“Kieran, answer the question.”
Yep, it was definitely that voice. His cock twitched in his jeans. What the fuck was wrong with him? “No, he’s not. I don’t have a dom. We just did a scene a couple of times. I wasn’t interested in what he wanted tonight.”
“What did he want?”
“I’m not answering that.”
“I’ve got an idea, but why were you sayingtomatoesrepeatedly to him?”
“It’s my . . . it’s my safe word.”
Derek nodded, and his eyes flashed with anger.
“I don’t like tomatoes and they’re red, so I thought it worked.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, but consider thinking of a safe word that’s one syllable. It’s easier to say when your heart rate is elevated.”
This was a really weird conversation to be having with his former stepdad, but the caring tone in Derek’s voice made him feel funny. It wasn’t something he experienced from the guys he was usually with. The only other man who cared about him like that was Hassan.
“Is he responsible for the bruises Grant mentioned?” asked Derek, his voice softer.
It reminded Kieran of when he was younger and upset about something. Derek would talk to him in that soft voice. It always calmed him down. Christ, that was a mindfuck if ever there was one. All Kieran could do was nod. He was worried what his voice would sound like if he spoke now. He was feeling too many emotions.
“Did you use your safe word?”
Kieran shook his head.
“Did you want to?”
He nodded.
“What’s his name, Kieran?”
He shook his head.
“I won’t do anything without your consent, but it’s important that guys like that are dealt with.”
He shook his head again.
“You don’t know his name, do you?”
Another shake of the head. He could feel tears stinging his eyes, but he couldn’t look away from Derek.
“His profile name?”
“Domtop69,” he said, finding his voice.
Kieran felt his face heat. The look in Derek’s eyes intensified. Could the interest be reciprocated? No chance. Kieran was a hot mess, not someone a guy like Derek would go for, and why was he even thinking like that? How long had Derek been a dom? Had his mum been his sub? Okay... and his cock immediately softened at those thoughts.
“Thank you, Kieran. I’ll get the room ready for you.”
Kieran noticed Derek’s voice crack, but he could have imagined it. Once he’d left the room, Kieran felt like he could breathe again. Should he just leave? He didn’t like how Derek made him feel. Not in a bad way, quite the opposite, and that was the problem.
“Where have you been?” asked Hassan when Kieran walked into the flat on Sunday morning. “It’s not like you to stay over.”
“You’re funny. I’m going to bed.”
“Get the fuck back here.”
