Special Needs (13 page)

“That’s where we’re going,” Liam screamed back into Ryan’s ear, pushing the chair past a group of leathermen, who were sipping their beers and chatting. The place wasn’t that full yet and Ryan was able to see a barmaid giving him a quick once-over. Her eyes darted away the moment she saw him looking back.

“You know... I don’t think I stand out here that much.” He turned his head to Liam again, when they entered a smaller room, where the music wasn’t that loud. It was far more cozy too, with rounded booths on both sides, as well as some free-standing tables. There was also a second bar across from them, and in contrast to the room they came from, this on was rather crowded, with people chatting in pairs or small groups. He figured it was too early for much else yet.

“I might even grab a drink before we go,” said Ryan, quietly evaluating if he wouldn’t end up as the resident weirdo... which would be sad in a place where people wore revealing, sexy outfits... and got spanked in public, like that long haired man in the far corner. Ryan didn’t notice in the first place, because of the small audience that gathered around him and a topless guy, who kept teasing the other man with a paddle.

“We definitely should, it’s gay night.” Liam flashed him a grin.

Ryan stiffened, his mouth falling wide open. That was
not
what he expected! “Uhm...” He cleared his throat, fighting the urge to make a run for it. “Is it?”

“Haven’t you noticed there are virtually no women here?” Liam’s hand on his arm felt hot as hellfire, which was oddly fitting with this being a fetish club and all.

“Sort of... Fuck. You knew about this?” Ryan whined, and the ‘staff only’ door he spotted close to the bar seemed like salvation. When he compared the stress of meeting new guys at a gay party with having to speak with the club's manager, he'd take the business talk any day.

“Duh, that’s why I planned this outing for today.”

Ryan couldn't help but look around, at the men who could be interested in him if he weren't on wheels. Or if he wore something more... black and appropriate. Despite there being a proper dancefloor in the other room, a few people decided to stay close to their friends, bodies sliding against each other to the pulsing rhythm that made Ryan’s chest ache. He saw a couple kissing by the wall, both topless, grabbing at one another in a way that suggested it would continue somewhere more private. And just as he thought that, one of them yanked on the other's spiked collar and forced him to follow back to the main room.

“Oh no! What do I do? Fuck! Fuck!”

Before Liam could answer though, the ‘staff only’ door opened. A dark haired woman in a tight, purple corset came out and walked straight at them with a broad grin. Liam met her halfway and shook her hand. With the way they whispered into each other's ears, it became clear they knew one another, and Ryan reluctantly wheeled closer. He felt like those ignored kids waiting for their mother to finish chatting with a friend. It made him wonder about how often exactly Liam visited this place.

After calculating all the yays and nays, he discreetly poked Liam’s leg with a bundle of flyers. This place was unknown land. What would he do if someone actually approached him? Considering that Liam brought him here today on purpose, he probably planned to make Ryan hit on someone. How on earth was he supposed to do that?

Liam must have introduced him to the woman, as she shook Ryan’s hand with a smile and invited them to the small office where it was quiet enough to talk. Ryan felt his face burn when it turned out Diana, who was the club's manager, had never heard of his hotel. It seemed his marketing ideas had been even farther from perfect than he assumed. She seemed enthusiastic though, and they managed to persuade her to put out their flyers. When they were leaving the office, Ryan’s gaze slid over a cork board with pictures of two missing person’s he’d seen on the news last month, but once the door opened, it became too loud to bother asking about it.

With business matters done for the day, Liam didn't hesitate to proceed with his other plan.

“What are you drinking?” he asked Ryan, pushing his chair to an empty table. It felt like being led to the noose.

The question was enough to break the dam. “Liam, I can’t do this. I need some help here. And I don’t just mean a good drink.” His heart was drumming against his ribcage, as he looked around at the crowd of men, most of them in leather, or latex. Some had masks, there was even a man dressed as a horse, complete with an intimidating leather mask, hoof-like boots and a tail fastened to the leather harness he was wearing.

Ryan instantly reached for his inhaler. It wasn’t the real thing, nor did he have asthma, but it always got him a moment to breathe and think when he was becoming stressed out.

“Ryan, you okay?”

He shivered when Liam’s hot breath tickled the back of his neck. “No! I need a test drive maybe,” he said and took another breath from the fake inhaler.

“Um... okay.” Liam parked his ass in a leather stool and gave him that expectant look. “Drive.”

“Uhm... hi, I’m Ryan.” He managed a smile and reached out for a handshake, but it was more a matter of his own hand - shaking.

“No. That’s the worst pickup line ever.” Liam actually laughed his efforts off. He couldn’t believe it.

“Fuck you,” muttered Ryan, feeling his cheeks flush. “How would
you
do it, smartass?”

Liam leaned over to his ear and practically purred. “What’s the story behind that tattoo?”

There was no doubt. It was a hundred times better. Not only for the fact that Liam was a sexy bastard. It simply made more sense. Engaged the speaker and showed interest, without being pushy. Why couldn’t he come up with something like that?

“That is good,” he had to admit, with a choking feeling in his chest at the closeness.

“I know, but it’s you who should be training, right?” Ryan could have sworn his caretaker nuzzled his ear!

His body went rigid.
Oh God.
The touch made him imagine all sorts of filthy things he could do with Liam if the guy weren’t straight. “Okay, okay, let me start again.” But his mind was blank.

“Bring it.” Liam’s large eyes focused on him, as if he were the only person in the club.

It set Ryan's heart into a furious rhythm, and he couldn’t help it. What did he find so attractive about his caretaker, except like... everything? “Your hands look like they could crush me,” he said with a shaky smile, but didn’t manage to keep up eye contact. Liam’s fingers grasped his chin and forced his face up.

“You’re not too bad yourself.” And just like that, he grazed his hand over Ryan’s bicep, but that only made Ryan shy away with a nervous laugh.

“No, I don’t think I can do this.”

“Are you trying to be adorable now?”

Ryan took a deep breath, in an attempt to get back into the game, as Liam clearly wouldn’t let him off the hook. “That’s for you to decide,” he muttered, looking up to his caretaker’s face. Those perfect lips twisted into a lusty grin.

“What do you think I decided?”

“I think you decided you want to f--fuck me.” Ryan swallowed hard, chills going down his spine and all the way to the legs that were supposed to be lifeless, but oh-so weren't.

“You make me horny.” Liam slowly stroked his hand up Ryan’s thigh, their eyes never breaking apart. “I’m going to fuck you on the floor of my apartment. If you’re game that is.”

Ryan backed away. Those words were enough to make his cock react like an anxious puppy and twitch in his pants. If this went on any longer, he would end up getting hard. “Is that how it usually goes for you, Liam?” He used his name to signal he wanted to break off the game.

“Depends on the other person. Everyone has different kinks.” Liam messed up Ryan’s hair a bit, only strengthening the tingle in his body. “I’m getting us drinks. What do you want?”

“Vodka.” If he was gonna do this again with anyone else, he needed to get wasted.

Liam’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief, but he didn’t say anything and strolled towards the bar, leaving Ryan alone.

That got him a moment to clear his mind without having to use the inhaler again, and he used the time to take another look around. He tried to ignore that some people were staring in his direction not as discreetly as they probably believed they did. He read about these kind of parties loads of times, but never actually went to one. He was relieved to see that everyone seemed chilled out and having fun. A couple of guys were just leaving through a heavy, black curtain. Ryan felt his face flush when he noticed that one of them had a pig mask on and followed the others on his hands and knees.

“Sorry if I’m butting in, but I thought I’d ask when he’s not here. That your boyfriend?”

Ryan blinked, suddenly aware that he missed someone walking over from the other side. He turned his head and faced a pair of well-packed leather trousers. Swallowing his embarrassment, he looked up a hairy stomach and chest, to a friendly, masculine face. The guy had a wolf tattooed on his pec and two thick rings in his nipples. His bald head and a trimmed beard made Ryan think of a German porn flick he watched not that long ago. And it was a hot one.

“Sorry if you got your hopes up.” He nodded towards Liam, who was leaning over the counter, obviously flirting with the barmaid. “He’s straight. He only came here to pimp me out.”

Beardy flashed Ryan a grin. “He’s doing a good job without even being here.”

“Huh?” Ryan eyed him up once more. Seriously? A guy like that would approach him? Ryan wasn’t even following the dress code.

“I’m Joe.” Beardy took Ryan’s hand and shook it gently.

“Ryan. Does that tattoo come with a story?” He mixed it up a bit. Oh well, at least Liam didn’t get to hear that he stole his pickup line.

“Kinda, yeah. I used to work for the Forest Service.” Joe took Liam’s place on the stool.

“Oh wow! Let me guess, you’re a lumberjack.” Ryan’s smile widened now that there was something they could actually chat about. “You look like one.”

“No.” Joe laughed and dropped his hand to Ryan’s knee. “I was a ranger.”

“So what did you do? Hunt wolves?” He pointed to the tattoo. This was brilliant! He was an amazing flirt, apparently. And this was
before
alcohol!

“Oh no, I only hunt men.” Joe gently traced his fingers up Ryan’s thigh, as if trying to check where sensation began.

Ryan looked down at the unfamiliar hand, his voice stuck in his throat. Maybe it would get easier when he finally loses his virginity? “Yeah? You good at it?” The words came out a lot quieter than he would have wished.

Joe chuckled. He had dimples. “Most of the time, but it’s not that easy to track down one I really want.” His hand was now openly squeezing Ryan’s thigh. “You feel that?”

Ryan’s insecurity was getting the best of him, and he shook his head, even though his penis was liking the attention. “No, sorry...”

Joe licked his lips, leaning closer. “What about up here?” He slowly ran his fingers up his thigh, towards Ryan’s crotch.

“Y--yeah, I have loads of feeling there,” he whispered, thinking he could have really used that vodka shot right now.

He saw relief flash through Joe’s face, and it was mirrored by his own when he realized the guy was not another disability fetishist. “Good, cause that would be kinda weird... you know what I mean?” Joe smiled, sliding his hand over Ryan’s hip. It was both arousing and frightening, so Ryan laughed it off.

“Yeah, for like... uhm... spanking?”

Joe pouted. “Or fucking.”

“Of course. Am I the kind of pray a ranger usually goes for?” Having gathered all of his courage, Ryan looked up into his eyes.

Joe smiled, leaning closer until their faces were maybe two inches away. “How about you find out?”

“Maybe I should,” Ryan said, but his mind went wild. What if the guy had a really big cock, or didn’t know how to treat a first timer, or actually hurt him? They’d be alone, with no one to intervene if things went horribly wrong. But then again, Joe seemed like a nice guy... which kinda fit the profile of a serial killer.

“You seem shy.”

Ryan took a deep breath and looked back at him. “Sorry, I suppose I am. It’s just that....” How would he even put that into words?

“You’ve never been here?” Joe finished for him and squeezed Ryan’s arm. “I could tell.”

“Am I that obvious?” he asked with a nervous laugh. He didn’t mind the touch at all and if felt great to have someone interested enough, but Ryan was getting increasingly sure that going into the play room for a quick fuck wasn’t what he was after. He waited long enough to understand that he wasn’t desperate to just get the sex thing over with.

“You were looking around like everything was new.” Joe gently tangled his fingers into Ryan’s hair.

“I guess it is... I’m a bit of a first timer.” He leaned in to the touch. “Just don’t tell my friend.”

Joe laughed. “Right. My lips are sealed.” He accompanied the words with a corresponding gesture. “So, what are you looking for, Ryan?”

“I suppose I’m looking for a date more than a fuck.” Their eyes met and his heart leapt. He didn’t want to be a disappointment.

“Right.” Joe sighed, slowly letting his hand drop from Ryan’s arm. “I’m not dating right now, to be honest.”