Page 12 of Submit
Larry pulled his own chair out and took a seat before scooting closer to the table. Candlescast a soft glow over the white tablecloth and small, fresh bouquet.
Larry smiled. “I like it. Maybe this will end up being a date after all.” There went his heart again, pounding like a jackhammer as Larry tried not to let his nerves show.
Bo canted his head to the left. “Why don’t we just enjoy our meal and talk and see what happens?”
Larry nodded. “Sounds good.” He began to fiddle with thefolded napkin and silverware in front of him.
“You look like you’re stressing,” Bo said.
Busted.Larry plastered on a smile that felt real as soon as he looked at Bo. “I’m not. Just can’t get my mind to shut off, sometimes. This—” He gestured to the table. “This is nice. I can appreciate it, and you making the effort to talk to me outside of, you know.” There wasn’t anyone too close to them,but Larry was still cautious when it came to discussing BDSM out in public. Too many people didn’t understand it.
“No problem. Look.” Bo glanced around then leaned over the table. Larry moved closer so they could speak in quieter tones.
“I’m a Dom when it comes to playing. Sex, that’s—” Another quick look around from Bo before he continued. “It’s different. If it happens during a scene, I’mstill a Dom, but I’ve dated guys who aren’t into the scene. I don’t have to mix the two.”
“Does that mean you’re a Dom, then? Maybe you’re a top, or—or do we need labels?” Labels could help or hinder, depending on the person and situation. Larry arched one eyebrow at Bo. “So you’re saying you don’t have to be bossy in bed?”
“That’s kind of an understatement of what I was trying to say,” Bo corrected.“I’m not a twenty-four-hour Dom. I’m, well, I’m a sadist, though. That doesn’t have to apply during sex.”
That certainly gave Larry something to think about. “So you’re good with beating my ass, then letting me fuck you?”
Bo winced, and at first Larry thought that was a no. Then he realized the waitress had been approaching, and she’d stopped, mouth open, eyes wide as she gawped at him.
“Sorry?”he tried, addressing the waitress. Larry started to get up to help her with the tray she was carrying before she dropped their drinks, but she pulled herself together.
“No problem, gentlemen,” she said. “I’m Ansley, and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Would you like to hear the specials?”
Larry couldn’t have cared less about food at that moment, and he made a surprising capitulation. “Bo canorder whatever he thinks I’d like.”
Bo grunted. “Is this a test? I don’t really know you, Larry.”
That was true, but Larry hadn’t meant to play games. He just wanted Ansley gone so he and Bo could continue talking. “Not a test. You pick. I’ll eat anything.”
Bo nodded at Ansley, who told them the specials. After Bo had ordered their appetizers and meals, Ansley left.
Larry sighed. “I wasn’tbeing an asshole. I just wanted to get back to our conversation.”
“So do I.” Bo scratched at his jaw and took a moment to continue. “Here’s the thing. Sometimes, Idoget turned on when I’m hurting someone, but that—being aroused—is never my goal. My goal is to bring the sub what they need, and to also get what I need. Sex is secondary to that. If, after I cane someone’s ass, they want to befucked, I can do that. I can alsonotdo that and go home with another man, have sex without any of the rough play and be happy.” He held up one hand right before Larry could ask any questions. “Is sex better with a little pain for my partner? Sometimes, yeah, but sometimes I just want to…to be close, you know? With someone else.”
Larrydidknow, though he’d run from that need himself for yearsnow. “I’ve kept the pain and sex separate for a long time.”
“Why?” Bo asked. “Not that I’m implying there’s anything wrong with that, because there isn’t.”
“It…” Larry took a slow, deep breath, then exhaled. “Well, see. It’s easier to keep people, potential lovers, at a distance if I don’t mix the two. I’ve chosen sexual partners, fuck buddies, who’d never be into BDSM. When I was younger, yeah,I played around with both, but I didn’t want to fall for anyone. Didn’t want a relationship, especially not once it became apparent that I’d have to be the caretaker for my dad. In my twenties, I just wanted to have a good time. Now, I’m feeling, I don’t know.” Then he blurted out, “My dad died, so I don’t have anyone left to worry about condemning me to hell. I don’t have to go back and makedecisions and…”
“I’m sorry,” Bo whispered, taking Larry’s hands in his. “It doesn’t sound like you two had a good relationship, but it still must hurt to lose a parent.”
Larry nodded. “They—him and Mom—sent me to a conversion camp run by our church. It’s all in the past, and I shouldn’t care, right? I should have been able to just cut my parents out of my life, but I kept hoping someday theywould change their minds. It never happened. Now I’m kind of a mess. I need to—” He started to get up and realized that Bo was still holding his hands.
Bo stood with him, and Larry was moving, needing to be close to Bo, wanting to feel safe and cared for by someone in this world, someone other than his best friend.
Bo rumbled and embraced him while at the same time, walking, guiding Larry toa more secluded area of the patio.
Larry looked up at him through damp lashes, needing something more than a hug. He needed to know that someone might care about him, and while Hank was his friend, it wasn’t the same kind of affection he craved.
Bo cupped Larry’s cheek, and the kiss was gentle, Bo’s lips soft, smooth, the pressure he exerted slight.
Bo took his time, licking Larry’s lips, aslick caress that sent tendrils of desire spiraling throughout Larry’s body. His cock began to harden, though he wasn’t about to jump Bo then and there.
