Kieran sighed. “Where’s Sarah?”
“Asleep. What’s going on with you?”
“Can we talk later? It’s been a very messed-up night, and I got little sleep– and not for the reasons you’re thinking. I just need to get my head around it, and we can talk before you go back to work.”
Hassan looked at him with concern. Some would call it his doctor's face, but Kieran knew that even though they were the same age, he’d always acted like a big brother. They’d bonded over the fact that their respective families didn’t want to know them, though their upbringings couldn’t have been more different. Kieran was raised by a middle-class mother, who was on her third husband by the time he left home, and his dad wasn’t one of them. He didn’t know who his father was. Hassan had been raised by a traditional Arab family in Yorkshire. When he’d been caught getting a blow job off one of the local white boys, his parents hadn’t been sure which was worse. The difference was that they’d allowed him to stay at home until he went to university and then asked him not to come back unless he changed his lifestyle. Hassan had a brother, but he hadn’t spoken to him since he left home either.
“Is this something to do with Derek?” asked Hassan.
“Kind of, but not what you’re thinking.”
“Okay, so you didn’t fuck him?”
Kieran took such a sharp intake of breath, it triggered a coughing fit. Hassan knew he’d had a crush on Derek when he was younger, but last night had cranked it up a gazillion. He would have done anything that man had asked him, which was all kinds of fucked up. Thankfully, all he’d actually done last night was sleep in the spare bedroom, although he’d slept very little. His mind had been spinning with everything Derek had said. The conversation about his mum felt secondary to their following conversation. He believed Derek’s side of things, but he wasn’t ready to forgive a decade of hurt after one conversation. It would take time, and he had more questions. Was it even possible to have Derek back in his life and be able to tamp down his highly inappropriate thoughts?
“Why would you say that?” asked Kieran, not wanting to admit anything to his bestie.
“Over the years you’ve fucked a lot of men.”
“Er . . . thank you!”
Hassan snorted. “They have been varied, but there’s a certain type that gets you going, and after doing some research on Derek... well, I’m a clever guy.” He smiled.
“Of course you’ve researched him,” said Kieran, shaking his head with a smile. “It’s nothing like that. He explained his side of what happened, and I need to think things through. I slept in his spare room as he didn’t want me to be here on my own.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Some guy got handsy in the club. Derek dealt with it and had his security throw him out. It was no big deal, but he was being all stepdad and made me stay at his place.”
“Made you?” asked Hassan, raising an eyebrow.
“Not like that. We needed to talk, and at least it’s done now. I need to get some sleep for a couple of hours. I don’t want to fuck myself up for tonight, but I’ll just be a zombie all day if I stay awake.”
“We’ll go out for dinner before my shift and we'll talk properly, without her sticking her nose in,” he said, gesturing to Sarah’s room.
Kieran chuckled. Hassan walked over to Kieran, pulling him into a hug. He tried not to get choked up and quickly went to his bedroom. He had a lot to think about.
CHAPTER 8
DEREK
Derek hadn’t been surprised to wake up and find Kieran had left. Thankfully, he’d only left it a week before getting in touch, though, as Derek had been climbing the walls. They were meeting for lunch the following day, so that was progress. Kieran had just said he had more questions and wanted to talk on neutral turf, so they were meeting at Knights Corner.
Derek had questions for Kieran as well. What had he done in the three months between being kicked out in June and starting university in September? Derek knew Kieran hadn’t given the full story. How had he survived for three months on a hundred quid? His mind went to some dark places, and he hoped nothing like that had happened. After thinking about it over the last week, he knew Jan had taken the ten grand out of their joint account, not because she wanted the money, but to back up her story. She knew if Derek had known Kieran had no money, he would have gone after him. He still should have done that anyway.
What Jan had done was unforgivable, which is why he’d walked away. Derek knew Kelly was also an adult now, but it was clear she hadn’t tried to contact her brother. There was nodoubt Jan would have poisoned her mind. Ever since he’d first seen Kieran, he’d wondered if he should get in touch with his sister. Would Kieran even want to see her? It wasn’t something Derek should interfere with, though, and his focus right now was Kieran. He had to know he was okay, so seeing him for lunch would help as he could put eyes on him. Kieran couldn’t hide his emotions, no matter how hard he tried. The night at Derek’s house had confirmed that. He obviously had a lot of pent-up rage. Kieran had been quieter as a teenager, but he wasn’t like that anymore. Definitely more of a brat now, and knowing for certain he was a submissive was something Derek had not been able to get out of his head.
An image of Kieran on his knees flashed in Derek’s mind, and he physically shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t think like that, but knowing that’s what Kieran was into didn’t help. There was a part of him that was concerned about the guys he could be meeting, especially seeing the one in the club who’d had no respect for safe words. He’d seen it many times over the years– men and women who thought they could use the moniker of “dom” to abuse other people. The other part of Derek was the one he needed to shut down. He knew Kieran’s interest in that scene was fuelled by self-hatred, which could be a disaster with the wrong person. He only had to look into Kieran’s eyes to see the pain there. Derek knew he’d be able to channel that pain positively and bring him so much pleasure, but he couldn’t think like that. He just felt this protective pull towards him, and that’s all it could be. He could look out for Kieran, not as a former stepdad, but at least as a friend. That was something he could be for Kieran, he hoped, even if it took some time.
The club had been constantly busy, and Neil was still on a good streak, which he hoped lasted, although he’d probably jinxed it now. Derek’s primary concern was Omar. He knew this was the wrong environment for the boy. He was terrified when other men propositioned him. The boy had athing for city guys based on the lingering looks Derek had witnessed. During the week, they would get suited men coming in, and Derek could practically see his tail wagging. But if he was this jumpy around guys hitting on him, why was he working in a sex club? It was something he needed to find out.
“Come in,” Derek said in response to the knock.
Omar peeked around the door. His eyes were wide. He was a beautiful young man. Not Derek’s type, but the right guy would treat him like a prince. He wouldn’t find that here.
“Have a seat, Omar. You’re not in trouble or anything. I just want to talk to you.”
Omar let out an audible breath. What had gotten him so on edge? Derek’s protective instincts flared. Had something happened to Omar that caused him to look anxious all the time? Omar took a seat. Derek’s office wasn’t huge, so his desk was against the wall. He swivelled his chair around to face the door and the two chairs next to it against the wall where Omar sat.
