It’s been over a month since Parker left Shelby when my mother finally calls, early on a Saturday afternoon. It’s also my birthday, so I’m not certain which is the reason for this honor, but Parker and I have talked it over and I’m prepared but dreading the conversation.

Craig is over and we’ve all been watching a movie together. Craig has big plans for me tonight, but Ben didn’t want to be left out, so he got me a birthday cupcake and let me pick the movie. He didn’t even roll his eyes or whine about having to watch Blade Runner again. I press pause and shush them before answering.

“Hello, Mother.”

Craig makes a “reek reek” sound with stabby motions and Parker and Ben have to cover their mouths to keep from laughing too loud. I’d glare, but it’s too funny and I’d break my phone composure.

“Happy Birthday, Zachariah,” she says.

“Thanks.”

She hesitates for only a second before asking what I’m assuming is the actual purpose of this call. “Have you heard from Parker?”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing,” she says, and I can only imagine the constipated expressions her poor phone is having to face right now. “Shelby is looking for him.”

“Is he missing?”

“Yes,” she gushes and I have to wonder how much is her lying to me and how much was Shelby lying to her. “Shelby came home from a trip to see her parents, and Parker is missing. His car is gone, and she’s called all of their friends and no one has heard from him.”

“Oh my god, did she call the police?” Parker is looking on with a slightly terrified expression. But I’m not going to give him up. Just torment my mom a little.

“Well, no, he left a note.”

“If he left a note, then he isn’t missing, is he?”

“But it’s so unlike him. To abandon Shelby when she needs him the most. We’re thinking maybe he wasn’t in his right mind from grief. Or someone forced him to leave.”

“Like the mob?” I say with probably too much enthusiasm. “You know, Parker used to talk about poker nights at the frat house. He could have owed someone money.”

Ben has to leave the room and Parker is suffocating himself on a couch cushion. Craig’s nostrils flare and I think my evilness is turning him on.

My mom chokes a little in the background and I think she might have actually taken me seriously.

“Look, Mom, you obviously don’t think I’ve had any contact with Parker because he wouldn’t dare lower himself to talk to me or my gay friends. So I appreciate the birthday call and all, but next time, why don’t you not.”

“See, this is the type of attitude that isn’t helpful. And it’s what got you into trouble last month and poor Shelby paid the price.”

“I love you and Dad, but I’m done. When I came out in college, I told you either to accept me, or to let me go. You decided on acceptance, but I think you really need to look up the definition, because it definitely isn’t ignore, berate, and belittle. So until you learn to actually accept me, and not just pretend to tolerate me, then I won’t be around anymore. If you try to call me again with anything other than a sincere, heartfelt apology, I’ll block your number. A process I’m sure Parker is intimately familiar with.”

I can hear the beginning of her gasp before I hit the end button. Craig immediately wraps me in his arms, but I’m fine. It’s something I should have done ages ago.

“Let’s finish the damn movie.”

* * *

“Glove box. Put it on,” Craig says to me as we drive from Fort Collins heading south.

I open up the bag to find a cock ring inside.

“Seriously? And how long am I going to have to wait?”

“So impatient,” Craig smirks, and runs a hand over my already semi-hard cock. “Fuck, baby.”

Craig has been planning my birthday surprise for weeks, and after the fucking delights of this afternoon, I’m in need of some relief. I told him what I was comfortable with, what I would like and what I wouldn’t, and he took care of the rest. All I know is that it’s going to be one hell of a kinky birthday and that I trust Craig to make it amazing.

“Put it on,” he repeats, and I unzip, right there in the car, out in the open. Thankfully it’s after six and already dark, because there’s a lot of traffic headed to Denver on a Saturday night. I’d be putting on quite a show, which Craig is fully aware of.

The ring is a thin leather band with snaps, but I’m too hard already and am having a difficult time getting it to fit. Craig notices my struggle and reaches over and pinches the head of my dick, hard. Harder than playtime hard.

“Ow!” I squeal in a totally unembarrassing way, but the pain worked and my cock deflates enough to snap the ring around the base of my cock.

Craig answers with an evil chuckle. Bastard. Brilliant fucking bastard.

I’m positive that everyone in the hotel can tell something’s off with me, because I’m walking like I’ve been on a horse all day. Craig’s smirk would indicate he’s totally aware of how uncomfortable I am and is very pleased with himself over it.

After the eternity that it takes to reach our room, I’m about to complain about the humiliation I just suffered, but the sight of the room shuts my mouth. The suite is massive, and what we’ve walked into is a full living room with an open kitchen off to the side. Everything is sleek and sophisticated, but not gaudy like that fucking Brown Palace.

Craig takes our bags through a doorway and I follow him into what is a separate bedroom with a massive king size bed. He digs through his bag and tosses a bulb, a huge bottle of lube, and my favorite dildo onto the bed.

“Get yourself ready,” he says, reaching out to rub a thumb over the outline of my hard dick in my pants. Shit, I didn’t realize how noticeable it was in these dress pants. Now everyone in the lobby knows what we’re playing. A rush of blood pulses south, but with a sharp throb it retreats, having nowhere to go.

“I’ve got some things to take care of out here. Hopefully I won’t be too long, but it should be enough time for you to shower and get yourself nice and worked up.” He picks up the dildo, which is not too long, but very thick and a shimmery purple, and smacks me across the chest with it. “When I get back, I want you on all fours, facing the headboard, with this sticking out of your pretty hole.”

I’m almost thankful for the ring, because I’m pretty sure all his bossy talk would have made me blow my load already. But then another sharp twinge shoots from my cock up my groin and across my balls, and I’m really messed up. I can’t figure out if this is amazing or torture.

At least with Craig out of the room, I can go about my preparation with more clearheaded efficiency. As long as I don’t think about it, I’m just cleaning my ass for a boring old session with my hand. I just can’t look down at the reminder between my legs. Harder to ignore is the fact that I’ve heard the outer door open and close multiple times now, and there are low voices one bedroom door away that most definitely aren’t Craig.

Nerves run up my arms and I almost drop the dildo. I bury my face in a pillow while I position myself and use my fingers first to prepare myself. I barely feel the stretch and burn, don’t even think twice or get a flicker of arousal when I replace them with the dildo because my mind is racing.

I can’t believe we’re here. We’re doing this. I’ve wanted it for so long, but this is a line there’s no coming back from. What if I can’t do it? What if Craig hates it? What if he really thinks I’m a slut after this?

The door snicks open and closed so quickly I wouldn’t imagine anyone had entered until I feel a hand caress my cheek.

“Just checking on you, beautiful.” Craig caresses my jaw and neck, and I instantly relax. This is why everything is going to be okay. Because Craig is here, and in charge, and we’re in this together. I know he won’t let me get in over my head and that he won’t let either of us do something that we’d regret. That’s what makes this so special. That we trust each other.

I turn my head that’s resting on my arm and smile at him. “Good,” I say, and embarrassingly enough, my voice is already stretched thin with desire.

“We’ll be right in, okay?”

I nod, too overwhelmed to say anything else.

Craig growls as he takes me in, and smacks my ass on the way out. All that’s left for me to do is take a deep breath and wait.