By His Rules (24 page)

of soap and rinsed it thoroughly.

Aiden kept his mouth resolutely shut as Keaton

approached. Unfazed, Keaton reached out and pinched

Aiden’s nose shut. Aiden opened his mouth, as much in

shock and protest as out of necessity, and Keaton

slipped the bar in and pressed Aiden’s jaws shut.

The bitter suds flooded Aiden’s mouth once more,

and he decided it might be best to get this over with

rather than prolonging his suffering. He glared at

Keaton, who leaned against the bathroom counter and

watched him calmly. He felt ridiculous, standing in his

pajamas in front of Keaton with a bar of soap in his

mouth. A glimpse of his own reflection in the mirror

confirmed that he looked as foolish as he felt—red-faced,

grumpy, and thoroughly humiliated. Aiden folded his

arms. If Keaton thought this was going to change Aiden’s

behavior, he was wrong. It was an idiotic punishment,

not cathartic like a spanking, but designed, it seemed,

specifically to piss Aiden off.

The collection of saliva and soap bubbles in his

mouth was growing intolerable. He tried not to let his

tongue move in case it brushed against the bar of soap.

He shut his eyes. It had to have been five minutes by

now. He couldn’t go much longer without spitting or

swallowing.

He tried not to think about what he’d said to

Keaton. Keaton never cursed at him, never said anything

nasty or rude, no matter how awful Aiden was to him.

He definitely hadn’t deserved what Aiden had said.

I never had a problem controlling my temper before Scott.

What’s wrong with me? How does Keaton put up with my

bullshit
? Scott was right; Keaton was going to be sick of

him in no time, if he wasn’t already.

Aiden sagged a little, no longer angry but

miserable and sorry. He winced as a new flood of

bitterness took over his mouth. To his surprise, Keaton

reached out and put a hand on his arm, the touch firm

and reassuring. Aiden leaned into him for a moment,

then faced the wall. He needed to not see Keaton, or

himself. He needed a physical boundary in front of him.

Keaton seemed to understand; he didn’t make Aiden

turn around.

“Okay,” Keaton said finally. He spun Aiden gently

and removed the bar of soap from his mouth, then led

him to the sink. Aiden spat over and over, accepting

Keaton’s offered cup of water.

“I’m sorry,” Aiden said between rinses, glancing at

Keaton in the mirror. “Really.”

Keaton rubbed his back briskly. “I’m on your side.

There’s never any need for that kind of language with

me.”

Aiden blushed. “I know.” He finished rinsing and

entered Keaton’s embrace gratefully. He’d come to trust

these strong arms, to rely on them. It scared him to

imagine that they wouldn’t always be here for him. He

breathed in Keaton’s scent, wanting to memorize it.

“I don’t have to teach today. I’m just going to

campus for office hours. What do you say I pick you up

from your interview and take you to lunch?”

Aiden wound his arms more tightly around his

partner. “Sounds like better than I deserve.”

“It’s over, forgiven. Let’s go to the Bear Trap.

You’re still a few burgers short of your ideal weight.”

Aiden froze. The idea of a greasy burger in his

backed-up system was not pleasant. “Um, maybe

somewhere a little… lighter?”

“You pick.”

Aiden chose the Corner Café where he’d met

Keaton at Hera’s urging. Maybe Keaton would let him

get away with just a salad.

The interview went pretty well. It embarrassed

Aiden to admit it to himself, but the residual sting in his

butt made him feel calmer, more focused as he answered

the manager’s questions. He left feeling relieved, if not

completely optimistic.

Lunch was pleasant. Keaton didn’t chide when

Aiden ate only a garden salad and part of a roll. Aiden

knew he had to do something. He’d tried a laxative a

couple of days ago, but it hadn’t helped. He was wary of

buying prune juice, sure it would rouse Keaton’s

suspicions. No way in
hell
was he going to a doctor.

Aside from the expense, which he couldn’t cover, Aiden

couldn’t imagine calmly telling a doctor he couldn’t take

a shit.

“Only another week and a half till your audition,”

Keaton remarked.

“Thanks, I’d almost forgotten,” Aiden said

sarcastically.

“You should do your monologues for me.”

“Are you kidding?”

Keaton shrugged. “You’ll have to do them in front

of the program directors. You might as well get used to

having an audience.”

“ I ’ m
very
used to performing in front of an

audience.” Aiden picked at the remains of his roll.

“They’re terrible. I don’t want you to see them.”

“Well, if you change your mind… I’m eager to see

your talent firsthand.”

“There’s another talent I’d rather show you,” Aiden

said suggestively.

“Oh? What might that be?” Keaton asked.

“You’ll have to wait until we get home.” He

grinned at Keaton’s blush, and an idea suddenly

occurred to him. “Or I could show you right now.”

“Now?”

“Meet me in the men’s room.”

“Aiden!”

“Keaton.”

“This isn’t a nightclub.”

“I know.”

“What if—”

“It’s a single stall,” Aiden said. “We lock the door;

no one else comes in.”

“But what if someone sees us both go in there?”

“I’ll go first. You follow in a few minutes.”

“Jesus.”

Aiden grinned lasciviously. “I promise, it’ll be

worth it.”

He slid off his chair and hurried down the hall to

the restroom.

* * * *

Keaton glanced around, sure there was a neon sign

over him indicating what he was about to do. He’d never

had sex in public, unless you counted a couple of

encounters in dungeons that hadn’t really done much for

him. But his cock certainly liked this idea; it strained

against his jeans to the point where Keaton had a

ludicrous urge to shush it.

He rapped on the men’s room door and heard a

click
as Aiden undid the lock. With one last glance at the

empty alcove, Keaton opened the door and slipped

inside. Aiden immediately pulled him into a hungry

kiss, which Keaton returned with vigor, kneading

Aiden’s ass, bringing their cocks into contact through

their pants.

Aiden unzipped Keaton’s jeans and knelt, taking

Keaton’s balls in his mouth and sucking, lapping. Keaton

gasped, trying to hold back moans. Aiden ran his lips up

and down the side of Keaton’s cock, stopping to trace the

ridge under the head with his tongue. Keaton went up

on his toes. He twined his fingers in Aiden’s hair. Aiden

had discovered early on just how sensitive Keaton was,

and he was a terrible tease now.

Aiden took Keaton deep in his mouth, sucking and

swallowing around Keaton’s thick shaft. Keaton

whimpered and began to move in Aiden’s mouth,

fucking Aiden’s throat with short thrusts. He couldn’t get

enough of the wet heat of the boy’s mouth, the way

Aiden sucked and slurped so hungrily, uttering a soft

moan every now and then as Keaton thrust deep into

him.

Keaton’s body stiffened, and he came, shooting

down Aiden’s throat in a wonderful, hot spurt. He

released Aiden’s hair and pulled up his jeans. Aiden

stood up, wiping his mouth, smiling in a way that was so

self-satisfied Keaton had to laugh.

“That was
very
naughty,” Keaton purred, nipping

Aiden’s ear.

“Why don’t you punish me?” Aiden whispered.

“I just might, when we get home.”

“Why not here?”

Keaton froze. He wasn’t sure if they were on the

same page, but he had a sudden, intense urge to put his

self-satisfied little brat over his lap, to watch the boy’s

pale cheeks shiver and squirm and turn pink under his

palm. Which was strange. He’d never really been turned

on by spankings, nor did he think it was a good idea to

conflate sex and discipline in Aiden’s mind. But one look

at the hazy arousal in Aiden’s eyes told him that Aiden

was hoping he’d do just that.

Without letting himself overthink, Keaton put

down the lid of the toilet seat and sat, patting his thigh.

“Take those pants and shorts down and over you go,” he

ordered. He thought he saw a tiny smile play over

Aiden’s lips as the boy scrambled to obey.

Aiden was rock hard as he took down his pants and

settled over Keaton’s lap. Keaton swallowed as he

looked at the sight before him. Aiden’s smooth, white

buttocks—round and taut, as perfectly shaped as any

Greek sculpture’s, quivering in anticipation of Keaton’s

attentions. Any color from this morning had faded.

Keaton felt his own cock stirring to life again. He
wanted

to spank Aiden, wanted the boy to yelp and kick, wanted

to feel that soft flesh grow hot as he smacked it.

Keaton hesitated. What if someone came to the

door and
heard
them?

Then they’ll hear the sound of a brat getting just what he

deserves
. “This is for being a corrupting influence,” he

growled, mock menacingly. Aiden’s giggle turned to a

yelp as Keaton brought his palm down sharply on his

bottom. Keaton spanked quickly, covering his entire

target in a matter of seconds, loving the way the rosiness

looked in the dim light of the bathroom. Aiden’s

breathing was fast and rough, and occasionally his

elbows bumped against the toilet and his shoes

squeaked against the tile floor as he struggled to

maintain his position.

Keaton lifted the boy’s shirt higher, increasing his

sense of exposure. Aiden put a hand back to shield

himself, and Keaton caught his wrist and pinned it

against the small of his back. “No you don’t,” he

whispered.

He began to whack the backs of Aiden’s scissoring

thighs, then concentrated on the lower curves of his

bottom, smacking upward so that each blow drove

Aiden forward on his lap, and Aiden’s weeping cock

rubbed against the denim of Keaton’s jeans. “Bad boy,”

Keaton scolded. “I ought to spank you every day for a

month for bringing me in here.”

“You liked it.”

Keaton grinned and completed another circuit of

spanks on the rapidly reddening cheeks. Aiden twisted,

and Keaton increased the force of his blows,

administering a last resounding swat just as Aiden came

across his lap. Keaton rubbed the hot flesh briskly. Aiden

struggled to breathe again. “Get up. We’ve got to get our

check.”

“You should probably clean up first,” Aiden

teased.

Keaton swatted him.

“Ow!”

“Behave until the bill comes, or I’ll put you over

my knee in front of the entire restaurant.”

Aiden laughed. “You wouldn’t.”

“Who knows? I never thought I’d accept a blowjob

in the men’s room of the Corner Café.”

“I am a bad influence.”

“Very.” Keaton kissed him. “But I love it.”

He sent Aiden out ahead of him with another swat,

then stayed behind and wiped the boy’s cum off his jeans

with a damp paper towel, unable to stop smiling.

“You’re really turned on by spankings, aren’t you?”

Keaton asked in bed that night.

“Yeah.” Aiden was facing the wall, which made

Keaton inexplicably anxious. He wanted to see Aiden’s

face while they had the conversation he’d determined

they needed to have. “Pain in general, I guess.”

“I liked what we did today. I liked spanking you.”

Aiden rolled over and smiled. “It was hot.”

“But you’re not turned on when I discipline you?”

Aiden shook his head. “No. It’s like you said, a

different mind-set. I hate knowing I’ve disappointed you.

And it’s not sexy, the way you spank me for punishment.

It’s embarrassing.”

Keaton nodded and stroked Aiden’s hair back from

his eyes with one finger. “The only thing I like about

giving you a disciplinary spanking is knowing you’ll

feel better at the end. I don’t like hurting you. I don’t like

embarrassing you.”

“But today?”

“I knew you wanted it. And it was fun. A game. But