“Are you trying to be contrary right now?” I asked, leaning against the door frame. “Is this you asking for attention? You know what I meant when I called you an obligation. Your welfare is my responsibility. Yourattitudeis my responsibility.”
I shoved off the door frame, ready to make correcting his attitude part of my responsibility as well, but I was stopped as the intercom for the condo buzzed. Kevin’s phone sat on the dresser, and he swiped open to the connected app and answered.
“Hello?” he said.
“It’s us,” Sam greeted. “We’re going on an adventure.”
“I’d rather not.”
“You can come down or buzz us up and then come down with us,” Rich said, his voice quieter than Sam’s.
“Is this adventure Foster’s house?” I asked, closing my eyes with a groan.
“Winner, winner.” Sam laughed.
“We’ll be down,” Kevin said.
“Good.”
“It’ll be a minute,” I said toward the phone, stabbing the button to disconnect the intercom. I pushed Kevin’s phone to the other end of the dresser and collared him around the throat with my hand. “Kevin and I need to have a little chat.”
I twisted Kevin around and shoved him face first onto the mattress, reaching around him with my other hand until I shoved his pants down to his knees. I hoisted myself onto him, pressing my knee against his spine and landing a solid smack against his ass with the palm of my hand. Kevin grunted, and I hit him again, my hand striking down against him in a flurry until the skin on his as cheeks had turned pink and then red.
“You’re not in charge anymore,” I reminded him, shoving his face into the sheets and standing up. I jerked up his pants and hastily buttoned them. “And this attitude will not stand, Kevin.”
“Yes, Ronan.” He reached back and rubbed his ass. “May I stand?”
“If you’re done with the attitude,” I said.
He straightened up and turned to face me, his cheeks flushed and his pupils blown into wide and dark black pools. He licked his lips and nodded.
“You’ve never punished me before,” he whispered.
“You’ve never needed it.”
The intercom buzzed again and I knew it meant Rich and Sam were growing impatient, but didn’t care. I’d told them it would be a minute. They could wait. I cradled Kevin’s cheeks in my hands, scanning his face for any evidence of worry or more deceit. There was none. Only dark and hungry want.
“I might need it again sometime,” he whispered, his lashes fanning out against his cheeks when his eyes fell closed.
“I’m sure you will.” I leaned in and pressed a kiss against his mouth, looking down to see if his erection was obvious. It was, but that was his own fault. “Let’s get this over with.”
We met Rich and Sam in the lobby, then followed them to Foster’s house. A short drive later, we were clustered together on Foster’s porch and Rich’s worry was nearly palpable. Sam stroked a manicured hand down Rich’s arm, but nothing seemed to calm him.
I realized in that moment I didn’t like Foster very much, which was a hard thing for me to cope with. I didn’t think I hated him, he’d been my friend for years, but I resented whatever he’d roped me into. I disliked the way he lived…disappearing and leaving all of us guessing where he was and if he was okay. It was no way to treat people you cared about.
“He’s fine,” I said to Rich, stabbing at the doorbell.
Foster opened the door, his expression looking like our visit was planned and we’d all come around for tea.
“See? I told you he was fine.” I gave Rich a tightlipped smile.
“I’m fine,” Foster confirmed.
He ushered us in, poured us the most disgusting wine I’d ever had in my life, and tried to field Rich’s questions as best he could. I felt bad for him, but wasn’t going to help. I knew what was going on, and so did Kevin, but it wasn’t my story to tell. I knew that.
The uneasiness in the room ratcheted up with every denial that came out of Foster’s mouth. I sat near Kevin, trying to get a read on Foster and if he was going to come clean or lie more. His expression was pulled tight, his muscles tense, and it was painfully clear to me he was definitely going with lying…or at least omitting the truth.
“Something has come up and I have a houseguest,” he finally admitted.
