The Ties That Bind Read online

  The man's other hand tested the edges of the scarf at Noah's eyes. Noah's heart beat with pride on hearing a deep hum of approval. Then the fingers circled the rim of his ear, pinched his earlobe above the hoop that pierced it, and then trailed down his neck. The one hand braced on his bare shoulder while the other tilted his face up.

  Noah's mouth opened on an inaudible sigh as he smelled deep, woodsy cologne nearing him. He felt breath on his lips and licked them instinctively.

  Lips brushed his, instantly pulling away when he tried to push into the kiss.

  He whimpered.

  The hand at his jaw slipped down to curve around the front of his neck, palm on his Adam's apple, not squeezing, just holding.

  Getting the picture, Noah sat still and merely accepted the kiss bestowed upon him. Soft. Exploring. A tongue darted out to trace his lip before delving between his teeth. He moaned, opening up as the hand on his neck kept him still. He gripped the armrests tighter, wanting to reach up but thinking that might not be acceptable.

  Finally, the lips pulled back. The hand at his neck mirrored the other on his shoulder, then both hands slid down his arms until they found his wrists. He realized to be in that position, the other man must be kneeling between his knees. Oh God, he wanted to see that!

  The hands left him and there was more rustling of fabric. Then something soft brushed his left wrist. He frowned. Strong hands wafted silk over his arm until he realized it was another scarf, probably a match to the one about his eyes. Deft hands wrapped the scarf loosely about his wrist and the armrest of the chair. He felt the cinch of a simple tie. Fingers grabbed his arm and pulled it up, showing him that he could loosen the scarf if he wanted to.

  "Hmmm?"

  He groaned. They weren't going to talk, obviously, and he was going to be tied. Tied in such a manner that he could get away if he wanted to. He'd never let a lover tie him before. Never trusted anyone enough. Why did everything in his being want him to trust now?

  Biting his lip, he nodded.

  With a grunt of assent, the man tied another scarf around his other wrist. Then the hands gripped his forearms and he felt the weight as the man leaned forward.

  A cry tore from his throat when lips pressed his clavicle. Not being able to see turned his other senses into overdrive and not being able to reach out made him lean into the touch. The man inhaled deeply and let out the breath with a sigh, probably enjoying the lemon scent on Noah's skin. Noah, meanwhile, was dizzy from the lemon in the air and the woodsy scent of the man who now laved attention on his chest. Tongue, lips and teeth explored Noah's shoulders and chest, gradually working toward one nipple. Finally, the wet tip of the tongue touched the achingly sensitive nub, jostling both the ring and chain, and Noah had to cry and arch at the lightning zing to his testicles. Lips closed around nipple and jewelry and suction threatened to pull Noah's beating heart out of his body.

  Noah had to make a conscious effort to keep his hands on the armrests. He wished the man had tied him for real instead of forcing him to remember to keep his hands put. The scarves helped, but he had to be careful not to let them get too loose. The attention to his nipple and the rub of the plug in his ass as he writhed wrecked havoc on his concentration.

  After feasting on the one nipple, the man switched to the other. As lips and tongue tortured, fingers reached up to tug the chain.

  Noah nearly crawled out of the chair. He cried out, head thumping against the back of the chair.

  The man stopped. Strong hands gripped Noah's waist, pulling him forward. He whimpered when his chest came up against what felt like a dress shirt, warm from the firm body within. He'd wanted to feel bare flesh. Arms slid around him and a mouth took his again. This time, he was allowed to kiss back hungrily, tilting his head so his unknown lover could take him more deeply. The man was big, his arms easily circling Noah's slighter body. A distant thought suggested he should be worried but he couldn't bother with it.

  One hand slipped into the back of the pajama pants. A finger slid in the well-lubricated crack. Parted Noah's cheeks. Checked to make sure the plug was there. Noah felt the smile on the lips that accepted his kiss. The finger at his ass tapped the plug, making him groan.

  Moaning, Noah lost track of the kiss, his attention zeroing in on the jiggling toy in his ass. Lips suckled his parted lips as the fingers worked the toy.

  "Please,” Noah heard himself breathe. He was on fire, trembling with need.

  With one pressing kiss and a final push on the toy, the man released him.

  "No!” Noah cried.

  A hand on his head gently patted him as the man stood. “Shhh,” said the voice.

  Head falling forward, Noah took a few deep breaths. He was going to come! If he let himself, he could. But he didn't want this to end. He had to control himself.

  The unmistakable sound of a zipper made his head shoot up.

  The hand gripped his jaw again. The thumb pressed on his chin, opening his mouth. Ever hopeful, Noah opened up.

  Something firm tapped his lip. He experimented with his tongue and groaned loudly to taste salty precum. He tipped his head forward and the hand covered his ear as he inhaled a hard, velvety cock shot through with rigid veins. The smell of denim, Irish Spring soap and musky male assaulted him as he pressed for more. He wanted to reach up and wrap his hand around the shaft, but he was a good boy and kept his hands where they were. Moaning, he pulled back up the shaft, laving the underside of the cock with his tongue. It was large and thick enough that he couldn't work the entire thing into his mouth. That made him squirm. He loved large men. He relished the gasp he heard above him. His need for this cock would have surprised him if he allowed himself to think. But he didn't allow that. He dove forward, swallowing as much of that steely rod as he possibly could. He relaxed his throat and let it block his airway. He would have let it plunge down into his stomach if he could have.

  A hiss above him and now both hands were on his head. They eased his mouth back, letting his lips slide in the saliva that now coated the hot skin. Then they pulled him forward. Noah relaxed and let his unknown lover guide him, making mental notes as best he could. He wanted to remember the spots that produced those glorious groans or those sharp hisses. He expected to taste this cock again. He was also pretty certain that he'd never had it in his mouth before.

  One hand stilled his head and the other pulled the cock out of his mouth. He whimpered, muffled when the cock's head was smeared over his lips. He let his mouth go slack, tilting his head back, letting the man above him slap that tasty dick on his lips and cheek. He moaned, nipping at the head when it pierced his mouth again and whimpering when it was taken away. Sucking cock wasn't new to him but doing it blindfolded and effectively bound added a whole new dimension since he couldn't see what was coming. He had to trust this unknown man.

  Trust.

  With a groan, the man shoved into his mouth one last time and pulled out. Noah heard the telltale sound of a palm rapidly stroking wet dick. He whimpered, trying to press forward to recapture the cock, but a strong hand held him still. A grunt sounded just seconds before warm, wet spunk spattered Noah's face. He opened his mouth to catch what he could as more spurted onto his cheek and dripped down the side of his jaw. A satisfied sigh above him told him when the man was done. He felt that amazing glow that always followed making another man come, despite the fact that his own cock was screaming in protest.

  Then the hands bracketed his head, tilting it up to accept a wet, possessive kiss. Without breaking the kiss, the man dropped to his knees. One hand descended to pull down the front of Noah's pajama pants, immediately wrapping around his cock. Noah screamed into the other's mouth, instinctively shoving into that hand. He wanted to draw out the moment and prolong it forever but couldn't. This man pulled his control out through his mouth and that hand—together with the plug spreading his clenching ass—yanked the orgasm up and out of him. He screamed again, feeling the warm spatter as his cum landed on the leg of the pajama pa
nts.

  The hand kept milking him gently and the mouth kept kissing him until he sank back against the back of the chair. The mouth pulled away, trailing up his cheek to his ear. “Don't move,” murmured a voice, deep, dark and sexy.

  Noah remained still when the man stood. Truthfully, he was shell shocked by the experience and wasn't sure he could move. Footsteps trailed away, accompanied by the sound of a zipper. Water sounded after a moment, placing the man in the bathroom.

  Get up, Noah told himself. Take off the blindfold.

  But he didn't. He stayed in the chair, gripping the arms, just as he'd been told. Warmth suffused his skin and he basked in it.

  The man returned with a warm, wet washcloth. He used it to wipe cum from Noah's face and belly and even swiped at what had fallen on the pajamas. Once done, he knelt again, hands wrapping around the scarves at Noah's wrists.

  "You're all right?” asked the voice right in his ear. Low. Whispering. Entirely unrecognizable. It could have been any of a thousand men.

  "Yes."

  Lips pressed the soft spot underneath his jaw. “Start counting. Don't move until you reach one hundred."

  Noah jumped, some of the delicious lassitude draining from his skin. “What? You're leaving? No!"

  Hands squeezed. “Game over?"

  He stilled. Bit his lip. Underneath his immediate ire at his new lover leaving, a warm simmer of anticipation began. This was entirely new and different to him. If it was this good so far, would it be better if he continued to follow? “Will I see you again?"

  "Yes.” With a last lingering kiss for Noah's mouth, he stood. “Count. Aloud."

  Sneering slightly, Noah obeyed. “One. Two. Three..."

  He heard movement. Fabric rustling. In a moment, the door opened and eased closed.

  Just get up. “Thirty six. Thirty seven...” He's gone. “Thirty eight. Thirty nine.” What if it was a test? What if he's standing there? Watching? That thought made his skin tingle.

  He made it to one hundred without any further sound. Removing the scarf, he found himself alone. “Damn.” He slumped back in the chair, wiggling as the plug reminded him it was there.

  The box was on the table.

  Inside was a note and a keycard to another hotel.

  Tomorrow night. 10:00PM. Bring the collar.

  Yours,

  Me

  * * * *

  Noah quartered the lemon then lifted one juicy crescent to shove behind his lips. The sour bite shot that shudder that he loved through his neck and chest as his face squeezed up involuntarily.

  "Freaks me out when you do that,” Richard muttered.

  Noah grinned around the lemon rind still held in his teeth.

  Seeing this, Richard rolled his eyes and turned to deliver a margarita to a blonde lady who sat at the bar.

  It was a slow time on a usually busy night. He and Richard didn't both need to be there, but since Mr. Cortez wasn't around, neither of them was going to give up a night's pay.

  Noah finished the lemons and started on limes while Richard filled orders for two of the waiters. He'd just finished when the blonde and her date left to be seated.

  "So,” Richard turned his back to the bar, using a towel on a glass, “how'd it go last night?"

  Noah glanced away, flushed. “It was okay."

  Richard chuckled. “Just okay?"

  Noah grinned. “More than okay."

  "So who is he? Do you know him?"

  Noah cleared his throat and stepped up to the bar, smiling broadly at the man who asked for Drambuie on ice.

  Richard waited nicely as Noah filled the order, but didn't forget the question. “Well?"

  "I don't know,” Noah replied softly as he replaced the bottle of whiskey.

  "Huh?"

  "Well ... I was blindfolded."

  "Oh now this is getting interesting.” Richard settled against the cabinet behind the bar, arms crossed, listening intently.

  Sighing, Noah decided that he needed to talk to someone. Mitch's door had been closed when he'd gotten home the previous night and his roommate was gone to work by the time Noah got up. He hadn't seen Kenneth yet and since Richard was the first to ask, Richard was elected. “He, um,” strangely, he couldn't look at Richard. Noah had never felt this bashful, but what he was saying felt so very personal, “he had me sit in a chair and blindfold myself before he showed up."

  "Shit, Noah! That could have been dangerous."

  "I know, I know. But it wasn't. It was...” He lifted his gaze to the neon clock above the bar, focus misty as his skin vividly recalled his mystery man's touch. “It was amazing."

  "I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."

  Noah blinked back into focus. “I didn't either. I've never done anything like that before."

  "What would convince you to do it now with someone you don't know?"

  Noah frowned, starting to rethink talking to Richard. He was not in the mood to hear what could have gone wrong with such a beautiful experience. “He's not dangerous. I know that now. Even when he tied my wrists..."

  "He what?!"

  "Would you shut up?” Eyes wide, Noah scanned the nearby tables. A few people looked up at Richard's outburst, but nothing too alarming. They all went back to their dinners. From across the room, he saw Rachel scowl their way. Great.

  Wincing, Richard scanned the mostly full restaurant himself.

  A wave of customers descended on them before they could continue their discussion. Noah filled orders with half a mind, the rest dwelling on Richard's reaction. No doubt in his mind now that Richard was not his mystery man. It had been a nice fantasy, but Noah was pretty sure Richard wasn't a good enough actor to fake that last outburst. Ah well, he didn't have any business hoping it was Richard in the first place.

  Rachel placed an order for two drinks with Noah, hanging out at the bar as she waited. “What was that about?” she murmured.

  Noah opened his mouth to answer, but Richard pressed up behind him, leaning toward Rachel. “He let him tie him up!” He hissed before turning to slide a wineglass into Noah's hand.

  Noah glared at his back as he turned to pour a glass of Chablis.

  Rachel squeaked, brown eyes wide. “What?"

  Noah tutted at her. “Later."

  "Oh you'd better believe later!” She spun her empty tray around on the end of the bar. “I'll have to go find Kenneth."

  "No."

  "You don't want him to know?"

  Noah opened his mouth, then closed it. He said nothing as he finished pouring her two drinks, then frowned at her as he set them on her tray. “I don't want to talk about it anymore."

  She reached out to gently grasp his wrist, concern all over her pretty round face. “You okay?"

  "I'm fine. Really. I just ... it feels weird to talk about it."

  But talking was destined. Business picked up for awhile so there were enough customers that Noah managed to fend Richard off until his shift was almost over. But then there was another lull. As the lone man sitting at the bar stood and dug through his pockets for his wallet, Noah saw Kenneth appear at the entrance to the restaurant. He made a beeline for the bar.

  "Great,” Noah muttered, recognizing the curiosity on his friend's face.

  "Rachel said I had to come talk to you about last night,” Kenneth said, taking a seat as the customer set his money on the counter and left.

  The restaurant crowd had thinned out considerably. It was close to the end of Noah's shift.

  Noah sighed. “It's nothing."

  Beside him, Richard snorted, folding his arms on the bar and leaning on them. He focused on Kenneth. “Noah let him tie him up."

  Kenneth's hazel eyes blinked repeatedly and he dramatically raised a hand to his throat. “Oh my."

  Noah rolled his eyes. “Oh please."

  "Noah, this is momentous!"

  "No, it's not."

  "Yes, it is. Unless there is something you've never told me, you've never been tied up before.
"

  "He didn't really tie me up."

  "That's what you told me,” Richard proclaimed.

  "There was a box waiting for me when I got there.” Noah moved closer to them so he could speak in a lower voice. “It had a blindfold in it.” He chose not to mention the other contents. “And there was this chair set in the middle of the room. The note said to put on the blindfold and sit there."

  They watched him, rapt.

  He went on. “So I did. When he got there, he loosely—” he gave Richard a pointed look, “—tied my wrists to the arms of the chair. I could have freed my hands at any time."

  Richard looked only slightly mollified.

  "And?” Kenneth prompted, interest raising his dark sculpted brows.

  "And none of your business.” Noah was so not going to share the rest of his night with anyone.

  "Well, well, Noah must be feeling something profound if he doesn't want to share.” Kenneth spoke of him in the third person, but looked straight at him.

  "Don't encourage him,” Richard groused.

  Kenneth waved a lazily placating hand. “Oh Richard, I seriously doubt that Noah's mystery man is out to harm Noah in any way. Nothing he's said or done has been overtly dangerous."

  Richard scowled at him. “Except for not making himself known."

  Kenneth smiled, smoothing his tie. “Yes, well, that seems to have worked in his favor, hasn't it? I've never seen Noah so intrigued by a man. That may just be the key to holding Noah's interest."

  It was Noah's turn to scowl. “What?"

  Kenneth cocked his head to the side. “I've never seen you so taken with anyone, let alone someone you don't even know. You're beside yourself. And you haven't even mentioned clubbing in the past week or so. I'd say that was rather telling."

  Noah blinked. Kenneth was right. Normally, he'd be eager to go out. But he didn't want to go clubbing. That thought surprised the scowl off his face.

  Kenneth chuckled. “You're all tied in knots.” He leaned forward, hazel eyes at half mast. “I wish your mystery man could see you now."

  Confused by both his thoughts as well as Kenneth's words, Noah fidgeted. A check of the clock was his relief. “I've got to go."