“What do you mean?”
“I mean, my marriage ended that day, Kieran. I could never be with someone who treated their child like that. My love for her died in that moment.”
He downed his whiskey, mumbled something about getting another, and walked out. Kieran wasn’t having him drop that bombshell and just walk out, so he went after him into the kitchen.
“What did she say, Derek? I want to knowexactlywhat she said to you. You owe me that.”
“Just let it go, Kieran. The woman’s a homophobic cunt. Why do we have to give her any more airtime? Didn’t she cause enough damage? I told her our marriage was over and walked out. Within two weeks, all my stuff was out of the house and I’d filed for divorce.”
“What did she say?”
“She said it was my fault. I was the one who corrupted you. That it was my fault her son was...”
“What?”
“Dead,” he whispered, getting choked up.
Kieran had never seen Derek so emotional before. Well, that wasn’t fair. He’d been incredibly kind and caring when Kieran had come out to him, and he’d seen him shed a tear at a soppy film, but this was different.
“I tried to get hold of you, Kieran, but she’d had your phone disconnected. By the time uni started, it had been three months since you’d left. I assumed I’d be the last person you’d want to hear from, given she only found out because I confirmed it.”
“She said you’d outright told her, and that you’d only said you were bi so I’d admit to myperversion, as she put it.”
“I promise you, that’s not how it went.”
Kieran knew Derek was telling the truth, but he wouldn’tadmit that out loud. He’d still shared his sexuality with his mum without his consent. If it had happened when he was at uni, he wouldn’t have had to stay at that homeless shelter and experience all the fucked-up shit that happened there. His life could have been very different if he hadn’t been to that place. He might have finished medical school instead of flunking it. Even though he was glad he hadn’t become a doctor, he’d had his choices taken away from him by other people.
“I’m gonna go home. My head’s fucked. I need to think.”
“You’re not going home on your own, Kieran. We already had this conversation.”
“Wasn’t really a conversation, though, was it? You gave an order, and here I am in your house.”
“Please, just stay here tonight, and we can talk some more in the morning.”
“There’s more?”
“This would be about the guy from tonight.”
Kieran groaned. He didn’t want to talk about him. The guy was an arsehole, and he had been grateful to Derek for stepping in. He’d been very insistent on getting Kieran into the back. He wasn’t sure he’d have been able to stop him if he’d gotten physical.
“You banned him, didn’t you?” asked Kieran.
“Yes. I don’t want people like that in my club. Had you met him before, Kieran?”
Derek was watching him intently. Those eyes made Kieran feel compelled to obey. What the fuck was that about?
“How many times?” asked Derek.
“Twice.”
“Is he your dom?”
Kieran’s eyes widened. “How did you . . .”
“I know a dom-sub dynamic when I see one, Kieran. Although that guy isn’t a real dom like me. He’s an abusive arsehole.”
Kieran’s head spun. Derek was a dom? What the fuck? Isthat why Kieran felt compelled to obey when he used his stern voice?
