Marlon nodded slowly. “Yeah. There’s that chance. And I think it’s a chance I’d even put money on, but it’s not a sure thing.”
“Okay. Well….” Vahin wiped his hands over his thighs, though there was nothing to get off. He wanted to ask a billion more questions. To get Marlon to make promises that were beyond his ability to make. “Well, I guess that means I have to wait and see.”
“Yeah.” Marlon didn’t finish until Vahin met his eyes. “Wehave to wait and see. You’re not in this alone.”
Though Vahin knew it would be his future affected most by the outcome, he really didn’t feel alone. He felt less alone than he had in years, even with all the love from Mary’s. He turned away, swiping quickly at his eyes and grabbed potholders before opening the oven. “Dinner’s ready.”
Marlon had taken his first bite of food and let out a nearly orgasmic groan that didn’t seem faked before Vahin realized how self-absorbed he’d been. “Oh, shit, Marlon. I wasn’t even thinking. I’m so sorry.”
Marlon cocked an eyebrow, his mouth full.
“Today was your first day back after being outed to everyone. Are you okay?”
Marlon finished chewing. “It was a little tense, to say the least, but nobody said anything. Which I kinda wish they would’ve, just to get it over with. But I didn’t say anything either. I spent most of the day with Andrew, anyway. And what was even stranger is he didn’t mention you once. I thought it was going to be an entire day of gloating and backhanded statements to try to get a reaction. But nothing.”
“Really?” Vahin wasn’t sure what to make of it but didn’t have long to consider before Marlon set down his fork.
“Oh! I forgot.” He popped up out of his seat and went over to his discarded jacket and began digging through the pockets. “I stopped by a place before coming here.”
“Well, I hope it wasn’t to get dessert if you stuffed it in your pocket.”
Marlon grinned at him. “Well, kinda.” He pulled a black plastic bag out of his pocket, then emptied the contents into his hand before holding it up.
“What the—” The furry purple item took a moment to register, and then Vahin burst out with a laugh. “No way!”
That hesitant expression crossed Marlon’s face again, the one that seemed so out of place. “Well, you’ve been asking to, so….”
“Marlon, you fucking have a pair of handcuffs with you all the time. You didn’t need to go buy a pair. Especiallythatkind.”
“I can’t make myself use the real ones. They’re for work, and it seems….” His words faded off, and he glanced toward the fuzzy handcuffs, then grinned at Vahin. “What? You don’t like them? They had pink ones, if you’d rather me take them back and get those.”
God, the man was adorable. Hot as fuck, but adorable. “No, purple will do just fine.”
After dinner and after clothes had been discarded, Vahin lay on the bed as Marlon straddled him. He fastened one of the fuzzy links to the bedpost and then gripped Vahin’s wrist and pulled it toward the cuffs.
As much as Vahin had wanted this, something in his guts twisted, and he could feel Andrew’s fingers digging into his elbow. He pulled his wrist free.
“You okay?” Marlon looked down at him, concern in his voice.
Vahin felt so stupid; this was fun. It was sexy. He wanted nothing more than to be under Marlon’s complete control. He met Marlon’s gaze. “Sorry. Can we wait on those? Maybe when my brush with the law is over?”
Marlon’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh God. I didn’t even think. I’m so sorry. I—”
Vahin cut him off by using his free hand to press against Marlon’s ass and shove Marlon’s crotch into Vahin’s face. Tilting his head up, he engulfed Marlon’s cock in his mouth, not taking his eyes from Marlon’s.
“Oh fuck, yes.” Marlon moaned, released the handcuffs, gripped the headboard, and pushed himself farther into Vahin’s mouth.
The cuffs hung on the bedpost the rest of the night, making muffled thuds occasionally, but completely forgotten.
