Page 109 of Men in Shorts

Colin went and peered inside, expecting to find Andrew waiting for him on the bed. But he saw no one.

A soft sigh came from his left, behind the door. He moved it to see Andrew standing in the corner, facing the wall, hands behind his back, one set of fingers folded around his opposite wrist.

On his otherwise naked body was a black leather harness. Its silver buckles gleamed, even in the low light. Two straps went halfway down his back, then split off, returning below to cup his unconscionably round cheeks.

Andrew’s chin tilted down and to the side. “You fancy?”

Colin could barely pull in enough air for a single “Aye.” He took a step closer and noticed the harness’s fastenings were all in the back. “However did you get yourself into that thing?”

“I’m very flexible.”

This was true. After seven years of advanced yoga, Andrew could buckle his sandals with his teeth whilst doing a handstand. Sex with him always held the potential to become a Cirque du Soleil act.

“Why are you standing in the corner?”

“Because I’ve been a bad boy.”

Colin recognized in Andrew’s singsong tone the start of a play session, something they’d not done since…God, had it beenAugust?

“You are bad.” Colin moved close, whispering in his ear without touching him. “You’re the worst.”

Andrew shivered. “Yes.” His eyelids drifted shut. “You should punish me.”

Colin’s cock stiffened inside his tracksuit pants, and it took all his restraint to keep from grinding against Andrew’s body. But this was the stage where they set the rules, before things got too heated.

He slid his finger up the center strap of Andrew’s harness, then hooked it inside the ring and gave a slight tug, a hint of what was to come. “And how shall I punish you?”

Andrew shrugged. “Surprise me.”

Colin cleared his throat. Andrew was much more experienced at this sort of play, so he usually set the limits, which began withno hitting whatsoever. “So, are we talking tease and denial?” He’d always loved that—making Andrewalmostcome again and again, hearing him beg for release, and then, after finally giving it to him, watching him sink into that long, deep post-orgasmic stupor.

“Surprise me,” Andrew said again.

Colin looked at the bed, where a trio of straps lay across the white duvet. “I assume you want to be tied up?”

“Surprise me,” Andrew said for a third time.

Colin took a step back. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. “Usual rules, then? Treat you rough but no spanking and all, right?”

Andrew bowed his head. “No rules,” he whispered. “No limits.”

Colin felt a flicker of frustration at getting all the responsibility—and thus all the blame if something went wrong. “Can we at least agree on the safe word? Our old friend ‘foosball’?”

“If you must. I won’t be using it. I’ve never had to.”

“Because I’ve always known what you wanted. I need a clue here.”

“Oh for God’s sake,” Andrew said with a huff. “Just forget it.” He moved past Colin toward the door. “I’ll put on some clothes and we’ll have a lovely Sunday filling in forms.”

Perhaps it was Andrew’s haughtiness that woke Colin’s instincts, or perhaps it was the presence of moving prey.

“No.” He seized Andrew’s harness as he passed, then yanked him back against his chest. “You’re going nowhere.”

A tremor ran through Andrew’s body, and his voice was breathy as he said, “Get your hands off me.”

“I don’t think so.” Colin pushed Andrew ahead of him toward the bed, then threw him face down on the snow-white covers. In an instant he was straddling Andrew’s back, holding him down while reaching for a strap to restrain him.

Andrew’s arms stretched out as if to grapple for the edge of the mattress to pull himself away. It was a move Colin remembered well, and the fact it brought his wrists together was no coincidence. He bound them with the strap, the leather so new it creaked as he tightened it.

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