Page 12 of Knox

I’m running so fast I can’t breathe enough to make the call to DeVon to fill him in. He’ll know soon enough. As I reach the path that leads down to the pedestrian underpass to the main road, I slow down. Hitting the high street at full speed is never a good idea.

Fuck! In front of me are four men. Two are the muscles and built like brick shit houses; the other two are tall, skinny guys that I know will be fast on their feet. I’m fucked and already breathing hard after running. Yet, instinct takes over, and my feet move.

I’m not fast enough, and I hit the ground hard as I’m tripped. The first knife hits my back, and I thank god for the protection now. One of them curses, probably realising he hasn’t hit flesh. It doesn’t stop the next one from hitting my thigh, another in my arm and my neck.

Then, the kicking starts, and as I curl up into a ball, I guess that the muscle men have taken over. I don’t even move when the shouting and loud footsteps move in to break them up or join in. All I want is for it to be over. Pilkington fucked up, because I’m pretty sure the knife in my thigh hit an artery, and I’m bleeding out.

Then it’s all loud noises and panic.

I look over the table at Roman, and he looks so different in black skinny jeans and a fitted Tee. It’s the first time I’ve seen him out of gym clothes or the sexy and very skimpy shorts he wears at Bound. He smiles at me. “What’s got you looking at me like that?”

I frown. How was I looking? “Like what?”

“Like you’ve never met me. You’re checking me out.” He laughs as I shake my head.

“Sorry, I was just thinking that I’ve never seen you in everyday clothes. That I know so much, yet so little about you. Like, where you work or live. I know you like cocktails and working out, as well as other things that probably shouldn't be discussed in a restaurant.”

He blushes a very cute pale pink. “I can say the same about you, apart from your job; I know where you work. I’m a manager at the phone shop in the shopping centre. It’s a good place to work—it has good people there. Tate used to work there too. It’s how we met.” He frowns, probably at the memory of someone who was supposed to be a friend. “It’s a better place without him.”

“So are the gym and the club. It’s sad how jealousy made him change and do things that hurt the people around him.”

Tate had wanted Saint, and Noah was a threat, an obstacle in his way, even though Saint had never shown him any more attention than he did any of the other subs he played with. Tate took it too far and tried to hurt Noah before he was forced out of the club and left town. I’m sure there’s more to it than that, but it’s Saint and Noah’s story, not mine.

“What else do you want to know about me? I’m an open book,” Roman says with a half shrug of his shoulders. “I share a flat with a girl I went to college with. She’s great and has a wonderful girlfriend. It’s a relationship like I hope to have one day.” He looks wistful, and it stirs something in my gut I don’t understand.

“Are they in the lifestyle?”

“Not as much as me, but they play. It was how we bonded; we were at the student union, and someone started talking about how his dorm partner would have loud sex with whips and shit. We said, ‘Sounds fun,’ at the same time, and that was it. How about you? When did you know you liked less vanilla fun?”

“It was never hidden at home. Dad and Pops have a similar lifestyle. Sex was never a taboo subject, and as we all turned eighteen, we found Bound. Saint and Royal were already members and had both found their love of dominance—choosing different styles based on their needs. Royal craved love and affection; Saint needed total control. Parts of their former lives that both were missing. I’m more like Saint, but I still want to feel needed. How about you? You’re not much younger than me and have been a member of Bound for as long.”

“I dunno. I just didn’t like the plain stuff. I kept waiting for it to get better, to be more…more. You know what I mean. It took me a while to learn, and I’m forever grateful to the Dom I had teach me. He was a good guy.”

“Was? Is he not around anymore?” I know Doms who train subs and stay as a guide for the boys, someone who will be willing to help out if something goes wrong. It’s rare to be left alone after training has finished. I still spend time with Alec, the Dom that taught me to sub and then how to dominate.

“No, he passed away about a year ago. A heart attack. It was totally out of the blue. He was a fit, healthy man. It was hard.” Roman’s voice cracks a little at the end, and automatically, I reach over the table and take his hand.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I squeeze his hand. “We can talk about something else.”

Just then, the waiter arrives, and after another glance at the menu, I choose the steak with a baked potato. Roman orders the burger with fries. It is enough interruption to close the door on the sad conversation.

We talk about any and everything. I can’t remember when I’ve had such a great evening without taking my clothes off. When I tell Roman, he laughs a deep throaty laugh that goes straight to my dick. “The night’s not over yet.”

“I thought we were going to behave, at least for the first date.” I chuckle as he bites on his lip, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m tempted to take him home right now.

“Is there going to be a second date?” There’s a vulnerable edge in his voice. Does he doubt my attraction to him?

“I hope so. I really like you, Roe. I know we have fun together, but…” I pause and take a breath. “I’m looking for more. And I’d like that more to be with you.”

Roman’s eyes go wide, and he swallows hard. Fuck, I’ve got this wrong. I’m going to get the ‘I’m not looking for anyone’ speech.

“Sorry. I think I’ve got this all wrong.” I blurt out, feeling fucking stupid. Roe can have anyone he wants; he’s sought after by so many of the Doms. Saint’s friend Jackson—a hot guy with a massive dick—adores him.

“No, no, you haven’t. I’m surprised that you want that with me. Everyone knows that I’m good for a scene or just a fun time. No one has ever asked me for anything more. Not that I’m interested in anyone. Anyone but you. I’ve had such a crush on you for years.” His eyes drop down, but he looks up at me through his thick lashes. A look I’ve seen many times when he’s on his knees with my cock down his throat.

“Do you want to get outta here? We could go to my place, if you’d like,” I ask, and he’s nodding before I finish speaking. “I’ll get the bill.”

I find out that Roman walked to the restaurant since he lives quite close by, so we walk to my car. We’re so close that our hands brush together, and I do something else that’s a first for me: I slide my fingers through his and let out a sigh when I see him smile at the simple action. Maybe he’s new to this too. My car is only a few hundred yards down the street, which makes our hand holding too brief for my liking. “It’s this one.” I stop by my car. It’s nothing flashy like my brother’s, but I like it.