Broken Rules Read online

Fox’s eyes were dazed, lips wet and swollen. “I—Calypso. What are you waiting for?”

  “Clearly not manners from you,” Sanyam jibed, and turned away. “Be naked when I get back.”

  “Or what?”

  Sanyam swung back, and Fox flinched. “Don’t test me, kit.” He bent to pick Polly up and stalked for his bedroom without looking. There, he deposited her on the bed and came up with a few items from the nightstand drawer before closing the door behind him and returning to the living room.

  Fox was kicking his pants into a heap with his shirt, bare except for his socks.

  Sanyam scooped up the sweatpants and caught Fox’s arm to pull it behind his back. “Grab your elbows,” he ordered. Fox obeyed, breath catching in his throat, and Sanyam made short work of binding his forearms against each other with the pants, making sure Fox couldn’t pull free, before moving around in front of him.

  Fox twisted, his skin darkening as a flush crawled up his chest. His eyes were huge, pupils blown so wide only a thin strip of green remained, and Sanyam wrapped one hand around his throat and squeezed lightly.

  Fox’s mouth fell open as he struggled to breathe, and Sanyam took a moment to appreciate how lovely he was, dark hair falling into his unfocused eyes, before he eased the pressure, letting Fox suck in air.

  “No breath play tonight,” he said. “That needs more time and preparation. But one day, kit….” He thumbed Fox’s dimple. “One day. For now… you need to be punished.” Sanyam stepped back and sat down on the sofa, gesturing to his lap. “Facedown.”

  Fox nearly tripped over the shirt on the floor as he moved to obey. He lowered himself awkwardly until he lost his balance and ended up sprawled on his stomach across Sanyam’s knees.

  Sanyam caught and steadied him with a hand smoothed over the curve of Fox’s ass. “Do you know what you’ve been doing to me the past two weeks?” he murmured.

  Fox was silent, tension in every muscle.

  “You’ve been driving me crazy.” Sanyam trailed a finger along Fox’s spine, feeling the bumps of the vertebrae one at a time. “Was it on purpose, kit? Were you deliberately wandering around naked just so you could send me out of my mind?”

  Fox said nothing, and Sanyam smacked his ass, hard enough to sting.

  “Answer me.”

  “I—yes,” Fox gasped. “Not… at first, but I—I wanted you. I w-wanted—you wouldn’t even look at me, and I—”

  Sanyam stroked the handprint that had formed on Fox’s skin, making him shiver. “You don’t know how to ask for what you need. That’s all right, kit. I can give it to you anyway.”

  Without further warning, he began to hit him, hard enough that he knew Fox would be feeling it the next day but careful to preserve his strength and save his hand. He didn’t have many toys at home, preferring to keep his professional and personal lives separate, so he was improvising as he went.

  Fox jerked, and Sanyam caught his thigh with his free hand, holding him in place. He could feel Fox’s erection pressed against his leg, and Sanyam struck several more blows before stopping to give his hand a rest and admire the cherry red of Fox’s ass.

  He rubbed his palm across the handprints and, when Fox didn’t move, used his fingernails to scrape light welts along them. That got a flinch and muffled groan, and Sanyam smiled to himself.

  “Are you clean, kit?”

  Fox hesitated. “I—what?”

  “STDs,” Sanyam clarified. “I have something in mind for you, but—”

  Fox sagged, hips moving in tiny, unconscious circles as he looked for friction. “I’m—clean. Haven’t—ah”—as Sanyam smacked him again—“I’m clean,” he repeated. “It’s been years—”

  “Good,” Sanyam said. “So am I.” He patted Fox’s thigh and pushed until Fox got the hint and slid sideways to land on his knees in front of him. His hair was in his face, and he already looked wrecked, debauched, and wanting.

  Sanyam unzipped his pants and lifted his hips to push his slacks down and off as Fox watched, lips parted and eyes hungry.

  Naked from the waist down, Sanyam arched his back, sighing as his cock fell against his belly.

  “Between my feet,” he ordered, and waited until Fox shuffled into position. “Now… watch.” He closed a hand around his shaft and began to stroke as Fox’s mouth fell open and outrage flashed across his face.

  “I want to—”

  “You want to what?” Sanyam asked, hand steadily moving. “You want to taste me? Suck me off? You want me to come in your mouth?”

  Fox nodded jerkily, and Sanyam grinned.

  “Now you know how I’ve felt the past two weeks.” He twisted his wrist on an upstroke and groaned. “Mashalla, that’s good.” Fox looked furious, glancing between Sanyam’s cock and his face, but he said nothing.

  Instead, he pulled on his bonds, shoulders straining, but Sanyam didn’t even lose his rhythm. He’d done his job well. Fox wasn’t getting out until he safeworded or they were done.

  He sped up, catching his breath, and Fox leaned forward, whining deep in his chest, and rubbed his cheek against Sanyam’s inner thigh, his mouth just an inch from Sanyam’s cock.

  With his free hand, Sanyam caught a fistful of Fox’s hair, yanked his head back, and came with a punched-out groan all over Fox’s face.

  Fox closed his eyes and opened his mouth as creamy globs splattered his skin, trying to catch them with his tongue, and Sanyam swore under his breath as he shuddered through the aftershocks.

  Wrung dry, he sagged backward, releasing his grip on Fox’s hair and taking a deep breath. He lifted a hand, trembling still, and used his thumb to swipe through the come on Fox’s face, gathering it.

  “Open,” he said, and Fox obeyed so that Sanyam could push his come into Fox’s mouth. Fox’s eyes fluttered shut and he sucked on Sanyam’s thumb, tongue working to clean it thoroughly, and Sanyam hissed.

  He pulled away with a soft pop and drew in air. Fox watched him, hunger stark on his face, and Sanyam smiled at him.

  “You’re afraid even to ask, aren’t you? Afraid I won’t let you come again.”

  Fox hesitated and finally nodded, shame and want chasing each other across his mobile features.

  Sanyam stroked his cheekbone, affection and exasperation flooding him. “I’m not that heartless, kit. On your back. Spread your legs.”

  Fox scrambled to obey, squirming in an effort to get comfortable on his bound arms as Sanyam slid off the couch onto the floor between Fox’s splayed knees. He stroked the soft skin of Fox’s inner thigh, admiring the desperate hardness of Fox’s shaft as it strained against his stomach, leaking in slow, heavy drops, and Fox’s puckered hole, flexing and twitching as he waited.

  “So beautiful,” Sanyam murmured and reached for the lube he’d brought from the bedroom.

  He coated his finger and pressed inside Fox’s body in one smooth motion, silken heat enveloping him as Fox grunted, planting his feet on the floor as his hips bucked up.

  “When’s the last time you did this?” Sanyam asked in a conversational tone as he slid in and out, movements slow and even.

  Fox couldn’t seem to concentrate enough to find words. His mouth was open, eyes dazed, and finally he swallowed and managed, “C-college.”

  Sanyam hummed. “It has been a while for you. Push into it when I add another finger.”

  Fox moaned as Sanyam pulled out and pressed back in with two fingers. “I need—” His hips canted, seeking friction for his neglected erection.

  “You’re not getting it,” Sanyam said.

  Fox jerked his head up, staring at him in disbelief. “But—you said—”

  “I said you could come,” Sanyam said. “I never said I was going to touch your cock. You need punishment, kit, someone to take you in hand and discipline you.” He crooked his fingers up sharply, and Fox’s back bowed, heels scrabbling against the floor. “So you’ll take what I give you, and you’ll come untouched or not at all.”

  Fox sobbed for breath
but said nothing, bearing down on Sanyam’s hand.

  Sanyam smiled as he bent to his task, and silence fell, broken by Fox’s harsh breathing. After a few minutes, Sanyam added lube and a third finger, sighing as Fox’s body stretched to accept him.

  “So lovely,” he murmured. “So responsive. How are you feeling?”

  “Dying,” Fox spat. “Need to be touched.”

  Sanyam raised an eyebrow and pulled his fingers out. “I was under the impression that I was touching you.”

  Fox moaned, jerking again at his bonds. “I—I need—you know what I meant.”

  Sanyam took pity on him and pushed back in with a slow, steady slide. He bent and kissed Fox’s inner thigh, nosing along the soft skin, and latched on over the tendon to suck.

  Fox twisted, another sob falling from his mouth, but Sanyam ignored him, driving his fingers in deep with sharp, cruel precision. He found Fox’s prostate and began to rub in smooth strokes as he sucked a livid bruise into Fox’s thigh.

  He could tell when Fox was close by the tightening of his muscles, and Sanyam redoubled his efforts, pushing him relentlessly up the hill to the edge.

  Fox clamped down on his hand, his entire body seizing up as he came soundlessly, mouth open in helpless ecstasy.

  Sanyam eased away from his thigh, admiring the mark he’d made, still wringing the last dregs of pleasure from Fox’s body in slowing thrusts.

  Finally Fox collapsed back to the floor as tiny tremors rippled through him, eyes dazed, and Sanyam pulled out, careful to move slowly.

  With his clean hand, he gathered up the come on Fox’s belly and crawled up his body. Fox sighed, turning his head toward him, and Sanyam smiled down at him.

  “Open,” he said and fed him his own come.

  Fox lapped it off Sanyam’s hand obediently, tongue kitten-soft and willing as he licked at the web of Sanyam’s fingers. When he was done, Sanyam bent and kissed him, tasting beer and the sharp bite of come on his tongue.

  “So good,” he whispered, cupping Fox’s jaw.

  Fox’s eyes closed, and he turned his face into Sanyam’s palm.

  Sanyam helped him upright and kept him steady as he released his arms, then drew him down onto the couch, Fox sleep-loose and pliant against him as he curled up. They needed to get clean, but it could wait.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  STERLING HAD no idea how long he’d been asleep when Sanyam nudged him awake.

  “Time for bed, kit.”

  Sterling made a muffled noise against Sanyam’s thigh and tried to melt into the couch.

  Sanyam laughed quietly. “Come on, you. Wouldn’t you prefer your comfortable bed?”

  “Nnnn,” Sterling said, but Sanyam ignored him, gently pushing and pulling until Sterling was upright.

  Sterling glowered at him, and Sanyam’s lips twitched.

  “So grumpy. Up you get.”

  He hauled Sterling to his feet and chivvied him down the hall to his bedroom. Sterling crawled between the sheets as Sanyam disappeared, but he was soon back with a warm, wet rag and cleaned Sterling up in quick order.

  Sterling caught his wrist as Sanyam straightened. “Am—am I going to drop?”

  Sanyam smoothed Sterling’s hair off his forehead. “Did you hit sub space particularly hard?”

  Sterling shrugged. “I don’t… know. Don’t think so.”

  “Then maybe it won’t be too bad,” Sanyam said. “Sleep well, kit. We’ll go shopping tomorrow, and I’ll stay with you all day, make sure if you do drop, I’ll be there to help you through it.”

  Sterling opened his mouth, but he couldn’t make the words come, couldn’t thank Sanyam for his kindness when Sterling had done nothing to deserve it.

  Sanyam’s eyes creased. “See you in the morning, Fox.”

  STERLING AWOKE to the sound of the shower running, the early sun slanting across his feet. He stretched, enjoying the slide of the sheets against the skin still tender from Sanyam’s attentions the night before. He felt good, warm and relaxed and comfortable, and he didn’t particularly want to get out of bed.

  The shower stopped, and Sterling rolled over to face the door. Sure enough, Sanyam appeared a few minutes later, his hair curling and damp, a towel wrapped around his waist and drops of water still glistening on his chest.

  Sterling made an appreciative noise and beckoned, but Sanyam just laughed. “Oh no you don’t. We have things to do today. The shower’s free; I’ll make breakfast while you’re in it.”

  Sterling pouted but threw the sheet off and stood up. He went up on his tiptoes to stretch, groaning in appreciation as his spine popped.

  Sanyam took a sharp breath. “You little shit,” he muttered and crossed the room. Sterling hid his laugh as Sanyam yanked him close. Instead he wrapped his arms around Sanyam’s neck, pressing up against his body.

  “Much more like it,” Sterling murmured and rubbed his nose along Sanyam’s damp beard.

  Sanyam turned his head and caught Sterling’s mouth in a kiss, tasting like peppermint, and Sterling sighed into it, melting appreciatively.

  When he tried to sink back to the bed, though, pulling Sanyam with him, Sanyam stepped away.

  “Shower and breakfast,” he said, adjusting his towel. “There’s time for… that… later, if you still want it then.”

  “You’re no fun,” Sterling mumbled, but he headed for the bathroom.

  Sanyam slapped his ass as he walked by, making Sterling yelp and glare at him. “Sure about that, kit?”

  They ate breakfast together at the kitchen table, Sanyam reading the news on his phone and Sterling sneaking bits of pancake to Polly.

  “So are we taking the bus again today?” Sterling asked, putting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his hand.

  “Were you raised by wolves?” Sanyam said mildly.

  “Yes,” Sterling said. “Bus? Or by some miracle are we using some other form of transportation that maybe doesn’t smell like sauerkraut and contain creepy guys who undress me with their eyes?”

  Sanyam laughed. “We’ll take a cab.”

  “Thank Christ for small mercies,” Sterling said, stealing a piece of bacon off Sanyam’s plate. He shared it with Polly, who was sitting on his knee, and Sanyam sighed.

  “You’re spoiling my cat.”

  “Bitch, please,” Sterling retorted. “This cat was spoiled before I ever walked in the door. You sicken me, by the way,” he told Polly, who squeaked at him. Sterling gave her another tiny bit of bacon fat and looked up to see Sanyam watching him, his eyes warm.

  “Is Cricket still at Granville Island on the weekends?” he asked.

  Sterling flinched, breath catching. “I don’t—I think so. She had a lot of stuff that she could sell, she’s probably there.”

  “Would you like to go see her?”

  “Yeah,” Sterling said as his chest eased. “I—yeah, I would.”

  THEY RODE to Granville Island in companionable silence, and Sterling let his hand rest on the seat between them, close to but not quite brushing Sanyam’s thigh.

  At the island, he was the first out, bouncing on his toes as he waited for Sanyam to catch up.

  He ignored the crowds, ducking around knots of shoppers and throttling back his impatience so he didn’t leave Sanyam behind.

  “Go on,” Sanyam said. “I’ll catch up.” He was looking at a booth full of vintage clothes, but Sterling didn’t wait to see what had caught his eye.

  He dashed through the throngs, slithering in between clumps of tourists until he was on Cricket’s aisle. He could see her in the booth, handing a bag to someone with a smile on her face, and tears prickled Sterling’s eyes. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d missed her until that moment.

  Cricket brushed her hair out of her face, looking up, and caught his eye. Fox, she mouthed and bolted out of the booth straight for him.

  They collided in the middle of the aisle, the impact knocking the air from Sterling’s lungs as he wrapped his arms around he
r.

  “Oh my God, Fox, oh thank God, I’m so glad you’re okay!” She pushed him to arm’s length and gripped the lapels of his coat to inspect him, tears in her big green eyes. “Why haven’t you texted me?” she demanded. “You look good; are you finally taking care of yourself? Your skin is glowing, and your hair’s all shiny, and I think you’ve gained weight!”

  Sterling laughed and pulled her back into another hug. She smelled like jasmine and coconut. “I’m good,” he said into her hair, surprised to realize it was true. “I’m… yeah, I’m doing good. How’re you? Still with Dorian and Tatum?”

  Cricket nodded and tugged him toward the booth, where Tatum was sitting in Sterling’s camp chair, one leg slung over the arm. They glanced up and grinned at the sight of Sterling, raising one hand in a laconic wave. Their nails were bright orange with red stripes today, Sterling noted.

  “Good to see you,” they said. “Where’ve you been keeping yourself?”

  “I’m… staying with a friend,” Sterling said.

  Sanyam arrived then, a bag hanging from his arm. He smiled at Cricket, who gasped at the sight of him.

  “You?” she said. “Are you the friend he’s staying with?”

  Sanyam slanted a glance at Sterling, his smile widening. “I suppose I am,” he said, bowing slightly.

  Cricket flung her arms around him. Sanyam’s eyebrows shot up, but he hugged her back, patting her gingerly.

  “Hello,” he said to Tatum when Cricket released him. “I’m a friend of Fox’s.”

  Tatum waved again. “Tatum. Dating Dorian.”

  “I’m staying at their place,” Cricket said. “Fox, you know you could have stayed with us until you had your own place, right?”

  “Four’s a crowd, Cricky,” Sterling said. He sat down on the trunk and looked around the booth, full of Cricket’s glassware. “How’s the gig? Selling a lot?”

  “Actually, yeah,” Cricket said. “This is my second haul of the morning—I had to restock about an hour ago.”

  “That’s awesome!” Sterling said, grinning at her. “Where’s Dorian?”

  “At work,” Tatum said as they scrolled through their phone. “He’s working at the aquarium.”