Page 65 of Just Business
As usual, his mom answered the phone.
“Hey, honey, how are you?” Relief colored his mother’s words.
Justin winced. She always worried when he didn’t call regularly. “It’s only been a week, Mom.” He’d even called on Thanksgiving from the party at Sam’s house.
She chuckled, but it lacked humor. “I just like hearing your voice.”
For so many months, not too long ago, she’d heard nothing from him at all. His fault for becoming trapped by Francis. “I know. I’m fine. School is going really well.”
“Your advisor likes your work?”
“Yup. I met with Don a few days ago.” He filled her in on the highlights of his classwork and the capstone... as far as he could without boring her to pieces with talk of finance and business psychology. “And working with Sam Anderson is still fantastic. I’m learning so much.”
“He’s not worried about your schooling, right? Or pressuring you too much? I know you enjoy the job, but...” There was the hint of mom worry. “You’ve done so much toward your degree. Don’t leave it behind.”
He’d left his last, very good job for the high of being fucked and beaten into submission. For a moment, he felt Eli’s lips on his neck and Eli’s voice in his ear.This what you’ve been craving?Like Francis had said.
Justin stood to shake off the memory. “Sam knew about the MBA when he hired me. There’s no pressure, Mom.” Not from Sam, anyway. “Don says it’s great experience. I’m getting credit for it.” Somethingclanged on the other end and Justin glanced at the clock. It was just past seven... so six there. “Did I call during dinner?”
“I’m getting things ready. Mercy had a support meeting tonight. Also your father’s picking up some extra hours at the shop.”
Time and a half. Justin kicked at his bag. If he hadn’t screwed up so royally in California, his dad wouldn’t be working so hard right before retirement. “I’m sorry I’m not helping out more.”
This time, the sound of running water slid behind his mother’s voice. “Justin,” she said in a sweet and gentle tone he didn’t deserve, “you help out more than enough as it is. Moving to Pittsburgh, getting your MBA... That’s quite enough. Sounds like things have turned around for you.”
“They have.”
“Focus on that. Mercy wouldn’t want you killing yourself over her, and neither do we.”
“I know.” But he owed them so much. They’d saved him.
“You still having issues with that man at work? The one with the cane?”
Oh shit.Eli. He hadn’t mentioned him during the last three calls. “No!” He coughed. “No. He’s...” Beautiful. Demanding. Wanton. Justin glanced at his apartment. It could fit in Eli’s living room and half of his kitchen. “He’s been fine.”
Silence on the other end. Even the clanking of dishes had stopped. He pictured his mother, her long silver hair pulled back, hand on her hip, while the other held the phone. Her lips pulled thin. He’d never been able to discuss a man he liked without tripping over himself. He knew exactly what was coming next. Dreaded it. Maybe if he talked about Eli, he could figure his head out.
“Is there something between you two?”
Justin bit his tongue and answered. “Yeah. We started talking more. We’re...” How hard was it to admit? “We’ve been dating.” God, how would his mother react? Hell, he couldn’t believe he was dating Eli.
She started speaking a few times, the sounds staccato in his ear. Finally, the question formed. “You’re not... in one ofthoserelationships again? With the collars and whips and...” She trailed off.
Justin wrapped an arm around his middle. She’d seen him after he’d left Francis, the bruises, the cuts on his wrists from hanging in rope too long. “It’s not like it was with—”
“Justin, please please please don’t do this to us again.” Her voice cracked and broke his heart.
She’d read between the words and tone. His back bore Eli’s marks and his ass was still sore from the last glorious caning scene. His memory of that crumbled to ash. “Mom, it’s not...” The words stuck in his throat.
It’s not the same.Was it? He was wrapped up in another rich, domineering man’s life.
“You’re not living with him, are you?”
“No!” Sure, he spent a lot of time at Eli’s, but he still had this place. Still had his own life. Mostly. Except on weekends and some evenings. “I’m in my apartment, Mom.”
A sigh of relief. “Good.”
“We just see each other at work. Sometimes on the weekends.” Most of them. Hell, he’d even taken to doing his homework in Eli’s kitchen. It was quiet, and Eli rewarded him with sex and pain. Justin shivered.
