The Ties That Bind Read online

  "Wouldn't be able to tell from your reaction."

  Noah stuck out his bottom lip. “I still don't know who it is."

  "You don't?"

  A flash of apprehension made Noah hesitate, remembering what happened when he spoke to Richard the day before. But this was Mitch. “I had on a blindfold."

  "Dayum. Really?"

  He peeked up at Mitch, relieved to see intrigue and not censure on Mitch's smiling face. That made him smile. “Yeah."

  "How'd he get you to wear a blindfold?"

  "It was in a box with one of those notes waiting for me."

  "Both nights?"

  "Yeah."

  "Damn, I'm sorry I fell asleep before you got home both nights."

  Noah frowned. “How'd you know I was out with him last night?"

  "I assumed. You haven't gone out with anyone but Bob since the last few gifts appeared."

  He squirmed to hear that another friend noted his lack of sociability lately. “True."

  Mitch folded his arms on the tabletop, grinning. “So was the blindfold all?"

  Noah felt the flush creeping up his neck as he stared at the rim of Mitch's bowl. “No."

  "Do tell."

  "He ... kind of tied me up."

  "'Kind of'?"

  "The knots were loose. I could have gotten away.” He didn't mention the tether with the handles.

  "But you didn't."

  Noah shook his head.

  "I'm shocked.” But Mitch looked more bemused than shocked, but then it took a lot to throw him, both mentally and physically. “I didn't think you were into that kind of thing."

  Noah pushed up, sitting back in his chair. “I'm not. I wasn't."

  "And now you are?"

  He shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time."

  "Could have been dangerous.” Mitch's tone was careful, unlike Richard's astonished surprise.

  "It could have. But it wasn't."

  "Sounds like you enjoyed it."

  'Enjoyed’ was far too tame a word, but he went ahead and nodded.

  Mitch twisted an arm so he could rest his chin on the heel of his palm. Curly black hair crowded his left eye. “So? What happens now?"

  "He says he'll make himself known to me today,” Noah replied with a frown.

  "You don't believe him?"

  "I don't know. I don't know what that means."

  Mitch chuckled. “Sounds like you'll find out. Pretty cool Valentine's present, I'd say."

  "I guess.” He stood and went to grab the box of cereal from the counter. “You going out tonight?"

  Mitch laughed. “Planning on bringing your mystery man back here?"

  Noah glared at him. “No. I'm just curious what your plans are. I don't recall you being on a lot of dates lately."

  "I've been busy."

  "Work?"

  "Yeah.” With a happy sigh and a big stretch, Mitch sat back. The little chair groaned under his weight as he settled with his hands laced over his belly. “But not tonight. I've got a hot date tonight, too."

  Noah reached for a bowl from the cabinet. “Anyone I know?"

  "Nope.” Nothing new. Noah often didn't meet the women Mitch dated.

  "You planning to bring her home tonight?” Noah teased.

  "Nope. I've got a whole night of romance planned."

  Noah smiled, pouring cereal. “Lucky lady."

  "I hope she thinks so."

  * * * *

  To say that Noah was on edge when he got to work was putting it mildly.

  I'll make myself known. What the hell did that mean? Noah's wild imagination ranged from picturing every black car that approached on his walk from bus stop to bar was going to stop and men were going to jump out and kidnap him, to something as ordinary as a guy sitting down at the bar. He held his breath as each male patron sat down to order a drink. It made it worse that, since it was Valentine's Day, quite a few of the regulars who had expressed interest in him before came by specifically to say “hi."

  He jumped when Richard bumped into him. Because of the occasion, they were again teamed together behind the bar until closing.

  The taller man laughed, patting his shoulder. “Ease up, man."

  He nodded, laughing.

  A solemn older man in a dark brown suit hailed Noah from the end of the bar. Oh please, not you, he thought. Okay, he wasn't bad looking but he wasn't gorgeous. It had just occurred to Noah last night that his mystery man might be ugly. Not that it should matter. It didn't matter. The man made his blood sing and had almost had him coming at the mere sound of his footsteps. He could look like the hunchback of Notre Dame, right?

  But would it be so bad if he were good looking?

  Brown suit just ordered a martini, though.

  The dinner crowd started to wane. He and Richard spent more time chatting and less time filling drinks.

  "You're off soon, aren't you?” Richard asked, setting freshly dried tumblers on the cabinet behind the bar.

  Noah checked the neon clock above them. Quarter to eleven. Geez, he'd been on edge all day! “Yeah."

  "So where's the mystery man?"

  Noah cast his glance over the patrons seated at tables across the restaurant. Mostly in pairs. “Hell if I know."

  "You think he's a no show?"

  Noah shrugged.

  "He's probably just waiting for the end of your shift."

  Grimacing, Noah snatched up a rag and started wiping down the bar. “Maybe."

  He was filling a drink order for one of the waiters when Kenneth and Mitch appeared at the bar.

  He paused, frowning at his roommate. “What are you doing here?"

  It was Kenneth who answered. “We came to see the mystery man reveal himself, of course."

  Noah glanced at him, frowning. “Well, he's a no show."

  Kenneth's grin got wider.

  Rachel hurried up to his side, face alight with curiosity.

  Noah's frown deepened. He was going to ask Kenneth what was up, but Mitch distracted him.

  Eyes fixed on Noah's face, an oddly nervous grin slightly curving his lips. He was dressed up. Well, sorta. Where had that blue silk shirt come from? And since when did he wear shirts like that?

  "What happened to your date?"

  Instead of answering, Mitch reached into the pocket of his slacks—slacks, not jeans—and pulled a familiar, thick white gold chain from his pocket by the small padlock that looped through one end.

  Time stopped. Noah gaped, eyes on the chain.

  Mitch?!

  Somewhere off to his right, he heard Rachel squeal. Kenneth and Richard were laughing. Noah couldn't be bothered to process what they were saying.

  Scowling, he looked up at his friend's oddly closed face. “This isn't funny."

  Mitch shook his head. “Not a joke."

  Noah was trembling, but didn't realize it until he dropped a glass.

  Richard caught it. “Hey, why don't you guys go to the locker room and talk? Your shift's almost done anyway."

  Noah couldn't for the life of him take his eyes off Mitch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his friend wind the chain around his fist and stick the fist back into the pocket of his slacks. Slacks. Nice slacks. When did he buy those?

  Why did it matter?

  "Excellent idea,” Kenneth proclaimed, rounding the end of the bar and lifting the partition so Noah could get out. “Better yet, why don't you go on up to the room Mitch reserved?"

  Noah's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Room?” He managed to switch his gaze to Kenneth. There was too much air brushing his eyeballs, telling him that he had his eyes opened too wide. “How do you know about any room?"

  A grin split Kenneth's wide face. “I've been an accomplice."

  "You rat!” Rachel cried, swatting his arm.

  He flinched, laughing.

  Noah was going to cuss him out, but Mitch moved and thoughts of Kenneth vaporized. The big man circled the edge of the bar and lifted the pass through at the end
of the bar. He looked at Noah, inviting him out. Other than the lack of his normal casual smile, he looked completely composed. Okay, a little tense, but otherwise composed.

  Noah snapped his jaw shut and nodded. With effort, he closed his eyes and stalked past Mitch toward the back, trusting Mitch to follow.

  Mitch had better follow.

  There was a door that led into a back corner of the hotel's main lobby, right near the elevators. Noah led the way through it and punched the button. His mind and heart were a jumble of emotions, confusion lacing them all together. He didn't look at Mitch as they entered the elevator and Mitch didn't speak as he hit the button for the third floor. By mutual consent, they said nothing until Mitch had led them to room 315.

  Noah stalked to the king-sized bed, noting that the sheets had been replaced with the lemon satin but the restraint straps were missing. He spun to face Mitch as the taller man braced his arms on either wall of the short narrow hall between front door and bed. It made him look big, intimidating. He always looked gorgeous.

  Is this for real?

  "You're not gay,” Noah spat.

  That made Mitch smile. “I'm not?"

  "No. You've been dating girls as long as I've known you."

  "Bisexual?"

  "And you never told me?"

  Steel-gray eyes gleamed in the light of the lamp. “I've only ever met one man I wanted to sleep with.” The heated look on Mitch's face clearly identified Noah as that man.

  "Me?"

  Slowly, Mitch nodded.

  "How the hell am I supposed to believe that?"

  The teasing smile was gone, replaced with all sincerity. “I'm here to do anything I have to do to convince you."

  Noah stumbled back against the table in the corner. His pulse thudded in his throat, strangling him. He reached down to clutch the table with desperate fingers, bracing his butt between them. “Why?"

  Mitch raised an eyebrow. Noah noted that his raven hair was especially glossy and gorgeous tonight, curling around his strong square face. Had he used mousse in his hair? He only did that when he was out to impress. “Why didn't I tell you?"

  Noah reeled in his errant thoughts, needing to concentrate on Mitch's words and not his mouth-watering appearance. “That's a good start."

  Mitch smiled, making Noah's heart flip. He kept those gray eyes locked on Noah's face. “I didn't realize it for years. Not until we moved out of the dorms and into the apartment. Took me awhile to figure out why I was pissed that you were dating."

  "Pissed?"

  "Yeah. I felt a lot better when you were home with me. I went out to the clubs with you when it was really bad and I did all I could to keep everyone away from you."

  Noah frowned. Searching his memory, he decided that he probably hadn't gotten lucky many of the nights that Mitch had joined him. He couldn't recall minding much.

  "Why the gifts?"

  Mitch's smile grew. “I thought it'd turn you on."

  Noah swallowed in a dry throat.

  "All those guys you dated and not one of them ever really took the time to work you, to feed that inner romantic.” Mitch grinned, pushing from the wall to stand straight. “But I've seen enough chick flicks with you to know that's what you like."

  "What I...?"

  "That's your kink, isn't it?” Mitch took a step toward him, eyes gone dark and seductive, shoulders rolling, looking every inch the predator. “To be swept off your feet like some romance heroine?"

  Mitch would mention that. So far as Noah knew, Mitch was the only person who knew he liked to read romance novels. Frowning, Noah raised a finger when Mitch was just a yard away, stopping him. “Bondage is not my kink."

  "No?"

  Noah shuddered at the suggestive look. “It wasn't."

  "Okay. That was my kink. When I figured out how I felt, I couldn't get the image out of my head of tying you down. It just kind of grew from there."

  Noah shuddered again, blinking slowly, back to clutching the table as Mitch closed the distance between them. Was it getting stuffy in the room?

  "I've watched you go from guy to guy the entire time I've known you. You've never settled down once.” Mitch pulled the chain from his pocket and held it up in front of Noah with both hands, the gold glinting in the light of the single lamp behind Noah. “I want to tie you up and tie you to me. Forever."

  Noah swallowed, lost in a heated, steely gray gaze. “Damn,” he breathed. This was so very much more than he'd dreamed. Was this really Mitch?

  Mitch smiled. Slowly, he lifted the chain up and over Noah's head. The thick links settled around the back of Noah's loose hair, drawing it close against his neck. Mitch brought the two ends of the chain together at the base of his throat in front. Noah didn't need to see to feel the padlock slip through both ends, but he didn't hear the click of the lock. Mitch reached down to pry one of Noah's hands from the edge of the table and brought it up so he could confirm that the lock was looped through the chain but remained unlocked.

  Mitch gently lifted Noah's hair from under the chain, allowing the metal to settle against his heated skin. He kept his fingers wound in the straight blond strands as he cupped Noah's jaw. “I love you, Noah,” Mitch breathed against his temple, brushing his lips there. “Be mine."

  Noah's fingers clenched around the chain and lock. He swayed, suddenly short of breath. “L-love?” Certainly he'd fantasized about his roommate before. He couldn't help it. Mitch was wonderful and gorgeous, the best of friends. He'd never allowed himself to hope for anything more. Certainly not this.

  Warmth gusted over his cheek. Mitch's hands slid from his hair then closed gently over the ends of his shoulders. “Yes.” The scent of Mitch and clean soap surrounded him, devoid of the woodsy cologne from the previous two nights, which had no doubt been used to throw him off.

  "Be sure,” he warned, tipping his head back to allow those soft lips access to his throat. “Because if we do this, it means no more girls. I won't share you."

  Mitch chuckled, nipping the side of Noah's throat. How had Noah not recognized the chuckle before? “Deal. And no other men.” How surreal to hear Mitch's voice against his throat. ‘Hear against his throat'? Oh God, he was losing it!

  "Just us."

  "Just us."

  "Your mom'll flip."

  That made Mitch laugh. Strong arms surrounded Noah, gathering him flush against the man's broad chest. “She loves you. She'll get over it real quick."

  Tentatively, Noah lifted his free arm to surround Mitch's waist. Hard muscle underneath cool blue silk. As he let his mind freely think about this, it made perfect sense. Who knew him better than Mitch? Who would have thought of the lemon candy or the clothing? Who was always there when he needed someone? All answers were Mitch. All roads led back to Mitch. He bent his neck, tucking his forehead into the bend of Mitch's throat. It felt right. Good. “Are you sure about this?"

  Soothing hands slid over his back. “Absolutely sure."

  Fingers still clutching the open padlock, Noah turned his head seeking Mitch's lips. He found smoothly shaven jaw and square chin as Mitch turned to let their mouths come together. It was the sweetest of kisses, a tentative exploration to go with newly voiced feelings. Letting go of the chain for now, Noah turned his hand so he could cup Mitch's neck, stealing around toward the back of his head, slipping fingers into the glorious silk of his hair.

  Mitch took that as a sign to deepen the kiss. One hand sank into the hair just above the nape of Noah's neck and pulled his head back, angling him back for deeper exploration. Noah opened willingly, sucking in the tongue that delved deep. He recognized the possession as the same kiss from the previous two nights. Mitch. His fingers dug into the heated silk over Mitch's back, hugging him closer.

  Mitch groaned. He used the hand in Noah's hair to pull Noah out of the kiss, bending him backwards over the table until he teetered precariously on the edge. Only Mitch's hold kept him steady as his feet left the floor. “God, you're beautiful,” Mitch whisper
ed over the side of his jaw. “I knew you were but when I walked in that first night and saw you on the chair.” Fingers unfastened the buttons at Noah's chest, freeing his embroidered white work shirt. “I didn't know. I'd only ever kissed one other guy—"

  Who?! Noah thought, but his gasp didn't quite verbalize the question.

  Mitch pushed open one side of Noah's shirt then groped to yank up Noah's undershirt, revealing bare chest and the delicate nipple chain dangling from his rings. “—but when I saw you there, I just wanted to devour you."

  Noah bent his knees, wrapping his legs around Mitch's waist for some sense of balance. He threw one arm back to brace on the table as it swayed beneath him. The only thing solid in his world at that moment was Mitch's unmovable strength.

  Still holding the back of Noah's neck, Mitch bent over his chest. His free hand pulled at the nipple chain just as his tongue found one of the sensitive points.

  "Oh God, Mitch!"

  "Yeah. Just like that. Call out my name, Noah.” He sucked hard on one little point of sensation.

  "Fuck, Mitch!” he clutched at his roommate's shoulders. “Mitch, please, can we ... can we move to the bed for this?"

  Mitch hummed and let his mouth pop off Noah's skin. “Yes.” Without warning, he looped his free arm around Noah's waist and picked him up. Just like that. As easily as he picked up a chair to move it across the room. Noah gasped when Mitch tossed him lightly onto the bed.

  Noah yelped, thrown backward when Mitch grabbed one of his feet and slipped off his boot. “Big brute,” he complained, pushing up to his elbows as he tossed hair from his face. His head was swimming and the need to joke and lighten the mood was strong.

  "No. ‘Forceful'.” Noah's boot and sock met with the floor then Mitch picked up his other foot. “'Masterful'."

  Noah smiled. “'Dominant alpha type'?"

  With Noah's feet now bare, Mitch knelt on the bed between his legs, reaching for the hooks that fastened his pants. “Yeah. Just what you need."

  Noah licked his lips, watching Mitch's fingers so very close to his cock. “'What I need'?"

  "Oh yeah.” Mitch hooked his fingers into the waistband of the pants, finding Noah's underwear as well. “I've got exactly what you need.” Carefully, he pulled both waistbands up and over Noah's cock then pulled them down and off his legs. Gray eyes glittered happily. “You wore the crown."