Page 4 of Inferno

“I might not believe that my destined person is just going to drop into my lap because I moved to this town. But I do know that if, by some odd twist of fate, they did, I wouldn’t just let them slip through my fingers.”

Everything I said was true when I was referring to him and Parker. But Henry is different. I’m different.

Henry. Even thinking his name makes my cock jerk in my pants. But he’s only twenty-two. He’s just starting out in life, and I’m a jaded thirty-five-year-old man who feels closer to fifty than twenty. I’m old. I’m stuck in my ways. I’m a control freak, and if I allow myself to claim that boy, I’ll take over his life, and that’s not fair to him.

I like things that my boy is barely old enough to understand, and I don’t want to be the one to corrupt somebody who looks as pure and innocent as he does.

I can only see his profile from my view through the diner window, but even from here I can tell how beautiful he is. Most people don’t use the word beautiful to describe men, but it’s the only thing that springs to mind when I look at him.

His hair is dirty blond and a little too long, like the style he used to have has grown out. His skin is warm but pale, and his posture is a little too slumped, like he’s either exhausted or trying to stay unnoticed.

I can only see his top half, but his slim chest and arms are hidden beneath a button-down, with a knit sweater over it. He has the build of a twink, slim and…breakable, and if I allow myself to claim him, I’ll ruin him, and I won’t do that, no matter how much I want him.

The sensible, jaded part of me thinks I should leave. I’m sure I could find someone willing to give me a ride back up the mountain, and leaving is undoubtedly the right thing to do. But instead of walking away, my feet turn, and I follow Danny,walking toward the door to the diner like Henry is a magnet and I’m being drawn into his orbit.

“Fine,” I concede as we reach the door, knowing that even though I should, I’m not strong enough to fight the pull I already feel toward him. Ignoring Danny’s excited expression, I grab my friend’s arm, stopping him before he can step inside. “Do not tell him, or anyone else, about the Barnett stuff, or me,” I hiss, pointing a threatening finger at him.

Danny’s eyes widen, and his jovial expression melts away. “Dude, I’d never out you. Not that anyone would care.”

“I know no one would care, that’s not why I haven’t told any of you. It’s just none of your damn business where I like to stick my dick,” I snap.

“That’s true. But we’re your friends, your family, and hiding a part of yourself from us is kind of shitty.”

I hate that he’s right. I haven’t deliberately hidden my sexuality; it’s just not something I feel the need to tell everyone I meet. I’m bisexual. I’ve had relationships with both women and men, but despite it being the twenty-first century, people still think being bi is weird. In the past, when people have found out about my sexual orientation, I’ve been called greedy and selfish. I’ve had people wrongly assume I’m just gay and don’t want to admit that I’m not into women. But the truth of the matter is that I’m attracted to both sexes, and I shouldn’t have to explain or justify that to anyone.

My last serious relationship was with a woman. We were together for three years, but she never told her family that I’d had relationships with men in the past. I never hid who I was from her. I was upfront when we met, and she said it didn’t matter to her that I was bi. But I had no idea that her brothers and family didn’t know, and when I mentioned my ex was a dude in passing, they lost their minds.

Apparently, they don’t have a problem with gay men, but they do have an issue with their sister being in a relationship with a man who has fucked other men.

The whole thing was an absolute shit show, and Corrine and I parted ways when I realized that despite her assurances that she didn’t care about my past, what she actually meant was she didn’t care about my past as long as no one else knew.

That was five years ago, and apart from a few short-lived flings, I’ve been single by choice ever since.

“I never planned to hide my sexuality from you; it just never came up,” I tell Danny, feeling like an asshole, because I do consider him and the rest of my team as my brothers.

I never intended to keep this part of myself a secret, but now that I’m faced with the truth that maybe I have hidden myself from them, I wonder why I’ve never allowed them to really know me.

“I took this job because I was getting away from a messy situation at my last firehouse. I wasn’t looking to drag that shit here with me, and then after a while of not saying I was bi, it felt weird to just announce it, so I didn’t,” I confess.

Danny takes a moment to consider my words, nods, then slaps one of his huge hands down onto my shoulder, squeezing firmly. “I get it, and like I said, I’d never out you. Either way, your guy is having dinner with my girl, so let’s go join them.”

Even though I know it’s a mistake, I still follow Danny into the diner, trailing him to the table where Parker and Henry are sitting. Up close, Henry is even more beautiful than he appeared through the window. His face isn’t feminine, but his pert nose, high cheekbones and full pouty lips are masculine in their beauty.

I can’t tell how tall he is while he’s sitting down, but if he said he was a model, I’d believe him. His face could sell anything andmake every person who saw his picture instantly bewitched by his ethereal features.

I’ve never been into pretty boys before. I’ve always enjoyed having control over big, strong men who were a physical match for me. With women, I don’t really have a type. But I prefer the soft gentleness that generally comes with submissive girls.

I’ve always found it strange that even though I need control in all my relationships and sexual interactions. I enjoy forcing a guy to give it up but prefer a woman who eagerly offers it to me.

I don’t know Henry, but he doesn’t strike me as a brat. Subconsciously, he must be giving off the vibe that he’d fight me for every inch of control I took from him, or else I wouldn’t be attracted to him…right?

The moment we arrive at the table, Danny starts to talk to Parker, but I’m not listening to what they’re saying because all of my attention is focused on Henry. It takes him a moment to acknowledge me, but slowly he lifts warm caramel eyes to my face, and my dick twitches so hard I’m worried I might spontaneously combust in my pants.

This boy. I want him on his knees, his plump lips stretched wide around my dick while tears drip from his eyes. I want him to spread himself on my bed and offer me anything I decide to take. I want him to cry and beg and know that I’ll only give him what I want him to have. I wanthimin every single way, and the feeling is so strong that it almost brings me to my knees.

After a moment, Danny pushes his way into the booth beside Parker, forcing her to shuffle over to make room for him. Instead of sitting, I wait at the end of the table, enjoying the way it feels to tower over the beautiful boy who’s trying to pointedly avoid looking at me.

I stay standing long enough for it to be awkward, but if I take the seat beside him, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from reaching for him and pulling him into my lap. If he were mine,that’s where he’d be. I wouldn’t care that we’re in a restaurant or that we have an audience, his place would be in my lap with his ass sitting on my cock, my hardness reminding him who he belongs to.

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