Page 110 of Men in Shorts

Andrew suddenly stiffened. Colin paused, checking to see he wasn’t crushing him. “You all right?” he asked in a normal tone.

“No,” Andrew said. “But I deserve this.”

Andrew’s body was tense, which told Colin they should stop. Everything about this scene rang wrong. In the past, they’d used bindings made of silk, not leather. Even their roughest play had an air of luxury, and Andrew’s fake protests had always held a slight smirk.

Still, he’d yet to utter the safe word. Andrew would always get exasperated when Colin used to stop at the sound of the wordno.“Sometimes no means yes,”Andrew had lectured him repeatedly.“Only the safe word means no.”

“You do deserve it,” Colin said now. “And more.”

He got up, retrieving one of the other straps, and went to the foot of the bed where Andrew couldn’t see him. There he seized Andrew’s ankles and held them together.

Andrew’s legs jerked in response, hard enough to challenge Colin but not hard enough to pull free.

“Keep still,” Colin said through gritted teeth as adrenaline coursed through him. He could feel himself getting harder, even as doubt laced his mind.

“Make me.” Andrew kept writhing. “Teach me not to move.”

“How?”

“How do you think?” Andrew said in aDon’t be an idiottone. “Use the strap.”

Confused, Colin looked at the strip of leather in his hand. “I cannae hit you, so what does that leave?”

“Nothing.” Andrew kicked out, harder than ever. “Obviously.”

Was he saying…? Oh.

If I’m wrong about this, he’s going to kill me.

He raised the strap, aimed carefully, and brought it down across Andrew’s bottom. Thethwackmade Colin jerk back in surprise.

Andrew fell still, then his muscles went limp. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

No, I’m sorry.Colin stared at the pink marks on Andrew’s backside. As many times as he’d longed to smack those perfect, perky cheeks, the reality made him a bit queasy.

Still, it seemed to have been what Andrew wanted, so Colin proceeded to bind his ankles. Then he crawled atop Andrew’s legs, still fully clothed himself. With a firm tug on the harness, he said, “Up on your knees.”

Andrew lifted his arse, keeping his forehead on the mattress between his splayed elbows. Colin gazed at the sight before him. The black harness hugged Andrew’s sinewy contours, making him appear simultaneously wild and contained.

How did I get here?Colin wondered for at least the hundredth time.What did I do to deserve this work of art?

Without touching him, Colin leaned down and brought his lips near the base of Andrew’s spine. His mouth watered at the scent of leather mixed with bare skin.

He noticed the room had fallen silent. In the past, when Colin had made Andrew wait to be touched or kissed, he’d responded with impatient whimpers and barely stifled urgings. Now the only sound was Andrew’s quick, shallow breaths.

Maybe he was bored. Colin took the harness by both hands, immobilizing Andrew’s hips. “Where shall I lick you first?”

Andrew didn’t answer, but then again, he wasn’t supposed to.

Colin flicked his tongue against his left cheek, then the right one, reveling in the way Andrew’s entire body trembled with need. He knew his boyfriend adored this sadistic teasing, loved giving up all control and putting himself at Colin’s mercy.

Or at least hehadloved it months ago, before Colin lost the strength to restrain him, before he became a fragile thing in Andrew’s eyes, as delicate and precious as those champagne glasses.

But Colin was fragile no more, despite how yesterday’s match had ended. His collapse had left him looking weak in front of this man, the one he most needed to be strong for.

Andrew began to struggle, trying to shove his hips back, no doubt eager for more. Colin’s biceps burned with the effort to hold him fast.

All at once Andrew stopped pushing. Instead he lurched to the left, toppling onto his side and drawing up his knees to lie in the fetal position.

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