10
Jack
Slade had no idea how he affected me. I had always lived by a very clear set of rules. One of the reasons I enjoyed the kink community so much as a whole, was how clear cut everything was. But now, with Slade, I found myself ready to throw out all of the rules that had always focused me. I led him into the kitchen and started filling the sink with hot soapy water.
“You don’t have to do that,” Slade protested. “I’m pretty good at washing the dishes after all the practice I had earlier today.”
He tried stealing the washcloth, but I held it over my head, out of his reach. He cooked, so I was going to clean. Living alone, I rarely came home to a hot meal ready to eat, unless I dug out the appliances my family insisted on giving me as a way to encourage me to cook for myself. They mostly collected dust because I didn’t see the point in cooking a big meal for one, and all the recipes I found created more leftovers than I could eat before they went bad. Slade had actually done me a favor by heating up dinner before I got here.
“So I noticed,” I responded, looking around the kitchen and nodding in approval. “You’ve done enough for one day, boy. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll take care of clean up? There isn’t that much, so it won’t take very long.”
Slade worried at his lip. I watched him for a few seconds, trying to picture him with a lip ring. While I typically wasn’t a fan of facial piercings, I hadn’t been trying to flatter him when I said he would’ve looked good with one. It would have rounded out the edgy rocker vibe he had going on. Without it, there was a sense of innocence about him. I didn’t tell him that because, from the little I’d gotten to know him so far, I doubted he would appreciate the compliment. I was pulling him into uncharted waters, and I couldn’t wait to corrupt him in only the best possible ways.
When Slade stayed rooted to the floor, I turned off the water, approached him, then hoisted him onto the counter. Slade spread his legs and I stepped into the gap, running my hands up and down his thighs. “I’m not trying to trick you. Relax.”
“I didn’t think…” His gaze lowered to the floor, revealing the lie he’d been about to tell. We’d have to work on his trust issues. Of course, a good starting point would be me not testing him.
“It’s okay, Slade,” I reassured him. “We’re still getting to know one another. You may not believe me, but I like dividing labor. You cooked, so now I’m going to clean up before we get on with the rest of the night.”
“Okay. That makes sense.” He smiled shyly. “Man, you probably think I’m a total basket case.”
“No, I think you’re a beautiful young man who’s avoided relationships. You wouldn’t know how to act if this was just two men trying to see if there was something more than sexual chemistry between them,” I explained, and Slade nodded. I rewarded him with a tender kiss. He hummed softly against my lips, and I massaged his neck. “Add in the…other stuff, and it’s no surprise you’re feeling out of sorts. So, tell me, boy, is this what you thought would happen tonight?”
“Not by a long shot,” Slade confessed.
“And is it better or worse than you imagined?” I slid my hands down his back until they came to rest on Slade’s hips. My dick had been hard since I forced him to take off that ridiculous button-down shirt and stand before me. My instincts screamed at me to throw him over my shoulder and take him to the bedroom, but he had been right to push for us to talk first.
Slade considered his answer before speaking. “Both?”
“Explain that,” I replied, taking a step back. He reached out for me, and I quickly backed up to the sink. He was too much temptation. I needed to stay in control. While I waited for him to elaborate, I started scrubbing the dishes.
“I don’t do any of this. I don’t sit down and have cozy dinners with guys. Hell, I can’t tell you the last time I got this far, without both of us being naked and the room reeking of sex.” His voice shrunk, until the last of his words were delivered as little more than a whisper. “I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”
“I am not going to judge you, Slade.” It was killing me to not turn around, but I got the impression it was easier for Slade if I wasn’t looking at him as he spoke. “So, is that the better or worse part?”
“Both.” This time, the word wasn’t spoken as a question.
“How so?” Man, what should have been a simple conversation was like pulling teeth.
“I kind of like it. But not knowing what’s going to happen next sucks.”
“I can understand that. What do youwantto happen next?”
“Jesus, Jack, what’s with all the questions? See, this is why relationships are stupid. I don’t know how to put any of the shit into words, and my head just keeps spinning.” When I glanced over my shoulder, Slade had his hands twisted in his hair, tugging hard at the scalp. It had never been my intention to upset him. It hadn’t even occurred to me that trying to have a casual conversation would be enough to set him off that way.
I swiped a towel off the counter and dried my hands. Rather than taking him in my arms the way I wanted, I leaned against the counter next to the sink. “Talking isn’t a bad thing, Slade. It’s a way for me to know what’s going on in your head, rather than trying to guess. I know this is new for you, but if we’re going to do anything beyond having dinner together, you are going to have to learn that I am a stickler for communication.”
“I just don’t understand why any of this matters. If I said that I didn’t like having dinner together and wished you would’ve come in and talked to me, it wouldn’t change anything. It’s in the past. You can’t change the past.” Slade pinched the bridge of his nose and slumped forward enough that I darted across the room to catch him if he fell. His body sagged against mine.
I kissed the side of his head and rubbed his back. “You are right about that, boy. And both of us have pasts that we can’t change. All we can do is take every moment as it comes.”
“So, this is another life lesson with Jack moment?” I couldn’t help but chuckle at Slade’s snark. “No offense, man, but I’m not really interested in you trying to be some sort of self-help guru for me.”
“That’s good then, because that’s not what I am trying to do.” I released Slade and took a step back. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I truly want to know what you’re thinking. Both of us need to know what we’re getting into, and we need to be on the same page.”
“If I told you I just wanted a quick fuck and then never to see you again, you’d be okay with that?” He eyed me warily, and I wondered if he’d believe any answer I gave him.
“Okay? I wouldn’t say that, but I would respect your decision. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. That goes for inside the bedroom and out.”
