Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

above the door at Chase's shop and he knew the guy was alone when his voice transformed into that gruff seduction. One that was unintentional but nevertheless fatal to Ty's self-preservation. "One scene, Ty. That's what you wanted and that's what I'm offering you. You wanna come or not?"
    "Yes." Certainty and not a hint of hesitance. Only he'd preferred a bit more than just one time, but if that was all he'd get, then he'd take it. And he remained certain right until the point when he was in Chase's car and then in Chase's home. That was when he felt a little less sure of himself, because he wasn't at the shop anymore. Not in a place that was close to public and open enough for him to get out if he wanted to.
    Chase's apartment was in an old industrial estate that had been turned into a residential building. The openness of the flat wasn't all that surprising judging by the exterior of the building. No walls, only the ones surrounding the apartment. Thick, angular beams divided the space into smaller sections. Even without any separating walls there was a bedroom and a living room and a kitchen. Even a study of some sort, if the amount of sketches and paper scattered around was anything to go by. But the color theme was just as murky as the man who lived in the place; dark and deep, black on top of other just as lifeless colors. Dark wood, dark fabrics. Not much brightness other than a few spots of color in pillows or curtains. And against everything Ty had seen so far, Chase wasn't all that unorganized. He actually held order in his home unlike what he seemed to do at the shop. Or perhaps it was just different here, because this was where he lived and the shop was just a place he worked at.
    And the one living in that space studied Ty while he studied the space. And he felt every single second that went by, because each one made him a bit more detached from the world left outside Chase's doors. His home now. His rules, his command. His control, not Ty's.
    And when Ty finally found enough courage to look at the man, he saw the human beast that was hidden inside. The one that had taken its time and spun its web around Ty so tightly he had no way of getting out now. No chit-chat. No conversation mellowed with a cup of coffee. Ty could see how Chase obtained a different state of mind, one he had kept away so far but it was there now, and without even saying a word or moving he brought Ty down. Lower and lower until there wasn't any more space to lower himself into.
    "You remember your words?"
    "Yes."
    "Tell me what they are."
    Ty quickly licked his lips that had gone completely dry while he dropped his gym bag on the floor. He hadn't known what to take with him, but he was pretty sure he had a second set of clothes and a toothbrush. Hopefully. He could just as well have a gardening hose and three packs of playing cards because he'd been kind of all over the place when he had packed his stuff. Chase had recommended him to eat and rest, but for some odd reason Ty had only managed to pick at his food and just the thought of sitting in one place had been sickening.
    "Red for stopping, yellow for slowing down."
    "Good. And believe me, using those words is not a failure or a sign of weakness, so don't think you'll get punished or hurt worse for saying either one, okay?" Chase said, and Ty nodded while thinking if he could even remember those words later on. But then the heat was back in Chase's gaze and Ty could no longer even think, let alone say anything.
    "Strip."
    Five small letters and one word that was even smaller and it took so little space in the open air and still it managed to fill Ty completely. But while he thought he couldn't, not fully naked and bare and without any shelter, his hands worked, fingers moved and he got rid of his clothes. One piece after another while Chase stood still, fully clothed in his blacker than black armor created by jeans and boots and that goddamn long sleeved shirt that still covered his own drawings from Ty. And those eyes that had looked at Ty millions of times already, still kept looking and they held on to his without even glancing at his naked body when Ty was free from any fabric or leather belt or metal on buttons. And it was surprisingly easy to be naked, though he had thought he'd have a problem with it. There wasn't much Chase hadn't seen before and whatever there was, was just another part of a human body. Skin and flesh. All the same if only in different wrappings at