CHAPTER THREE
“So we’re done?” Dash asked when Thorne emerged from the bathroom.
“Yes.” Thorne had never wanted Marc or any of the other rent boys to stay. But Dash… No. Thorne had work to do. Days’ worth of work and he only had until his midday flight on Sunday to finish it. Playtime was over.
Dash didn’t say anything else. He simply picked up his clothes and headed into the bathroom. Thorne watched his ass every step of the way, sinking his teeth into his lower lip to keep from calling him back.
When he sat down at his desk, he deliberately shifted in his seat, enjoying how sore he was. Once he heard the shower spray, he turned his attention to his laptop. By the time Dash exited the bathroom, Thorne had written a large chunk of the first report he needed to finish. He glanced at the time. Wow, Dash had been in there for half an hour. Surely he hadn’t needed to jack off again. “You do have hot water at home, right?”
“Yes,” Dash said. “As you pointed out, I’m well compensated, though my shower is about half that size.”
Thorne did like the luxuries his hard work had earned him, and the extra-large shower was one of his favorite indulgences. But was that bitterness in Dash’s tone? He hadn’t meant to be an ass, again. “I didn’t mean—”
Dash held up a hand. “I have sex for money. It’s my choice. It’s a hell of a lot more fun than other things I could do to save up for school, trust me.”
Thorne wouldn’t dispute that. Working retail or any service industry job was just a different way of getting screwed. As long as the clients were vetted—and Thorne knew they were—and Dash had a say in whom he worked for… Yeah, it could be much worse.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay?” Dash chose that moment to unhook the towel he’d wrapped around his waist and let it drop. Thorne couldn’t resist giving him a thorough once-over.
Having him stay was tempting, but Thorne would never finish his work if he did. “I told the service I only needed a few hours of your time. And, as I already told you, I have work to do.”
“You have heard of weekends, right?”
“My clients don’t care what day of the week it is.” He tapped his laptop. “I need to finish this report.”
“What you need is to relax.”
That was why he scheduled time for sex every Friday. “What the fuck do you think I just did?”
“You came spectacularly, but you’re already tense again. Sex is one way to relieve tension, but it’s clearly not enough for you.”
Where did Dash get the goddamn nerve to lecture him? And why hadn’t Thorne kicked him out? “I don’t do post-sex cuddling if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Dash grinned. “I would never accuse you of such a thing.”
What the fuck did that mean?
“So what do you do for fun?” Dash asked, ignoring Thorne’s wish for him to leave. “Watch TV?” He gestured toward the enormous flat-screen on the wall in front of the couch.
“No.” Thorne didn’t have time to lie around like that.
“Do you read?”
“Reports for work. Rarely anything else.”
Dash sighed and shook his head. “Junk food? Surely you at least eat cake, doughnuts, candy, something?”
Thorne hesitated. Cake used to be a major weakness. Then he hit forty and had to work extra hard to maintain his weight.
Dash grinned. “Ah. Now I got you pegged. You’d love to binge on chocolate cake, wouldn’t you? One with a dark ganache on top, maybe a rich cherry filling inside.”
Fuck. Cake had never sounded so hot as it did when Dash talked about it. “Okay, you discovered my secret. I have a sweet tooth. But this report still has to get written.”
Dash crossed the room and came to stand right by Thorne, still buck naked, of course.
“Surely, the report can wait a little while. Let’s have some cake together.”
Thorne reached out and skimmed his knuckles over Dash’s sleek abs. “Is that a euphemism?”
Dash winked. “It could be, but I think we should have the real thing first.”
“Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
Thorne couldn’t find the right word to describe what he meant, and that was unsettling because he was rarely at a loss for words. He couldn’t afford to be with his clients. “You walk in and just take over. And you’re so fucking…happy.”
Dash laughed. “I try to see the good in everything.”
“How old are you?” Did Thorne really want to know?
“Twenty-two.”
Fuck.
“Ah, the optimism of youth.”
“You’re hardly an old geezer, you know.”
Thorne sighed. “I’m forty-two, but sometimes I feel a hundred.”
Dash leaned down and nibbled Thorne’s neck. Then he ran his tongue around the outer edge of his ear, making Thorne shudder. “You fuck like you’re twenty,” Dash whispered.
“Jesus, would you stop.” No wonder Dash could command top dollar with the most exclusive escort service in town. Thorne grabbed his phone and pulled up the number of Bavaria Haus, a nearby restaurant that made exquisite black forest cake.
His call was answered on the second ring. “Mr. Shipton, how may we help you?” Thorne recognized the voice. Niklas, the front-of-the-house manager.
“Good evening, Niklas.”
“It’s been too long. I hope you are well.”
“Very, thank you. Could you send two pieces of black forest cake and some Viennese coffee to my place?”
“For you, of course. Anything else?”
“Not tonight.”
“I’ll send Alex. He’ll be there in fifteen minutes. No more.”
Thorne recognized the name. Alex was one of the waitstaff who often worked the busy weekend nights. Niklas always sent one of the servers since they didn’t actually offer delivery. It was a perk for very special customers.
“You have my gratitude.”
“Enjoy your dessert.”
“I assure you, I will.” Thorne ended the call.
“Do you have a bakery on retainer?” Dash asked.
“Not exactly. I’m an excellent customer at Bavaria Haus. When I make special requests, they do their best to fill them.”
Dash shook his head. “In other words, they do whatever you say, just like most people.”
“That’s not—”
“Come on. Everyone does your bidding. That’s what you expect.”
Thorne would have been offended or at least pretended to be, but Dash looked like Thorne’s officious behavior turned him on. Did he get off on topping powerful men? If so, Thorne supposed it was no wonder Sheila had thought they were a match.
“It’s true. Most people do as I say.” You are an excellent example of an exception.
“So what are you working on?” Dash asked as he propped his naked ass on Thorne’s desk.
“A report. I told you that, and I’d like to get on with it while we wait for the cake.”
Dash ignored him, of course. “What kind of report? What do you do?”
“Aren’t you taught not to ask clients personal questions?”
Dash shrugged. “I figure we’ve been about as personal as two people can be.”
“Maybe I’d rather stay fairly anonymous.”
“I’m at your apartment.”
He was fucking relentless, but Thorne found himself smiling and fighting the urge to laugh.
“Ah, there you go. See? Relaxing a little doesn’t hurt.”
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Thorne said, having no intention of revealing anything else about his personal life, or lack thereof. “What do you do to relax other than fuck, or is that more work than relaxation?”
“That depends on the client.” Dash’s eyes twinkled as he looked Thorne over.
“Don’t even go there,” Thorne warned. “No more flattery.”
“It’s not flattery when it’s true.”
Thorne sighed.
Dash held his hands up. “Okay. Okay. I like to watch movies, old ones, like from the eighties.”
Thorne looked up, horrified. “Eighties movies are oldies now?”
Dash laughed. “Oh yes; I can’t believe they had color back then.”
Thorne glared at him. “Funny. You do realize I was alive back in those dark times.”
“Nothing dark about them; rather sparkly and bright, really. An exciting time for gay fashion.”
Thorne made a strangled sound as he fought a laugh.
“It’s working. Some of the tension has left your shoulders, and you’re no longer grinding your teeth.”
How had Dash known that’s what he had been doing? He hadn’t realized it himself until Dash mentioned it.
Dash slid off the desk, landing softly on the wood floor. He moved behind Thorne and began massaging his shoulders. “Fuck, when was the last time you had a professional massage?”
“Try never.”
Dash tsked. “You’ve got to do something about this, or you’re going to end up with a neck injury.”
“I don’t have time for nonsense like massages. I—”
“Have to work.” Dash’s mocking tone should’ve pissed him off. Instead, he found it adorable. God, he was infuriating.
“You also have to live,” Dash insisted.
Thorne lived for his job. When he’d been hired, Symthson had been a mid-range firm, but he’d wowed some very important clients, and the firm’s reputation had grown as had his salary. When Mr. Symthson himself had retired, Thorne bought out his shares, making him the owner of 30 percent of the company, 10 percent more than anyone else. Now Symthson Associates was arguably the best at what they did. Relaxing wasn’t going to keep that success going. But can you keep going if you don’t?
The doorbell rang then. Thorne stood and waved Dash away.
“Would I shock the poor man at the door?”
Thorne shook his head. “No, but he might try to steal you.” If Alex was the server Thorne thought he was, he was rather flirtatious.
Dash stepped into the bedroom, and Thorne answered the door.
“Good evening, Mr. Shipton. May I say you made an excellent choice? The black forest cake is my favorite of our desserts.”
“It’s quite delicious,” Thorne agreed.
Alex’s tongue snaked out, and he wet his lower lip. “Yes, it is.”
Thorne had clearly remembered him correctly. He handed Alex a wad of cash. “Keep the change.”
His eyes widened. “Thank you. Enjoy your cake.”
“I will.” Thorne took the carafe and the pastry box and shut the door. The moment it clicked shut, Dash stepped out of the bedroom.
“Forget him stealing me. I think he would have been happy to stay and enjoy you, maybe topped with cake.”
“Ha! He just knows his craft, like you.”
“Maybe Sheila should hire him away from the restaurant business.”
Thorne laughed. “Maybe she should.”
Thorne set the food down on the coffee table. “Do you usually eat dessert naked?”
Dash grinned. “I don’t really see the need for clothes. They’re too confining, but if you’d like me to dress…”
Thorne looked at him. Dash’s cock was semi-hard again. What exactly had he been thinking about? “No, I like you the way you are.”
“I had a feeling you did.”
Thorne got mugs and a few dessert plates, so they wouldn’t have to eat out of the containers.
He set them down on the table and opened the box that held two large slices of cake. Dash groaned. “That smells amazing.”
Thorne could only agree.
“Here. I’ll do that,” Dash said, taking the plate from him. “You sit back and relax. This was my idea after all.”
Thorne leaned back on his sofa. He didn’t mind watching a gorgeous, naked man serve him cake and coffee. Dash plated up the cake and then filled mugs for each of them, moving gracefully through every step, seeming to position himself in a way calculated to show off his many charms. By the time Dash handed him a piece of cake and settled on the sofa next to him, Thorne’s cock had let him know that round two with Dash was a necessity.
Thorne took a bite, trying to concentrate on the cake rather than the man in front of him. Not an easy task, at least not until the rich chocolate and tart cherry hit his tongue. “Mmm. Just as good as I remember.”
Dash looked ready to come from his sample. He licked his fork and grinned at Thorne. “Perfect. I knew you had to enjoy something other than sex and work.”
Thorne took another bite. He closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the pleasure. Why hadn’t he ordered this recently? Oh yeah, because he’d have to work it off. But this time, he could work it off with Dash instead of the infernal treadmill.
“What are you thinking?”
“Why?”
“You smiled, and I don’t think it’s just the cake.”
Why not just admit it? You know you’re not letting him go without fucking again. “I was thinking about all the calories in the cake and then realized I could work them off with you.”
“First of all, calories don’t look like a major issue for you, and secondly, why not do both.”
“Both?”
“Eat and burn it off all at once.”
Dash slid off the couch and positioned himself in front of Thorne. He pushed Thorne’s legs open, and Thorne gave no resistance. His cock was all for finding out what Dash had in mind.
Dash untied Thorne’s robe and pulled it open. Then he dipped a finger in the cake’s whipped icing. But instead of licking it off, he rubbed the cream on Thorne’s nipple.
Thorne glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“Eating you,” Dash said.
He leaned forward and sucked Thorne’s nipple into his mouth, stealing the breath Thorne needed to launch a protest. He licked and sucked, cleaning off all the icing. Thorne was now fully hard and fighting the urge to squirm. Dash gave his other nipple the same treatment. “Good?”
Thorne nodded reluctantly. Dash loaded his fork with a bite of cake and fed it to Thorne.
“Tasty?” Dash asked.
“Oh, yes,” Thorne said, but it wasn’t the cake. It was the way Dash was looking at him. Thorne knew he was far from done with this man. “Don’t let me stop you. You seemed to be enjoying your nonconventional eating methods.”
“Oh, I am.”
Dash scooped up more icing and filling and spread them on Thorne’s cock, and Thorne gripped the edge of the couch to keep from pushing Dash’s head to his crotch. He wanted to let this play out if he could stand it. How was he so fucking hard when he’d already come once that night?
Dash licked him, barely touching his cock with his tongue. It was torture, but finally Dash had him all cleaned up. That’s when he started sucking in earnest.
No, Thorne wasn’t going to let things end like this. “Dash. Dash!”
Dash pulled back and looked up.
“I want to fuck you this time.”
Dash grinned. “I would like that very much. Don’t move. I’ll get what we need.”
“You want me to fuck you here?”
Dash nodded. “Something about having you on the couch, all cake smeared. It’s just perfect.”
Thorne loved the idea.
“Grab a blanket from the closet by the door. We’ll use it to protect the couch. I have a feeling things will get messy.”
Dash grinned. “I’m counting on it.”
They spread the blanket out, and Dash reclined against the arm of the couch. He lifted his legs and held them doubled on his chest, showing off his ass, which Thorne now wanted desperately.
Thorne opened Dash up, driving his fingers deep, not being gentle. Dash moaned and squirmed, obviously loving it. “Fuck me, Thorne. Please.”
He was so beautiful, and he really did seem as desperate to be fucked as he had to top Thorne. Thorne’s hands shook as he rolled on the condom. He’d intended to play with Dash, to cover him in icing like he’d done to Thorne, but he was too impatient, too desperate to feel that tight hole clasp around his dick.
He teased Dash, pushing a finger just barely inside him. “You ready for my cock?”
“So ready!”
“Good. Because I’m going to give it all to you. Can you take that?”
“I can take anything you want to give me.”
He was perfect. Exactly what Thorne wanted. What if… No. Focus on the sex. That’s what Dash was here for, what he was paid for.
Thorne lined up his cock and drove in hard.
“Fucking fuck!” Dash shouted. “God, that’s—”
Thorne didn’t give him a chance to get the words out. He pulled back and thrust again, filling Dash up.
“Bastard!”
Thorne chuckled. He worked Dash’s ass, keeping up a steady rhythm, driving deep, until he was begging. “Please. More. Need to come. Please.”
Thorne pulled all the way out, sat on the couch, and pulled Dash onto his lap. “Ride me.”
Dash grinned. “Tired of doing the work?”
“You did tell me to relax.”
Dash rose up and took Thorne’s cock in his hand. He stroked him a few times, dragging a groan out of him. Then he positioned himself and started to sink down on him, slowly, so slowly.
“Stop torturing me,” Thorne demanded.
“Payback.”
Thorne huffed. “I never went slow.”
“So now I’m forcing you to for taking me like a beast.”
“You said—”
“I loved it, but this is fun.”
Dash kept lowering himself at the pace of a snail. How the fuck were his leg muscles holding him for so long without even quivering?
Thorne ran his hands up and down Dash’s thighs. “Impressive.”
Dash winked. “I try.”
Dash finally hit bottom, but he didn’t move.
“You’d better fuck me right fucking now.”
“Or?”
Thorne dug his fingers into Dash’s hips, trying to make him move. “Or I’m going to eat every last bite of cake that’s left.”
“Ooooh, that’s quite a threat.”
“And I won’t even eat it off you.”
Dash rose up and slid down, still slow, but at least he was moving.
“I thought that would disturb you,” Thorne taunted.
Dash increased his pace, but somehow Thorne was sure Dash had the upper hand. It didn’t matter that Thorne’s dick was in Dash’s ass and Thorne was the one making threats. Determined to take back more control, he wiggled around until he could get more leverage. He tried to hold Dash still while he thrust up into him.
“Yes,” Dash shouted. “Show me how much you need it.”
“Damn right I will. I’m going to fill your ass.”
“Yes, stuff me fucking full.”
“Fuck!” Thorne was so close. One more thrust. Two. And he was coming. He pulled Dash to him and bit down on his shoulder to muffle his shout.
Dash cried out, “Fucking God, I love that. Bite me harder.”
He did, and Dash came, shooting sticky fluid between them, looking more fucking hot than Thorne thought possible.
After they’d caught their breaths, Dash rose off Thorne and flopped down on the couch next to him. “I’d say we earned the cake.”
“More than,” Thorne agreed. Silently, they each polished off the last of their pieces and drained their coffee mugs. Thorne hadn’t felt so at peace in ages. He could get used to this.
No, I’m paying him for sex not for dessert. I don’t need anyone.
Are you sure? That little voice in his head was dangerous.
Dash is an escort. This isn’t a date.
“So I guess you require another shower now,” Thorne said, needing to stop the thoughts in his mind.
Dash laughed. “I’ll just clean up and go if that’s what you want.”
“I… Yes, I need to work.” He did but… No, he wouldn’t ask Dash to stay the night. He didn’t do sleepovers.
Dash kissed the top of his head, the gesture sweet and caring. It felt more intimate than anything else that had happened.
Dash picked up his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. Thorne never should’ve let him stay. Stick to a schedule, that’s how he got so much done. Once a person started deviating, that’s when things got fucked up. Expectations change. Slacking off becomes the norm, and everything falls apart.
Or you work yourself to death and die of a heart attack before you hit forty-five. Which is worse?
Thorne used the blanket from the couch to clean himself off and then pulled on some shorts and a T-shirt. He’d shower again later before bed.
Dash is in there. You could join him.
No. Enough is enough. Though if he were honest, Thorne wasn’t sure he’d ever have enough of Dash. The man was a whirlwind, and Thorne couldn’t say no to him. That should worry Thorne more than it did.
He tried to turn off the part of his brain that had jumped on the Team Dash bandwagon, but he’d barely written a paragraph before Dash exited the bathroom. He didn’t speak at first, probably trying not to disturb Thorne. He gathered his things, including the bottle of lube that lay on the floor by the couch.
“So I guess I’ll be going,” Dash said when his bag was Packed up. He lingered in the entryway. Was he hoping Thorne would change his mind and ask him to stay? He looked like he wanted to, but of course he would, since he’d make more money that way.
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’d love to see you again.”
“Would you now?” Thorne asked.
Dash looked down, submissive again, teeth sunk into his lip.
Fuck, he knows what that does to me. “Next week. Same time. I’ll call to confirm the appointment.”
“Lovely. See you then.”
Dash was gone before Thorne could say anything else. The apartment suddenly seemed very large and very quiet.
Quiet is good. I like quiet.