Chapter 2
Chase
The road to The Vault hasn’t changed, but it feels different now. Ever since the drama that occurred a few months ago with one of my students working against Tanner to steal money from him, I’ve been uncomfortable coming back. Obviously, Tanner and his guys know I wasn’t involved. And Ian, Tanner’ son, is one of my students now, so there aren’t any hard feelings on either side.
But I’ve still been leery to come back.
I don’t come to The Vault because I’m hard up or can’t find ass on my own. I can. I just have a certain reputation to uphold as a professor at the university, and if I were to ever accidentally hookup with a student, my career would be over. It’s just not worth the risk.
So I use my membership to The Vault as a way of scratching certain itches without putting myself in a compromising position. And since my needs are relatively tame compared to a lot of the clientele at The Vault, I don’t usually have trouble making an appointment, even on short notice.
Like today.
I’ve been thinking about coming for a few weeks, but when I saw Ian and Asher at the café having lunch, something in me broke my resolve to stay away, and I cancelled office hours just to get here sooner. I know this isn’t the way to find what Ian and Asher have. I don’t know how they did it, but I’m positive neither paid the other for a fuck.
Someday, I’ll find a nice guy and build a relationship the old fashioned way. But today, I just need to have my dick sucked.
***
As if the universe is giving me permission to be right here, right now, there’s a wide parking space up front that I pull straight into. I’m a few minutes early for my appointment, but I’ve got nowhere else to be. I only need an hour here max and then I’ll be on my way again.
After waiting for the song on the radio to end, I turn off the ignition and climb out of my car. The sun is just starting to set and there’s a pinkish purple glow across the horizon. The evening would be considered perfect by most standards and I’m no exception to the beauty of the Nevada desert. The warm air passes through my hair, and I’m about to head inside when a naked man comes running out of the building. He’s got a robe in his hand but isn’t wearing it as he runs toward the back parking lot of The Vault.
Johnny, the onsite manager, runs after him, disappearing toward the employee lot. Even though it’s none of my business, my curiosity gets the best of me and I follow them. Johnny is standing over the man as he shoves his arms through a fluffy white robe then hops on a motorcycle.
“You can’t ride like that, Mat.” Johnny is holding the handlebars as the man tries to kick start the bike with bare feet.
“Just leave me alone.” The bike roars to life and the man revs the engine. “I need to be alone.”
He pulls forward and drives toward the road.
Johnny takes a few steps, trying to follow behind the moving motorcycle. “At least put on clothes!”
The bike tears down the gravel driveway, leaving us alone in the empty parking lot.
“Everything okay?” I slip my hands into my pockets.
Johnny clasps his hands together behind his head and blows out a deep breath. “Not really.”
“What can I do?”
Johnny stares out at the dusty driveway. “I don’t know. Mateo’s had a rough go of it lately. A client came in a couple months ago and got a little violent with a blade.”
I’m surprised that a weapon was allowed to be used on one of the guys. But Tanner has told me enough stories that I know most of the clients who come here aren’t like me. They aren’t looking to just get off in private. Many come to fulfill a fetish they couldn’t find anywhere else. Unfortunately, it sounds like Mateo drew the short stick when it comes to bad clients.
“I’m taking it this little tryst wasn’t sanctioned by The Vault?”
Johnny shakes his head. “Of course not, man. But Mateo agreed to it if the guy only used his back. The bastard decided he needed to mark up his face too... You can imagine how the rest goes.”
“Damn.” I didn’t get a good look at his face but he seemed pretty hot from what I did see. That’s terrible.”
“Yeah.” Johnny runs a hand through his hair. “We know he’s got baggage, but Mateo doesn’t want to open up to us. Even Asher tried to coax some information out of him, but Mateo wouldn’t budge. Brent’s been filling me in on what he’s seeing and he’s worried Mateo might hurt himself.”
“I hope that’s not the case, but I know a few doctors who specialize in trauma and its effects on human emotions. Maybe I can get something set up for Mateo to talk to one of them.”
“We’ve already tried to get him into therapy. I’m telling you, his lips are sealed.” Johnny turns toward me. “What about you?”
“Oh, I’m good. I just came to blow off a little steam, you know.”
Johnny laughs. “No, why don’t you talk with him?”
Is he serious? “Why would I? I’m a professor, not a therapist. Besides, I’m a client. Doesn’t that make me public enemy number one right now?”
“Have you been with Mateo?”
“Well, no...”
“Then there isn’t a conflict.” Johnny smiles like he’s eliminated every possible argument I could have.
“He doesn’t even know me.”
“That’s even better. Maybe he’ll open up to a stranger. A stranger with a doctorate in psychology, nonetheless. And since you’re a client of The Vault, that may give him a perspective on his situation that he’s not used to seeing.”
He has a point on that one, but I’m not sure if I’m the best person to be involved in this. Especially since the last time I was involved with The Vault, money was being stolen and lives were being threatened. “I don’t know...”
“Please, Chase. We need you right now. Tanner needs you.”
Damn him. Johnny knows that my respect and friendship with Tanner goes way back. And if what he’s saying is even a tiny bit true, I can’t let Tanner down. “Even if I wanted to talk with him, he’s long gone by now. He could be anywhere.”
“Brent knows him the best. He’s mentioned going to some meditation spot with Mateo. Maybe that’s where he went.” Johnny motions for me to follow him back toward the entrance of the main building. Once inside, we go straight to the main floor. A few of the glass cases in the middle of the room hold naked guys who are posing and dancing. Several sets of eyes from around the room study their every move as they attempt to lure more attention their way.
Tanner pays these guys well because his clients pay well for what The Vault offers. But the tips only come when a guy gets chosen by a client. So it’s in their best interest to be as alluring as possible.
My cock should be standing at attention while I choose a guy to take back to a room and feed my come to. But that will have to wait. Right now, I follow Johnny through another door that leads to the hallway of rooms used for clients. Johnny stops in front of room nine and taps on the door.
“Come in, stud,” a voice from inside calls out.
“Hey, Brent.” Johnny pokes his head through the opening.
“Oh, hey. Sorry, Johnny. I thought you were my next client.”
“It’s cool. Listen, this is Dr. Ryan. He’s going to try to help Mateo.”
A panicked expression crosses Brent’s face. “What happened? Is he okay?”
Johnny quickly explains the situation as Brent chews his fingernails to the bone. “Fuck. Mateo’s got to get past this. I hate that he’s so hard on himself.”
“Which is why I think Chase can help. He’s a professor at the college with a background in psychology. I was thinking if Mateo won’t talk to any of us, maybe he’d talk to Chase.”
Brent studies me cautiously but then nods. “Mateo should talk to someone. I’ve been trying to get him to open up, but it’s like he’s too afraid of what we all might think.” Brent plays with the strap of cloth hanging from the knot of his robe. “It’s worth a shot.”
“I’ll do what I can.” I hate to build up their hope when I not the expert they think I am. I’m a professor, not a practicing phycologist. There’s a huge difference. “But we have to find him first.”
Brent looks between me and Johnny curiously.
“He kinda took off... I thought you might know where he likes to go,” Johnny says.
“Yeah. I think I know where you might be able to find him.”