“Thanks again, Theo. You’re a real lifesaver. We’ll try not to take up so much space,” I said.

Theo ran his hand over his thin white beard. A happy smile stretched across his face. “Hey, you’re family. I hope you know that, kid,” he said. “That goes for you too, Matthew. This is the first time we’ve met, but it’s an honor.”

“Well, hopefully, it’ll just be for a few days,” I said. “You know, until we can get another place lined up.”

Matthew smiled and threw his coat on the hanger before perusing the flat. The large windows in the kitchen cast a magnificent view of the city. In the distance, we could see the Chrysler Building, as well as the Empire State building.

“Whoa,” Matthew whispered. “This place is pretty cool, man.”

I stood next to my brother and put my arm around his shoulder. “Matthew, this is the guy I sent you letters about. He took me in when no one else would,” I said.

Theo chuckled and sat down. “And now you’re going to take over my bar since you’re moving back to the city, right?”

“Wrong,” I said. “This is just a temporary thing.”

Matthew turned around and jumped onto the couch. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a Gameboy and turned it on while placing his feet against the footrest. “Don’t listen to my brother. I’m staying here. The city is freakin’ awesome,” he said.

I stared at my brother peculiarly. When he told me yesterday about what my father forced him to go through, I knew that I had to protect him like our parents should have. As soon as we started driving, a part of Matthew I had never seen before came out from hiding.

I shouldn’t have left all those years ago, but now that he was free, he could start to enjoy the world around him. Now that he was free… well, I wasn’t letting him out of my sight, unless my parents took the huge step to get clean.

Embracing my old friend Theo, I noticed that he looked stronger than when I last left the city. It had been a few months, but I felt hopeful that he could pull through his illness and somehow keep the bar.

Later on in the day, we had a few beers and talked about life. I was worried about coming back here because I knew I couldn’t rely on Marcus for everything. Eventually, I would have to find something tangible that could lift me out of this rut I found myself in.

Of course, there was still the Sixty-Six bar. I made decent money there, and I loved Theo like a father. As soon as he sensed I was having trouble deciding on what to do with myself, he said, “You know, the offer is still on the table.”

“You’d have me back?” I asked him.

“It’s like I said earlier. You’re family, alpha. If you come back, you can co-own the place with me. Deal? I’m not letting you run away again,” he said.

It was a tempting offer, but not one without a certain level of responsibility. However, with no job prospects lined up, I had to give it an honest think. “Give me a week, and I’ll let you know,” I said. “I do appreciate it, Theo.”

“Any time,” Theo said. “I’m going to head to the bar now. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

When Marcus came home hours later, he was balancing a large stack of papers in his hands. As he went to shut the door, the stack wobbled in both directions. “Here, let me help you with that,” I said.

Before I could help, he ran and set the documents on the kitchen bar. “It’s okay, baby.” Marcus was out breath from running up the flight of stairs. “God, the steps nearly killed me. What is this, the eighth floor?”

“It’s the tenth floor,” I said.

I comforted and kissed his handsome face while running my hand across the small of his back. He smelled so incredible that I didn’t want to let him go, so I didn’t. I picked him up into my arms, swinging him close to my chest.

Life felt a little disrupted lately, but there was the occasional mix of perfection. This was my family. And now that Marcus was on board, I wasn’t ever going to lose him. Lately, he had been the glue that held us together.

“God, I love kissing you,” I said. I pulled away and looked into his green eyes, deeply. “Maybe you should quit the department. You could stay at home with me all day.”

Marcus smiled, pushing his forehead against mine. “If I quit, we wouldn’t have any money,” he said. “Plus, I can’t just let these people run free. Justice needs to be served.”

“Have you told your dad what we found?” I asked.

“I can’t, Sawyer. He wouldn’t believe me.”

I groaned when I thought about his father. Marcus kept assuring me that I didn’t need to meet him, but I imagined he couldn’t be any worse than my own. “What is he going to do if we move in together?” I asked.

Marcus laughed. “That’s the thing. He’s got money. He moved in years ago, and I never had the heart to tell him to leave,” he said. “I guess if he doesn’t want the hassle, he could always take over my lease.”

I kissed him one last time for good measure. “We can take it one day at a time,” I said.

Marcus lowered his voice. With a devious look in his eyes, he whispered, “I want some time alone with you, mister. I think I can handle the ropes now, but I want to practice some more.”

Matthew rolled his eyes. “Um, I can hear everything you say. Can you guys get a room or something?”

Ignoring my brother’s comments, I thought about our last night together, two days ago. Marcus was doing so well with the ropes, and my Shibari technique was nearly perfect. There was no denying that we fit well together.

“Soon,” I whispered, winking at Marcus.

I glanced back down at the documents resting on the kitchen bar. “So, what is this? Did you find a new lead in the case?” I asked.

Marcus’s eyes shifted between my brother and me. “Well, not quite. The case is going to be a bitch to figure out.”

I followed him to the couch and sat down. “So what’s the plan?” I asked him.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you both something that doesn’t surround the case,” he said.

Matthew looked up from his Gameboy. “What is it?” he asked.

Marcus went to grab the stack of forms. “I filled out most of it already. I just have to send it in. It’s a crazy process, but maybe it could put the pressure on your parents to finally get sober,” he said.

I leaned forward and took the first sheet in my hand. I read the words, “Petition for guardianship. Marcus, what is this?”

“Well, I thought we could apply to be Matthew’s guardians. Obviously, it’s all up to you and Matthew,” Marcus said. “All we have to do is get this thing filed. It’s going to be hard for them to raise a ruckus about everything. It’s a simple gesture that could change everything.”

Immediately, Matthew nodded his head. “Sawyer, please don’t let me go back there,” he pleaded. “I love them, but I can’t do it anymore. I need some space to figure my life out.”

“Ma will be heartbroken. I’m honestly surprised that she hasn’t called the cops on us yet. I fully expected her to do it an hour after we left,” I said.

Marcus set the forms back down again. “Matthew, I believe that your parents love you with all their heart. Addiction is a soul-sucking disease, and they need help. Maybe if they realize they lost both of their sons, they can find the strength they need to check into rehab,” Marcus said.

Matthew took the forms into his hand, glancing over the main parts. “I don’t give a shit how they feel. I’m eighteen in six months. Until then, I’m down to room with you guys. Where do I sign?”

Marcus looked at me before continuing the process. “You heard the man. Let’s get this thing started,” I said.

So, we did. For the next few days, we just focused on this. Family. I was starting to realize how important it was.

As we filled and filed all of the correct forms, I thought about what I could do differently. Time was only moving forward, faster and faster with each new day. We still had a long way to go, but if Marcus and I had moved in together, I wanted to do things right for a change.

At night, Marcus and I laid in bed. Those few hours of the night were sacred to me because it meant some alone time with the man I wanted to end up with.

As I stared into his eyes, I tightened the rope and reached in between his legs. He was as hard as a fucking rock. “Well, it certainly doesn’t seem like you’re in any pain. Do you want me to suspend you now?” I asked.

With his eyes closed, he nodded and let out a quiet breath of air. “Please,” he said. “I think I’ve figured this thing out.”

I picked up his smooth body, feeling the rough edges of the rope press against my hands. “It’s all about focus,” I said.

“Focus and surrender. I’ve never thought about pain like this before,” he said. I locked him into a makeshift hook that I built into the ceiling. “I used to try and block out the pain. Now, I try to follow it. Does that even make sense?”

What Marcus didn’t realize was that he was already suspended from the ceiling and using his full body weight to support himself. He was a strong omega, stronger than he knew. Looking at him floating in midair, he looked like a beautiful butterfly, ready to burst out of the cocoon. I was so proud of him.

Kissing down his spine, I paused at the folds of his cute butt poised in front me. “Pain and pleasure are one thing,” I whispered.

That was a revelation that shocked me too. Once a person could feel the pain give way, it started to make sense. For me, the slow and gradual waves of feeling that Shibari rope bondage gave me was a perfect means to experience it and grow.

Marcus finally opened his eyes. “I want you, Sawyer,” he said.

“Now? I thought we were just getting you ready for this. Theo and Matthew are coming back with dinner soon,” I said.

“I’m ready,” Marcus said. “I can handle this. We can be quick.”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, glancing at the door.

“Please, Sawyer. I need you to force yourself inside of me and make me love it.”

I couldn’t deny him. Not when he was powerless like this in front of me. Something clicked between my legs, and I suddenly felt an insatiable hunger for him.

I found myself reaching forward and tracing the harsh edges of the ropes that enclosed him. Slowly, I let my fingers brush against his smooth skin, down to the hills of his beautiful ass.

I fell to my knees against the bed mattress and kissed his flesh like a trophy. “Mm, yes. Tease me, Sawyer,” he whispered.

“I want to taste you first,” I said.

Moving my lips toward his hole, I kept one firm hand on his throbbing, hard cock, stroking him slowly. It had been months since we had been this close together, but we were finally getting our sweet release.

As I stroked him down, I curled my tongue against his rim, licking around the edges before I dove in. The dominant side of me had been overshadowed because of the constant moving and stress my family put on me. But as I opened his cheeks, I felt the swift power inside of me start to poke through.

When I allowed myself to fall back into my role, Marcus became more submissive. Angling his hips in the right way, he puckered his hole outward. I slid a smooth finger inside of him, while carefully applying the right amount of lube.

The sun shined across his naked body, and he looked breathtaking. There was a defined strength to his submission, and all I wanted now was to push the boundaries. I wanted to cross the line. As it turned out, he wanted me to as well.

“Punish me,” he whispered.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

Marcus wasted no time, nodding his head. “I’ve never been this sure in my life.”

Outside of the window, the sun was setting behind the looming skyscrapers. My brother and Theo would be back soon. We had to act fast.

I took a step back and reached into my wallet, carefully opening the knot-proof condom. Last time was such a mess, I thought. As soon as I knotted, the fucking thing broke.

“You better make sure to pull out this time,” he said.

A sly smile escaped my face. “Why? You don’t want to make a baby with me?” I asked.

“Someday. When we’re ready.”

The words escaped his mouth as I threaded my fingers inside of him. Marcus’s head fell back, and he issued a deep moan as I found room for more of my hand. Quicker than expected, he opened up for me, giving over his body entirely.

My cock brushed against the smooth backside of his cheeks. As I found the rhythm, I slid out my fingers and gave him my cock. Marcus’s eyes widened with tender astonishment, and the deeper I drove into him, the closer to me his weight pushed.

I thrust in as deep as I could go, gripping against the ropes and pulling tighter. Marcus’s loud moans filled the flat, but I didn’t care anymore. All of me was going to him.

In a moment of tight friction, I closed my eyes and thrust back. I felt his closeness, that real side of him that contradicted his uniform.

All of those nights alone in the city, I dreamt of him. I waited for him to find himself.

“You feel so fucking good,” he moaned.

I gripped down harder and positioned him closer to me. “I never want you to leave,” I said.

My hips tightened, and I thrust forward with all my might. “I love you, Sawyer!” he cried out.

I slowed my pace down, so I could look into his eyes clearer. Positioning his head toward mine, I felt him, warm, devoted, and familiar. “Tell me again,” I said.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve always loved you.”

“Again.”

“I love you.”

My hips started to move again. I felt my cock beginning to swell with absolute pleasure. “Again, dammit,” I commanded, swinging the rope off of the carabineer.

I held him in my hands. I penetrated him until we were both feeling it. “I fucking love you, you son of a bitch!”

Everything came to a rising crescendo as our hearts pushed us toward everything that we’d been holding back from each other. “I’m going to give you all of my cum,” I moaned.

Jerking the condom off as fast as I could, I placed my cock into his bound wrists. Marcus took hold of my shaft and rocked his wrist gentle enough to pierce the center of my cock’s pleasure.

I released the rope and set him free. He turned around and stroked both himself and me, tongue ready to catch all of my seed. “Give it to me,” he said.

Running my thumb against his lips and dropping it to his soft, wet tongue, I lost the ability to edge any further. The pleasure pushed past the threshold and shot me high into the sky.

Thick ropes of cum shot across his pink tongue. A smile curled against his open mouth. The pleasure broke me, and I lurched forward with searing joy.

“Mm,” he whispered as he swallowed.

In that moment of ecstasy, something took hold of me. As my body fell forward, and the pleasure started to fade, I felt a deep connection take over my senses. I opened my mouth and let every inch push across my tongue.

I tasted the sweet honey of his precum before he quickly gave the rest of him over. With a little less grace, I swallowed him and kept him down until he squirmed back.

“Okay, okay! Too… much…” he grunted, slack-jawed and dazed.

Together, we lay twisted in a pile of ropes, elastic bands, and miscellaneous mountain climbing gear. Laughing, Marcus curled his arms around me and kissed the crook of my neck.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” I whispered. “You handled the suspension so well this time.”

The outlines from the rope’s knots appeared as battle scars all over Marcus. On the most tender spots, dark red imprints traced across. He ran his finger across one of the grooves and sucked in some air to ease the soreness.

“It helps when you realize you’re in love,” he said.

I breathed out a sigh of relief and turned my body to face him. “I’ve never felt whole before,” I admitted.

“Now, you have me,” he said.

“I have all of you?” I looked into his eyes and kissed his nose, trusting that he’d never walk away from this.

He took my hand and placed it against his chest, dragging it down to his abdomen. “All of me,” he said.

Love wasn’t a fantasy. In the city that never sleeps, a man could turn his nightmares into dreams, but only with the right person.

I closed my eyes, but as soon as I started to drift into a light, post-rope-sex sleep, I heard Theo and my brother walk in with the groceries for dinner. “Sawyer! Time to wake up. Come and help me set the table,” Matthew said.

In a minute. Please, just let me lay here with the man I love. Let me enjoy floating in heaven like this.

Neither one of us could shake the dumb smiles off of our faces. We were lost in a dream, hoping we would never wake up.

Matthew knocked open the door to our room with the front edge of his boot and walked inside. His eyes first fell on the loose ropes, but quickly he saw our naked, glistening bodies. “Oh, God, dude!”

Sadly, no perfect dream could go uninterrupted. Matthew’s entrance forced me to jump under the covers, but most importantly, I realize how fragile our safety really was.

As soon as our parents would receive the call from his high school telling them that their dear Matthew was missing, all hell would break loose. Our little taste of heaven would turn into another purgatory.