Page 47 of Gentleman Sadist

Kristen laughed. “Sneaky boy.”

Earl came back to their table. “Good evening ladies, it’s good to see you again. Do you know what you want to drink tonight?”

Kristen glanced at Angie before nodding. “We’d like a bucket of hard ciders.” She also ordered a charcuterie board for them to snack on while they talked and figured out what they wanted to eat.

Even though he’d requested the meeting, he didn’t want to dominate the conversation with his issues. So, he made sure to keep the conversation light, questioning both women about spending time at The Covenant and making sure they didn’t have any damage at their houses.

It wasn’t until Earl returned with their appetizer and the bucket of cider that Kristen gave Will a knowing look. “Since we’ve gotten the customary bullshit out of the way, how about we talk about the real reason we’re here.”

Angie choked on her drink. “And here I thought I was blunt.”

Will shrugged, rubbing his thumb across the condensation of glass. Earl had been right, Posh Punk turned out to be the best drink he'd had the pleasure of drinking and he did mellow out some or maybe it was the alcohol content. "I fucked up."

Angie and Kristen leaned forward.

Angie took a sip of her cider then wiped her hands on her jeans. "Did you safeword out?" Both of them were aware of his weekend plans and assumed—correctly of course—he'd have sex with Robert. But, more to the point scened for the first time with Master Robert. Angie placed her hand on his and squeezed. "It happens, Will. You shouldn't think you messed up or believe he's angry about it."

“Well, I didn’t tap out,” he said, even more embarrassed to admit what he’d said to Robert.

The girls shared a worried look.

“You’re scaring us, Will,” Kristen said. “Did Robert hurt you?”

“God, no.” Will took another drink of his beverage. “No…no. He didn’t. He didn’t hurt me at all. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.” He didn’t miss the flare of excitement in Kristen’s gaze. “Unfortunately, my big mouth got in the way.”

Angie sighed, growing impatient with him. “What happened?”

“Hold up. Let’s give him a chance to explain, without stopping and asking him a million questions,” Kristen said. When Angie narrowed her eyes, Kristen waved her off. “Oh, knock it off. I’m just as guilty.”

Angie sighed again. “She’s right. Go ahead and explain. But start at the beginning.”

So, he did. He told them everything, and surprisingly they both kept their mouths shut until he was done. He leaned back and swallowed down the rest of his drink then decided he needed another.

When Earl returned to their table, Will ordered another drink. “I’d like another of the Posh Punk’s, please.”

Earl grinned. “I knew you’d enjoy it. Any idea on other food yet?”

Angie blushed. “Sorry, Earl. We’re going to order, but we have to finish our conversation.”

“Pfft. No worries.” Earl retrieved all the empties on the table. “You guys can have the table until we close, you know that. I just don’t want my best customers to think I might be ignoring them if I don’t ask.”

“We appreciate it,” Will said, smiling at the other man.

Once Earl left, Will continued his story. “And so, when we were done, and I just came harder than I ever had in my life…I told him—” He stopped, looking away, feeling that familiar twist in his gut from earlier.

“Told him what, Will,” Angie pushed.

He couldn't hold his friend or cousin's gaze. Instead, he looked out the window overlooking the gulf and muttered, "I loved him."

Neither Angie nor Kristen said a word. The eerie silence unnerved Will. As he suspected, the faux pas had been bigger than he originally believed.

Angie was the first to break the silence. “Is that all?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Angie took his hand. “Will, you’re too damn hard on yourself. What did Robert say or do afterward? When you blurted out that you loved him??”

“Nothing. He said nothing.” Will reached for his phone, tossing it on the table in disgust. “And he hasn’t said a damn word to me since I left his house this morning. Not even after I texted him, as per his request might I add, to show I’d gotten home safe.”

---