“Ah. Makes sense.”
“What does?”
“Quick for him to get you home and on your back.”
“Chance would be a fine thing,” Kieran mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing . . . you’re probably right.”
“Is everything okay, Kieran?”
“Yeah... can I ask you something, and you won’t take the piss?”
“No promises, but I’ll try.”
Kieran laughed. At least his bestie was always honest. Hassan hadn’t been surprised at Kieran sleeping with Derek. Given how he’d supported Kieran in those first two weeks, Hassan had warmed to Derek, but he suspected his bestie had “had a word” with Derek about not hurting Kieran.
“Derek won’t fuck me.”
“But I thought . . .”
“Everything but.”
“Ah, well, that makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. He says he’s a dom, yet it’s all been vanilla, and... I can’t think of the word.”
“Boring?”
“Absolutely not. The one thing that man isn’t is boring. He’s only interested in my pleasure. It just feels weird.”
“What? Feeling cherished, rather than used?”
“Jesus, Hassan. Make me sound like a freak, why don’t you.”
“No, Kieran. You’ve put up with a lot of shit in your life. Now you’ve got someone who sees all of you.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing.”
“Come here,” said Hassan, opening his arms.
Kieran happily accepted the hug from his bestie.
“You deserve to be happy, Kieran.”
He wasn’t sure he could reply to that without choking up, so he just leaned more into the hug. Hassan had always made him feel safe, like the big brother he’d never had. Could Derek be a safe space for him as well?
“How was your day?” asked Derek as they took their seats.
It was a Turkish restaurant, which had that opulent feel with patterned tiles, gold accents, and ambient lighting. The tables were well spaced out, and they were at a four-seater.
Derek had a long-sleeved shirt on, which he often did when they had dinner out. It completely changed his look.Given he usually wore polo shirts and jeans, he looked like the dom he was– or was supposed to be. Kieran had yet to see all the evidence. In shirt and trousers, he looked like a respectable businessman.
“Not much. Did some sketching and looked for jobs. There’s not much about.”
Derek sighed.
