“Max hasn’t asked you yet, though,” Kai clarified.
Scott exhaled. “Not yet, but it’s coming. I can feel it. He’s getting restless. And I just… I just can’t help him out. But since you sometimes dom on the side… I figured I’d run the idea past you and see if you’d be interested.”
Kai crossed his arms. “How old is he, exactly?”
“Um. Early twenties? He’s a senior at Mason.”
“Hmm.” Kai rubbed his chin.
Scott smirked. “Relax, old man. You’re barely thirty. The gap’s not that fuckin’ big.”
Kai’s lips twitched. “Full time, you say?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Kai gave a nod and glanced away in thought. While it was true that he worked with subs at Dom District—and sometimes used to play around with bondage on former boyfriends—he’d never actually taken a sub on as his own. Definitely not a discussion he’d expected when Scott had asked him to stop by the gym.
“He’s beautiful,” Scott tacked on. “Has an awesome personality. Loyal. Fun. Just an all-around great guy.”
Kai chuckled. “You sure you don’t wanna keep him for yourself? Sounds like you think he’s perfect.”
Or maybe he was just working really hard to seal the deal.
Scott grinned, even as his demeanor turned sad. Like maybe he wished he didn’t have to have this conversation. Like maybe he wished that Sean could stay with Max.
“Nah.” He shook his head. And then just like that, his expression warmed. “I’ve definitely got my sights set on someone else.”
Kai lifted a brow. “I see.”
Scott’s heart was already taken.
“So you’ll think about it?” Scott asked.
The prospect was certainly enticing. An attractive young pup could be lots of fun. Full time, though? That was a lot to commit to. And honestly? Deep down, Kai wanted a partner. To love. Not merely some random boytoy who just wanted to play.
Who knew, though. Maybe this Sean kid was different. Not like the others. Putting Kai first instead of treating him like a pitstop; someone to indulge in till it was time to move on.
Sean was a rookie, but if his nature was truly that of a sub, wired to revere and genuinely love his Dom? Kai supposed he held potential to fit the bill.
“Sure.” He shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”
Scott’s big shoulders eased. “Awesome. I—” He paused, eyes locking on something behind Kai in the distance. That smile of his returned, brighter than ever.
Kai’s brows rose. Looked like Scott just spotted a pot of gold. Curious, he glanced over his shoulder—and went motionless.
Breck.
Headed their way with a group of friends. Not Charlie and Jegs, though. These three faces were new. A black-haired, blue-eyed fellow with his baseball cap on backward, another with bleach-blond ringlets down to his shoulders. The third, walking next to Breck, had light-brown hair and amicable eyes. Eyes that, incidentally, also looked kind of wary.
“Hey, man,” Mr. Wary said, coming to a stop in front of Scott. “Long time no see.”
“Tad. You made it.” Scott grinned and clasped his palm.
Kai regarded the guy, his nervous energy intriguing. Six-foot-tallish. Solid build. Friendly smile. Young, but not too young. No doubt the same age as Breck.
Kai slid his gaze to said athlete… then fought back a smile.
Breck was glaring. Rather intently. At him.
Kai forgot how much he enjoyed being the focal point of those heated eyes.
‘Tad’ turned to Kai and gave him a ‘hey there’ chin-up, then motioned to his buddies and looked back at Scott. “We just finished working out… and they were curious about your class, so…” His thoughts seemed to falter.
He was staring at Scott’s mouth.
And there it was. The truth revealed for anyone with eyes to see. Scott and this Tad guy were lovers. Secretly. In a very intense, yet innocent sort of way. The vibe was quiet. And, unexpectedly, kind of beautiful.
Tad cleared his throat. “Uh, so, anyway…. Guys, this is Scott. Kickboxer extraordinaire. Scott, this is Ned, Jay, and—”
“Breck,” Kai offered absently. He’d spoken without thinking. Had suddenly just really wanted that name on his tongue.
All five guys turned and eyed him. Especially Tad, his one brow lifted as he looked Kai over.
Curtly, Breck lifted his chin. “Kai.”
Kai inwardly smiled.
Still so ornery after all these months.
“Get out. You guys know each other?” Scott looked pleasantly surprised.
Kai inclined his head, lips curving. “Used to be a student of mine over at the dojo.” Folding his arms across his chest, he couldn’t help asking. “Whatever happened to you anyway, Breck? One day out of nowhere you just… stopped coming.”
Breck stiffened, and Kai knew without a doubt that they were thinking about the exact same thing. The last time they’d been together. Sprawled out and grinding against each other atop the mats.
“Needed to focus more time on school,” Breck muttered, “so I didn’t get kicked out of Division.”
He was lying. Kai could see it plain as day. Flashes of chagrin in the depths of those golden-brown eyes.