Liam
They sat down for breakfast and Liam was surprisingly starved. There was so much food that he felt overwhelmed. He looked at Cash for some direction. “Eat anything you want, boy. I didn’t know what you liked, so I ordered everything.”
He decided to take Cash at his word, and dove in. He piled his plate with samples from every platter but waited until Cash began to eat to take his first bite. He kept his eyes on his plate, and they both ate in silence for several minutes, until Cash said, “Why don't you tell me your version of how you came to be at my doorstep.”
Liam put his hands in his lap, fidgeting with the napkin there. Finally, he glanced up to look at Cash. "I have this really cool app that's called The Boys Club. It's amazing, and I was in this forum, BisoD, which is Boys in search of Daddies. Tommy saw my ad and profile and contacted me. We got to talking, and he said he had to move for a job opportunity that he couldn’t turn down, so he was trying to find a boy for you.”
“So, you agreed and continue to chat?”
Liam squirmed in his seat. “Um, not exactly. I wasn't quite sure what to do. I wanted to learn more, but it seemed like it was doomed to fail. I mean, here we are in New Jersey, I live in Pennsylvania, and you live in Massachusetts. I wasn't open to the idea at first.”
Liam watched as Cash steepled his hands in front of him, watching him closely. “What made you change your mind?”
Liam shrugged and proceeded to tell Cash what happened between him and Tommy. He wasn’t one to hide the truth, and he figured he had nothing to lose. Hell, he’d already lost it, hadn’t he? So why the hell not? When he got to the end of everything he could recall from his conversations with Tommy, his hands shook, and he knew he had to address the most hurtful of Cash’s assumptions.
Looking down at his lap again, but unable to gather the courage to look up and meet Cash’s gaze, he said, “I’ve had two jobs from the time I was a freshman in high school and on throughout my senior year. I found a third immediately after graduating.” He pulled at a string on one of the gauze wraps on his palms. “I didn’t come here so I could be a freeloader. I—”
“Boy, I shouldn’t have—”
Liam shook his head. “No, let me finish. From the moment I was old enough to work, I’ve always paid my own way. I don’t think that will stop. I just didn’t want to leave you with the impression that I expected anything from you monetarily when I thought we’d…” He shrugged and shook his head. There was no reason to bring up what he’d hoped or expected. If wishes were horses and all that. “Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. And I’d never have come at all if I knew you weren’t expecting me, Sir. I'm sorry.”
Cash sighed. “No, boy, I’m sorry.”
He glanced up and was taken aback by the remorseful look on Cash’s face. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Sir. Truly. You couldn’t have known, and I’d have probably assumed the same if I was in your place.”
Cash raised a brow. “I sincerely doubt that. But thank you for doing your best to make me feel better for my shit behavior. Look, the app you met Tommy on? The Boys Club?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s my app. I created it.”
Liam was stunned, to say the least. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. God, Tommy had used his Daddy’s own app to find a new boy for him? Jesus, what a mess. Why didn’t Tommy tell him? Was anything Tommy said the truth? He bit his lip to keep from crying, knowing his naivete was often his downfall, but still feeling so devastated and hurt.
Cash must have seen his pain, because he spoke softly and urgently. “The most important thing I want you to know is that nothing Tommy told you was a lie. Lying isn’t a part of who he is. He did tell me about you—”
“But—”
Cash held up his hand and continued, “He explained everything in a letter, which he didn’t tell me about until we were saying our last goodbyes at the airport. I went home and just didn’t have the emotional energy to read it that day. I went to bed that night, thinking I’d read it the next day, but I got a call from the office at five in the morning with an emergency. I was in the office for a couple days straight and didn’t get home until the day you showed up.”
Liam nodded, finally understanding what had happened, and with it, came a sense of relief so great, it brought him close to tears again. “It’s okay, Cash. I understand.”
Cash shook his head. “It’s not okay, Liam. I was still dealing with the emergency at my office, and you rang the doorbell when I was on the phone with one of my employees then when I ordered you to leave, he called again. But, I was a dick and there’s no excuse for my behavior, work emergency or not.”
“I’m not mad. I promise I’m not. I think I was kidding myself when I thought you’d welcome me with open arms. It was so easy to get caught up in all of it. Tommy is a convincing guy, and I got swept up in the excitement and romanticism of everything. I wasn’t thinking about the fact that you were mourning your loss of Tommy and obviously couldn’t know about the work emergency.”
“I guess in a way, I was mourning the loss of Tommy, but not in the way you think. We weren’t in love, and I know he made that clear to you. But we’d come to mean the world to each other and had grown to love each other. When I set the opportunity in motion, I knew it would be hard to see him go, but I didn’t know it would be that hard.”
He chuckled at himself, embarrassed. “God, and there I was on your doorstep, all eager and ready to just take his place, like it would be that easy. I guess my age is showing with my pie in the sky hopes that everything would just magically work out with us. But real life doesn’t really have that many happily ever afters, does it?”
“It can, Liam. You just usually have to work hard for it.”
Liam gave that some thought and nodded, seeing the truth of Cash’s words. “Yeah. I guess that’s true. And I didn’t put in any work with you, but I expected the world.” Jesus how stupid could he get. “Silly pipe dreams.”
Cash looked remorseful and shook his head. “Liam—”
Liam wasn’t about to let him feel guilty. “Don’t apologize or feel bad. Really, Sir. Sending me away was the right move. You were so nice to put me up at your house, and I don’t understand it, but I’m glad you drove all this way to talk to me.” He looked at his hands and raised them up, chuckling. “Not only because you saved me, but I’m glad I won’t be going home thinking the worst. Tommy is right, you’re a really good man.”
“Boy, listen…”
Liam smiled and shook his head, not wanting to hear any excuses as to why they couldn’t work. He already knew and figured it was a good time to change the subject. “I should probably call the shop and check on my car, and maybe the police to see if I’m allowed to go home.”
Cash explained about the call from the police, and Liam nodded, figuring he’d have to talk to the detective once he got home to figure out what he needed to do. Would it would be worth it in the end to press charges, or would it be too expensive? He stood to grab his phone and pulled the shop’s number up on his recent calls list. He dialed the number and was raising it to his ear when Cash closed his hand around Liam’s, gently pulling the phone from his grasp and hanging it up.
“Sit down for a minute.”
Liam did as he was told, confused by Cash, and knowing he really needed to get going. The more time he spent with the man, the worse it would feel going home. Cash knelt down in front of him, as close as he could get, and his intense, beautiful eyes bore into Liam’s. A stray lock of hair fell over Cash’s brow, and Liam reached out and gently tucked it back with the rest before he realized what he was doing and snatched his hand back, crossing his arms over his chest so he didn’t touch him again.
Cash gave him a sweet hint of a smile then gently pried his hands from under his armpits, holding on to them in Liam’s lap. “You’ve mentioned going home twice now. Is that what you want?”
Fuck, really, Cash? Ugh, why would he ask that question of him? He didn’t know what Cash was expecting him to say, so he went with what he assumed was the right answer and nodded. “I think it’s what’s best.”
Cash narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher if he was telling the truth. His eyes traveled all over Liam’s face, looking for something Liam couldn’t begin to figure out. “Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear. And don’t tell me what you think is best. I’m asking what you want to do, not what you think you should do.”
Liam shook his head. He was going to get his heart broken if he went back with Cash. He knew he was. “I don’t think…”
His voice trailed off when Cash’s thumbs rubbed soft circles on the back of his gauzed hands. He cleared his throat and looked down at the big palms swallowing his own. He was about to continue when Cash moved to grip his chin lightly and tilted his head back up, looking him in the eyes.
“Do you really want to go home, Liam?”
With his chin being held, he felt trapped, vulnerable, so he did the only thing he could think of to do, he shut his eyes and shook his head gently, not wanting to dislodge Cash’s touch.
“Boy, open your eyes.”
He did, and he realized Cash had moved closer, a few scant inches from him and the look in Cash’s eyes was one Liam couldn’t begin to decipher, but he couldn’t have lied if he wanted to. Not with that gaze penetrating him to his very soul.
“Do you want to come home with me?”
Oh, god, yes. Yes.
He closed his eyes again, this time nodding.
“Do you want to be Daddy’s boy?”
He nodded again and gasped when Cash’s lips grazed his in the softest caress. He didn’t delve in, he didn’t use his tongue, he didn’t make the gesture sexual in any way. Cash used his lips and his warm breath to tantalize, to tease, and to entice. He trailed soft, gentle, barely there kisses on his cheeks, his eyelids, his forehead, his nose, his lips again, and his jawline and then he did it again, using his soft grip on his chin to move his face this way and that.
When he stopped, Liam felt like putty in Cash’s hands. He finally opened his eyes when the silence became too much. His gaze met Cash’s, and the gentle smile there was his undoing. He blushed and bit his lip, looked down at his lap then peered up again, shyly. Cash’s patient gaze made him feel brave enough to raise his head again, to sit taller.
He watched as Cash got up and sat in the chair to his side and drew it closer to him. He leaned down, elbows on his knees and said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen between us. I can’t make any promises at this point. I want you to know that going in. It’s only been days since Tommy left, and I haven’t had time to really come to terms with losing him.”
Heart in his throat, Liam could only nod and whisper, “Okay.” All the while, inside he was losing hope. Both Cash and Tommy had professed that they were not in love, but maybe Cash had been. Maybe he’d known Tommy wasn’t but had, in fact, been in love with Tommy.
“I know I’m the one that set up his opportunity, but I had to do what was best for him. I didn’t really take my own feelings into consideration because I knew what he needed, and I always strive to give my boys what they need. I’ll need some time to sort things out emotionally, and you showing up at my door threw me for a loop.”
Liam nodded, about to apologize when Cash lifted his hand, obviously knowing his plans. He had to speak up though, because more and more, he felt like Cash was agreeing but didn’t want what he was offering. “Maybe I should just go home. It sounds like you need time, and I don’t want to take that away from you by hanging around when I’m not what you want.”
Cash reached out and ran his hand down Liam’s arm. “That’s not what I’m saying at all, Liam. I’m just trying to be forthright with you.” Regardless of Cash’s words, Liam couldn’t help but feel discouraged because he knew what was coming, but he waited patiently for Cash to continue. “Just because you surprised me, doesn’t mean things won’t work out. Hell, we already know we’re sexually compatible. I just want to be honest from the beginning and tell you I think it’s best if we treat this as a trial period to see if we’re compatible in other ways. We’ll draw up an agreement so that we both know our roles. It’s how my relationship with Tommy began, and as time passed, we no longer needed the paper to understand where we stood.”
Cash paused and Liam did everything in his power to keep his face impassive when inside his heart was aching. He’d known this was a possibility. Hell, Tommy had even warned him that this might be how Cash wanted to start things with him, but even with the warning, he felt let down. He’d felt their chemistry, and he’d hoped their relationship wouldn’t be whittled down to an arrangement on paper.
He’d wanted to start fresh. He’d hoped to have their relationship begin naturally and move at its own pace. With a signed document, he felt like it would begin in a place of inertia, and they’d be unable to move forward. He knew that without a solid foundation, they’d stagnate, and that would surely be the beginning of the end.
On the other hand, Cash had said Tommy didn’t lie, and if that was the case, Liam knew, deep down, they were immensely compatible. In addition to that, as Cash had said, they’d already discovered their sexual chemistry was off the charts. Liam thought he could work with that. Besides, he knew he didn’t want to let the opportunity pass him by. He’d regret not trying for the rest of his life.
“Hey, you all right?”
Liam cleared his throat and nodded. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
Cash’s gaze roamed his face as if trying to decipher the truth of his words. He leaned forward and clasped Liam’s hand. “I know it might seem impersonal, but I think it’s a good place to start. We’ll revisit frequently. I just don’t want to make you promises that I can’t keep.”
“I understand.”
Cash raised a brow. “I’m just not in a place right now where I can commit to more than giving it a go and being exclusive with you. I’d never set rules and regulations on feelings and emotions, just that we make it clear we’re starting with a blank slate, and we can make it into what we want it to be.”
Liam nodded and finally answered, “I’m all right with that. I want it to work out between us, or I wouldn’t be here. I’m glad you’re giving me a chance.”
Cash smiled and stood. “Okay, let’s get packed up and on the road.”
“I’m not sure when my car will be ready, but I think they said this afternoon. You can go ahead and go, and I’ll just wait in the diner across the street from the shop until I can drive it to your place.”
Cash shook his head. “No. We’re headed to the shop to transfer your belongings from your car to mine. My friend and mechanic, Jake, rented a car and is on his way down here to drive it back up. You’re staying with me.”
Liam couldn’t deny he loved Cash’s take charge attitude, but he didn’t want to put the man out that way. “But there’s no need for that. I don’t want to put you both out. I’m perfectly fine driving myself.”
Cash leveled him with a stern stare that made Liam feel all squirmy. “Liam, I’ve seen you wince this morning no less than five times. You’re in pain and uncomfortable. I won’t have you driving a manual transmission with a sprained wrist, gripping the steering wheel with abraded palms, and driving a car fixed by a mechanic we don’t even know if we can trust.”
“But—”
“Boy, listen to Daddy now. This is non-negotiable. Is that understood?”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus, he probably shouldn’t be popping a chub at Cash’s words, but good god, that stern growly thing he did when he put his foot down and called himself Daddy might actually be the death of him one day. He gulped and nodded, finally managing to croak out, “Yes, Sir.”
Cash narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down, growling and stepping into Liam’s space, pulling him flush against Cash’s bigger body. “You react so beautifully to my orders. And while I want nothing more than to give that pretty little cock of yours some more attention, it’s time we got on the road. The sooner we get your things, the sooner we can be home.”
Home.
Liam smiled, a bit dazed and nodded, whispering, “Yes, Daddy.”
Cash growled again, leaned down, and bit Liam’s neck. “Fuck, when you whisper my name all breathy like that, it makes me want to throw you down on the bed and slide myself deep into your tight hole. Come on, boy, we gotta get out of here before I can’t hold back any longer.”
Liam’s breath caught in his throat, and his heartbeat sped up. He could barely comprehend the way his body was reacting to this gorgeous older man. His skin prickled, his hair stood on end, his hands shook, and saliva pooled in his mouth. He’d been thinking of having Cash take him, his cock sliding deep inside of his untried hole, from the second he’d seen his profile. Hearing those words, goddamn, hearing those words was like a dream come true, everything he’d always wanted wrapped up in that gravelly, deep voice sent shivers through his body from head to toe.
All he could manage was a nod, and they both made quick work of packing up their things and getting themselves in the car to take the trip to the shop. When they got there, Cash unlatched Liam’s seatbelt and his own, and got out. Liam, smiling, remembering Cash had done that the night before when they got to the hotel, leaned down to grab his wallet out of his backpack between his legs. He jumped when his door opened, but a thrill zinged up his spine as Cash helped him out of the car.
Once they were inside, Cash approached a man Liam assumed was his mechanic. Liam watched as they did some manly handshake hug thing, slapping each other on the back, hard, and he imagined he’d probably get the breath knocked right out of him if he was slapped that hard. They were both gorgeous older men and Liam couldn’t help but admire the tattoos on the man that, from the look of him, most likely spent an enormous amount of time lifting weights—he snickered to himself—or cars. The rough, though sexy, looking guy wasn’t his type, but Liam could admit he had a certain rugged magnetism about him.
He watched them talk for a minute, thinking about what a waste of time it was for the man to have driven all the way down just so Liam didn’t have to drive it back, when his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he answered immediately when he saw it was his sister. Walking over to the corner for a bit of privacy, he said, “Hey, CC. I’m at the auto repair shop with Cash.”
“Wait, what? Cash, the daddy?”
“Yes, it’s a long story. Hang on a second.” He glanced over at Cash who had asked him if something was okay with him. Assuming he was just asking about the stuff he had to get out of the car, he nodded and called out, “Yeah. That’s fine.”
“Sorry, CC. I’m here. It looks like I’m going back with him to Boston. There’s a lot I need to tell you, but my first impression of him was wrong.”
“You told me what that asshole said to you. How could you be wrong?”
He glanced over at Cash and saw that his friend Jake was talking to the mechanic that was working on his car. The two of them followed him into the back, so he knew he needed to wrap up his conversation with his sister. “CC, I need to deal with my car, and then I’ll be riding home with Cash. I know you’re worried, but I’ll have to call you tonight when I’m back in Boston, all right?”
CC huffed across the line. “Fine, but don’t forget! I’m worried about you, and I don’t trust this guy.”
“Sis, it was a really big misunderstanding, okay? I trust him, and you trust me, that should be enough for now.”
“Okay, Liam. Just be careful, all right?”
“Yeah, sis. I promise.”
They said their goodbyes, and he wandered to the front to talk to the receptionist who told him which door to walk through to get to his car. When he drew closer to Cash, Jake was talking to the mechanic about his car. Jake nodded his head, shook the guy’s hand, and asked the mechanic for the keys, which were handed over.
He watched as Jake got in his car, started the engine, and backed it out beside Cash’s car. Cash walked out to meet him, and they both began transferring his belongings. He stood there, thoroughly confused, knowing Cash wouldn’t let him lift anything to help them. A couple minutes later, Cash walked back into the garage, pulled out some fancy clip thingy that held a wad of cash, counted out what seemed to be some bigger bills, and handed them over. The mechanic walked away before he could speak up about Cash paying him. “Um, Sir?”
“Yeah, boy?”
“What’s going on?”
“Jake checked on your car and made sure it’s highway ready, so he can drive it home.”
Liam folded his arms over his chest. “Don’t they have to wait for a part until this afternoon?”
Cash shook his head. “They found one at another location, but that’s all they are doing to the car. Jake will handle the rest.”
“But, why?”
“Because I trust him. He’s my friend and the mechanic that handles all my vehicles. He’s going to fix anything else that needs to be fixed on your car, if it looks feasible.”
“What do you mean, ‘if it looks feasible’?” His voice broke and he realized panic was clawing up his spine. Suddenly, his car may not get fixed?
Cash clasped Liam’s face in his hands. “Focus, boy. That’s it. You don’t need to be worried about this. I’m sure your car will be fine. Jake is the best in the business. This is not something you’re to stress over.”
“Did you just pay my bill? How much was it? I have the money to pay you back.”
“I won’t take your money. The bill has been dealt with. That’s all you need to know.” He clasped Liam’s hand gently and walked out of the garage towards their cars where Jake was waiting.
“Cash, I need to pay for my car. I’m not a freeloader.”
At that, Cash turned, a look of disappointment on his face. “I don’t think you’re a freeloader. If I did, I wouldn’t have come here at all. If I didn’t make that clear or apologize enough for saying the things I said to you, let me rectify that.”
Fuck.
Liam shook his head. “I’m sorry, Cash. You don’t need to do that. You did apologize to me. I just want to be clear with you that’s not what I expect or need from you. I’d never try to take advantage.”
Cash lifted his hands to cradle Liam’s face. “What did we agree to this morning?”
“That we’d sign a contract and try to see if we can make it work.”
Cash nodded. “And what would that make me, to you?”
Liam’s cheeks burned red, and he glanced over at Jake then back at Cash. He was about to speak when Cash spoke again, “I would never humiliate you in public, unless it was something you enjoyed, Liam. Now tell me, what would a contract make me, to you?”
Liam stood taller and spoke clearly, unwilling to fuck this up. “My Daddy.”
Cash nodded. “That’s right. I’m your Daddy. And what do Daddies do?”
Liam glanced back at the garage and sighed. “They take care of their boys.”
Cash smiled and moved closer, so their bodies were aligned, kissed him gently, and then pulled back. “That’s right. Daddies take care of their boys. We’ll talk more about it on our way home, but for now, all you need to know is that I’m taking care of you.”
Liam looked him in the eyes, searching for god knew what, but when all he saw reflected back at him was a calm determination, he nodded. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Cash kissed the tip of his nose, which made him smile, clasped his hand again and walked towards Jake, who had a grin on his face a mile wide. “I don’t know how you do it, Cash, but you always seem to find the most beautiful boys.” He glanced at Liam and gave him a reassuring smile. “You’ve got yourself one of the best Daddies I know, Liam. He’ll treat you right.”
Liam blushed but was grateful Jake knew of the lifestyle, so he didn’t feel put on the spot. “Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome. Listen you two, I’m gonna get on the road and see how the car drives. Cash, I’ll be in touch with you about it in a day or two.”
Cash reached out and was grabbed again in that manly handshake hug, slap on the back combo, and Liam covered his mouth to keep them from seeing the laughter in his smile. Jake raised a brow. “I believe your boy is laughing at us, Cash.”
Liam couldn’t keep in a snicker when Cash raised his brow just like Jake’s and asked, “Oh, he is, is he? He might need proper spanks when he’s fully recovered, what do you think, Jake?”
Jake chuckled and looked him up and down. “I think you’ll be giving him proper spanks quite often with that pretty little ass of his.”
Liam’s eyes popped wide, and he couldn’t hold a gasp in. His cheeks suffused with color when both of the large, virile men chuckled. Cash clasped his bandaged hand again and walked him to the passenger side of his car, helping him in and buckling him up, Cash whispered, “He’s not wrong, you know. I can’t wait to spank your pretty little ass, boy.”
Before Liam could recover from that statement and reply, the door was shut soundly in his face. He shook his head dazedly, wondering what he’d gotten himself into, unable to deny the tingles down his spine or the zing both men’s comments had shooting straight to his… pretty little cock. He couldn’t have kept an embarrassed but happy smile from his face if he’d tried.