Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

VICTOR

As I drive, I cast another look over to Jamie. He's been quiet since we left the training centre. He was quiet on the way there, too. I glance again, to make sure he's alright... Well, partly. It's mostly just so I can look at his beauty. He's so cute, and he barely comes up to my shoulder, but I like that. I could just pick him up and cuddle him all day.

Steady, Victor . The poor guy has been through a terrible ordeal, which frightened him a lot. I could tell by how much he tensed up when he told his story, only relaxing again when I stroked him. I liked to soothe the hurt away, I liked taking care of him. Then, as if that wasn't enough, he was without his wallet and with a dead phone, when some oaf knocks him out and ties him up.

I'm very curious about his kink, it certainly looks interesting. I try to ignore the fascination my cock has with it whenever I think about it, about Jamie—his cheeks flushed with arousal, his lips stretched around a gag. Damn, maybe it was a stupid idea to invite him to stay with me tonight. I glance over again.

"Are you in danger of crashing the car if you keep looking my way?" His voice is light and teasing.

I look again and he's smirking, his eyes are dancing, and he's so goddamn beautiful I do nearly crash the car. I right it quickly, after I'd swerved over to the other side of the carriageway.

"Eyes on the road please, Captain." Fuck, I have no defences if he's going to call me that. I have no idea where it came from, but I like it. I definitely don't preen a little—definitely not.

"Can't help it when you're such a cutie."

"I can't be cute if I'm dead." He laughs lightly, and it's a fair point to keep my eyes front and centre... Well I try to, anyway.

"Dine-in or takeout?" I ask when we reach the edge of the town.

"Can we get takeout?" Jamie says. "I don't feel like being around people tonight."

"Of course. Burgers, pizza, or chicken?"

He thinks for a minute. "Burgers."

"Right-ho." I head towards the nearest drive-through.

"That's better." He finally sits back and pats his stomach.

"Are you sure? You can have some of mine if you want." I just watched him polish off two big burgers, a large fries, and a huge Coke. I had three burgers because, well, I eat a lot. But he's half my size, so I don't know where he's put it.

"No, I'm good." He smiles. "I don't normally eat that much, but I haven't had anything in the last twenty-four hours."

I could have got him some food earlier. I should've taken care of him. I'm not sure where that thought has come from. He's not mine to take care of. I remember Lawrence's words, that I'm too soft and I'll never be a good Dom, but Jamie... Somehow, Jamie is different, though he might not be looking for someone. Probably not after his last encounter, anyway. But now the thought is there, I can't leave it.

"How often do you go to the Chain?" I ask.

"Usually on Fridays," he replies. I knew he looked familiar when I first set eyes on him, but I can't have seen him much. I definitely would've remembered him. But Fridays are our busiest evenings, as it's the general open-party night, so I'm always ultra busy keeping an eye on the rest of the team. I look for trouble, not for specific people—unless I know they're trouble causers.

"I don't use the rooms, though." He looks up, and his eye twitches nervously.

Our rooms cater for everything, so I'm a little surprised, but since he mentioned it, I ask him gently.

"Why is that?"

"All the Doms scare me." He gives a little tentative smile like he's given something of himself away. "In itself, being a sub isn't really my thing. I need someone to help me and take care of me while I'm bound or boxed."

"Have you asked Lawrence about it?" I'm not sure if he can help, but he knows all his Doms better than anyone.

Jamie picks up a napkin from our takeout bag and starts twisting it in his hands.

"No, I kind of hoped that I'd find someone special, someone that I could be in a relationship with, but you've seen the effects of that. As soon as I find someone I like and tell them about my needs, they think I'm a freak. They're right, though. Who would want a little freak like me?" His face twists into a moue of sadness that drifts into my chest and clings to my heart.

"You're not a freak, Jamie."

"I am. Everyone tells me so." He sighs heavily, and I feel the weight of it in my own chest.

"You're not a freak," I say a bit stronger, as if my words could wipe away his hurt.

He lifts his head slightly, his eyes still dull. "How would you know? You don't even..."

His eyes widen slightly, as if something's just occurred to him. "How did you know?"

"I've seen a few people drop before, so I thought you could use some help."

"Oh. I didn't really think about it at the time. I thought you were just being kind, but you knew, didn't you?"

"I knew." I watch as his face brightens. He smiles, dimples appearing in his cheeks, which I've just noticed are lightly dusted with freckles. Warmth blooms through me. How could the gods have gifted me with this? Could Jamie be my perfect person?

"Are you a Dom?" he whispers, excitement bubbling round the hushed words.

"I wanted to be, but Lawrence told me that while I look scary, I'm too soft. He said it isn't a combination that works, so he has me working security instead. Said it was a better use of my face." I give a little self-deprecating laugh.

"I don't think you're scary." Jamie says quietly.

I pull my meanest face. "How about now?"

Jamie laughs, a light tinkling sound like wind chimes on a breezy day. It's beautiful like the rest of him. What I wouldn't give to hear that sound every day.

"I think you have a heart of gold," he says, and my insides go soft and gooey.

"No one's ever said that to me before." Well, Lawrence said it. Along with telling me I'm too soft, he said I'd give my heart away and get it broken. Careful Victor, don't go getting all mushy now. You'll scare the guy away .

But I can't help it. Jamie is sweet, cute, funny, smart, and sexy. He brings out my protective side. I'd love nothing more than to take care of him.

Jamie just beams like he's the cat who's got the cream. I resist the urge to go over, gather him in my arms, and kiss him senseless. Instead, my hands need something to do, and I pick at the takeout box, idly ripping it into shreds. I don't actually know if he would want to be kissed. Why am I even thinking about kissing a guy I've barely known for a few hours, anyway? Because I feel I know him more than some people I've known for years, that's why.

I've done way more than just kiss guys I've barely met, but hookups don't count. And Jamie is definitely not a hookup. I want to know more about him. I'd like to know everything really, but first I want to know about his kink; it's intriguing.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." He tilts his head with curiosity, and it's endearing.

"Can you tell me about claustrophilia?"

"Do you really want to know?" When his face closes down with a wary expression and he tenses, I feel like I've blundered in clumsily.

"Yes, please. I've not come across it before. I could ask Lawrence, but I'd rather learn from you."

His expression relaxes and his shoulders drop. I exhale the breath that had caught in my throat when I thought I'd misstepped.

"I don't think anyone has directly asked me about it before, even people who I thought were perfect for me."

"Then they weren't perfect," I whisper under my breath, but Jamie hears anyway, and he gives me a hopeful smile. I try to match it and feel a zing of electricity pass between us.

"First, I'm impressed that you know its name."

"I googled it," I admit, and his expression changes to something like admiration.

"I've always liked being in small spaces. I used to hide away in the darkest corners of my house as a kid. For me, being enclosed feels safe and comforting. I come from a large family; I have four older brothers. I was always the smallest and youngest, which meant I could hide from them. When I got older, I realised I was gay and my brothers were definitely all hetero, so I used to hide away so I didn't have to listen to their teenage conquests. It was my place to get off, away from them. I mean, sharing a bedroom with brothers, especially mine, wasn't a great place for self-exploration.

"When I did move out and get my own flat, I realised I could only get aroused if I was in a small space. At that point, I thought I was a freak. I thought there was something wrong with me. It took me a long time to learn its name and to discover that there are others like me."

He stops for breath, picking up the Coke cup and sucking on the straw. He grimaces when he gets nothing but half-melted ice and air for his troubles. I should offer to get him a drink, but I don't want to break his train of thought. He puts the cup down and picks up the napkin again, methodically shredding it onto the table.

"Since then I've tried different things, experimented a little. I've sought out forums and occasionally met with a couple of others like me. Enclosed spaces are good—small boxes, closets. I like gags. I also like binding—full body, that is. I have a sleep suit, but it's not easy to get into on my own, and it's not really safe unless someone else is there. I dread being stuck in it and not being found for days." He shudders and I don't blame him.

"What about with others? Is it a solo only kink, or do you have sex?" I wince at my words. Yet another bungled question; eloquence has never been my strong point. If Jamie notices my lack of grace, he doesn't show it.

He just keeps on shredding the napkin.

"I've never tried." He sighs. "I want to. I think it would be great, but I've never found someone who can accept me enough. That's what I've been searching for." He looks up at me with resignation on his face. "I mean, it's stupid, really. Who would want a boyfriend who can only get a boner in a box?" His huff sounds like he's truly given up. My heart breaks a little for him. But also an image drifts in front of me of his small, lithe body, bound and pliant with me pounding into him. My cock thickens and I'm glad I'm sitting behind a table.

My eyes flick to his mouth, where he's biting his bottom lip nervously. Now that he's bared all to me, my earlier thoughts of kissing him return tenfold.

"Do you like to be kissed?" I blurt, unable to help myself, but inwardly groaning. Always an oaf. Jamie looks at me for a full second like he's processing what I said, and I feel stupid and basic for asking it.

"I love kissing." His smile is sexy and seductive and his eyelids lower slightly, so he looks at me through his lashes.

I crook a finger and beckon him. Despite the look he gave me, I'm mildly surprised when he obeys. Obeys . My breath hitches when he stands between my legs.

"Would you like to kiss me?" His voice is raspy, his breaths are short and fast.

I answer by pulling him closer and attacking his mouth with mine.