Sean Michael A Hammer Novel Trust

Trust

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are the product of the author's
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to
actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living
or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of
either the author or the publisher.

Trust
Torquere Press Publishers
PO Box 2545
Round Rock, TX 78680
Copyright 2012 by Sean Michael
Cover illustration by S. Squires
Published with permission
ISBN: 978-1-61040-300-9
www.torquerepress.com
All rights reserved, which includes the right to
reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form
whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright
Law. For information address Torquere Press. Inc., PO
Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680.
First Torquere Press Printing: April 2012
Printed in the USA

Trust

Trust, a Hammer story

By Sean Michael

Chapter One

"Kerry Daniels? Kerry, is that you, son?"
Kerry looked up, shocked at the sound of his name.

He'd been in the park for almost two weeks, and no one
had recognized him.

Frank Harrod, the former cop. Damn.
"That is you." Frank came to stand next to him.

"Kerry, what are you doing out here?"

"Sleeping. What are you up to?" God, this was

embarrassing.

"I'm headed to the Hammer to meet my lover." Frank

frowned at him. "Why are you sleeping in the park,
son?"

"No worries. Just tired." And cold. Dirty. Totally

fucked and homeless, but that was the story of the times.
"Your lover? Really? Who?" He patted the bench beside
him.

Frank sat. "His name is Gordon. He's a good man.

Where is yours?" Frank asked pointedly. Kerry had
never known the man to pussy foot around.

"We moved to Miami. He... There was a girl. Now

there's a baby. I..." Kerry shrugged. "I came home."

His little Ford had made it to Yuma and he'd had to

sell it for scrap. He'd used that money to get to the coast,
but... Yeah.

He was never going to belong to anyone. Not ever

again.

Frank's eyes went wide, his nostrils flared. "He

moved you away from everyone you knew and then
threw you over for a girl?" Frank's fists creaked.

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"It's okay. I'm making it." He'd swept floors in a diner

yesterday for a burger, and it wasn't freezing out here. It
was hard to get a job without a phone or anything.

"Tell you what, Kerry. I'm headed down to meet

Gordon at the club. You come with me."

"No. No, I couldn't." He couldn't afford it.
"My treat and don't bother to argue." Frank stood.

"Come on."

"Frank, I can't..."
"Of course you can. You get up and you come with

me. You know I'm not going anywhere until you do."

"I'm going to be okay." He took Frank's hand.

"Really."

Frank only grunted. "I'm more inclined to believe that

if I've put a hot meal in your belly."

He almost shook his head, but he was hungry, tired,

and a little scared, so he'd take it. "Okay, for you."

"Good boy." Frank tucked him under one arm and,

god, the man was so warm.

"I'm not a boy." He pulled away, even though he

didn't want to. "I'm not, okay?" Never again. He was
never depending on anyone again.

"Okay. Come here, Kerry. Your lips are blue." Frank

tugged him close again. "I want you to meet Gordon."
Frank's hand moved up and down along his arm; it
wasn't sexual or anything, just warm.

"I can't believe you're a member of the Hammer

now." Frank hadn't been... subby.

"Gordon's the member. I've always been welcome

there, though."

"You have. It's a good place."
"They're good men." They were almost there, and

Frank nodded to the doorman and led him right in.

"Most of them are, yes."

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"Yeah, your former master not included." Frank

hugged him close as the warmth of the club hit them.
Then Frank's voice got louder as they went straight to
the bar. "Xavier? Xavier, man, look who I found! You
remember Kerry? He worked here before?"

"Oh my." Xavier's eyes went wide.
A man at the bar stood and waved them closer. "A

beer for Frank and something hot for his friend, please,
Xavier."

He looked away from Xavier, who had to remember

him younger, in better shape.

"Kerry's had a rough couple of months; I told him I'd

buy him supper," Frank told the standing man.

"The club does an amazing steak. Shall we get a

table?"

Frank nodded, kissed the man's cheek. "Sounds great,

babe."

The place looked good -- it hadn't changed much, the

space still warm, cozy. Friendly. He sighed softly,
hoping no one noticed him.

They headed for a corner table, the man who had to

be Frank's Gordon leading the way. "You need the
facilities, Kerry?"

Kerry nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I need to wash up, huh?"
Frank winked. "Couldn't hurt. You want your steak

medium?"

"Medium well, please."
"You got it."
"Thank you." He walked to the bathroom, head

down. He was filthy; he knew it. He'd been sneaking
into the McDonalds to wash in the sink.

He'd forgotten just how big and classy the bathrooms

were here. There were even two little shower stalls at the
far end.

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He was debating using one when the door opened and

a sweet looking twink with a wide smile poked his head
around. "Are you Kerry?"

"Yes. Yeah. Hey."
"Hi, I'm Happy." The guy came in, carrying a fluffy

robe and a small basket with bottles in it. "This is for
you."

"For me?" His hands started to shake.
"Xavier said it was to say welcome back."
"Oh. I... Thank you." Of course it was. No one

wanted him there, stinking. He'd clean his clothes in the
shower and wring them dry.

"You want some help? I'd be happy to wash your

back for you or take your things to be washed."

"No. No, I'm fine. Thank you, Happy?" He smiled at

the nod. "I used to work here, a long time ago."

"Oh, really? I bet you've got some stories."
"It was in the beginning. We all had a lot to learn."
"I'd love to hear about it some day. If it wouldn't be

too much trouble, of course!"

"Sure. We can visit." Like he'd be invited back.

Although, maybe... Maybe Xavier needed a
dishwasher...

"Cool!" Happy hung the robe over the radiator. "It'll

be nice and warm when you're done." And then he
handed over the basket with soaps and shampoos and
there was even a pair of slippers in it.

"Thank you." He managed a smile, wanting to get

into the shower before he burst into tears.

Happy gave him a grin and then headed off, pert little

ass and all.

Kerry grabbed the soap and headed into the shower,

covering his face with his hands as he sobbed. No one
ever mentioned what happened to silly little twinks

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when the men they loved decided they weren't worth
loving anymore.

***

"Better, Kerry?" Frank's eyes were warm, friendly,

and Kerry had had one too many beers to focus, so he
just nodded. He was clean, warm, dry, and full.

Gordon -- Frank's guy -- chuckled. "Of course he is.

Now, how about we head home. Kerry, you're coming
with us. There's a guest room and don't bother arguing,
you know Frank, so you know it just won't work."

"I can't. I don't think that I..."
"Please, Kerry. Just for the night, hmm? We'll figure

out something else tomorrow."

"If you don't, we'll be up all night worrying," Gordon

added.

"That's..." He leaned close. "Frank, man. I washed

my clothes in the shower. They're wet."

"Oh, Xavier will let you bring the robe back, hmm?

That way they'll dry." Frank had him up and moving,
walking past the bar, past Xavier's friendly face. Gordon
led the way out.

The wind blew up his robe, and Kerry pulled it close,

letting the guys pour him into a warm car. "Thank you."

"We'll be home in two shakes." Gordon got behind

the wheel.

"I... I feel so bad about taking advantage of you." He

just wanted to sleep safely for one night, maybe rest
enough to talk Xavier into giving him a job in the back.

"You're not taking advantage of us." Gordon smiled

at him through the rear view mirror. "We didn't have to
offer, but we want to have you."

"It's hard to find a job without a place to call. I was so

stupid; I should have stayed in Miami, but I thought I

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could come home." It had been all he'd focused on. He'd
been happy here.

"Of course you should have. You shouldn't have had

to do it on your own." Gordon was pretty good at
growling. "I hope you don't mind, Frank told me what
happened. You were treated very badly by someone who
should have had your back."

"It won't ever happen again." He was never, ever

allowing that sort of thing to happen again.

Frank turned to him from the front seat. "We've got

your back, Kerry."

"Thanks, Frank. You're a good guy. I swear to you,

I'll never forget this."

"You can pay it forward some day and we'll call it

even."

Frank's house was modest but solid, and Kerry found

himself tearing up. "You're sure you don't mind?"

"Hush. If we'd minded we wouldn't have asked."
He nodded, and they led him in, the Christmas tree in

the foyer bright and so pretty.

"I think we've got a couple old pairs of Frank's sweats

with a drawstring on the waist that you could use. And
some t-shirts if you'd like." Gordon led him down the
hall and showed him a small but tidy bedroom. "We
were just planning on watching a movie tonight, and
we'd be happy to have you join us."

"I... Do you mind if I just crash? I'm so sleepy. I

haven't had a beer in months." And he hadn't slept in a
bed since September.

"Of course we don't mind. We'll try not to be too

loud." Gordon patted him on the back. "We can talk
tomorrow over breakfast."

He nodded, tears threatening again. "Good night,

guys. Thanks again."

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Frank came over and gave him a hard hug. "You'll

feel better in the morning."

"I hope so."
"You will. I promise."
"Thanks, Frank." He kissed the old cop's cheek.

"Good night."

"G'night, son."
Frank squeezed him again and then took Gordon's

hand, the two of them heading back down the hall to
what he assumed was the living room.

He crawled into bed, sighed. The last time he'd done

this had been at his house in Miami, the night before the
movers came. There'd been less than a week between
Rob's, "we need to talk" and "I've had an offer on the
house" and only another ten days before, "I really need
you out of here, Kerry. Now."

Life was a funny thing, he guessed. Still, if he could

get his clothes dry and talk to Xavier, he thought he
could get a job in the kitchen and that would be a start.

It would.

Trust

Chapter Two

Bellamy Turner liked the Hammer Club when it

wasn't very busy. He tended to frequent it during the
quiet hours between lunch and dinner, taking his time to
enjoy a meal, or a drink, along with the latest paperback
he was reading. Today was The Hunt for Red October
and the most lovely lobster salad he'd had in forever to
be followed by what he was sure would be an excellent
steak.

Happy was working the floor, humming and

bouncing along, the lovely server as charming and dear
as ever.

"Are you done with your salad plate?" The voice was

soft, husky, almost unused, he thought, and he looked up
into a thin face framed by bright red hair. The icy blue
eyes met his, and he was offered half a smile.

That face would look like a pixie's if the smile had

been full, open.

"I think so. If you don't clear it I'll probably lick the

dressing right off it, so yes. I'd better be done."

"Thank you."
He'd been hoping for a chuckle, and he got it, but

from Happy. He gave Happy a grin, but his focus was
on the other boy; that face should always wear a smile,
those eyes should twinkle for him. Lovely little pixie
twinks should not look sad. Should not be sad, he
considered.

The one remaining table was cleaned, then the little

man disappeared. He was lovely. Stunning. Bellamy
hadn't seen the man before, either. He went back to his
book as he waited for his steak to come, though he had
to admit, his attention just wasn't sticking with the plot.

Happy brought him his steak, bouncing happily.

"How's the book?"

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"It's very good, actually. I might have to check out

more by him."

"Cool. Do you need anything else, sir?"
As a matter of fact, he did. Information. "I was

wondering if you knew the young man who cleared
away my salad dishes?"

"Young man?" Happy tilted his head, blinked. "Do

you mean Kerry? He's not young. He's thirty-five."

"I imagine I mean Kerry. He's as old as that, is he?"

Bel nodded; there'd been an old soul in those eyes, a
weariness.

"Yeah. He is. He's a nice man." Happy sighed softly.

"He used to work here at the beginning."

"Oh?"
Happy nodded. "He says he loved it here, that he was

a server."

"It sounds like he has quite the story to tell. Maybe

he'd have time to tell me before I leave."

"I... I'll ask Xavier, huh? If it's cool?"
"Yes, of course. I don't want to cause waves." He just

wanted to have his meal and perhaps to spend some time
with the lovely pixie.

Happy headed off, whistling on his way to the bar to

speak to Xavier. Xavier looked at Happy, then him, then
said something that made Happy laugh. Then Xavier
headed toward him.

Bel took a bite of his steak, savoring it as he watched

Xavier approach.

"Do you mind if I sit, Bellamy?"
"Of course not." He waved to the chair across from

him. "The steak is done to perfection."

"I hope so." Xavier sat, grinned. "The new lunch chef

is tickled to have a job."

"I imagine he's more tickled that the job is here."

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"Wouldn't you be?" Xavier leaned back. "Happy says

you're interested in getting to know Kerry."

"I am." He was definitely most intrigued by sad eyes

in a pixie face.

Xavier sighed. "Kerry isn't interested in contact with

members, Bel. I'm sorry. He was... how shall I put this?
He had a commitment with a master from here for many
years who ill-used him. He's trying very hard to get back
on his feet, but he has been very, very explicit that he
will not participate in the lifestyle."

It made Bellamy growl a little, knowing one of their

own had hurt a boy. It just wasn't right. "I'm sorry he
went through that. I will, of course, respect his wishes.
It's a shame, though, that such a lovely man would cut
himself off."

"I agree. He was a lovely lifestyle sub, very much in

love with his master." Xavier shrugged. "I thought better
of Rob, honestly. I considered him my friend, at the
time."

"Well, if he changes his mind, I'd like to just talk."
"I'll let him know. I wouldn't hold your breath,

though. He's been through a lot over the last few
months."

"I imagine he has. I'd appreciate you mentioning it to

him, though."

In the meantime, he had his most excellent meal and

a good book to while his afternoon away.

Trust

Chapter Three

Kerry finished the dishes from the Christmas auction,

his hands raw and blistered. He'd worked every day for
three weeks, and he had the next two days off. This
paycheck would let him put a deposit down on a tiny
efficiency three blocks away. He could move in on the
first. Frank was letting him stay at Frank's old house
until then, and Kerry was making sure it was kept
scrupulously clean.

He wouldn't let anyone say he'd been a bad house

guest.

Xavier handed him a packet. "Your Christmas bonus.

Don't spend it all in one place."

"I haven't been here long enough for a bonus." He'd

take it, though.

"You've worked three weeks straight and a lot of

extra hours today, and you haven't complained once
even though it's the busiest day of the year." Xavier
chuckled gently and pointed to his hands. "Trust me,
you've earned it."

"Thank you. Is there anything else you need me to

do?"

"Make sure you have something to eat before you go,

hmm?" Xavier looked stern for a moment, making sure
he knew the club manager was serious.

"I have a burger and fries waiting for me."
"There should be a quiet stool at the far end of the bar

for you, too."

"Thank you." Impulsively, Kerry gave Xavier a hug.
Xavier was stiff for a moment and then hugged him

back. "You have somewhere to spend Christmas, yes?"

"I'll be fine." Frank and Gordon had invited him over,

as had Oliver and Jack, Tanny and Billy. He had a ton of
offers. He was going to hide.

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"Have a Merry Christmas then." Xavier gave him one

last smile, somewhat distracted, and turned his attention
to the kitchen.

Kerry nodded and headed out to the bar, his supper

waiting for him. The club was quieter than it had been,
though it was still busy. It looked like a lot of people
had headed off to play and celebrate and enjoy.

Last year he'd spent Christmas with his master,

plugged and bound, Rob making him twist and moan.
Rob had been cheating on him with Nancy, even then.
For two years he'd been a fool.

Kerry looked at the food and sighed. He wasn't

hungry. He'd just take it with him. He reached across the
top of the bar for a bag, slipped his burger and fries in.

"Hello," said the man next to him. "You not a fan of

the auction crowds, either?"

"I just got off work. Did you have a good night?" He

didn't look up, focused on closing his bag. Everyone
here had been dear to him; he wouldn't be rude.

"It was... interesting. I've never been to the auction

before. It's very... loud and crowded and enthusiastic."

"Yes. It's a great fundraiser. Have a very merry

Christmas." He looked up, smiled.

A handsome man, maybe his age, maybe a little

younger, smiled back at him. "You, too. You're not
staying to eat?"

"No. I thought I was, but I'm not."
"Would you like to go somewhere quieter with me?"

The blue eyes were warm.

"I'm sorry?"
"It's still a bit crowded here, but I was thinking the

coffee shop down the road would be perfect. Would you
like to join me?"

"I... I'm sorry, do I know you?" He'd met many

people from before, but he didn't remember this man.

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The man held out his hand. "Bellamy Turner. We

didn't meet so much as you asked if I was done with my
salad plate a few days ago."

"Oh." He took Bellamy's hand. "I'm Kerry Daniels."
"Nice to meet you, Kerry." Bellamy's hand was

warm, solid.

They shook, standing there a second or two longer

than they should, probably. Bellamy smiled at him,
fingers stroking his palm.

"I. I should go."
"Come to the coffee house with me." Bellamy had a

beautiful smile.

"Why?"
"So we can talk."
"Talk?" God, he sounded like an idiot.
"Yes. Have a coffee and talk." Bellamy smiled again.
"I. I want you to know, I'm not available." He

wouldn't mind company, especially if this man was as
alone as he was, but he couldn't play games. He wasn't
in the lifestyle. Not anymore. Not ever again.

"You're with someone?"
"What? No." Wait, should he have said yes?
"Then it's okay to go have coffee and conversation

together. If you'd like to come with me."

"Don't you have someone here?" He grabbed his bag

of food.

"No, I don't. I'm single, too."
"It sucks to be single at Christmas. I mean, if you're

into Christmas."

"It can. I try not to let it bother me." Bellamy gave a

shrug. "Shall we go have that coffee?"

"Sure. Sure, a cup of coffee, then I have to go home."
"Cool." Bellamy held his arm out for Kerry to take.
"Oh." He took the arm, unexpectedly charmed.

"Th...thank you."

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"No, thank you for your company." Bellamy gave

him that warm smile again, and they headed out, his bag
in his free hand.

Kerry didn't know what sort of small talk he was

supposed to make, so he didn't. He walked, the silence
between them surprisingly easy. It didn't take long at all
for them to get to the coffee shop. The place wasn't even
half full, and Christmas carols played in the background.
He looked at the menu, chewed his bottom lip as he
searched for his cheapest option.

"I'd like a large coffee, black, please, and an almond

croissant." Bellamy turned to him. "What would you
like, Kerry?"

"Just a small coffee, please."
Bellamy paid for their order, and it didn't take long

for it to appear.

He handed Bellamy three ones. "Here. This is for

mine."

Bellamy took his ones without argument and put a

quarter in the tips cup "There's a table by the fireplace
over there."

"Good deal." He doctored his coffee with lots of

cream and sugar, then headed over to the fireplace,
sinking into an overstuffed armchair with a soft sigh.
God, he was tired.

Bellamy sat across from Kerry and took a sip from

his coffee, humming softly. "Oh, that's a nice brew."

Kerry chuckled, nodded. "It is. Lots of the kitchen

staff come here after work."

"I'm not surprised." Bellamy sat back, smiling. "Do

you like working at the Club?"

"It's a good job. They're very good to me."
"Good. I'd hate to think that a place that's so good to

their members wouldn't be to their staff."

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Kerry nodded. "It's a good place. How long have you

been a member?"

"About three years now."
"Very cool." He made himself not think about where

he was three years ago.

"Happy mentioned you used to work at the club, back

at the beginning?"

"I did, ten years ago. It was smaller, then, and we

were all just learning." He'd been so young, so naïve.

"That's pretty cool. Historical."
"I guess. It didn't feel historical at the time. It just felt

like work."

Bellamy chuckled at that, the sound deep and good.

Kerry grinned back, finishing his coffee, the sweet
warmth so good.

"So what do you do when you aren't working at the

Hammer?"

"I don't know." He chuckled. "I've been working

open to close since I got back."

"Got back from where?" Bellamy seemed genuinely

interested.

"I meant to the Hammer. Xavier offered me a job

right after Thanksgiving."

"What were you doing before then?"
His lips twisted. "I was looking for work."
Bellamy seemed to take the hint and the next

question had nothing to do with his past. "Do you like
movies?"

"I haven't been to one in a very long time, but I used

to, when I was a teenager. When I had my laptop, I
watched tons of them."

"Maybe, if they ever give you an evening off at the

club, you'd like to go to one with me."

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"Oh... I." He smiled. "Maybe. I have to see how my

budget goes." He needed so many things -- a bed, new
shoes. Pots and pans.

"It might be considered old-fashioned, but as I've

invited you, it would be my treat."

"Oh." He stopped, smiled. "I... that's very dear."
Bellamy smiled back, cheeks maybe a little pink. "Is

that a yes?"

"I." There was no way this lovely man was a Top, no

way he wasn't just a lonely person needing a friend at
the holidays. "Okay. Yes. Maybe. I mean... I'd love to
see something happy."

Bellamy nodded. "Yes. Do you know if you have any

time off soon? Surely you'll have a day or two for
Christmas. Of course, you may have plans for the
holidays..."

"Don't you? I mean, surely there's someone for you?"
"I'm afraid I'm something of a loner. I prefer

interacting with people one on one rather than in groups,
which makes it hard to meet people, I'm afraid."

"I imagine so. Have you talked with Master Oliver?

He's very good at helping people find each other."

"A matchmaker, is he?" Bellamy chuckled.
"Yes. He's usually very good at it." Usually.
"Usually?" Bellamy's eyebrows went up in a clear

question.

"Yes. I can think of dozens of couples he's

introduced." Including one that ended badly.

"Cool." Bellamy smiled, looked thoughtful. "I don't

know if I want a matchmaker, though."

"No? I can understand that. Sometimes you just have

to follow your heart."

"Yes, exactly." Bellamy shrugged. "Even if, so far,

my heart hasn't led me anywhere in particular. Or maybe
I should say to anyone."

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He reached out, patted Bellamy's hand. "One day,

maybe."

Bellamy turned his hand and squeezed Kerry's. "Yes.

Maybe. What about you? Is that what you're hoping for
as well?"

"No. I just want to be okay. Have an apartment, a job.

Maybe a cat one day."

"Maybe one day you'll share with me what happened.

I'd like to be that kind of friend."

"Maybe some day." He offered Bellamy a smile.

"Right now, I think I'm going to go eat my supper, then
walk around and look at the lights."

Bellamy pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it

over. "That's my number. Will you call me when you
have a day off so we can go see a movie together?"

"I don't have a phone. I can call after the holiday,

though, from the Hammer."

"I would like that very much, Kerry." Bellamy's eyes

were warm, focused on him.

He slipped the card into his back pocket, smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Bellamy. It was nice to meet you."

"Merry Christmas, Kerry. I'm very pleased to have

met you." Bellamy gave him another handshake, fingers
lingering before their hands dropped apart again.

He nodded, impulsively kissed Bellamy's cheek, then

headed off toward Frank's old place. One week and he'd
have his own place.

He'd be starting his own life.

Trust

Chapter Four

The holidays had come and gone very peacefully.

Bellamy knew that a lot of people felt bad for him, that
he didn't have family to spend Christmas with, and that
he chose to be alone on New Year's Eve. It was what he
preferred though. Yes, it would have been nice to have a
partner to share his days with, but he didn't, and he was
at peace with that.

Thursday afternoon after the New Year found him

back at the Hammer, book in hand, finished meal still on
the table in front of him.

"Are you finished with your meal?" The soft voice

was tired, familiar, lovely.

"I am." He looked up and smiled at Kerry. "Do you

have a moment to sit before you clear?"

"I do. Did you have a nice holiday?" Kerry didn't sit,

but stayed close.

"I did. It was very peaceful." He'd finished a large

puzzle and had painted his bedroom. "How about you?"

"I slept. It was lovely."
"You've been busy since, though, haven't you?"

Kerry was clearly tired and in need of more sleep, and
Bellamy was struck by the sudden desire to order the
man to close his eyes and rest. "I never knew Xavier was
such a slave driver."

"He's dear. I found a second position at the gas

station on the corner. They let me work four a.m. to
noon, then I come here and work to close. Saving my
pennies."

It was no wonder Kerry was tired!
"That doesn't leave a lot of time for sleep. Or for

going to movies with a new friend." Now he knew why
Kerry hadn't called, or at least one possible reason. It

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hadn't been a rejection of him at all, which made him
very happy.

"Yes. I have Sundays and Mondays off at the gas

station, but random days here, and I take extra shifts."

"You're going to work yourself into sickness."
"Hopefully soon I can take a break, hmm? I had to do

a deposit on an apartment and get the lights turned on.
Now I'm working for a mattress." Kerry winked. "That
sleeping bag is getting old."

"You're sleeping on the floor? That just won't do."

Bellamy frowned and shook his head. "I have an air
mattress in the attic."

"Oh, don't worry. I have a sleeping bag." One of the

waitstaff walked by and whispered softly, then Kerry
took a couple steps back. "I have to get back to work.
Happy New Year!"

"Wait." Bellamy frowned; he didn't want to get Kerry

in trouble. "What time does your shift end?"

"We're closing early tonight for inventory. I'm off at

six."

"Will you come have coffee with me again if I meet

you at the coffee shop after your shift?"

Surely Kerry could spare him a half hour without

losing too much of his very much needed sleep.

"I would love that. Maybe they'll have those cherry

danishes."

"Excellent. I'll see you at six, then." He was

inordinately pleased that Kerry had said yes.

"I'm looking forward to it." Kerry took his plate,

headed off to work.

Bellamy couldn't help but notice that Kerry had a

sweet ass. Tight and firm, it made his mouth a little dry,
and he wondered what it would look like filled, spanked
pink. He could imagine playing with different sized

Trust

plugs and dildoes, vibrators to stimulate Kerry's gland,
to make him squirm in delight and need.

Bellamy groaned, cock filling, swelling. Damn. He'd

known he was attracted to the sweet redhead, to the old
soul in Kerry's eyes; he just hadn't realized how attracted
he was. Friendship first, he reminded himself. He knew
in his gut that Kerry needed that right now more than
anything else Bellamy could give him.

Everyone seemed to like Kerry, to treat the man with

a gentle respect, like someone breakable. He was
terribly curious about Kerry, but after his questions to
Happy and Xavier on the first day they'd met, he was
determined not to gossip. Eventually, Kerry would trust
him enough to tell him what had happened to bring him
to this point in his life.

He was actually quite excited at the prospect of

getting to know Kerry at Kerry's speed. He wanted
Kerry to open to him.

He waited for a while, then headed to the coffee

shop, ordered his coffee and waited. Soon after six,
Kerry came in, waved at him. He waved back, suddenly
grinning.

"Let me get my coffee." Kerry went to the bar,

ordered -- not a black coffee this time, but a sweet,
fancy one with whipped cream.

It was good to see the man indulging a little. His

smile got bigger when Kerry also ordered a cherry
danish.

"Hey, you." Kerry sat, sighing softly as he settled.

"Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year yourself." He reached over and

squeezed Kerry's hand lightly, wanting the contact, even
if it was only for a moment.

Trust

"Thank you." Kerry smiled for him again, settling in

the big chair. "So, tell me things about yourself,
Bellamy. I know you like to read."

"That would be an understatement." He chuckled.

"It's one of my very favorite things in the world to do."

"Yeah? I used to read quite a bit, once upon a time."
"And now you barely have enough time to sleep, let

alone read, hmm?" It wasn't any way to live a life,
working all the time.

"Right now. It'll get easier."
"I'm glad to hear that. I hate to think of this state of

being lasting too long. After all, we still have that movie
date..."

"We do. We could go tonight, if you want."
Surprise and pleasure flooded through him. "I would

like that. I would like it a lot."

"Cool. I don't have to be into work until tomorrow

morning at four. What's playing?"

"I don't know. But there's a paper on the counter over

there." He went over and took it, looking for the movie
listings as he made his way back to the table. "What
kind of movie do you like?"

"I like comedies best." Kerry gave him a bittersweet

smile. "I'm not the most intellectual man in town."

"Is that your way of saying foreign films are boring?"

He gave Kerry a wink and looked to see if there were
any comedies out -- there had to be, it was still the
holiday season, after all.

"I just... I need more laughter in my life, hmm?"
"I think everyone could use more laughter." He found

a movie that was starting in twenty-five minutes not too
far from their location. "Here we go." He turned the
paper to show Kerry.

"Oh, that looks fun." Kerry nodded. "That works. Let

me finish my sweet."

Trust

"You've got time." He was nearly done with his

coffee.

"Good thing I had a clean t-shirt in my bag with me."
"I'd have sat with you even if you didn't." The state of

Kerry's clothes was the last thing on his mind.

"The smell would have driven you away."
Bellamy chuckled. "I don't scare away easily."
"Oh, good." Kerry stretched, belly rolling. "You want

to walk over?"

"Yeah, it's only about ten minutes away." He stood

and held out his hand.

Kerry's fingers slipped into his, the poor things hot,

the skin trashed. He would have to find some hand
lotion, make a little gift. Maybe that and some towels, a
housewarming gift.

It was a nice evening, and they held hands all the way

to the movie theatre where Bellamy insisted on paying
for their tickets. "I invited you, after all." He'd told
Kerry that when he'd first made the offer before
Christmas.

"That's very sweet. I can swing Cokes, if you want?"
"I'd like that. A small Sprite for me, please."
"Good deal." Kerry bought a bottled water and a

Sprite, and they went into the movie theatre.

Bellamy looked around; the theatre was not busy, so

they had their pick of places to sit. "So are you a front
row kind of guy?"

"I'm easy." Kerry smiled at him.
Ah, if only that were true.
He smiled and nodded at the back of the theatre. "I

prefer the back row if I can get it."

"Back row it is." They found seats, settled.
The theatre wasn't very crowded, and it felt like they

were the only two there when the lights went down.
They sat, laughed together, and Kerry managed to stay

Trust

awake for most of the movie. At the very end, though,
Bellamy caught Kerry's head nodding, his eyes closed.

Poor, sweet, exhausted man. Bellamy wanted to take

him home, cradle him. Among other things, though that
would make an excellent start.

He was going to insist that Kerry borrow his air

mattress. Possibly the air mattress and a bunch of
blankets.

Bellamy waited until all the credits had rolled and the

lights came up, and they really were the only ones in the
theatre now, everyone else having already left.

He touched Kerry's arm gently. "The movie's over."
Kerry's eyes flashed open. "Oh. Oh, God. I'm sorry. It

was just so dark."

He chuckled. "That's all right. You didn't miss a

whole lot." Romantic comedies could be so predictable.

"Oh, good. It was funny, though. I loved the part with

the rabbit."

"Yeah, you've got a great laugh." He'd loved any part

of the movie where he'd gotten to hear the sweet
chuckles.

They headed out of the theater, the world quiet,

winding on down.

"Are you hungry? I have a stew sitting in the

crockpot and that air mattress in the attic that you really
should borrow; I'd love to get some use out of it."

"Oh, that's very nice, but I hate to mooch."
He shook his head. "It's not mooching. You'll be

doing me a favor by sharing supper with me, and
honestly, that air mattress is just gathering dust. I'll ask
for it back just as soon as I have need of it again." He'd
bought it some years ago when he'd thought camping
would be fun. He'd been wrong, as it turned out, and
now he had an air mattress he never used.

"That's very nice. Thank you."

Trust

He held his arm out for Kerry to take. "It's a half hour

walk or so. If that's too far, we can take a cab."

"That's fine. I live next to the Hammer."
Christ, the apartments around there were... terrifying,

at best.

"I guess it's nice being close to work?" It was the best

he could offer.

"Yes." Kerry looked over at him, grinned. "I know, I

know, but it's what I can afford. I don't know how many
relationships you've been in, but it's important never
ever to let your Dom control things like where you live
or work. You can end up in real trouble. "

"Is that what happened to you?" he asked gently.
"Sort of, yeah. We had a whole life, I thought, then I

found out that he had a whole life and I had an eighteen
year old car and one suitcase with my clothes from
before we were together." Kerry chuckled, the sound
bittersweet. "Let me tell you, no one who's hiring cares
that you were a sub for years. I learned my lesson,
though."

Bellamy felt his eyes widen. "How long were you

together?"

"Ten years."
He stopped and looked at Kerry. "You were with him

for ten years and he kicked you out with nothing?" That
was... Bellamy felt the anger surging through him. Even
if he hadn't been interested in Kerry, he would have
been furious on the man's behalf.

Kerry hid behind that glorious mass of red hair. "He

found a woman, had been seeing her for a few years, and
they got pregnant. I was at home, sort of blissfully
happy, and then not so much. But he'd paid for
everything. House, clothes, food, cars -- he had money.
Nothing belonged to me."

Trust

None of that made him any less incensed on Kerry's

behalf. He tried to keep his anger from his voice. "You
gave him ten years of your life. You went into it
believing you were partners." God, what a user. What an
asshole. A jerk. A bastard. No wonder Kerry held
himself so aloof.

"Yes. I should have seen the signs. In retrospect, I

can see them, but I was in love and silly." Kerry laughed
softly. "Come on. Let's go. Don't worry, Bellamy. I like
you. I'll watch and warn you if someone's going to be
evil."

What a sweetheart, worrying about him like that.

"Thank you, Kerry, I appreciate that."

"No problem. That's what friends do."
He patted Kerry's hand on his arm, and they turned a

corner, taking them off the main road and into an older
neighborhood that was slowly being renovated.

"I used to live right there." Kerry pointed to a little

place at the corner. "There were three of us sharing."

"I think the people who live there now are waiters.

Not from the Hammer, but from the neighborhood. I'm a
few blocks down, near the park."

"It's a good place. I liked it."
"Yeah. They've done a nice job keeping the feeling of

the original neighborhood while fixing it up." It didn't
cost the earth, either. His house was a sweet little
bungalow with a beautiful little back yard.

"What do you do for a living?"
"I write copy for coffee table books."
"Really? That's a job? How fun!"
He chuckled. "Yes, it is. Both a job and fun."
"Neat. How did you know you wanted to do that?"
"I had a friend who needed some copy for his book,

and I found I had a knack for it. The publisher thought
so, too, and the next thing I knew I was making a living

Trust

doing it." He pointed to his house across the street, a
little rainbow flag on the mailbox.

"That's incredibly cool. I have always envied people

with talent. I'd love to be creative, but I'm not."

"I'm sure you've got talents, though."
He let them in and closed the door behind Kerry. The

place was neat and tidy with a large living room, a little
kitchen and breakfast nook, two bedrooms and a little
office. He had a porch out back, as well, and his yard.

"It's lovely, Bellamy, and smells so nice."
"That's the stew and the bread. Are you hungry? We

could eat before I dig out the air mattress." He led Kerry
to the kitchen.

"Whichever. I'm easy." Kerry smiled, and Bellamy

could finally see him in the full light. Kerry was the
picture of exhaustion, of overwork, but there was a
peace in the man's eyes now, too.

"Eat first. I'm hungry." He went to the bread maker

and tugged out the bread pan, turning it upside down to
drop the bread out.

"Do you need help?"
"You could set the table for me. The dishes are in the

first cupboard there."

"I can totally do that." Kerry whistled as he worked.
The bread was still slightly warm, and he cut a few

slices off and put them on a plate on the table along with
the butter. Then he took the ceramic bowl out of the
crock pot and set it on a pot holder in the middle of the
table. He grabbed a serving spoon and put it in.

"What would you like to drink? Beer goes best with

stew."

"I'd love a beer, but I have to be honest, I'm a

lightweight. There's no way I could get myself home."

Trust

"You're going to have the air mattress, Kerry -- I was

planning to drive you." He grabbed a couple of beers
from the fridge.

"Oh, then that's perfect, thank you. I'll have one."
He handed it over and pointed to one of the chairs,

sitting in the other. He scooped a couple spoonfuls of
the stew into Kerry's bowl.

"So how long have you been here?" Kerry popped the

top of the beer.

"I bought this place about a year and a half ago."
"Neat. I'm originally from Kansas City, but it's been a

long, long time."

"What made you come out here?" He dished up his

own stew and grabbed a piece of bread, buttering it.

"I was queer, bored. I came out to LA to meet

people."

"How'd you get from LA to Santa Barbara?" He

wasn't making idle conversation, he truly wanted to
know.

"I came down on the train one evening and met

Oliver. I got the job at the Club and met my ex."

"So you've been here for ten years, then?"
"I came here almost eleven years ago. We left for

Miami about three years after we got together."

"He took you somewhere you didn't know and

dumped you there?" The more Bellamy heard about this
man, the more he wanted to hurt Kerry's former Master.

"Oh, we were there for years." Kerry shrugged. "You

know, it happens. I mean, I took care of the house, the
car, but he wanted someone more interesting. Someone
more interesting and, apparently, babies."

Bellamy shook his head. "You're very calm for

someone who was screwed over rather badly"

"I'm trying to be. I was very not calm when it all

went down. In fact, I was sort of hysterically not calm."

Trust

"Hysterically not calm." Bellamy chuckled at the

words, just picturing it.

"Yes. Hysterically not calm."
He reached out and squeezed Kerry's hand. "I'm very

sorry."

"You don't have to be. I made it. I'm good."
"I'm very glad to hear that." He put the buttered piece

of bread on Kerry's plate. "Eat."

"You, too." They sat next to each other, clinked their

beer bottles together.

Grinning, he buttered another piece of bread and

started digging into his stew. He could get used to this.
He could get used to having a sweet man to keep
company with. A friend to talk to. Someone to share
meals with. Food always tasted better when it was
shared.

"What do you think?" he asked, after they'd both

eaten a good portion of their stew. "It's a new recipe."

"It's fabulous. I like how the thyme comes through."
"I love sopping up the juices with my bread." He

suited action to words, letting the bread soak in the dark
gravy.

"Next time you might put a beer in while you're

stewing your beef. It's neat."

"Oh, I've never tried that. Good idea." He had a few

more bites. "Do you cook?"

"I used to, sure. I mean, not professionally, just in

that dinner party and home-cooked meal way."

"Did you like it?" He'd cook more if he had someone

to share his meals with. He enjoyed it.

"Oh, yes." Kerry rolled his eyes. "I know it sounds

stupid and Suzie Homemakery, but I liked making
things nice, feeding people. Rob always said I should
have been born a woman."

Trust

"Because men can't be caregivers? What a crock. It

sounds to me like this man had more than a few hang-
ups." He growled a little, angry again on Kerry's behalf.

"He was unique." Kerry winked. "Great in bed,

though. You know how it is when it's new and great?
That was fabulous."

"I do love your attitude." Kerry could be dumping all

over the man and wasn't. He was moving on in his life.

"Thank you. I'm trying very hard."
"Well, I think you're doing great. And if you ever

aren't, I would hope you'd think of me as a friend you
can talk to."

Kerry beamed at him. "Thank you. I need a good

friend."

"Well, I hope I can be that. Maybe we can do some

cooking together, too. Experiment -- it's not something I
ever do when I'm on my own."

"Yeah? I used to love that. I don't have any

cookbooks left, but I remember a lot, and the library will
let me have a card now that I have an address."

"Then it's something we'll have to make a point of

doing -- on days when you aren't working yourself to
death." He winked to soften the words.

Kerry chuckled. "Absolutely."
"Excellent." He nodded to Kerry's bowl. "Eat up. I

have a fabulous fruit crumble for dessert."

"You were busy."
"I'm in between projects right now, so I have time for

other stuff."

"Excellent." Kerry ate his stew, then sighed. "It's ten

thirty, honey. I have to be up for work in... four and a
half hours and tomorrow's a long day. From four a.m. to
midnight."

"Oh, Kerry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you so

long. Let me get that mattress and drive you home."

Trust

"I enjoyed it." Kerry helped him wash up, then kissed

his cheek. "Thank you, honey. For the company."

"Thank you. You know, you could just stay here

tonight and I'll drive you over for your shift tomorrow
morning."

"Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that."
"You didn't ask, I offered."
"Four o'clock in the morning is an insane time."
"Then we'd better get to sleep, hmm?"
"I..."
He put one finger over Kerry's lips. "Please. One

night."

"Okay. One night. Thank you."
"I have a lovely little guest room."
He grabbed sheets out of the linen closet and headed

to his guest room. It had a little double bed and a chair
by the window. It suited Kerry somehow.

"I have an alarm clock. I'll set it for three-thirty."

Bellamy wouldn't let Kerry be late for his job.

"Thank you." Kerry gave him an impulsive hug.

"Thank you so much."

He kissed Kerry's cheek. "You're welcome."
He handed over the sheets and gave Kerry a last

smile. "Sleep well."

"Thanks. Night." He got a tired wave, then the door

closed.

Sweet, lovely man.
Bellamy was intrigued.

Trust

Chapter Five

Kerry sat on an overturned bucket on the floor,

sleeping. Happy had promised he'd wake Kerry up when
he needed to work, but he had to sleep. Had to.

"Kerry? What on earth is going on?" Xavier didn't

sound angry, but he was loud.

"Huh? Sorry. Sorry, are there tables?" He stood up,

wild-eyed. Oh, fuck. Fuck. He was going to kick
Happy's butt.

"I think you should go home, Kerry. You're

exhausted. Go get some sleep."

"No. Please, sir. I'm sorry. I'll finish my shift. Honest.

I won't sit back down."

Xavier shook his head. "You won't lose your pay or

your job, boy. Go."

"I..."
He swallowed hard as Xavier pointed. "Go. Honestly.

Take tomorrow off, Kerry. You've earned it."

"But."
Xavier pointed, eyes firm.
Damn it.
Kerry grabbed his bag and headed out, shoulders

around his ears. He was so embarrassed.

"Kerry!" His voice was called before he got to the

door. "Are you headed out? Wait up." Bellamy came up
to him, smiled.

"Bellamy. Hey." He tried his best to grin back.

"How're you?"

"I'm good. Are you off already?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "Xavier caught me sleeping in the

back. He told me to come back Thursday."

"You're working too hard -- burning the candle at

both ends." Bellamy left the Hammer with him.

Trust

"I have to pay the bills. I'm so embarrassed." And

tired.

Bellamy patted his shoulder. "I have a thought,

Kerry."

"Hmm?" He looked over at his quickly becoming

best friend. They'd spent a number of meals together on
his days off over the last few weeks, enjoying each
other, laughing.

"As you know, I have a guest room. And I'm not that

far away. If you stayed with me, you wouldn't need the
job at the gas station. This isn't charity -- I'll charge you
for the room, and you can help with the utilities."

"I can't, honey. You're so sweet, but I've got to make

it on my own." He found himself tearing up. "Oh, man.
I'm so tired, Bel. I'm like worn to the bone and... Can I
come over, just for a beer? Just to sit and chat?"

"Sure, sure. You're always welcome, you know that."

Bellamy took Kerry's hand and put it in the crook of his
arm. "And I want to know how having a roommate
would make it so that you aren't making it on your
own."

He leaned. "I've just... I don't know, honey. I can't

think anymore. I have a whole day off tomorrow. A
whole day." An unexpected and completely free day off.

"Then how about we share that beer and you test the

mattress in my guest room and we can talk about things
tomorrow."

Kerry squeezed Bellamy's hand. "Thank you. Did

you... did you come in for supper?"

"I had a late lunch, actually. We could make

something together after your nap."

"Okay. Jesus, I'm sorry, Bel. I'm just stupid right

now."

"You're exhausted. You're working too hard. But you

know that."

Trust

He nodded. "I know. I know."
Bellamy put Kerry in the passenger seat of his car.
"What do you feel like for supper?" Bellamy asked,

as they pulled into traffic.

"Let's make lasagne. I love that." He closed his eyes.
"I think I have everything for that, too. And garlic

bread and salad, of course."

He hummed. Excellent. Excellent. He could fall

asleep right here in Bellamy's car. It was warm and
comfortable, and he wasn't standing…

"I found a recipe for tiramisu. Maybe I'll make that

while you're sleeping."

Kerry nodded. "I love that. Never made it before."
"Then I shall definitely have to give it a try."
He reached over, patted Bel's leg. "So glad you were

in tonight."

"So am I."
Kerry sighed softly, then he let himself relax, just fall

asleep. It felt like he'd only been asleep for seconds
when he woke up, in Bellamy's arms.

Kerry blinked slowly. "Bel?"
Bellamy smiled down at him and carried him up the

front steps. "I didn't want to wake you."

"You're strong." How had he not known that?
"Strong enough."
Bellamy set him down, though, to open the door, and

then, before he could protest, he was swept back up in
the man's arms and carried down the hall. He rested his
face in Bel's throat, breathing in the warm, good scent.

Bel hummed a little for him, the sound deep and

vibrating in Bel's chest. It wasn't long at all before Bel
put him down on the bed in the guest bedroom.

"Sleep as long as you need to, Ker."
He squeezed Bel's fingers. "Thank you."

Trust

"My pleasure." Bel brought his hand up and kissed

his knuckles.

He touched Bel's lips, almost gone, sleep so heavy on

him. "My Bel."

That was it, he was lost, dreaming.

***

Bellamy made lasagne and started a fresh loaf of

bread in the bread maker. He'd finish this one in the
oven, so it could be the right shape for making garlic
bread with. Then he made the tiramisu.

All the while he played over the "my Bel" in his

mind. The soft words had made his day. Kerry felt the
same connection between them as he did. Maybe not
consciously, but it was clearly there, inside the man, just
as it was inside him. It had him whistling as he worked
on the food for supper.

He'd spent the last month enjoying every minute they

spent together. Kerry was charming and quick, a perfect
companion. Sexy, too, but he knew Kerry wasn't ready
to hear that yet. That was okay; he was patient.

He did want to move Kerry in, though. Kerry didn't

live in the best neighborhood, and he was spending far
too much time just trying to make the money to live on.
It would be a fraction of the cost of his apartment to
room with Bellamy.

Bellamy would just have to convince the sweet boy

of that.

Then he had to convince Kerry that all Tops weren't

untrustworthy, that some men treasured their subs,
adored them and the enormous contributions they
brought to a relationship. It was a huge task, he knew.
He was pretty sure that Kerry was worth it.

Trust

Still humming, he grabbed his latest book and went

into the living room, sinking into the couch and opening
the book up. He was engrossed in the book and barely
noticed the passage of time until he heard the toilet
flush, then the sound of Kerry's feet on the tile. "Did I
miss supper, honey?"

He smiled over. "Nope. It's in the oven. I'll throw in

the garlic bread as soon as we're hungry." He held out
one arm and Kerry came right to him.

"Hey. You look happy. What are you reading?"
"Another Tom Clancy. And I am happy. More so

now that you're up."

Kerry leaned into his side. "So what excitement have

you had today? I got caught sleeping on the job."

He chuckled. "I don't think my day was nearly that

exciting."

"No? Damn." Kerry winked, playing with him. "Dom

night is my slow..." Kerry stopped, head tilting. "You
were at the club tonight."

"I was."
"Are you... I thought. Huh."
"What are you asking, Ker?"
"Nothing. Nothing. Is there coffee made, by any

chance?"

"No, but we can make some." He stood and held his

hand out for Kerry. Kerry took his hand, the poor fingers
still so rough. "You using that lotion I bought you?"

"I am, yes. I love how it smells."
"Good." They went into the kitchen. "Shall I put the

garlic bread on?"

"Sure. What can I do to help?"
"Why don't you throw the salad together?"
"No problem." Kerry knew where everything was

now, moved comfortably through the kitchen.

Trust

Bellamy so wanted Kerry to admit that they worked

beautifully together, hand in glove, like a sub and a
Dom.

"So are you going to think about moving in?"
"I don't think so, honey. I don't think that would be

good for either one of us, but thank you."

"Why not?" He wasn't going to let Kerry just dismiss

the idea out of hand.

"Because, to be honest with you, I could get involved

with you, like really involved, and now I know you're a
Dominant. I'm never going to do that again."

"Never's a very long time, Kerry. And I'm not asking

you to commit to me. I'm asking you to rent my spare
room."

"I know, but... I like you, Bel. Like I could hang with

you every day, and that's not going to get easier if I see
you often."

"I hate to see you working yourself to death because

you've been hurt so badly, Ker. You deserve happiness."

"I'm going to find it. I will. I just..." Kerry met his

eyes, so serious. "I wish I'd met you first."

"You didn't, though. We have to play the cards we

were dealt. I want you to trust me, and I'm willing to
wait until you do." What ifs could make a man crazy.

"I have to finish making the salad." Kerry grabbed

the cutting board and started working on the radishes.

Bellamy sighed quietly and began to make the garlic

bread.

"Would you like me to go? I'd understand."
"No, of course not!" Jesus, Kerry's former master had

a lot to answer for. "I enjoy your company more than
I've enjoyed anything in a long time." And how was he
going to earn Kerry's trust if they weren't together?

"If you're sure. I... I was hoping we could play

Scrabble again."

Trust

"I'd like that. I'd like it a lot. After supper."
"After supper." Kerry kissed his cheek. "Salad's

ready."

"And the garlic bread just needs to heat up." He took

Kerry's hand, squeezed gently.

"Mmm. Garlic bread."
"It's my favorite kind of bread." He added some

parmesan cheese, took out the lasagne and then put in
the garlic bread. "Five minutes. You want a beer?"

"Sure. You want one? I'll grab them."
"Yeah, yeah, I do." He set the table.
Kerry hummed softly, making things so much more

homey and warm, just by being there. Bellamy leaned
his hip against the counter, watching Kerry move around
the kitchen. Kerry looked like he belonged here. All he
had to do was convince Kerry of that fact. Which, he
knew, was far easier said than done.

The timer dinged, and he turned the oven off, rescued

the garlic bread and brought it and the lasagne to the
table. They sat together, smiling at each other like dorks.
It was so nice, though, to share a meal with a friend. A
good friend. A good friend with potential.

"It's so good." Kerry beamed at him.
"Thank you. I tried your trick with adding the Italian

herbs as well as what the recipe called for in the sauce
this time."

"Yeah?" Look at that grin. "Doesn't the sage make it

wonderful?"

He nodded. "Absolutely. I think this is the best batch

I've ever made." Although, really, it was probably the
company as much as the spices that made this meal so
good.

"It's perfect. Thanks for the invitation."
"Anytime, Ker. You know that, hmm? Anytime."
"I do." Kerry took his hand, squeezed.

Trust

He held on.
He had to. This man was special.

Trust

Chapter Six

Bellamy was the most frustrating man on the planet.

Every time Kerry tried to set him up with a twink, the
man declined. Every time he had a few hours off, Kerry
found himself at Bel's house, laughing or watching TV
or cooking. There was a lot of cooking. And gardening.
And helping Bel repaint.

And no matter how much Kerry told himself he

wasn't going to go back to Bellamy's, he was in too
deep, Bel was there and he couldn't say no. Today they
were out in the garden, the sun really hot for the first
time this year. Bel was putting in all sorts of vegetables.
They'd made a plan up together, figuring out which
plants needed the most sun and which ones grew best
next to each other.

There was music playing in the background, and

Kerry was digging, muscles working hard. He hadn't
been so happy since St. Patrick's Day, when they'd tried
to make corned beef. It had been a dismal failure, but
they'd had so much fun, and they'd had pizza afterward,
the cheese thick and gooey.

He sang along with the radio as he turned the earth.
"You've got a lovely singing voice, Ker."
"Hmm?" He looked over at Bel, grinned. "You need

to put a hat on. Your cheeks are pink."

"Are they?" Bel touched his cheek, smearing it with

dirt.

"Yes, honey. You don't want to burn." Of course, it

was a little like the pot calling the kettle pale, given his
skin tone.

"Maybe we need to take a break, hmm?" Bel smiled

at him, eyes warmer than the sun.

"You just tell me what you need me to do."

Trust

"I need you to come in and have some homemade

lemonade with me."

"Oh, I love lemonade..."
"I know." Bel gave him another smile and stood,

stretched up. His body was outlined by the sun.

Kerry's cock jerked, swelled, and he wanted Bel, so

badly.

"You coming, Ker?"
"Uh..." He wished. Okay, stop that. "I'll be right

there."

Bel tilted his head. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good." He thumped his cock as he stood.

Hard.

Bel's eyebrow went up. "Ker?"
"Hmm?" He put his shovel down and headed toward

the house.

"You're acting strangely," Bel told him, following.
"I don't mean to."
"As long as you're all right." Bel held the door open

for him.

"Thank you." God, Bel smelled good.
"You're welcome." He thought for a second that Bel's

fingers had slid across his ass.

He swallowed his moan. He was going to have to go

home and jack off like a wild man. Bel went to the
fridge and got out a pitcher full of lemonade, slices of
lemon and lime floating in it.

"That looks amazing."
"So do you."
His cheeks heated. "Thank you."
"I would very much like to kiss you, Kerry." Bel met

Kerry's eyes as he said the words.

He stepped forward, not able to stop the motion. "I

want to, so badly."

Trust

Bel put the lemonade on the counter and reached for

him, one hand cupping his cheek and tilting his head up.
Then Bel slowly lowered his head, lips coming closer
and closer to Kerry's.

"My Bel." He waited, not even able to breathe.
Bel nodded, the movement brushing their lips

together. "Yes." Then Bel's lips pressed against his, the
kiss gentle, warm, soft flesh sliding together.

Oh… Oh, sweet. He moaned softly, his lips moving

under Bel's.

The hand on his cheek slid back to cup his head, Bel's

other hand sliding along his back. He took a half-step
forward, brought their bodies together. Bel's groan
vibrated against his lips as the man's hand wrapped
around his ass. Kerry's lips parted, and he moaned, the
warm, earthy scent of Bellamy perfect.

Bel's tongue darted inside as his mouth opened,

touching the tip of his tongue before retreating again.
His tongue followed, touching Bel's bottom lip. Bel
groaned, tongue moving on his again, sliding against it.
Hot and slick, the touch was perfect.

Bel's tongue slid into his mouth again, moving over

his teeth, over his gums. They swayed together,
exploring each other's mouths. Bel leaned back against
the counter, tugging him along to rest against the tall,
solid body.

"Mmm." Solid. Strong. Warm. His hands slipped up

Bel's belly.

"Such a gentle touch." Bel spoke against his mouth.
He didn't know if that was good or not, so he simply

kept kissing, kept touching. Bel rubbed his ass, touch
gentle but firm. His body hardened, and he leaned back
into Bel's hand, the motion instinctive.

"Oh, Ker. Feel you."

Trust

Kerry moaned, tongue sliding over Bel's bottom lip.

Yes. Bel's hand pressed harder against his ass, his cock
pushing against Bel's solid thigh. He grunted, fingers
tightening. Oh. Oh, Bel. His hips started to rock.

Bel's lips parted from his and warm eyes gazed into

his own. "Let me take you to bed, Ker. I want to love
you right."

"What about your garden?"
"It's not going anywhere."
Kerry searched Bellamy's eyes, then nodded. "Yes."
Bellamy smiled at him and took his hand, walked

him down the hall to Bel's bedroom. By the time they
got to the room, he was beginning to worry. This was a
mistake. It had to be.

Bel led him right to the bed and sat him down, then

cupped his cheeks again. Bel didn't say anything, but his
smile was warm and sexy. Then their lips pressed
together again. All thoughts of mistakes flew out of
Kerry's brain.

Bel's tongue pushed his lips open, this kiss more

aggressive than the others, but not hard or harsh. Kerry
moaned, hand sliding over Bel's belly.

"You taste so sweet, Ker."
The hot words made his cheeks hurt, burn. Bellamy

kissed one, and then the other, before taking his mouth
again. This time, one of Bel's hands slid down his back
as they kissed.

Kerry moved -- he had to, and Bel's hands

encouraged it -- and slipped into Bellamy's lap. Those
big hands wrapped around his ass, tilting him into Bel's
body. His cock leapt, and he scooted closer. Needed. He
needed. Bel rolled them together so he could feel a
matching hardness in Bel's cock. All he could do was
groan, deep in his chest.

Trust

Bel didn't try to strip him, instead one kiss followed

another, each one a little deeper, each one making him
fly a little higher. It was like Bellamy was making a
feast of him. Kerry melted down against Bel, entire
focus on the long, needy kisses. He hardly noticed as
Bel shifted, lying back down on the bed.

They stretched out together, and he toed off his shoes

before settling. "That okay?"

"More than. I want to see every inch of you, but that's

a good start."

"I like how you taste." He smiled, leaned in, and

those addictive kisses started again.

One hand stayed on his butt, the other traced his

features, as if Bel was looking at him, even as they
kissed. He hummed, relaxed and easy, floating on the
pleasure.

Bel chased his tongue back and forth, in and out of

his mouth, the kisses going on and on like they had all
the time in the world to just do this. His lips ached, cock
full and swollen. The hand tracing his features slowly
moved down and wrapped around his hip, solid and
warm and very much there.

"Bel..." That touch made his eyes cross.
Bel kissed his nose. "Yes, Ker?"
"You're so warm."
"Are you cold?" Bel's hand slid along his body.
"No." No, he wasn't cold at all.
"Good." Bel's mouth took his again, the fingers at his

hip teasing his shirt out of his jeans.

They started rocking, sliding together, pushing each

other just the slightest bit harder. Bel's body was so
solid, muscled. Strong. It was always hidden so well,
behind that calm exterior, the books.

Bel got his t-shirt out of his jeans, pushed it up and

stroked his belly. Kerry's abs rolled, went tight. Bel

Trust

hummed, whole hand sliding on his stomach now. Kerry
arched, the motion instinctual, rolling him into Bel's
touch.

"Yes. Like that, Ker." The praise washed over him,

making him blush. "Beautiful little stud."

"Bel!" It had been a long time since someone said

something like that to him.

"It's the truth, Ker." Bellamy smiled at him "You

wouldn't want me to lie, would you?"

"No. No, please don't." If nothing else, no lying.
"No, I won't lie. Which means you have to believe

what I tell you. Especially when I tell you that you're
hot."

"Thank you." He kissed Bellamy's smile.
That smile got bigger, and then Bellamy swooped his

t-shirt right up and over his head, leaving him topless.
He held his breath, wanting Bellamy to find him
attractive. Groaning, Bellamy bent and licked at the
hollow in his right collarbone.

"Oh." His eyes got heavy, his body beginning to rock.

His nipples got hard, the tiny, tiny barbells in them
holding the skin out.

"Look at these." Bellamy didn't touch with his

fingers, instead his lips wrapped around Kerry's right
nipple, tongue playing with the piercing.

They were well-healed, and the shock of pleasure

was sharp, almost unexpected. Bel sucked and played,
giving him so much pleasure. His toes curled, the quiet
ache starting to excite him.

Groaning, Bel moved to his other nipple, gave it the

same treatment until both his nipples were throbbing.
Kerry moaned, cock so hard it dripped inside his jeans.

"So sexy, Ker. How could anyone give you up?"
"I don't know." Kerry shrugged. "Maybe he got

bored."

Trust

"He was an idiot." Bel sounded so sure, so confident

of that.

"I don't want to talk about him. He doesn't belong

here with us."

Bel nodded. "You're a very smart man."
"Thank you." Every time Bel offered him that honest,

gentle praise, Kerry warmed.

Bel beamed at him and brought their mouths together

again. The button at the top of his jeans was played
with, Bel's fingers so warm. He groaned, sucked in, let
Bel in. Bel hummed, the top button popping open and
those warm fingers sliding in to touch. His cock jerked,
trying to get Bel's attention.

It worked, too, Bel's fingers brushing the tip. "Oh.

Oh, Ker."

"Uh. Uh-huh!" His knees bent, toes curling.
Bel kissed his breastbone and then just above his

navel. Next it was below his navel as the strong fingers
slowly pushed his jeans from his hips.

"Bel?" He lifted his ass, the motion instinctive.
"Yes, Ker?" Bel kissed the line just above his curls.
All he could do was chuckle restlessly. "I don't

know..."

Bel kissed the base of his cock and smiled. He could

feel the curve of Bel's lips against his so sensitive skin.
His lips lifted in an answering smile, his heart pounding
happily. Bel licked and mouthed his way up to the head
of Ker's cock.

"Oh, God." Kerry stilled, his breath caught in his

chest.

Bel licked across the tip and then took the head of his

cock in between the hot lips.

"Bellamy!" He sat up, eyes rolling back as he fought

the urge to hump up into those lips.

"You like that, sweet Ker?"

Trust

"Who. Who wouldn't? Oh, god."
Bel kissed his belly again, then took the head into his

mouth and started sucking. That was it. That was it; he
was going to die from pure bliss. Bel's tongue flicked
back and forth across his slit as the suction continued.

Kerry whimpered, shook, fighting his orgasm. He

didn't want it to end. Bel's suction got stronger, though,
like the man was demanding his climax.

"I will. I'm. That's so good."
Bel's nod broke his rhythm, but only for a moment,

and then Bel was sucking hard again. Kerry whined,
hips rolling, pushing up into that perfect mouth. Heat
flooded his belly, his balls hard as rocks. One of Bel's
fingers slid beyond his balls and tapped the skin behind
them.

Kerry shot, spunk spraying from him, pouring out in

waves. Bel took him down, each swallow sending
another wave of pleasure through him. Kerry
whimpered, pleasure making him stupid.

Bel cleaned his cock with gentle licks, then slowly

kissed a line back up his belly, his chest.

"I. That." He swallowed. "Wow."
Bel smiled at him and brought their lips together, the

kiss gentle, sweet. Bel tasted like him. The kiss went on
and on, Bel breathing into him.

He started working Bel's clothes open, finding skin,

wanting his lover to feel as good as he did. Bel helped,
moaning sweetly every time his fingers touched skin.
Kerry moaned as Bel's body was exposed, the heavy
muscles like a wet dream. He started exploring, licking
and touching, adoring every inch.

Each touch elicited a moan, a groan, or soft words.

"Yes, Ker. Please. Oh, there."

"Bel..." He lingered at each hot spot -- above the right

nipple, the left hipbone, the inside of Bel's thighs.

Trust

"Love your touch, Ker. Like magic."
Kerry smiled, but he was too focused to answer. God,

Bellamy smelled like heaven -- rich and strong, male.
Sensual. The man made his mouth water. Bellamy lay
back for him, legs spreading a little as the man offered
him all that acreage to play with.

He spent time exploring Bel's cock, then focused on

the lovely, heavy ballsac. He inhaled deep, filling his
lungs with Bellamy's scent.

"So sweet, Ker." Bel's voice was rough, strained.
"Can I..." He licked experimentally behind Bel's

balls.

Bel jerked and spread wider, then he grabbed his

knees and pulled them back, letting Ker in.

"Oh..." He moaned and spread Bel, tongue licking

that tight, wrinkled little hole.

"Fuck." A full body shiver moved through Bel.
"Yes." He kept licking, his recovering cock rubbing

on the comforter. Bellamy tasted clean and right, and he
focused on earning more of those needy sounds. Each
one made him feel better and better.

Kerry lost himself in the rhythm, pushing into

Bellamy's body, giving his friend pleasure. Bel's fingers
slid over his head, stroking his scalp. The touch tugged
his hair, the braid pulling at the base of his skull, and the
sting felt so good.

Groaning, Bel pushed toward his mouth. His fingers

wrapped around Bellamy's cock, beginning to work it.

"Yes! Ker." The hand in his hair tightened.
He groaned, hand moving faster. Oh, God.
"Gonna make me shoot, Ker." That little hole

tightened around his tongue, the cock in his hand so
very hard.

He rolled his palm over the tip of Bellamy's cock as

he pushed his tongue in.

Trust

"Ker!" Bel shouted, heat pouring out of his cock.
Yes. Yes, just like that. Kerry moaned, moved up,

licking Bel clean. Bel hummed, the sound happy,
satisfied.

"You taste good." He rested his head on Bellamy's

stomach.

"You do, too, Ker." Bellamy worked his tie out of his

hair and finger-brushed his braid out.

The gentle touch made his eyes cross.
"That was wonderful, Ker. We should do it again

sometime. Soon."

"I agree. That was lovely." His fingers drew lazy

circles over Bellamy's belly.

"We're good together."
"Mmm." He couldn't stop smiling.
Bel patted his shoulder and went back to carding long

fingers through his hair. It was peaceful and quiet and
good, and the sun warmed him where it shone onto the
bed.

He let his eyes close. He thought he'd stay right there.

Trust

Chapter Seven

Bellamy woke, Kerry's head on his belly, soft breaths

tickling his skin. It felt good, right, to have Kerry here
with him as he woke. This was how it should be. He just
needed to convince Kerry of that. And he was beginning
to sound like a broken record. He chuckled to himself
and slid his hand over Kerry's hair, silk against his palm.

He'd never gotten to see it down before, and it was

lovely, thick and silken. He could imagine it wrapped
around his prick, Ker's sweet mouth at his tip. That
tongue had driven him crazy, Kerry's gentle adoration
addictive. Kerry would make a sweet, loving, and caring
sub; they would be amazing together.

His prick began to harden as he imagined it.
"Mmm." Kerry nuzzled his belly, humming.
The touch only served to make his prick harden

more.

What a pretty man, focused and eager. Bel could

cheerfully kill the fucker who had hurt Kerry. Of course,
if it hadn't happened, he wouldn't have been lucky
enough to meet Kerry.

He slid his hand around to Kerry's face, tracing the

lovely features, fingers lingering on the sweet lips.

Kerry smiled, kissed his fingers. "My Bel."
"That's right, my Ker."
Those warm eyes opened. "I was dreaming about

you."

He smiled, warmed all the way through at Kerry's

words. "Were you?"

"I was." Kerry kissed his stomach, his palm.
"It was a good dream, I hope."
"Yes." Kerry stretched, smiled. "Did we sleep long?"

Trust

"A few hours. It's time to feed you." He smiled.

"You'll have to come back again soon to help me in the
garden some more."

"I will. I promise."
"Good." He dragged Kerry up and kissed his boy, so

pleased they'd gotten at least this far, that he could press
their mouths together and taste the sweetness of this
man. The question would be how to seduce Kerry into
moving in with him and starting something very real
with him.

Their bodies pressed together, slid in a careful

rhythm. He licked his way into Kerry's mouth, sucked
on Kerry's tongue.

"You're addictive." Kerry whispered the words into

his lips. "And you taste so good."

"You taste good, too, and I think you are far more

addictive than anyone I've met."

"You're dangerous." Kerry stopped their words with

another slow kiss.

He let Kerry have it, opening to his lover. Kerry

heard every moan, paid attention to each and every
shiver, focused totally on him. It was intoxicating.

He tugged Kerry so the man was lying fully on him.

They found where they fit, legs and chins and cocks
comfortable. Kerry wasn't heavy at all. And Kerry was
warm, felt so good on him.

Kerry's lips brushed his jaw. He turned his face,

taking the kiss.

Then he slid their noses together. "I want you, Ker."
"Yeah? Good. You feel good to me."
"You feel fantastic to me. I want to make love to

you." He slid his hand down, wrapping it around one
sweet ass cheek.

Kerry searched his eyes. "I'm afraid if I do, I'll never

want to leave, Bel."

Trust

"I can't find a bad in that, love."
Kerry cupped his jaw. "No?"
"God, no. I want you, in my bed, in my life, you

know that, right?

"I know. I just... I can't be someone's partner. I'll be

your friend, but I have to be on my own."

"You don't trust me."
"I do!" Kerry frowned at him. "But... I know me. I

like being someone's. I get relaxed, boring."

Bellamy shook his head. "Ker, it isn't your fault that

your Master did what he did to you."

"It has to be, at least partially, doesn't it? Nothing is

just one person's fault."

"If someone decides they want a wife and child

instead of a male lover, that isn't the lover's fault."

From what Kerry had said, his former master had

thrown him away like so much garbage. You didn't do
that to the man you professed to love.

"I want to believe that, I do, but it would be stupid.

I've been stupid too much. That's why I'm in the position
I'm in."

"You don't think you're going too far in the other

direction now?"

"I don't know. I don't know, Bel." Kerry shrugged,

pulled into himself. "I... I should go home. Think. Let
you think."

"No, no. You should stay for supper and then for the

night. We can think tomorrow." Kerry had thought too
much already.

"Are you sure?" Those worried eyes searched his

face.

"No strings, Ker. I want to be with you. I want to

make love to you -- and I want you to enjoy it."

"I want you. You're my best friend, man."

Trust

He cupped Ker's head and brought their mouths

together. Kerry's kiss tasted like tears.

"I would have you only be happy, Ker. I swear it."
"Then let's just be happy, right now."
"That works for me." Time was on his side, right?
Kerry kissed him. "Okay, then."
He chuckled. "Okay." Then he ended the

conversation for good with another kiss, this one long,
lazy, slowly building heat.

Kerry pushed closer, loving on him, lapping at his

lips. Kerry had a way of making Bellamy feel like a
million bucks, and he hadn't felt that in a long time.
Maybe he hadn't had it ever, not like this. He wanted to
hold onto Kerry and never let the man go. Bellamy had
to wait for Kerry to come to the same conclusion on his
own, though.

Bellamy slid his fingers along Kerry's crack. The

sensual, hungry little body shifted for him, moved
toward his touch. He teased over Kerry's tiny hole,
fingers sliding past it again and again.

He realized that they'd never discussed sex, never

discussed what Kerry's kinks were, what his kinks were.
Making love didn't have to be complicated, though. It
was just bodies and what felt good, and they'd worry
about kinks another time. When Kerry was more
comfortable. When Kerry understood that the last thing
he wanted was to cause Kerry heartache.

He kissed Kerry's sweet mouth again, deepening the

kiss, making them both moan with it. Kerry began to
press back against his finger each time it brushed the
tiny hole.

"You want to feel my finger inside you, love?"
"Mmm. Please." Kerry nodded, cheek sliding against

his.

Trust

He got the lube and spread it over his fingers, then

slid one over Kerry's hole again. He slipped inside,
finger wriggling about. Kerry was tight, gripping around
him. That was going to be around his prick. That tight,
wonderful heat.

"Gonna love you so good."
Kerry moaned, hips rolling. "Been a while. Love that

feeling."

"You're going to be so tight around me."
"Mmm. Especially around you." Kerry's fingers

petted his cock. "You're thick, heavy."

"I'll fit." He wouldn't hurt Kerry. He was going to

take his time, make it magical for Kerry. Make Kerry
never want to be with anyone else.

"You'll feel amazing."
"I already do." He gave Ker a wink and slipped his

finger in deeper.

He loved how Ker arched underneath him, not hiding

a bit of need, of arousal. He fucked Ker with his finger,
watching Ker dance on it. The need was lovely, honest
and hungry.

He took Ker's mouth as he pushed a second finger

inside the tight body. Kerry moaned for him, tongue
lapping his lips, sweet body so hungry as it gripped his
fingers. He had to force himself to go slowly, to not just
plunge his prick into the inviting heat. He wanted this to
be the best time ever. To give Kerry more pleasure than
he could stand.

He slid his fingers in and out, finding Ker's gland

more often than not. Kerry whimpered, bucking under
him, riding his fingers. Those eyes were unfocused,
distant. He licked across Kerry's lips, tugged one of the
little barbells. He wanted to be sure Kerry knew it was
him.

Trust

"Oh..." Mmm. Someone liked that. A little pain to

add spice. Nice. He tugged again, a little harder, as he
pushed his fingers against Kerry's gland. "M...my Bel!"
Kerry's eyes were huge, rolling, lips parted.

He could watch that all day long. So he did it again.
"Oh..." Kerry moaned, whimpering softly. "Please.

Please, yes."

He kept doing it, switching between one nipple and

the other. Kerry's body shifted and slid under his, back
and forth. He pressed another finger into Kerry's body,
coming down the homestretch for preparation. Kerry
moaned, arched, toes curling.

"I want to be inside you now, Kerry. Now. "
"Please. Please, Bel. I want." Kerry turned, offered

him that long back, the tight little ass.

Groaning, he slid on the condom and then grabbed

hold of Kerry's ass and squeezed it. Then he spread it,
thumbs playing over the little hole. Look at that. Sweet
boy. Tight little hole. He spread Kerry's cheeks wider
and pressed his covered cock against it, pushed.

The tip of his prick spread that wrinkled muscles,

Kerry's body seeming to kiss him. Moaning, he forced
himself to go slowly. What he wanted was to bury
himself balls deep in that heat. He stroked Kerry's spine
and pushed in a little more, promising himself that he'd
get there.

"Oh..." A dull flush slowly climbed up Kerry's spine.
Bel froze. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Oh, God. Yes."
He chuckled, then groaned as that moved him inside

his lover's body.

"Mmm." Kerry rippled around him, body welcoming

him in.

His breath caught in his throat, and he pushed in a

little more, the tightness almost more than he could bear.

Trust

He could feel those muscles rippling, rocking around
him.

He kept inching in, pulling back a little, and pushing

in a little more. He couldn't concentrate on Ker's body
beneath him or he'd lose it altogether. Instead, he
thought about the garden and what should be planted
next. Kerry wasn't helping, though, meeting his thrusts,
rocking into him.

Groaning again, he let himself sink all the way into

Kerry's body. He cried out as his hips pressed into
Kerry's ass. So good. Too good.

"Yes. Yes, you're big. Good. Damn."
"Yes. Yes, give me a minute, love. God. You're so

tight, and I don't... I don't want to go off right away."
There was no way he was going to last as long as he
wanted to, but he could at least last long enough to make
Kerry feel good.

He leaned down, kissed Kerry's shoulder, licked the

salt off the man's skin. This time he moaned, and then he
started to move, not going slow at all; he was so lost in
Kerry's body. Perfect. Fucking perfect.

His hands wrapped around Kerry's hips, pulling the

lean body into each of his thrusts.

"Yes. Yes, right there." Kerry climbed up the

headboard, met his thrusts.

He wanted to put back his head and roar in triumph.

Instead, he slid one hand around and grabbed hold of
Kerry's prick, eager to take his Ker with him.

"Oh. Oh, Bel. Good."
"Yes. Fucking good." The best ever.
He timed his pulls on Kerry's cock with his thrusts

into that sweet, tight ass. Kerry offered him amazing,
soft, needy sounds, holding nothing back. He didn't
close his eyes -- he didn't want to miss that lovely back
rippling and those eager hips rolling, but he did shut

Trust

everything else out. It was just him and Ker and how
wonderful this felt.

They began to sweat, their bodies slipping together.

He panted, growled and moaned, the pleasure riding him
hard, up and down his spine. Kerry's ass gripped him,
squeezed his cock.

He squeezed Kerry's cock in his fist in return. "Soon,

boy."

"Oh..." Kerry jerked, body milking him as heat

poured over his fingers.

He cried out, the waves of tightness surrounding his

prick pulling his orgasm out of him. He filled the
condom, groaning with the rightness of it. Panting, he
leaned his head against the back of Kerry's neck. He
licked the salty sweat from Kerry's skin, moaning at the
flavor.

"So good." Kerry hummed.
"The best." He kissed all along Kerry's neck.
Kerry's stomach growled, deep enough that he felt it

around his cock.

He chuckled, his prick beginning to slide out.

Grabbing the base, he finished the job and got rid of the
condom. "Hungry, Ker?"

"Yes. Yes, I am." Kerry blushed for him. "Yesterday

was too busy to eat."

"Oh, that's not right. You should have said something

when you got here." He hauled himself out of bed and
looked for where he'd dumped his jeans.

"We were busy." Kerry chuckled, then started to

laugh. "Really busy."

He laughed, too, poking Kerry in the ribs. "That was

bad. Really bad."

"Yep." He loved the sound of their laughter filling the

air.

Trust

"Come on, love. Let's fill that grumbly tummy of

yours."

Trust

Chapter Eight

Kerry headed home, exhausted, worn to the bone.

Every time he slept, he dreamed about Bellamy, about
that 'boy' that had made him come. He'd not answered
two calls, then left Bellamy a message that he needed
some time, needed some distance before he made a
terrible mistake and just begged for Bel's cock again.

Bellamy had obviously heard him, because the man

hadn't called back for almost a week. It sucked. Kerry
missed Bel, so fucking bad.

He rounded the corner and there, on the stoop of the

crappy little apartment building his room was in, sat
Bellamy.

"My Bel..." Kerry couldn't stop his smile. "I was just

thinking about you."

"And I have done nothing but think of you for over a

week." Bel stood and opened his arms.

Kerry ran to Bellamy, wrapped his arms around his

best friend. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Me, too, love. There's a you-shaped hole in my life,

you know. And only you can fill it." Bellamy squeezed
him tight, lifting his feet off the ground for a couple of
moments.

"Do you want to come in?" He rested his head on

Bel's shoulder.

"I do." Bel turned them and let one arm drop, the

other wrapping around his waist.

He let them into the tiny, dingy apartment, with its air

mattress and suitcase. "I... You can sit on the air
mattress."

"Ker..." Bellamy looked around, a sad frown on his

face. "This can't make you happy."

"No, but it's what I can afford. Would you like a..."

What did he have? A Coke? No. "Coffee?"

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"No. I want you to come home with me, Kerry. I'll

make you pay rent and everything."

"But..." God, he wanted to. He wanted to go to that

sweet, happy house and warm kitchen.

"But what? You can't enjoy living here. I know you

like my place. I'll even give you half the garden to
sweeten the deal."

"Bellamy." He stood in front of his lover, his friend.

"Bellamy, I have to talk to you, seriously."

Bellamy frowned. "That doesn't sound like a yes, but

go ahead."

"I'm... I'm in trouble with you. I want. You made me

come when you called me boy. I think about it when I
jack off. I dream about you. I can't live with you and not
give myself to you." It was as honest as he knew how to
be. Bellamy was offering him everything his heart
wanted.

"It's what I want, Ker."
"I do, too, and I can't stop it."
Bellamy went to his knees. "Then come home with

me and be mine, Ker."

"I..." Tears filled his eyes. "I'm so scared, Bel."
"I will do everything in my power to never hurt you."
"Get up off the floor." He tugged Bel's hands.

"Please. Can we... I'll buy us pizza or something."

"How about I take you out to the diner on the

corner?"

He nodded. "We need to figure things out, and it's

stinky in here today."

Bel let him get away with that, and the man took his

hand, led him back out of his apartment. He never let go
of Bel's hand, though. They headed to the diner, the
lights through the windows like a beacon.

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They sat at a booth, Bel sitting next to him instead of

across from him. The man shrugged. "I like being close
to you."

"It's good. What have you done this week?"
"I did the copy for a book with pictures of sunsets,

and I worked on the garden. It wasn't the same without
you, though."

"No. I wanted to come and help, but I was scared."

He owed Bel his honesty.

"You don't need to be scared of me, Kerry. I don't

want to ever hurt you."

"I'm not scared of you. I'm scared of me. Of what I

want." He twined their fingers together. "I swore I'd
never give myself away."

"It makes you happy, though, doesn't it? I make you

happy."

"God, yes. I. When you said that, when you called me

boy, I..." He closed his eyes, shivered.

"And if you decide you can't risk it and cut yourself

off from me, you won't be happy anymore, you'll hurt,
right?"

"God, yes. Yes. I miss you."
"What can I get you two?" The waiter was a little guy

moonlighting from the Hammer. "Oh. Oh, Kerry. Oh,
God. Please don't tell Xavier. He hates when we work
too much."

"If you can give us another ten minutes, we won't

breathe a word of it," Bel told Daniel.

"It's a deal. I'll make a new pot of coffee." Daniel

skittered off, and Kerry sighed, shook his head. It was so
expensive to live here.

"Someone needs to open a boarding house for

Hammer boys." Bel gave him a wink and then grew
serious. "It seems to me that you're already in pretty

Trust

deep. I think it's only logical for you to move in with me
and be mine."

"We've never even talked about the lifestyle, about

what we need, but..." He took a deep breath. "I love you.
I do. Really. Does that make you a rebound guy? Does it
make me fickle?"

"It makes me the man you love and who loves you

back."

"Oh." He nodded, and he smiled. "That's good."

Right?

"That's wonderful. And everything else we'll figure

out, okay? If the love is there, we can make the rest
work."

"Everything else we'll figure out." He liked the sound

of those words, no matter what his worries were.

"That's right. So it's settled -- you'll move in with me.

You can have the guest room as your very own, though
I'm hoping you'll spend your nights with me."

"How much is the rent?"
"Two hundred dollars."
"A week?" He could swing that.
"Goodness, no, not for a single room. A month."
He blinked. A month? At that he could just work a

normal schedule at the Hammer, drop the gas station
job. "Is that fair?"

"I believe it is. We'll split the groceries, of course."
He nodded. "Sure. Of course." His hands were

shaking.

Bellamy took his hands and held onto them. "Ker?"
"Yes, love?"
"Are you okay?"
"A little stunned. That... that will make things so

much easier."

"I know I'll be much happier knowing you aren't

living in that tiny little... space."

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"I can give notice at my second job."
"You'll be able to catch up on your sleep." Bel looked

happy.

"I will." And they could spend time together.
Bel kept hold of his hand, and when Daniel came

back, he ordered for both of them. "Two steak and eggs,
please."

"Yes, sir. How would you like your eggs?"
"Over easy for me, over hard for Kerry, and one steak

medium, the other well-done." Bel already knew how he
took his eggs and steak.

"Yes, sir."
He watched Bellamy fix his coffee, just like he liked

it, and push it over. His cock jerked, and he told it to
stop. "Thank you."

The center of his mind whispered, "sir."
Bellamy's smile was warm, and he felt it all the way

to his toes. "You're welcome, love."

The coffee was warm, sweet, delicious, and he let

himself relax.

"So, we'll stop by your place after we eat and pick up

your stuff. I have to admit, I'm looking forward to
having you around more. You're my favorite part of any
day."

"Oh." He grinned, blushed. "Thank you for saying

that."

Bel nudged him. "It's the truth."
He had to kiss Bel's jaw. Had to. Bel beamed at him

and cupped his cheek.

Then Daniel came back with their food, and Bel

backed off some, thumb sliding over his lips before it let
go of his face.

The steaks were simple, the eggs perfectly done, and

Kerry ate happily. Bel seemed to be watching him more
than eating, but Bel looked so happy.

Trust

"I was hungry. Long day today."
"Hopefully they'll be shorter from now on, hmm?"
"Yes. Yes, that would be lovely."
"We can plan meals together and outings; we can

have talks and work in the garden."

"Yes. We can walk on the beach together."
"Oh, I like the sound of that. Do you like watching

the stars? I would like to do that with you, lie out and
gaze at the sky."

Kerry nodded, moaned softly.
"There are so many wonderful things for us to

discover about each other, to do together." Bel pulled
out a couple of bills from his wallet. "Are you done?"

"I am. Thank you for supper."
"You're welcome, and good. Because I want to get

you home and celebrate."

"That sounds perfect." He hoped he wasn't making a

mistake.

"It does." Bel leaned in and kissed him, right there in

the diner, in front of Daniel and everyone.

He gasped, the word 'master' swallowed before it

escaped. He was breathless when Bellamy's lips left his.

"Wow."
Bel smiled and rubbed their noses together. "Yes.

Wow."

"Uh-huh." He was just spinning.
Bellamy helped him up and put his hand in the crook

of the man's arm as they left the diner.

They headed back toward his apartment, walking in

before he even realized what they were doing. "Getting
my things?"

"Yes. You can call the landlord from my place and

tell him you're out of here."

"Okay. Okay, yes." He'd be sleeping on a mattress

tonight.

Trust

It didn't take them long at all to deflate the air

mattress and pack it along with the rest of his things. It
wasn't like he had a lot.

Bellamy hefted the air mattress and a bag, leaving

him his suitcase. "My car's out front."

"I... I fought hard for this place, you know?"
"You've fought hard for yourself."
"I have." And he was proud of himself. He was.
"You should be very proud of all you accomplished

since your master left you."

"I am. He... I don't know why he did that to me."
Bellamy shook his head. "I don't know either, love. It

says a lot more about him than it does about you. And
not good things, either."

"I hope so. I hope you don't look at me some day and

wonder why you're my friend."

"I can't imagine doing that to anyone, Ker, least of all

the man I love."

"I can't, either." Still, it was what it was.
"Come on. We close the door on him today, hmm?"
"Yes. He's got another life, and I do, too."
"A better life." Bellamy growled the words out.
Kerry reached for Bel, wanting to soothe. "A happier

life. A real life. My life."

"Our life." Bellamy kissed him then, the kiss long,

lingering and special.

"Yes, s... my Bel. Yes."
Bellamy smiled knowingly. "You can say it, boy."
"I..." His cheeks burned, his cock full and needing. "I

have to... consider things."

Bel chuckled softly. "You'll say it when you're ready.

I'm happy with that, and in the meantime, I need to get
you home. Need to." Bel seemed more confident as this
moment than he had been.

Trust

They locked up behind them and went to Bel's car,

his stuff getting tossed into the trunk before they
climbed in. The whole time he could feel Bel's eyes on
him; it was like that gaze was a physical touch.

"Did you know I thought you were a sub for the

longest time?" He offered Bel a smile. "I even tried to
set you up."

Bel chuckled. "Do I give off subby vibes?"
"Not now. No." Now Bel made his mouth a little dry.
"I was trying to be as non-threatening as possible

when we first met -- your eyes were so sad." Bel started
up the car and drove.

"You were good to me. My best friend." He let

himself reach over, touch Bel's thigh.

Bel reached for a moment to squeeze his fingers

before taking the wheel with both hands again. "I hope
that never changes, love."

"Yes. Exactly."
He nodded, let Bel take him home.

***

Bellamy put the air mattress back up in the attic

while Kerry put his things away in the guest room.
Bellamy really was hoping that Kerry would spend most
of his time with Bellamy in his bed and not on his own
at night, but Bellamy felt that it was important for Kerry
to have a space that was just his. It would have been
important for any partner, but especially Kerry, given
what had happened with his former master.

Bellamy put that asshole out of his mind. Today was

a day for celebration, for joy.

He took a pair of steaks out of the fridge and left

them on the counter to warm up; it didn't matter that
they'd just had steak and eggs at the diner, this was a day

Trust

for good food. He checked the vegetable drawer, pulling
out some potatoes and some green beans. Perfect. He
even had some lovely buns they could warm up.

Then he went back to Kerry's room -- not the guest

room any longer, and that made him feel good -- and
knocked on the door.

"Yes, Bel?" Kerry was sitting in the window, smiling.

"I was admiring the view of the city."

He went over to Kerry and slid his hands over the

slender shoulders. "It is lovely, isn't it?"

"It is." One arm wrapped around his waist.
He kissed the top of Kerry's head, his fingers moving

to card through the silky hair.

"Oh..." Kerry hummed, the sound so satisfied.
It felt so good, having Kerry here with him, knowing

this was where Kerry would be returning every day.

"I love how you smell. I love how this place smells

like you." Kerry's words warmed him right through.

"It'll soon smell like us." He loved everything about

this man; he couldn't believe they wouldn't be
compatible on a Dom/sub level as well. He'd seen how
Kerry wanted him to be the Dom, how Kerry responded.
"Come to bed, love. I want to welcome you home
properly."

"I would love that."
"So would I." He leaned down and picked Kerry right

up.

"Bel!" Kerry's legs wrapped around him.
"Yes, my little stud?"
"Your stud?"
"My stud. No one else's." He carried Kerry back to

his room.

"You're so strong." Kerry nuzzled his throat, long

hair coming out of its braid.

"For you." He squeezed Kerry's ass.

Trust

Kerry shivered, cock beginning to fill for him. He sat

on the bed, keeping Kerry in his arms. Kerry moaned,
tongue sliding on his lips. He opened up and pulled
Kerry's tongue into his mouth, sucking on it. Each little
sound made him groan, made him smile.

His fingers moved to pull up Kerry's t-shirt, stopping

to stroke Kerry's lovely abs before pushing the material
up and off. Those pretty nipples with their tiny barbells
made him hum. He pushed one back and forth, bending
to take the other into his mouth. He would put rings in,
give him something to tug and pull, something that was
theirs.

A nice fine chain would look lovely hanging between

them and would increase the ways they could play.
Groaning, he bit gently on Kerry's nipple. Kerry
hummed and arched, stretching against him.

"So sensitive." He loved that, loved being able to

play and get a reaction.

"They're better now. Healed. At first they made me

stupid."

"Stupid?"
"God, yes." Kerry pinked, grinned.
He chuckled. "Extremely sensitive?" He'd have liked

to have seen that.

Kerry nodded. "I was crazy until I learned to deal."
"I'd like to see you crazy." He tugged on one of the

barbells

"I." Kerry pinked, smiling at him. "Yeah?"
"Yes." He kissed Kerry again, his fingers lingering on

those sweet nipples. He hummed as Kerry's belly went
tight. "Want you to take me to the root and ride me,
boy."

Kerry's eyes went huge, searching him, lips parted.
"Will you ride me, boy?"

Trust

"Y...yes. Yes." His sweet boy's excitement was

palpable.

He began to undo his own shirt, eager to feel Kerry's

touch. Kerry began to help, fingers trembling, shaking
as they opened the buttons.

"We have all night, love."
"I know. I know. I just. You make me excited,

hmm?"

"Good, I like that I do."
"Good." Kerry leaned down, nuzzled his collarbone.
He hummed, pulling his shirt right off and slowly

lying back on the bed, bringing Kerry down with him.
Kerry nibbled and licked, worshipping his torso. He slid
his own hands over the warm back, tracing Kerry's
spine. His sweet boy arched, bucked under his touch.

He slid his fingers into the back of Kerry's jeans.

Kerry was unfastening his slacks, fishing out his cock.
He could grow addicted to that touch on his prick.

"Going to ride you." Kerry stroked him base to tip.
He groaned, hips pushing up automatically into

Kerry's hand. His boy's touch was wonderful.

"Oh..." Kerry moaned, leaned down and wrapped soft

lips around the tip of his prick.

"Kerry!" His eyes went wide, and he raised his head

to watch as his prick disappeared into Kerry's mouth.

Oh, fuck. Look at that. His toes curled, the suction

harsh and steady. He reached for Kerry, sliding his
hands through the long hair, his breath becoming pants.

He wanted Kerry's ass. He wanted to see Kerry ride.

He never wanted that sweet mouth to stop. His hands
opened and closed, one in Kerry's hair, the other in the
sheets, his desires in conflict. The man made him dizzy.

"Kerry. Oh, love. You're gonna make me come."
Those pretty eyes met his, tongue sliding over the tip

of his cock.

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"Oh! Imp!" He grinned down at Kerry, absolutely

delighted.

A playful laugh tickled the head of his prick.
"Kerry, oh. I do love you."
"Mmm. My Bel." God, the joy was overwhelming,

rich.

"My sweet boy." He slid his finger along Kerry's

lower lip. Kerry opened, his finger slipping in with his
cock. He moaned again. "Want you."

"Mmmhmm." Kerry moaned around his flesh.
"Want you to ride me, love. Please."
"Yes. Yes, Bel. Want it, so bad."
"Come on. There's condoms in the drawer. Lube,

too."

Kerry nodded and stretched, offering him the sight of

that long, fine body. Moaning, he slid his hands over
Kerry's body as it stretched along his as Kerry reached
for the lube and the condoms.

He was handed the lube, Kerry opening a condom

packet. He slicked up his fingers before pressing them
against Kerry's hot little hole.

"Mmm..." Kerry's fingers trembled, and his boy lost

the rubber.

He worked one finger inside that little hole, eager to

push Kerry farther.

"Sorry." Kerry groaned and pushed back.
"Sorry? Oh, the condom." He grinned. "There's more

than one, love."

"Uh-huh." Kerry moaned, riding his finger.
"Look at you. Just look." Kerry was beautiful,

entrancing. Arousing.

Kerry's eyes closed, hips rocking steadily, that hunger

offered to him. Moaning in appreciation, he pushed
another finger in alongside the first.

"Yes..." Kerry spread. Pretty size queen.

Trust

"Have you ever been fisted, love?" He could imagine

his whole hand going into Kerry's body.

"We tried once, but it didn't work. I safeworded."
"Can I ask why?" He kept sliding his finger gently in

and out, not letting go of the mood.

"Mmm." Kerry hummed, face relaxed, easy. "It went

so fast, it hurt, and there was a tearing feeling. He said I
didn't trust enough."

Bellamy forced himself not to growl; there was no

place for anger here. "There should be no tearing. And
safewording is never the wrong thing to do."

Kerry shrugged. "I was frightened."
"Then it was right to stop. If I ever scare you, you

must tell me."

"I will." Kerry cupped his jaw. "You won't frighten

me. You... you make me feel like I could do anything."

"That's because you can." He turned his head and

kissed Kerry's palm as he slipped a second finger inside
the beautifully tight body.

"Oh, love." Kerry smiled, found the line of condoms

again.

He took his time prepping Kerry, making it so good

that his lover would want to try fisting with him,
because suddenly, he very much wanted it.

Kerry managed to get the condom open, again, but

those fingers were clumsy, Kerry focused on him. He
slid a third finger into Kerry, his other hand wrapping
around Kerry's.

"Sorry. Not normally clumsy."
"It's a compliment."
Kerry blushed, beamed.
"Take your time, love. We have all evening."
"Mmmhmm." The rubber was slowly drawn down,

covering his aching cock.

Trust

Moaning, he concentrated on working a third finger

into Kerry's body.

"Yes..." Kerry arched, fingers gripping his cock.
He pushed his fingers deep, moaning at the pure

pleasure in the sight of Kerry crying out and arching
even harder as he hit the little gland. He wasn't going to
be able to wait much longer to have his cock buried
inside this perfect, tight heat. Then he was going to start
planning a fisting scene, something slow and intense and
good.

"You ready to ride, Ker?"
Kerry blinked at him, then nodded, face lax with

pleasure. He let his fingers slide away and shifted,
moving to lean against the headboard -- he wanted to be
close for kisses. His covered prick stood at full attention,
eager.

"Need you." Kerry was panting, sweating as the man

climbed into his lap.

He wrapped his hands around Kerry's waist, helping

him get in place. "Right here for you."

Kerry nodded, grabbed his cock, and rubbed the tip

over that slick hole. Moaning, he tugged on Kerry's hips,
encouraging him down. Kerry's body spread, that heat
taking him in.

"Oh, damn. Kerry." He groaned, losing his breath.
"Yes..." Kerry's head fell back.
He took one breath, and then another, Kerry's body so

tight around him. So good. Kerry took him in and in and
in, throat working. He slipped one hand from Kerry's hip
to wrap around that sweet prick.

"Fuck..." The little obscenity was whispered.

Honestly, it was sexy as hell.

He began to slowly jack the sweet cock. He felt every

shudder around his prick. Moans poured from him, his
balls aching.

Trust

"So good." Ker began to move, that sweet hole

gripping his cock.

"Yes. Fuck! Yes." He bucked slightly, pushing deep

into Kerry again.

"Home. Oh, fuck. You feel like coming home."
He smiled, feeling it all the way to his toes.

"Welcome home, boy."

Kerry cried out, ass fluttering around his cock at that

endearment.

"Oh fuck." Bellamy helped Kerry rise and pulled him

down, cock going deep again.

"Yes!" Kerry nodded, cried out. "Please, again."
He did it again, and again, finding a rhythm for them.

That sweet ass took him to the base, over and over,
Kerry loving every second. He kept stroking Kerry's
prick, the tip leaking and easing the glide of his hand.
The sweet cock jerked in his touch as Kerry's hips
rocked back and forth.

"Good, so good." He moaned the words, his hands

tightening, the one around Kerry's cock sweeping up and
down, the one at his lover's hip just holding on now.

"Yes!" Kerry bounced on his prick, joy obvious on

the man's face. "Soon!"

He nodded, feeling his own orgasm building in his

balls. "Do it. Come for me, boy."

"Oh, God..." Heat sprayed over his belly, Kerry

sobbing out his name.

He held off his own orgasm long enough to watch

Kerry go through his, the beloved face beautiful in
pleasure. Look at his lover. "Beautiful boy. Stunning."

Kerry hummed happily, offered him those soft lips.

Groaning, he took a kiss, his own hips still moving as he
thrust a few more times, bringing himself off with the
taste of Kerry in his mouth. He let his fingers drag

Trust

through Kerry's hair, tugging just a little bit. He loved
how the pulls made Kerry whimper, shake.

His orgasm was sweet, intense. Kerry held him,

wrapped around him, hummed softly. He wrapped his
arms around his boy and petted the slender back gently.
He was utterly, hopelessly, wonderfully in love.

Kerry's lips brushed his throat. "Home."
"You are, boy." He squeezed Kerry tight.
Right where his Kerry belonged.

Trust

Chapter Nine

Kerry woke up with a jerk, eyes wide. Oh, God. Oh,

God, did he need to go into the gas station? What time
was it?

A big hand patted his belly. "Shh. Shh."
"I... Bel? Did I miss work?"
"You resigned, remember?"
"I. Right." He went limp. God. Right. Yay.
Bel chuckled, hands moving on him. "It's a relief,

hmm?"

"Uh-huh." He blinked, then grinned.
Bel smiled at him, fingers tickling at his ribs.
"Bel!" He started laughing, grabbing Bel's fingers as

he wiggled.

Bel laughed back, tried to keep tickling.
"Tickles!" Kerry started laughing harder, his entire

body shaking.

Bel brought their lips together, breathing in his

laughter.

"Mmm." He wrapped his arms around Bellamy, so

fucking happy.

"So what, my dear Ker, do you want to do with your

unexpectedly free morning?"

"I want to make love, take a long shower, and make

breakfast together."

"Oh, I can get behind this plan of yours."
He had to smile. "I hoped so."
Bel chuckled, looking as happy as he felt, and moved

in to take a kiss.

God, he was so happy that Bel had come for him. So

happy. "Thank you."

"You're welcome?"
He nodded. "You came for me. Thank you."
"Of course I did. I love you, Ker."

Trust

"I love you." He rubbed their noses together, a little

giddy with it.

Bel beamed at him and then licked his lips, turning it

into a kiss. A low moan came from Bel's throat, deep
and needy. What a way to wake up.

Bel's tongue delved into his mouth, hot and wet and

so good. It made for a lovely kiss, long and lazy,
Bellamy keeping him close. One hand slid along his
side, waking up his skin. He snuggled in, humming,
trying to encourage another of those touches.

"Sexy minx." Bel's fingers slid to his belly and

moved over his abdomen.

That made him chuckle. "Minx? I like that."
"It suits you. Small, but sexy and slinky." Bel rubbed

his nose. "Perfect."

"Flatterer." Bel made him silly.
"You deserve a little flattery in your life, Ker.

Besides, it's the truth."

"Thank you."
"You're very welcome." Bel's hand pushed beneath

him, cupping his ass.

"Mmm." He pushed back, rocking gently, letting the

friction heat him.

Bel's lips moved over his face. He chased the kisses,

moaning softly. A quick bite stung his earlobe, then
Bel's mouth wrapped around it, sucking gently.

"Bel." His heart was slamming in his chest, that tiny

touch incredibly arousing.

Bel hummed, the vibrations strong on his ear and

moving out along his skin in softening waves. Time
slowed, his body throbbing, aching.

Bel's fingers carded through the hair around his cock.

"Have you ever been shaved, Ker?"

Trust

"I have." He found it exciting, intimate. It was a

lovely punishment. Not that he and Bel had that
relationship.

"I'd love to see you bare. I'd love to be the one to

shave you." Bel met his eyes, heat in them.

"Yes, s..." He shivered, moaned. "This is a slippery

slope I'm on."

Bel kept petting his cock, his pubes. "Can we go

shave you now, or do you want to talk first?"

"Let's go shave." They could talk anytime.
Bel beamed at him and climbed out of bed, holding a

hand out for him. He took that warm hand, happy and
eager, craving Bel's attention.

Bel wrapped an arm around him, keeping him warm

as they moved to the ensuite. There was a huge tub, and
that's where Bel led him. "You good with fairly hot
water, Ker?"

"I am. Would you like me on the edge?"
"To start with, yes. Then we can share the tub

together."

"I'd love that." He sat, propped one foot up on the

edge, spreading himself. "Do you want to do just the
pubes or the balls and hole, too?"

Bel's fingers cupped his balls and stroked his hole.

"What do you want, boy?"

He moaned, bent leg stretching wider. "Everything. I

want everything."

"Good. So do I."
Kerry refused to think anymore. This was about now.

Right now.

Bel continued to play with Kerry's balls as he rose up

to kiss Kerry. Kerry leaned down into the kiss, tongue
sliding against Bel's lips.

"You're going to look even more stunning than you

already do, shaved bare for me."

Trust

"It's going to feel amazing. Nothing in the way of

your touch."

"Mmm..." A shiver went through Bel, and then he

moved back, putting the stopper in the tub and
beginning to fill it.

Kerry watched as the large, firm body moved, Bel

collecting shaving cream, scissors, and a razor, along
with a package of blades. The steam began to rise up,
the warmth helping him spread. Bel cupped water in his
hand and poured it over Kerry's pubes, wetting the little
hairs and the skin beneath. The red curls went a dark
rust, the skin underneath milky.

Bel moaned. "Oh, Ker. So beautiful."
His belly rippled, tightened. God, he was glad Bel

thought so. "Thank you."

Smiling, Bel grabbed the scissors and began to

carefully cut down his curls. The sound was amazingly
hot, so visceral, that it made his balls draw up tight. Bel
moaned for him, the sound making him feel desirable.

"So erotic." To be bared, to be touched.
"Such a sexy thing to share with a lover, hmm?"
"Yes. It's good to be exposed."
"Your skin is like living marble."
"Oh...thank you."
Bel bent and kissed his navel before trading the

scissors for the razor. He stroked Bellamy's hair, eyes
going heavy-lidded as Bel reached for him. Bel nuzzled
into his hand for a moment, and then the first scrape of
the razor slid across his skin. The tug and tiny burn was
delicious, and Kerry melted, humming under his breath.

"Just stunning," murmured Bel. "You are lovely."
"I'm happy." That was enough.
"Good. I want you to be happy, always."
That wasn't possible, but the thought was worth it.

Trust

Each stroke of the razor over his skin made his cock

fill a little more. Bel hummed as he worked, and soon
the skin around Kerry's cock was bare and smooth. His
skin tingled, his cock arching hard and proud.

"Mmm." Bel rinsed his skin off and then rubbed a

cheek against his newly bared flesh.

"Oh!" He arched, thighs tightening. His balls drew

up, ached.

"Sensitive. I like that." Bel licked his skin next.
"Yes. Yes. So good."
"Let's get your balls and hole done. And then we can

play."

The little word 'play' made him moan, and his toes

curled. Smiling, Bel fondled his balls.

"Oh..." His head rolled on his shoulders.
"Sweet." Bel leaned in to kiss his bared skin again,

and then his cock.

Then the shaving began again, Bel being so careful

with his balls and the tender skin around them. When
Bel stretched his balls to get the tiny hairs, it ached so
perfectly. When he was done, Bel again rubbed, cheeks
rough on Kerry's balls.

"Uhn." That gave him goosebumps all over.
Then Bel licked, tongue sliding on his sac.
"Bel! Sir!" Oh, so hot.
"Mmm." Bel beamed at him.
He groaned, licking his lips, his toes curling.
"Just your hole left. I wanted to save it for last."
His entire body tightened, his heart beginning to race.
"Put your legs over my shoulders." Bel helped him do

it, the position, tilting his ass and opening him a little
wider.

He braced himself on his hands as he moaned.
"So sexy," murmured Bel. "I want you so badly."

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"Yes. You make me ache." Bellamy made Kerry

want to spread and beg for it. Beg for cuffs, for a plug,
for a slow, hot spanking.

Groaning, Bel very carefully pulled the razor over his

most sensitive skin. He bit his bottom lip, body
tightening. Bel's finger followed the razor, rubbing over
his hole. Oh, fuck. Fuck. That was so fucking hot. Then
Bel leaned in and licked his hole.

"Sir!" Oh, fuck! Yes!
Bel made a satisfied noise and then licked him again.

His body went tight, aching. He wanted...

Bel pointed his tongue and pushed it right in. His ass

slid, his fingers dragging on the tub. Bel hummed and it
vibrated all through him. His arms shook; he wasn't
going to be able to hold himself up for long. Bel's hands
moved to cup his cheeks, spreading them as Bel fucked
him with that hot tongue.

"Oh, god. God, please." He cried out, over and over,

his world shrinking to his hole, his aching balls.

Bel kept it up, tongue-fucking him like there wasn't

anything else the man would rather do. He needed to
touch his cock, but he couldn't. He couldn't move his
hands or he'd fall. Damn it. Bel wasn't helping. The man
was squeezing and spreading his ass, teasing his crack,
and that tongue was making him crazy as Bel fucked his
hole with it over and over and over.

"Please..." He didn't even know what he was begging

for.

"You're allowed to come, boy."
Boy. God, he loved that. Loved it. "Trying." God, he

was trying.

"Don't try. Do."
He chuckled, grinned. "Uh-huh."
Bel's tongue pushed back into his body.

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"Sir." He whispered the word and shot, spunk

spraying over his belly.

The next thing he knew, Bel was licking at the come

off his belly and humming. He was dizzy, panting, so
fucking excited it hurt. Bel cleaned him up and then
licked all the way to his mouth, lips stealing his breath
in a long kiss. He couldn't stop moaning, holding on
tight to the edge of the tub.

Bel stretched out, just barely reaching the counter and

grabbing something from it. It turned out to be a
condom, and Bel's hands shook as he put it on. "Want
you, Ker. So badly."

"Please. Please, Bel." He put his feet down, moved to

stand, bend over.

"No, stay there." Bel gave him a wicked grin and rose

up, prick sliding along his thigh. "I want to see your
face."

"Mmm." He nodded, praying his shaking muscles

would hold him.

Bel's arms went around his back, supporting him as

the thick prick nudged at his hole, pressing in. So good -
- thick and hard and hot and needy. Perfect. Once Bel
was fully seated, he gathered Ker close and sat back,
putting Ker in his lap.

"Oh, thank you." He could lean back now, ride that

fine, fat cock.

Bel moaned in reply, hips punching up, sending his

cock deep.

"Yes!" Oh, fuck. Harder. Harder, please. He wanted

to beg for it.

Bel snapped up again, going even deeper this time.

He cried out, fingers digging into Bellamy's shoulders.
So fucking good. Bel's lips found his, tongue slipping in
as the hard thrusts continued. He sucked Bel's tongue,
wanting to make his lover crazed, wild. Needy.

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Moans filled his mouth, Bel's movements becoming

more erratic. Yes. Yes, Bel. His Bel. He squeezed,
loving how that prick filled him up.

"Touch yourself." Bel growled the words out.
He nodded, hand wrapped around his own cock,

pulling hard. Another growl met his movements, this
one wordless, and Bel's mouth covered his. Bel took his
mouth like the man was storming a beach, fucking his
lips wildly. That fat cock pushed into his ass the same
way, Bel wild and needy, pushing him closer and closer
to his orgasm.

Kerry whined, his body going tight, balls drawing up.
"Wait, baby. Wait for me." Bel's low growls went

right through him, making him shudder.

"Yes. Yes, for you." Wait for him. Yes.
Bel thrust hard a half dozen more times and then

nodded, growled. "Now, boy. Come now."

He met Bel's eyes and shot, his entire body buzzing

with pure joy. It was echoed in Bel's eyes, and then they
closed, a low, beautiful moan surrounding him as Bel
came, too.

Yes.
He moaned, shivering, holding on. Bel's arms stayed

wrapped around him, lips rubbing against his. They'd
have to shower, dry off, things. But now.

Now this was theirs.

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Chapter Ten

Bel made his way into the Hammer, glancing at his

watch. Kerry still had ten minutes or so on his shift. Bel
had come to meet his lover and he was going to surprise
Kerry with dinner. Veal Marsala was the special tonight,
and that was Bel's favorite. He wanted to share that with
his lover. And he thought maybe the club was a good
place to start talking about things.

The place wasn't very busy yet -- the dinner rush

would come in a couple of hours -- and Happy smiled at
him and told him to sit wherever he'd like.

"When you have a moment, can you let Kerry know

I'm here, please?"

"Yes, Master Bellamy. He's been singing all day. I've

never seen him so happy."

He beamed at Happy. "Excellent!" Still smiling, he

made his way to a table set for two.

Xavier waved at him, nodded and smiled as he

settled.

He grinned back at Xavier and smiled at Marcus and

Jim, who were several tables over, sitting closely
together.

Marcus waved at him, and then Happy brought him

water. "Kerry says he'll be out as soon as he cleans up,
Master. What would you like to drink?"

"Thank you, Happy. Bring two beers, please. And

we'll both have the Veal Marsala." He wanted Kerry to
try his favorite.

"Yes, sir!" Happy leaned closer. "Master, I know a

secret. Did you know Kerry's birthday is tomorrow?"

"No, Happy, I did not. Thank you so much for telling

me!" His little minx, not letting him know.

"Don't tell on me, hmm? Master Xavier says he can

have the day off with pay."

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"Tell Xavier thank you very much."
"Yes, sir." Happy nodded and returned in short order

with two mugs of beer. It wasn't long at all before his
lover was there, sliding into the booth.

Bellamy put his arm around Ker's shoulders and

tugged his boy close, taking a kiss as his hello.

Only two weeks into their living arrangements and

Kerry was blossoming. Sleeping well, laughing more. It
was exciting, exhilarating. He still couldn't believe it
was Kerry's birthday tomorrow. More than that, he
couldn't believe his boy hadn't told him. He was going to
have to growl. Ker would like that.

They really were going to have to discuss the

elephant in their relationship, the fact that Kerry was a
sub, he was a Dom, and they couldn't ignore that.

"Are you hungry, love?"
"I am. Did you order?" Kerry scooted closer, hand on

his thigh.

"I did. It's my favorite, and I wanted you to have a

taste."

"Oh, yeah?" Kerry looked so pleased.
"Yes. Veal Marsala and it's particularly good here."

He slid his hand around to pinch Ker's ass.

Kerry squeaked, jumped. "Sounds good."
He chuckled. "It will be." He smiled and patted

where he'd pinched. "I thought this would be a good
place to talk, too, hmm?"

"Talk? Are you okay?"
He hated that worry was Kerry's first response. He

took Kerry's hand. "I'm just fine, boy. And so are we."

"B..." Kerry's fingers wrapped around his, held on.
"Shh. I love you. We're good." He brought Kerry's

hand to his mouth and kissed his boy's knuckles. "We
could be even better, though."

"Mmm. Your lips are so soft."

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"You're trying to distract me."
"No. No, just enjoying the touch."
"Oh, my lovely boy." He kissed Kerry's knuckles

again. "Because you are, you know. My boy."

Kerry looked at him, eyes huge, warm, serious.
"I need your safeword, and we need to talk about

what we like, what our boundaries are, but Kerry. No
matter what, you're my boy." There was nothing truer
than that, no matter how much Kerry said he would
never belong to anyone again.

"I don't know. I swore to myself not to do this again."

The words were a denial, but those hands held on.

"I'm not going to hurt you, though, and I want to set

things up so that you're comfortable." He kept holding
onto Kerry's hands as well, looking into his beautiful
boy's eyes. "You'll always have your own bank account,
save your money in it. So no matter what happens, you
aren't left destitute."

He would never do to Kerry what the boy's former

master had done; he'd never do that to anyone, let alone
someone he loved like he loved his boy. Bellamy
wanted Kerry to know he was safe, though, to have a fall
back so that he would never, ever be in that position
again.

"I..."
Bellamy could read the desire on his boy's face.
"I know it isn't easy, Ker. I know it's the hardest thing

you've done in a long time, but you trusted me enough to
give me your heart and to move in with me. Trust me
enough to give us both what we want."

"You don't think you're going to decide you want

babies, right?"

He gave Kerry a rather horrified look. "I am far too

old to want babies. Or to suddenly switch from liking
balls to liking boobs."

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"I had to ask."
Yes. Yes, he supposed Kerry did. "You did. I promise

you my love and my devotion, Kerry. For the rest of my
life." He smiled, squeezed Kerry's hand. "And that holds
true whether or not we delve into the lifestyle, though
seriously, I think that's something we both want."

"We haven't even discussed it, Bel. What we like."

Kerry moved closer.

"Then we should." He put his arm around Kerry and

pulled his boy even closer. "Besides, I can see, I know
some things that you like already."

"Do you?" Kerry scooted in, pierced nipples hard.

"It's caterpillar."

Bellamy knew Kerry meant that was his safeword.

"Excellent. And I do. I know how sensitive your nipples
are, and how much you like them played with." Bel
reached out and touched one of the barbells on Kerry's
nipples. "I want to switch these out for rings and link
them with a chain." Smiling, he added, "boy." He knew
how much Kerry got off on belonging to someone, on
belonging to him.

Kerry's lips parted, that tiny nipple peaking under his

touch.

He leaned in and whispered against Kerry's lips.

"You want me to do all kinds of things to you."

"Oh, God." Kerry moaned, tongue flicking out to

tease him. "Please."

"Where should I start, boy?" He didn't wait for an

answer, his fingers finding those sweet little nipples,
with their barbells, beneath Kerry's shirt.

"Bel..." He jonesed on the soft gasp, the little

whimper. All he needed was the 'sir'. He twisted the
barbells again, searching for more of those lovely
sounds. "I. Oh, please. Need."

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His mouth closed over Kerry's, his tongue plunging

in and tasting deeply of his lover. He held nothing back,
feeding Kerry all his need, his passion. Bellamy tugged
Kerry's shirt out of his slacks, fingers moving up along
skin to find those lovely little nipples. Kerry stilled,
breath stopped as he waited.

He watched Kerry's eyes as his fingers finally

reached their destination, tugging again on the little bits
of metal in Kerry's skin. A soft little moan filled the air.
He twisted the right barbell, pulling at Kerry's flesh.

"Master!" The cry pushed into his lips, sharp. Needy.
He twisted harder, tongue pushing deeper into

Kerry's mouth at the word. His. Fuck, he needed. Now.
Right now. He needed to be buried in his boy, knowing
that Kerry was with him.

"How are you about public displays?" He all but

growled the words out. They could get a room in the
back from Xavier in about two minutes if Kerry balked
at doing it here. He didn't indulge in public himself, but
this was the Hammer, and Kerry, well, Kerry made him
need so much.

"Fine. Fine. Please." He'd never seen Kerry wild.
"Then here, now." He opened his pants, his prick

hard, aching and needing as he tugged at Kerry's slacks.

"Yes." Kerry's fingers wrapped around his cock,

those pretty lips parted.

He heard something rip, but he finally got Kerry's

pants open, down. "Straddle me, boy."

Kerry nodded. "Yes. Yes, Sir. Need you." His boy

was trembling, shaking with need, cock like a brand.

He grabbed the tiny tube of lube out of the condiment

tray -- he did love this club -- and a condom. Slicking
his fingers up quickly, he pushed one and then a second
into Kerry's hot little hole. Kerry moaned into his
mouth, riding him, moving faster, taking him deep. He

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tried to get the condom open one-handed, growling
when it stymied him.

"Master. Master, please..." Kerry lips were at his ear,

tongue tracing the edge.

"Just gotta get the glove on, boy." He was nearly as

desperate as his sweet boy.

Kerry helped him, fingers smoothing the condom

down, covering him. He moaned at the touch and then
grabbed Kerry's ass in both hands, shifting his lover over
his prick. He grunted, teeth bared as he jabbed up, taking
that sweet hole.

"Fuck. Ker. Boy." Ker was so tight and hot around

his cock.

"Yes. Yes. Feel you." Kerry bounced on his prick.
The club disappeared as he pushed up into his boy;

nothing else existed but the two of them. He watched his
lover move, watched the pure hunger in his boy's eyes.
Making love before had been awesome, but he could see
the extra spark bringing the lifestyle into it brought to
Kerry's need.

He pinched one nipple, tugged it hard. loving how he

could feel the sensations around his cock. His boy was
so sexy, so needy, and it increased his own need.

"Harder." Kerry braced himself on the table, leaned

back into his arms.

He pushed his feet against the floor and humped up

hard.

"Yes..." Kerry grimaced, body shaking hard.
"You ready, boy?" He got a hand around Kerry's

prick.

"Yes. Yes, sir. Please."
"Then come for me, boy." He squeezed Kerry's prick

hard.

Spunk sprayed over his fingers, Kerry's eyes rolling.

He moaned loudly as Kerry's ass squeezed down hard

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around him. Bellamy let himself go, let himself fuck that
tight little hole, his lover's face the only thing he could
see. When Kerry's eyes focussed again, looking right at
him, he came, filling the condom.

Kerry leaned in, offered him a soft kiss, humming

against his lips. He wrapped his arms around his boy,
holding on as the kiss continued. He loved this man,
loved him. Kerry chuckled softly, the sound pushed into
his lips.

He hummed and pulled back just a touch, smiling

into his boy's eyes. "Look at you."

"What?" Kerry pinked. "We should clean up. Our

food is coming."

"You're stunning, that's what. And we should." He

took a moment, though, before he pulled out of Kerry, to
kiss his boy one more time.

Kerry hummed, kissed him back. When their lips

parted, he carefully lifted Kerry from his lap, moaning at
the loss of that tight sheath around his prick. Kerry
cleaned him up with tissues, cleaned them both up and
disappeared to the toilet to dispose of the condom.
Bellamy watched him go; that was his whole world
there.

Their food came, was eased onto the table.
"Thank you, Happy."
"You're welcome, Master Bellamy." Happy beamed

at him. "Congratulations."

He raised an eyebrow and worked very hard not to

blush. Happy bounced away, seemingly unembarrassed,
unashamed, singing. He chuckled. His Hammer family
was happy for him and Kerry. It felt good.

His boy came out of the bathroom, smiling, cheeks

pink. He beamed at Kerry, held out his hand to his boy.
Kerry came to him, slid in next to him.

"It smells good."

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"Mmm. So do you. Smell like mine." His cock

jumped a little, even as satisfied as he was, at the
pleased shock in Kerry's eyes.

He stroked his hand through Kerry's hair. "Let me

feed you, boy."

Kerry arched, bowing under the touch. He moaned,

low in his throat. They should have done this at home.
He tugged Kerry close, burying his nose in his boy's
throat.

"Mmm. Love." Kerry's hand stroked his hair.
"I think we should go home."
"But your favorite..."
"Is in my arms, and we need our privacy."
Kerry's eyes filled with tears. "Master."
"What's the matter boy?" He brushed the tears from

Kerry's cheeks.

"Nothing." Kerry's smile was radiant. "I'm ready."
Bellamy beamed again, cupping Kerry's cheeks and

bringing him in for another kiss, this one soft, intense.
"I'm so glad, Kerry."

"Oh, I am, too. My Bel."
"Come on." He waved at Happy as the boy went by

with a tray of drinks. "I'm afraid we can't stay. Could
you make sure someone in the back enjoys our food,
please? We haven't touched it."

"Do you want to go boxes?"
"No, that's okay, Happy. Let someone have it fresh."

He stood, putting Kerry on his feet. "We need to go
home."

"Yes, Master." The words were soft, but he heard

them.

He took Kerry's hand and headed out, headed home.

Kerry's hand was damp, warm in his.

Just right.

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***

The drive to the house was quiet, the air humming

between them. Kerry was stunned. Simply stunned.

His Master. Bellamy was his Master.
Bellamy reached for him and squeezed his thigh.

"Penny for them."

"I just... That was an unexpected end of the work

day." Good, but unexpected.

Bel nodded. "We needed to talk about the elephant in

the relationship, though. And I thought you might be
more comfortable doing it at the club instead of in your
home."

"We did. I... I almost want to apologize, for not being

strong enough."

"No apologies are necessary, love. You were

protecting yourself."

"I just... I love you." More than that, Bellamy was his

best friend.

He got that warm smile he loved so much and that

he'd never seen Bellamy give to anyone else. "And I
love you, Kerry. You make my life whole."

That made it the easiest thing to squeeze Bel's hand.
Bel parked in front of the house, and they got out,

went up hand in hand. He closed the door behind them,
locked it.

"Mmm. There we are. This is what we needed."
"Home. Yes." He nodded and stepped closer. "My

Bel."

"My Kerry. My boy." Bel's voice had a little growl

that settled in his balls. One big hand wrapped around
his ass and pulled him up against the solid body.

"Yours." His body shook, he wanted so much.
Bel lifted him off his feet and pressed him up against

the door, mouth descending on his. Oh, God. God. So

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strong. His Bel was so strong. The kiss deepened, and
Bel pressed against him, prick hot against his belly.
Kerry moaned, caught in this unexpected passion, this
heat.

"My little stud. I want you. I want to do wicked

things to you."

"Bel..." He'd thought this man was a sub?
"I do. I want to torture these pretty little nipples of

yours. I want to turn your sweet ass a lovely red."

His lips were open; his nipples were aching and hard.
"Look at you. All mine. Fuck, Ker. Just the thought

makes me hard."

"Please." He spread, moaned deep in his chest.
Bel ripped at his clothes, tearing them off his body,

fingers dragging hard over his skin. He stretched,
begging for the touches. Bel bent and wrapped hot lips
around Kerry's collarbone, teeth scraping over his skin.
He arched, his entire body bowing over Bel's arms. He
didn't worry for a moment that Bel would let him fall;
his lover was strong, solid, right there for him.

Bel's mouth found his nipple, teeth grabbing the

barbell and tugging. Between the heat and the pull, he
was in heaven, the sensations going right to his balls.
Bel's low growl around his skin only made everything
that much better. He floated, deep moans bubbling in his
chest. Bel proceeded to bite his way down, finally
letting him back on his feet as Bel's teeth bit at the top of
his hip.

"I..." He spread, pushing up on his toes.
Bel swiped his tongue across the tip of Kerry's cock.

The quick, sharp burn made him buck, made his hips
jerk.

"So sexy. All mine."
"Uh-huh." Really?
Bellamy's mouth suddenly swallowed his cock down.

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"Bel!" Oh. Oh, fuck. Fuck!
The pull was strong, insistent, Bel's head moving up

and down on him. His world spun, and he didn't know
what to do, how to breathe. Bel hummed around him,
the sound insistent somehow. He sobbed softly, need
like electricity.

Bel's hand wrapped around his ass, sliding on his

crack and teasing his hole.

"Oh. Oh, please. Please, yes."
That finger wriggled and pushed, breaching his hole

as Bel swallowed around the head of his prick. He shot
hard, bones rattling and his teeth clenching with the
pressure of it. Bel's finger pushed in deeper as he came,
hitting his gland. His head slammed back against the
wall.

Bel pulled slowly off, his finger sliding away, and

those blue eyes smiled up at him. Kerry's lips opened
and closed a few times. He was stunned. Then Bel stood
and picked him up, carrying him easily toward the
bedroom. All Kerry could do was hold on. Bellamy had
blown him -- body and mind.

"Ker?" Bel asked, as he was gently lowered to the

bed.

"Yes, love?" He stretched, moaned softly.
"Are you okay?" Bel looked down at him, into his

eyes.

"I'm... dizzy." He smiled. "So happy I'm a little high."
"I like the sound of that." Bel's mouth covered his,

their lips sliding together. "I'm so glad you took a
chance to trust me."

"I had to. You're my best friend."
"And you mine, my love. My Kerry." Bel's voice

deepened. "My boy."

His cheeks burned. "Yes."

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"We didn't discuss spanking, paddling, flogging,

whipping, caning at all."

"We didn't." He wanted to, though.
"Then we should. Tell me your thoughts, boy."
"I don't know what to say. I've never been caned,

except as a punishment."

"What about the others?"
Bel stared down into his eyes, hands cupping his

cheeks. It was like he was surrounded by and full of his
master.

He moaned softly. "I love the burn, the attention, the

ache."

"And the cane? If it hadn't been a punishment?"
"I don't know. I was scared, ashamed."
He'd been so lost, so worried about moving to Florida

that he'd finally lost his temper, screamed at Rob.

"Then it's something we can try together, hmm?"

Bellamy nuzzled him. "I want to try everything with
you, find the places we fit best, the things that bring the
greatest merging, the best pleasure. I want to touch you
to your very soul."

He took Bellamy's hand, kissed the fingers. "What do

you like?"

"I like using my hand the best, because nothing beats

skin on skin, but I like pushing, too, so to use the
various tools on you would be wonderful." Bellamy's
smile was beautiful. "You see how well-matched we are,
love?"

He did. It was perfect. He wasn't sure how to not

screw it up.

"Are you up to a scene tonight, boy?" Bel's eyes were

shining down at him.

"Yes, Master. Yes." It had been so long.
Bel beamed at him and gave him another kiss before

getting up and going to the wardrobe. Bel opened the

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chest at the bottom of it, taking out a paddle and
bringing it to him. It was round and covered in rubber
with little raised bumps.

Kerry's legs drew up, and now he wished he hadn't

come twice already. Bellamy rubbed his ass with one
big hand, palm hot, good on his skin.

"Does it feel good for you?" He needed to know that

Bellamy was getting something out of this.

"You feel amazing to me."
"I want to. I want to be... necessary."
"You are, Kerry. Why do you think I kept pushing

until you were in my life and now my boy?"

He surprised himself by tearing up. "I'm sorry it took

so long."

"Shh. You're worth the wait, boy."
"I just... I want to be. I love you, and..." And he

couldn't quite think.

Bellamy's mouth covered his, stopping the flow of

words.

Oh. Better.
When Bellamy pulled away, he smiled. "All right, I

want you to hold your legs up and roll your ass for me,
because I want to see your face as I paddle you."

"Oh, God." He grabbed and rolled, his body ready,

eager.

Bellamy's groan was low and sweet, making him

even more eager. The first hit was almost gentle, just
warming him. He moaned softly, focusing on the
pleasure, the heat. Bel hummed at the sound of his moan
and hit him with the paddle again. He thought he could
feel the bumps, every single separate one.

"You're going to have such a lovely pattern on your

ass, boy." The hits followed, one after the other.

"Love that." Not the pattern, the endearment.

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Bellamy made a pleased noise, the hits finding a

rhythm he could sink into, even as the pain built. Kerry
felt something inside him melt, relax. A deep part of him
craved the hits, craved the way his body ached.

Bel kept making noises, low and soothing, approving.

He felt like the center of the man's world. When his legs
got too tired, Bellamy supported him, helped him.

"So strong, boy. I never knew just how strong you

were."

"Master." God, that praise was so sweet.
"Right here with you, boy. So proud."
The smacks stopped, Bel kissing his abused ass, lips

soft, hot, making him burn. His toes curled, his cock
hard again, even though he'd come twice already. Bel's
big hands slid to his inner thighs, pushing his legs up
and back, rolling him a little higher. Then his master's
tongue slid along his crack, Bel's cheeks pressing
against his ass.

"Oh, god!" That heat burned him, and he wanted to

scream.

"Not god, that's me."
His only answer was a moan. Bellamy hummed,

licked his hole again, then pushed the tip in. He jerked,
eyes rolling back in his head. Pressing hard against his
ass again, Bellamy fucked his hole with that hot tongue.
He whined, his abs so tight they burned.

Bellamy knelt up, reaching over and grabbing a

condom. "Ready for me, boy?"

"Please. Please." Anything. Everything.
The condom was smoothed down over Bel's prick,

and then his legs were hooked over Bel's arms as that
thick cock pressed into him.

"My Bel."
"Yes. Yes." Bel nodded, sinking right in until Bel's

hairy thighs rubbed against his burning ass.

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He rocked, giving himself the friction, the buzz. Bel

groaned, pushed into him again. Fuck, he burned.
Ached. Needed. Bel's eyes were like lasers, burning into
his. Then one big hand wrapped around his prick. There
was no way he'd come again. No way.

Bel found a rhythm, thrusting into him, hips hitting

his ass, sending his cock through the big hand. His balls
ached, went tight, but he couldn't. He couldn't.

"Come for me, boy."
"Master." His eyes went wide, hips rolling.
"Yes. Come for me." Bel's voice was insistent.
He sobbed as he shot, his body vibrating with it.
"Yes!" Bellamy punched into him a few more times

and then froze, eyes wide.

Kerry couldn't stop shaking, he couldn't breathe, and

he held on tight. Bellamy slid out of him and settled on
the bed, holding him close. He wrapped around
Bellamy, fighting his tears for all he was worth.

"Love you, Kerry. Welcome home, boy."
"Thank you." He snuggled in, hiding his eyes.
"Mmm. Thank you, Kerry." A soft kiss was placed on

the top of his head. "I will make sure you never regret
trusting me."

He could only pray Bellamy was right.

Trust

Chapter Eleven

Bellamy was up early the next day, making a

birthday breakfast for his boy. The sausages were in the
oven staying warm and the hash browns were nearly
done. He'd tried a new recipe and they smelled divine.
He would do the eggs once he knew his Kerry was
awake. He had a hunch the coffee he'd just put on would
do the trick of waking his boy up. He hummed as he set
the table for two.

He heard the water running in the bathroom, then he

heard singing. Listen to that. He stopped a moment,
leaning against the counter and listening to Kerry's
happiness. Kerry came in, wearing a pair of loose pants,
long hair down and hanging around his face.

Bellamy simply stared; his boy was stunning. Truly.
"Morning, my Bel." Kerry pushed into his arms, face

lifted for a kiss.

He gave it, tasting the mint of toothpaste on his boy's

lips, and then beyond that, Kerry himself. It made him
hum happily, his hands going automatically to cup
Kerry's ass. Kerry's patterned ass. Kerry moaned
happily, wriggling in his hands. Pretty boy.

His lips left Kerry's slowly. "Sexy love."
"Morning." Kerry leaned into him. "Yay for two days

off in a row."

"Yay for spending them with my boy." He got a

warm, happy grin, another soft kiss, and then he added.
"On his birthday."

Kerry blushed. "Oh. Who…?"
"Happy told me. I wish you had -- I would have had a

present for you."

"You do, Bel -- you're the best present I could ever

ask for and the only one I truly want."

Trust

He pulled Kerry into his arms and kissed his boy

until they were both panting from it. "Happy Birthday,
boy."

Kerry gave him a warm smile. "Thank you."
"I made breakfast. I just have to throw the eggs on

and we're good to go." Of course he was going to have
to let go of Kerry's ass in order to do that.

"You've been busy. Did I sleep too long?"
"It's your birthday and your day off -- you can sleep

as long as you like."

"I don't want to miss my time with you."
He beamed at his boy. Kerry always made him feel

like the center of the universe. It was heady.

"So, should I scramble eggs?"
He shook his head. "No, you should sit and let your

master wait on you."

"Wait on me?" Such a sweet, confused look.
He chuckled softly. "It's your birthday, remember?

Go sit, love. Breakfast will be ready in a minute."

"Mmm. I can do that." Kerry sat, still humming.
"You look lovely this morning." Kerry always looked

lovely, but today there was an extra... glow.

"I'm happy."
He nodded and poured the egg mixture into the hot

pan. "I am, too."

"Good." The single word was fierce, sure, and

Bellamy loved to hear it. This wasn't one-sided, this
relationship of theirs, not by a long shot.

He grabbed the sausages out of the oven, put them

and the hash browns on the table, and then dished up the
scrambled eggs. He'd doctored them with cheese and
herbs and they smelled really good, if he did say so
himself.

"Mmm. It smells amazing." Kerry smiled, dug in,

eating happily.

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100

"Thank you, boy." He grinned and started on his own
He heard Kerry's fork clatter on the plate.
Looking over, he raised an eyebrow. "Done already?"
"No. No. Sorry." Kerry's cheeks were hot.
He frowned. "What's wrong, love?"
"When you call me boy, it makes me dizzy."
Heat moved through him. "Oh..." He grinned. "Boy."
Kerry's cheeks were going to turn purple.
He pushed back slightly from the table. "Come sit in

my lap for breakfast, boy."

Those lips opened, the scent of need sudden, sharp.

He patted his thighs invitingly and opened his arms.
Kerry came to him, cuddling close. He squeezed his
boy's ass and then settled them comfortably together
before pulling Kerry's plate over. Kerry's ass was warm
against his thigh, solid.

"My boy." There was nowhere he'd rather have Kerry

than right here.

Kerry nodded. "Love that."
"I know." He kissed Kerry softly and then handed

Kerry a fork. "Dig in."

They ate together, chatting idly about nothing at all.

His prick was half-hard through the whole meal, though.
Kerry just did it for him, and that hot ass against him
was so very good. Of course, the periodic soft kiss
didn't' hurt.

"I have a new lamb recipe I want to try with you.

We'll go to the market and pick everything up fresh." It
would make a nice birthday dinner. He patted Kerry's
ass. "I have a pretty little plug for you to wear while
we're out."

Kerry's lips parted, the look stunning. "Lamb. Okay."
"That's right, boy, shopping with your ass full."
There was an amazing heat building between them,

this amazing, fresh energy.

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101

"I have this little plug. So small you almost might not

feel it." Bellamy was pretty sure that wasn't what Kerry
wanted. "I have bigger ones, too. Because you would
want to feel it, wouldn't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I want to."
"I thought so. You want to feel it, feel my will."
Kerry moaned, eyes fastened to his. "Yes."
"Are you finished eating?" He was eager to prepare

them for their shopping trip.

"Yes, sir. It was so good. Thank you." Kerry moaned,

brushed their lips together.

"I love hearing you say that word."
"Thank you?"
"No. 'Sir.'"
"Oh" Kerry nodded. "I fought it, the need to call you

that."

"I know. That's what makes it so sweet."
Kerry groaned, and Bellamy saw a wet spot grow on

the thin pants. He gathered Kerry close and stood,
carrying his lover back toward the bedroom.

"Bel?" Kerry wrapped around him. "I didn't clean

up."

"We can do it later. Once you're plugged."
Kerry's moan vibrated his throat.
He was smiling as he set Kerry down on the bed and

went to the chest to get a plug. They were going to have
so much fun.

He picked up a medium sized one -- Kerry would

know it was there, but it wouldn't be so big it was hard
to keep in. Kerry moaned softly, already stripped out of
his pants, legs moving on the bed.

"I need to stretch you first, and I have just the thing."
"Oh, God. This is like... tell me I'm not dreaming."
"You're not dreaming, boy."

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102

Kerry offered him a slow, growing smile. He stripped

out of his clothes, watching Kerry watch him.

"You're the hottest man..." Kerry licked his lips.
"Thank you. But I think I know one who's hotter."
Kerry shook his head, reached for him.
"We might have to agree to disagree," he noted,

pressing their lips together.

Kerry opened for him, body undulating under him.

He worked slick onto the fingers of one hand and
pushed them against Kerry's hole. His boy took him in,
easy as pie. So good. He curled his finger inside Kerry,
moaning happily when he hit Kerry's gland and his boy
jerked for him.

Hell, yes. Right there. He stroked it, over and over,

making Kerry gasp.

"Sweet boy. Gonna make you fly."
"My Bel." Kerry drew his legs up and out.
"My Kerry." He slid on the condom, moved between

Kerry's legs, and pressed the head of his cock at that tiny
little hole.

"Yours."
The tip of his cock popped in, the tight heat

surrounding him. Groaning, he slowly sank in deeper.
He reached out, played with those sweet, pierced
nipples.

"Maybe we'll find you some jewelry, hmm?" He

tugged, pushed the barbell back and forth.

"Yes. Yes, Bel. Something you choose."
"I'd like that. A little chain to hang between some

sweet rings. Something for me to tug on."

"Mmm. Yes. Yes, Bel." Kerry arched into him, took

him deeper.

He started to rock, pushing into Kerry over and over.

Kerry took every inch, body open and eager. Wanting.

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103

"Wish I could leave my seed in you when I plug

you."

"Yes." Oh, he felt that excitement all around his cock.
"We'll get tested." They were committed now,

together. There wouldn't be anyone else ever again.

"Yes, Bel. I'm yours."
"You are. For always." The words made him jerk and

push harder into Kerry.

"Always." Kerry's eyes closed.
He wrapped his hand around Kerry's prick and took

his boy hard, sending them both toward the edge.

"Always. Oh, fuck..." Kerry bore down, riding him.
"Yes. Always. Always." He punched in, knocking

Kerry's gland with every push into the tight body.

He was going to fill his boy up, fill him and take him

out, show him off.

"Come for me now, boy."
"Master." Kerry's chin ducked to his chest, seed

spurting from that needy cock.

"Yes!" Kerry's ass milked his orgasm out of him, and

he filled the condom.

They'd go get tested today. He wanted to come in his

boy.

Moaning, he rested down against Kerry. Kerry

wrapped around him, holding on tight.

"Love you, boy."
"Love." Kerry's moan was happy, sweet.
Perfect.
He took another kiss.
The day was going to be wonderful. They all were, as

long as they were together.

***

Trust

104

Every step made Kerry's body clench, made his belly

hard. They'd gone to buy body jewelry, groceries, to
pick up laundry. The plug filling him was undeniable.
Kerry was going to scream.

Bellamy kept touching him, too. Little touches to his

arm, his shoulders, his belly, his ass. He could feel his
Master's eyes on him, full of warmth, of love and need.
Kerry wanted to go home. Put the groceries away and
fuck. Hard.

Like Bel knew, he kept coming up with other things

to do, to keep them from home.

"You want a latte from Starbucks, boy?"
"Do you think the food will keep?"
"I'm sure it'll be fine. We could go through the drive-

through, though. If you're worried."

There were speed bumps in the drive-through.

"Okay."

They went over the first one, and Bellamy took it

fast.

He bounced, ass hitting the seat hard. "Bel!" His

entire ass clenched.

Bellamy chuckled. "Yes, boy?"
"That was fast." That was mean. That was a little hot.
"Yes. It was." Bellamy took the next one just as

quickly.

"Uhn." His cock filled.
They stopped at the ordering window, Bel getting

them each lattes. Bel took the long way home. The way
that had a lot more speed bumps and potholes. He
rubbed his inner thigh, wrist nudging his cock.

Bel growled softly. "Boy..."
Oh. Oh, God. He groaned. "Yes, Master?" God, he'd

missed this.

"You're not touching yourself, are you?"

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105

"I...Yes." He'd much rather have a punishment for

touching than for lying. Much.

"No touching yourself, boy" They pulled up at a stop

sign, and Bel turned to meet his gaze. "That's mine."

He met Bel's eyes, so excited he ached. "Yours?"
"Mine and you aren't to touch unless I say you can."

Bel held his gaze for a long moment and then turned the
corner to their street.

"Is that a standing order?"
Bel tilted his head as he pulled up in front of the

house, and then he nodded and met Kerry's eyes again.
"Yes, boy, it is. No touching without my permission."

His ass worked the plug, his body trying desperately

to shoot.

"And, of course, the corollary to that is no coming

without my permission, either." Bel turned off the
engine, put the car in park and gave him a knowing grin.

There was no way he could do both. No way. He

groaned, tugged his balls.

"Kerry!" Bel batted at his hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm so close."
"Then that's what you tell me -- you don't just grab

yourself." Bel smiled at him, took his hand away from
his balls. "You need to trust such things to your master,
boy."

"I'll try." Trust was so hard. So much to ask.
Bel's smile didn't falter. "Thank you."
They sat there together. "Do you want to go in?"
Bel chuckled. "Yes. Can you make the walk without

coming?"

"I'll try." Kerry winked at his lover, his best friend.

"You make me need."

"The feeling, my love, is mutual. Come on now, I'll

race you to the front door."

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106

"Don't forget the groceries." He slipped out of the

car, grabbing his latte.

"Damn, I had." Bellamy came around and swatted his

ass.

He jerked forward and creamed his jeans, his body

tumbling over the edge. "Oh, God."

"Mmm. I'm going to have to punish you now."

Bellamy sounded very happy about that. "Help me get
stuff into the fridge first."

"I need to clean up." He was soupy.
"Once we get the groceries in the fridge. We'll do it

together."

He nodded, swallowing his groan.
Bel somehow managed to bring in bags and keep

touching him at the same time. Kerry chewed the inside
of his lips, his body buzzing. It didn't take that long to
get everything put away, but Bel took every opportunity
to touch him, to work him up. His cock was filling, his
body aching again. It was insane.

Finally they were done and Bel's hand landed solidly

on his ass.

"Bel..." Oh, god. He was tied in knots inside.
"Yes, boy?"
"I'm caught up inside. Nervous. Excited." Curious.
"Good." Bel led the way to the bathroom and then

began undressing him. "I like knowing I have your full
attention."

"I am. You do. I..." God, he was going to shake apart.
"Breathe, love." Bel smiled widely at the sight of his

hard prick. "Or you can come again. This time with
permission, boy."

"I just..." He reached for Bellamy. "I need you." He

needed contact.

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107

"You have me, boy. Always." Bellamy's arms

wrapped around him and he was drawn in close, his skin
rubbing against Bel's clothes.

His head fell back, throat working. Bel's mouth

landed on his neck to suck up a mark. Each pull made
his cock throb, and he whimpered softly when Bel
stopped.

"I want you to wear my collar."
"What?" He moaned, his throat working. "Don't tease

me."

"I'm not teasing you." Bel's finger traced a line

around his throat. "Everyone should know you're taken.
That you have a master who loves you very much."

He sucked in air, a little shaken.
"Will you wear my collar, Kerry?" Bel's eyes were

looking into his soul, he'd swear it.

"You promise you won't leave me? That you mean

it?"

"I mean it, Kerry. I would never offer my collar to

anyone unless I meant them to wear it forever"

"I'm scared, but I will." He was going to throw up.
"What are you scared of, boy?"
"Being not enough for you. Being a fuck up. Being a

loser." He sighed. "Again."

"No, stop that. The man who called himself your

master dumped you because he was an asshole. It wasn't
because you were a fuck up or a loser."

"You don't know that. Neither do I. Not for sure."
"He took you away to another state, and then dumped

you over for a woman -- that's not on you. You didn't
suddenly become a man, Kerry."

"No. No, I suddenly became less of one." His heart

started slamming in his chest, and he felt the panic
climbing up his spine.

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108

"Stop that, boy. You are the most beautiful sub I have

ever seen." Bellamy grabbed his arms and pulled him
against the muscled chest, mouth taking his.

It was like being wrapped tight, those arms around

him like steel bands. Bellamy's kiss took him, demanded
his full attention. Everything faded, the bondage of those
loving arms magic.

Bel didn't let him go, either. His master held onto him

and kissed him like there was nothing else in the entire
world for them to do. He needed this -- the pressure, the
support. The bondage.

Bellamy put him down on the bed and laid down on

top of him, holding him down. The kisses continued on
and on.

He sobbed softly, letting himself fight Bel's strength.

Bel didn't back off, and the solid body didn't let him
escape, Bel insisting he submit. It was exactly right, and
he trusted his master enough to open up, chest feeling
like it cracked right down the middle.

Kisses peppered his face, stole his breath and told

him that Bel was there, that his master loved him.

"Master." Better. He could breathe.
"Right here, boy. Always. Yours."
"I'm sorry." He'd panicked.
Bellamy shook his head. "Don't apologize for how

you're feeling. You shared it with me -- that's what
counts."

"You knew what I needed." And he hadn't had to ask.
"Because I love you and I watch you and it's my

responsibility to know you. That's what being a master is
all about."

He hid his face in Bel's neck, taking one deep breath

after another.

"I love you, Kerry, and you don't have to be perfect.

In fact, it would be boring if you were. I want all of you

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109

-- the love, the insecurity, the trust, the lack of trust. I
want it all."

"I love you." He kissed Bel's collarbone. "I want to

be yours."

"You already are. The collar will let everyone know,

though, and I want that. I want people at the club to see
you and to see that you have a master who loves and
wants and cares for you."

"Yes." Please. He wanted to be someone's. No. Not

that.

He wanted to be Bel's.
Bel beamed at him and then kissed him. "I couldn't

be happier."

"Good." He was beginning to really relax.
"Only if you're happy, too."
"I'm home. I'm happy. I'm trying not to let before

affect us."

"Good. And Ker, it is going to affect us, of course it

is. It happened to you. But we're going to deal with it
directly every time it comes up, and eventually, what we
have will push it all away for good."

"Do you promise?"
"I promise, Kerry." Bel met his eyes and smiled, no

impatience in them at his question, at his need for
reassurance.

"I believe you."
Bel's smile grew wider. "Good. Now, wasn't there a

punishment on the table? For coming without
permission?"

"Yes. Yes, please." He was so curious to know what

Bel's punishments were like.

"Spread your arms and legs, love. Let me see all of

you."

Kerry nodded, spreading wide.

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110

Bel had backed off to kneel between his legs, looking

down at him. "Look at how beautiful you are. You take
my breath away, Kerry."

Bel's hand landed on his belly, the other one sliding

along his right thigh. "And you look debauched, too,
with the end of that plug peeking out of your hole."

His entire body flushed with heat, with pleasure at

Bel's words.

"I'm going to leave it in while I spank you. So you'll

really feel each smack through your entire body."

"Oh, god." He whimpered softly, nodding eagerly.
"Grab your legs behind your knees and hold yourself

up so I can reach your ass."

He bent his knees, grabbed his legs and pulled.
Bel groaned, and he could feel his master's gaze,

could feel that Bel was looking at him like he was the
most beautiful man in the world. It made everything so
much bigger, better. More real.

Bel rubbed his ass, hands warm, large. Kerry found

his eyelids going heavy, drooping.

"Punishment's coming," murmured Bel. It was a

warning, and a moment later one big hand swung and
landed hard in the middle of his ass.

His body went tight, his asscheeks clenching. "Fuck."
"I'm going to spank you rosy. When it's a

punishment, you'll be on your back. When it's a regular
scene, you can lie over my knees and rub off on me."

"My Bel." He nodded, whimpering softly. God, it

was so big.

"Yes, boy. Yours."
A couple more swats hit him. His toes curled, his

muscles tensing. Bel moaned softly, but that didn't stop
him from landing swat after swat on Kerry's exposed
ass. The burn grew, spread, and soft cries tried to escape
him.

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111

"Let me hear your sounds, boy."
He groaned, caught down deep in his gut. Bel's

smacks sped up, short and sharp and coming in rapid
fire now. He gasped, then the cries started escaping him,
the burn overwhelming.

"Last one, boy." The edges of Bel's hand hit his hole,

his balls.

He cried out, curled into himself, hiding his face in

his knees.

"There we go." Bel's hand rubbed his ass. "Such a

good boy."

He stayed curled in, protecting himself, his heart.
"You're good, boy." That hand kept touching,

rubbing, feeling his ass up.

Kerry cried silently, emotions too big to hold in.
Bel kissed his face, licked the tears that leaked from

his eyes. ''I have you." Bel rocked him.

"Sorry." His legs slowly relaxed.
"Only be sorry if you won't tell me why you were

crying."

"I had to. I couldn't hold it in."
"What were you crying about, boy?" Bellamy kept

holding him like he was precious.

"It burned. Ached. I'm scared I'll mess this up

between us."

"You aren't going to mess this up, because if either of

us have a problem, we'll work it out."

"We will." He hoped.
"We will. I'm not losing you, Ker. You're my boy."
"Your boy." Kerry shivered, pushed into Bel's arms.
"Mine, Kerry. All of you, and always."
Kerry loved the idea of always.
"I can't wait for you to wear my collar."
"What will it look like?"

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112

"Leather. Dark red. No more than half an inch thick.

It'll look lovely on your neck."

"Oh..." He reached for Bel. How lovely.
Bel pulled him on top of the big body, cradling him,

shielding his burning ass. Bel held him, rocked him
gently and let him breathe.

"Love you, boy."
"Love." His lips brushed Bel's jaw.
"Mmm. Yes." Bel nuzzled him and pulled the covers

up over them both.

"Sleep, Ker. I have you."
"Master." He moaned and let himself go.

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113

Chapter Twelve

Bellamy whistled as he made his way into the

Hammer. He was meeting his boy here for some supper.
They were going to make a night of it -- do some
dancing after they ate, maybe even take in a show, visit
with their friends. He'd been looking forward to it all
week, and he knew Kerry had been, too. His boy had
been busy, picking up a few extra shifts when one of the
other boys had sprained their wrist on top of several
being out with the flu, and they needed time together.

The place was moderately busy, and Happy came up

to him, offered him a big hug. "Master Bellamy!"

He hugged the sweet sub back. Happy was easy to

care about, anyway, but the waiter had befriended his
boy from the start, so he had an extra soft spot for
Happy.

"How are you, Happy?"
"Busy! Kerry said to tell you Xavier is making him

work tonight and that he's really, really sorry." Happy
shrugged. "He was so looking forward to your date
night. He's been bummed out all afternoon."

Bellamy frowned. Kerry had been working extra

hours all week. Enough was enough.

"Thank you, Happy." He patted the boy on the

shoulder and headed for the bar where Xavier was
usually found.

Xavier was cleaning the bar, grumbling under his

breath.

"Xavier." Bellamy leaned against the counter.
"Bellamy. How's it going? You want a beer?"
"I'll have something when I get my table. I'm here to

meet my boy. We have a date."

"Yeah. I’m sorry, man. We're backed up."

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114

"I'm sorry, too, but Kerry can't work late tonight. His

shift was finished ten minutes ago."

"Oh, man. Don't do this to me."
"I'm not doing anything to you, Xavier. Kerry has

worked double shifts four out of the last five days.
That's enough. He's not working anymore today." He
kept his tone firm but calm.

"Are you seriously invoking Master Privilege on

me?"

"If this was the first night you'd asked this of him, I

wouldn't, but enough is enough. I am his Master, and I
say he's done for the day." All of the Doms at the
Hammer had to right to call their subs home, without
question.

"You're an asshole." Xavier rolled his eyes. "Kerry!

Get your butt out here."

He growled softly. "If looking out for my boy makes

me an asshole, then that's what I am."

"Master Xavier? What's wrong? Oh, Master. I haven't

had a chance to call you. What time is it?"

"Good evening, boy." He smiled at Kerry, unable not

to. "It's fifteen minutes past your quitting time, and we
have a date."

"I... We do." Kerry looked at Xavier. "I."
Xavier waved his hand. "You'd better get cleaned

up."

"Am I... do you have someone to come in? You're

almost caught up completely, I promise."

"It's not your responsibility, boy. You've been more

than generous with your time, and I'm sure Xavier has
other people he can call on." He reached out, cupped
Kerry's jaw. "Go get your clean shirt on."

He placed a soft kiss on Kerry's lips and patted his

boy's bottom. When Kerry'd gone, he turned back to

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115

Xavier. "You don't take this out on him. It's my
decision."

"Have I once taken any situation out on my

employees? Once?" Xavier actually looked offended.

"I'm sorry, Xavier, I had to be sure. He's my boy,

hmm? Mine."

"Damned Doms."
Bellamy snorted. "You wouldn't have us any other

way."

"I wouldn't." Xavier chuckled. "We have good lives,

Bellamy."

"We do, my friend, we do."
Kerry came out of the back, ponytail cleaned up, a

fresh shirt on.

Bellamy beamed at his boy. "Look at you."
"I hurried. I don't want to miss our date."
"No, you've been working too much. It's time for us

now." He took Kerry's hand and headed toward the
tables.

Kerry squeezed his fingers, then sat next to him

instead of across.

"Mmm. He bent and pressed their lips together.

"Hello, boy."

"Hello, Master." Kerry's smile was warm,

welcoming.

"You must be tired; you've been working your ass

off."

"Happy gave me a bunch of energy drinks. I'm good."
"A bunch?" One of his eyebrows went up. He didn't

think his boy needed a bunch of that kind of thing at all.

"Five."
He shook his head. "Energy drinks are not the

answer, boy. You're going to crash soon enough, and it
isn't going to be pretty." He waved his hand at Happy.
He needed to get some protein into his boy.

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116

"I swear I'll be pleasant."
Happy bebopped over.
He kissed Kerry's nose. "You need food, love.

Happy, bring us two specials, please."

"Absolutely!" Happy smiled. "What would you like

to drink?"

"Beer." No coffee for his over-caffeinated boy.
"I don't want a beer, Happy. My stomach's a little

sloshy with the liquid. Can I please just have water?"

Bellamy nodded. He approved of that. "Sounds good.

Bring us something quick with protein as an appetizer,
too, okay? We're starving."

"Shrimp skewers?"
"Sounds good, Happy, thank you."
Kerry smiled at him. "I'm glad I didn't call you and

tell you I couldn't come tonight."

"I would have come anyway."
The happy smile got wider.
He rubbed their noses together, his hand on Kerry's

thigh. "You need to eat and to rest."

"Rest? I thought we were going dancing."
"I meant rest as in not working."
"Oh." Kerry was buzzed. Totally buzzed. He was

going to have to speak to Happy's master.

He took Kerry's mouth, kissing his boy. Kerry

hummed, opened up to him, groaned. His hand slipped
up along Kerry's thigh.

"Master..." Kerry moaned his name.
"Yes, boy?" His fingers stroked Kerry's package.
Those pretty eyes went heavy lidded. "You're

touching me."

"I know." He rubbed their noses together, smiling at

his boy.

Kerry's grin was young, happy, the heavy ponytail

pulling his boy's head back.

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117

"I've been waiting all day until I could touch you

again. You're an addiction."

"Flatterer." Kerry smiled and cuddled close.
"You're very easy to flatter."
"No. No, we should flatter you."
"Me?" Bellamy laughed. "Why me?"
"Because you're mine."
"Oh." Bellamy smiled at his boy, warmth going all

through him.

Kerry's fingers traced his belly, the touch feather-

light. He hummed, his prick immediately jumping to
attention.

The shrimp starter came, the drinks.
"Thank you, Happy." He spared a smile for the boy

waiting on them, but most of his focus was on his own
boy.

Grabbing a shrimp, he brought it to Kerry's mouth.

His lover opened for him, and he heard Kerry's stomach
growl.

"Don't tell me this was the first food you've eaten

today."

"Hmm?"
He was going to beat Kerry's ass. "Love, you have to

eat!"

"I am."
"You need to eat in between the times that I feed

you."

"Today was just busy, Bel."
"It's been busy all week. Double shifts, coming home

just to sleep..." He stroked Kerry's cheek and then
offered another shrimp.

Kerry ate it. "I know. I could go home for something

better than sleep."

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"Yes, but you've needed your sleep, hmm? You need

to think about yourself a little more often and not say
yes all the time to Xavier."

Kerry smiled, the look bittersweet. "Xavier and Frank

were the first two people to be kind to me."

Bellamy nodded. "I know, love. And I know Xavier

doesn't mean to take advantage, but a double shift five
days in a row is too much to ask."

Kerry nodded, leaned in to him.
He gave another shrimp to his boy, then stole one for

himself.

"It's good." Kerry hummed, vibrating against him.
"Then have another one."
"You need some, too."
"I had lunch."
"Did you have leftover potato soup?"
"I did. I want to make it with you next time. I miss

cooking with you when you work these double shifts,
you know. I miss talking to you. I miss making love to
you."

"Oh, I do, too." Kerry nodded and pushed closer.

"You're the best part of any day."

He beamed at his lover and took another kiss, this

one flavored by the spices on the shrimp. He tangled his
fingers in Kerry's long hair, tugging enough to make
Kerry moan. If Kerry didn't need to eat, he would take
his boy home right now and do him properly.

"Love you." Kerry hummed into his lips, shivering a

bit in anticipation.

"Good. I love you, too."
He backed off, licking Kerry's lips one last time, and

then popped the last shrimp into Kerry's mouth. Kerry
ate, fingers moving over his thighs, heading toward his
cock. He moaned softly, wanting that touch so very
much.

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"Master." Kerry licked his lips, eyes on the bulge

tenting Bellamy's slacks.

"You want?" He slid his own hand over his prick; he

wanted Kerry's mouth even more than he wanted a
touch.

"Yes. Yes, Bel. I want your cock."
"On your knees then, boy." Lucky for them they were

at the Hammer.

Kerry moaned, lips opening and closing. Bel wrapped

a hand around his boy's shoulder and encouraged him
down. Kerry slipped down, fingers tugging at his zipper.
He spread his legs, gave his boy room between them.
His cock was pulled out, Kerry's lips sliding up along
the shaft.

He groaned, his hand dropping down to wrap in

Kerry's hair. "So good, boy."

He felt Kerry's moan. His boy loved that, having his

hand in that heavy mane.

"More, boy. I want your mouth."
"Yes. Yes, Sir." His cock was swallowed down, lips

wrapping around him and drawing him into perfect heat.

"Oh, Kerry. Damn."
Kerry's answer was to draw him in deeper.
"Yes. Good. So hot. So good." He tightened his hold

on Kerry's hair.

His sweet boy. He was going to fuck those lips, feed

Kerry, then take his boy home, bind him, and make him
need. Groaning, he pushed in deeper. Kerry swallowed,
throat working him. He only had eyes for his boy, for
that beautiful face. The lovely eyes were closed, the look
on Kerry's face blissful.

"Love you," he whispered, feeling it so deeply it hurt.
Kerry's fingers brushed his balls, stroking him. That

care, that love, that was what undid him. He moaned
softly, his balls emptying. His sub swallowed him down,

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not missing a drop. He slid his other hand around
Kerry's head, another soft moan leaving him.

"So good, boy. Thank you."
Kerry licked him clean, tongue sliding on his prick.

When Kerry pulled off, he took his boy's mouth in a
kiss. Kerry ended up in his lap, breathing hard.

"Are you needing, boy?" He wrapped his hands

around Kerry's ass, tugging Kerry in closer.

"Yes. Yes, I want you."
Wanted him and was high on energy drinks. His boy

was vibrating.

He slid a hand between them, undoing Kerry's pants

and sliding his hand inside to wrap around the hard,
dripping prick. Kerry leaned in, swollen lips brushing
his cheek. He hummed as he tugged on Kerry's prick, his
thumb sliding back and forth across the tip, spreading
the drops of liquid.

"Mmm..." Kerry's eyes closed, lips parting.
"Sweet boy. All mine."
"Uh-huh." Kerry's hips pressed closer, cock pushing

through his grip.

He squeezed tighter and stroked harder, his mouth

covering Kerry's. He wanted to taste his boy's cries
when Kerry came. Kerry shuddered, losing his rhythm,
eyes rolling back. He squeezed tighter, nodding as they
kissed. Yes. He wanted his boy's pleasure. Heat bubbled
over his fingers, his lover giving it up. He moaned
happily into their kiss, hand still moving slowly, making
Kerry shiver and shudder.

"So glad you're here." Kerry laughed softly. "Best

part of my day."

He grinned and kissed Kerry's nose. "Best part of

mine, too." Bellamy tucked Kerry back into his pants.

Kerry cleaned his fingers off, but stayed close,

humming low.

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"Our food is coming. Would you like to stay where

you are?" They could feed each other.

"Please, sir."
"Excellent." He gave Happy a smile as their food was

set in front of them.

He didn't want to give up holding his boy anymore

than Kerry wanted to go.

Happy beamed at them. "Have a wonderful evening."
Kerry hummed. "I am."
Bel chuckled and nodded. "Thank you, Happy."
He couldn't even remember what he'd ordered; he

didn't even care. Everything important was in his arms.

***

He woke up at seven a.m. with an upset stomach and

a head that felt like a tiny, evil centipede with tap shoes
was doing flamenco. Fuck. Kerry rolled out of bed and
stumbled to the kitchen. Too many of those stupid
energy shots.

He managed two glasses of ice water before he lost it,

racing to the guest bath to vomit. Good lord.

"Kerry, love." Bel's large, warm hand landed on his

back, stroking along his skin.

"Didn't mean to wake you." He heaved again. Oh,

God.

"Nonsense. You're sick; I want to be here for you."
"I'm..." He swayed, suddenly dizzy as fuck.
"Kerry!" Bel growled and gathered him in close. "I'm

taking you to the hospital."

"No. No, I'm just..." He wiped his mouth. "Can I

please have a glass of water?"

"Of course." Bel moved into the kitchen and, still

carrying him, managed to get him a glass of water. "You

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almost fainted there. Give me one good reason why I
shouldn't take you to the hospital."

"I just don't feel great, is all. Too many energy shots

yesterday."

"Hmm. That doesn't surprise me at all." When he was

finished the water, Bel carried him back into the
bedroom.

"Bel? You're carrying me."
"I am. You're sick."
"Uh-huh." He held on.
"My poor boy." Bellamy kissed his forehead and put

him back in bed.

"I'm okay. I promise."
"You're throwing up, that's sick. I worry about you.

It's my job as lover and master."

His eyes closed. "Too much chemicals, I think."
"Yes, the energy drinks. I don't want you drinking

those anymore."

"I just... I was tired."
"Which usually means you should take a break, a

nap, listen to your body." Bel smiled at him and kissed
his forehead. "I'm making it an order, boy. No more
energy drinks for you."

"An order..." Oh, his master. He nodded, eyes

closing, a rush of satisfaction hitting him.

"Yes. An order." The covers were brought up under

his chin.

"I don't..." Oh, warm. Oh, so nice.
"No arguments, boy."
"Master." He let Bellamy touch him, soothe him, ease

him.

"That's right. Your master." Bellamy licked his neck,

the mark left there last night.

"Mine." He moaned, dozing and waking up, dozing

off again.

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The next time he woke, Bellamy had just come into

the room with a tray. "Good, you're awake. I have
breakfast for you."

He winced, almost scared to think about food. "Do

you remember what time I have to go in today?"

"I've already called and told Xavier you're sick. He

was worried you'd caught whatever it is that has felled
half his kitchen staff for the past week, but I told him it
was just likely too much caffeine catching up to you. He
said to tell you not to worry about the club and to
recover quickly." Bellamy put the tray on the nightstand
and helped him to sit, fluffing the pillows behind him.

"But... are they going to manage?" The movement

made him a little dizzy.

"Of course they'll manage. Xavier will do the dishes

himself if need be." Bellamy cupped his face and looked
into his eyes. "Making yourself sick will not help Xavier
in the long run."

Hands staying on his face, Bellamy's thumbs caressed

his lips. "And Xavier will not fire you for taking a sick
day or for saying no to overtime, no matter how short-
staffed and busy they are. You will not be punished or
abandoned for seeing to your own needs."

He could feel the anxiety building up inside him, the

worry. Maybe he should call. He could make sure it was
okay...

"Boy." The word snapped out from Bellamy,

demanding his attention. "You will trust your master."

He started, arms wrapping around his middle.
Bellamy kept looking at him, love and strength in

Bel's eyes. "I will not abandon you. You, just as you are,
are enough for me. Nobody needs you to work yourself
to death to please them. I don't expect that of you and
neither does Xavier."

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"I. I. I." Oh, God. Oh, fuck. He couldn't deal with

this...

Bellamy let go of his face and wrapped those strong

arms around him. "It's okay, Kerry. I'll believe for both
of us until you can, too."

He leaned in and sobbed, his heart just aching. He

mourned the lost years from before, his lovely house,
but mostly he cried for his innocence.

Bellamy let him cry, holding him and petting him,

rocking him in the safety of his master's arms. "I love
you," Bellamy said, so softly.

"I'm sorry." He'd been so strong. So good.
"Hush now. I want all of you, boy. The good and the

bad. How can I be your partner if I don't know your
pains as well as your joys?"

"My head hurts."
"You think you can keep down some aspirin? I've got

toast and a soft boiled egg for you, too."

He nodded. "I think so." He felt like he'd emptied

himself out, totally, between the throwing up and the
crying jag.

"Okay. Just lie back against the pillows." Bel

arranged him comfortably and kissed his forehead, then
disappeared toward the bathroom.

"I love you." He was a basket case.
Bel's "I love you, too," floated back from the

hallway, and a moment later his master was there again,
offering him a couple of aspirin and a drink of water.

He took them, squeezed Bellamy's hand. "I usually

don't have meltdowns."

"But you're allowed to have them as you need to,

love."

"I guess I needed that one."
Bellamy chuckled softly. "I guess you did. Now, do

you think you can try some of the toast and eggs?" Bel

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made a face. "I could go make it new, as I'm sure your
plate is cold now."

"I'm fine. Honest." At least for the toast.
"Well, I'm happy to do it if you change your mind."

Bellamy handed him a half-slice of toast.

"Thank you." He ate slowly, finishing about half of

the piece. "I'll let this settle."

Bel nodded. "Probably a good idea. How is it

sitting?"

"Okay. I just... I was so tired yesterday and Happy

swears on those drink things."

"You should have told Xavier how tired you were

feeling. He'd have at least let you go nap and made sure
you'd had something to eat. And you are not Happy. All
those chemicals and caffeine do not work for you."

"Well, I am happy, but I'm not Happy, I guess." He

tried to tease.

Bellamy chuckled. "Now I know you're feeling

better."

"Yeah." He offered Bel a smile. "What a morning."
"It happens." Bel got into bed and settled next to him,

linked their fingers together.

"I guess. It hasn't happened to me in a long time,

though."

"There's no shame in being sick. As I said, it

happens."

Kerry nodded, snuggled in. "It's hard, sometimes,

trying so hard. Sometimes you just want to plop down."

"I think you try too hard, boy. I think you need to

plop down more often. I keep telling you that I don't
expect you to be perfect."

"I do." He wanted everything to be right. He didn't

want Bellamy to look for someone else.

Bellamy sighed and squeezed him tight. "I love you

just how you are. You're handsome and funny. You

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share my interests. It makes me feel good having you
around, whether we're gardening or cooking or making
love or doing a scene. I want you here with me. That's
why I asked you to wear my collar."

"I want to be with you. I want to be yours."
"You are mine, Kerry. All of you."
Bellamy got up and went to his underwear drawer,

taking something out. He came back and handed over a
simple, dark red leather band with a little lock on it.

"I was waiting for the right time to give it to you. I

picked it out after our conversation last week."

"Oh." He touched it, the leather buttery soft.
"Do you like it? The red will look good against your

skin."

"It's beautiful. Really beautiful."
"Like the man who'll wear it."
He blushed and kissed Bel's cheek. "I will wear it

proudly."

Bel turned to press a kiss to his mouth. Then Bel took

it back from him. "May I?"

"Please." He lifted his chin.
Bel put the collar around his neck, put the little lock

on it, and closed it. Then Bel took the key and put it
through a chain, put that around his own neck. Kerry
moaned, fingers tracing the collar, swallowing around
the leather.

"You look fantastic, love."
"Thank you, Master."
"Thank you, boy."
Kerry pushed into Bel's arms, settled.
"Love you, Kerry."
"I love you, Bel. So much. Honest."
Bel nodded. "Yes, I believe you."
"Good." He settled. "Can we just stay here a bit?"
"Of course we can. We can stay as long as we need."

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"Okay. Thank you."
"Anytime, my love."
He kissed Bel's cheek. Anytime. He liked that.
He liked it a whole lot.

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Epilogue

Bellamy parked the car and went around to open the

door for Kerry. They were going to the Hammer tonight.
Him and his boy. He couldn't wait to show everyone
he'd given Kerry his collar. Funny how he was more
eager to be at the Hammer when it was busy if he had
his boy on his arm.

Kerry wasn't working. In fact, his lover looked

amazing -- wearing jeans and a tight black t-shirt, hair
loose and down.

Bellamy settled his hand in the small of Kerry's back.

"You look extra beautiful tonight, Ker."

"It's the collar."
"Maybe. I think it's the happiness. You wear it well."
"It's the same thing." Kerry kissed his jaw.
He stopped for a moment, his breath catching in his

chest, and he turned and kissed Kerry properly. He loved
this man. His fingers tangled in Kerry's hair as he
focused on stealing his boy's breath. Only after their lips
parted did he realize they were still in the street.
Smiling, he took Kerry's hand, going to the Hammer's
door.

He thought Kerry was laughing as they went in.
He waved at Xavier over at the bar, and then at

Oliver who was cuddling with Jack at his usual table.

"Look, Gordon and Frank are here."
Kerry beamed and waved. Frank's eyes lit up.

"Kerry!"

Gordon chuckled and waved them over. Bellamy led

Kerry toward them.

Kerry offered both men a hug, a warm smile. "I

haven't seen you two in forever!"

"Look at you." Gordon pointed to his collar.

"Someone's been busy."

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Kerry beamed. "Bel asked for me to be his."
"Congratulations, Kerry. Frank and I are so pleased

for you. And for you, too, Bellamy. He's quite the
catch."

Bel nodded, puffed up a little for his boy. "I know."
Kerry settled next to him.
"Would you like to join us?" Gordon asked.
"Kerry?" It was his boy's choice tonight.
"I'd love to." Kerry beamed at Frank. "How are the

new hearing aids working for you?"

"Good. Better. They're tiny. You can't even see

them."

Bel couldn't help it, he found himself looking. "Heh.

You're right."

Kerry smiled and nodded. "That's fabulous, Frank.

Really."

They sat at Gordon and Frank’s table. Bel didn't say

much, watching his boy's animated face was enough for
him. Kerry and Frank chatted, and it was fabulous to see
Kerry relaxed, comfortable, easy in his skin.

He glanced over at Gordon and found the man

watching his own lover with a gentle smile on his face.
If their boys were happy and satisfied, then so were
they; it was who they were. Gordon winked at Bellamy,
leaned back in his chair.

Bellamy chuckled. "Are you guys staying for supper,

or just the beer?"

"It's Frank's night to cook."
Frank grinned. "We're having the steak."
He chuckled. "The steak?"
Frank nodded. "The one that the kitchen staff is

cooking for us right now."

"Oh!" Bellamy chuckled. "I thought you meant when

you got home."

"Nope. I don't cook."

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Kerry chuckled. "You grill chicken."
"I didn't know that. You must be the cook, then,

Gordon." Bellamy was sure he'd heard tales of
homemade meals at Frank and Gordon's.

"Oh, Gordon is amazing." Kerry smiled at him. "He's

the one with the Guinness stew." Ah, so that's where his
boy had learned to put beer in stew.

Frank's eyes actually crossed at Kerry's words.
Bel chuckled. "Did you get the recipe, love? We

could add it to our repertoire." They'd never actually
tried it, only having had stew that one time.

"Gordon won't share." Kerry actually pouted. That

was adorable.

"We'll have to experiment. We'll figure it out." And

they'd have fun trying.

"I'd love that." Kerry's had slid in his.
"Me, too." He squeezed Kerry's hand, leaned in to

kiss his boy.

Kerry opened to him, smiled, the peace in his boy's

face perfect. His boy tasted perfect, too, just right. Frank
wasn't looking at them, but Gordon gave a low wolf
whistle.

Kerry chuckled. "Isn't he beautiful? My Master?"
"You are the beautiful one, boy."
"You're both stupid in love." Frank snorted.
"There are worse things to be, Frank, my man." Like

not being in love. Like not with his boy.

Gordon nodded. "God yes. Everyone should be so

lucky."

"Indeed, they should." Bellamy tugged Kerry close.

"Do you want to have steak with Gordon and Frank?"

"That's perfect, my Bel. Just perfect."
"Just like you."

End.

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If you liked this book you might like these other
Hammer Novels: Little Jamie, Christmas Angel, Lion
Tamer and New: The Two of Swords.

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