Chapter One
“Leaving? But why?”
Elliot Hansen watched his boyfriend of six months pack his suitcase. Several of his own T-shirts disappeared inside, but he didn’t care. It was happening again. The guy he thought was his everything, his forever, was walking away.
“It’s just not working out. I’m not feeling the vibes between us anymore.” Dakota reached out and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “It’s better this way. The energy between us isn’t clean. Our chakras are blocked, and I’m not able to create.”
“Our chakras are blocked? The energy’s not clean? What the hell does that even mean?” It wasn’t like Dakota helped around the house, so Elliot couldn’t be too certain Dakota understood the concept of cleanliness.
“You see? You’re already all angry and negative. I see darkness around you.”
“You’re walking out on me,” Elliot yelled. “Am I supposed to be happy? Yesterday you said you loved me.”
With a long sigh, Dakota turned away from his suitcase, finally gracing him with his full attention. “Elliot. Of course I love you. I’m a positive person. I love everyone. And that’s another reason why it’s best for me to leave now, before our auras turn more negative. I can’t live with so many rules and so much expectation. My spirit needs to be free.”
“And you just happened to find that freedom you so desperately need in a six-thousand-square-foot loft in Tribeca, with the owner of an art gallery.”
Oh yeah, if he sounded skeptical, it was because he sure the hell was.
“I’m so lucky he loves my candles and my jewelry designs. It’s my big break.”
Dakota’s brown eyes gazed at him so guilelessly, for a second Elliot faltered. Could he be wrong? Had Dakota not used him?
Strong, Elliot. Be strong for once.
“What about the money you borrowed? When can you pay me back?”
Dakota’s smooth forehead furrowed under his blond waves. “Borrowed? Elliot, baby, you gave me that money. To help jump-start my career. Remember? And I’ll always be grateful to you.” Finished with the shirts, Dakota moved on to his underwear and lifted up the first stack.
“Gave you?” Elliot sputtered. “Are you fucking crazy? I don’t have ten thousand dollars to just give away.”
“You did it because you loved me. You even said it when I asked you.” He stopped packing and pointed. “We were right here in this bed, and when I asked, your exact words were: ‘Yeah, baby, anything you want.’”
Outraged, Elliot sputtered, “We were naked, and you were sucking my dick. Of course I’m going to say that.”
“So it’s not my fault for relying on your word.” With a casual shrug, Dakota resumed packing, but Elliot had reached his limit and grabbed the clothing away.
“It was all a lie, wasn’t it? You never loved me, did you?”Dammit. His eyes burned, but he’d been humiliated enough and refused to cry.
“There’s too much negativity here, and it stifles my creativity. It’s best I move on and allow you space to accept energy. You deserve love and peace. That’s what I wish for you in this new chapter of your life.” Dakota took the clothing from his unresisting hands and placed it in the suitcase.
Shaking with anger and disbelief, Elliot stood by mutely and watched as Dakota finished clearing the bedroom they’d shared of his things. When he took the candle set he’d given Elliot for his birthday and tossed it carelessly into his suitcase, the hammer hit home. Dakota had truly never cared about him.
As he had since birth, Elliot had been used.
Elliot followed Dakota down the steps to the front door. “You can drop the act now that you’re leaving. Admit it. I was a place to stay and free food. My friends were right about you from the beginning.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. We had fun. What more did you want?”
Love.A home. But that dream once again had been shunted aside as reality slapped him in the face. What Elliot wanted didn’t matter. It never had.
There had been Nathan, who’d said he was working on his novel, but had spent most of his time playing video games. Larry couldn’t hold a job, always blaming everyone else when he got fired, even though he’d rarely woken up before ten in the morning. Elliot had thought maybe Ali was someone he could make a go at it with, until he’d decided to tie Elliot up one night and shove a ball gag in his mouth, claiming it was a fun way to have sex.
Not for Elliot.
Dakota had now joined the long list of guys who’d used Elliot—or abused his good nature by taking advantage of him.
“What I want now is for you to leave.”
