Page 62 of Whirlwind

They’d shared scenes before, but it was always something they could play off as being incidental. Group scenes, or something where a friend asked them both to participate, like Eric had last month.

Which did nothing to explain why Ben felt the need to jerk off later at the memory of Parker exercising his sexy brand of control.

For a while, Ben had wondered if he wanted to be the recipient of that control. But after some soul searching, he concluded that he still wasn’t wired that way.

He’d tried subbing a few times when he was training as a Dom so that he would know what it felt like. It had been informative, but definitely not for him. So, if he wouldn’t switch and Parker wouldn’t switch, that basically left them with vanilla sex.

Ben had considered it, seriously considered it, because the chemistry was so good. But in the long run knew it would be unsatisfying and disappointing for both of them.

Instead, sexual tension filled the air.

Tonight, they were going out for drinks, probably at Whirlwind. They met up with their crowd of friends there once or twice a week, but it was still his favorite choice when it was just the two of them. It was a queer bar and he loved the low key, casual vibe.

Ben tapped his watch pointedly. Naturally, Parker’s reply was to grin as he switched the phone to the other ear and pushed his precariously poised chair back even further.

Ben’s heart pounded and he felt his muscles bunch as they prepared to catch the chair. Not that he could when Parker was a dozen feet away, behind a desk and a glass wall.

Fucking Parker. He knew that it bothered Ben, and he did it anyway just to needle him. In fact, Ben was pretty sure that he added an extra ten degrees to the angle just for him.

Ben made absolutely sure that he didn’t move a muscle or give away anything with his face.

If Parker broke his head, he’d say I told you so. Probably after kicking his ass and/or buzzing around him with an ice pack. But until then he wasn’t going to take the bait. Fucking Parker.

He made a casual wave and turned to go. It was a total power play. I’m not waiting around while you play your stupid games.

Of course, it could backfire. Parker might take him seriously and not come out to Whirlwind tonight. Or he could take a stupidly long time just to make Ben wait. He’d probably blown it, now.

He was normally so cool and collected, but there was something about Parker that just left him off balance. Not that he would ever, ever let the other man know.

He walked slowly to his car. He’d give Parker twenty minutes to wrap up the call and then decide whether to head to Whirlwind or just go home. His house was way out on the edge of town, though, so he’d probably hit up Whirlwind on the way.

There was the possibility that Parker actually needed to finish up something important, and leaving now would be a dick move. He really needed to slow down and think more when Parker was around. He felt like he was always reacting—which put his inner Dom on edge.

Yeah, he needed to relax a bit. The legal clinic was located in the same building as three other queer organizations, and there was a little rock garden on the side. He decided that hanging out there would be a better way to pass the time.

And not look like he was so pathetic.

It was usually deserted, but he’d met all sorts of interesting people there, too.

The rock garden was quiet when he entered, and he realized that he hadn’t taken the time to just sit for a while. He allowed his eyes to rest on the single small tree, asymmetrically placed to draw the eye through the winding paths on the ground.

When his phone rang, he considered not answering it. The call had almost gone to voicemail when he reluctantly drew it from his pocket and found his best friend on the line.

“Angel! I haven’t heard from you in forever.” He didn’t try to hide the warmth in his voice. Angelina was like a sister to him.

“I quit, Ben.” She sounded exhausted.

He had no idea what she was talking about. “Good choice. I support you. Want to talk about it?”

“Ugh. Tamika. She was after my money. You were right.”

Angel was one of the most forthright people Ben knew. It sucked that she kept falling for girls that were all the same type: they claimed they wanted a Mommy Domme, but actually wanted a sugar mama and the opportunity to blow all of her money.

“Sorry, babe. I wish I were wrong.”

“I know. I just… aaaugh!”

“I hear you, sister.” Ben thought back through all their years together, first as the only two queer, black kids at their pretentious boy’s boarding school, then toughing it out through law school and making it through the grueling hours of their early careers. They’d been there for each other every step of the way.