Page 65 of Steam

But then Will was pulling off and sitting back to look Daniel in the eye. Daniel moaned, heartbroken at losing the slick heat of his mouth.

“Baby, are you OK?” Will asked, looking serious.

Only then did Daniel realize he’d gone completely silent. “Shit, I’m sorry, it’s great, I—I mean, I love it, daddy—”

Will cringed at the name this time as if it had suddenly stopped being fun for him.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m fucking this up—”

Will shook his head. “It’s not that. I don’t know if you’re getting it.”

“Whatdo you mean?”

Daniel sat up, getting closer to Will in the bed and partially shielding himself. Whatever momentum they’d had going, Daniel had definitely just blown it.

Will gave a half shrug. “It’s supposed to be more than just saying the words.”

That was news to Daniel. Was he supposed to, what, use baby talk in bed? That would be a hard stop. And then what? Would Will still want him if he didn’t want to play the game anymore?

“What else am I supposed to do?” Daniel asked.

“Just let it all go, baby,” Will said in a soothing voice.“Everything you walked in here with in your head—school, your job, whatever—leave it behind. It’s not just fooling around and calling each other pet names. This is supposed to be something safe for both of us. Do you still want it, if that’s what it is?”

Calling Will daddy, being called a good boy—that was enough for Daniel. But there was something about the earnest way Will was looking at him now that made Daniel want whatever Will had to offer.

Daniel nodded slowly. “Yeah. I think I’d like that.”

Will put his palm in the center of Daniel’s bare chest, drawing a deep breath as if to encourage Daniel to follow his lead. It only took a minute to start breathing in time with Will.

“There it is,” Will said with a placid smile.“Attaboy.”

He kissed Daniel again, his mouth hot and fluid and familiar now, and at the same time Will moved his hand to ghost over the front of Daniel’s throat. The movement was possessive.The thought sent a thrill down Daniel’s spine. Would Will ever want to possess him?Would he even want this if Daniel hadn’t pushed it on him?

The hand went stiffer on his neck and Will forced his chin up so that Daniel was lookingat him.

“Now what did I just say, baby?” Will asked sternly.

“You said I had to let go, daddy.”

Something flickered in Will’s eyes and he frowned.“Color, Daniel.”

“Yellow.”

In an instant, Will was backing off, putting space between them, and Daniel moved to follow him.

“I don’t mean to stop, I just—”

“What, then?” Willasked.

“Just…”

* * *

A cold rushof panicflooded Will’s chest when he heard yellow. He’d finally crossed a line—and though Daniel’s face still looked placid and open, something was obviously wrong.

“Just what?” Will asked, keeping his voice gentle.

“Will, did I force myself on you?”

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