No Good Deed - Marie Sexton Page 0,106

sit this close to you, holding your hand. Not without facing a world of trouble.”

Robert conceded with a tilt of his head. “No. There were very few places we could have been so casually intimate.”

“Exactly. And for me, I was out of place almost everywhere. I was an adopted black boy growing up in a middle-class white suburb in Colorado. I was one of exactly three black kids in my entire school. Then to be gay, on top of that. And the one place I found where I could be myself was a leather bar. That was the first place where being black didn’t matter and being gay was fine. I met a leather daddy. He took me in. Took me under his wing and taught me to be proud of who I am.” He studied Rob’s face, trying to judge his response. “That’s how it was for some of us back then. We found daddies and mentors. We had to learn from each other.”

Robert squeezed his fingers. “I remember. I think it was a lot harder for us than it is for young men now.”

“And thank goodness it’s better now, right? That’s exactly what we were fighting for. I can sit here with you and nobody cares. I’m glad that’s changed.” Will took a deep breath, trying to refocus. He was wandering down a tangent, losing sight of what he was trying to address—Robert’s fear. “I’ve bumped around in the leather world for years, because I like it. I’m comfortable there. And yes, that includes a certain amount of kink. But I’m not inviting you back to my place because I expect you to be some kind of acrobat in the bedroom. I’m inviting you over because I like you.”

Robert’s smile was hesitant. “I like you too.”

Will scooted his stool closer. Robert was tucked into the corner of the building, with the table and Will’s body between him and the rest of the Tap House patrons. Under the table, Will put his hand on Robert’s knee. His heart pounded as he leaned in, finally close enough to smell Rob’s aftershave. Close enough to touch Rob’s neck with his lips before whispering in his ear.

“I like kink, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like vanilla too. Besides, I think you’re selling yourself short.” He let his hand slide up Rob’s thigh. “I think you’re kinkier than you let on. Maybe even kinkier than you know.”

Robert didn’t answer, but he spread his knees just enough to allow Will’s fingers to touch his groin. He held perfectly still as Will unzipped his pants and slipped his hand inside. Only the fluttering of his eyelids and a soft exhale gave away his pleasure as Will took hold of him.

“Growing up when we did, we learned to do everything on the down-low,” Will said into his ear, still caressing him. “Take this, for instance. You’ve already glanced around. You know nobody can see what’s happening under the table. You know the only people who might be watching are guys from my leather club, or maybe your friend Avery, and they sure as hell aren’t going to blow our cover. You know the only thing that might give you away is the look on your face when you come. You’re thinking about letting it go that far too. If you stop me, it’ll be because you’re worried about your shorts drying to your skin as you drive home, not because somebody might see.” Robert made a soft sound, something between a moan and a chuckle, and Will smiled. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re not.” Robert’s voice was quiet and shaky, but it seemed his arousal had burned away the last traces of his embarrassment.

“Say the word and I’ll stop.” Will grinned, kissing the soft spot below Rob’s ear. “But I’m happy to keep going too.”

“Not here.” Rob swallowed hard. He took a deep breath. “It’s rush hour. It’ll take thirty-five minutes to get to my house.”

Will leaned back enough to meet Robert’s eyes, smiling. “Fifteen minutes to mine.”

“That’s entirely too far away.”

Will laughed, debating. “Your office, then? Or my car?”

“I’m too old for the back seat.”

“I guess that settles it.”

Rob finished his wine and stood up. His erection was still tucked inside his suit pants. He didn’t even bother zipping them, opting instead to pull his suit jacket closed as he led Will across the room, past the stage, into the empty piano store. He didn’t hurry. There was nothing to indicate he felt any urgency