Page 11 of Spoonful

“I know a good Mexican place,” Jaylin offered. “Authentic and everything.” He didn't go very often, but once in a while he treated himself when he felt like he deserved a reward. He wasn't a regular by any means, but some of the waitstaff knew him.

“Sounds great,” Hiro said warmly. “Why don’t you text me the name and address and I’ll meet you there.”

“Yeah, okay,” Jaylin said, smiling tentatively back.

Then his phone went off again, the sameit’s Brentchime, and Jaylin barely kept from jumping, immediately glancing down at the phone in his hand with trepidation.

It was a few lines of text this time, words that Jaylin didn't have the energy to read. It’d have to wait until he could connect to his earbuds and play the message out loud to himself. Which meant he needed to say goodbye to Hiro.

Hiro, who, when Jaylin glanced back up, once again looked concerned.

“I um, I have to get going,” Jaylin said, shoving his phone in his pocket. “I’m sorry, I just—have homework and stuff. Thank you though. For everything.”

“Of course,” Hiro said. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Thank you for taking the time for me.”

It made Jaylin flounder. Nothing Hiro said made any sense. “You’re welcome? I mean, thank you. For your time, and for the cocoa and everything.”

Hiro smiled again and Jaylin’s heart beat faster. “Anytime.”

Chapter 3

Jaylin put on the suit Brent told him to wear and dutifully waited for the car to pick him up, trying not to let his stomach twist up into knots at what would be expected of him after dinner. Dinner was atEclipse,which wasn't Jaylin’s favorite place. It was very fancy and very expensive, so not only did Jaylin always feel woefully out of place, but the portions were also very fancy and thus very small. He always ate something before going out toEclipse,even if it was only seasoned rice, because he tried to choose dishes as protein rich and vegetable-heavy as possible. Carbs were cheap and other food groups weren’t, so Jaylin tried to take advantage of going out to eat by balancing his diet.

Walking intoEclipsenever failed to make Jaylin feel small, especially with the way Brent kept his arm curled around Jaylin’s waist. Jaylin always felt like the servers knew exactly what he was there for, because there was no other reason for a powerful, wealthy older man like Brent to look twice at someone like Jaylin.

They were seated at a nice secluded table and Brent ordered wine for the both of them before Jaylin could say that he was fine with just water.Great.Now he’d be expected to finish at least one glass.

Jaylin didn’t really like drinking. He’d had a couple of foster parents who drank, and Jaylin… wasn’t interested in losing control like that. Wasn’t interested in the way the bottle made someone prone to hurting someone else.

He didn’t completely get why Brent bothered to order him drinks either. It wasn’t like he needed to coerce Jaylin into bed. Jaylin was already sleeping with him. It was just another powerplay. It wasn’t as if Brent everaskedJaylin what he wanted to drink.

Brent gave him the usual smirk as he slouched back in his chair, taking up all the space on the other side of the table for two. Jaylin couldn’t help but zero in on howbighe was, how the wine glass looked so small in his large hand, and think about what Brent might want to do with him later. Brent liked to hold Jaylin down. He liked how both of Jaylin’s wrists could fit in one of Brent’s bigger hands. Liked how he could keep Jaylin still with the press of his big body.

Jaylin had given up trying to do anything but take it.

Fuck, but he really didn’t want to spend the night at Brent’s. He’d rather be sent home no matter what time it was then spend the night in Brent’s bed, trying not to tremble as the larger man wrapped himself around Jaylin’s body, trapping him in place.

He fought down the shiver at the memory of last time. Of being jolted awake with a cry as Brent roughly bullied his way back inside him, before shoving him face down into the mattress to fuck him so hard Jaylin had had to choke back begging him stop.

When Brent had finally, finally come inside him with a grunt and rolled off of him to head into the shower, Jaylin had had to clap both hands over his mouth to keep the sobs in. He’d limped for the next two days, and had felt so ashamed going to his classes, as if somehow his classmates or teachers would know why he was walking funny.

But spending the night was something Brent had been demanding of Jaylin more and more often lately. More of Jaylin’s time, more from Jaylin’s body.

More, more, more.

“So,” Brent said, looking confident and at ease. “How did you spend your Saturday, hm?”

Jaylin’s hands clenched in his lap. He resolutely didn’t say anything likeI spent time with your arch nemesis.Brent would be worse than furious if he found out about Hiro. Maybe not likebreak off the arrangement, but more liketake it out on Jaylin.

Jaylin was well aware he was playing with fire, risking what he had. But a part of him got a strange satisfaction from what had occurred. One of Brent’s least favorite people had bought Jaylin hot cocoa and cookies and wanted to help him study, and had even seemed a little impressed by him, somehow.

“Mostly studying,” he said, which was true. “I had my tutoring with Aditi at nine like usual, and then I worked on my paper for business law.”

“That little girl still schooling you at statistics?” Brent asked, his mean smile playing around his lips.

“Aditi’s really smart,” Jaylin said quietly. Not arguing exactly, but wanting to defend his—friend. “Definitely smarter than me. She’s getting a full ride to MIT.”

“And how’s the paper coming?” Brent asked, dismissing Aditi completely. “I expect you to get a good grade on it, pet. Don’t want you wasting my tuition.”

---