

  Peter blinked. “Oh.” He bit his lip. “While I’m here, I’d just like to apologize for what you saw on Saturday morning. I… I was upset and—”

  “It’s fine. We don’t need to discuss it,” JJ told him shortly. “You don’t need to mention it again.” In fact, please don’t—ever.

  Peter had evidently gotten the message. His cheeks flushed, and he swallowed hard. “I’ll leave you to get on with your work. I won’t disturb you again.” He gave a short nod and walked off toward the office.

  JJ watched him go with an inward groan. Oh great. Now he’ll go straight to Thomas and complain about my rudeness. The last thing JJ wanted was to give one of his bosses a bad impression. Well, it’s too late for that now. He pushed it from his mind and went back to his previous train of thought.

  I should have said no to Darren. But he already knew why he’d agreed. It wasn’t as if Darren was going to take no for an answer, for one thing, and for another, JJ had to admit he found Darren very attractive. Maybe a date was a good idea to find out if there was more to the hairdresser than just a pretty face. Because it was a very pretty face. But as for falling for someone based on how they looked?

  JJ had been down that road before, and he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

  Look where it got me last time.

  Chapter Six

  PETER DIDN’T want to move. He and Thomas were lying on the couch, the chenille throw soft against Peter’s bare arms, Thomas’s head supported by the arm of the couch. For the first time all evening, Peter was relaxed. He could feel Thomas’s heart beating strongly against his ear, his hand gently stroking the mat of hair across the wide chest.

  There’s a lot more gray than there was when we first met. The realization sent a brief shiver tripping down his spine. The thought of losing Thomas had been on his mind more and more lately. Peter closed his eyes and pushed the thought aside.

  Let’s face it, I have death on my mind. Understandable, given the circumstances.

  The tranquility of the moment was gone.

  “Did something happen at the club tonight?” Thomas stroked a hand down Peter’s bare back, his fingers gentle as they passed over the scars. The days were gone when such a caress would have given Peter discomfort. He knew better now. The scars would always be a part of him.

  Peter did his best not to tense up, focusing on his breathing, on lying still. “Why do you ask?” He knew it sounded evasive, but he really didn’t want to talk about the conversation with JJ. He was still having a hard time getting his head around it. The barman had been so… cold, so curt.

  Thomas let out a wry chuckle and opened one eye. “Because I know you? Because you were quiet all the way home?” Both eyes open, he tugged Peter until they were lying chest to chest, Thomas supporting his weight. Thomas cupped Peter’s chin. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”

  His hand was gentle as it caressed his cheek, and Peter leaned into the touch, his heart swelling with love for his Master, his lover.

  Peter didn’t want to lie. JJ’s attitude had stung, but Peter knew that if Thomas or Leo found out, the young man would be in trouble. And despite JJ not wishing to discuss Peter’s outburst, Peter couldn’t help thinking that JJ’s brusque manner was in some way connected to Saturday morning’s… episode.

  There’s enough going on right now without my adding to it.

  “I was just thinking about what Laura said this morning.” That was near enough to the truth to ease his conscience.

  Thomas’s hand stilled. “Oh? Anything you feel you’d like t
o share?”

  Peter took Thomas’s hand from his face and pressed his lips to Thomas’s palm. “I was to tell you that I understood why you… spanked me.” He kissed the hand once more. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you so disrespectfully. Or the others too. I’ll be apologizing to them.” He lifted his chin and focused on the face he loved so much. “I’m sorry, Sir. I let you down, and you were right to discipline me. You needed to remind me who I am.”

  “And who is that?” Thomas’s voice was barely a whisper.

  “Your submissive, Sir. How I act reflects on you. I lost sight of that the other morning.” He shifted his weight and moved forward until their mouths were mere inches apart. “Love you, Sir.”

  Thomas lifted his head and brought up both hands to cup the back of Peter’s head, drawing him into a kiss. Peter closed his eyes and drank in everything—the musky aroma that was pure Thomas, the sound of his Master’s breathing as it became a little uneven, the feel of that solid body beneath his, warm and vital. He loved moments like these, when they could shut out the world and it was just the two of them.

  Thomas broke the kiss and laid his head back on the seat arm. “I have a confession too.”

  Peter craned his neck to stare at him, the tension returning. “What is it?”

  Thomas regarded him, his green eyes focused on Peter’s. “A while ago, I admitted to my friends that I’d thought about doing Curtis some harm for what he did to you.” His jaw clenched.

  Peter widened his eyes. He couldn’t imagine his gentle lover harming anyone.

  Then Thomas smiled, and the tension in Peter’s body dissipated at the sight.

  “But I realized that I couldn’t do it. I don’t have it in me. It still doesn’t alter the fact that I said it.” He stroked Peter’s hair. “You see, lad, we’re only human. We all mess up now and again.” There was that smile again. “The only difference between you and me is that I get to spank your arse when you do it, to bring you back on track.” His eyes twinkled. “The perks of being a Dom.”

  Peter laughed, relief flooding through him. He knelt up on the couch and leaned over to kiss Thomas, propping himself up on his arms. Thomas made a low noise of appreciation and deepened the kiss, spreading his legs to allow Peter greater access. He stroked his hands slowly up and down Peter’s arms, pausing now and again to nip playfully at Peter’s neck.

  Peter gasped. “Hey. No biting.”

  “Not biting,” Thomas murmured. “I’m tasting.”

  The husky quality to his deep voice went straight to Peter’s dick.

  “And I can’t remember the last time we made out on the couch.”

  Oh. Peter liked the sound of that. He shifted until his cock rubbed against Thomas’s through their sweatpants, Thomas wrapping his arms around Peter’s waist, the kisses growing increasingly hotter. Peter rocked against him, feeling Thomas harden beneath him and moaning quietly when Thomas slid his tongue between Peter’s lips to explore him.

  They parted, both of them panting a little. Thomas’s eyes shone.

  “Want to do more than make out?”

  Peter nodded, swallowing. “There’s lube in the drawer of the coffee table,” he said hoarsely, shivering when Thomas kissed the skin below his left ear. The man knew all his hot spots.

  Thomas chuckled against his neck. “How convenient. Did you plan this?” His hand moved lower, until his fingertips slid below the waistband of Peter’s sweats.

  Peter rocked his hips, wanting more. “What kind of submissive would I be… if I didn’t prepare… for any eventuality?” he panted.

  That hand slid farther, Thomas’s fingers reaching the top of his crack.

  “We’ve been very boring about where we make love, haven’t we?”

  Peter marveled at the steadiness of Thomas’s voice while his fingers were busy stroking the skin between Peter’s arsecheeks, dipping lower. “Y-you think?”

  A chuckle reverberated through Thomas’s chest. “What about the kitchen table?” He groaned. “Oh God, the thought of you on your back, your arse hanging over the edge while I plow that tight little hole….”

  He stretched, and Peter shuddered to feel Thomas’s finger brush over his pucker.

  “This tight little hole.”

  Peter let out a low moan until Thomas’s words struck home. He froze and gaped at him. “Only if you put down a tablecloth first. We eat off that table!”

  Thomas let out a joyous peal of laughter. “Oh, I love you.”

  He kissed Peter on the mouth, a claiming kiss that left Peter shaken. When he pulled back, Thomas was still smiling.

  “Mind you, there is an advantage to the whole fucking-on-the-kitchen-table idea.” His eyes gleamed. “At my age, there’s my back to consider. The height of that table is perfect.”

  He pulled Peter into a tight embrace, kissing him deeply and rocking his hips, slowly at first but picking up speed. He kept up the frotting until Peter’s need was white hot.

  “Want you,” Thomas ground out.

  “Then take me. Here, now.” He brought his mouth to Thomas’s ear and caught the lobe between his teeth. When a shudder ran the full length of Thomas’s body, Peter grinned. “Fuck me,” he whispered.

  The growl that rolled out of Thomas told him they were going to be in for a long night.

  JJ STARED out of the bus window, unable to ignore the fluttering in his belly. He’d been like this ever since Darren had called on Tuesday to suggest meeting up Thursday evening. Part of him had been surprised by how fast things were moving. He’d thought maybe Darren would have left it a while longer.

  Guess he’s keen. That only added to the nervous snakes writhing in his belly.

  The bus pulled into Piccadilly bus station, and JJ got off. McDonald’s wasn’t that far away, only a short walk along Market Street. When Darren had told him where they were meeting, JJ had felt a sense of relief that he couldn’t account for. A Big Mac and fries? No big deal.

  He walked briskly along Market Street, enjoying the last rays of the evening sun. Early September was proving to be an Indian summer. The day had been warm with lots of sunshine, the perfect day off. Not that he’d done much with it, apart from some grocery shopping and visiting the local launderette once he’d decided what he was going to wear. That had taken long enough, until he figured jeans and a shirt would be just about right.

  As he drew nearer, he scanned the crowd, his gaze settling on Darren. One look was all it took to set off the belly flutters again, not to mention a slight case of panting. He tried to tell himself it had been the brisk pace of the walk, but in reality he knew the cause. Darren looked hot. The charcoal suit fitted the man beautifully, and JJ had a flash of jealousy as he noticed people—men and women—eyeing Darren appreciatively.

  When Darren saw him, a wide smile crossed his face, and he moved in JJ’s direction. He pulled JJ to him for a brief hug, and JJ stiffened for a moment before relaxing and returning the hug. The firm muscles beneath the suit were definitely a surprise. JJ hadn’t expected a hairdresser to be so built. And the smell of Darren’s cologne was an assault on the senses, the bold, masculine notes heading straight south to JJ’s groin. He must have made a sound, because Darren chuckled, causing JJ to draw away from the warmth of the embrace.

  “Glad you made it.”

  JJ arched his eyebrows. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  Darren shrugged. “It was hard to judge your reaction over the phone.” He smiled. “But you’re here, so I guess I was worrying over nothing.”

  The fact that he’d been worrying at all made JJ warm inside.

  “Hungry?”

  JJ opened his mouth to reply, but the growl his stomach gave out got there first.

  Darren lifted his eyebrows and shook his head. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He put his hand on the small of JJ’s back and began herding him away from the fast food restaurant—back in the direction JJ had just arrived from. When they’d continued along the street for another twenty feet or so, JJ s
kidded to a stop.

  “Where are we going?”

  Disconcertingly, Darren’s face flushed. “We’re not going to McDonald’s,” he admitted. When JJ gave him an inquiring glance, he sighed. “We’re heading to the Piccadilly hotel.”

  JJ froze. What the fuck? He balled his hands into fists at his sides, the muscles in his stomach quivering. Heat flushed through him, but in its wake, JJ was ice. Why should Darren be any different from everyone else when it came to getting what he wanted? JJ should have known better. He should have realized that Darren hadn’t been asking him out without a purpose. Darren obviously expected sex.

  Well, he’s going to be disappointed.

  “I have to go,” JJ said, tugging his arm away from Darren. All the rage and fear he’d held in for so long was bubbling up inside him, spreading below the surface of his skin. First Peter, then his fear he’d be without a job after Thomas heard about their interaction. It didn’t matter that it hadn’t happened yet—JJ expected to be sacked any day now.

  Darren’s betrayal, though? That fucking hurt.

  “Hey, wait. What’s wrong?” Darren asked, attempting to grab JJ’s hand.

  “Get your bloody hand off me,” JJ snapped. “I don’t know what you think I am, but I sure as hell won’t be going to any hotel with you. I should have known. How could I be so stupid?” He yanked his hand away and stormed down the street. He heard the footfalls behind him but ignored them. All he wanted was to get as far away from Darren as possible.

  “JJ, wait. Please. It’s not what you think.”

  JJ tried to shut out Darren’s voice. His eyes burned with hot tears, and he blinked them away. He’d allowed himself to get into this mess by thinking that maybe, just maybe, Darren would be different.

  Yeah. Some hope of that. Everybody lied. Fucking everybody.

  He stormed along the middle of the pavement, people parting to avoid him. When he felt strong hands grip his shoulders, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He whirled around and glared at Darren.