Apartment 1209

don’t believe in artificial sweeteners. I don’t think they’re very healthy.”
    “Okay. Well, I’ll have a Coke then.”
    He went into the kitchen and returned with an ice-cold can. He popped the top and handed it to me.
    “Thanks.” I took a gulp, delighting in the full, sugary taste of it.
    “Not that I think pop itself is all that healthy, but those chemical sweeteners are nasty.” He took a swig of the beer he’d gotten for himself, sitting across from me in a black leather pub chair.
    I tried to think of something to say. “I guess you like leather.”
    Brilliant, just brilliant, Henry.
    He tilted his head, his gaze holding mine as he answered. “Yes. You could call me a devotee.”
    I felt my cock thicken and swell as our eyes held. I wanted to tell him I knew. I knew who he was, and what he liked to do to boys like me. Maybe I should. Anything was better than obvious statements about his décor.
    “I know who you are.”
    He seemed surprised, but not worried. “Who told you?”
    “A friend of mine. He’s been to your club.”
    He nodded. “But you’re here. You’re not scared.” The corner of his mouth lifted, as if to reassure me that there really wasn’t anything to be afraid of.
    “I’m terrified.”
    “You don’t look it. You look aroused.”
    “I’m… both.” Holy shit. Did I just admit I had a hard-on for this guy? Where was this courage coming from?
    We looked at each other for a long moment. Then Ryan stood up and moved away.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’ll be right back, Henry. I’m just going to get something.”
    He was going to get something. What was he getting? A whip? A paddle? My cock hardened while sweat began to accumulate on my palms.
    In a few moments, he came back. He tossed something toward me, which I caught by reflex. I looked down at the leather cuffs in my hands. They were beautiful— soft and well made.
    “Do you want to play, Henry?”
    Do you want to play, Henry?
    Why did it seem like I’d been waiting to hear those words from this man for a very long time? Years, even.
    I couldn’t speak. My breaths seemed loud in the small space as I nodded twice, looking him in the eyes.
    He grinned, the dimple in one cheek making him seem benign and charming. But what did he have planned?
    “You’ll have to do better than that. I need your verbal consent to be restrained. Do you give it, Henry?”
    I cleared my throat. “Yes, Sir.”
    “Then put your hands together in front of you.”
    I did, my heart beating wildly. I watched as he fastened the cuffs around my wrists and attached them together.
    He looked at me, smiling with utter kindness. “We’ll keep this very basic, Henry. I know you’re inexperienced.”
    I felt panic suddenly, remembering just how inexperienced I was. Embarrassed to tell him, I simply nodded.
    “Okay. I want you to lie back on the sofa and stretch your arms above your head.”
    He told me what to do, just like I’d imagined. He was in total control of this and I loved it. I did as he asked.
    He peeled off his T-shirt, revealing the moderately-haired and very muscled chest I’d seen on the brochure. He let the shirt drop to the floor.
    “I’m going to take your pants off.”
    “Okay,” I said quickly, eagerness and excitement plain in my voice.
    He chuckled softly as he undid the fly of my jeans and pulled them off while I lifted my butt to help him. He made sure my black boxer briefs stayed on, although I wouldn’t have protested if he’d taken them too.
    He threw my jeans aside and looked down at me. I looked down too. The outline of my erect cock could be seen distinctly beneath the cotton of my briefs. There was even a little wet spot where some pre-cum had leaked out. As we watched, the spot got bigger.
    “I’m sorry,” I murmured, embarrassed. I hoped he realized it wasn’t piss or anything gross like that.
    “Don’t be,” he said simply. He reached out and touched the wet spot, making me gasp as my cock surged. Rubbing it gently, he lifted his finger to his nose and inhaled.
    “Oh… fuck.” I whispered, eyes wide.
    “Not yet,” he said with a smile as he reached for the waistband of my boxers.
    He lifted it, letting the tip of my hard-on peek out. He made a very sexy noise in the back of his throat as he pulled the boxers down, revealing my full, engorged length. “I’m going to take my time with you, Henry.”
    Oh, Jesus . But how would I last? I felt like I’d come just from the way he