Myst and Me

Sudden Endings

2011-05-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Written by: LJ

Thank you to Dee for beta’ing this for me.

Warning: This will pull at your heartstrings.

Kadyn slowly slid down an open space on the living room wall; a handwritten note clutched in his trembling hand. He couldn’t believe what he’d just read. This wasn’t really happening; it was only a very bad dream. He desperately tried to hold on to the renunciation he hoped would make it all go away.

‘But it must be true,’ he reasoned at the feel of his father’s arms tightening around him and Bandit’s head dropping down on his lap. Both were trying to offer comfort, each in their own way. For several moments, the silence in the house was almost deafening. Then Kadyn began to sob; his anguish tearing at the heart of the man holding him.

“He-he’s gone,” Kadyn stammered as soon as he was able to speak somewhat coherently. “I wasn’t good enough; I was too young; I wasn’t worth the amount of trouble I caused him; I was just too much work.”

“That’s not true, Kadyn! You are in no way to blame; no one is. The note explains why he left and nothing like that was ever mentioned.” Mr. Hart gave his son a slight shake. “Listen to me, my boy. Vincent is very ill; he may even be terminal and he did not want to put you in the position of watching him slowly waste away. He chose to set you free instead. Now while it’s possible the brain tumour he has been diagnosed with may have interfered with his thinking clearly, this was the choice he made and neither you nor I have any control over that.”

“B-but I would have taken care of him,” Kadyn hitched, scrubbing at the tears spilling down his cheeks. “And-and I don’t care if he left me the house cause I don’t want it; I want only him!”

Sensing his son’s inability to deal with the shock of his lover walking out on him, the older man unhurriedly got to his feet, bent over and placed a hand under Kadyn’s arm, and determinedly pulled him into an upright stance. “Let’s get you home, Son. Your mother and I will be close by whenever you feel like talking and we’ll support you in any way we can.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Several months later:

Kadyn squirmed excitedly in the driver’s seat as the mountains loomed closer. He reached over to gently stroke Bandit’s soft coat. His pet had not only brought him comfort during sad times, the dog had also provided companionship and protection during their travels together. “Almost there, boy. We’ll only need one more stop to fuel and use the bathroom.”

Although still on the flatland and somewhat east of Calgary, the majesty of the Rockies called to him. In an hour’s time he should be in the foothills and at this pace he could in all likelihood reach his destination in just under eight hours.

He had left Jade Heights a disillusioned, shattered shell of what he’d once been, but he was returning whole and hearty. It had taken him time, but he’d healed himself.

Kadyn’s thoughts went back to that dark period in his life last fall when he’d returned with his father, brother and two brothers-in-law from their annual hunting trip to discover that his life was about to change drastically, never to be the same again.

Normally Vincent would have been with them, but he’d used the excuse of being too busy to go this time. Kadyn recalled his lover had been plagued recently with reoccurring headaches and seemed to have been getting crankier; practically to the point where Kadyn sometimes felt he was walking on egg-shells. Although the older man had adeptly side-stepped all of Kadyn’s voiced concerns, he hadn’t succeeded in totally eradicating them. Kadyn would later wish he had pushed harder.

Upon their arrival, his mother had handed an envelope to his father. There had been a look of sorrow and helplessness in her eyes as she signalled with a slight nod of her head at their youngest child. His father had quickly read the note inside and briefly closed his eyes before reluctantly handing it over to his son.

Kadyn had curiously watched the exchange between his parents and had accepted the sheet of paper with some trepidation. He quickly scanned over the words and shook his head in disbelief as he looked up at his mother and father in dismay. Then he turned on his heel, ran out of the apartment and made a beeline for home to find Vincent. His father and Bandit were fast on his heels. The note proved to be true; Vincent was gone.

The first few days after learning he’d been abandoned passed in a haze of numbness and denial. They were quickly followed by bouts of self-blame and then anger. One cool Autumn afternoon in mid-October, Kadyn went to the lake and removed his collar. He read the engraving on the inside for a final time, pulled back his arm and hurled the precious reminder of his past status as far out over the water as he possibly could. It glistened in the sun for a moment or two before sinking forever into its’ watery grave.

His parents supported him through it all. His father even accompanied him to the bank where he’d talked to Lucas Hudson, the manager, about putting the house up for sale. It was then he’d been informed that the book store was also on the market with the proceeds going to an account in Vancouver.

As he drove along, the miles steadily faded behind him. Kadyn concentrated on the road ahead; the road that was taking him home. Letting his mind wander once again, he recalled with a newly found understanding a visit he had paid to their family doctor.

Dr. Dean had patiently explained Vincent’s symptoms and initial diagnoses without a lot of medical jargon. In an attempt to relieve some of the emotional pain he knew Kadyn was suffering, the good doctor told Kadyn he believed Vincent was convinced he was acting in Kadyn’s best interest. Vincent felt his chances of recovery were slim at best and he truly though it was imperative not to let someone as young as Kadyn suffer along with him. Vincent had also felt himself loosing control and greatly feared becoming abusive.

Although Dr. Dean readily admitted it might have been easier on Kadyn had he been given the opportunity to be involved in the decision making process, more importantly he wanted to impress upon Kadyn that Vincent had always loved him and would forever cherish what he considered the most precious gift his young partner had ever given him: his submission. In addition, the doctor sought Kadyn’s understanding that Vincent had begun to constantly fret over no longer being able to properly meet Kadyn’s needs.

When he finally accepted the inevitable, Kadyn also realized he would have to leave Jade Heights if he was ever to recover. He was already finding it hard to deal with the questions and looks of pity from the people he came in contact with. He also knew he would never survive the fast approaching Christmas season without Vincent.

So after talking it over with his parents, he rented out his ceramic business, bought a second-hand Subaru Outback in a-one condition and hit the road right after Halloween. He had no fixed destination in mind; he just went wherever the highway took him. Almost three weeks later on a bitterly cold November day, his journey ended in a place that was the furthest he could go without leaving the country. In St. John’s, Newfoundland, he discovered an interest in the sea and fishing. It was a godsend at the time, even though it would never fully replace the love he had for his Rocky Mountain home.

He’d remained in touch with his family and several close friends back in Jade Heights. Over the months he’d learned of the sales involving both the house and the book store. He’d also been informed of the carelessness of his tenant which resulted in the fire that completely destroyed the ceramic shop. Fortunately, no one was hurt and it was heavily insured. So another substantial cheque was deposited into his account by the bank manager.

Last week he had received a letter from his father that would find him heading home; a forty-five hundred mile drive that would take several days. His parents had decided to retire. In fact, his mother’s legs had at long last given up and her hands were getting too sore to continue serving her customers. She had recently sold her hairdressing salon and both she and Kadyn’s father wanted to move to a seniors’ complex. If Kadyn wanted to take over the convenience store, then he better get back as soon as possible and do so. The family business was what Kadyn had been groomed for all his life, so it wasn’t at all a difficult decision to make.

Kadyn sighed contentedly as he drove higher into the mountains. It was Easter Monday, a beautiful Spring day and a new beginning for him. He’d come to grips concerning a life without Vincent. As much as he would have liked to keep in touch with his former partner, he knew it was easier on both of them not to do so. Besides, he was now strong enough to go on without him. He’d always have a special place in his heart for his first Top; be eternally grateful for all Vincent had taught him about himself, and for all the older man had given him. Maybe in time, he’d even be able to find someone else; possibly a new Top who would give him another collar. But he wasn’t ready for that at this point in his life; he wasn’t yet ready to trust again. But someday he would be, of that he was certain.

The End

　

Helping A Friend

2011-01-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

Co-written By: Myst and LJ

Kadyn wandered aimlessly around the stuffy store, mindlessly picking up odd articles only to put them down seconds later. He wasn’t terribly impressed with the place as it was far from clean or organized in the manner he was used to. Thank goodness it wasn’t a business he or his partner made a habit of frequenting. He was about to share his feelings of boredom when Vincent turned and smiled at him.

“Okay, sweetheart, I’ve got what I came for. I can’t believe that after searching for months online and in numerous musty book stores that specialize in antique first-additions, I finally found this treasure hidden away here in an out-of-the-way pawn shop. I’ll just pay for it and then we can go somewhere for dinner. It’s my treat for you being so patient.” Vincent wormed his way through the maze of shelving with Kadyn following closely behind him.

It was while they were standing by the cash register that Kadyn spied an article that looked very familiar. Stepping closer to get a better look, he recognized it as an appliance that had been stolen not that long ago from the home of two men they were good friends with.

“Psst,” he hissed in order to get his partner’s attention. “That espresso machine belongs to Zack and Rene,” he whispered, pointing at the shelf behind the proprietor. “We gotta get it back,” he insisted barely loud enough for Vincent to hear.

“Hush, Kadyn. We’ll talk it over later.” Vincent turned back to the business at hand and accepted his purchase. He frowned slightly, not caring for the look the shop owner was directing at Kadyn.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in a booth of one of their favourite restaurants and patiently waiting for their order to be filled. Kadyn was still trying rather keenly to convince his partner the item he saw most certainly belonged to Zack and Rene.

“There is no way you can be so positive, Kadyn,” Vincent insisted once again, glancing up at the waitress as she placed their meals on the table. He smiled and nodded his thanks before re-focusing his attention on the man sitting across from him. “It will be up to either Zack or Rene, or both of them, to identify it and inform the police should it prove to be theirs. You do realize that you’d be accusing the pawn shop owner of being in possession of stolen goods, which is illegal in and of itself, don’t you?”

“Well, he looked dishonest to me. Wouldn’t be surprised to find out he was the leader of a ring of thieves. I sorta felt like I was being spied on when we were in that shop. Might have even been one of his gang,” Kadyn mused as he cut into his steak. He took a bite and chewed it thoughtfully. Then he leaned forward and covertly whispered, “In fact, you know who he reminds me of? The guy in Oliver Twist: Fagin, the pick-pocket trainer. Except I kind of imagined Fagin looking something like a weasel while the pawn shop guy was a big slob.” Kadyn shuddered as he remembered the three-day’s worth of whiskers, the disgustingly dirty teeth, the light reflecting off a large bald spot on the top the man’s head and what greasy hair there was, tied back in a ponytail. “His collar and cuffs looked like they’d been put through a shredder, the neckline of his wife-beater undershirt seemed to be competing with his teeth as to which was more yellow, and I don’t think his face has come in contact with a razor blade in at least a couple of days. But I bet both Fagin and the pawn shop owner have shifty eyes half hidden under thick eyebrows.”

Vincent was secretly pleased that his young partner remembered a character in the book they had been reading. Kadyn could never be accused of being an avid reader; his interest leaning towards computer games. It was during the younger man’s recovery from the attack he had suffered this past winter that had led to Vincent reading the classic to him. Presently they were working their way through some of Dickens’ popular works.

“I don’t know, Vince, but if it was me I’d be questioning how he came to be in possession of that book you bought.” Kadyn emphasized his comment by stabbing the air with his fork.

“First off, my good man, you shouldn’t be judging people merely by their appearance. Secondly, you shouldn’t be hinting at them being involved in criminal activities. Thirdly, I am not at all interested in this train of thought going any further, understand?” Vincent bit back the smile that threatened at the disgruntled glower he received from his somewhat put-out companion.

So it ended up being Vincent’s decision to inform Zack and Rene of Kadyn’s suspicions and let them decide the best way to handle the situation. True to his word, he called their friends that very evening.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rene and Kadyn met up for coffee a couple of days later. They had a habit of meeting like this as often as possible to break up their work week. Today, only one subject was on their minds; the espresso machine. Both wanted to check it out and see if it really was the one stolen from Zack’s and Rene’s home.

Any thoughts of following Zack’s directives not to go unaccompanied to the pawn shop, and Vincent’s strongly worded suggestion that Kadyn stay out of it, were swiftly discarded. The more they talked about the theft and all the resulting turmoil it had caused, the easier it became to convince each other to make a trip to Kelowna that afternoon to retrieve the stolen item. They didn’t let the fact that the pawn shop was on the seedier side of town, deter them.

Having already gotten a good look at the pawn shop’s proprietor, Kadyn was a little unsure about seeing the man again. However, he quickly got caught up in his friend’s ambitious plans to get back what belonged to him.

Kadyn led the way into the small dingy-looking shop. He knew his friend was fed up with being a victim to the people who had broken into their home and stolen their things. Now it was time to stand up and reclaim what belonged to them.

“That’s it on the shelf behind the counter.” Kadyn pointed to the machine once they were inside. Then he stepped back to let his friend examine the appliance and ask questions.

Rene walked up to the counter and looked carefully at the machine in question. He knew right away it was theirs. The scorch mark on the front of the stainless steel finish was very distinctive.

The proprietor came over at the sight of potential customers. He was a scruffy-looking older man who smelled of cigarettes and beer. “Can I help ya?”

“Yes, I’m here about that espresso machine,” Rene replied.

The man smiled through crooked yellow teeth, causing Kadyn to grimace in distaste. “That’s a beauty, ain’t it? New in the stores they sell for nearly two grand, but I can letcha have this one for only five hundred.”

“Where did you get it?” Rene demanded to know.

Kadyn was surprised to see the man suddenly looked defensive. “It was sold to me by the rightful owner,” the shopkeeper insisted.

“I’m afraid that’s not true. I’m the rightful owner of that machine and it was stolen from our home in a burglary last month.” Rene was equally unrelenting.

“You’re mistaken, mister. There’s lotsa machines out there that look like this one. Now if you’re not interested in purchasing anything, I suggest you leave.”

“I’m not buying my own property back,” Rene replied. “I know this is my machine. I recognise that scorch mark on the front and if you turn it around, you’ll find the plug has been replaced with a bright yellow one as the wiring had broken in the original.”

Kadyn had been looking from one man to the other and following the conversation closely. “He’s telling you the truth. I know ‘cause I’ve seen that exact espresso machine at his house many times,” he gallantly defended his friend.

The man warily looked at the back of the machine and saw the yellow plug. “That don’t mean nothing. I’ll bet lotsa them got replaced. Now you boys best get outta here before I call the cops on ya.”

“I’m calling them myself,” Rene retorted as he pulled out his cell phone. “I think they’d like to know that you buy stolen merchandise here.”

“You go for it, Rene!” Kadyn encouraged. Gone was any nervousness he had felt about coming here. He daringly stood his ground as the adrenaline began to rush through him.

Kadyn would never know what possessed him to do what he did next, but when the shop owner stepped out from behind the counter as if to challenge Rene, he rushed over and grabbed the item they had come after. “Come on, Rene! I got it! Let’s get out of here!” With that, he headed out the door as fast as he could, hoping the weight of the machine wouldn’t slow him down.

Kadyn’s sudden snatching of the espresso machine had Rene pausing just long enough for the shop owner to grab his arm.

“Hey! You thieving little bastard, get back here!” the old man yelled.

Somehow, Rene managed to wrench his arm from the man’s grasp and tear out the door at a run after his friend. Both young men were thankful for the older man being obese and slow. Both glanced back over their shoulders as they raced down the sidewalk. The man was standing outside of the pawn shop, shaking his fist at them as they ran for the car. Rene pulled his keys from his pocket and hit the remote entry to allow Kadyn to climb inside with the machine in his arms.

Kadyn was never so glad to hear a car door being unlocked. He hastily climbed into the passenger’s seat, puffing from both the exertion of running while carrying the unexpected weight and the fear pounding through his veins.

He breathed a sigh of relief when Rene jumped into the driver’s side and started the car up, pulling away from the curb. A blast of a horn told him that his friend had cut someone off in his haste, but fortunately hadn’t caused a collision.

“Oh my God, Kadyn, I can’t believe you did that!” Rene exclaimed. He was both panting and laughing with the exhilaration of getting away with his beloved espresso machine.

“I can hardly believe it myself,” Kadyn breathlessly muttered as he gazed wide-eyed at the machine on his lap. “Ah, do you think this means we stole something, even though it really belongs to you?”

“I don’t know. I mean it was stolen from us. Zack and I are the rightful owners. That guy would have hidden it away once we called the cops cause he knew damn well it was stolen merchandise. I’d like to know if he has anything else of ours. But I’m not going to worry about it. I’m just going to feel good that we got back at least one of the things that were taken from us.”

“Well I hope Vincent sees it that way too,” Kadyn mused with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s too late to second guess myself now. No sir! It’s time to bask in the thrill of our success.” Kadyn was never one to fret over things. He always lived for the moment.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn checked the clock on the kitchen wall for about the hundredth time. He groaned when he saw the hands had hardly moved since the last time he looked.

It wasn’t that Vincent was late, as the man was never late; it was just that time was dragging as it always did when you’re anxious to share some great news with someone. And did Kadyn have a story to impart or what!

Hearing the car pulling into the driveway, Kadyn ran to the window and stood bouncing on the balls of his feet as he watched Vincent get out and walk to the house. Then it was a rush to the back door, almost tripping over Bandit in his excitement to greet the one he’d been waiting for.

Vincent walked up the veranda steps, happy to be home. Although it had been a good day at the store, he missed that Kadyn hadn’t dropped in, even just to say ‘hi’ during lunch, like he did most work days.

Just as he reached the back door, it swung open and a second later, Kadyn was in his arms. “Hey Kadyn, I’m glad to see you too.” Vincent smiled as he gave his partner a quick kiss. “I take it you missed me as much as I missed you today.”

Kadyn tightened his arms in a very enthusiastic hug and stepped back, leaving Vincent slightly breathless. “Have I got a tale to tell you during supper, Vincent,” he announced before turning and rushing back into the kitchen. “Everything’s ready: warmed over stew, fresh rolls from the bakery, butter and V-8 juice.” He hurriedly filled their bowls and placed them on the table, then took his seat and waited expectantly for his partner to sit down.

Vincent sat down wondering what could have happened to so excite his partner. “Ahh, this smells wonderful!” His glance took in some of his favorite foods. “Well, tell me what happened. Did you get free advertising for the pottery store? Did Bandit finally stay when you told him to? Spill the beans,” he added with a chuckle.

Kadyn’s lopsided grin widened even more. “Nope, wrong on both counts. And I’ll have you know that my dog is doing so much better since attending those obedience classes you forced on us. Right, Bandit?” He snuck a piece of meat to his pet, hoping Vincent wouldn’t notice. Turning his full attention back to the man sitting across from him, he jubilantly made his announcement. “Remember that espresso machine we saw at the pawn shop the other day? Well it belonged to Zack and Rene just like I said it did, and today Rene and I went and got it back!” His young face just beamed with pride in what he considered an amazing accomplishment. It still hadn’t hit him yet as to what kind of danger he and his friend had put themselves in.

“Bandit doesn’t need your food,” Vincent reminded Kadyn with a grin, knowing it would take a while before his partner would stop feeding his pet at the table, even with Vincent reminding him.

Hearing Kadyn say that he and Renee got the espresso machine back made a frown appear on his face. “I thought we’d agreed to let Zack and Rene handle that. What do you mean the two of you got it back? And,” he added, “I want details.”

“That’s all for now, buddy. The man has spoken.” Kadyn reached down and patted his dog’s head. He watched with amusement as Bandit slowly made his way across the room, dropped down on the large doggie bed in the corner, stretched out with a yawn and immediately fell asleep. Finishing up what was in his bowl, he stood up and announced, “I’ll fill you is as soon as I get seconds, Vince.” He walked over to the stove, ladled two more scoops of warming stew into his dish and returned to his seat.

“Okay then; Zack and Rene are handling things. It’s just that Zack wasn’t available to go to Kelowna for a couple of days and Rene wanted to go right away. Zack had said he didn’t want Rene going alone, so I went with him,” Kadyn began explaining between bites. “Sure enough, as soon as Rene saw the espresso machine, he knew beyond a doubt it was theirs. The shopkeeper started telling us where he got the machine, but we all knew it was a load of crap. When Rene called him on it, he got real nasty and tried to kick us out. He went after Rene and I took advantage of him being occupied by grabbing the stolen item and running out of the store with it. The guy tried to chase us but he was too slow. We were able to get in Rene’s car and take off without anything bad happening. The espresso machine is now back where it belongs in Zack’s and Rene’s kitchen. Neat, eh?”

“Neat?” Vincent questioned in disbelief. “No, it was not neat! It was dangerous! Either of you or both of you could have been hurt. You said the shop owner got nasty and then chased you. You put yourself and Rene in danger. What if the shop owner had pulled out a gun?”

“A gun? Shit, we never thought about a gun!” Kadyn replied, his eyes widening. “You really think there’s a chance he had a gun?”

“I don’t know, but it was a possibility. I can’t believe you did that, and after we’d agreed to leave this to Zack and Rene. You purposely ignored what we’d decided and put yourself in danger.” Vincent ran his hands through his hair. “You know how I feel about clear cut disobedience. You knew better.” The older man got up and tugged Kadyn to his feet. “Wait for me in the study.”

“But Vince….” Kadyn cut himself off in mid-sentence when he clued in to the look on his Top’s face. He side-stepped the swat headed his way and shuffled down the hall, relying on Vincent to put Bandit outside. Although he hadn’t been given instructions to so, he figured it might help his situation if he was standing in the corner when Vincent got there.

He nervously waited in his self-designated spot, thumping his sock covered foot against the wall. He didn’t think he should be trouble as he had only been helping a friend. But he accepted that it was not his call to make; it was Vincent’s.

Vincent watched Kadyn leave the kitchen and took a deep breath. He could barely imagine the risks those two Brats had taken to get back an espresso maker. As he walked into the study a few minutes later, it was all he could do not to smile at the slightly dejected picture Kadyn presented. “Come here, babe,” he summoned, opening his arms.

The younger man turned around and saw the love in his partner’s eyes. Running over, he threw his arms around Vincent’s neck and hid his face against the older man’s broad chest. “I’m sorry, Vince. Guess I should have thought it through a bit before jumping in over my head, because we really were lucky to get away as easily as we did.” Kadyn’s voice was low and full of regret.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Vincent murmured comfortingly as he stroked Kadyn’s hair. “You’re both safe and that is what matters. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.” They stayed entwined in each other’s arms for a few minutes until Vincent felt Kadyn relax. “You all right now?” he softly inquired. Getting a nod in reply, Vincent gently untangled himself and asked, “Why am I going to spank you?”

“Because you told me to stay out of it and I disobeyed.” Kadyn sadly admitted with his head down to hide the tears that were beginning to form.

“That’s right. I’m not doing it because I’m angry, as I’m not; or even because you made a wrong decision.” Vincent spoke sympathetically but firmly. “But clear cut disobedience is something I will always spank for.”

Kadyn reluctantly nodded his understanding as he watched his Top take a seat on the leather sofa. Then he slowly unfastened his jeans, pulling them and his boxers down to mid-thigh. Without saying a word, he lowered himself over the older man’s lap and reached for a throw pillow.

Not waiting any longer Vincent began to spank, not stopping until he felt Kadyn’s surrender. He immediately gathered Kadyn into his arms, telling him how much he was loved and that everything was all right.

“That hurt more than any other time, Vincent,” Kadyn complained through his tears as he clung to the older man and sobbed into his shoulder. It had been an unusually harsher spanking than in the past, resulting in his jeans and boxers having been kicked off his legs to where they were presently lying on the carpet nearby. It took several minutes for him to calm enough to mutter his concerns for his friend. “I wonder if Rene’s also in trouble,” he mumbled, wiping his face on the front of his t-shirt.

“I’m sure the answer is ‘yes’ if he and Zack are in a relationship similar to ours,” Vincent mused as he gently rubbed his Brat’s back.

“He is,” Kadyn stated, feeling sorry for his pal. He sighed deeply and nestled further into his Top’s embrace. The sniffles and hitches finally slowed to a stop as he slipped into a post-spanking haze.

“Do you want to start a batch of chocolate chip cookies and I’ll tidy up from supper?” Vincent thought for once he’d ask the inevitable question before Kadyn did.

“Hmm, not yet.” Kadyn wasn’t ready to pick up the olive branch just yet. “My bum hurts too much to pull up my pants and I guess baking semi-nude wouldn’t be allowed, huh?”

“Nope, but a t-shirt, socks and boxers would be acceptable,” Vincent grinned at the idea of his Brat stirring ingredients while naked from the waist down.

“Okay, I can handle that much.” Kadyn stretched upward and planted a light kiss on the older man’s chin. “Thanks for taking care of things for me, Vince. We’re square now, right?” he asked, needing the reassurance as he always did after these sessions.

“Yes, everything is fine,” Vincent lovingly assured him. “Go ahead and clean up, then start your cookies,” he added, with an encouraging pat on Kadyn’s hip.

The End

Age Differences

2010-10-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Written by: LJ

Thank you to Dee, my beta. Any remaining errors are all mine.

Out of habit, Vincent left for work by the side door. So wrapped up in mentally reviewing the list of things he wanted to get done at the book store before opening for the day, he was oblivious to everything else. That is until:

“Darn!” he muttered as droplets of water landed on his face. Without a second thought, he headed back inside to fetch an umbrella. He was half-way across the kitchen when it suddenly hit him that rain had not been forecast.

His eyes narrowed and his lips drew into a thin line as he quietly exited via the patio, stealthily making his way around the side of the house. Stepping up behind the unsuspecting man hiding in the bushes, he grabbed Kadyn by his collar, took the toy out of his hands and marched him into their home.

“How many times have I told you not to shoot this thing at me?” Vincent demanded, giving his partner a shake and placing the super-soaker on the counter.

“I don’t know,” was the reply, accompanied by a shrug of vagueness. Quickly realizing the older man would view that response as being inadequate, Kadyn hastily declared, “I don’t know the exact number. A few, I guess. It’s not as if I actually keep a running tally of things you tell me not to do, Vincent.”

Vincent turned the sassy young man bottom-up over his hip and landed a dozen hard swats. “The next time you squirt me with your water gun, you’ll be keeping a tally of how many wallops I pepper your bare backside with.”

“You should have let me buy you one too, Vin. Then you could squirt me back. It would be so much more fun that way.” Kadyn’s voice held a beseeching note as he rubbed at the seat of his pants and blinked back tears.

Relenting somewhat, Vincent pulled his subdued partner into his arms for a brief cuddle. “Maybe I’ll reconsider if you let me choose the times we play with them. But right now I have to get to the store and I’m running late. See you tonight, honey. Be good.”

Kadyn saw Vincent out with a final hug and a goodbye kiss. Then picking up the super soaker and refilling it, he sauntered out to the deck with Bandit at his heels. He made sure to take a bottle of water with him. The sun was brightly shining, a clear indicator they were in for another hot, sultry day.

He was sitting in the shade of a large tree, laughing at Bandit jumping up to catch the water shooting from the soaker, when the gate was slowly pushed open and the big shaggy dog from next door staggered into the yard.

“Look, Bandit; it’s Rufus. Hmm, wonder if he’s hung-over?” He waited for Rufus to get close enough to plunk down in front of them. “Ya need something to drink, old boy? I can only offer you water.”

Sad eyes seemed to plead with him and Kadyn gave in. “Okay, I know what you’re looking for so I’ll go get a beer out of the fridge. Be right back.”

Returning with the promised treat, Kadyn poured a small amount into the aluminum pie pan he kept for just this purpose, and then watered it down. He emptied the rest of the bottle onto the ground as it would be flat before he would get around to drinking it. “I can only give you a taste, Rufus. And if Vin ever finds out, my butt will be redder than your blood-shot eyes. Man, it sounded like you and Marlow were partying real good last night. Guess your master is sleeping it off, huh?”

Marlow was a rather unconventional, retired seaman who had moved back into his family’s old home several years before Vincent purchased the house he presently shared with Kadyn. Their neighbour was an alcoholic whose favourite drinking companion happened to be his dog.

For the most part, Marlow and Rufus lived quietly minding their own business; their only visitors being Kadyn and Bandit. But every now and again, much to Kadyn’s delight and Vincent’s chagrin, the man and his canine friend would get plastered. Then Marlow would begin caterwauling bawdy songs from his seafaring days with Rufus providing a howling accompaniment.

Kadyn found this very entertaining, while Vincent barely managed to tolerate it and then more for his Brat’s sake than their neighbour. As often as he got the chance, Kadyn would sit by the bedroom window into the wee hours of the morning, listening to the serenade. He soon knew every song by heart. Of course, he never sang them in Vincent’s presence. He figured a guy was entitled to some secrets.

To Kadyn, Marlow and Rufus were the best neighbours anyone could ever hope for. But he also knew they wouldn’t be around too much longer due to their ages and unhealthy lifestyle. So the young man befriended them whenever he could and Vincent for the most part, pretended not to notice.

“I guess there’s mixed blessing in last night’s shindig coming to an abrupt end, Rufus. I want you to know it wasn’t Vincent who called the cops, even if he kinda had a mind to. There are others in the neighbourhood who don’t appreciate good music. Maybe it’s a sign of getting older.”

Rufus finished off his treat and belched loudly. Stretching out on the cool grass, he slept while Kadyn busied himself grooming Bandit. By the time, the job was done there was a good size pile of fur on the ground. Bandit had a thick coat and required a good brushing at least twice a week.

It was the rising temperature and the loud snoring of two dogs that had Kadyn tidying up and returning to the house in search of something else to do. As luck would have it, the computer called out to him.

An hour later, his games had lost their appeal and he started surfing the net to find a big water gun for Vincent in the hopes that if he had one, the older man would play with him.

His eyes widened when he stumbled onto something he’d never seen before and of course, he had to have it. After signing into the site, he checked off ‘Add to Cart’ and just prior to clicking ‘Checkout’, he typed the number two in the quantity box. Then before he had time to change his mind, he quickly completed his purchase. Realizing the order was large enough to qualify, he selected the ‘Free Shipping’ option. He hoped this choice didn’t mean it would take longer to get his new toys.

Seeing the time in the corner of the screen, Kadyn realized he’d better get a move on if he wanted to arrive at his ceramic shop in time to set up for the afternoon Seniors’ class.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Just when Kadyn felt he wouldn’t be able to wait another day, the parcel arrived. The timing was perfect as Vincent was at work.

Kadyn excitedly tore off the brown paper, swearing a bit when the packing tape gave him trouble. He crowed with glee as he held up one of the items, his eyes sparkling with pure joy. He had already purchased several bags of ‘ammo’ and although he was anxious to try it out, resigned himself to waiting a little longer. He wanted Vincent to be his first target.

Vincent strolled down the driveway leading to their home. He had just placed a foot on the bottom step when from out of nowhere, a soft white sphere thwacked against his cheek. He heard the giggling before he identified the object that had hit him. It was a marshmallow.

“Kadyn!” he growled at the young man stepping out of the bushes.

“Don’t come near me, Vin. I’m armed to the teeth.” Kadyn held up the gun, but backed off as the older man approached. He found for the reddish hue of Vincent’s face somewhat disconcerting. He chewed at his lip, hoping he hadn’t offended his Top.

The slight tension dissipated when Bandit pounced on the sweet and devoured it. Vincent sighed and rolled his eyes. “That dog eats anything that doesn’t eat him first,” he muttered, then turned his attention back to the animal’s owner.

Seeing the look of uncertainty on Kadyn’s young face, he acknowledged to himself that sometimes an older, conservative Top had to make allowances for the whims of a free-spirited, playful Brat who was twelve years his junior.

Kadyn picked up on the subtle change in Vincent’s body language and laughed as he turned and ran into the back yard with his partner in hot pursuit. “There’s a gun for you on the deck, Vin, and it’s fully loaded.” He took refuge behind the tree and watched as Vincent put down his briefcase and picked up the marshmallow shooter.

Vincent ran towards Kadyn with a good-humoured grin on his face. “Let the battle begin!” he shouted, closing in on his prey and firing.

The End

Believe What You Will

2010-07-10T06:03:00.001-07:00

Written by: LJ

(This is in response to the Picnic Drabble Challenge. It’s just a bit of fluff for fun. )

Kadyn crawled backwards out of the thicket, bumping into someone’s shins. He heard Vincent’s sigh of exasperation at the sight of his dishevelled Brat.

“I haven’t found them yet, Vince, but I’m not giving up.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? It was only a make-believe song your mother sang when you were a small child. Now, it’s getting late and we have to clean up from our picnic.”

Kadyn quietly obeyed. But no matter what Vincent thought, Kadyn chose to believe there really was such a thing as a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

The End

This is Anne Murray's rendition of this childrens' song.

The Launch

2010-06-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Written by: LJ
(2010 Gay Pride Challenge)

Kadyn smiled at his reflection. “How do I look, Vince?”

Vincent studied the clown outfit made from long johns, and began doing up the flap’s buttons. “Capable of attracting attention without your backside showing.”

“I’m letting it cool down.”

“There’d be no need if you hadn’t been disrespectful. I agreed to accompany you to this event launching Gay Pride Week, provided costumes were optional.”

“It’s a ‘Like a Circus’ party. All my friends will be dressed up.”

“Their partners won’t be.”

“Like you, they’re going as ‘Party Poopers’. Costumes aren’t needed.” He chuckled, sidestepping the swat headed his way.

The End

No More Pets Allowed

2010-06-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

Kadyn was beginning to feel left out. So here is his 'It's Not My Fault' Drabble for the WL Spring Challenge.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Written by: LJ

"It wasn't my fault, Vincent!" Kadyn wailed. The last swat landed and he found himself upright.

"I don't remember saying you could have another pet, sweetheart."

"But he's so cute; I just had to have him. And even Bandit likes him." Kadyn tearfully insisted.

"Now that's stretching it some." Vincent almost believed he saw the dog's eyes rolling. "Sorry, the Capuchin goes back first thing in the morning."

"Can I have one good reason?"

"I already have my hands full with one monkey."

"Not good enough."

"Would another spanking suffice?"

"Noooo; your first reason works just fine," Kadyn reluctantly capitulated.

The End

Best-ever Easter Eggs

2010-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Written
by: LJ

OC’s: Vincent and Kadyn / Zack and Rene

“I thought we discuss this last year, Kadyn, when you discovered it on the internet and we agreed you would not do it.” Vincent stood with hands on hips, glaring down at his inebriated Brat.

“Huh,” Kadyn looked up through glazed over eyes at the two perturbed looking Tops standing in front of him. “Vince, six percent of people eat their Cadbury Crème Eggs this way. The survey said so.”

“If I remember correctly, that supposedly six percent bit the top off, then used their fingers to scoop out the creamy centre. You are the only one I know personally who wants to eat what is remaining of the shell, after adding a dash of Grand Marnier. And that might be okay if you didn’t have a tendency to over do it.” Vincent surveyed the numerous eggs wrappers littering the floor before turning his eyes to the young man sitting next to his partner. “To make matters worse, I see you decided to add a cohort to the mix.”

“Yeah, Rene provided the liqueur. It’s good stuff; eighty proof.” Kadyn swayed slightly and then dropped his gaze to avoid getting any dizzier. “Besides, we don’t eat our chocolate straight anymore, do we, Rene?” He smirked at his friend who was as intoxicated as he was.

“Ah…well, not this time.” Rene giggled even as he peered up at Zack and wondered what his Top’s take would be on this particular stunt.

Zack shook his head, sat down next to his Brat and pleasantly inquired, “I trust you’ve saved some of these party snacks for us.” He grinned up at the other Top. “What do you say, Vincent? Should we join them?”

Kadyn tried to look around his friend to see if Rene's Top was serious or not, and almost toppled over. He steadied himself, reached up and pulled his partner down beside him. “We got lots left, Vince.” He gazed pleadingly at the older man.

Sparkling blue eyes held Vincent’s attention. He rolled his own and capitulated, but not unconditionally. “This was not how I planned to celebrate Easter. However, Zack, if you and Rene promise to stay overnight to sleep it off in our guest bedroom; then count me in.”

“We promise, and I just want to make one thing clear. This is a one-time occurrence; it will not become a yearly tradition. Right, Rene?”

“Sure thing!” Rene giggled again when he saw his young accomplice vigorously nodding his agreement. Then he and Kadyn leaned against each other and cracked up.

“Oh brother, what have we got ourselves into?” Vincent muttered and gave Zack a dirty look when his fellow Top joined in the laughter.

“Here, Vince, I’ll help you catch up,” Kadyn offered as he removed the wrapper from one of the as yet untouched chocolate treats and held it up to Vincent’s mouth. “Take a bite, my love!”

Rene lovingly performed the same service for Zack.

The End

They Never Saw It Coming

2010-03-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Written By: LJ

Input from Mel, Myst, Teri, Jo and Rik

Special thanks to Mel for beta’ing and for the medical advice.

Jade Heights Characters involved: Vincent, Kadyn, Patrick, Kyler, Hugh, Zack, Rene, Chad, Cameron and Chandi.

Vincent was pulled from a deep sleep by the ringing of the phone. He grumbled under his breath and reached for it, wondering who would be calling at two o’clock on a Sunday morning while at the same time registering that his Brat was still not home and in bed with him.

“Hello,” he muttered sleepily. Seconds later he bolted upright, wide awake. “I’ll be right there.” He hastily got to his feet and pulled on whatever clothing was handiest. Within minutes, he was heading out into the cold, dark night after having grabbed his wallet, cell phone and keys off the hall table. He had only paused long enough in his headlong rush to shoulder into his jacket and slip on a pair of boots.

Arriving at the hospital within minutes of receiving the call, he pulled into the closest available parking spot next to the emergency entrance. He took long strides as he dashed into the building and up to the nurses’ station. With only his partner’s well-being on his mind, he didn’t even notice the other six people huddled in pairs in the waiting room.

“I’m Vincent La Maur. I was called about my partner, Kadyn Hart, being injured.” Vincent breathlessly announced as soon as the triage window opened. He was immediately buzzed into the secured area of the ER and led down the hallway passed several examining rooms to where he met up with Paramedic Craig Pike.

“I’d like you to come with me for a few minutes,” Craig requested and steered Vincent into a small quiet room. “Please sit down if you can while I try my best to prepare you for what you are about to see.” Although the other man took a seat, Craig could tell he was anxious to see his partner. “There was a fight at the ski lodge and Kadyn has been badly hurt. I want you to brace yourself before I take you into the trauma center due to his present appearance. I’m unable to give you a lot of information as neither Captain Monroe nor I have been given the details as to what actually took place. I can however, tell you that Kadyn is in stable condition. He has just come down from having a complete cat scan. He has only now regained consciousness, but is still attached to a backboard with a head and neck support.”

Craig paused to give his words a chance to be understood before asking, “Are you ready?” He recognized the stunned state of the other man when all he got by way of reply was a nod and a grunt. “Okay, let’s go.” He waited for Vincent to get to his feet and walked with him across the hall to where Kadyn was under the care of two trauma nurses.

Vincent thought he was prepared for anything, but he wasn’t. He stood gazing down at the love of his life, fighting to hold back his emotions. Both of Kadyn’s eyes were black; the left one was swollen shut and the right opened barely a slit. His right cheek had a deep cut under the eye and there was another gash through his left eyebrow which appeared worse due to the additional cut on the lid. From the amount of blood on the sheet that Vincent could see, the back of his injured partner’s head must have bleed a lot and probably still was. There were IV’s running into each of Kadyn’s arms and Vincent could also see the bag hanging on the end of the gurney that was connected to a catheter.

‘Who would do something like this to such a gentle, kind-hearted man? Why would anyone want to harm my precious Brat in this way?’ Vincent silently questioned as he took in the battered and bleeding face of his young lover. He tenderly ran fingertips down one of Kadyn’s exposed cheeks. His face darkened when he touched his partner’s bare neck, hoping it would be a while before Kadyn noticed what was missing.

His thoughts were momentarily drawn away from his partner when he felt a hand on his arm and turned to see Craig still standing beside him.

“Mason has finished writing up our report, so we’re going to be leaving now. Dr. Patrick Dean is on duty. He or one of the nurses will answer any of your concerns. Sorry we can’t stay longer, but you and Kadyn are in good hands.”

Vincent barely acknowledged the paramedics taking their leave, so caught up was he in examining Kadyn’s hands. Hands that were unmarked, thereby proving the young man had not been given the opportunity to fight back and defend himself.

“What the hell really happened?” Vincent muttered to himself, a trouble frown marring his handsome features.

Kadyn stirred as he slowly gained consciousness. Then he panicked. He couldn’t see properly; everything was a blur. Being tied down frightened him even more and he struggled to undo the bands holding his head in place. A nurse stepped forward and gently lowered his arms, softly admonishing him not to touch anything above his neck.

“Want Vincent,” Kadyn hoarsely whispered, flailing his arms around. He instantly settled when Vincent took his hands in his own larger ones and rubbed the back of them with his thumbs. Kadyn managed to open his right eye just enough to make out the fuzzy image of his Top standing beside the stretcher he was tied down to. “What happened to me, Vince? Why am I hurting so much?” he croaked.

“I don’t really know what happened, sweetheart. All I’m concerned about at the moment is having you taken care of and made as comfortable as possible.”

“I don’t like it here,” Kadyn quietly complained, firmly grabbing hold Vincent’s hands as if afraid the man was going to leave him.

“I know, but you have to hang in there.” Vincent lifted his partner’s hands and kissed the back of each one. He looked up when a nurse pushed over a small metal table with instruments on it.

“We’re going to have to ask you to step outside, Mr. La Maur. Kadyn’s scan results came back and we are now able to remove the backboard. Dr. Dean will be here momentarily to stitch up the patient’s face and head.”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, but ‘my leaving’ is definitely not going to happen.” The tone of his voice did not bode well for anyone attempting to argue with him.

Patrick Dean entered the room just as this brief exchange was taking place. He instinctively picked up on the stance of a Top in full protective mode and knew there was no way they were going to succeed in getting the man to leave short of having him bodily removed.

“It’s all right, Mary; Mr. La Maur can stay. He may even be able to assist us in keeping his partner calm.” Patrick sadly shook his head at Vincent. He was their family doctor and knew both men well. “Sorry to be seeing the two of you under such ominous circumstances, Vincent.” Patrick began undoing the Velcro straps holding Kadyn’s head in place and soon had the brace completely off. “Can you help me lift your young man while Mary pulls the backboard out from under him?”

Once Kadyn was lying down again, Patrick informed him of the need to shave his head. “Mary will do it while Beth cleans you up a bit. I know you’re hurting and having trouble seeing us, but we’ll be as gentle as possible.” Patrick felt himself slipping into Top mode as well. He couldn’t help it, what with his patient looking so young and vulnerable. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Vincent was going through. He only knew he would be terribly distraught if it was Kyler lying here.

When the nurses had done their job, Patrick again stepped into Kadyn’s limited line of vision. “I’m first going to stitch up the three cuts on your face, Kadyn; then I’ll do the two deep gashes on the back of your head. Don’t worry, I’ll put in plenty of freezing and once it takes effect, you won’t feel a thing. And Vincent will be here the whole time holding your hand, okay?”

Kadyn’s only reaction to the injection of Lidocaine was a slight puckering of his brow. It was a sign that he was fading out again, which in one way provided Vincent with a sense of relief.

Patrick expertly applied his trade and soon had the stitches in place and the bleeding stopped for the most part. He left one of the nurses to finish up while he talked to Vincent.

“I have serious misgivings about the condition of Kadyn’s left eye and want to get Dr. Sefau’s opinion. He’s an ophthalmologist and more than likely will not be available until the morning. I’ll just be in the next room making a couple of phone calls should you need me for anything.”

Shortly after the injuries had been taking care of and the medical personnel had moved away, Kadyn seemed to become more aware of his surroundings.

“Vince? There is something squeezing my arm every now and then. I don’t like it. Can you make it stop?”

“It’s a cuff that’s recording your blood pressure, sweetheart. I can’t do anything about it, so just try to ignore it,” Vincent patiently suggested as he lovingly carded his fingers through Kadyn’s hair.

Feeling something else out of place, the young man lifted his hand and squinted at it. “How come there’s a clothespin on my finger? Do I get to keep it?”

“It’s monitoring your pulse and the level of oxygen in your blood. And no, you can’t keep it.” Despite the damage done to his Brat’s face, Vincent couldn’t help but smile at the dazed expression on it as Kadyn tried to focus on the object that had attracted his attention.

It seemed to take forever for medical information to be gathered and decisions to be made. Vincent never left Kadyn’s side, watching as the love of his life repeatedly faded in and out of consciousness, and calmly reassuring him as often as needed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, three couples worriedly waited in the reception area.

“The four of us should have stayed together, Chad,” Cameron lamented for the umpteenth time. He was understandably agitated and as usual, not at all inhibited from letting his partner know. “I wish I hadn’t let myself get sucked into talking about my modeling career with that group of girls. I bet they were only flirting with me in hopes of my setting them up with an agent or something. People always seem to have ulterior motives,” he complained bitterly in an attempt to deal with the guilt he was feeling.

“You were at a party, babe. Mingling and conversation is what goes on at parties.”

Cameron jumped up, turned on his partner and shouted out his frustration. “Only that’s not all that happened at this one, is it?”

Chad grabbed for his Brat and pulled him down on his lap, but not before Cameron’s actions briefly attracted the others’ attention. “Shh, love. I know you’re upset, but we’re still in a hospital and have to keep it down.” He soothingly rubbed his hand over the young man’s back, calming him in the process.

“We should have fucking kicked the shit out of them when we had the chance.” Cameron’s shoulders drooped at the thought of having missed what he thought of as a golden opportunity.

“I don’t know how it happened, Zack.” Rene leaned heavily against his husband’s chest. “Kadyn and I spent most the evening together. Yet when Kyler and Cam came to tell us it was time to leave, Kadyn was nowhere to be found.”

As disturbing as the story was, Zack continued to listen patiently as it was repeated once again. He knew it was better for Rene to keep talking it out. He merely tightened his arm around the younger man’s shoulders to show he was there for him.

“I had noticed a woman coming on to Kadyn. God only knows why. She must have known he’s gay as they went to school together. I should have paid more attention to what was going on. I shouldn’t have let myself get dragged into a conversation comparing various art techniques. Then we found out she had her boyfriend with her, which was all the more reason why she shouldn’t have been flirting with Kadyn.”

“There was no way for any of you to know what that woman and her friend were up to, love,” Zack quietly assured him.

“Kyler, Cam and I went searching for Kadyn. We asked around; even asked those two and they denied knowing where he was. Then we saw them slipping outside. It struck us as kinda suspicious looking, so we followed them. They had hurt him so bad, Zack.” Rene’s voice cracked as a tear escaped and he buried his face in the front of his husband’s jacket.

“You should have seen it, Hugh,” Kyler whimpered. “There was so much blood. It was everywhere. We thought they had killed him. Even the police thought so when they finally got there. A member of the lodge's staff called them while another covered Kadyn with a blanket.” Kyler shuddered at the remembered scene and cuddled closer to his partner. “I wish Patrick would come out and tell us how Kadyn’s doing.”

“He’ll let us know as soon as possible.” Hugh gently kissed his Brat’s head and hugged him. He could feel the young man shaking and knew Kyler was trying valiantly to deal with his rioting emotions without crying.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was almost four o’clock when Patrick returned to update Vincent on the plan of action he and the eye specialist had agreed on.

“We are going to be keep Kadyn here in the trauma room for the time being. We’ll be monitoring his vital signs and keeping him as comfortable as possible. Dr. Sefau will be arriving shortly after eight this morning to examine Kadyn. He will be the one to decide what needs to be done next.” Patrick put a gentle hand on Vincent’s shoulder. “I want you to be prepared for the possibility that Kadyn may lose his sight in his left eye. I am pretty sure the bone is broken, but I am unable to determine just how bad the damage is. It is really out of my field of expertise, Vincent. I’m sorry.”

“I understand, Patrick. It can’t be helped. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed, okay?” Vincent managed to keep his sadness from showing in his expression as he gazed down at his partner.

“Have you notified Kadyn’s parents yet?” Patrick enquired.

Vincent shook his head. “I think it’s best to at least wait until the sun rises.” In truth, Vincent was not at all looking forward to making that phone call.

“Well, right now I better get out to where several of Kaydn’s friends are waiting. I’ve kept them on tender hooks long enough.” The doctor softly announced his intentions before quietly walking out of the room.

Kyler jumped up as soon as Patrick came out of the ER and was the first one to reach him. “How’s Kadyn? Is he going to be all right?”

Patrick searched the weary faces of the six men standing around him. He saw a conflicting emotions ranging between foreboding and optimism.

“Kadyn is resting comfortably. Vincent is with him.” Patrick glanced up at Hugh and wrapped an arm around Kyler as sighs of relief sounded throughout the room.

“Can we see him?” Rene tentatively request. He had mixed feeling about seeing his friend. On one hand, he desperately wanted to see for himself that Kadyn was okay, while at the same time being fearful of seeing him with all the medical equipment and tubes that were probably running in and out of him.

“I think it would be best if all of you went home and returned later this afternoon. By then, Kadyn will have been moved to a proper room,” Patrick kindly suggested. “You all look like you could do with a good rest.”

Three of the men opened their months to protest but before they could express their disagreement, Hugh spoke up. “I think that would be best for all concerned. Our minds are now at ease with the knowledge that Kadyn is doing as well as can be expected.”

“Hugh’s right,” Zack added his support. “I bet Kadyn will be looking forward to having company later in the day.” His arm tightening around Rene was an indication that he expected his husband to comply with the doctor’s wishes. He smiled inwardly when his felt the younger man slump slightly. He took it as a sign that Rene was relieved to have the decision taken out of his hands.

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Chad commented. He began steering his somewhat reluctant partner towards the big glass doors leading outside.

“I’d really like to stay until you’re ready to come home, Patrick.” Kyler turned a pleading face towards the older man.

“Not a good idea, Ky. I don’t expect to be finished here for several hours yet.”

“Come along, Kyler; let Patrick get back to his patient.” Hugh kissed Patrick goodbye, waited for Kyler to do the same and then he took their Brat’s arm to lead him out of the building.

The three couples parted company in the parking lot after making plans to return sometime later.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Police Chief Chandi Barrett walked into the trauma room with two RCMP officers following him. He too had been up all night and knew it would be some time before he found his way home to spend a few hours with Eric.

“Hello, Vincent,” Chandi greeted, holding out his hand. He looked over at Kadyn lying on the stretcher and perused his lips. “He’s looking a lot better than when I saw him at the lodge. Constable Quincy and I were the first on the scene. The paramedics arrived a few minutes after we did. We really didn’t think that young man was going to make it.” He forlornly shook his head at the memory as a lump formed in his throat. He got his personal feelings under control and handed Vincent a plastic bag. “Here are Kadyn’s cell phone, wallet, watch and keys. Some of his clothing has been kept as evidence.”

Vincent stared blankly at the items in his hand.

“We also recovered his gold necklace from one of his attackers.” Chandi handed over the last article. He was pretty sure of its’ significance and wasn’t terribly taken aback by the brief flash of anger that crossed the older man’s handsome face. He could have sworn he heard Vincent grinding his teeth as he slide the collar into his pocket.

“What the hell happened tonight, Chandi? My partner left the house to attend a party with a few of his friends and ends up here in the hospital badly beaten.” Vincent was working hard to fight the internal battle of keeping his temper from getting the best of him.

“This yearly event put on for our past high school students, has been held every winter for the last ten years, Vincent. I’ve attended a couple of times myself and there’s never been a problem of this magnitude. The lodge owners are exceptionally diligent in sustaining a safe environment. Even though they are under no obligation to do so, they always hire extra staff to maintain order. They keep a strict eye on alcohol consumption and do not tolerate the use of drugs. If someone flaunts the rules, they get band for life; no second chances.”

“I know all that, Chandi. I would never have permitted Kadyn to go had I for one moment thought there was a chance of him being in any danger.”

A whimper from Kadyn’s parched lips let Vincent know his voice had been rising and he swallowed in an effort to get a grip on his spiralling emotions. “Shh, sweetheart; it’s okay,” he murmured, rubbing a soothing hand down his Brat’s arm.

The four men standing around the gurney waited for the young man to settle and then Chandi introduced the other two officers.

“The RCMP is taking over the investigation due to the lodge being outside Jade Heights’ town limits. These officers are here to take pictures and fill you in on what they’ve uncovered so far,” Chandi explained before stepping over to assist the officer with the camera while the second officer talked to Vincent.

“Those responsible for causing harm to your partner have been apprehended and we have two people in custody with various charges against them. One, a young woman, is an ex-student. Her boyfriend is not; he was at the party as her guest. Annie Duncan was very straight-forward in admitting her part, whereas Roger Griffin is still denying his involvement. However, we have numerous witnesses that support her statements. Apparently, this couple had an argument earlier in the evening and Annie set out to make Roger jealous. She does not have much of a reason for singling out Kadyn, except to say he looked the least experienced. She knew of his sexual orientation and that he posed no threat of taking her seriously. Even though Kadyn rebuffed her advances, she kept pursuing him. Roger is well-known to have quite a temper and she was playing on it.”

The officer paused and referred to his notes. “According to Duncan’s story, shortly after midnight she asked Kadyn to step out for some fresh air. Once outside, she requested a birthday kiss from him. She saw Roger standing off to the side finishing off a beer. When Kadyn gave her a peck on the cheek, Griffin lost it. He smashed Kadyn over the back of the head with the heavy beer mug he’d been drinking out of. Annie went on to admit that Roger’s jealousy excited her and due to her being intoxicated herself, she egged him on in his quest to get even by repeatedly punching and kicking the man he viewed as an interloper. They then spent the next half hour going in and out of the lodge; imbibing more liquor while inside and beating on Kadyn when outside. Kadyn was unconscious the entire time. It was the arrival of Kadyn’s friends on the scene that brought their brutality to an end. Had his friends not showed up when they did, your partner would in all likelihood, be dead. In fact, we’re surprised to see he has survived.”

Vincent paled; he’d had no idea things had been so horrific. He was overwhelmingly appalled and felt for a few moments that he was going to be ill as his stomach clenched in pain. He gripped the side of the stretcher for support while he bent slightly, closed his eyes and worked on getting deep gulps of air into his lungs. He sensed rather that saw Chandi coming closer to check on him.

After regaining what he could of his composure, Vincent demanded to know what was going to be done about those who had inflicted such horrendous injuries to his partner’s face and head.

“For the time being, Griffin is being charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, theft, uttering threats to police and correctional officers, and resisting arrest. Duncan is being charged with aiding and abetting an assault. There are other charges being considered.”

Although still angry, Vincent accepted that all was being done to ensure his partner’s attackers would be made to answer for what they had done.

With a promise to drop by later in the day, Chandi said goodbye and accompanied the other officers out to their vehicles. Vincent was left alone to ponder how close he had come to losing the most important person in his life. He said a silent prayer, thanking the powers that be for watching over his beloved Brat.

Kadyn’s muffled request drew Vincent away from of his morbid reflections. He was never so grateful for being disturbed.

“What is it, Tiger? I didn’t hear you.” Vincent bent nearer in order not to miss what his injured partner was saying.

“Thirsty,” Kadyn croaked.

“Okay, hang in there. I’ll ring for the nurse.”

Beth appeared almost immediately. “I’m afraid he can’t have anything until we know whether or not he is going to need surgery.”

“There must be something you can give him. His throat is dry because with his nose full of dried blood, he can’t breathe through it.”

“I’ll be right back,” Beth responded to Vincent’s insistence that something be done. She returned moments later with a cup of water. “Use this to wet his lips and tongue,” she instructed, handing Vincent a short stick with a small sponge attached to it.

Vincent dipped the sponge into the water and then placed it in Kadyn’s mouth. He chuckled when his Brat sucked on it, greedily trying to get as much of the liquid as possible. They soon had the little cup emptied and Vincent went over to the sink to refill it.

“This time, Kadyn, no swallowing it; you don’t want to get sick on top of everything else.” To take Kadyn’s mind off his discomfort, Vincent pulled the gold collar from his pocket and gently placed it around his partner’s neck. He was rewarded with the first smile since this nightmare started.

It was going on six in the morning when, with the help of some pain medication, Kadyn fell into a deep but noisy sleep. Patrick had been in to check him a couple more times and on his last visit, he’d come bearing a gift in the form of a large padded armchair for Vincent.

“Try to get a bit of rest, my friend,” the doctor kindly advised. He was pleasantly surprised to return some twenty minutes later to find his advice had been heeded and Vincent softly snoring.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dr. Sefau completed his examination and straightened up. “The orbital bone under his left eye is broken and pushed back. Due to the swelling, it’s impossible to conclude if an operation will be needed. However, I am able to set your mind at easy by informing you the patient will not lose his sight.” He smiled his understanding when Vincent tightened his grasp on Kadyn’s hand and the other couple in the room hugged each other.

“We have a two week window before doing corrective surgery. Right now, the main goal will be to get the swelling down as quickly as possible. Therefore, I am putting Kadyn on a heavy regime of Prednisone which will start immediately.” The ophthalmologist was busy scribbling instructions on a clipboard. He handed Vincent two small sheets of paper. “One of these is a prescription for when he is discharged by your family doctor; the other has my office phone number. I want you to call my receptionist first thing tomorrow morning and make an appointment for next Monday. I’ll be able to then determine whether or not we need the services of a plastic surgeon.”

Focusing his attention wholly on his patient, he firmly added, “Under no conditions are you to blow your nose, Kadyn. You can snort inward if you need to clear it, but not blow outward. Doing so will greatly increase the damage and the pain. Do you understand how important it is for you to adhere to this directive?”

Kadyn nodded, having no trouble at all in picking up on the seriousness in the doctor’s voice. “Can I have a drink of water now,” he asked as his thirst once again became his overriding concern.

Neither Vincent nor Kadyn’s parents could resist the urge to chuckle.

“Of course, you may,” Dr. Sefau assured him and kindly patted his shoulder. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Thank you for coming out from Kelowna on a Sunday morning like this, Doctor. We really appreciate it.” Vincent expressed his gratitude as he shook hands before the specialist took his leave. The Harts did the same.

Moments later, Dr. Dean announced that he too was heading home. He had been on-duty for over twelve hours and was placing Kadyn in the capable hands of Dr. Miller.

Patrick was confident in his not having too much difficulty in persuading his two partners to stay in bed a bit longer. He was looking forward to spending some quality time with them.

“I’ll be in to see you when I do my rounds tomorrow morning, Kadyn. I’m admitting you for at least two days and depending on how you’re doing, most likely sending you home on Wednesday morning.”

“I think that would be for the best, Patrick,” Vincent agreed. “I feel much better knowing he is in professional hands. Besides, it will be easier to keep him quiet here in the hospital than it would be at home where I’d possibly be forced to sit on him.” Both Tops laughed when Kadyn groaned and pulled the sheet up over his head.

It was going on noon by the time Kadyn was moved from the ER to a semi-private room on the medical floor. He had been given a light meal as well as more pain medication, for which he was grateful as he’d been complaining of his stomach growling and his head killing him.

“It must be a good sign if you can grumble this much, son,” his father teased while his mother shook her head, slightly affronted by her husband joking at a time like this.

In their own way, each of the Harts was dealing with the shock of having been called to the hospital and learning of the injuries inflicted on their youngest child.

Knowing his Brat was comfortably settled and had his parents to keep him company, Vincent brought up some of his own personal needs that had to be taken care of. “I need to go home, have a shower and get a change of clothes, sweetie. It shouldn’t take me more than half an hour, okay?”

“You don’t have to rush back, Vince. I know you must be worn-out after being here for so many hours. I’m gonna be okay; honest. In fact, I’m kinda drowsy again and will probably fall asleep soon. Besides, Mom and Dad have said they plan to hang around for a bit longer.”

It took some persuasion on Kadyn’s part, but Vincent finally admitted he could do with a lengthy nap in his own bed. He reluctantly left his young partner for the better portion of the afternoon.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vincent and Kadyn would look back on the week that followed and often wonder which one of them had been more traumatized by it, as it would be another couple of weeks before Kadyn learned of all that had taken place.

Several of Kadyn’s friends visited during his stay in the hospital, keeping his spirits up with vows of retribution to those who had dared to harm him. Everyone accepted the promises as a way to let off steam without any real intent to carry them out.

Late Monday afternoon, Chandi returned once again. He had been dropping by regularly to check on Kadyn, but this visit was to deliver an update of the court proceedings. He was surprised to see such a remarkable change in Kadyn’s appearance. Both eyes were still black and blue, but at least the young man was now able to see out of them.

Vincent and Kadyn were left almost speechless by the Police Chief’s report. They found it hard to believe how quickly the accused had been tried and sentenced. The aggravated assault charge against Roger Griffin had been increased to attempted murder, but Griffin who had been through the system before knew enough to plea-bargain down to the original charge in exchange for pleading guilty to it and the remaining four charges. He was sentenced to eighteen months in jail, followed by twenty-four months probation. As a first-time offender, Annie Duncan was sentenced to one year probation and forty hours of community service.

“I certainly didn’t expect things to be settled that fast,” Vincent commented. “We hadn’t even been notified that they were going to court today.”

“I was called about their show-cause hearing this morning. Such hearings are held to determine whether an accused person should be released pending trial or remain in custody and are as a rule rather brief,” Chandi explained. “I’ve personally never before seen a case processed at this speed as the accused is usually slated to appear for election and plea at a later date. But I guess with both pleading guilty before the Provincial Court judge this afternoon, it was decided they would be sentenced immediately.”

“Probably better for all concerned,” Vincent muttered. “We can move on now. Thank you for keeping us informed, Chandi. We really appreciate it.”

“No problem. You just concentrate on getting that partner of yours back to his devil-may-care, troublesome self,” Chandi teased. He laughed out loud at Vincent’s exaggerated groan of long-suffering; then glanced over at the older gentleman in the next bed. “I’m sorry, sir, for disturbing you.”

“You’d think I’d be used to it,” the other patient grumbled. “Between noisy visitors during the day and that young man snoring all night, I’ll be glad to get out of here.” He huffed and turned his back on everyone.

Kadyn shrugged his shoulders somewhat apologetically. “I can’t help it; my nose is still stuffed up and I’m not allowed to blow it.”

“It’s okay, Tiger.” Vincent got up and pulled along the curtain that separated the two beds. Although it would do little to muffle the sounds of Kadyn’s heavy breathing, it would provide a bit more privacy. “We’ve all made an effort to keep any disturbances to a minimum and will continue to do so.”

“Guess what, Chandi?” Kadyn excitedly changed the subject. “Dr. Dean says I can go home tomorrow instead of waiting until Wednesday. That means this last IV comes out. Neat, huh? Vince is absolutely thrilled with getting me all to himself sooner than expected.” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he glanced up at his Top in time to see Vincent rolling his eyes.

“I’d take that as a sure sign that you’re coming along just fine,” Chandi chuckled. He hadn’t missed the exchange between the partners. He was well aware of how much of a handful Kadyn could be. ‘And just wait until he starts to get bored,’ the Chief thought, finding the situation fairly amusing.

Tuesday morning found Kadyn up and dressed in the clean clothes that had been brought in the previous night, long before his discharge papers had been filled in. By the time Vincent arrived to take him home, the young man was all but bouncing and the patient in the next bed was practically pulling his hair out.

Both Vincent and Kadyn sincerely apologized for any bother they had caused him. Vincent smiled at the man’s long, drawn-out sigh of relief as they left the room for the last time.

Once home, Vincent settled his partner in bed while he prepared a quick meal. Even the brief trip was enough to wear out the young man. Over lunch, Vincent explained his expectations during Kadyn’s recovery period.

“I have to return to the bookstore, Tiger. However, I’ll come home at noon to check up on you. We will be having all our meals together.” Vincent knew it would be a bad idea to leave Kadyn alone the entire day. “I expect you to rest as much as possible; no visitors unless I okay it first.” He shook his head when Kadyn showed obvious signs of arguing with him. He chuckled softly to himself when the young man merely lay down, turned on his side and fell asleep.

By Friday evening, Vincent was almost at his wits end. His Brat was not only bored; he was experiencing a little pain where the sutures had been removed from his face and head that morning. His still being on medical restrictions was putting a real damper on his not being able to do many of the things he wanted, including opening his shop for business. The drop in the number of visitors at Vincent’s request, only added to the younger man’s irritation.

“It’s a darn good thing the birthday parties I have booked aren’t until next month,” Kadyn gripped to deaf ears. “And that people are pretty laid back and don’t mind waiting an extra two weeks for the ceramic classes to begin.” It was a lament he had perfected over the last few days and one that Vincent no longer paid any attention to.

It had soon become evident that the schedule Vincent had put together was unlikely to be adhered to. Kadyn just wasn’t into resting as often has his Top thought necessary. He’d been caught twice entertaining company when Vincent came home unexpectedly in the middle of the afternoon; both times to find Kadyn and Rene sitting at the kitchen table polishing off a pot of coffee.

Enforced daily naps had quickly lost their appeal, assuming they’d had any to begin with. By the end of the first week, TV, DVD movies, and video games no longer held any entertainment value.

At least Vincent took him to the bookstore with him on Saturday and on Monday, Kadyn had a trip to the city to look forward to. That was about all that got them through the weekend without the younger man landing in serious trouble.

“The swelling has gone down dramatically,” Dr. Sefau commented as he gently felt around Kadyn’s left eye. He stepped back and looked from one man to the other. “I am now able to determine that an operation to align the displaced bone in your cheek is needed. My receptionist will make the arrangements and give you the details before you leave.”

The specialist’s announcement meant two more trips to Kelowna; one on Wednesday to see the plastic surgeon and a second on Friday for day surgery.

“Remember, Kadyn,” the good doctor added. “You are still not allowed to blow your nose.” He smiled at the grimace that passed over his patient’s face.

The surgery went off without a hitch. Rather than face the fear of the unknown head on, Kadyn preferred to blank out as much as possible and let his Top keep watch. He trusted Vincent not to let any harm come to him. He knew the older man would question everything before allowing any procedure to continue. Letting Vincent take charge was the only way Kadyn could deal with the idea of going under and not knowing how much pain he would be in when he woke up.

As it was, he experienced little discomfort. In fact, due to the removal of the remaining dried blood in his nasal and sinus cavities, he was finally able to breathe properly. It also alleviated the facial pressure he’d had to endure for almost two weeks. They were on the way home less that six hour after arriving at the Kelowna General Hospital. The procedure prove to be almost anti-climactic in compared to all they had already been through.

One last trip in a week’s time to remove the stitches and then the entire incident would be behind them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was exactly two weeks after that fateful night when Vincent decided it was time to get one thing straight. There was no way he’d survive another fright like the one he’d had the weekend of the lodge party.

They were sitting together on the sofa in their living room, staring at the flames dancing in the fireplace. That is Vincent was sitting, Kadyn was stretched out with his head in Vincent’s lap; the older man’s fingers lovingly caressing the younger one’s cheek and pausing briefly to gently touch one of the scars.

“Sweetheart, I’ve come to a decision; one that you may strongly disagree with.” Vincent smiled when Kadyn glanced up at him, and he gazed into the trusting blue eyes of this precious young man who made up the best part of his world. “From this day forward, you will not be attending social gatherings without me. I realize it is impossible for me to guarantee you never being hurt again, but I love you too much to take a change. And at least this way I can feel a certain sense of control in possibly being able to lessen the odds.”

Kadyn opened his mouth to object, but he swallowed instead and paused to give the statement a moment’s thought. Not fully understanding why, he suddenly felt an unspoken empathy for his partner and the emotional ordeal the older man had recently come through.

As he reached up to lightly run his fingers over the gold collar he wore around his neck, a sense of warmth and contentment passed through him. “Because it’s part of the promise, right?” he softly inquired.

“Exactly! My protection and your compliance are two very important elements of our commitment to each other and our relationship.”

“Okay then, we’ll do it your way. But only because I love you so much.” Kadyn chuckled as he sat up, wrapped his arms around his Top’s neck and lovingly sealed the bargain with a kiss.

The End

Serious Play Can Pay Off

2010-03-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

Co-written by: Myst and LJ

Kadyn sat in front of the computer, squinting at the screen.

It was two o’clock in the morning and he was trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb his partner. He knew he should have been in bed, but this was the best time to play with the guys who lived on the other side of the globe. He was earning some crucial points here.

He silently cheered himself on as he neared the goal he had set for the night. He logged off with plans to sneak back to bed, hopefully with Vincent none the wiser.

A slight sound had him turning around to find Vincent looming over him. Kadyn’s eyes widened and he searched his mind, frantically trying to come up with a plausible explanation for being where he was.

‘I am sooo dead,’ he thought as he sheepishly smiled up into the handsome, but somewhat peeved, face of his Top.

“Why are you at the PC instead of in bed?” Vincent asked in the tone of voice Kadyn dreaded. “I hope you have a good reason. We’ve discussed you being up in the middle of the night before. You promised if you couldn’t sleep, you’d let me help. Somehow, I don’t think the PC is me,” he added dryly. “And I don’t see that it is helping you sleep.”

“Ah, well it’s like this, Vincent. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t have the heart to disturb you. I, hmm, kinda thought a bit of time on the computer would make me tired.” Kadyn swallowed nervously and licked his dry lips. He knew the rules and knew he was grasping at straws. There was no way his Top was going to swallow this flimsy excuse, but Kadyn felt he at least had to give it a try.

“That’s not a good reason and you know as well as I do that playing on the computer won’t help you sleep, it just wires you up. I don’t mind helping you. If you’d asked me, I would have rubbed your back and shoulders to relax you,” Vincent replied with a touch of exasperation in his voice. “Get to bed,” he added as he pulled his Brat up and swatted him just enough to get his point across. “You’ve been on the PC way too much lately. It’s off limits for the next two days. Since you can’t control the amount of time you spend on it, I will.”

Kadyn glowered and massaged the duplicate handprints Vincent had left on his backside as he obediently made his way up to the master bedroom. He was so close to his overall goal and losing computer privileges for two days was really going to throw a monkey-wrench into his plans. He stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned to face his partner. “Vince, can’t you give me lines instead? I’m really on a roll, man.”

“No, I’m not going to give you lines. Losing the computer for two days will hopefully teach you not to use it as a way to get to sleep. Come to me if you need that. Now let’s get to bed. You need your rest, sweetie,” he added in a kinder tone. As they climbed into bed, Vincent invited, “Scoot up closer to me. You’ll sleep better.”

Kadyn shuffled over until he was stretched out beside the bigger man, with his head on Vincent’s chest. He relaxed into the soothing rhythm of a large hand rubbing his back. But sleep evaded him as his mind raced with ideas of how to accomplish the objectives he’d decided on. He smiled when he hit upon the perfect scheme. He’d just borrow and set up a couple of extra computers so he’d be able to play all his characters at one time. He imagined patting himself on the back as he squirmed contentedly next to his lover.

When he heard the steady breathing that indicated Vincent was sleeping, Kadyn gently patted the quilt behind him and Bandit immediately scrambled onto the bed to nestle against his owner. The rule made when Kadyn was given the puppy, was that Bandit had to sleep in the laundry room. That decree had gone by the wayside before the first night was over. It was either Kadyn sleep downstairs with his pet or Bandit sleep on the doggie bed his new master had set up for him in one corner of the master bedroom.

Vincent had eventually capitulated in order to get his young lover back in their bed with him. It only took a few nights for Kadyn to teach his pup to wait for his signal and then quietly make his way onto the large queen-size bed once the older man had fallen asleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The very next night, Kadyn pushed himself up on one elbow and checked to make sure his partner was sleeping soundly. He carefully got out from under the covers and signalled with a finger to his lips for Bandit to be as quiet as possible while they made their way downstairs to the study.

Once there, Kadyn quickly got their home computer and two borrowed laptops up and running. Luck seemed to be on his side as he easily closed in on the getting his three characters where he wanted them in just under an hour. All were worth some serious money now and he’d put them on the auction block first thing Monday morning when his computer restrictions were lifted.

He’d been working hard the last few weeks on a plan to purchase his own business. Acquiring the funds for the down payment had been the fun part. Doing up a business plan complete with market analysis and strategy would have been almost impossible for Kadyn had Kyler hadn’t helped him. The bank manager, Lucas Hudson, had offered a lot of encouragement and soon Kadyn would be ready to surprise Vincent with all he had accomplished. He knew he would need the support of his partner before finalizing any of this. Hopefully by the end of the week, he’d be in a position to lay it all out on the table.

But right now, Kadyn knew he had better get back to bed before his good fortune ran out and his Top discovered him not only up again in the middle of the night, but also on the computer which he was denied access to for at least another twenty-four hours.

He and Bandit had made it back to the master bedroom, and Kadyn was just pulling up the covers when the lamp on Vincent’s side of the bed came on. Kadyn cringed; he was busted, big time.

“What the hell is going on with you?” an exasperated Vincent growled. “Didn’t I tell you to get some sleep?” He pulled his Brat around to look at him.

“I-I…” Kadyn quickly figured out that using the bathroom ruse wouldn’t work; neither would saying he couldn’t sleep.

“I’ve been wondering when you’d come back to bed for almost forty minutes. You’ve been on the computer, haven’t you?” Getting a hesitant nod, Vincent continued. “It’s too late to discuss this now as it’s after two. But rest assured we’ll be discussing this in detail tomorrow morning, capiche? For now go to sleep, we both need it!”

Kadyn rolled over and tried to settle. It was several minutes later when he heard Vincent’s steady breathing, a sure sign the man was sleeping soundly.

At his master’s signal, Bandit was back on the bed and nestling against Kadyn’s side. But the peace and quiet didn’t last long.

Kadyn was unable to fall asleep for worrying about the ‘discussion’ Vincent had promised for the morning. The young man did not do ‘waiting’ very well at all, and the postponing of something that might prove unpleasant was exceptionally unnerving.

He was soon tossing and turning. He kicked the blankets off and punched at his pillow, anything to distract himself and keep his eyes off the red numbers of the clock as they ticked over.

It was when Kayden got up and went to the bathroom for the third time in less than twenty minutes that Bandit retreated to his own bed in the corner.

Finally decided enough was enough, Kadyn retrieved his Ipod from the night table. As chance would have it, or not, he no sooner had his headphones on when Vincent woke up.

As soon as he awakened, Vincent knew something was wrong. “Kadyn, are you alright?” Not getting a response, he turned on the bedside light, to see a startled Kadyn listening to music.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Go back to sleep, Vincent.” Kadyn mumbled without even removing the headphones.

“You’ve gone and got yourself worked up over our discussion, haven’t you?”

Kadyn just shrugged. He figured it was his Top’s responsibility to take care of things. He just didn’t understand why Vincent would put him on hold like this.

“I’m sorry. I know you don’t deal well with waiting.” Sleepily rubbing his face a bit, Vincent gave the situation some thought. “Since we’re both awake, how about you telling me what you’ve been up to and why you were using the computer after I grounded you from it?”

Kadyn tossed his Ipod to the foot of the bed, threw back the covers, jumped up and stood with hands on hips, angrily glaring down at the older man. “It’s your fault I can’t sleep! And it’s your own fault that you’re awake now. Seeing as you got a kick or something outta keeping me waiting, I’m gonna make you wait.” With that, he stormed into the en suite and slammed the door. He rarely got this upset and had no means of handling this level of resentment on his own.

Vincent sighed and got out of bed. He tried to open the door of the en suite only to find it was locked. “Kadyn, I wasn’t getting a ‘kick’ out of keeping you waiting. I wanted us to talk when we were both rested. Now, open this door!” Getting no reply from his Brat, he added, “If I have to get the key, it will only make matters worse.”

Only silence greeted Vincent’s ears. Kadyn had no intentions of moving from where he was scrunched down in the corner next to the counter. He didn’t understand why he was this angry, but he was. And because of his anger, he was unwilling to accept his partner’s explanation or do what he was told.

Vincent shook his head as he walked to the bureau and opened a drawer. As soon as he found the key, he unlocked the en suite door and walked over to where Kadyn was still crouched. Reaching down, he hauled the young man to his feet. “Come on, Brat. We need to talk and since you insist, we’ll talk now.”

Leading Kaydn towards the bed, Vincent began not unkindly to converse. “Okay, I want to know what has got you so upset about my restricting your computer usage.”

Kadyn remained silent for several moments while his Top waited patiently. Finally he started to speak in a low, hesitant voice. “I’ve been working on a surprise, Vincent, and it was important that I finish up something this weekend. I didn’t want to disobey you, I didn’t have a choice.”

“Sweetie, you had other options. Why didn’t you just tell me that earlier? I’m not an ogre. I would have understood. If you’d told me, I would have let you finish your surprise, since it seems to mean so much to you. But now you’ve added rudeness to the list. We aren’t rude to one another, are we?”

Kadyn shook his head before hiding his face against Vincent’s chest. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“Okay, honey, come here. Let’s get this over with. You know why you’re being punished, right?”

This time Kadyn nodded. “For disobeying and being rude,” he quietly admitted.

Vincent sat down on the side of the bed, pulled the younger man over his thighs and lowered Kadyn’s sleep pants.

“You had no business being on the computer after losing that privilege, nor should you have been out of bed in the middle of the night. And you know temper tantrums and being rude are never acceptable.” He raised his hand and brought it down several times in quick succession, turning Kadyn’s bare bottom red.

“Not so hard, Vincent!” Kadyn wailed, trying to squirm away but unable to do so.

A minute or so later, Vincent ended the spanking and within seconds had a sobbing Brat cuddled on his lap. He murmured comforting words and waited for the cries of pain to diminish and for the inevitable complaint.

“That really hurt, Vincent!” Kadyn griped as he glared at his Top, a show of displeasure on his tear-streaked face.

“It was meant to, sweetie” Vincent softly acknowledge with a kiss to the younger man’s forehead. “And the computer is now off-limits for a full week,” he added.

“That’s not fair! You already spanked me.”

“Yes, because apparently just denying you a privilege doesn’t get the message across. It’s too late to discuss this further so we’ll finish talking about this computer obsession of yours in the morning. For now, go to sleep. Heaven knows we both need it!” Vincent helped Kadyn get settled, then lay down next to him and soothingly rubbed his back.

“We’ll bake chocolate chip cookies right after breakfast, okay?” Kadyn requested around a wide yawn. He fell asleep with his partner’s assurances being whispered in his ear.

Vincent smiled. Although still unable to understand why his Brat equated baking cookies with forgiveness, it was something he would never deny this young man whom he loved with all his heart.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn toyed with the gold collar round his neck as he waited for the last batch of cookies to come out of the oven. During the early hours of this morning, his excitement to get his players ready to sell had him briefly forgetting the significance of this precious gift. Although he was anxious to post his game characters online, he decided to wait until tomorrow when he would ask Kyler or Rene to do it for him. He didn’t want to disobey Vincent again.

The timer beeped and he pull out the final tray and set it on the cooling rack, then he walked over to the table where Vincent was sitting and sat down on the older man’s lap. Wrapping his arms around his partner’s neck, Kadyn softly asked if they could talk now.

“Of course we can,” Vincent responded. “Tell me what you’ve been working on that’s so important it’s kept you up nights. I really want to know.”

“I can’t tell you everything, Vince. In fact, I can’t tell you very much at all without giving away the secret. I promise I’m not going to do anything really drastic until discussing it all with you. But I need at least another week, maybe two before I can let it all out of the bag. I guess I’m asking you to trust me. Can you?” Kadyn had been curling up the ends of the other man’s collar and not quite looking him in the eye, but now he glanced up to do so while keeping his fingers crossed.

“Sweetheart, of course I trust you. I won’t even ask what it’s all about.” Vincent’s reply testified to the confidence he had in his partner. His Brat might be impulsive, over-enthusiastic and disobedient at times, but as a rule he was pretty straight-forward and honest. He wrapped his arms Kadyn and gave him a gentle hug. “When you’re ready, you can tell me about your surprise. Until then we won’t discuss it. Will that work okay for you?”

“Sure, as long as you don’t believe all you might hear. People talk, you know, whether they have anything of truth to share or not.” Having grown up in this small town, Kadyn knew this for a fact. Didn’t matter what he did or where, his folks always found out. Didn’t matter if he acted up in class, in Sunday school or on the playground, there was usually someone who couldn’t get to his parents fast enough and squeal.

“Even though only four others are in on my plans, some nosey so-and-so is bound to think they know what’s going on and gossip about it. Just don’t listen, okay?”

“Okay, I promise I won’t listen to anyone but you. If I’m asked about anything, I’ll just say you’re working on a surprise and I don’t want to know what they may have heard. How is that?” Getting a nod in reply, Vincent changed the subject. “Are you going to come to the bookstore with me soon so we can go out to lunch later, or do you have other plans?”

“Oh, I forgot this is the last Sunday of the month and that you’re doing inventory. I’m still available to help you though, and I remember getting your guarantee that we’d eat the Maple Grille if I did your grunt work.” Kadyn laughed at the expression on his Top’s handsome face. “One of these days, you won’t be able to get those eyeballs of yours to stop rolling upwards like that,” he teased and pushed himself off the bigger man’s lap.

Grabbing a couple of cookies, he ran out of the kitchen and down the hall. “Bet I’ll be ready to go before you are, Vince” he called out over his shoulder.

Vincent chuckled and shook his head. With Kadyn, he never knew what would happen next. But he was never bored. Getting quickly to his feet, he hurried after his Brat. “You might, but I wouldn’t count out it.”

He caught up with Kadyn in the bedroom and wrestled him onto the bed. “Want to delay the work at the bookstore for half an hour?”

“Whatever you want, big guy.” Kadyn giggled as his partner’s fingers lightly grazed over his ribs and tickled. He threw his arms around Vincent’s neck and squirmed under the heavier body covering his, grinding his erection against his lover’s.

It took only a matter of seconds for both men to be naked; their Sunday morning attire consisting of t-shirts, boxers and socks quickly being discarded. In Vincent’s case, there was also a bathrobe added to the articles of clothing finding their way to the floor.

Moments later, Kadyn bucked as a well-lubed finger penetrated his body. It was soon followed by a second, then a third. When Vincent was satisfied with his preparations, he carefully replaced his probing fingers with his rigid penis and wrapped his hand around Kadyn’s. After giving the younger man time to adjust to the fullness, Vincent slowly but steadily increased the speed and depth of his movements until he felt his young lover tighten around him and heard him shout out his climax. Only then did he allow himself his own release.

“You sure we have to work at the bookstore today, Vince?” Kadyn murmured once his heart rate and breathing had slowed some. He turned to drape his upper body over his Top’s chest and gaze pleadingly into Vincent’s eyes. He groaned when his partner just smiled and nodded his head.

“Up and at it, Brat! The day’s getting away from us.” Vincent lightly patted Kadyn’s backside by way of encouragement, pushed out from under him and stood up. He smirked when his Brat complainingly obeyed while rolling off the bed and onto his feet in one smooth motion.

It wasn’t too much past the allotted half hour when they finally got around to leaving the house.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn became more excited as the week drew to a close. If Vincent didn’t know better, he’d have thought his Brat was on drugs. As it was, the older man pretended he didn’t notice anything and hoped that whatever the surprise was, it would work out as quickly as Kadyn had hoped.

Then the weekend arrived and whatever Kadyn had expected to happen, didn’t. The disappointed made it difficult for the young man not to let loose and just blurt out his secret, but somehow he managed to hang in there.

On Monday, everything finally fell into place and Kadyn was ready to share all. By the time Vincent got home for supper, his partner was practically bouncing off the walls.

“Kadyn, is everything all right?” Vincent inquired as he walked into the front room. He’d immediately noticed how wound-up his Brat was and apprehensively wondered what had happened.

“Everything’s fine, Vince, and I an finally tell you all I’ve been up to the last few weeks.” Kadyn grabbed his partner’s arm and towed him over to the sofa in the living room. Once they were seated and facing each other, he began to talk while bouncing on the edge of the couch.

“Okay, you must pay attention and listen closely so you don’t forget what I am saying.” Kadyn smirked at Vincent’s groan of long-suffering as those were the very words the older man more often than not had to use at the beginning of any serious conversations he wanted to have with his Brat.

“First off, you do remember encouraging me to take up pottery and ceramics, right?” Kadyn’s blue eyes were sparkling, his happiness very much apparent.

“Of course I remember. It was during our trip to Vancouver and unless I’ve missed my guess, you enjoyed the classes. After all, that vase on the sideboard you designed is beautiful and my mom loves the serving bowl you made for her. She’s always bragging about how talented you are.” Vincent looked somewhat suspiciously at the younger man. “Just where is this going? Don’t tell me you’ve lost interest in doing ceramics.”

“Nope; you’re kinda off the mark.” Kadyn laughed at Top’s erroneous presumptions. “I love doing pottery and getting my hands dirty. That’s why I’ve been going to Cassandra’s shop at least twice a week since taking the ceramic course last winter. It’s nice to know your mom thinks I got talent though.” He blushed at the unexpected praise.

He took a moment to get his thoughts back on track before deciding to just lay his cards on the table. “Cassie is selling her business and I want to buy it. I’ve put a lot of work into setting and reaching goals over the past several weeks, and now I’m ready to ask for your support.” Kadyn’s earnest sounding voice and now tense body clearly demonstrated how important this was to him. He expelled a deep breath, sat back and waited for his partner’s response.

Vincent was surprised by his partner’s news. Not only was the bit about Cassandra selling her shop a surprise; but up until now, he’d had no idea Kadyn wanted to have his own establishment. After taking a few seconds to get his thoughts in order, Vincent warmly replied. “I’ll support you in anything, including running your own ceramic shop. I take it you’ve looked at all the financial obligations involved but do you realize how much of what is now your free time will be taken up with running a business, even a small one?”

Kadyn rubbed his hands together and smiled at how easily his Top was going along with all this. “One of the reasons why I first toyed with the idea of having my own small business is that Dad is not as close to retirement as he thought he’d be by this time; especially with Mom still spending a lot of her day at the beauty salon instead of slowing down like they had planned. So I thought if dad was willing to work more hours, and he is, then I’d find something else to do with my so-called ‘free’ time.”

Kadyn was beginning to babble, but Vincent knew that given time his Brat would get to the point while filling in all the details along the way.

“When Cassie told me about moving to Terrace to be with her sister, I asked Kyler for some help to put together a business plan. I took it to Lucas Hudson at the bank and he said it looked good, providing I came up with money of my own. I had the amount my parents had put aside for me to continue my education, but that wasn’t enough. And that’s where the computer games came into play. I worked long and hard at developing my characters so I could sell them. Everything finally fell into place today and all my players got sold for a really great price. Now I have the amount I need for a down payment, Vince. Isn’t that great?”

“It certainly is, but why have you been keeping it all a secret? I’m afraid this is what I don’t understand.”

“I wanted to show you what I was capable of doing on my own so you’d know I’m able to handle such a venture. I got a gazillion ideas for making the business so much more doable and cost-effective than it has been. Like plans that offer classes all year round to various interest groups, not just during the fall and spring months.” Kadyn paused for a moment and chewed on his bottom lip. “All I need is your permission,” he diffidently requested.

“Sweetheart, you don’t need my permission to start your own business!” Vincent instantly replied. “I'll support you one hundred percent in whatever you want to do. There may be times you’ll want my opinion or advice and I’ll be there for you. It looks to me like you’ve done all the preliminary work, so I’ll have no intention of holding you back.”

“I do value your judgment, Vincent, and even if I don’t need your permission,” Kadyn softly answered, slowly rubbing his fingers across his collar, “I still want it. To me it represents part of the promise.”

Vincent smiled at Kadyn, all the while thinking what a loving and trusting partner he had. “Okay, if you feel that way, you have my permission to start your own ceramic shop.” He moved close enough to lovingly hug his Brat.

“Thanks, Vince. It’ll mean a lot to Cassie too, cause she’s already left town. She was anxious to move on and said she had every confidence in things working out.” Kadyn enthusiastically returned the embrace. “Guess we’re gonna have to work out some kind of timetable, cause once the deal is sign, sealed and delivered, I’m gonna be mega busy. I have a lot of changes to make to the old building. First thing I want to do is get rid of that little apartment Cassie lived in. I can put that space to better use by moving the kiln and inventory shelves back there. That in turn will give me more room to set up a teaching studio of sorts with long tables for clients work at. I gotta paint the whole place to really brighten it up. Rene and Kyler both offered to help. I hope to be opened for business by Valentine’s Day, so I have less than a month to get it all done.”

“Whoa there, tiger, we need to look at how long you plan on working each day to get the shop set up. I know you have great ideas, but you only have so many hours in a day. You still need to sleep, eat, have fun and spend time with me.”

“We can have a lot of time together if you’re free to help with some of the renovations,” Kadyn strongly hinted at his need for any assistance the older man could give him.

“I’m more than willing to help, but we may need to do things in steps. Have you made a schedule yet? It will help you see how long each thing will take, such as cleaning out the shop and doing the painting. That way you can adjust as you go and it won’t seem so overwhelming if something takes a day longer than you planned.”

“Well, as usual my Saturdays are pretty much my own. I promised Dad I’d work Monday, Wednesday and most Friday mornings in the store, still keeping track of the inventory for him. That leaves me with at least three whole days and three afternoons a week to work in my own shop. Then there’s Sunday and evenings still free. I figure that should give me plenty of time to get everything done, especially with family and friends pitching in.”

“It sounds like you’ve got things planned out. And with the bookstore being closed on Sundays, I’ll be able to help you the whole day. I think though, that you need to keep your evenings free.” When Kaydn started to protest, Vincent raised his hand in a ‘stop’ sign and continued. “You’ll need time to unwind, relax and look at what has to be done the next day. Trust me on this. I ran into something similar when I started the bookstore. I just don’t want you to spread yourself too thin.”

“I’ll try to follow your directives, Vincent; at least during the renovation stage. But you’re gonna have to realize that once I open up for business, I’ll be providing some night classes for adults who work during the day. I also plan to offer kid’s birthday parties on Saturday afternoon. Of course, I’ll have to insist that reservations be made several days in advance for those activities.”

“I don’t have a problem with you doing a couple of evenings a week, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. And,” Vincent added with a grin. “I’m so sorry I work Saturdays.”

“Ya think, huh?” Kadyn smirked. “You’re probably relieved at not having to spend time with a bunch of little rug-rats who are throwing paint and plaster around.”

Kadyn’s empty stomach chose that moment to complain by growling loudly. “Can we discuss this while we eat supper, Vince? I got everything ready for tacos; just have to reheat the meat.” Getting a nod, Kadyn jumped to his feet and sprinted into the kitchen.

He was turning up the heat under a frying pan when Vincent caught up with him. Less than five minutes later, the two men were seated at the table and about to chow down.

Kadyn crunched into his taco and chewed slowly while mulling over one last favour he had to ask. “I’d like to go to Kelowna for decorating supplies because I’ll have a bigger choice there. If all the paperwork is done by the end of the week, can I borrow your car on Friday to make the trip?”

“Of course you can. That’s no problem. You know you can use it anytime there’s a need.”

“I know I can here in town; it’s the long trips that sometimes have you rethinking my driving it. This shopping spree I’m going on will take most the day.”

“That’s fine, as long as you drop me off at the bookstore by nine. Just how much is this shopping spree going to cost and how are you planning to pay for everything? You know how I feel about having a big balance on your credit card.”

“Oh yeah, I know your thoughts on piling up debt.” Kadyn frowned for a moment before coming up with what he considered a rational explanation for maxing out his Visa, because he was pretty sure that would be exactly what he would be doing by the end of the week. “I figure in all likelihood, it will easily get up over a couple of thousand dollars. But my card is empty at the moment and it never takes me too long to pay it off. Remember, I don’t own a vehicle. Just think of all the money I save with having no car payments, no insurance and no maintenance costs. The only gas money I spend is when I use yours. But I’ll still be careful and you know how much of a penny-pincher I can be at times.”

“I know you’re very good at paying your bills, but that seems like a lot of money for paint and building supplies. What about the stock you will need once you open for business?”

Kadyn concentrated on loading up his third taco. When done, he glanced over at the man sitting across from him. “Fortunately, a lot of stock was included in the purchase of the business. There is very little needed for my start-up; although I will be picking up some Valentine-type molds and a bigger variety of glazes. I’ve taken measurements of everything at the shop and written out a list of what’s needed. I’ll have to have some of it delivered, like the two-by-four studs, sheets of Gyproc, and shelving materials; hopefully by the first of next week. I also have to line up a plumber and electrician.”

He sent his partner a self-satisfied grin. “See Vince, I got it all figured out.”

Vincent nodded. It looked like Kadyn had things under control and he was very proud of his partner. “So I see. Well, if things get tight with the new business, let me know. I’m sure I can work out a loan with terms we both can live with,” he added with an outrageous leer that had his Brat laughing.

“We better enjoy the rest of this week, cause I think it is going to be the last one I’ll get for a while that won’t have me run off my feet. After that, I’ll try my best to work reasonable hours but I can’t promise to always be on time in the evenings.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next three weeks flew by and Kadyn seemed to go non-stop. To say he was thrilled with those who showed up to offer a helping hand would be an understatement. Besides Vincent, his parents and his best friend, Rene, others he’d have never thought to ask put in surprising appearances.

Rene’s partner, Zack, as well as Zack’s parents, Hayden and Todd, rolled up their sleeves and pitched in as often as time would allow. Good friends such as Kyler and Cameron were joined by their partners, Chad, Hugh and Patrick, whenever they could find an hour or two of free time. Even Chandi and Eric dropped by and spent the entire first Saturday knocking down walls and cleaning up the debris left behind.

The normal slow season for contractors enabled the electrician and plumber to fill their contracts and do what had to be done without any delays. Each day, Kadyn would be the first to arrive and the last to leave as he oversaw everything. More often than not, this led to him running late.

At the beginning, Vincent cut his Brat some slack. He knew Kadyn needed to get into a rhythm that worked best for him. But it eventually became necessary for him to put his foot down and Kadyn not only went to bed early on two nights after writing lines about coming home at a reasonable time, but he was also grounded on the third Sunday, which didn’t go over too well at all.

Finally the eve of his grand opening arrived and he was more hyper than ever. He was also working himself into a crankly mood when his desire to repeatedly go over the plans for the next day coincided with his partner’s insistence that they go to bed and get the rest they would need to face what was bound to be another long, tiring day.

“You go ahead if you’re so tired, Vincent. I’ll come up when I’m good and ready,” Kadyn irritably suggested without even looking up from the list in front of him on the kitchen table. “And just so you know, I’m starting to get a little pissed off with you bugging me every couple of minutes. I’m an entrepreneur now with my own business. As one yourself, you should know how much I have to do to get everything ready. Now just bug off and leave me alone.”

Kadyn was engrossed in doing his own thing and failed to notice the look on his Top’s face.

“You may be an entrepreneur, but you are also still my partner,” Vincent replied in an annoyed tone of voice. “And we don’t speak to one another like that, do we?”

Not waiting for a response, Vincent pulled his Brat to his feet, confiscated Kadyn’s chair and pulled the young man over his lap. Bringing his hand down sharply, he began to spank Kadyn while at the same time sternly reprimanding him. “We don’t speak rudely to one another and when I say it is time for bed, it’s time for bed. Don’t you think I’ve noticed the dark circles under your eyes and you not wanting to eat? I will not let you wear yourself out and endanger your health over the opening of your store. I love you and I will do whatever it takes to keep you well and happy, even if it means spanking you to make sure you understand that. Do I make myself clear?”

Even though the punishment was being administered over his jeans, the combination of the physical chastisement and the scolding was enough to quickly have the weary young man in tears. Kadyn kicked and squirmed in an attempt to evade the hand steadily setting his backside on fire.

“I’m sorry, Vincent. I’ll go to bed now. Just stop, pleeeeease!” he wailed, trying to get his hand back to block the painful swats. So overwrought was Kadyn, he didn’t realize the spanking had ended until he felt himself being picked up and seated on Vincent’s slightly parted thighs. Wrapping his arms tightly around his partner’s neck, he sobbed out his remorse.

Several minutes later, Vincent’s soothing back rub and loving words of forgiveness enable Kadyn to get his crying under control. He collapsed heavily against the older man’s chest and in a somewhat dazed state, waited for the aftermath of hitching breaths to subside before submissively following his Top upstairs.

Upon entering their bedroom, Kadyn immediately found himself being undressed, gently hassled through his nightly routine and tucked into bed. He was sleeping soundly by the time Vincent crawled in beside him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn was up on Friday long before his partner. He was able to shower and dress without disturbing the older man and then quietly leave the house to take Bandit for his morning walk. He returned just as Vincent was coming into the kitchen.

“How are you feeling?” the older man inquired as he gave his young partner a hug. “You look better and the circles under your eyes are a lot less noticeable. Looks like your cruel Top may be onto something in getting you to bed early,” he added with a grin.

“I’m pumped, man!” Kadyn animatedly announced, wrapping his arms around Vincent’s neck and kissing his cheek. He was too happy to react to his Top’s teasing comments. “It’s my big day. I’ve sent out special invitations to all who have helped over the past few weeks, for the luncheon I’m having catered at noon and then the grand opening will be at two this afternoon. But you already know all that.”

Vincent couldn’t help but smile at his Brat’s enthusiasm. “I think the luncheon is a great way to thank all your friends for their support.”

Kadyn couldn’t stay still. He started breakfast preparations while babbling almost non-stop. “I have dozens of little Valentine-type figurines ready for those interested in painting and taking them home. I’ve order two monstrous sheet cakes from Stewart’s bakery and I’ve also rented three large urns, one for tea and two for coffee; plus all the supplies needed to provide hot drinks.”

Pausing in the middle of beating some eggs, Kadyn looked quizzically at his partner. “Do you think I’ll have enough refreshments for everyone?”

“I think you’re all set. There’ll be plenty of food. You’ve done a great job on everything, sweetie; I’m very proud you. I know you know that, but I want you to remember it all day today since I can’t be with you because of Emily still sick and unable to work. I’ll come over at lunch time though, you can be sure of that.”

Kadyn was tempted to voice his disappointment yet again, but they’d already been over this more than once. As a businessman himself now, he accepted that his partner has his own responsibilities to meet.

They ate their morning meal while companionably discussing hopes and plans for the day; then Vincent left for the book store after kissing Kadyn goodbye.

The younger man busied himself by washing the dishes and straightening up around the house. At ten-thirty, he merrily made his way downtown. Arriving at his new place of business, he stopped and stared up at the sign swinging over the front door. He felt a bubbling sense of pride at the words ‘Clay Treasures’. As there were really no last minute tasks to take care of, he passed the time puttering around as he waited for the caterers and his guests to arrive.

The luncheon went off without a hitch and the grand opening surpassed all expectations with Kadyn having the time of his life and the event lasting much longer than planned.

It was one excited Brat still enjoying an adrenalin-high who followed his partner through the back door of their home later that evening.

It should have been a time to unwind and relax, but Kadyn seemed to have other ideas. He began rooting through the pantry and refrigerator, taking out baking ingredients and piling them on the counter. It was the mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and cookie sheets that tipped off Vincent about his partner’s plan to bake.

“Hmm,” Vincent murmured with a grin. “Did you like Stewart’s cake so much you decided you wanted to make something sweet of your own? We just baked chocolate chip cookies the other day, so what is it going to be this time?”

Although Vincent was curious about what his partner had in mind, he had no intentions of letting him bake at this particular point in time. The older man began putting away the perishables. “I think we can both do with a nice long soak in the tub.”

Kadyn gave his Top’s suggestion some thought. He looked at the items spread out in front of him and then gave a somewhat self-conscious shrug. “I thought I’d make some bread. I was kinda hoping I could wear off my excess energy by beating on a big pile of dough.” Looking up at Vincent who was slowly shaking his head, Kadyn mimicked the movement and sighed. “Won’t work, huh? A bath would be better, right?”

“Right!” Vincent assured him. “Go run the water and I’ll lock up down here.”

The younger man sprinted down the hall and up the stairs, leaving a trail of clothing in his wake. For some unknown reason, a hyped-up Kadyn and disarray seemed to go together. In situations like this, it was easier for Vincent to just pick up after him than make his Brat do it.

Kadyn was standing naked next to a half-filled tub of water by the time Vincent joined him. He stepped in and sat down to watch his Top strip. “You know, Vince, I would have put on a show on if I was the one doing the undressing in front of you.” He leered up at the now nude man, appreciating the view for a few seconds. Then he turned off the water and moved to make room for Vincent to get in behind him.

After a bit of restless squirming, Kadyn settled between the older man’s legs and leaned back against his lover’s broad chest. He moaned his contentment when strong arms wrapped around him and Vincent’s deep voice murmured in his ear, asking for details of all that had gone on after he’d had to return to the book store.

“Geesh, where to begin?” Kadyn pretended to ponder over what to tell his partner first. “I bet just about everyone in Jade Heights stopped by at one time or another during the day. I sure was kept hopping, but I loved every minute of it. A group of seniors have signed up for classes on Tuesday mornings and I already have three reservations for kids’ birthday parties. It isn’t only good news for my business but also for Stewart’s bakery, cause he’ll be providing the cakes. He made me a deal; I get every seventh cake for free as long as I get them all from him.”

Kadyn continued babbling over the next half hour amid a few comments of encouragement. “I’m thinking of developing a couple of new characters for that online game I play.”

“Not if you have any plans to be playing during all hours of the night,” Vincent firmly responded.

“But it really is serious play, Vince. They’ll be a kind of insurance in case something unexpected happens. I really want to avoid running up any more debt.”

“Good management should help prevent that happening, sweetheart.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Kadyn trusted his Top’s judgement and let the subject drop. Besides, the water was beginning to cool and he now had something else on his mind.

Using his toes, Kadyn removed the plug and then flipped over to face his partner. He gently kissed Vincent’s lips before slowly moving down the front of the bigger man’s body. He teased each nipple in turn, sucking them into hardened nubs. The water had all but drained away by the time he reached his goal, enabling him to take Vincent’s engorged penis into his mouth without fear of drowning.

Several minutes later, Kadyn cooed his happiness as his lover found his release and shot down the young man’s throat. Kadyn swallowed and gazed up at Vincent with a silly grin on his face, thrilled at having so totally pleasured his Top.

“My turn?” he asked hopefully.

“Yes, but not here. I intend to take my time in the comfort of our own bed.” Vincent sealed his promise with a kiss.

The End

Hanging Loose

2009-12-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Written By: LJ

“I hate to think what could have happened had I not glanced out the window when I did,” Vincent murmured into the hair of the young man sitting on his lap. “Whatever possessed you to climb up there?”

“I-I just wanted to help our n-neighbours put up their Christmas lights,” Kadyn hitched, squirming to take the pressure of his sore bottom.

“You are going to have to learn to think things through, Kadyn. We’ve been over this before,” Vincent mildly scolded.

“Well I certainly never planned for the ladder to fall over, now did I?” Kadyn offered in his defence.

“You might have known it was a possibility. Next time, ask for help. You know every time you put yourself in danger like that, you will be spanked.”

“I still say you don’t have to spank so hard!” Kadyn pointed out and pouted when his complaint merely garnered an exasperated but loving smile.

“It just shows how much I love you, sweetheart.” Vincent kissed the still wet cheek. “No more hanging about, right?”

The End

Collars and Crushes

2009-09-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst and LJ

Kadyn’s eyes were glistening with mischief. He had to get this just right. He waited with bated breath until Vincent had his mug to his lips and was tipping it. Once Kadyn knew for sure that his timing was perfect, he startled the older man.

“Vincent, I want a collar!” he blurted out and laughed when his partner spewed coffee over the table. Vincent’s glare did nothing to discourage his Brat. “I’d get one myself, but since it is yours I want to wear, I figure you should buy it.”

Vincent wiped the coffee off his chin before purposefully getting up and walking around the table. Hauling his Brat to his feet, he landed a stinging swat to the seat of Kadyn’s boxer-covered bottom. “Next time you do that, young man, you can plan on spending the rest of the day standing up, due to finding it very uncomfortable to sit down. Got it?” he growled before returning to his seat and continuing his breakfast.

Kadyn rubbed at the burn on his backside and gingerly sat back down. “I must be crazy or something, ‘cause I still want your collar on me. Don’t know why though, when you can be so mean at times.”

Vincent bit back a smile. “I’m not mean to you, Kadyn. But I am firm with you, and God only knows I have to be. Why do you want to wear my collar? Is it because of something you’ve read on the internet and though it seemed cool? Do you understand what it means to wear another man’s collar?”

“Not the internet; the TV. The NCIS show to be exact; and yeah, it did seem cool.” Kadyn shrugged his shoulders and pushed down the few floating Honey-nut Cheerios left in his bowl. “I’m not sure what all it means. I figured it was like jewellery. Or at the most, sort of take the place of a wedding ring.”

“I can see where you’d think wearing a collar would be cool. It is an item of jewelry. But wearing another man’s collar has a meaning I think you’re not aware of. It typically means that you are a submissive and part of a Dom/Sub relationship.” As he spoke, Vincent closely watched Kadyn for his reaction to what was being said. “How much do you know about such a relationship?” He was unsure how much if anything, Kadyn knew of other lifestyles.

Kadyn had lived a rather sheltered life. The youngest of four children and being born several years after his siblings, resulted in his having stayed close to home. Although not an academic genius by any stretch of the imagination, he had graduated high school and stayed in Jade Heights to work in his father’s business rather than further his education. He had never found studying particularly appealing. His time on the internet involved playing games and looking up information only on subjects that struck his fancy. But it had never crossed his mind to investigate other lifestyles and he certainly could never be accused of voyeurism.

“I…” Kadyn paused to consider the unfamiliar terminology. “I don’t think I know anything at all about that kind of relationship. Is it a lot different than ours? And if so, in what ways?”

“This is going to take more than a few minutes to explain,” Vincent responded with a smile. “Why don’t we finish breakfast and get the dishes out of the way, then we can discuss it more comfortably in the living room.”

Kadyn readily agreed to go along with his partner’s proposal. Scooping the last spoonful of cereal into his mouth, he got up and began clearing the table. He ran hot water into the sink and added a generous amount of soap, causing bubbles to rise up and threaten to overflow. Another bad habit as far as Vincent was concerned. Although to give the older man credit, he rarely complained about it.

Vincent noticed Kadyn almost overflowing the sink, but said nothing. He was more concerned about how to explain the differences between Top/Brat and Dom/Sub relationships, as well as the significance of wearing another man’s collar.

Smiling at the younger man, Vincent finished up his coffee and said, “Give me a few minutes to get my thoughts in order, okay? I wasn’t expecting anything like this on a Sunday morning. I’ll be in the front room whenever you’re ready.”

“Sure thing.” Being as Vincent had prepared breakfast, Kadyn didn’t mind doing the washing up. It seemed only fair in his mind. However, he preferred to spend as much time with his partner as possible, so it took hardly any time at all before he was throwing himself down on the sofa next to his Top. “So, big guy, what did ya come up with?”

“A collar frequently is a symbol that the one wearing it is in what is called a Dom/Sub relationship,” Vincent began patiently. “The couple in the relationship can be same sex or opposite sex, it makes no difference. Within that relationship, the collar can mean many things. That the partners are together for a specific ‘scene’, or that they are in a full-time committed relationship. With some couples, a sub will wear the collar only for sex, to set the tone of who is in charge. Others, the sub wears it all the time. It’s referred to as a ‘power exchange.’ No matter what though, the sub accepts a collar willingly. It is the sub’s decision to wear the collar.” Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, Vincent then asked, “How much do you know about these particular types of relationships? Do you want me to explain them?”

“Not too much at all. And what I do know may have been told to me wrong because there is a lot more to this than I would have thought. But the titles kinda shout that the Dom is the one in charge. I guess that like in a Top/Brat situation, the Sub first gets to decide if that is what he wants, right?”

“Yes, you’re right. The Sub can opt out at any time. The Dom may be the one in charge of many things in the lifestyle, but it’s a power exchange, not a dictatorship.”

Kadyn was surprised at wanting to learn more, even though he strongly suspected it was not a lifestyle he would fully want to embrace. The word ‘scene’ had slightly thrown him off. “I am also guessing that like ours, each relationship depends on what the partners need and expect from each other, right? By wearing your collar, how would our relationship change?”

“That would depend on how much you want it to change,” Vincent assured him. “If you find you’re serious about this and you want to wear my collar as part of a sex scene, giving me control of what happens during sex and end it there, that’s fine. If you want it to extend further, that’s fine as well. By extending it further, I mean where you would give me authority over other areas of your life such as if or when you can see your friends, as an example. We’d decide on what those limits are. However,” he added seriously, “I won’t go along with you wanting one thing one day; then changing your mind the next. The giving and wearing of a collar is an obligation for both people involved and both must commit to it.”

Vincent smiled at Kadyn and added, “I hope this isn’t overwhelming you. I’m trying to give you the basics. No matter what, you don’t need to make a decision right away. You’ll need time to think if it’s really what you want. Whatever your decision is, I’ll be happy with it. All I want is what’s best for you. I love you and that is what’s important.”

“I love you too and I love our relationship. Okay, so maybe not the spankings so much,” Kadyn added with a pout that quickly disappeared. “But I sometimes wonder if there was anything we can do to make it even better. I don’t want a collar as part of a sex scene, Vince. You most often accept me making the first move sexually, but then you take over and I like it that way. You are so good at making me come alive and over the last year or so have taught me a lot of new stuff. Sure beats doing it on my own.” Kadyn smirked when making this last comment, then turned serious again. “But to me, a scene is like playing a game or putting on a show. I think I want something more real than that. Oh, and I won’t be changing my mind. I mean I haven’t changed it yet, have I? I’m still here; I’m still living our present lifestyle. I just feel there can be more, but not sure what exactly.”

For several moments, Kadyn sat quietly trying to come up with the right words to express himself, but was unable to find them. He decided asking more questions might help. “Can you give me a list of the areas in my life that you think I could use more help in, Vincent? Try to be specific if you can. You know me; I kind of need everything spelled out.”

Vincent was surprised by Kadyn’s question. “Sweetie, I really don’t want more authority over your life,” he said earnestly. “But if you’re wanting to know areas I think we can work on improving, I’m sure I can think of a few. Just remember though, I love you the way you are; spontaneous, cheerful, fun-loving, and kind.”

“I kinda like me that way too,” Kadyn concurred with a grin. “I know I gripe and grumble sometimes, but I really do like you the way you are too. I’m not saying I necessarily enjoy all aspects of our lifestyle, definitely not the one involving consequences, but I like the idea of you having more power over me. I figure that is what the collar will represent.”

With clueless innocence, Kaydn wondered why his penis was even remotely interested in this conversation. He felt his boxers tent as he hardened and tried to ignore it, but didn’t quite succeed. He wasn’t sure why all this turned him on but his already engorged member was beginning to spasm at the thought of completely submitting to the big man in front of him. Leaning forward, he solemnly declared, “Vince, I’m pretty sure I am submissive and I trust you to do what is best for us.”

“I’m pretty sure you are too.” Vincent grinned at his Brat’s declaration. “And since I like to be in charge, we make a perfect couple.”

Kaydn merrily returned the grin. “So areas we want to work on are…..?”

“Well, one of them will be when I make a decision there won’t be any arguing the way you tend to do now. You know I don’t make decisions without good reason, Kadyn.”

“I get it; no pushing,” Kadyn acknowledged with just a bit of a scowl. “It means no more whining, pouting, or stomping to get you to change your mind about something, right?”

“Right!” Vincent grinned slightly. “Besides, it’s not as though you get me to change my mind by doing any of those things. You get me to change my mind when you come up with a good reason or bring up something I haven’t thought of.”

“Okay, that’s one thing we can work on. What others can you think of?”

“There’s only one more that I can think of right now, and that’s when you want to go somewhere with your friends you need to get my permission first. Lately you’ve been going out with them without even checking to see what my plans are, and twice we’d had plans you’d forgotten. Besides,” Vincent continued with a smile, “I think I’m entitled to have first priority of your free time.” Seeing Kadyn begin to frown, he added, “You know I’m not trying to keep you from your friends, I just want you to check with me and I want us to spend more time together.”

“In other words, the biggest change will be the setting of firmer limits. I guess it boils down to me having a better understanding and acceptance of the boundaries, and you maintaining them.” Kadyn simply put it all in a nutshell in order to clarify what he thought was being said. As he saw it, Vincent was not only emphasizing Kadyn’s role in their relationship, he was also acknowledging his own responsibilities as Kadyn’s Top.

“I can only promise to try my best, Vince,” Kadyn vowed. He smiled serenely at the man beside him and let out a long sigh of contentment. “You haven’t answered my original question, Vincent. Can I have a collar?” he quietly requested.

“Yes, you can have a collar; my collar, that is. You understand better what it means now.”

“I don’t want one that looks like something Bandit would wear. I want one that looks like it’s a piece of jewelry. I know there are all kinds, ‘cause I’ve see the ones that Abby wears. And while they really suit her, they’re not for me. She’s just so cool and I’ve got a massive crush on her. She’s Goth, you know. Like how neat is that?” Kadyn was in the habit of regaling his partner with the merits of Abby, girl-wonder of forensics.

“I agree. I don’t think a Goth style would suit you either. One that looks like jewelry will be best. I hope your crush on Abby doesn’t lessen the crush you have on me,” Vincent teased.

“I don’t have a crush on you, Vincent! I’ve never had a crush on you!” Kadyn was dismayed at his lover thinking such a thing. “Crushes come and go. Some last longer than others, but none last forever. I know, cause I’ve had lots of them. But I knew almost from the first that what I felt for you was for real. You know; the ‘for-the-rest-of-my-life’, ‘one and only true love’ kind of thing. You’re the only one who has ever made me feel the way you do when I’m in your arms. You’re the only one who makes my skin tingle and my heart beat faster. Sounds hokey, I know; but it’s true.”

“I know exactly what you mean, sweetheart. You are the only one for me as well. And it’s not hokey,” Vincent responded seriously.

“Maybe we can find what we have in mind on the internet,’ Kadyn hopefully suggested. With his Top’s blessing, he went into the study, turned on the computer and within minutes was connected to the internet and typing ‘collars’ into his favourite search engine. His eyes widened at some of the sites that came up.

“Man, I hope having a collar doesn’t mean we have to do all that stuff, Vincent. It looks down right scary.” There was a distinct note of fear in the young man’s voice as he crawled onto his Top’s lap. “Okay, so it’s different strokes for different folks and pain works for some, but not me. No sir; pain is definitely not a turn-on for me. We don’t hafta do those things, do we, Vincent?” Kadyn was staring bug-eyed at the screen in front of him, both mesmerized and frightened at the same time by the displays of BDSM paraphernalia and literature. The pictures of men and women in leather and chains being what he considered tortured, had him cringing and pressing himself back against his partner as if seeking a safe haven.

“Hey, it’s okay, Kadyn,” Vincent murmured reassuringly. “Neither of us is into that. Let’s see if this site has collars. Hot-looking collars for my hot-looking partner!”

Reaching around his Brat with both arms, Vincent quickly ran his fingers over the keyboard and brought up a display of collars. They were not being worn by anyone and appeared a lot less intimidating to the man on his lap.

Searching the site together, they finally settled on a collar both of them considered acceptable. For Kadyn, it had been love at first sight. Vincent placed the order while his Brat bounced excitedly on the chair beside him.

“Well, I’m glad we’ve got that ordered,” Vincent commented, chuckling at the other man’s excitement. “Now all we have to do is wait for it to get here. You realize that even though the site said seven to twelve days, they mean working days, right?” Knowing Kadyn’s nature of wanting things to arrive faster than promised, he added, “So it could take almost three weeks, depending on the mail.”

“Yeah, and that’s going to be the hardest part; the waiting.” Kadyn moaned even while appreciating the warning. Neither man was in any doubt of him doing so patiently.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn was patient for the first week, but anxiously rushed home every day of the second week to check the mail, only to be disappointed when the package didn’t arrive.

“We should have paid the extra fee for rush delivery, Vincent,” he grumbled yet again. “I bet it’s the engraving that holding it up.”

Vincent laughed good-naturedly at the remark. “Honey, it will get here; don’t worry. We decided when we placed the order that there was no need for the rush delivery. Give it time.”

This conversation had been repeated several times over the last few evenings. Vincent saw the frown on his Brat’s face and shook his head to ward off any further complaining. He smiled when Kadyn huffed and went off to play computer games.

Mid-way through the third week, the long-awaited parcel arrived. Kadyn impatiently tore the brown paper off it before handing the unopened box over to Vincent when the older man snapped his fingers. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder on the sofa, with Kadyn trying to stay as still as possible. He softly whistled when he saw the circle of gold nestled on a bed of royal blue velvet. It had looked beautiful online, but in the here and now, it took his breath away. He watched wide-eyed as Vincent reverently lifted the collar and held it up.

“I think we made the right choice,” Vincent said as he picked up their newest acquisition. “This is beautiful and suits you perfectly. Are you ready for me to put it on you?”

Kadyn straddled the older man’s lap and nodded. Vincent lovingly placed the collar around his lover’s neck and closed the tiny clasp. “It looks great on you,” he murmured sincerely before pulling Kadyn into his arms and soundly kissing him.

Kadyn’s eyes glistened as he ran his fingers lightly over the collar, relishing the coolness against his skin. He closed his eyes and thought of the words ‘I belong to Vincent LeMaur’ engraved on the inside. “Thank you. I promise never to remove it and to do my very best to be worthy of it.” The vow was spoken genuinely and with a sense of awe. “I’d like to do something to show how much your collar means to me, Vincent?” The love he felt for this man was easily visible on his beautiful face.

Getting down on his knees, he gently moved his Top’s legs further apart and slowly opened Vincent’s fly. Although he had never pleasured his lover in this manner before, Kadyn lowered his head, took the pulsing shaft into his mouth and began licking and sucking. He put his hands behind his back, somehow knowing it would be what was expected. He felt his lover’s large hands rubbing gently over his head and heard the big man’s sigh of satisfaction. There was something truly exhilarating about using his mouth to bringing his Top to climax like this. He felt Vincent’s balls contract and within seconds the big guy was coming down his throat with a gusty gasp of pleasure. Kadyn swallowed, grimacing from the unfamiliar taste, and then he sat back with a look of total satisfaction on his face.

“That was wonderful, sweetheart,” Vincent whispered when he’d caught his breath. “Thank you. I know you’ve never done that before.” After a few moments, he looked thoughtfully at Kadyn, who now wore a serious expression. “What’s on your mind? I can see there’s something. Tell me about it.”

Kadyn deferentially touched the gold band once again. “This is more than a collar, Vince. I mean, it comes with a promise from you to protect me and keep me safe, even from my own self. It is a double-sided commitment, isn’t it?”

“Yes, you’re right. It is. I’m committed to taking care of you no matter what, and you’re committed to respecting and obeying me. While it may not seem a great deal different than what we have been doing, the collar will now be a physical reminder,” Vincent explained.

“I’m never going to take it off. I don’t care if people see it. Although I won’t go around crowing about it or anything, I don’t plan on keeping it hidden as if I’m ashamed of it either.”

“That’s great, honey. I’m glad you want to wear it all the time. It’s definitely nothing to be ashamed of. It is something for both of us to cherish.”

“Gotcha!” Kadyn reached up and threw his arms around Vincent’s neck, pulling the bigger man down for a soul-shattering kiss.

Seeing a slightly dazed look on his lover’s face, Kadyn ventured. “I got just one more question, Vincent. Can we buy a coffin to sleep in? Abby sleeps in one.” He was up and running before his Top recovered from the shock.

Vincent groaned when he heard Kadyn laughing uproariously, then he got to his feet and took off in pursuit of his errant Brat.

The End

Body Painting Aftermath for Kadyn

2009-09-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst and LJ

Vincent could hardly believe what he’d just heard. Kadyn had been picked up for streaking! As he turned the sign on the store to ‘Closed, please call again’ and locked the door, he wondered what Kadyn could have been thinking. He knew Kadyn was young and impulsive, but streaking?

As he got out of the car in the parking lot, he spotted Zack and Rene. Apparently he was not alone in retrieving an errant partner. Checking the backseat, Vincent grabbed up an oversized T-shirt Kadyn had left behind the last time he used the vehicle. “Thank heavens it was still there,” he muttered to himself as he hurried into the police station.

Meanwhile, Kadyn was quietly observing the other four men sitting around the table. Rene had left all of five minutes ago and he was already missing his friend’s supporting presence. He’d barely managed to whisper a ‘see you later’ before Rene was taken out of the room.

“Wonder which of us will be the next lucky one,” he uttered with a forced grin. Aside from a bit of squirming from a couple of his fellow miscreants and Kyler folding his arms on the table and putting his head down on them, nobody actually responded.

Kadyn shrugged his shoulders, glanced down at the design on his chest and smiled. “I still say we look spectacular. The whole afternoon has been a blast.”

Kyler lifted his head with a groan. “Yeah, it was. But time will tell if it was really worth it.” Grumbled agreements echoed in the room.

“Oh come on, guys. Cheer up will ya,” Cameron piped up. “Kadyn’s right; it was great up until we got arrested. Just because it had a bad ending doesn’t make the first part any less fun.” He caught Kyler’s glance his way. “Well it was!” he said defensively to his friend.

Time seemed to drag on before the door opened again. Officer Quincy looked around until he made eye contact with Kadyn. Then he crooked his finger to indicate that the young man was to come with him.

Kadyn readily complied with the unspoken command and after giving a wave to the others, went out to face whatever the rest of his day held for him. He followed the officer down the short hallway to Chief Barrett’s office and felt a sense of relief when he caught a glimpse of his partner pacing in front of the big desk.

Vincent quickly looked around and saw that Kadyn appeared unhurt. His eyes widened when he saw the body paint and he shook his head. “Here,” he said brusquely as he handed Kadyn the T-shirt. “Put this on while I see what needs to be done for you to be released.”

Kadyn hastily donned the article of clothing under Vincent’s watchful eye. He was being unusually quiet as he tried to size up the older man and figure out just how ticked off Vincent really was.

“Chief Barrett, what do I need to do to get Kadyn released?” Vincent inquired.

“Not too much actually. He has a fine of one hundred dollars to take care of and I need a guarantee that he will show up next weekend at the park for two days of community service.” Chandi bit back a smile as he took in the sight of Kadyn standing there in a shirt that was at least two sizes too big for him.

“Ah, if you pay it for me, Vincent, I’ll get the money back to you first of the week. And I’m good for the slave labour thing too.”

Vincent took out his wallet and paid the fine. “He’ll be at the park bright and early,” he assured the Chief of Police. Taking the receipt from Chandi, he turned to Kadyn. “Let’s go home.”

Kadyn sent a brief shrug of apology in the officers’ direction and hastily followed his irate partner outside and over to the parked car. He got in the passenger seat, turned to Vincent as he buckled up and opened his mouth to say thanks and offer an apology, but was quickly forestalled.

“Not a word. We will discuss this, but not until I’ve calmed down.”

The drive home was silent and fortunately, not too long. As they walk in the house, Vincent sternly ordered, “Upstairs and in the shower. I want all of the paint off and then you can wait in your corner. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“But, Vincent…” The look on his partner’s face had Kadyn realizing he’d better get while the getting was good. Taking the stairs two at a time, the young man headed directly for the study. He only paused long enough to kick off his sneakers; one landing on the bottom step and the other, two steps higher.

“No way am I removing all Rene’s artwork without Vince taking a good look at it.” He griped as he pulled the t-shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor. Then he crossed over to the junction between the two walls next to Vincent’s desk, and continued mumbling under his breath while leaning against the wall and lightly kicking at the baseboard.

Meanwhile, Vincent puttered around the kitchen getting a cold drink and worked on calming himself down. After several long minutes of silently fuming, he took a deep breath and headed for the stairs. He shook his head in mild exasperation as he picked up his Brat’s shoes and placed them together near the front door, before steadily making his way up to the study.

He saw the t-shirt on the floor and decided to leave it there. A smile played across his handsome features and he quietly watched the young man fidgeting in the corner. He looked closer and found himself being drawn to the multitude of colours and patterns on Kaydn’s back. The sight of an alien’s face painted on the back of Kadyn’s head really had his eyes widening. The intricate artwork astounded him even as his Brat’s shaved head set his teeth on edge. He’d loved the feel of his lover’s hair under his hand. What was he going to run his fingers through now?

Vincent decided to put on hold, both the shaven head and the disobedience in not showering as instructed. “Come here, Kadyn,” he mildly requested, fighting to keep his temper under wraps.

Kadyn turned and slowly walked over to the older man, trying to judge Vincent’s mood by the expression on his face; he did not look the least bit happy.

“Whatever possessed you to do all that you did today?” Vincent demanded quietly.

Kadyn shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted to be in on the fun, Vincent. It was just a bunch of guys having a good time and working on a surprise for their partners. What can I say? Things just got a little out of hand.”

“A little?” Vincent paused, looked heavenward and prayed for strength. “I’d say getting arrested made things a great deal out of hand, young man. I can understand you wanting to have some fun with a few friends, but streaking through the park is something I will never condone. What in the world made you do that?”

“Well, after we finished painting and had tidied up the place, we began going through the photos we took. I got some terrific shots of everyone, Vince. Wait ‘til you see them all. They’re so neat. We all did a bang up job of decorating ourselves and each other; especially Rene. He did all the hard stuff. But you have to wait until I retrieve my camera, ‘cause I left it at Billy’s garage.” Kadyn was starting to bounce on his feet.

“I’m sure waiting will not be impossible,” Vincent quipped, taking Kadyn’s hand and walking over to sit on the sofa together. He needed to keep his young partner calm and focused or they’d never get to the crux of the matter. He felt himself relaxing and wanting to listen to this often exasperating, always delightful creature he felt bless to have in his life. “What led to the public nudity, Kadyn?”

“I thought it would be kinda neat to put together a calendar. We had more than enough pictures to do it. Someone suggested doing some market research first. Hmmm, maybe we should have scraped that idea from the get-go, ‘cause that is what led to the streaking. We wanted to get people’s opinion of our artwork. It was only after we got to the park, that we discovered the bike rodeo just finishing up. We tried to get out of there but weren’t fast enough. The cops caught us and hauled us off to the station, where we had to wait for our partners to come and fetch us. Bet you weren’t too thrilled to get that phone call from Chief of Police, huh?”

“Now there’s an understatement! Do you have any idea how easy you guys got off, Kadyn? You were only charged with a misdemeanour. You got fined and in truth, only a minimal amount of community service. You all could have ended up with criminal records, sweetheart. That’s something that would follow you around for the rest of your life.”

Kadyn blinked before his eyes widened as the seriousness of his actions began to sink in. “Now that you mention it, that’s close to what Chandi said when he chewed us out. Who’d have thought?”

“Apparently not you,” Vincent replied and shook his head. “But I have no intentions of letting you off so lightly here at home, my boy.”

“Are you mad about everything, Vincent?”

“I have no problem with you painting your body, sweetheart.” Vincent ran his hands lightly down his Brat’s chest and turned the younger man to examine his back. “It is very original and I know a lot of work went into it. And although I appreciate you wanting to surprise me, I would have preferred you not having shaved your head in order to do so. I am even willing to overlook your not cleaning it all off when told to.” His wink of amusement was rewarded with a beaming smile from the beautiful man sitting beside him.

Speaking more sternly, Vincent continued. “I do, however, have a big problem with you drinking to the point of sheer foolishness. Just how many beers did you drink anyway, Kadyn?”

“Too much! As you know, I usually only have two and that three’s my limit. Today I had four, but I really can’t handle that many.”

“No, you can’t. As a result, you ended up getting involved in illegal activities and for that you are going to be soundly spanked.”

With the ‘talking’ part of their discussion over, Vincent wasted no time in pulling his naked Brat over his lap and blistering Kadyn’s vulnerable bottom. He relied on his partner’s cries and body language to determine when the lesson had been thoroughly learned. He ended the spanking with a final hard swat on each cheek. Then he pulled the sobbing young man into his arms and began to rock back and forth while gently rubbing Kadyn’s back and murmuring soothing terms of endearment to calm him.

“You d-didn’t have to s-spank so hard, Vincent. That r-really hurt,” Kadyn choked out. The words did not come as a surprise to Vincent; they were actually expected.

Kadyn clutched onto his Top and rubbed his face on the older man’s shirt. The hand that had delivered so much pain to his backside now moved in comforting circles on his back and his crying slowly changed to intermittent hitches and whimpers.

Leaning heavily against Vincent’s chest and feeling secure in the arms surrounding him, Kadyn zoned out a bit in the aftermath of the spanking. Several minutes of quiet time followed, as Vincent rhythmically rocked his young lover and softly hummed to him.

“Vince!” Kadyn gazed up through red-rimmed eyes. “Have I paid?”

“In full, my love,” Vincent assured him and smiled down to drop a loving kiss on Kadyn’s forehead. “The slate has been cleared.”

“So we can bake some chocolate chips cookies? Nice chewy ones?”

Vincent didn’t know why his Brat associated baking his favourite cookies with being forgiven, but he’d never deny Kadyn this request. “Right after supper, honey; which will be right after you have a shower.”

“Okay,” Kadyn answered amicably. He threw his arms around Vincent’s neck and firmly kissed his lips. “Love you, big guy.” Placing his hands on the other man’s broad shoulders, Kadyn pushed himself to his feet and headed for the hall. “I’ll do that while you get a meal ready.”

“Love you to, sweetheart!” Vincent called out to his rapidly disappearing partner. He chuckled softly to himself as he made his way down to the kitchen.

A couple of hours later, both men were curled up in a large recliner and watching an old movie while enjoying freshly baked cookies with glasses of cold milk. Kadyn’s butt was still sore but the rest of him felt good. He pouted when their tranquillity was disturbed by the phone ringing. “Don’t answer, Vince.”

Vincent kissed his Brat’s cheek and reached for the phone despite his partner’s wishes. “Hello.” He glanced at Kadyn and mouthed, ‘It’s Mason Monroe’. “I see. (Pause) Of course, Mason. I’ll drop him off myself tomorrow afternoon. (Pause) Goodbye.”

“What was that all about?”

“It seems like you and your friends left the garage in a mess. He expects you all to help clean it up.”

“We already straightened up things.” Kadyn was indignant at someone saying otherwise.

“Not according to Mason, you didn’t.” Vincent couldn’t help but laugh at the scowl on his Brat’s gorgeous face.

“Is he a Top or something? Tops always exaggerate,” Kadyn huffed and crossed his arms.

“Not true, Brat.” Vincent responded as he landed a light swat on the younger man’s hip. “While it might have looked tidy through your inebriated eyes, it apparently didn’t through Mason’s sober ones. Now you’re going to go back there and do your fair share. Any arguments and you’ll find yourself back over my knee.”

“All right, I’ll do it. But only because I have to go back anyway and pick up my camera.” With that, Kadyn settled back against the bigger man and stuffed the rest of his cookie into his mouth.

“You little terror,” Vincent grumbled and rolled his eyes. “Thank goodness, I come from a family that’s been blessed with a long life expectancy.” He smiled secretly to himself. Longevity, be damned. If he didn’t have this of-times exasperating, always vivacious bundle of mischief in his life, he’d die of sheer boredom.

The End

Spoiling Kadyn

2009-05-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst and LJ

“Kadyn, remember me telling you about the reservations I made for next week in Vancouver?” Vincent asked with an innocent look on his face. “Well, I cancelled them yesterday.”

Kadyn rolled over onto his back. He was down on the living room floor watching TV. “What’d ya do that for?” Kadyn demanded. “I already got the time off; my dad is doing my shifts and has divided his between our part-time staff. And now we’re not going? This really sucks, Vincent.” He was unable to hide the disappointment in his voice.

Vincent couldn’t keep his face straight any longer and a big grin spread across it as he explained. “Hey, it’s nothing to worry about. An old friend of mine, Elliot Stone, and I were talking the other day and he thought you and I might like to stay on his yacht rather than in a hotel. It’s not huge, only a thirty-footer, and we can’t take it out of the harbor, but we can relax and sleep there. I thought it would be fun so I accepted. What do you think of the idea?”

“I like it!” Kadyn exclaimed excitedly. Deciding the conversation was more interesting than the show he had been watching; he turned off the television and got up to sit next to Vincent on the sofa. “Tell me more, please. Just how many surprises do you have in mind?” His smile widened and his eyes sparkled as he waited for a reply.

“I don’t have any more surprises lined up,” Vincent replied with a smile. “The yacht was just an idea that worked out when Elliott heard about our trip. As for the rest of the plans, I have a few places I think we might enjoy seeing, such as Granville Island, the tea house in the Stanley Gardens and maybe go to a show. However, nothing is set in stone. I’d like to do what you want as much as my ideas.”

Knowing that Kadyn had been looking forward to this short vacation for weeks, Vincent inquired, “What places have you got in mind? With us leaving in two days, I’m sure you’ve thought up a few things you’d like to do.”

“Well, I’ve been looking online. I’d kinda like to see the aquarium during the day and visit Gastown at night.” Kadyn gave his partner a smile of delight when the other man nodded his agreement.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The day of the trip dawned warm and sunny. Kadyn was up before the morning light on Thursday, much to Vincent’s dismay. The young man had dressed and eaten a quick breakfast of cereal, toast and juice while his partner slept. He was packing the car by the time Vincent stumbled down the stairs.

“Geesh, Vincent, you sure know how to waste time. It’s almost eight o’clock; we should have been on the road by now,” Kadyn exclaimed on his way out the door with his Game Boy and the picnic lunch the older man had packed last night. “I almost got everything we’re gonna need in the car already. You just have to eat and we’re outta here.” He voice rang with excitement.

“Kadyn,” Vincent moaned blearily. “There is no way I am going to be rushed out the door in fifteen minutes. We have plenty of time. Vancouver is not going to get up and run away if we aren’t there by noon.”

As soon as Kadyn came back in the house, Vincent gave him a good morning kiss. “Now that we’ve started the day off right,” he intoned pleasantly, “sit down and tell me what you’ve packed while I have my breakfast. I know I saw the Game Boy and we are not bringing that. I’m sure we can survive four days without it. Also, since you packed for me, and thank you for that by the way, please tell me you didn’t pack the teal or yellow T-shirts.” Vincent smiled at his Brat. Those shirts had been a matter of debate from the time of purchase. Kadyn loved them and Vincent thought they were fine for wearing around the house only.

“Oh, I thought you’d want those packed.” Kadyn sparkling eyes clearly showed he was teasing. “I hafta take the Game Boy, Vincent. There will be times I’ll need it. Like, when we’re having a coffee and you insist on reading the paper; or every evening when it is a matter of life and death that you watch the news. I’ll die of boredom without my games. They’re addictions, you know. Only difference is, while I’ll admit I’m addicted to my games, you won’t do the same as far as keeping up on what’s happening in the world. And right now with a federal election going on, you’re even worse. So, I’m taking the games!” Kadyn stubbornly declared.

“We are not taking the Game Boy,” Vincent firmly stated, but with a sigh. He really didn’t want to get into an argument with Kadyn about it. “I will not be watching the news or have time for reading the newspaper; we will be on a yacht, remember?” He got a cup of coffee then began fixing a bowl of cereal. “As for you ‘dying of boredom’, I’m pretty sure that won’t happen as I have ideas on how to fill any time we aren’t busy with sightseeing, going to shows or at dinner,” he informed his Brat with his best imitation of an evil leer.

Vincent finished his breakfast and looked questioningly at his partner. “Okay, since you packed for me, what is left for me to wear on the trip? Are my black jeans packed or not? If they aren’t, I think I’ll wear them. If you want, you can choose my shirt as long as it is not the awful lemon colored T-shirt.” Vincent grinned; he knew that Kadyn loved it when he could have the say-so about what Vincent wore, which wasn’t often as Vincent tended to be fairly conservative in his taste in clothes while Kadyn was apt to wear more cutting-edge styles.

Kadyn thought it over before giving way and accepting the olive branch of being able to pick out his Top’s traveling outfit. Racing out of the kitchen and up the stairs, he called over his shoulder. “All right, I’ll make the bed and lay out your clothes while you finish eating. That should save us some time.”

He was back in the kitchen within minutes, ready to badger Vincent into hurrying it up.

Vincent was rinsing out his bowl when Kadyn came back in the kitchen. As soon as he put it into the dishwasher, he turned to Kadyn and announced, “All done. I’ll be ready to go in fifteen minutes. Can you think of anything we may need on the way out of Jade Heights? I have plenty of cash, do you? If not, we can stop at the ATM before we leave town.”

As he climbed the stairs, Vincent looked down and smiled at how nice Kadyn looked. He had put on his favorite plaid shirt and faded jeans; an outfit that always made Vincent want to remove them.

“I got it all covered, Vincent,” Kadyn assured his partner. “Now get upstairs and put on that sexy outfit I laid out for you.” He whistled merrily as he scurried around doing a final check that all was in order. He gathered up a last-minute stash of treats and took them out to the car.

As Vincent entered the bedroom, he smiled at seeing the outfit picked out for him. His black jeans were on the bed along with a garnet-red, long-sleeved, cotton shirt that Kadyn insisted was the nicest casual shirt he owned. He shook his head as he saw the black vest. He always felt he looked like he was playing cowboy when he wore it.

Quickly changing, he had to admit his Brat had a good eye for color and he knew he’d be comfortable during the long ride. He pulled on the pair of black boots and surveyed the room, trying to think of anything else he might need. Deciding that if anything was missing he could pick it up in Vancouver, he went down the stairs, calling out, “Kadyn, I’m ready. Let’s lock up and getting going. With luck, we can be in Vancouver by one this afternoon.”

“Hey, hey, hey, lookin’ hot, man!” Kadyn leered and gave his Top a thumb’s up.

Minutes later, they were on their way and not a moment too soon for Kadyn. He chattered through out most the trip, taking advantage of having Vincent in a confined space to go on about the magnificent job Rene had done to the variety store’s front window, telling him of the many compliments they had received from customers. He also used the time to try and badger his partner into doing something to liven up the book shop’s dreary display casement, but Vincent wasn’t biting and Kadyn finally gave it up as a lost cause.

Between them they kept up a lively conversation, covering many topics of interest to at least one or the other if not both of them. Kadyn heard about the children’s story book author who was going to be paying the shop a visit and Vincent learned all about the latest happening and plans concerning the Jade Heights Boy Scouts and Cubs.

It was just minutes after one PM when the outskirts of Vancouver came into sight. They had made excellent timing due to them eating as they drove and making only one pit-stop.

“Do you know a shortcut to the marina, Vincent? It must be a good hour from here.”

“Well, I think I can get us there in less than an hour, but not a lot less,” Vincent replied when he realized he still had quite a ways to go to get to the other side of the city.

Finally, after forty minutes of creative driving, Vincent parked the car in the lot adjoining the marina. Luckily, the marina master had no problem finding the authorization from Elliot for Vincent to get the yacht keys.

Vincent called out to Kadyn. “Okay, we’re all set. Let’s take the suitcases to the yacht now. Once we get them put away, we can make one more trip and get everything else.”

As he and Kadyn got the suitcases out of the car and began to walk to the yacht, Vincent said, “We’re lucky. We’re three rows over and the eighth boat down; far enough away that we won’t hear everyone who walks by, but not at the far end of the pier either. There are ten rows with twelve boats on each side.”

Once everything was settled on board, Vincent turned in his Brat’s direction and smiled. “Okay, what do you want to do first? Explore the harbor; go to Gastown or shop? It’s your call.”

Kadyn had been exploring the boat. He had opened all the cupboards, inquisitively checking out every nook and cranny on the small yacht. “I’d like to go shopping,” he answered as he came out of the compact bathroom and threw his arms around his partner. “This is such a neat place; much better than a hotel room.” He lovingly kissed Vincent’s lips.

“Shopping it is then,” Vincent agreed. He knew how much Kadyn would enjoy the specialty shops in the area, to saynothing of what they would see when they went to Granville Village. He had an idea they’d be spending an entire daythere as it was the kind of place Kadyn would love to explore. “Why don’t we check out the shops here in the Marina area today? Then we can have nice dinner in one of the pier restaurants? I have someplace special I’d like to show you tomorrow.”

“Works for me,” Kadyn concurred, merrily going along with any proposal his Top made. Not a big spender, Kadyn did love to window shop and search for novelty items. He had few expectations, was rather undemanding and therefore very easy to please.

Much to Kadyn’s delight, he discovered a fun store where all the merchandise changed colour in the sun. He purchased a bracelet for his mom and a key chain for his dad. “Look at this, Vincent, even the bag changes from off white to deep pink when we come outside.” Kadyn held up the small parcel and watched the transformation. “Isn’t it neat?”

“Yes it is, and I think your mom will really like her gift,” Vincent replied.

“Where to next, now that we’ve got this area covered, Vincent?” Kadyn asked a couple of hours later. “Is it time yet to go back to the boat and get ready for an evening of excitement? Hey, how about we go to a gay bar? I read about a place called The Odyssey Nightclub. They’re open every night for dancing and have three ‘hot’ shows at midnight.” He glanced sideways at his partner to see how the older man would react to the suggestion.

“Well, I think we have time for another shop or two before we get ready for a night out.” Vincent glanced at his watch. “The bar sounds like a good idea. We can go there after dinner and take in some of the shows. But I also have plans for you of my own for later.”

Looking up, Vincent saw the sign of a store he wanted to visit. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to stop in here and look for a shirt.” Vincent pulled Kadyn into a store that had a wide variety of men’s shirts displayed in the window. A few minutes later he held up a long-sleeved, pale blue, textured linen shirt. “What do you think of this one, Kadyn? I like it but I want your opinion.”

“It is really nice, big guy; I like it. It’s a change from your usual style though, isn’t it? You’ll look good in it, trust me.”

Kadyn searched through the rack of shirts to see if he could find some others to add to his partner’s wardrobe. “Maybe we can find a couple more.” Kadyn was of the opinion that Vincent’s closet could do with a bit of updating.

Vincent was pleased with Kadyn’s response. He wanted to get the shirt for his beloved partner. The younger man had very few dress shirts, but Vincent wouldn’t buy him anything he didn’t like. He planned on spoiling Kadyn over the weekend. His partner worked hard and more than deserved a bit of spoiling in Vincent’s opinion.

After purchasing the shirt, Vincent sidled up to where Kadyn was checking out some T-shirts. “Find anything you want? If not, we’d better head back. I made dinner reservations for us on a floating restaurant; something different that I hope you’ll like.”

Once back at the yacht, Vincent smiled at his Brat when he saw him looking for the right shirt to wear. “Here, try this one,” he suggested as he handed Kadyn the new linen shirt. “I got it for you. I wanted you to have something special for our first night of vacation.” Seeing the look of surprise in Kadyn’s blue eyes, he stole a quick kiss. “Try it on. I know it will look great on you.”

Kadyn looked at his partner in surprise. “You bought this for me? I thought it was for you. Thanks, Vin.” He kissed the older man before slipping the shirt on and buttoning it up. Running his hands lightly down the front of it, Kadyn smiled his gratitude. “Wow, it’s a perfect fit and feels great. Imagine; a dress shirt and I really like it. Who’d have thought?” His blue eyes were sparkling.

He went into the small bedroom to look at himself in the full-length mirror, pleased with what he saw. “Okay, Vincent; if you’re ready to go, then so am I,” he proclaimed when he came out a few moments later.

“Give me just a minute more,” Vincent requested as he finished brushing his hair. Grabbing his coat, he eyed his lover. Kadyn looked even better than he expected as the shirt brought out the color of his eyes and his Brat’s grin lit up his young face.

“Okay, I’m ready to hit the town if you are,” Vincent announced. “I’m looking forward to a great time tonight.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn climbed into bed and watched his lover getting undressed. “This was a great evening, Vincent. The meal was out of this world; I never had lobster before. It was delicious. I liked the nightclub too, but my favourite time was dancing with you. A lot of the guys there were giving you the eye. Man, you know some hot moves and you’re such a hunk.” Kadyn’s eyes lit up as he cheekily grinned at the older man.

Throwing back the covers, he impatiently requested that Vincent hurry up and join him. Once his partner was settled, Kadyn snuggled against his side.

“I know you have most of tomorrow’s activities planned, Vin, and it’s okay if ya wanna keep them a surprise. But I was kinda wondering if there’d be any chance of me getting my ear pierced” Kadyn yawned loudly. “It’s so late and I’m really sleepy,” he murmured as if it wasn’t blatantly obvious and fell asleep without hearing Vincent’s response.

Smothering his laughter with his hand, Vincent looked at his partner. He’d had other plans on how to end the evening, but with Kadyn falling asleep this fast and hard; he knew it would be best just to let him sleep. Oh well, they’d have plenty of time for fun and games in the next few days, Vincent was sure. It was well after two in the morning and Kadyn had been up since before dawn. He would probably be up and raring to go in another three or four hours.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Okay, wake up, sleepy head.” Vincent smiled as he shook his Brat awake. “It’s already after nine and if we want to get to both Stanley Park and Gastown today, we need to get moving soon.”

“Is that where we’re going?” Kadyn asked a little groggily. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. “I was up earlier and after watching the sunrise, got bored on my own, so I came back to bed. See, I should have brought my Game Boy.” Getting up, he padded into the small galley. “I got coffee on if you want some.” He started banging around pots and pans as he dragged out the makings for scrambled eggs, sausages and toast.

“I’d love a cup of coffee,” Vincent replied. He always wanted coffee first thing in the morning and for some unknown reason the best coffee was what Kadyn made for him. “I thought we might do Stanley Park first. See some of the totems, maybe do the aquarium, take a walk and then have a late lunch. Then we could go to Gastown and shop before doing the town at night. I’d like to pick up some little gifts for my family. You remember we’re visiting them on our way home, right? What do you think? It’s not set in stone. Do you have other ideas or things you want to see instead? We can change it around as we are not leaving until Sunday morning; plenty of time to see and do everything we can think of.”

“Sounds like you got a good day planned, and I’m game. There is something I want to buy too and I am really looking forward to seeing the aquarium.” Kadyn chattered on while setting their breakfast on the table, sliding into his seat and indicating his Top do the same. “I hope when we go see your parents that hope your siblings are there, especially Daniel. I mean, I like Julie but your brother is closer to my age and we have more in common.”

He paused to shovel food into his mouth and wash it down with a slurp of milk. “Only thing I want added to your list, is getting my ear pierced. Hey, come to think of it, you never answered me about that last night. Is it all right for me to get a piercing? Maybe you’d rather I got a tattoo. I know; I can get both!” Kadyn grinned and his eyes lit up at the idea. “So, whatcha think? Huh?”

Vincent almost choked on his food at the word ‘tattoo’. After recovering, he spoke calmly. “Glad you like my ideas for the day. I’m sure we’ll find what we’re looking for in the wide variety of shops available. I haven’t been to Gastown in years, but I’m sure they’ll have plenty of great things to choose from.” He smiled patiently. “Kadyn, I think you’d look great with a pierced ear. The reason I didn’t say so last night is you were asleep as soon as you mentioned it.” Taking a breath, he added. “But I don’t want you to get a tattoo. They can get infected easily and you’d be sensitive wherever you got it for a few days at least. It is not a good idea.”

“So the piercing is a go but scrap the tattoo brainwave.” Kadyn nodded his compliance. “Okay, I can live with that.”

The two men quickly finished up their meal. After tidying up, they showered and dressed. Soon they were leaving the yacht for a busy day of shopping, sightseeing and adventure.

It was shortly after a relaxing lunch spent chatting about their visit to Stanley Park, when they entered a jewellery store. Kadyn walked up to the counter while Vincent browsed around. The younger man was fortunate to get an immediate appointment to get his ear pierced and ten minutes later was proudly showing it off to his partner.

“And it didn’t hurt at all, Vincent. Well, not much anyway.” He grinned, looking at his reflection in the mirror and tentatively touching the tiny gold ring. “The girl gave me a choice between a post and this sleeper. I thought this would be easier to care for. Do you like it?”

“Yes, I like it a lot,” Vincent replied. “It looks great on you!” The earring suited Kadyn and Vincent was glad to see how happy his Brat was now that he’d taken the plunge.

While Kadyn had been getting his ear pierced, Vincent had spoken with a sales clerk and purchased three more earrings that he felt Kadyn would like; one made of Tiger’s Eye, one of Onyx and for very formal occasions, one that was Sapphire. He also spotted a turquoise and silver bolo tie he knew his father would like, so he bought it as well.

They left the jewelers’ shop hand in hand with Vincent telling Kadyn of his latest purchase. “I got my dad a present, a bolo tie, and I have an idea of what to get my mom and sister. Julie told me not that long ago that mom really likes handmade soaps, floral scented ones. Let’s be on the look out for those, okay? I know Julie started collecting Wedgewood Demitasse, but only has a few pieces so far. If we see any we like, we can get a cup and saucer set for her. What do you think?”

“It’s a neat idea. I’ll keep my eyes open,” the younger man offered. “And don’t forget something for your brother.”

The reminder of the afternoon went by quickly as they strolled through Gastown, stopping in at various small shops. They had spent a great deal of time chatting about nothing in particular and just enjoying each other’s company. As evening approached, Vincent glanced at his watch and saw it was almost six pm. “What do you want to do about dinner, Kadyn? Do you want to find a place to eat here in Gastown or would you rather go back to the yacht, change and look for some place in Vancouver? I don’t care either way.”

“I’d like to try out this little café, Vincent.” Kadyn gazed up at the sign that read ‘The Annex’. They walked inside and smiled as they glanced around, liking what they saw.

“Hmm, smells good in here. It’s kinda funky too, isn’t it?” Kadyn mused as they followed the waitress over to a table and took their seats. He looked over the top of his menu at his companion. “You know, Vin, we covered a lot of ground today; saw lots of neat things, got gifts for everyone and had a really great time. Any chance of us just heading back to the boat and relaxing for the evening?”

Leaning forward, Kadyn wiggled his eyebrows and suggestively whispered. “Maybe we can play strip poker. You game?” He burst out laughing when the returning waitress overheard and his partner’s face turned beet-red.

As soon as they had placed their orders and the waitress left, Vincent regained his composure. He had to steel himself to keep from smiling as he feigned a growl. “I think I want to do something different tonight. How about a new game called ‘Spank the Brat’? After all, strip poker is a bit predictable.”

Seeing the startled expression on Kadyn’s face, Vincent smiled. “I think going back to the boat after dinner is a great idea. We’ve had a very busy day and since you’ve been a very good Brat, I think I’ll give you a surprise right now instead of waiting until tomorrow.”

Reaching into his pocket, Vincent pulled out the small package from the jeweler. “A little something for you,” he said with a smile that lit up his face as he put the little parcel in Kadyn’s hand.

Kadyn grinned and accepted the unexpected gift. Opening the box, he peered inside before glancing over at his companion with a look of wonder on his young face. “Wow, Vincent, these are beautiful!” he softly exclaimed, taking the sapphire earring out of the box to examine it more closely. “Man, I wish I could put this in now, but the lady at the jewellery store said I had to wait at least a month before removing the gold sleeper.”

He reluctantly returned the earring to its’ place with the others and put the tiny box in his pocket. “Thanks, Vin. I love you,” he murmured, blushing slightly. He questioned once again how he had come to be partnered with this wonderful man. Twelve years Vincent’s junior and fully aware of just how much a handful he could be, Kadyn marveled at the love and patience his partner had for him. He hoped he never took it for granted. “I’m anxious now to get back to the yacht so I can show you how much you mean to me.”

Vincent was touched by Kadyn’s obvious sincerity. “I love you too,” he replied quietly. “Glad you liked the earnings. I though you might want a few for a change of pace, once you are able to wear something other than the sleeper.”

A few seconds later, Vincent added, “I think your idea of going back to the yacht for the rest of the evening is a good one. Let’s enjoy dinner then head back.” Vincent smiled his slightly mischievous smile and whispered just loud enough for Kadyn alone to hear. “I have some ideas of my own on showing you what you mean to me, which I think you might enjoy.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Kadyn whole-heartedly looked forward to his partner’s plans and concentrated on eating the delicious smelling meal that had just been placed in front of him. Leaning back some time late, he rubbed his stomach and grinned across at his companion. “That was good. I ready to go back to the marina now.”

He had to wait several more minutes for Vincent to finish up; then they left the café and quickly made their way back to the yacht and an evening of intimate pleasure.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Much to Vincent’s delight, Kadyn actually slept in the next morning for the second day in a row. Well, eight-thirty was unusually late for Kadyn to rise but the older man wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Having decided to have brunch at a restaurant rather than making breakfast on the yacht, they quickly showered and dressed. It was shortly after nine when they left the yacht, intent on spending the final day of their holiday having fun at Granville Island. Their plan was to head for home early the following morning.

Vincent was really enjoying the time at Granville Island. He didn’t know which he was getting pleasure from more; the various booths and their wares or seeing Kadyn’s total fascination with everything.

As they walked, they watched a juggler perform as well as an artist doing pencil sketches. They listened to a strolling guitarist who played a surprisingly wide variety of music.

Vincent realized they’d spent a considerable amount of time checking out booths that had everything from jewelry, fresh fruits, paintings and baskets for sale, and they’d only covered about a third of what there was to see.

Seeing Kadyn regretfully put down a beautiful piece of handmade pottery, Vincent took him to one side and asked, “Did you want that? It would make a nice conversation piece for the lounge. We can ask them to hold it for us until we get back from brunch.”

“Yeah, it is nice, isn’t it? You know, I think I’d like to learn how to do pottery. I kinda like the feel of wet clay in my hands.” Kadyn grinned up at his partner. “Maybe if a course is offered in the next Community School session, I’ll take it. Of course, it will mean me needing to have every Wednesday evening free.” Keeping up his merry babbling, Kadyn added, “Yep, sounds like a good plan to me.” He managed to be quiet long enough for Vincent to make arrangements to pick up their purchase later.

Vincent was pleased that his Brat expressed an interest in taking up pottery as a new hobby. It would be good for him to expand his horizons.

“Look over there, Vincent. We can get breakfast sandwiches at the Market Grille. I’m starving!” He grabbed the older man’s arm and began dragging him towards the eatery.

Vincent nodded at the suggestion and allowed Kadyn to drag him into the Market Grille.

“Hey, maybe this evening we can return here to the Backstreet Lounge for a late supper and some live music. A great ending to our trip, don’t you think?” Kadyn requested excitedly, stopping long enough to read the signs in the bar’s window.

“Well, even though I like that idea for dinner, we don’t have to decide now. We still have plenty of time.”

Once they had purchased food of their choice and were seated, Kadyn tentatively made a request. “Vincent, I’d kinda like a bit of time on my own after we’ve finished eating. I got something I wanna do. I only need about half an hour and we can pick a designated place and time to meet up, okay? What do you think? Are you willing to turn me loose on the unsuspecting public?” He waited hopefully.

On hearing his partner’s request, Vincent was a bit puzzled about what he was up to. But knowing his Brat had always liked having some alone time, he gave the go-ahead. “Sure, I think the public is safe with you on the loose for a while. What do you say we meet back here in an hour? That way if something grabs your interest, you don’t have to cut your fun short.”

Stuffing the last of his sandwich into his mouth, Kadyn hurriedly washed it down with his coffee. “See you in an hour then,” he exclaimed as he tossed the empty cup in the trash and sent out to find the perfect gift for Vincent.

It took a bit of time, but he eventually found what he was searching for. Something he felt sure Vincent would like; a leather necklace with a handcrafted, sterling silver triangle pendant and a beautiful turquoise stone in the center of it. He had it gift-wrapped and after placing it safely in his pocket, began walking around and enjoying more of the sights the island had to offer.

Having realized he was running out of time, Kadyn had begun rushing back to the designated meeting place when a vendor’s stall he hadn’t seen before, waylaid him. It was here that a rather perturbed Top finally located him.

“Kadyn, are you all right?” Vincent asked anxiously, eyeing his Brat for signs of injury. Seeing no outward sign that Kadyn had been hurt, Vincent inquired in a deceptively calm voice, “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere for the past thirty minutes. We were supposed to meet back at the Grille forty-five minutes ago. I was afraid you’d been hurt.”

“Really, Vin?” Kadyn asked innocently. He glanced down at himself, a bit confused. “I’m just fine but I was wondering when you’d get here. It sure took you long enough. I wanted you to see something. Look!” he instructed, pointing to a big wooden crate at one side of the booth. “They are purebred Siberian huskies, only three months old. See their gorgeous blue eyes? Their owner is selling them for half price ‘cause he doesn’t have papers for them. I wanna buy the smallest one; he’s the runt of the litter and the cheapest of all. Can I get him? I already named him ‘Bandit’.” Kadyn was practically bouncing with excitement. His eyes were sparkling and he was merrily babbling away, completely oblivious to the flash of anger in his partner’s eyes.

“Yes, really! We were to meet at the Grille; I wasn’t supposed to have to wander all over looking for you!” Vincent replied sternly.

Looking at the puppies, Vincent saw immediately how they’d appealed to Kadyn, but he knew his Brat hadn’t thought things through; he’d seen cute puppies and wanted one, a true case of ‘puppy love’ if ever there was one.

“Yes, they are cute,” Vincent agreed. “But we aren’t getting one. We both work and our schedules don’t allow for the time a small puppy demands. Besides, we don’t have a place for it.”

Despite the look of shock on Kadyn’s face, Vincent continued listing their plans for the evening. “Now, we’d better get going. We need to get back to the yacht and pack, then clean up for dinner. After all, this is our last night of vacation and we want to have a good time before we leave tomorrow morning.”

“We don’t have to go out tonight, Vincent. I’d rather have the puppy. I’ll take care of him and cover all the costs involved. He’s already got his shots up-to-date and he is even housebroken.” Kadyn gazed down at the cuddly little dog and knew he couldn’t let this go without an argument. Digging his heels in, he stubbornly insisted he could spend his own money any way he wanted. Kadyn was capable of throwing an impressionable tantrum when he wanted something bad enough.

“You are right in one thing, young man,” Vincent responded grimly. “We don’t need to go out tonight. We can stay in and pack and have a quiet evening. But we are not getting a puppy.” As Kadyn opened his mouth to reply, Vincent went on mildly scolding. “It doesn’t matter if he had his shots or not. It doesn’t matter if he is housebroken. The answer remains the same. No puppy. As for you spending your money any way you want, that is true. But only within the guidelines we’ve set up as a couple. When it comes to something like this, I have the last word and in this case, the last word is no.”

Lowering his voice, Vincent murmured, “Now would be a good time to thank these people for the information about the dog and to say goodbye.”

Kadyn glared at the older man. “I’ll say goodbye after I’ve paid for my puppy,” he quietly declared through gritted teeth and pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, he spun around toward the vender to await his turn in line.

Fortunately, anyone close enough to have taken in the conversation had they wanted to, seemed too involved in their own interests. Everyone in the crowd appeared to have missed the heated exchange.

Vincent could hardly believe his ears, let alone his eyes. He grabbed Kadyn by the arm and half-marched, half-dragged him a few steps aside and whispered. “I will tell you just once more. We are not getting a puppy. And if you don’t want to be embarrassed in front of all these people, put a smile on your face and thank the seller for the information and leave. I’ve never disciplined you in front of anyone and I don’t want to start now, but if you defy me, I will.”

Kadyn blinked in surprise, suddenly realizing he had pushed as far as he dared. He nodded his compliance and went back to the booth to do Vincent’s bidding. Then he reached down and gave the puppy one last pat on the head. His eyes filled as his disappointment hit home. Pushing his way passed Vincent; Kadyn steadily worked his way through the throngs of people. Once he was out of the busy market place, he broke into a run and headed for the marina. He didn’t even turn to see if Vincent was following.

Vincent watched in silence as Kadyn petted the puppy and headed for the yacht. He didn’t try to catch up with him, knowing that Kadyn would want some time to himself.

Kadyn arrived back at the boat gasping for breath. He sat down on the wharf, wrapped his arms around his folded legs, laid his head on his knees and waited for his partner’s return. He used the time to think of the potential repercussions for his appalling behaviour.

As Vincent approached the boat, he saw Kadyn sitting on the dock, a picture of dejection, and his heart went out to him. He understood that his Brat’s desire for the puppy had almost overruled his good sense and was thankful that Kadyn had stopped short of defying him.

Vincent stood behind him for a few seconds, then gently reached out and began to rub the younger man’s shoulders without saying a word. After a few minutes, Vincent spoke up. “Hey, what do you say we go inside, relax for a bit and then have a shower? We can decide about dinner later on. We still have the rest of the day and evening to spend however we want.”

“Okay,” Kadyn responded quietly. He glanced up and gave his partner a sad smile. “I’m sorry for the way I acted, Vincent. I just wanted that puppy so bad, but I didn’t mean to ruin our weekend.” He hung his head rather than confront the disappointment he was sure he’d see in his lover’s handsome face.

“You didn’t ruin our weekend, love. You got carried away over the puppy, that’s all,” Vincent lovingly replied. “Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Reaching down, he helped Kadyn to his feet and slipped his arm around the smaller man’s waist, pulling him up againsthis side. “Why don’t we go inside, take a nice relaxing shower and get ready to have dinner out for our last night,” Vincent calmly suggested. “I’d like to have some seafood tonight. What are you in the mood for?”

“Seafood sounds good,” Kadyn softly answered. He was still trying to come to grips with his disappointment in not being allowed to have the puppy as well as the embarrassment of having behaved so badly. But he trusted his Top to step in and do what the older man thought work best for them as a couple.

By the time they left for their evening on the town, Kadyn was feeling somewhat better. He managed to keep thoughts of the little dog at bay and actually enjoyed himself at the restaurant they had chosen. The music was lively, the service was friendly and the food was excellent.

The sun was just starting to go down when Kadyn asked if they could go back to the boat as he wasn’t feeling well and his head was aching. “I think I can do with an early night, Vincent. We have a long drive in the morning,” he explained.

“I think that’s a good idea, honey. It’s been a long day for the both of us,” Vincent kindly voiced his agreement. He signed the check and they were soon on their way.

As they walked back to the marina, it became evident that Kadyn wasn’t even close to his usual effervescent self. Arriving back at the yacht, Vincent patiently instructed, “Go on and get ready for bed. You don’t look too good, baby. I think that headache has really got a hold of you. I’ll get you an aspirin and some water.”

Once Kadyn was in bed and settled in his favourite position on his stomach, Vincent lay down beside him, petting and rubbing ever widening circles on his back for several minutes. Feeling his Brat relax and sensing Kadyn was about to fall asleep, Vincent softly informed him. “Listen, honey, I think I’ll pack some of our things and take them to the car now so we don’t have to do everything in the morning and while I’m at it, I may as well talk to the marina master. I’ll probably be in and out for at least an hour, possibly longer. I wanted to let you know in case you woke up and wondered where I was. Okay?”

“S’okay,” Kadyn sleepily murmured. Vincent’s soothing back rub had the desired effect and the younger man was soon sleeping soundly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning, Kadyn woke up long before Vincent. Pulling back the short curtain, he smiled at the sight of another beautiful, sunny day and quietly crawled out of bed. He quickly dressed and set out for Granville Island, tracing the route he and Vincent had taken yesterday.

However, today Kadyn didn’t take the time to look around. Instead he headed straight for the booth where the puppies had been. He wanted to see them one last time but was doomed for more disheartening news when the vendor informed him that the last one had been sold only a few minutes before closing last night.

Kadyn heaved a sigh of despondency and trudged back to the yacht where unbeknownst to him, an angry Top was waiting.

Vincent was fuming. When he went to bed, Kadyn was there. When he got up, his partner was nowhere to be found. Not a word or a note; nothing. He had no idea where the young man had gone and no clue where to start looking. Pulling on a sweater, he decided to ask the marina caretaker if he’d seen Kadyn that morning. He was just about to leave the boat, when he spotted his Brat looking decidedly dejected and walking towards him.

As soon as Kadyn was on board, Vincent grabbed him by the arm and demanded in a tightly controlled voice, “Where have you been? You disappeared on me without a word and didn’t leave a note! What is going on with you?”

Kadyn looked up at his infuriated Top’s face and gulped. “I-I went back to the island to see Bandit one last time, but he wasn’t there; he’s been sold.” He figured more of an explanation was needed when the older man’s expression didn’t immediately soften. “I-I know we have a rule to stay together during trips so I don’t get lost, but I knew how to get there and back, Vincent. I just didn’t expect it to take so long.” His face contorted as his backside shivered at the prospect of a spanking heading its’ way. ‘But we are on vacation so maybe Vincent will let it go this time,’ Kadyn thought, always the optimist.

Vincent was far from appeased by Kadyn’s reason for disappearing. “We keep each other informed where we’re going for one reason and one reason only: to stop the other from worrying,” Vincent said without any hint of his normal good humor. As they stepped down into the lower cabin, he continued. “I love you, but I won’t let you act as though we’re a couple when it’s convenient for you and have you ignore me when you have something you want to do that I might not like.”

Hearing no defense for his actions from Kadyn, Vincent seated himself and ordered, “Come here and pull down your jeans.”

‘So much for the hoped-for reprieve,’ Kadyn thought with a pout as he did what he was told. He knew he deserved the upcoming punishment, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. Then he heaved a sigh of acceptance and waited restlessly for Vincent to make the next move.

Vincent guided his Brat over his lap and began to spank him. There was no reason to go over what the spanking was for. Kadyn knew he’d broken one of their basic rules, one that applied no matter where they were.

He continued to spank until he felt the message had made it through. Then he lifted Kadyn up, gathering him into his arms so there was no weight put on his Brat’s sore bottom. Next he brushed away the younger man’s tears while whispering, “I love you and I’ll take care of you no matter what happens. It’s all right, I’m here for you.”

“That-that really hurt,” Kadyn hitched as he wrapped his arms around his Top’s neck while squirming to find a comfortable position. “But I still love you too and from now on I’ll try to remember to leave the notes you seem so keen about. But I’m not ready to get up yet.” He wanted more cuddle time and as was usually the case, Vincent was more than willing to indulge him. It gave them the time they needed to reconnect and for Kadyn to come to grips with what had happened.

“It was supposed to hurt. I trust you don’t need more to reinforce it,” Vincent responded somewhat dryly. “And I’m glad you still love me, as I still love you.” He softly kissed his lover’s hair.

Kadyn gave Vincent a watery grin. “We’re going home now?”

“Yes, Brat, we are going home now.” Vincent’s expression quickly changed to a smile as he got up. “The car is all packed. So what do you say; ready to head out?”

Kadyn got up off his Top’s lap and pulled up his jeans, hissing as they passed over his sore backside. He looked around the small room. He had enjoyed their stay here and thought it would have been nice if it could have been longer. “Yeah, guess I’m as ready as I’m gonna be for a while,” he mumbled and rubbed tentatively at the seat of his pants as he followed the older man out onto the deck. He ran ahead to the car while Vincent paid a last visit to the marina attendant and then waited impatiently for his partner to join him.

“Geesh, Vincent, we seem to be taking home more that we came with,” he commented as he gingerly sat down in the passenger seat. “Oh that reminds me, I got something for you. I want you to see it before we take off.” He pulled a small square box out of his jacket pocket and passed it over to his partner. He ginned in anticipation of the other man’s reaction.

Vincent carefully opened the box and gasped in pleasure. The necklace was beautiful; Kadyn’s taste was impeccable. It was as though he’d known what Vincent would have picked out if he’d been with him. “Sweetie, I’m practically speechless. This is beautiful. I love the arrow shape and the turquoise is such a lovely deep color.” Vincent reached out and pulled Kadyn into a hug and gave him a deep kiss. “Thank you, my love,” he murmured. “It’s wonderful. I’m going to put it on right now so I can show it off when we get to Mom and Dad’s house. I know they’ll wonder where I got such a great necklace! You do remember we made arrangements to stop by and visit with them today.”

Seeing Kadyn’s happy expression at his praise of the necklace, Vincent suggested, “Well, if you don’t have any more surprises for me, I think we need to get this show on the road. You ready to visit the family and then head for home?”

Kadyn nodded and buckled up. They had only been on the road for about five minutes when he gave his partner a questioning look. “Did you hear that noise? What do you think it is?”

“Noise? I didn’t hear anything,” Vincent innocently replied.

“There it is again. You musta heard it this time.” Kadyn looked around the vehicle and listened intently. “Hey, it’s coming from behind us!” he exclaimed, undoing his seat belt to facilitate reaching behind him and initiating a search.

“It’s…you...how come? I thought you said no.” Kadyn excitedly shuffled around and before Vincent could stop him, climbed into the back seat. Throwing aside the light blanket, he opened the carrier and freed the puppy that was inside it. Unable to speak, Kadyn cradle the animal in his arms and rubbed his face against the little dog’s furry coat.

Vincent pulled the car off the road before trying to answer Kadyn’s question. Turning around to face his Brat, he replied, “I know I said no, but I ended up changing my mind. I could see how much you wanted him, so I re-thought it and realized I didn’t have enough facts to make a fair decision.”

He paused for a few seconds, and then continued. “Last night after I got the car packed, I went and had a long talk with the breeder about what we could expect out of a dog like Bandit. I decided that even with our busy schedules we could have a pet and Bandit seemed to be a good choice; especially as you are already in puppy love with him,” Vincent said with a grin.

“We’ll have to devote a lot of our extra time to training him, walking him and making sure he’s happy, but I think we can do it. We’ll have to decide on some house rules as well; like where he’s going to sleep, what rooms he can be in, and who has to walk him. But I think overall, that type of thing won’t be a problem. Now how about putting him back in his carrier so he is comfortable until we get to Mom and Dad’s? And,” he added with a laugh, “no more climbing into the back seat!”

“In a minute, Vin,” Kadyn answered. “I think he woke up for a reason.” He clipped the leash on the little collar and set the puppy on the ground. Once the animal had taken care of business, Kadyn settled his new pet in the carrier and slid into the passenger seat.

He turned and threw his arms around his partner’s neck. “Thank you, Vincent. I love you,” he whispered emotionally and kissed his lover’s lips.

Sitting back, he solemnly vowed. “I’ll take really good care of him, promise. He’s a member of the family now. Everywhere I go, he’ll come with me. Maybe I should call him Shadow,” he commented as he re-fastened his seatbelt while giving the name a few seconds thought. “Nah, I still like Bandit better.”

Kadyn bounced in his seat, his exuberance quickly returning. “Let’s get going, Vin! I can’t wait to get to your parents’ place and start showing him off.”

The End

Ramifications of Hitch-hiking

2009-05-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst, Mel and LJ

(Crossover with Rene)

“Hmmm, quit it,” Kadyn whined as he tried to shove the irritating hand off his shoulder. The hand remained unrelenting until Kadyn reluctantly opened his eyes and peered around the darkened vehicle. Turning sleepy eyes to his partner, he mumbled his query. “We’re home, Vincent?”

“Yes, we’re home,” Vincent replied, amazed at how easily Kadyn could fall asleep in the car and stay asleep for three hours. “It’s time for you to wake up long enough to get safely into bed,” he teased gently as he helped his Brat negotiate the steps on the porch. Vincent knew that Kadyn was in no shape to talk about what had happened earlier, but talk they would, and soon. He would not put it off for a few days. ‘We’ll discuss it later today,’ he promised himself.

“You get to bed. We’ll talk about this trip of yours after breakfast,” he continued, giving Kadyn a kiss. Then he closed up the house and got ready to crawl into bed for a few hours of well-deserved sleep.

By the time Vincent was stretched out under the blankets, Kadyn was wide awake. He rolled onto his partner’s chest and peered into the older man’s face. He could just barely make out Vincent’s handsome features in the moonlight streaming through the bedroom windows.

“I can’t sleep, Vince. Wanna make love?” Not waiting for an answer, Kyler reached down and zeroed in on his lover’s flaccid penis.

Vincent sighed. It was late and he was exhausted. It had been a very long day and unlike his lover, he hadn’t had the benefit of a lengthy nap on the way home. “Kadyn.” He slapped away his partner’s hand. “There’s no way I am up to making love right now. All I want is some sleep. I need it.”

Realizing that he’d sounded harsher than he’d intended, Vincent reached out to pull Kadyn against him and kissed his neck gently. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. I love you,” he added, all but falling asleep as he spoke.

“Okay, Vincent, you sleep,” Kadyn whispered as he softly ran his fingers over his lover’s whiskered jaw. He lay quietly in his Top’s embrace and gazed lovingly at this man he loved with all his heart. He savoured a feeling of warmth at the thought that Vincent cared enough to come fetch him and bring him home, even as he felt a twinge of guilt for having worried the older man by not keeping him better informed of his and Rene’s plans and their whereabouts.

‘Oh, well,’ he thought philosophically. ‘Guess we’ll be discussing all that in the morning. Hope he doesn’t ask too many questions about the breakdown, ‘cause I sure don’t want him finding out about the hitchhiking. What Vincent doesn’t know, can’t hurt my butt.’ Kadyn fell asleep with his fingers crossed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Waking up, Vincent sniffed the air to enjoy the aromas making their way upstairs. It was apparent that Kadyn had decided to be creative and cook breakfast. Vincent could smell coffee as well as Kadyn’s special French Toast. He quickly got out of bed, pulled on a pair of sweats and an old soft T-shirt, and made his way down the stairs.

When he walked into the kitchen he saw that Kadyn had set the table and was working on finishing the French Toast and had started on a pan of bacon as well. Vincent gave him a quick kiss and greeted his Brat. “Hi, honey. Looks like you have a lot of energy this morning.”

Kadyn threw his arms around Vincent’s neck and enthusiastically returned the kiss. “Hope you’re hungry, ‘cause I made lots.”

Pushing away from his partner, the younger man pulled out a chair and offered it with a dramatic bow. “I’ve got an abundance of energy this morning, probably from all the sleep I got last night. Good thing, too. I’m kinda thinking about the prep work needed to get the shop window ready for Rene to paint. Maybe I’ll get started on it.” Kadyn babbled along while setting hot food on the table.

“Umm, this is so good,” Vincent said with a smile as he took his second bite of the French Toast. There was something special that Kadyn did when he made it and that made it better than any other Vincent had ever had. After finishing off breakfast, Vincent got up to refill his coffee. “That was wonderful, love. Thank you for making such a great breakfast. I know you may have plans for the day, but they will have to wait a bit. Why don’t you meet me in the living room in twenty minutes? I’ll clean up here since you cooked and you can shower. We have a few things to discuss about yesterday, don’t we?”

“We do?” Kadyn asked innocently. “If it’s about my forgetting to call, Vincent, I already apologized for that.” Kadyn sure didn’t want to bring up the events of last evening and have the older man questioning him about any of the circumstances surrounding Rene’s car trouble. He wondered what the fallout would be if Vincent ever learned of him having thumbed a ride with a perfect stranger.

“Kadyn, I said we’d discuss it in twenty minutes so you could have a shower, and I meant twenty minutes,” Vincent reiterated, not raising his voice but making it clear that they would have the discussion then and not now. “If you want to spend that time waiting for me in the living room, go right ahead,” he continued as he began to clear the table and stack the dishes in the dishwasher.

Vincent knew from the way his Brat had been acting that he was hiding something about the previous day, but knew he’d get the information from his partner without too much fuss. One thing about Kadyn, Vincent mused to himself, was that he was totally honest with him. He might not volunteer information but when asked, invariably told the truth. It was one of his many good characteristics that Vincent admired. Now, if he could just get him to think first and act second, there would be a lot fewer ‘discussions’.

“Fine by me,” Kadyn cheerfully agreed. He easily went along with his partner’s plans. After all, he didn’t want to piss off the older man and find himself in more trouble than he was probably already in. Besides, regardless of how the day went, Kadyn really preferred to spend it with Vincent because he had missed being with the big guy yesterday.

Less than twenty minutes later, a freshly showered and dressed, carefree young man bounced down the stairs and into the living room where he threw himself onto the sofa and put his feet up on the coffee table. “I’m here, Vincent! What’s the hold up?” Kadyn hollered to his Top who was still puttering around in the kitchen.

“There is no hold up,” Vincent replied as he scooted a chair under the table and closed the kitchen door. Walking into the living room, he dropped kiss on the top of his Brat’s head, then sat next to him on the sofa.

He took Kadyn’s hand in his and looked into his blue eyes. “Yesterday was full of surprises. It started out with you and Rene planning to be gone for only a few hours to get paints and it ended with us getting home well after midnight. I missed you and worried about you! I think we both know that there’s no way I would have said it was okay for you to go to Vancouver. I understand you got carried away but that’s not a good excuse, is it? And then you end up in Bridal Falls. I still don’t know how you got there and I’d like an explanation.”

Seeing the surprised look on Kadyn’s face, Vincent added, “You know you can tell me anything. We may not always agree but no matter what, I’ll always be here for you.”

Kadyn decided to respond to the first item on Vincent’s agenda. He blushed and looked shyly at the older man. “Seeing as you were gonna say no to my going to Vancouver, then I guess it’s a good thing I forgot to call. ‘Cause I really wanted to go. I liked being with Rene and we needed to get those painting supplies. You didn’t have to worry, Vincent; it was all working out good. Well, that is until the car broke down,” he reluctantly admitted. “But Rene knew exactly where to go for help,” he brightly added. “So, see? It was no big deal.”

Vincent shook his head at his Brat’s logic. “Let me get this straight; forgetting to ask about going to Vancouver was okay as you really wanted to go? It didn’t enter your mind that I might be worried when you were hours late. And, while it is nice that you like Rene, I don’t think that should chase all thoughts of keeping me in the loop out of your mind. And as for the car breaking down, I know it didn’t break down in Bridal Falls. That is not on the route from Vancouver to Jade Heights. Just where did you break down and how did you get from there to Bridal Falls? I’ve noticed you’ve been avoiding addressing this issue. So you see; it is a big deal.”

Before Kadyn could reply, Vincent added, “And I’d like the whole truth this time, my love.”

Drawing up his legs and wrapping his arms around them, Kadyn hunched himself further into the corner of the couch. Figuring it was better to just get the worst of it into the open, he blurted out. “We hitchhiked!”

Vincent almost didn’t believe what he’d just heard. How could Kadyn and Rene done something like that? They had to know how dangerous it was. “You did what? No, don’t answer me,” he ordered as soon as the question was out of his mouth. “You know how I feel about hitchhiking; how dangerous it is.” Vincent ran his hands through his hair. “I can hardly believe you’d do such a thing! Did you do anything else that I don’t know about?”

Kadyn cringed at the tone of his Top’s voice. He couldn’t bear Vincent being angry with him. Seems he was forever doing something the older man disagreed with. Of course, Kadyn freely admitted it was usually something his partner considered risky. Kadyn had a small town attitude and went through life believing he was safe with anyone, whether he knew them or not.

“I didn’t do nothing else,” he answered truthfully. “If it will make you feel any better, Vincent, Rene’s friend already bawled us out. We were stuck on the side of the highway and couldn’t even call for help ‘cause our cell phones wouldn’t work. It would have taken forever to get to Bridal Falls if we’d have walked. The guy who picked us up was really nice; like small town folk, Vincent, honest!” Kadyn strongly emphasized this last comment.

Vincent shook his head at Kadyn’s words but he managed to maintain his patience. “Kadyn, you had no idea when you decided to ride with him that he was a safe person. He was just a stranger offering you two a ride. You could have waited for a police patrol to come through since your phones didn’t work.” Taking a breath, the older man added with less patience, “You didn’t think it over; you just went with the first thing that came into your mind. I know you wanted to get to where you could call, but there were other options.”

Seeing that what he was saying was sinking in, Vincent turned and pulled Kadyn over his lap. “I love you, but I won’t allow you put yourself in danger like that.” He tugged down his Brat’s pants and boxers, and then began to soundly spank him until Kadyn’s lover cheeks turned a deep red and Vincent could feel the resistance leaving the younger man’s body.

Kadyn wasn’t surprised to find himself face down over his partner’s hard thighs, but he was surprised at the strength his partner put behind each wallop of his hand. The big guy really meant business and was going to make sure his Brat remembered the lesson for some time to come. The young man squirmed, hollered and fought at every turn before finally giving in and accepting the message his Top was trying to convey. Kadyn slumped over Vincent’s lap and sobbed into the soft upholstery of the sofa.

Once done, Vincent carefully gathered Kadyn into his arms and began to stroke his hair, all the while murmuring, “I love you and will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I couldn’t bear it if anything bad ever happened to you. I want us to be together forever.”

Realizing the spanking had ended, Kadyn clung to Vincent’s shoulders, crying out his pain. He reached behind him to tentatively touch his sore bottom. “Th-that really h-hurt, Vincent,” he hitched when he had calmed down enough to speak coherently.

Vincent half smiled at Kadyn’s words. He heard them or something similar each time Kadyn got spanked. “I know, love, but it seems that sometimes it’s the only way I get my point across.” He pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped his Brat’s tear-stained face. “And if I need to spank you every week to keep you safe, I will,” he sternly added.

Seeing the look of shock on Kadyn’s face, Vincent reminded him. “You know I only spank you this hard when you endanger yourself. I don’t know what I’d do without you to brighten my life!”

After a few moments of silence, Vincent put forth a suggestion. “You going to be all right and I think we need to get out of the house for a bit. What do you say to a walk past the village and down to the pond? It will make you feel better, I promise. On the way back, we can stop and pick up tonight’s dessert. If you’re good, I might even let you choose,” he finished with a grin.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Kadyn murmured and returned the grin. “And I love you too, Vincent. I really don’t feel like going out right now ‘cause I want my butt to cool off before I pull my pants up. That is, unless you don’t mind me being outside in just my boxers.” He smirked up at the older man as he rearranged his underwear. He found his Top’s momentary loss of words very amusing.

Sighing deeply, he cuddled closer and began absently toying with the buttons on the other man’s shirt. “You know, Vincent, I do plan ahead sometimes; especially since I was giving the responsibility of coming up with crafts ideas for the Cubs. When Rene and I were in Leisure World yesterday, we found several big bins full of little kits marked down seventy-five percent. I just about cleaned them out. I’d show you what I bought but everything’s still in Rene’s car.” Kadyn figured now was as good a time as any to speak up and point out a few truths in his own defense. “So you see, I do think about things in advance…just not the one’s you want me to think about,” he quietly admitted.

“It’s okay if you want to stay in. It was just an idea,” Vincent responded with his easy smile. Running his fingers through his Brat’s hair, he continued. “I know you are a good planner when it comes to a lot of things. You are responsible in so many ways, too many ways to count and I love that about you. I just want you to think ahead when it comes to your safety. You mean the world to me and it scared me when I realized you’d gone off with someone you didn’t know, even if Rene was with you. Now, how do you want to spend the rest of the day?” Vincent wanted Kadyn to know that he felt they were ready to move on.

Kadyn grinned and threw his arms around the bigger man’s neck. After soundly kissing his partner, he got off Vincent’s lap, stepped out of his jeans and merrily suggested, “I would really like to help you bake some chocolate chip cookies; nice big chewy ones. Then we can just chill out for the rest of the day; maybe watch a movie this evening, okay?”

He didn’t wait for an answer before heading toward the kitchen. “Sometime this afternoon, I gotta touch base with Rene to see about getting my stuff out of his car.” Kadyn also wanted to see how his friend had made out, but he didn’t tell Vincent that.

“Chocolate chip cookies it is,” Vincent concurred with a smile. He knew how much Kadyn loved making cookies. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw that Kadyn was already getting out the cookie makings. “Which type of nuts do you want with the cookies?” he asked as he turned on the stove. “Pecans, walnuts or almonds; I’m sure we have all three somewhere in the pantry. It’s your call.”

“Pecans!” Kadyn answered decisively, plunking the bag of flour onto the counter. “I’ll crack the eggs for you.” He scurried around the kitchen in his sock feet, getting a small bowl down from the cupboard and the eggs out of the fridge. “I get to lick the bowl, don’t forget. I love raw cookie dough.”

Vincent began measuring out the dry ingredients, humming softly to himself. There was nothing he liked better than spending the day with the man he loved. And the thought of doing nothing more stressful that evening than watching a movie, suited him just fine.

“Okay, okay, pecans it is. The bowl is all yours only after the cookies are made,” Vincent retorted laughingly.

As the last batch of cookies made it into the oven, the house was filled with aroma of fresh cookies; a smell Vincentloved. Looking at Kadyn, he offered with a grin, “Here’s the bowl like I promised and this is the last batch. What do you think if we freeze half of them once they cool? That way they won’t be all gone in just one week. You know me, I love fresh cookies.”

“Good thing you made up a triple batch, huh?” Kadyn scraped all remaining cookie mix out of the bowl, not that there was a lot left. But he didn’t really mind. He had already pinched dough every time he thought Vincent’s back was turned and had probably eaten the equivalent of a dozen cookies. He wasn’t always successful in getting away with it, but wouldn’t let a couple of raps on his knuckles with the wooden spoon deter him.

“Want some?” he asked, holding up the spoon for the older man only to have Vincent politely decline. Kadyn finished up and walked around the counter to put the spoon and bowl in the sink. “You’re putting the roast of beast in the oven as soon as the cookies come out, right?” He laughed when his partner indignantly told him it was a roast beef, not beast. “Either way, I’ll peel the veggies for you after I make a phone call, okay?”

“That’s fine with me,” Vincent agreed as he slipped an arm around Kadyn’s waist and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I want to get this all cleaned up before I start the roast. And I want to have the cookies out of the way, so there’s plenty of time for you to make your call; half an hour at least.”

As Kadyn headed for the living room, Vincent called out, “We have two turnips in the fridge. Please add one when you do the veggies. I don’t care either way about celery, but I am in the mood for turnip with dinner.”

“You got it!” Kadyn hollered back as he bounced distractedly on the balls of his feet while waiting for someone at the other end of the line to pick up. “Hello, is Rene there please?”

Several minutes later, Kadyn was back in the kitchen. “I’m not going to be showing you the craft kits today, Vincent. Rene and Zack are busy. I think they’re having the same kind of day we’re having and just chilling out. Rene and I are gonna meet up tomorrow,” he informed the older man as he perched himself on the edge of the stool and with his elbows on the counter and his chin in his hands, watched his partner season the meat before putting it in the oven.

Kadyn thought over what his Top had said to him about endangering himself and the seriousness of the situation he had put himself into suddenly hit him, causing his heart rate to accelerate. ‘It okay, I’m safe…..this time,’ he reminded himself as thoughts of what might have happen raced through his mind.

He gazed with admiration for the man who meant the world to him and suddenly felt a rush of emotion that almost had his knees buckling. It also made him realize how much he needed and loved this man, and really turned him on. They had never made love soon after a spanking but as sore as Kadyn’s backside was, he knew he needed the sexual release.

“You know, that’s gonna take a while to cook,” Kadyn voiced pensively, his eyes sparkling. He hopped off his seat, grabbed Vincent’s hand and dragged the bigger man into the living room. Once there, Kadyn pushed his partner into the large lazy-boy and straddled his lap. He began his assault by caressing Vincent’s face and placing little kisses on his lips, then kissing him in earnest.

Kadyn deepened the kiss and slowly undid the buttons on Vincent’s shirt. His head dipped and he nibbled his way down his lover’s neck and chest, sucking at the older man’s nipples before ending up at his navel and then disappearing further down to his groin. Then the hands that had been stroking Vincent’s skin deftly unzipped the man’s trousers and freed his pulsing erection.

“We can take care of this if you like,” Kadyn grinned, holding up one of the small tubes of lube he kept stashed in various places around the house.

Understanding the need to reconnect, Vincent gently caressed Kadyn’s cheek and nodded. He then prepared his young lover and helped him get into position. They were very adept at this, well-versed in each other’s erogenous zones and it didn’t take long for them to arrive at the heights of pleasure they’d sought.

“Thank you, baby,” Vincent whispered once his heartbeat had returned to normal. He eased back in the big chair as Kadyn cleaned them up. He then pulled his Brat down on his lap and wrapped the light throw Kadyn had fetched from the back of the sofa around them. A few minutes later, they drifted off to sleep in one another’s arms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kadyn stood back and critically examined the display window. He had removed everything from along the front of it and completely cleaned it in preparation for the pictures Rene would be painting on it. He hoped his work would meet the young artist’s expectations. He smiled when the door opened and his friend walked in, supplies in hand.

Rene carried in his large art portfolio with the sketches for the window along with paint case. He struggled not to drop them as he pushed through the door. “Good morning, Kadyn!” he called to his friend.

“Here, let me get the door for you,” Kadyn offered as he rushed over.

“I see you have the window all cleared for me.”

“Yeah, hope I did a good enough job.”

“Yes, it looks great. Thanks, let’s just put these by the window and so I have them handy. I have to go back to my car and get all the stuff you left in there. Seeing all those bags gave Zack a fright. He thought I’d bought out the store.”

“That’s great, Rene. I appreciate it. I was telling Vincent about the terrific deals I got and I’m anxious to show him everything. But right now, what can I do to help you?”

“Well if you can come out to my car and help lift the bags in, I can grab the last of the things I’ll need. I have some drop cloths and the like. I got a pretty good parking spot.” He laughed, indicating his old K-car parked right in front of the convenience store

Kaydn chuckled and joked, “You sure there was no place closer?” He followed Rene over to the car and they soon had the back seat and trunk emptied out. “I’m working in the store all day so just let me know if you need anything. Maybe you’d like to have a coffee with me before you get started.”

“I’d love some coffee,” Rene replied. Zack had refused to let him have any yesterday; claiming he’d had enough caffeine on Saturday to last a month. Besides he was hoping for a quiet moment to ask Kadyn about his time since they’d separated the other evening. He was curious if his friend got into trouble with his Top as well.

Kadyn led the way to a little alcove behind the counter. He poured two mugs of coffee and handed one to Rene. “Have a seat, make yourself at home,” he cheerfully invited, setting the cream and sugar on the small table.

Rene glanced appreciatively at both the coffee and the cushioned seat. Though not as sore as he’d been on Sunday, his backside was still tender and he would not have wanted to sit on a hard wooden stool. He sat down gingerly. “Thanks, I’ll take mine the way it comes from the pot.” He took a sip of the rich black brew. “Mmm, this is good. Do you normally get much time in the mornings to relax like this?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda slow at this time. It will pick up once the kids get out and about. They’ll be swarming in here to get candy and junk soon enough.” Kadyn eased himself down onto his chair and sat back with a sigh.

Rene couldn’t help but notice that Kadyn lowered himself onto the chair in almost the same careful manner he had. He wanted to ask, but still felt shy about the subject. The spanking he’d had on Saturday had been a real eye opener to him, He’d had no idea it could leave your butt so sensitive. He chewed his lip for a moment, trying to think of a way to bring up the subject. Finally, he thought he might try hinting a bit. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get your things to you yesterday. Zack thought it was better if I stayed home with him for the day.”

Kadyn had been trying to come up with a way to ask his friend how he had made out Saturday night. After the nervousness Rene had displayed during their tip to Vancouver, Kadyn had been worrying about him. He thought about his own day yesterday with Vincent and realized they’d had reasons for wanting to spend the day practically glued together. ‘Hmm, I wonder,’ he thought and decided to do what he always did, just jump right in. “Ah, Rene, did things turn out as bad as you thought they would when Zack got you home?”

Rene’s face flushed at the question, but it did open the subject he’d been trying to. He looked down at his coffee in order to avoid meeting Kadyn’s eyes. “Yeah... well they weren’t so good. I guess really it was kinda worse than I thought in some ways, but better in others.” He hesitated before continuing. “Zack found out about us hitchhiking and he was really unhappy about that, so well that ‘first time’ like we talked about happened. It was pretty hard but Zack, well... he made it okay too.” He wasn’t sure if he’d made any sense at all, but this was a really difficult thing to talk about.

Kadyn nodded in understanding and grimaced at the memory of his session with his Top. “Yeah, Vincent managed to worm it outta me and man, was he peeved. I can’t remember him spanking that hard before. But he did it because he loves me and he’s always real cuddly afterwards....kinda like a big bear.” He shifted slightly and smirked. “I’m not feeling it as much as I was, though.”

This prompted a smile from Rene. He realized that Kadyn had had a similar experience with the spanking and with the after effects. Perhaps all Tops were like that after they punished their Brats. “I’m still sore but you’re right, it’s not as bad as it was right after. Zack really made me feel the same as you said, loved and comforted when it was done.” He stopped to look at his friend’s smiling and open face. “Kadyn, you’ve been with Vincent for a while now. You think Tops are okay with living like this? Ya know, using discipline for the whole of your lives together?”

Kadyn blinked. “Well, I don’t know about the whole of our lives.” He stopped to give the idea some thought. “But come to think of it, there are some things I seem to do over and over again so I’m not sure if or when I’ll be a lot different. I’m not very good at thinking things through. I always seem to be jumping in over my head and getting into trouble. I know there have been times I’ve really scared Vincent. Hell, sometimes I’ve kinda even scared myself, so it’s good that I have Vincent to rein me in and keep me safe.” He shrugged his shoulders. “So who knows, must be that Tops are okay with being in charge forever.”

“I guess that would be okay, cuz between you and me, I like it that Zack is in charge. He makes me feel better than I have in a long, long time.” He grinned as he took another sip of the coffee. “Anyway, I’d better get at the window before the day is wasted.”

“Good plan,” Kadyn laughed. “Just one more question. Think you’ll be hitchhiking again any time soon?”

Rene let out a laugh. “Never again! I might do some mistakes repeatedly; I mean it’s hard to overcome every bad habit, right? But I think this is one lesson I’ve learned really well. No more hitchhiking!”

The End

The Road Trip

2009-05-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst, Mel and LJ

(Crossover with Zack & Rene)

Kadyn excitedly paced the veranda. Every couple of minutes, he stopped and looked to see if a car was driving down the street. ‘Not yet,’ he sighed impatiently.

He turned as the front door opened and smiled when Vincent walked over.

“Kadyn, he isn’t going to get here any faster because you’re pacing.” Vincent looked at Kadyn and couldn’t help but smile at his Brat’s enthusiasm for anything new, including a trip out of town to buy paint.

Vincent gave Kadyn a big hug; then quickly sat on the covered swing. Without giving Kadyn a chance to get away, he pulled him down onto his lap. “I think we can find a way to pass a few minutes, don’t you? After all, I’m going to have to deal with you being away from me for hours today, so I think a bit of cuddling is in order,” the older man teased with a laugh.

“Oh all right.” Although Kadyn feigned being put out by the attention, he still nestled in close, his head under Vincent’s chin and his arms around the older man’s neck. “Wish you and Zack didn’t have to work today. It would be a nice trip for the four of us to make,” he murmured with a sigh.

“You know, it’s too bad you don’t want a mural on your store window. Dad was really pleased with the sketches Rene did and says the price is reasonable, too. He’s looking forward to the finished project.”

Lifting his head and looking Vincent in the eye, Kadyn cheekily stated, “That old book store could use a bit of a facelift, you know; like a bit of colour wouldn’t hurt any. Sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

Before Vincent had a chance to answer, a car pulled into the driveway. “Rene’s here!” Kadyn excitedly announced and jumped up off his partner’s lap. “Hey, Zack’s with him.”

Though Rene was pleased to have Kadyn’s company for this trip, he would have been more excited if Zack were coming. But then as Zack had reminded him, he hadn’t made a lot of friends in town yet and this trip would give him and Kadyn a chance to really get to know each other.

As he turned the car into the driveway of Kadyn and Vincent’s home, he could see the younger man rushing down the veranda steps to greet them. “Looks like the energizer bunny is ready to go,” he said to his partner. “Something tells me this trip will be anything but boring with Kadyn along.”

Zach chuckled at the younger man’s comment. “I am sure he’ll keep things hopping and that you are both in for a good time. But right now I want to introduce you to Vincent. I am sure Kadyn would have made the introductions but being as you’re my partner, I reserve all bragging rights.” He smiled at his gorgeous young partner.

He got out of the car and waited for Rene to step in beside him before walking towards the two men bearing down on them, one at a slower pace than the other.

“Good morning, Vincent and Kadyn,” he greeted and extended his hand.

“Good to see you, Zack!” Kadyn enthusiastically shook the other man’s hand and then turned his attention to Rene. “You’re right on time, Rene, and I’m raring to go!”

Stepping closer to his friend, he nodded his head in the direction of their older partners and whispered, “Any bets they’re gonna have a list of last minute instructions before they let us get outa here?” His eyes sparkled with merriment. He was completely undeterred by the prospect.

Rene laughed at Kadyn’s remarks and whispered back, “It’s what we get for partnering with older guys. They always worry and think they need to tell us how to do things.” He then turned his attention back to Zack who he knew wanted to introduce him to Kadyn’s partner.

Placing an arm around Rene’s shoulders and drawing him to his side, Zack proudly announced, “Vincent, I’d like you to meet my partner, Rene Wilson. I’m afraid real-life has interfered with me introducing him sooner.” Zack wasn’t about to publicly state his preference to spend his free time with his young lover rather than socialize. “It has been a busy spring for us, with Rene moving into town and getting settled work-wise.”

Vincent smiled at the newcomer. “Nice to meet you, Rene; I feel I know you a little bit already, as Kadyn has been telling me what a fine artist you are.” Turning to Zack, he added, “I know about real life matters keeping people from doing everything they want. I’m in the same boat!”

Rene returned the smile and greeting. “Thanks, I’m pleased to meet you as well. I wish we had longer to talk but I’d really like to get on the road soon. Kelowna is a bit of a drive.”

“Hold on, Rembrandt. Vincent and I may have a few words to say before bidding our partners goodbye for the day.” Zack’s voice was light and teasing as he smiled at his antsy young lover and winked at Vincent.

Rene shot a mocking eye-roll toward Kadyn and then smiled at Zack. “I promise to drive carefully, keep my mind on the road by not talking to my passenger, and to eat something before heading back on the return journey. Okay? We’ll be fine you know,” he stated with teasing exasperation.

“Yes, and we’ve got our shopping list, our cells phones, and our plastic cards…..we even have a bit of money,” Kadyn informed the older man. He smirked and jokingly muttered to Rene. “Not to mention a mega jumble of dos and don’ts churning in my head. Just shows they care though, right?”

Kadyn threw his arms around Vincent’s neck. “Kiss me goodbye, Hon, so we can get this show on the road. I’m gonna miss you.” This last was whispered in Vincent’s ear, seconds before his mouth was lovingly claimed by Kadyn’s.

Vincent smiled into Kadyn’s kiss; trust his Brat to keep things lighthearted! “Okay, have a good time and I’ll see you in a few hours,” Vincent replied after responding to the kiss with fervor. With mock seriousness, he added, “Don’t forget those dos and don’ts.”

Turning to Zack, he asked with a smile, “Can you think of anything we haven’t told them that they’ll listen to?”

Zack chuckle at Vincent’s inquiry and attempted to reassure him. “Oh, I think we’ve pretty much covered everything, my friend; although some reminders may bear repeating.”

Turning to Rene, he took him by the elbow and pressed some bills into his hand. “Don’t spend it all in one place.” He winked at his partner. “Don’t fill up on junk food, please. Try to eat a good, nutritious lunch, okay?”

He gathered the younger man into his arms and gave him a kiss that lasted a little longer than either had anticipated and left both wanting more. “Have fun, sweetheart. Call if anything comes up,” he whispered, deeply sighing as he set his lover free.

As usual Zack’s kiss left him breathless for a moment. Gathering his thoughts, Renee looked down at the money before smiling back up at his partner. “Thanks, and I won’t and I will and I love you.” He then turned to his traveling companion and hauled him towards the car. “Come on, Kadyn, let’s hit the road.”

Just as the two got their seat belts on and he got the engine started, he called out the open window. “You oughta see how fast you can make a ‘87 K-car go!” Rene grinned from ear to ear, knowing just how the two older men would view that statement. He gave a cheeky wave and pulled out of the driveway.

Zack laughed as he waved goodbye. He turned to look at his friend and laughed louder. “He was joking, Vincent. Rene really is a careful driver; your young lover is quite safe.” Zack wasn’t sure if the other man needed reassurance or not, but decided it couldn’t hurt. “How about joining me for a cup of coffee before you open your shop?”

Vincent nodded and replied. “Sounds like a good idea to me. I told my clerk I might be a bit late today. What do you think of going to The Maple Grille? I’d love one of their cinnamon pecan rolls with my coffee!”

********************

The drive to the city went quickly, with Kadyn regaling Rene with his tongue-in-cheek impersonations of some of the citizens of Jade Heights and the surrounding countryside. Two and a half hours after leaving home, the young men were sitting in a coffee shop trying to decide their next move.

“So what do you think we should do now, Rene?” Kadyn inquired; his disappointment evident. “I mean, it’s kind of a wasted trip if we go back without all the supplies we came for. According to the clerk, they have to order the colours we want, then courier them on to you and it could take up to four or five days. Wouldn’t it save time if we just went and got the rest of the stuff ourselves? I know a return trip to Vancouver wasn’t in the plans but it’s not even eleven o’clock yet, so we could go and still be home before dark.” He was beginning to like the idea of going further afield and prolonging their trip.

Rene thought about Kadyn’s suggestion. He certainly had no problems driving long distances as he had lived his life out of his car for more than a year before meeting Zack.

“Sure that sounds fine with me, as long as you don’t mind the extended drive. If we have to wait that long for the paints to be shipped, I’ll have to postpone doing your store windows for about a month as I have two other commissions I have booked in the meantime. Though, we’ll have to head out right away if we want to get to Vancouver in plenty of time before the artists’ supply store closes.”

He put his coffee cup down on the table and picked up what was left of a huge apple fritter. “I’ll eat the rest of this in the car.”

“I sure don’t mind the longer drive,” Kadyn enthusiastically assured his friend. He stuffed the last bite of doughnut into his mouth, grabbed up his half-finished coffee and followed Rene out to the car.

The trip was relatively uneventful. This time, Kadyn listened enthralled as Rene told him of some of his adventures on the road. The younger man had not travelled very much and had a lot of questions about the other man’s many experiences.

“We’re making good time, Rene,” Kadyn announced, glancing at his watch. “It’s only three o’clock and we’re less than half an hour from our destination.” He looked around excitedly as signs of the approaching city began to appear. “Hope we stop to eat soon; I’m starving!”

Kadyn chuckled at the expression on Rene’s face when the tune of ‘The Candy Man’ was heard a few moments later. He unclipped the cell phone hanging on his belt and flipped it open. “Hi ya, Vincent! How’s things?” Grimacing, he hastily answered, “We couldn’t get all the supplies in Kelowna and so we’re on our way to Vancouver.”

Pressing the cell against his chest, he muttered for Rene’s ears only. “He is not too happy.” Putting the phone back to his ear, Kadyn reluctantly listened to what his partner had to say.

Rene listened to the one side of the conversation Kadyn was having with Vincent and he felt a tightening in his stomach. He hadn’t even thought to call Zack and let him know about the extended trip. He was still fairly new to this relationship business and it didn’t yet come as an automatic thing to call his partner when plans changed.

However, he did remember the talk they’d had about Rene’s tendency to lose track of time or come home late without calling. Zack had been very clear about his feelings on this subject. Though they had discussed the use of discipline when Rene broke the rules, they had never reached that point. Now he seriously wondered if Zack was going to consider this to be the day it would come to pass. ‘Damn, why didn’t I just call Zack before we left Kelowna?’ he thought to himself.

“Yeah, I guess I should have called and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. But we’re okay, Vincent. Honest!” Kadyn sighed as the lecture continued for another minute or two and rolled his eyes at his companion. “All right, see you later. Love you, bye.”

Closing the cell, he turned to Rene with a crooked grin. “Ya ready for this, man? Vincent called Zack to see if he had heard from you. Vincent is not too impressed with our decision to go to Vancouver and even less pleased with us not letting either of them know. I just thought I’d give you the thumbs up in case you wanted to pull over and make a call. It might be worth some brownie points to call Zack before he calls you.”

Rene was chewing on his lip. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Zack and now it look as though that was just what he’d done. “Yeah,” he mumbled. “I guess I’d better call him. There’s no place along this stretch of highway to safely pull over though. The next exit should be coming up soon. I’ll get off there and call Zack.”

They drove for another ten minutes before Rene could make a stop at a service station. He nervously pulled out his cell phone and dialed the pharmacy number, figuring Zack would still be in the shop. After three rings the phone was answered.

"Hi, Nancy; it’s Rene. May I speak with Zack please?” He waited for his lover to pick up the line. “Hi, it’s me. I just wanted to say I’m sorry I didn’t think about calling sooner. But we’re okay and only very short distance from the supply store in Vancouver.”

Kadyn listened wide-eyed to the one-sided conversation and wondered why Rene appeared so nervous. ‘Hell, I’m the one with his butt in the line of fire,’ he groused to himself. He blinked as an astonishing notion crossed his mind and distracted him. ‘Nay, no way man……I mean, like what are the chances?’ Furtively watching the man beside him, Kadyn began to believe, ‘that maybe…just maybe…someone else lives the way Vincent and I do.’

“Yes, Zack, I know. I am sorry I didn’t think about calling before now.” Rene paused, listening to his lover. “Okay, we’ll talk about it when I get home.” He listened again, chewing nervously on his lip. “No, I’m okay. I’ll see you tonight. Love you too.”

Rene closed the phone and sat staring ahead for a few seconds. He thought about Zack’s words. Though they’d been calm and reassuring, he was sure Zack must be really angry with him. How could Zack not be angry? He was angry with himself, so his lover had to be even angrier. Damn he should have known he’d mess things up. He wasn’t smartenough to be with an educated man like Zachary Pierce.

Realizing that Kadyn was speaking to him, he then turned and gave a nervous smile to his friend. “Sorry, I guess we’d better get back on the road huh?”

“Yeah, that might be a good idea. The later it is when we get home, the more hot water I’ll be in.” Kadyn looked closely at his friend. Debating with himself as to whether or not he should ask, his inherent inquisitiveness won out and he boldly inquired. “Ah, Rene, is there any chance you might also be in a bit of trouble with your partner?”

Rene was taken back by the question and had to think about just what to say in reply. He wasn’t exactly sure what kind of trouble Kadyn meant; perhaps he was thinking of trouble as in his partner just being upset that he hadn’t called. Could he actually be asking about the kind of trouble a person in a discipline relationship would be in? ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘there’s one way to find out.’

“Yeah,” he confessed. “I think I’m in some trouble with Zack. What kind of trouble are you in with Vincent?”

“Well, ya see…..it’s like this. When we got together, Vincent quickly discovered I had habits that needed to be changed if he was to remain sane. So we talked it over,” Kadyn glanced over at Rene and smirked. “Actually, Vincent did most the talking while I perfected my head-nodding ability. We made a list of expectations…that’s what Vincent calls them…..I still persist in referring to them as rules ‘cause that’s what they really are. Either way; if I don’t stick to them, I get punished. So far, it’s working well for both of us and Vincent has retained his sanity for the most part.”

Kadyn paused and checked to see how his friend was taking this. ‘At least he’s not laughing.’ Feeling comfortable in sharing, Kadyn babbled on. “I’m expected to keep Vincent informed of my whereabouts and since I didn’t call him to let him know of our change in plans, I can kinda count on tomorrow not being one of my better days.”

“Rules can kind of suck, you know. Especially since I have a somewhat selective memory and excel at jumping into situations without thinking things through.” He chuckled at some past memories. “Let me tell you, it’s a wonder my Dad’s eyes aren’t in permanent rotation. He rolled them a lot while I was growing up. In fact, he still does. I think it may be catchy ‘cause now Vincent also does it a lot.”

Rene was surprised by just how open Kadyn was about his lifestyle with Vincent. He could never imagine just blurting that out to someone the way Kadyn did, but then he’d never found it easy to talk about his deep-down feelings. Now that he had this new friend who made him feel so at ease, maybe he could open up a bit and talk about the agreement him and Zack had formed.

“Thanks for telling me about your relationship with Vincent. I didn’t think it was such a common thing that I’d meet someone else living in a discipline partnership. Though Zack and I haven’t been partners very long, we have agreed that using discipline is a good thing for us. But...well...we still haven’t..” Rene hesitated. It was so hard to just come out and say that he hadn’t been spanked at this point.

“I really don’t know how common it is. On the other hand, I can’t see Vincent and me being the only ones living the lifestyle.” He turned to face his companion. “Hey, maybe we should do a survey and if we find enough Brats, we can start a support group.” Kadyn found the idea hilarious and seeing the shocked look on Rene’s face, he shrugged his shoulders and began laughing. “There are several gay couples in Jade Heights, you know. There’s even a threesome!”

Turning somewhat serious and zeroing in on Rene’s unfinished sentence, Kadyn softly inquired. “Were you trying to tell me that although you and Zack have agreed on a DP, you haven’t been in any serious trouble yet?”

Trying to keep his mind on his driving while talking about this subject was becoming difficult for Rene. It was fortunate that he knew the area well and that they were only a couple of minutes from arriving at the artist supply store.

“Yeah, we had agreed on the discipline but no, we hadn’t come to the point of using it yet.” He hesitated, thinking about the situation. “But I think I’m in big trouble with him now. God, I so wish I’d been smart and thought about calling before. I really wanted our relationship to last and be good. Now he’s gonna see what a screw up I can be.” As he was speaking, Rene pulled into the parking lot of the store. “Well, we’re here. We’d better get in and get the stuff before they close up.”

Kadyn unlatched his seat belt as Rene shut off the engine. Turning slightly, he carefully studied his friend’s face and wished there was something he could say to reassure him. But now was not the time anyway. The long drive home would be somewhat more favourable for such a discussion.

“You’re right, man. We didn’t come all this way only to return home without the supplies you need,” Kadyn commented as they entered the store.

The items they had come for were readily available and it wasn’t long before they were back on the road again, looking for a placed to have a quick meal, which they inadvertently ended up dawdling over.

They had been on the road home for a little over an hour when Rene belched loudly. “Excuse me,” he said with a laugh. “I guess all that pop is still getting to me. I haven’t had such a big salty, greasy meal since I moved in with Zack. He’s a bit of a nut for eating healthy. Every time I try to suggest we go out for burgers he gets this frown that.... Oh no! Damn!”

Rene was suddenly working hard to turn the dying car onto the shoulder of the highway. They could see the headlights and dashboard lights fading to nothing. “Just what we need.” He tried starting the car several times but the only sound was a soft clicking noise. He slapped the steering wheel. “Shit! I think the alternator died and stopped charging the battery.”

“Guess that means we’ll not make it home before dark, huh? Maybe we shouldn’t have wasted so much time over supper; not that it would have made any difference to the car dying on us. And while I don’t mind, any bets Vincent will be chomping at the bit. I better call him and let him know we’ve hit a bit of a snag.” Kadyn took out his cell phone, flipped it open and tried to punch in some numbers. He gave it a shake and groaned. “Doesn’t this beat all? I can’t get a blasted signal. And I don’t see why not as we’ve just barely passed by Chilliwack.” He impatiently snapped the phone shut. “So, got any ideas on what we should do now?”

Rene pulled out his cell hoping that he might have more luck, but got no where. “A lot of these stretches of road between the mountains don’t get signals and I’m afraid we’re in one of them. The small town of Bridal Falls is about a twenty minute drive from here. I know the guy that owns a garage there. He was really nice to me last fall when old Nellie here needed a new starter. He did the work in exchange for a painting I did of him, his kids and grandkids in front of his house. I know he’d help us if we could reach him.”

Rene remembered that time with a smile. The mechanic, Gordon Hayes, had five grown children with their spouses and a total of eleven grandchildren. He’d done a painting that had all of them spread out on the big front porch; some sitting in chairs or on the swing, a couple perched on the porch rail and Gordon sitting on the top step with five of the little ones surrounding him as he read them a story. He’d painted in a shadowy image of the late Mrs. Hayes standing inside the house at the screen door with warm light shining behind her as she watched over her brood. Gordon actually cried when Rene had shown him the work.

“Thing is, it’s a bit far to walk and with no way to call for help, I think we might have to wait here and hope an R.C.M.P. patrol car comes by soon.”

Kadyn could not help but smile when he saw the wistful look on Rene’s face. However, the smiles quickly disappeared when contemplating their fate and how far away help was.

“We could be forever, Rene, waiting to be rescued. I think rather than standing around, we push the car as far over on the shoulder as we can and hitchhike,” Kadyn suggested as he got out of the car. “Good thing we’re on a straight stretch of road so oncoming vehicles can spot yours in plenty of time. In the meantime, while we are waiting for a ride we can be walking. Does that sound like a plan?”

Rene was a bit hesitant to agree to hitchhiking, however, it seemed to be a better idea than just sitting here. Kadyn was already behind the car prepared to push so Rene slipped the transmission into neutral and between the two of them, they quickly had it pushed over to the edge.

They made sure to have their cell phones and wallets with them before leaving the car and starting to walk towards Bridal Falls. They held out their thumbs to passing cars in hopes some kind person might pick them up.

Rene’s mind kept wandering to his relationship with Zack and that he was in trouble with his partner. He hadn’t been spanked since he was a little kid and he didn’t now how he would react.

“Kadyn, if you don’t want to answer this question, just say so. I’ll understand, cuz it is kinda personal. But I was just wondering about when you’re in trouble with Vincent and he...ya know...spanks you. Do you cry?”

Kadyn kick a crushed pop can someone had tossed onto the shoulder of the road, into the ditch. “Vincent has only spanked me hard a couple of times and yeah, I cried.”

Glancing at the other man and sensing Rene’s sincerity, Kadyn felt comfortable enough to continue. “One time was when he caught me climbing up and jumping from one building in town to another. The man has no sense of adventure. I mean, the buildings were those small two-story businesses on the far end of Main Street.” Kadyn laughed at the startled expression on his friend’s face. “Hey, I’ve been doing it for years. Anyway, the first time Vincent really walloped me, I told my father. Dad said it was about time someone did it. See, I was never spanked as a kid. Dad told me it wasn’t because I didn’t need it but because he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He also told me Vincent was made of sterner stuff and that Vincent loved me as much as my parents ever did but showed his love in different ways. And let me tell you, I really like those different ways…well most of them.”

Kadyn smirked as he visualized his sexy partner naked. He felt his body responding to the mental image and shook his head to clear it. “Why did you want to know, Rene?”

Rene drew in a breath. He’d asked the question, now he was going to have to follow through with the explanation. “Cuz I guess I’m kinda scared, ya know? I mean I’m not scared of Zack or anything. I know he won’t really hurt me, but I don’t want him to think I’m some kind of baby if I cry from it.”

They continued walking and hoping for a lift. “I like that Zack is in charge of things. It’s a good feeling to know that he’s there to deal with all the stuff and that he cares enough to hold me accountable for what I do. I just wish it wasn’t hanging over my head right now, especially with him not here to talk to about it.” He smiled at his friend. “But thank you for being so open with me about your relationship with Vincent. It makes this waiting easier to take, huh?”

Just then a large pick-up truck passed them, came to a slow stop a few yards down the road and the driver gave a toot of his horn. The two men grinned and ran towards it glad to have the chance of a ride.

Deep down inside, Kadyn knew he too liked Vincent being in charge. He was honest enough to admit his inability and possibly his somewhat unwillingness to think things through…it was just too time-consuming and if there was fun to be had, Kadyn always wanted to be ready.

He ran to keep up with Rene and clambered into the truck beside him. It was going on nine o’clock by the time they got to the garage, catching the owner just as he was closing up.

While Rene made arrangements with Mr. Hayes, Kadyn tried again to get a signal and finally succeeded. He crossed his fingers in the hope that Vincent wasn’t too worked up over them being well past the time they were expected home. “For the second time today,” Kadyn groaned.

*******************

Meanwhile, Zack was concerned enough after several attempts to get in touch with Rene, to call Vincent. “Hello, Vincent, Zack here. Have you by chance heard recently from that young partner of yours?”

Vincent had snatched up the phone on the second ring. “Nope, not a word Zack, as a matter of fact I thought you were Kadyn telling me why he was running behind schedule. What do you think about us going to look for them? They’re probably just fixing a flat tire just a few miles from town, but I’d feel better knowing that rather than sitting here wondering. If you want, I’ll pick you up at your place in five minutes.”

“It sounds like a plan to me, Vincent. I’ll be ready when you get here.” Zack put down the phone and picked up his cell, wallet and keys. He was downstairs waiting minutes before Vincent pulled up at the curb.

“It would be nice if you are right about them perhaps being close by. But as I haven’t reached Rene yet, I think there is a good chance they are further away and possible where they are unable to get a signal.” Zack expressed his unease as he buckled up. “After all, I’d have a hard time believing that Rene wouldn’t keep me informed of any new change in plans…certainly not twice in one day.”

The words had barely left Zack’s mouth when Vincent’s cell phone began to ring. The two men glanced at each other and smiled when Vincent confirmed that call was from Kadyn.

“Hi, Vincent, it’s me. Sorry I didn’t call sooner but we were in a dead zone. We’re all right; just gonna be a lot later than planned. The alternator gave out and Rene’s talking some guy into fixing it. I don’t know what the plans are yet but will call you back when we get it all figured out, okay?” Kadyn spoke rapidly to give as many facts as possible to his partner in the shortest amount of time. He paused to catch his breath.

Zack immediately realized that if Kadyn could get through to Vincent, he could get a hold of Rene. Hitting the speed dial on his cell, Zack waited as patiently as he could to hear his partner’s voice.

When Kadyn paused for breath, Vincent jumped in before he could get going again. “At least you’re okay and that’s the most important thing! I was getting worried. In fact, Zack and I were about to go looking for you and Rene. Tell me where you guys are and we’ll meet up with you. We can always come back for the car tomorrow.”

Rene felt the phone vibrating in his pocket and knew without looking that it was Zack. Part of him was dying to talk to his lover but the other part was feeling very apprehensive. What if Zack was really angry with him?

He really didn’t want to mess up this relationship. He’d only ever had one other lover who’d killed himself when his family had rejected him after learning his was gay. Rene’s own family wasn’t exactly happy about his sexuality and had made it clear that though they loved their son, they wouldn’t welcome any partner he had into their home orlives. So he was very afraid of losing Zack and being alone again.

Rene drew in a deep breath and opened the phone. “Hello, Zack. I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me,” he pleaded.

Kadyn took his time and spoke slower. “We’re in Bridal Falls, Vincent; over three hours away from home. Are you sure you wanna come get us? Why don’t you wait for me to call you back?” Glancing at Rene and seeing his hand up to his ear, Kadyn quickly assumed his friend was talking to his own partner. “Let me guess, Zack is near you and on his cell…betcha it’s with Rene, right?”

Zack shook his head at his young partner’s nervous sounding voice and patiently set about easing his mind. “Rene, sweetheart, it’s all right. I’m calling to see if you are okay and to ask what has happened to hold you up.” He smiled and softly said, “I was starting to become concerned and although Vincent is presently talking to Kadyn, I wanted to hear what’s going on from my own love.”

Rene relaxed at the sound of Zack’s voice. Though he was still apprehensive about being in trouble for the first time, at least Zack didn’t come across as angry. He went on to explain about the car’s alternator and how they were arranging for a friend of his to get the car towed to Bridal Falls and repaired. He left out the part about hitch-hiking in hopes that Zack wouldn’t think to ask just how they got from the car to the town. “So anyway, that’s what's happening right now,” he finished.

“You certainly seem to have everything under control, Rembrandt,” Zack praised. “However, Vincent and I are heading out to meet up with you and Kadyn. It will be after midnight by the time we get there. But even if your car is ready before then, I want you to wait there for us. There is a small Tim Horton’s just this side of Bridal Falls. How about us all meeting up there?”

“Okay, Zack, we’ll meet you there. Mr. Hayes said the car should be fixed in much less time than that. Besides I could sure go for an extra large Timmy’s coffee to keep me awake. It’s been a long day. See you soon.”

Zack said goodbye and closed his phone. He sat back and waited for Vincent’s conversation with Kadyn to end. The two older men had information to exchange. Zack was also a little anxious to get to his partner who had sounded rather tired.

Vincent smiled at Kadyn’s accurate guess. “Yes, you’re right. Zack is on the phone too,” he replied. “We’ll meet you at Tim Horton’s; it doesn’t matter that it’s a bit of a drive. I want to see you so the distance isn’t a problem.” Lowering his voice a bit, he added, “Take care, Kadyn. I love you.”

“Love you too!” Kadyn snapped his cell shut and turned to Rene; a wide grin lighting up his face. “They’re on their way,” he announced. “What’s our next move? Is your friend gonna fix the car? If so, it’s gonna take us some time to go get it and bring it back here.” Kadyn’s energy was quickly returning and he was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

As he closed his phone, Vincent realized Zack had ended his conversation and was waiting. Grinning at him, Vincent asked, “Well, are you all set for drive to Bridal Falls? It’s only a few hours away.”

“Yes, I’m ready. It could be worse you know, as they could be further away,” Zack quietly commented, his thoughts on his partner. “It’s been a long day for those two young men and I don’t know about Kadyn, but Rene sounded tired. Once we are on the way home, he can sleep while I do the driving.”

“Yes, Mr. Hayes is going to take us now to pick up the car and then fix it. He said it will take less than half an hour to do the work so we should arrive at the Tim Horton’s long before Zack and Vincent.” Rene yawned in reply.

True to his word, Rene’s mechanic friend had the car towed and repaired in short order. Though when the older man learned how they’d arrived Bridal Falls, the two had had to listen to a strong reprimand about the dangers of hitch-hiking. Rene tried to explain that they’d had no choice being stranded on the road with no cell phone service. However, Mr. Hayes quickly rebuked that as a poor excuse, reminding them that the R.C.M.P. patrol the highway regularly.

Rene knew that Zack would feel the same way and he hoped once again that his partner would overlook asking how they’d manage to reach town from their broken down vehicle.

While they waited in the auto shop, Rene had gulped down a big mug of Mr. Hayes’ strong coffee. Then he immediately ordered a double/double upon arriving at the Tim Horton’s, which was followed by yet another. He was feeling a nervous buzz from the caffeine and sugar when they finally saw Zack and Vincent climbing out the car outside the restaurant.

“They’re here!” Kadyn announced and waved to the two men crossing the parking lot. He shuffled closer to the wall to make room for his partner to sit next to him but his brow creased in uneasiness when he saw the irritated expression on Vincent’s handsome face. He gulped and hastily pulled his eyes away.

Getting a brief glance of Zack’s face, he looked anxiously at Rene to see how his friend was holding up. Rene seemed kind of hyper and Kadyn put it down to the amount of coffee they had all but inhaled over the last hour or so. Leaning across the table, he whispered, “Remember, we don’t mention the hitch-hiking, right? One chewing out is enough in my books and besides I know I’m still in trouble for not calling earlier and letting Vincent in on our planning a detour trip to Vancouver.”

He looked up brightly at his partner’s arrival at the table and casually greeted, “Hi, Vincent, you guys made darn good time, didn’t ya? Any chance you were speeding?”

Vincent sat down next to Kadyn and gave him a warm smile. “No, Kadyn, we didn’t speed. Though I admit I had been worried about you and Rene.” Sliding into the booth he gave Kadyn’s leg a slight squeeze. Seeing the beginning of circles under Kadyn’s eyes he knew his partner was all but out on his feet despite his chipper greeting. “Do you want anything more? If not, I think it’s time for us to be heading home, unless there is something else that needs to be taken care of.”

Kadyn leaned heavily against Vincent and laid his head on the bigger man’s shoulder. His excitement in the day was beginning to wane. Of course, he’d be the last to admit it. Just as he’d never admit how much he relied on his partner to provide the stability he was unable to find on his own. There were occasions when his enthusiasm for whatever he was involved in at the moment would escalate to the point of leaving him exhausted; this was one of those times. Even the amount of coffee he’d had wasn’t enough to keep him going much longer.

Nodding, he murmured a reply. “Everything’s okay, Vincent, and I’m more than ready to head home. I feel like I’m gonna crash any minute now.”

Rene jumped up from his seat, knocking the remainder of his coffee over the table. “Damn, fuck, shit...” he swore as he grabbed napkins from the holder to mop up the mess. He looked up when a hand came down and took the soaked mess from him. “Oh hi, Zack,” he said nervously to his partner’s unhappy-looking face.

Zack finished mopping up the spilled drink and threw the soggy napkins into the trash bin. “Scoot over please, love,” he requested and sat down in the space made for him. “I don’t think that is acceptable language for a public place, young man, even if the store is almost empty,” he admonished softly for Rene’s ears only, not wanting to embarrass his partner. Reaching under the table, he gave his lover’s knee a reassuring squeeze to show he wasn’t angry with the outburst and had no intention of pursuing it further.

“I take it all went well where your car is concerned and that you’re now anxious to be homeward bound?” Zack asked, taking in the signs of fatigue in his Brat’s beautiful blue eyes even though Rene appeared somewhat keyed up. ‘Hmm, caffeine overload if I’m not mistaken,’ he thought but kept it to himself.

Rene flushed slightly, embarrassed by Zack hearing him swear like that. “Yeah I have to confess I’ll be happy to get home tonight. I just want to get a coffee before we head out. Can I get you one too?”

Zack placed an arm around Rene’s shoulders and gave him a comforting hug. “I don’t think so, Rembrandt. Looks to me as if you’ve had enough for tonight; one more cup and you’ll be able to run home,” he teased. “I think I’ll get some apple juice though. What would you like instead of coffee?”

Rene looked at Zack as if he’d grown another head. To him, having juice in Tim Horton’s was like going to a Chinese restaurant and ordering a hamburger. Besides he needed another coffee to stay awake for the drive. “I want a coffee, Zack. I spilled half my other one all over the table and you know I love Tim’s coffee.”

Zack looked his Brat in the eye and firmly reminded him. “I said no more coffee, Rene, and I meant it. You’ve had enough. It’s time we were heading out, so please decide if you want something else to drink.”

“Okay, Kadyn, we’re going now. You can nap on the way home,” Vincent murmured softly. He knew that his Brat would be asleep in less than five minutes, but he didn’t mind. He was just happy that everything had worked out and everyone was fine. He knew as well that he and Kadyn would have to have a talk, but that could wait until they were both well rested.

Catching Zack’s eye, Vincent smiled and informed his friend. “Zack, we’re going to head home now. You and Rene have a good trip.”

Zack glanced up to see Vincent and Kadyn getting out of the other side of the booth and returned Vincent’s smile. “Yes, we’re also leaving momentarily. Travel safely and we’ll talk sometime next week.” He waved in response as final farewells were exchanged and turned back to his partner. “Ready?” he asked and stood up.

After saying goodbye to Rene and thanking him for a fun day, Kadyn linked hands with Vincent and willingly let his partner lead him out of the coffee shop. They got into Vincent’s car and buckled up. Kadyn was asleep before they drove out of the parking lot.

Back inside the coffee shop, Rene was surprised by Zack denying him the coffee he felt he needed. Though they’d agreed upon a relationship that had Zack in charge, the older man had never actually refused him something. To date, the biggest issue their new relationship had dealt with was Rene coming home late from work and since he’d made an effort to be home on time after being chastised, he’d never been in any real trouble until this day.

He obviously needed to give Zack a good reason so he’d understand the need for the coffee. “Zack, I really need some caffeine to make the drive home. You wouldn’t want me sleepy behind the wheel would you?”

Zack took Rene by the arm, helped him out of the booth and steered him towards the door. “There is no fear of you falling asleep at the wheel, Rene, as I will be driving. Now let’s get out of here.” Zack’s stern voice did not allow for any further arguing and before much longer, they were leaving Bridal Falls far behind them.

Rene couldn’t believe that Zack had taken his keys and was driving them home in his car. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his partner to drive, but still it was his car and he was used to being behind the wheel.

Besides which, now that he didn’t have to concentrate on driving he had time to think about the day and the fact that he was in trouble. First of all, he’d gone to Vancouver without calling, then he hitch-hiked. Heaven help him if Zack found out about that. And now he’d made his partner angry by arguing with him about coffee. No, this had not turned out to be a very good day at all.

Rene began to wonder just how angry Zack was. Could he be angry enough to tell Rene he wasn’t worth all this effort? Zack had told him many times how much he loved him, so maybe he’d get over this if Rene apologized and promised not to get in any more trouble.

He looked over at his partner’s face illuminated slightly green by the dashboard lights, his expression serious as he drove. “I’m sorry,” Rene whispered, barely audible.

Zack reached over, took Rene’s hand in his and tenderly kissed the back of it. “Hmm, and what exactly are you sorry for, my love?” he softly inquired, briefly glancing at his Brat before turning his attention back to his driving.

Tears welled in Rene’s eyes and he rubbed at them fiercely, not wanting to let them fall. “I’m sorry for being such a pain in the ass today. I should have called you before we went to Vancouver and then well....” he hesitated, deciding to skip over the hitch-hiking, “...making you drive all this way so late at night and then giving you a hard time about the coffee. I won’t do it again Zack I promise, I’ll behave the way you want me to from now on. I’m really sorry.”

Zack frowned a little and shook his head. “Rene, sweetheart, I don’t want you any different than the man I fell in love with. I don’t expect perfection from you and I trust you don’t expect it from me.” Zack gave the hand in his a gentle squeeze. “Yes, you should have called and informed me of your change in plans. You, my lad, will have some lines to write so maybe next time you will remember to do so.” He looked over to see how this announcement was being received but could not detect a reaction, at least nothing negative.

Kissing Rene’s hand once again and releasing it, Zack continued. “As far as my coming to get you, that was my choice; it was something I wanted very much to do. And there is no need to sweat our difference of opinion where the coffee is concerned. ” He stopped talking for a moment to concentrate on the sharp bend in the road.

It occurred to Zack that his Brat was more uptight than the infractions warranted. ‘Ah-ha,’ he thought as he focused in on the niggling sensation that had been at the back of his mind since he’d called Rene and learned about the car trouble. “Tell me, Rene, just how did you and Kadyn get to Bridal Falls?”

Rene gulped; he felt like his stomach had dropped to his feet. “We...got a ride?” he replied tentatively.

His suspicions multiplying, Zack wanted the whole story and determinedly went after it. “Really? Who did you get a ride with, Rene? Hopefully it was the Mounties.”

‘This is it,’ Rene thought. ‘I’m gonna have to come clean.’ Drawing a deep breath, he answered, “No, not exactly the Mounties. We decided not to wait, so we caught a ride with a passing truck driver.” He looked to Zack, hoping to see acceptance of their actions but knowing it wouldn’t be the case.

Zack paled as his stomach turned over at the thought of how badly that choice could have ended. ‘Okay, calm down,’ he silently admonished himself. ‘Nothing happened; the guys are all right; the love of your life is sitting beside you.’

Gulping in air, he gripped the wheel tightly and worked at keeping his voice even. “Why in the name of God would the two of you think that was a good idea? Don’t you realize how dangerous hitch-hiking is?” he questioned and not waiting for the answers, continued to reprimand. “It is also illegal; but then again, getting arrested would have been the least amount of trouble you could have found yourselves in. You may think you’ve come away unscathed, young man, but such is not the case. This error in judgement has earned you your first trip over my knee,” he sternly informed his partner. “I love you too much to let this go, Rene. I will never condone you placing yourself in harm’s way.”

The tears that were threatening earlier began to fall despite Rene’s best efforts. He felt angry with himself and even a bit angry at Kadyn. Though he knew his friend was no more at fault than he was as they’d done this together. However, that didn’t change the emotions he was feeling.

He looked over at Zack and could see the tension in his lover’s face. Knowing he was the cause of it only made Rene feel worse; that along with the thought of actually being spanked. “I’m sorry, Zack, I screwed up big time. I won’t do it again. I don’t want to be spanked. Couldn’t you just forget it this time?”

Even as Rene pleaded, he knew the answer would be no and if he were truly honest with himself, he would have realized that he wouldn’t want Zack to give in to his pleas. He needed to know that Zack loved him enough to follow through.

Picking up on his Brat’s distress, Zack kept a lookout. Finding what he was watching for, Zack slowed down and drove into the lot of a closed gas station. Shutting down the car engine, he unbuckled his seatbelt, turned and did likewise with Rene’s, and then flicked on the overhead light before drawing his partner into his arms. “It’s going to be okay, love. We’ll take care of things, honest.”

Realizing his mantra was doing little to soothe his Brat’s fears; Zack gave Rene a firm hug and softly inquired, “Tell me, sweetheart, do you feel loved and safe when you’re in my arms?”

Rene was clinging tightly to Zack. He needed to feel his partner’s arms around him. “Of course, Zack; you always make me feel safe and loved.” he murmured into the older man’s chest. “Nothing feels better than when you hold me.”

“That’s good, baby. Now tell if you also feel equally loved and safe when sitting on my lap,” Zack requested, giving Rene a gentle squeeze and kissing his head.

Rene nodded against the broad chest, relishing in the attention Zack was giving him. “Yeah, I love sitting on your lap,” he replied.

“Okay, Rene, listen to me; carefully please,” Zack insisted. He continued talking only after he was sure of his partner’s full attention. “I promise that you will feel just as loved and just as safe when you are lying face down over my lap. Grant it, you’ll be getting off it with a very sore bottom, but rest assured that all chastisement will be administered in love and never in anger.”

Glancing at the dashboard and taking note of the time, Zack lovingly stated, “We will be home before you know it. I want you to sleep the rest of the trip.” He began to hum softly while rubbing soothing circles on the over-tired man’s back.

Rene really didn’t want to go to sleep, but he couldn’t seem to fight off the effects of Zack’s gentle caresses and comforting words. It had been a long and draining day with all the happenings and emotional turmoil, so despite his best efforts, Rene’s eyes began to close and sleep overcame him.

He didn’t wake until he felt the car coming to a halt in the lot behind their apartment. He was surprised to find his seatbelt had been securely refastened around him, his seat slightly reclined and his head cushioned against the small neck roll that he kept in the car for long trips.

He turned to look at Zack, hoping to see the loving man who had held him in that gas station parking lot and not the tense, upset man he’d seen when he’d confessed to hitch-hiking with Kadyn. “Hi,” was all he managed to say while trying to gage his partner’s mood.

“Hi yourself.” Zack smiled and reached over to ruffle his sleepy-eyed Brat’s hair. “We’re home!” he announced even though it wasn’t necessary and climbed out of the car. “God, that feels good,” he groaned as he stretched the kinks out of his body. “Out you get, Rembrandt. Let’s get your purchases upstairs.” He opened the back door and stared in disbelief at the parcels filling the rear seat. “Good grief, are all these yours? What are you planning to do, paint the entire town?” Knowing they had unfinished business to take care of once they were in their apartment, Zack was deliberately keeping his tone light so as not to spook his partner.

“Oh damn,” Rene cursed. “A lot of that stuff is Kadyn’s. He bought a bunch of things for his Cub Pack. I’ll take them over to him first thing tomorrow morning. I did get quite a few things for my art though. I bought a couple of sable brushes in the Kelowna store and they had a sale on the acrylic paints I like in the Vancouver store and...” he hesitated, thinking that maybe bringing up Vancouver right now wasn’t the best idea. “Well anyway, I got all the stuff I needed,” he added sadly.

Zack helped Rene gather up all the packages then struggled to get their back door unlocked. Together they got everything upstairs and onto their kitchen table.

“You can sort all this in the morning, Rene,” Zack insisted. He gazed lovingly at his partner and released a long sigh when he observed the signs of anxiety and panic rapidly re-emerging. It was time to take control and put an end to Rene’s uncertainty.

“It is very late and we have a major issue to give closure too, don’t we, my love?” he calmly reminded the young man. Taking Rene’s hand, he led him into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. Pulling his Brat down to sit on his right thigh, Zack quietly questioned him. “Tell me, Rene, were you or were you not aware of the dangers of hitch-hiking?”

Rene didn’t want to look Zack in the eyes. He knew if he did, he would tear up. So he turned his face away and answered the question. “I knew it could be unsafe. I thought we should wait for the R.C.M.P. but Kadyn didn’t want to. He figured we’d be there forever and I really didn’t want to sit there for so long either. So I agreed and we were lucky we got a ride in a very short time.” Trying to justify himself more, Rene added, “He was a really nice guy and dropped us right at Mr. Hayes’ place.”

“Yes, you were fortunate indeed, sweetheart. However, your good fortune does not exonerate you from having taken the chance and doing something extremely risky in the first place, does it?” Zack didn’t wait for answer, wanting to move things along while Rene was still able to cope. He gentle patted his Brat’s hip and calmly instructed. “Up you get, babe. We are going to take care of this and then we are going to bed. We are both very tired.”

Once his Brat was on his feet, Zack reached up and undid the other man’s jeans. Next he pulled his partner’s pants and underwear down to his knees before turning slightly to one side. He gently guided Rene across his left thigh and helped him get comfortable, with his upper body securely resting on the sofa. “I don’t think we have to reiterate why you are getting this spanking, do we, Rene?”

Rene shook his head and mumbled “no” in response to Zack’s question. He felt very vulnerable lying like this across his partner’s lap. Though he knew he was loved and secure, still he was nervous not knowing just what to expect. He felt his butt tighten and clench in expectation of the first smack, wondering how much it would hurt. One thing for sure, he was not going to cry. No sir; Rene Albert Wilson could take it like a man. Or he hoped he could.

Zack placed his right leg over both of Rene’s and stroked his hand gently over his intended target. Raising his arm, he brought it down with a resounding smack on the bare backside in front of him. He didn’t scold; he just concentrated on teaching his precious Brat a lesson in making proper choices.

Less than a minute later, Zack landed two sharp swats on each reddened globe to end the spanking. Lifting his well-chastened partner and being mindful of Rene’s sore bottom, Zack gathered him onto his lap and began reassuring the young man. “Shh, sweetheart, you’re going to be fine. It’s over and all is forgiven. I love you, baby; too much to ever let unsafe behaviour go without retribution. Shh, my beloved; you’re mine and in safe hands, I promise,” he murmured, rubbing soothing circles on his sobbing Brat’s back and placing tender kisses on his head. He was unsure if his words were even being heard, but at that point in time it did not matter.

Rene’s resolve not to cry flew out the window by the fourth swat. He couldn’t believe how much it hurt. By the time it was over and he felt Zack lifting him up and into his arms, he was crying freely.

What surprised him the most though was despite the burning pain in his butt, he felt better than he had all day; being held in his lover’s strong arms and knowing he was forgiven made all the difference. As his crying calmed, the words Zack spoke began to sink in.

He looked into his partner’s eyes and asked in a voice rough from crying. “I’m really yours, aren’t I? Even after causing you so much trouble? I love you, Zack, and I want to belong to you forever.”

“Yes, really mine; and you didn’t cause me as much trouble as you caused yourself,” Zack responded with a loving smile. “Hmm, forever sure sounds good to me, sweetheart,” Zack spoke softly and gently kissed a still damp cheek. “Let’s get you cleaned up. We can talk in bed and make plans for tomorrow if you like.”

Another reassuring squeeze and Zack helped Rene out of his jeans and boxers before setting him on his feet. Then while Rene washed up, Zack turned off the lights and locked the doors. Several minutes later, they both crawled into bed and reached for each other. This was one of Zack’s favourite activities, cuddling with the love of his life as they talked over anything that came to mind, before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Rene felt comforted and reassured lying in his partner’s arms. He thought back through the day and how it had ended with his first spanking at Zack’s hand.

“Zack, I don’t know if I can find the right words to tell you how I’m feeling right now, but I do want you to know how happy I am that you insisted on a discipline relationship. I knew it felt right for you to be in charge but until now I wasn’t really sure about the discipline part. It scared me a bit and I was afraid that it would make me feel like some naughty little kid." He paused, trying to find the words.

Zack’s gentle squeeze and kiss encouraged him to continue. “But you didn’t make me feel that way at all. I felt your love and strength through the whole thing and I felt so much better when it was over. It really cleared the air between us without the yelling and fighting that my mom and dad would do when they were upset with something the other had done. Well, maybe it sounds a bit weird or wimpy but I like it now; knowing that you will discipline me when it’s needed. That you love me enough to want to do all the work it takes to be responsible for us and that I belong to you.”

“We belong to each other, sweetheart, and don’t you ever forget it,” Zack growled. He waited for Rene to fall asleep, then flopped over onto his stomach and draped his arm over his Brat’s chest, anchoring him to his side. He dozed off, secure in the knowledge that the sight of his beautiful lover would be the first to greet him in the morning.

The End

Making Plans

2009-05-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst, Mel and LJ

(Crossover with Zack & Rene)

Kadyn merrily made his way down Main Street. It was a warm, sunny day and he was enjoying a sense of freedom. He rounded the corner and stopped when he spied the scaffolding half way down the block. The painter was working on the high false front of the barbershop. He had wanted to meet this man for sometime and now was his chance.

Hurrying over, Kadyn put his parcel on the ground and quickly scaled the sturdy framework. Once at the top, he plunked himself down next to the man sitting there. The fact that he was uninvited never crossed his mind. He smiled at the black-haired man who was holding a pallet in one hand, a paint brush in the other and a second brush between his teeth.

Giving the young artist a wide grin, he enthusiastically commented. “Man, you sure are doing a great job at beautifying this old town of ours. I really like your art work. I want my Dad to get some done on the store and maybe I can talk Vincent into adding a bit of colour to his book store. It may be a hard sell though; they’re kinda old. Well, maybe not so much Vincent, but my Dad sure it. He’s my partner; Vincent that is, not my Dad.” Kadyn babbled on.

Taking a deep breath, he blinked and held out his hand. “Oh, by the way, my name is Kadyn, Kadyn Hart.” His eyes were sparkling as his grin widened even more.

Rene tended to concentrate fully on his work, so he was quite startled when this exuberant fellow just plopped himself down on the scaffolding and began to talk. However, one look at the smiling, friendly face caused him to forget all about being interrupted.

He put down the brush in his hand and extended it to the happy intruder. “U’m Rinni Wibsom,” he mumbled around the brush held in his teeth. He realized he must sound like an idiot and pull out the offending item. “Sorry about that. I’m Rene Wilson and I’m pleased to meet you.”

Kadyn laughed at the mumbled speech. After shaking hands, he turned his attention to the wall and carefully studied the characters slowly coming into being. “These are so neat,” he murmured, a note of awe in his voice. “Would you paint pictures like this on large, store-front windows?”

He had seen several murals about town, but all had been on walls of brick, wood or interior plaster. He wondered if glass painting required a different technique. “I mean, is it harder to work on glass? Would you need different materials? And if you did, where can you get them?”

Kadyn grinned when he realized he was getting ahead of himself. “Of course, you’d have to be willing to take on the job to begin with, wouldn’t you?”

Rene looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’d certainly be willing to discuss the job and if we could come to mutually agreeable terms, I’d be happy to take it. As far as supplies go, you have to have special paint that will adhere to the glass, I mean assuming you want it to be permanent. There is an art supply store in Kelowna. I’m sure they’d carry it. I’d also need to know what style of painting was wanted. On glass, you can paint with translucent colour and use a leading medium that makes it look like stained glass or you can use opaque paints to give a more solid appearance. Both are very nice, it just depends on what you’re looking for.”

Kadyn blinked at the amount of info he was receiving. He knew very little of what Rene was talking about and was somewhat confused. However, one word did manage to attract his attention.

“Oh, I’d want it to be permanent. I sure don’t want it washing away or anything.” Deciding an exchange of information was a good idea, Kadyn continued. “We own a convenience store; we carry the everyday staples that people run out of and buy at the last minute. It helps being the only store opened late seven days a week. We also sell tons of junk food, especially candy, as well as rent out movies and games, mostly to kids. And of course there is the mini-snack bar along with magazines and comics. We’re really quite busy.”

Not sure if these facts were helping or hindering, he opted for adding more. “It’s a family business. Dad has been kinda preparing me to take over and even now goes along with a lot of my ideas. I’m pretty sure he will like this one, but Vincent on the other hand, is going to be a tougher sell.” He grinned mischievously, not at all deterred by the task he had set up for himself.

“So, you got any ideas? You know, for the people and things you can paint that might look like a similar store from the past? I really like the scenes you’ve been painting of by-gone days.” Kadyn waited expectantly for Rene’s answer.

Rene was caught up in the enthusiasm the other man was expressing. “Thanks, I’ve really been having fun doing these peeks at the past. I should be finished this mural by the day after tomorrow. I have another possible commission coming but the owner of the restaurant said it would have to wait at least a month, so I’ll be free for the next while.”

He paused for a moment to consider the needs of this possible new project. “Before I do anything I’d have to look at the windows you’re considering, to get an idea of the dimensions. Then I could do some sketches for you along with details on the different styles for painting on glass and provide you with written estimates of costs and the like. Then if you decide to go ahead, I’d have to drive down to Kelowna for the supplies. That’s kind of an all day trip getting there, shopping and then coming back.”

He thought about how nice it would be if Zack could accompany him on the trip but knew it was doubtful his lover would take the time off from the pharmacy. Rene had spend so much time traveling alone the last year that he didn’t relish the idea of making that drive by himself.

“That can be arranged. I usually spend as much of my evenings with Vincent as possible. Sometimes that gets a little tricky as I work in a business that stays open late. I’ll be at the store all day tomorrow though, if you have time to drop by. It’s called ‘Hart’s Forget-Me-Nots’; a couple of doors down from the Book Market…you can’t miss it.” Kadyn rubbed his hands together, something he was unconscious of doing when excited.

“Oh, if you go to Kelowna, can I go with you? I don’t think Vincent will mind and I can arrange for someone to take my shift……bet my Dad will do it for me.” Kadyn’s mind was already going a mile a minute in anticipation of a trip to the city.

“That sounds great,” Rene replied, happy at the thought of a new commission and company on the road trip. “I’ll come by tomorrow with some rough sketches and we can sort through the details then.”

Climbing down from the scaffolding, Kadyn grabbed up his parcel and headed back down Main Street. “This is going to be great. But now I have to figure out a way of getting Vincent to agree to me going to Kelowna for the day,” he mused out loud. Moment later, he spotted Vincent standing in front of the Book Market, waving farewell to a customer.

“Guess he wants a bit of the sunshine too.” Kadyn smiled his understanding. It was a glorious spring day and suddenly he was anxious to spend some of it with his partner.

Unconcerned about possible mishap, Kadyn rashly wove his way through oncoming traffic to get over to Vincent and share his news. He seemed oblivious to the screeching of breaks or the shouts from a couple of rather irate motorists, as he dash across the street and all but threw himself at his lover.

“You’ll never guess who I was just talking to, Vincent, or what plans we’re making.” As usual, he was all but bouncing with excitement. “Oh, here’s the parcel you sent me to pick-up at the post office,” he announced and thrust the package at the older man. It was obviously an afterthought as he had more exciting things on his mind.

Vincent had turned as white as a ghost, seeing his partner make his way through the traffic, unmindful of the danger. As soon as Kadyn stopped talking, he opened the bookstore door, grabbed Kadyn by the arm and hauled him inside the store.

Once inside, he whispered, “Go wait for me in my office,” and walked to where Emily, his clerk, was ringing up some books. “I’ll be in my office for about half an hour, Emily. When you’re done here why don’t you lock things up and go to lunch?” he suggested. Seeing her nod of agreement, he put down the parcel Kadyn had given him and went to the office, locking the door behind him.

“What do you think you were doing out there?” he asked sternly. “Don’t you realize you could have been hurt, maybe killed even?” he demanded.

Kadyn had hurriedly followed Vincent’s whispered directive and was twirling around in his partner’s chair behind the desk when the older man walked into the room. He was momentarily stilled by the sternness of Vincent’s tone. He got to his feet and walked around to the front of the desk with a confused frown marring his usually smiling face.

“I was just crossing the street, Vincent. I was in a hurry. Besides, it’s not like it was the Trans-Canada highway or something. There was hardly any traffic……well, not as much as there could have been, that is.” He grinned as he leaned against the side of the desk with his legs crossed at the ankles, content in the belief he had set his partner’s mind at ease.

Taking Kadyn’s hand, Vincent turned him and bent him over the desk and landed a dozen hard spanks on his rear, telling him at the same time that he had to be careful and that putting himself in danger would always result in a spanking, if not worse. Once he was done, he gathered Kadyn in his arms and kissed him. “I love you, but you’ve just got to be more careful! I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you!”

Needlessly to say, Kadyn was more than a little surprised to find himself face down over the big wooden desk. He yelped each time Vincent’s hard hand landed on the seat of his jeans. Moments later, he was enfolded in a loving embrace and was being assured he was still loved.

After Kadyn had settled down, Vincent smiled at him and kissed him again. “Okay, now tell me, what was so important that you endangered your life to tell me about?”

Kadyn accepted his lover’s kiss; then gazed up at him through tear-filled eyes. He blinked and a tear slowly rolled down his cheek. “You didn’t have to do that, Vincent. The cars were going slow and nothing happened to me. I was perfectly all right until you got a hold of me.” He pouted and rubbed his backside. “And now, maybe I just don’t feel like telling you my news.”

“Oh, really,” Vincent said with a smile as he sat down and pulled Kadyn gently onto his lap to rub his back for a few minutes. “Tell me now?” Getting only a negative shake of the head in response, he began kneading Kadyn’s shoulders. Feeling his partner relax under the massage, he again requested. “How about telling me now?”

Kadyn rigidly sat on Vincent’s knees, not quite ready to relinquish what he considered righteous indignation. His hurt feelings were hard to hold on to under the onslaught of loving hands. He leaned against his lover’s broad chest and sighed as he melted into Vincent’s embrace.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll tell you,” he murmured as he kept his smile hidden. “You know the guy who’s been painting those neat pictures around town? Well, I finally got a chance to introduce myself and talk with him for a bit. And you’ll never guess, but he’s going to come see me and Dad about painting the big display windows at our store.”

“Well, that is good news. I know you were impressed with his work,” Vincent replied, happy that Kadyn decided to share the good news with him.

His excitement returning, Kadyn sat up and looked Vincent in the eye before enthusiastically announcing, “And we might even be taking a trip to Kelowna to pick up the necessary supplies. Won’t that be great?” He bounced a bit, his eyes sparkling as he waited for Vincent’s reaction to the news.

Vincent was startled, to say the least, at the plans Kadyn was so enthusiastically telling him about. Yesterday had been totally normal, now Kadyn was taking off on a trip to Kelowna with someone he’d only just met this morning.

“Wait a minute. You’re thinking of taking a trip to Kelowna? When would this be and who all is going? Kelowna is quite a ways off, over an hour’s drive. And are you going on your day off work?” Shaking his head a bit, he added, “I need more information, love.”

“Well nothing’s definite, Vincent. First, Rene has to come over and see what can be done with the space we have available. Then he’ll draw us some sketches and once we make a decision, he’ll give us an estimate. Then if it’s a go and only if he needs supplies, we may be going to Kelowna. Most likely it would just be Rene and I going. But of course, it is all subject to change depending on any of his other commitments.”

Bending his head to one side, Kadyn looked pensively at the older man whose lap he was still sitting on. “Hmm, you wanna come with us, Vincent?”

“Well, let’s not make too many plans before anything’s decided, okay? After all, it sounds as though a lot of your plans are subject to your Dad and Rene agreeing on what is to be done and the price. And as for me coming with you, as much as I’d love to, it would depend on what day you decide to go. Unless it’s a Sunday, I probably won’t be able to go. It wouldn’t be fair for me to take off and leave the running of the store to Emily by herself. After all, it is my shop.” Vincent gave Kadyn a quick kiss. “Don’t forget, we’re going to Vancouver for a week in just a little over a month; just the two of us!”

“Yeah, I know everything is kinda up in the air just now, but it is something to look forward to.” Kadyn smiled and pushed himself off his partner’s lap. “And I am so pumped about the two of us getting away next month……but man, waiting is just sooo hard,” he muttered his lament over a fun time taking so long to transpire.

Short on patience and always looking for immediate fulfilment, Kadyn resigned himself to hang in there and settle for periodical day-dreaming about the upcoming event. He had already written out a list of places he wanted to see, beginning with Granville Island and Stanley Park.

“Maybe this painting idea and a trip to Kelowna will help fill in the time, huh?” he asked, rubbing his hands together is delight. “Yep, exactly what I need, something to make the time go faster.”

He threw his arms around Vincent’s neck and soundly kissed him. “Now, unless you need me for something else,” he wagged his eyebrows and smirked. “I best be off to grab a bite to eat and head to work. See ya later, big guy.”

*******************************

Zack had left the pharmacy in the capable hands of his assistant and had come upstairs to the apartment to shower and change into comfortable sweats. He was on-call until nine o’clock when the store closed for the day, but for now he was going to start supper and wait for Rene to get home.

Fifteen minutes passed, during which time he’d mixed up a salad and cut up veggies for a stir-fry. The rice was steaming and the chicken frying as he set the table. He glanced at the clock on the wall and wondered how much later his partner was going to be. They had talked about time management not that long ago.

Zack smiled when he heard the door slam downstairs and Rene hurriedly taking the stairs two at a time. Moments later, Zack had his arms full of one excited young man in paint-splattered clothing.

Rene drew back from Zack’s arms and looked up into the handsome face. He still found it hard to believe he had found so much happiness in this small back-water town. Being held in Zack’s arms was the best feeling on earth; well, right after making love with Zack, that is.

“Hey, Zack, guess what?” He didn’t wait for an answer but delved right in. “I met this guy, Kadyn, today. He runs the convenience store with his father. Anyway, he wants me to do a mural on the glass at the front of the store. I haven’t done much work on glass but I’m really looking forward to it. Though it means I’ll have to go to Kelowna to buy the right kind of paints. I don’t suppose you’ll have the time to go with me, will you?”

Zack couldn’t help but chuckle at his partner’s enthusiasm and he loved watching Rene’s beautiful blue eyes sparkling. He planted a firm kiss on his lover’s lips.

“Why don’t we talk about it over supper, love? You’ve five minutes to grab a quick shower and change before I put the food on the table.” With that he gave Rene another kiss, turned him around and landed a light swat of encouragement to help him on his way. He hummed softly to himself as he dropped the veggies into the hot wok and set about completing the meal preparations.

Rene laughed as he headed off to wash away the day’s worth of sweat and paint. Minutes later, he returned to the kitchen in fresh clothes; his hair still damp and curling around his neck. “Mmmm, that smells good.” he remarked as he reached into the sizzling pan of veggies and pinched a slice of green pepper.

Zack grabbed the hand getting ready to take another veggie out of the hot pan and swung Rene around. “Come here,” he softly invited as he picked up the spatula to give the cooking food a final stir. He pulled Rene into a one-arm embrace and kissed the top of his head. He slipped a hand into the back of his lover’s sweat pants and gently kneaded a damp cheek while stirring cooking food with the other.

“Missed you,” he murmured in his lover’s ear and then proceeded to nibble on it. The two men cuddled in companionable silence for several moments before Zack sighed and moved to set their meal on the table.

Taking a seat, Zack began helping himself while Rene did the same. “So, you met Jade Heights’ version of the Energizer Bunny today,” the older man commented with a wide grin. “And what’s this about a new commission that entails a possible trip to Kelowna?”

“Energizer Bunny?” Rene laughed. “That is a rather good name from what little I've seen of him. Kadyn certainly keeps going and going. But he seems genuinely interested in having me do a mural on the store front glass.”

As he tucked into his meal, Rene explained. “I would have to make a trip to Kelowna because painting on glass requires a special type of paint that I can’t get here in Jade Heights. There is an artists’ supply store there where I’m sure I can get what I need.”

“Well, I’m afraid I’ll not be able to get away any time soon, love, so looks like you’ll be making the trip alone.” Zack felt bad as he knew how little that would appeal to his partner. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment or two. “Unless, you’re willing to wait a couple of weeks,” he suggested.

Rene sighed; he’d been expecting as much but still he’d hoped Zack would be able to find a way to accompany him. “No, I really couldn’t wait that long. If I’m going to fit this commission in before I start on the one for the restaurant, I have to get the supplies soon. Kadyn did say he’d like to go with me so I won’t be alone. Of course, none of this is written in stone. I still have to submit some sketches and see if we can come to an agreement.”

“I have a feeling Mr. Hart will approve anything you propose, even if he himself personally didn’t want his window painted. From what I understand, he has never been able to say ‘no’ to that youngest boy of his. It’s little wonder Vincent has his hands full.” Zack chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve heard of several of Kadyn escapades since coming to town. You did know he had a partner, right? And that he would have to clear a trip to Kelowna with Vincent?”

Zack was beyond pleased that his partner was getting to know folks about town. He had hoped Rene would make some friends around his own age but until now Rene had seemed disinclined to do so. Zack thought Kadyn would make an interesting and entertaining friend. He wondered what Rene would think of the idea but didn’t bring up the subject.

“Kadyn spoke about Vincent and his book store; even suggested that he might also be interested in my doing some work for him.” Rene looked thoughtful for a moment. “You said that Kadyn would have to clear the trip with Vincent. Do you mean he’d need Vincent’s permission? Do they do things like us, where Vincent is in charge?” Rene had been doing some reading on the internet about discipline relationships and was curious to know if there were others around who chose that lifestyle.

“Although I can’t be one hundred percent sure they are in a similar relationship, I have seen a few signs that lead me to believe they may be. It doesn’t really concern us one way or another, I guess, except to be aware that Vincent may not want his partner going off with someone he doesn’t know well.” Zack finished his supper and got up to turn on the coffee pot. “Now where you’re concern, as long as you drive safely and come back to me on time and in one piece…..” he smiled and left the rest unspoken.

Rene felt an inner-warmth from Zack’s words. It was such a good feeling to know that someone cared so much about his welfare. “I promise to drive very safely. After all, I have someone very special to come home to.” He reached across the table and took Zack’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I sure hope it will be okay with for Kadyn to come with me, it would make the long drive a lot more fun,” he softly added.

The End

Blame It On ‘The Jungle Book’

2009-05-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

Co-written by: Myst and LJ

Kadyn stood bouncing on the balls of his feet and slowly perusing the books on the shelf in front of him. He jumped when someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

Spinning around, he pulled out his earphones and glared at the person who had startled him. “Why the hell don’t you just shoot a person, as an alternative to merely scaring him to death!” he belligerently demanded.

Quirking an eyebrow at the unexpected response he’d received, Vincent smiled at the young man and said, “Hi, I’m Vincent and I was going to ask if I could help you find anything. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Hearing the bell above the door ding, he said, “I’ll leave you to the books. If you decide you need any help, I’ll be around.” With that he turned and went to the front counter to help a woman who had just entered the bookstore and was looking about, apparently in need of assistance.

Kadyn’s eyes followed the man as the shopkeeper moved to greet his other customer. ‘Hmmm, not bad looking,’ he grinned to himself as he cautiously watched the older man’s every move. ‘And he’s got a nice sounding voice.’ The young man filed these thoughts away in his mind as he turned back to what he had been doing. He waited anxiously for the woman to make her purchase and leave.

As he showed his new customer the nutrition and health section, Vincent could sense the good-looking young man was keeping track of his movements. Smiling to himself, he made his way towards the front counter. A few minutes later, he rang up two books for the woman. “Thank you for coming to the Book Market,” he said as he handed her a bag. “Please come again,” he added, with a smile.

Kadyn hurriedly turned back to what he had been doing when he saw Vincent walking his way. There were only the two of them in the store now and for some unknown reason, Kadyn felt out of his depth with the physical reaction he was experiencing. The closer Vincent came, the faster Kadyn’s heart beat. ‘This guy is getting better looking by the minute,’ he thought, his eyes opening wider as he felt himself hardening. ‘Shit, I gotta get outta here.’ He made a beeline for the door but never reached it.

After seeing his customer out, Vincent decided to see if he could help the young man. He was shocked to see him try to rush out the door as he approached him. ‘Something’s wrong,’ he thought and quickly intercepted him.

“Hey, is there a problem?” he asked with some concern apparent in his voice. “I was just coming over to see if I could help you find something of interest.”

‘Oh, I found something interesting all right,’ Kadyn quietly groaned. He’d die of embarrassment if this man were to discover the cause of his discomfort. Besides, for all Kadyn knew the big guy could even be homophobic. Not that the young man had a lot of experience in dealing with that kind of thing but he didn’t think now was the time to press his luck.

“Ah…yes…well…I-I need to purchase several copies of The Jungle Book…..Kipling’s version…..not someone else’s revision….” Realising he was babbling, Kadyn drew in a deep breath and pulled himself together. “My name is Kadyn Hart. I’m an assistant Cub Leader….that’s why I need the books.”

Vincent smiled at him, somewhat amused by the man’s nervousness. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Hart. I’m Vincent La Maur. So you’re a Cub leader. Well, volunteering to work with young boys is great and must be very rewarding. Kipling’s The Jungle Book; hmm, let me think.”

He went to the front desk and quickly checked the store’s inventory system. “I’m very sorry, but I don’t have any copies of that in stock. I can order some for you, however.” Glancing at the screen, he added, “It will take two… no, make it three days for the books to get here if I order today. How many would you like?”

As he waited for a response, he wondered what had caused Kadyn to try and rush out at his approach but decided not to pursue the matter. He felt an attraction to him and there was no way he wanted Kadyn to feel self-conscious around him.

“Just Kadyn is fine ‘cause Mr. Hart is my father.” The young man shyly returned the smile and began to relax. “Half a dozen copies will do if they aren’t too expensive.” He stood patiently watching Vincent’s fingers flying over the keyboard. “And two or three days is fine. Our next meeting isn’t until next Monday evening, so there is plenty of time.”

Kadyn rhymed off his phone number and with a ‘be seein’ya’, headed out the door.

************

Three days later, Vincent opened his latest delivery of books and saw the ones for Kadyn had arrived. Finding the order form with Kadyn’s phone number, he called hoping it was a good time to catch him. He was disappointed when all he got was voice mail asking him to leave a message. He’d really wanted to talk to Kadyn!

Shaking his head at himself, Vincent acknowledged his impatience to talk again to the intriguing young man. “Hello, Kadyn. This is Vincent La Maur from The Book Market. Your ‘Jungle Book’ order has arrived. It’s 4:30 right now and I’ll be here until six if you’d like to stop by and pick up the books today.”

Putting down the phone, he went back to unpacking the new arrivals and checking the invoices, but he really was not into it. He kept looking up as people walked by the store, hoping it would be Kadyn. Thankfully a few customers did come in, which made the time go by a bit better but he still kept an eye out for Kadyn.

A few minutes before six, he gave up and decided he’d better begin to shut things down. Just as he was about to close down the cash register, the door banged open and the young man he’d been waiting for rushed into the shop.

Kadyn skidded to a stop in front of the counter with a wide grin lighting up his young face. “I just got your message….the books are in!” he breathlessly exclaimed. He stood bouncing from one foot to the other. “Didn’t take any time at all, did it? Sometimes when people promise a delivery date, they’re usually way off.” He knew he was babbling yet again but couldn’t stop himself. It was a bad habit when he was anxious about something. His excitement over seeing this handsome man again far outweighed getting the books.

Vincent grinned at the other man’s obvious enthusiasm. He was glad Kadyn had come by before he’d closed the shop. He would have hated waiting another day to see him again.

Getting his mind back to the matter on hand, he spoke with a smile in his voice. “Well, I’m glad they got here so quickly as well. Do you want to pay for the books by cheque, credit card or cash? I take all three. The total is $44.55 and I’ll give you an itemized receipt. That way you can have it for reimbursement purposes.”

“I have a blank cheque from our group’s account,” Kadyn replied, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. “I’ve got identification right here, too.” He filled in the appropriate places while Vincent glanced over his driver’s licence.

“Great,” Vincent exclaimed as he quickly checked Kadyn’s birth date and smiled to himself. ‘Yes, I can ask him out. He is already eighteen.’

Vincent quickly completed the transaction, put the books and bill into a bag, and handed them to Kadyn. “Would you like to get a cup of coffee with me at the Grille? I’ve had a long day and a cup of coffee with some company sounds good right now.”

Kadyn’s eyes lit up. He could hardly contain his excitement. ‘Man, is he asking me out…..like maybe a date or something? How great it this?’ He had dreamed of being with this handsome man for days now. Vigorously nodding his head, he enthusiastically replied, “Sure thing. I can kinda do with a cup myself.”

Brightly sparkling blue eyes gazed up into gently smiling blue ones; neither man visualizing where this everyday-type of invitation was leading.

************

Kadyn was in seventh heaven. He and Vincent had been dating for several weeks now. The young man still had to pinch himself now and again to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He kept wondering when the bubble would burst. His parents had tried warning him that it could not last forever. Their list of concerns included the age difference and Kadyn’s free-spirited outlook on life versus Vincent more serious one, not to mention Kadyn’s habit to leap before he looked.

Mr. and Mrs. Hart considered Mr. LaMaur to be an upstanding member of society and while secretly hoping the business man would want their son as a life-partner, they doubted his ability to properly handle all that loving and living with Kadyn would entail. Their son was a firecracker. He would follow just about anyone if he thought a good time was to be had, but unfortunately he rarely stopped to think things over first. On the up-side, Kadyn was definitely a ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ kind of guy and extremely popular.

“I may have to have a long talk with Vincent,” Mr. Hart muttered to his wife as they watched their son head out on another date with Vincent. “I mean, the man deserves some warning.”

But Vincent was content. Kadyn and he were at the Maple Grille having a nice dinner. It was the anniversary of their second month of dating.

Kadyn sat gazing around the large restaurant while they waited for their meal to arrive. He had been here a few times with Vincent over the last two months and really liked the place. He spied another couple several tables over, arguing with each other. For reasons totally unknown to him, this struck him as funny and he began to mimic them.

“Kadyn, what are you doing?” Vincent asked, confused by the younger man’s actions.

“Just watching them,” he answered, pointing at the situation he found so amusing. “Man, are they ever getting in each other’s faces.”

“Well, there is no need to interest yourself in them. Let’s just have a nice dinner. After all, it is our anniversary; two months now,” Vincent reminded him with a smile.

“Yes, it is,” Kadyn agreed absently as he watched the head waiter rushed over to separate the couple. Their voices had been rising steadily and were not only attracting unnecessary attention, but also disturbing other patrons. Grinning impishly at the man beside him, he commented. “You’d think people their age would behave better, but I’m glad they’re not. It’s rather entertaining, isn’t it?”

“Yes, they should know better. But really, what they do isn’t your concern. And I don’t find it entertaining, I think it’s sad,” Vincent replied somewhat sternly. He didn’t understand Kadyn’s sense of humour at times and this was one of them.

“Maybe it’s their way of showing they love each other. Instead of saying ‘how’s about a little kiss, hon?’ it’s ‘how’s about a smack in the mouth?” Kadyn burst out laughing at the mere thought of it. “Maybe they give each other boxing gloves as gifts?” he suggested, still finding the whole idea hilarious.

“That’s enough!” Vincent said with a touch of irritation in his voice. “Please ignore them so we can enjoy our dinner. After all, tonight is about us, not them.”

“Hmm, just think, Vincent, we could be like that twenty years from now.” Kadyn noticed with a hint of disappointment that the couple was being escorted out of the building. He kept twisting around in his seat, not wanting to miss any of the action. Instead of ignoring the commotion as he’d been told, he was ignoring the man who was vying for his attention. Kadyn had been in a giddy mood most the day and was unable to recognize that he had pushed his companion to the end of his rope.

“Okay, I’ve had it. Come with me!” Vincent said as he stood up and pulled Kadyn to his feet. Ignoring the other people in the restaurant, he hustled Kadyn outside and towards his car.

“Hey, where are we going? This is supposed to be our night out,” Kadyn complained, dragging his feet and trying to turn the big man around.

Reaching the car, Vincent quickly looked around and took note of there being no one else in the parking lot. “When I say to stop something, I mean it,” he scolded as he bent Kadyn over the hood of the car and smacked him sharply on the rear half a dozen times. “Now, do you want to go back inside and finish dinner, or do you want to go home?”

Kadyn blinked in surprise, then glared up at Vincent as he rubbed the seat of his pants. “What did you do that for?”

“Why do you think? You were spoiling our anniversary dinner by making fun of others. I‘d asked you to stop more than once and you ignored me. You know me pretty well by now, and you know I won’t put up with acting out like that. Now, do you want to go back in or go home? I can do either.”

“I-I want to go back in,” Kadyn murmured. He glanced up to see if Vincent was angry. His eyes filled as he thought about how he had almost ruined their night. “I’m sorry, Vincent. I didn’t mean anything by it.” He shrugged his shoulders, slightly bewildered by his own behaviour. “It was just so darn funny, that’s all.”

“Okay, then let’s go back inside.” Vincent looked at the subdued younger man and impulsively reached out and gave him a hug. “We still have the rest of the night to enjoy.”

“So am I forgiven then?” Kadyn grinned optimistically, his customary sunny disposition re-enforcing itself.

“Of course you are! We’re fine,” Vincent assured him with a warm smile. “In fact, we’re great.”

“Yeah, I love you too.” Kadyn enthusiastically threw his arms around Vincent, pulled the taller man’s head down for a kiss and then announced, “I’m starving!”

“Okay, I’m starving too and there is a steak with my name on it at the table.” Vincent grinned, savouring the kiss he’d just received.

************

Vincent double-checked the table. He hoped it would impress Kadyn. They’d been dating for over three months now, and tonight he wanted to ask him to move in with him. He knew it was a big step and that the difference in their ages was more than some people would speak well of, but he was sure Kadyn was the one for him. Even Mr and Mrs Hart seemed to approve of him, which reassured him he was the right one for their youngest son.

As he inspected the lasagne and turned down the oven a bit, the doorbell rang. ‘At last,’ Vincent thought before he called out to his guest. “Come on in. I’m in the kitchen.”

Kadyn stood on the doorstep, looking around. He had been here many times before but this time he sensed something different in the air. “Hmm, probably just wishful thinking on my part,” he muttered to himself. He jumped at the holler from inside the house. “Serve’s me right for daydreaming.” He smiled as he opened the door and hurried down the hall to all but throw himself into Vincent’s open arms. “Hi, Darlin, I’m here!” he enthusiastically greeted his host.

Vincent bent down and gave Kaydn a deep kiss. “Hmmm, I like that greeting,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. Get yourself something to drink. I think I have everything you like,” he added with a wink.

Kadyn merrily pulled a couple of beer from the fridge, popped the caps and passed one to Vincent. He took a long cool swig and then launched into a tale about the latest events in his life. After all, he hadn’t seen Vincent since last night and his days were always full. “So…..Dad is thinking of working fewer hours and giving me more responsibility. What do you think of that?”

“That is good news, honey,” Vincent responded. “When will all of this be happening?” he asked as he took the salad out of the fridge and handed it to Kadyn to put it on the table.

“Well, I’ve been learning how to run the store on a kind of ‘as you go’ basis for the last couple of years, so it really only involves me working longer hours. But I’ll be taking over the inventory completely starting next week.” Ever hyper, Kadyn bounced on the balls of his feet the entire time he talked.

“Kadyn, calm down. This is really good news, but I don’t want you bouncing through the roof in the next five minutes,” Vincent teased. “The inventory is a lot of responsibility so I can see why you’re really excited!”

“Yeah, well Dad is also hoping if he keeps me busy, I’ll get in less trouble. Think it will work?” He grinned impishly up at the taller man.

Just then the timer went off and Vincent just smiled as he pulled the lasagne out of the oven. The smell was enticing and he couldn’t wait to see if Kadyn liked it. He’d never tried making something this complex for him before. “Would you put a trivet on the table? I forgot to put one on and we don’t want to burn the tablecloth,” he said slightly distracted. “And while keeping you busy may be good for you, you are never really in trouble nor are you troublesome!”

“Bet my Dad would beg to differ on that.” Kadyn chuckled and did as he was asked. Then he collected up the two empty beer bottles and put them in the box on the back porch.

Vincent just laughed at that remark. He quickly got the salad dressing and a bottle of rose wine out of the refrigerator. As they sat down and began filling their plates, their companionable conversation continued.

“Hmmm, this is really good, Vincent,” Kadyn acknowledged appreciatively around a mouthful of pasta and meat.

“Thanks! Have some wine; this rose is excellent, not too strong.”

Kadyn blinked. “We’re having wine? So, like what’s up? You only bring out wine on special occasions.”

“Well, this might be a special occasion,” Vincent commented. Deciding there probably wouldn’t be a better time; he smiled at Kadyn and said, “You know I love you. I’d like you to think about moving in with me permanently.”

Kadyn’s beautiful smile widened at the thought. “You mean it? We can live together? Be a real couple?” He jumped up from the table and scurried around to straddle Vincent’s lap. “I love you, Vincent,” he murmured as he lovingly kissed the other man’s lips.

“Of course I mean it,” Vincent replied, kissing him back. “There is no other man I would consider spending my life with, only you!”

“You know, that means I won’t have to get up and go home after we make love,” Kadyn laughed and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “If and when we ever do that is,” he mildly griped. He had never understood or accepted the older man’s insistence they wait for the right time. To him, just about any time was the right one.

“Trust me; when we make love, you will not be going anywhere. You are going to stay here with me, where you belong.”

The younger man snuggled into Vincent’s arms and sighed contentedly. He had been hoping for weeks now that this would happen.

“Kadyn, I want you to realize something about this relationship. I am the one in charge. It is not that your ideas and opinions aren’t important because they most certainly are. But when it comes down to the final decision on any given issue, that decision is mine.”

Kadyn got to his feet and stood looking down at Vincent with his hands on his hips. “In other words, you think you’re going to be the boss and you think I’ll just go along with that?” With eyes sparkling, Kadyn leaned in closer and quietly informed the other man. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but it is probably for the best if you were kinda in charge of things.” He moved back to his own chair and sat down.

“I’m glad you see it that way.” Vincent chuckled. “You do realise, I am not going to tell you what to do every second of the day. But as you’ve figured out by now, I will put a stop to anything I think out of line. I love you and want to be your partner, not run your life.”

“So I still get to have most my own choices in things that concern just me, right?” Kadyn asked with a cheeky grin.

“You can make your own choices but you’ll find most things concern both of us. For instance, if you wanted to get a nose ring; I can tell you right now that you can get it but you’ll never wear the jewellery. That is a choice that does affect both of us; even though you might think otherwise.”

“And what would happen if I insisted on wearing the nose ring?” Kadyn had to be sure.

“You’d find yourself going to bed with a sore backside.”

About to put a forkful of food in his mouth, Kadyn paused and stared across the table in disbelief. He must have misunderstood....he had better have misunderstood. “Could you clarify that please?”

“Part of being in charge is enforcing my decisions. If you defied me like that, I would spank you. I think you’ll soon find that my decisions are worth paying attention to. I’m not going to run every detail of your life; just those that would be detrimental to either your welfare or to our relationship. Rest assured, I will also be stepping in when you do anything life or health threatening. Understand?”

“How will I know for sure what is or isn’t acceptable, Vincent?” Kadyn was finally picking up on the seriousness in the older man’s demeanour and he began acting accordingly.

“Well, it stands to reason that anything you think might be ‘iffy’ would be something we should discuss. I will never take your concerns or opinions lightly, I promise you. After all,” Vincent softly assured the younger man, “all I want to do is make you safe and happy.”

“Okay then, just to make sure we’re both on the same page here; if I want to do something but have doubts it will meet your approval, I’m to check with you first to make sure.” Kadyn still seemed to have a few reservations about it all, but he was willing to give it a try. He loved and trusted Vincent to see that they both enjoyed a long and healthy life together.

“Yes, and it won’t be that hard, I promise.”

“Then, we'll do it!” Kadyn came to a decision and slowly nodded his agreement before looking up with an animatedly expression on his face. “Can I move in tomorrow?” he asked impatiently.

Vincent laughed out loud, partly at the young man’s enthusiasm and partly out of relief. He was extremely pleased that the discussion had gone so well. He knew Kadyn was going to be a handful due to being so impulsive and he was worried that one of these days his new partner’s behaviour would end up getting him in serious trouble.

And at least now, Kadyn knew Vincent was willing to help him make the right decisions and that Vincent would always be there for him.

The End