Riding Ryder (7 page)

“Not like that, you idiot. I’ll always tell you what I can, when I can. Let’s face it. By the time you’ve been here a few days and are
au fait
with the way things work, you’ll know as much as me anyway. Well, almost.”

“Mmm, true enough. Er, I meant to say, is there any other staff?” Logan asked. “Apart from Madame D, of course.”

Caleb chuckled. “A couple of guys who look after the gardens—there’s about ten acres—and they do maintenance when needed. But unless it is an emergency, never when we have clients. The only people around then are Doris and me. And now you.”

“Yeah.” There was quiet satisfaction in the voice. “And me now.” He was silent for a second. “How many clients at a time?”

“A couple or two singles. Never any more. I need to be available for them at any time. And they don’t mix, either. This is a very private thing for people to do.”

“And do they all achieve sexual satisfaction?” Logan asked, genuinely interested.

“Eventually, so far.” He changed the subject. “Now if you’re okay, let’s go and grab some lunch so I can show you around downstairs before today’s clients arrive. One couple today, and another are arriving on Friday.”

He led the way out of the room. “That’s up to the clients,” Caleb again answered an unasked question. “Some book from Monday to Friday, others just need a wee refresher, maybe a day or two. It depends on the circumstances and the people concerned. No offense, but you won’t be able to be around when they arrive. The main house will be out of bounds when we have clients, unless they specifically say otherwise. Likewise, we may or may not join them for meals, either together, or me alone. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.”

There was no answer. Well, he hadn’t really expected one. Leaving the lift, they walked toward the kitchen. He could tell Logan wasn’t happy, his tension palpable, emanating from him in waves, his face tight and pinched.

“So am I to be locked away like the mad man in the attic then? Only let out at dark of night?”

He turned so fast Logan nearly walked into him. “You see? It’s started already. No, you fucking idiot. Listen, the clients choose—where, when, how. Not us. Never us, however much we want to. They are paying for the privilege of opening up their deepest fears and desires. Who are we to bugger it up for them? Christ, Logan, you’re going to have to come to terms with all this, or our relationship won’t work. And if you can’t cope, fuck off now before I get in any deeper.” He turned his back again, not wanting Logan to see the tears in his eyes, unable to wipe them away. He was enfolded in a pair of firm male arms and felt tears on his neck.

“Oh, Cal. I’m so sorry. I know it’ll be hard for both of us,” Logan said despairingly. “I will try; I promise. Keep shooting me down like you did then every time I’m a prick, and it will all be fine. Make sure you keep reminding me, because I want you to be my life. And if there are bits of your life I can’t share, then all I can see is how lucky I am to have the rest of it. Now, feed the beast, or I won’t have the strength to look after you later.”

Caleb sniffed very inelegantly. He sensed Logan finding himself a tissue and blowing his nose.

Caleb spoke softly. “Remind me to show you our roof garden later, for our eyes only.”

“Well, yee ha. I can sit up there and plot your next loving, then.” Logan injected an upbeat, albeit watery, note into his voice.

Oh, thank you, my love, I hope that strength of understanding gets us through the days, weeks, years ahead
.

Chapter Nine

They hadn’t long finished Doris’s superb apple pie before an intercom rang. Rising from the table, Caleb went to it and spoke into the mouthpiece. Only then did Logan realize it was set so only the person speaking into it could hear what was said at the other end.

“Right, that’s fine; I’m opening the gates for you. Park out front, and I’ll be at the door to greet you. Good.” He turned back to Logan and gave him a swift, hard kiss so full of promise it had Doris sighing into her teacup. Logan returned the kiss every bit as lovingly.

“I’ve got to go. Can you find your way upstairs? Or Doris will show you our private entrance down here, and our garden. Just ours.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Course he will.” Doris spoke briskly, as if to hide her emotion. “I’ll show him where the dishwasher is as well. And I guess the fridge.”

Both men smiled as Caleb left the room. She turned to Logan, handing him a cup of tea and a tissue.

“He’s a good man, you know. If you can cope with this vocation of his, you’ll be the best thing that ever happened to him. I’ll be here with a shoulder if you need it. Show me when you can’t manage, not him. Never him. But I can tell you you’ll need a good inner strength to survive. It’ll be hard.”

“I know.” After blowing his nose, Logan spoke, voice somber. “Doris, I’m going to have to deal with it. Because he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

She gave him a hug. “He’s the lucky one, I think.”

Surprise and pleasure on his face, he returned it.

“My brother and I are very touchy feely. Well, you know he is; now you know I am too.”

“Your brother?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

“Didn’t he tell you? Typical, just kept up the Doris the wannabe Dominatrix, I bet. The bugger loves to torment me; he has done since we were kids. Mind you, I can give back as good as I get. Ask him about the request he got to give a talk—and no, I’m not telling; ask him. We’re so different no one ever guesses we’re related. Yes, Caleb is my big brother.”

He began to laugh. After a moment, Doris joined in, tears streaming down their faces for the best of reasons: mirth.

“Gah, I needed that,” he said when they finally stopped laughing. “And to be honest, he did tell me you were his sister, but not to let you know. But I couldn’t keep it to myself, so now it’s you who mustn’t let on you know I know.”

“Mmm okay, our secret. Look, I’m just warning you,” she said soberly. “You’ll probably need that sense of humor you’ve got more often than not. But like I said, I’m here for both of you. Now, I’m sure you want to know where the dishwasher is.”

“Not really, but I really would like to know where the fridge is!”

***

The first thing Caleb heard when he finally entered the flat a couple of hours later was the soft sounds of someone playing guitar. He stood entranced, listening to the melody as it rose and fell, its sweet notes speaking of love and emotion.

Logan looked up as he entered the room.

“Hope you don’t mind.” He gestured to the guitar in his hands. “I saw it on its stand and couldn’t resist; it’s a lovely instrument.”

Moving fully into the room, Caleb bent his head for a kiss. “You’re welcome to it; I never got past two notes, and while that might be good enough for status quo, it never worked for me. The music’s amazing. What is it called?”

“A thank you to my lover for the pleasure he brings to my life. You like it?” He saw the flare of passion in Caleb’s eyes as he realized the meaning of the title.

“Perfect, bloody perfect. God, Logan, we must make this work. We bloody must.”

Logan’s smile was somber. “Yes, I know. Oh, Doris gave me a casserole for us to eat up here. She said to tell you she was going to her Dominatrix meeting.”

Caleb laughed. “Dominatrix meeting. More like a witch’s coven. The local branch or whatever you call it of the SWRI—Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes. They make jam and have speakers about loads of stuff. When we set the school up, someone asked D what I did for a living. She told them I was a sex therapist. So bugger me if they didn’t ask if I wanted to speak about my job at one of their meetings.” He rolled his eyes, inviting Logan to share the idea of him standing in front of a room of women of all ages, discussing his work.

Logan sputtered. “What the hell did you say?”

“I declined gracefully and threatened Doris I’d spread about that she was a Dominatrix in the making.”

“And what did your sister say to that? Thanks for the brotherly love?”

“So she told you, did she? Nah, she just said she wished.”

It must be good to have a relationship with a sibling like that. Logan realized that was something he hadn’t experienced in a long while. His sister was busy, happily fulfilled in her marriage, living thousands of miles away, and obviously embarrassed to be around him after her great
tell-all
session. As for his elder brother, all they had in common was sibling rivalry.

Logan changed the subject. “So, food?” He watched Caleb run his hand over his hair, the action tightening his T-shirt over his body and sending that now-familiar zing to his groin.
Oh ho, let’s eat first, I need to
get my strength up.

“Yeah, sounds good. Wine?” Caleb took a bottle out of the fridge.

He nodded. “Yes, please.” A thought struck him. “Can you drink, I mean if there are clients in?”

Caleb laughed. “I don’t think a glass of wine will make me unable to perform.”

Logan leered. “Oh, good.”

“Food, man; I’m hungry for that first.”

“Bugger.”

As before at the cottage, they sat side by side while they ate. Neither said very much, but the silence was pleasurable, companionable.

“D said to leave the plates and stuff, and she’d run them through the dishwasher in the morning.” Logan stood up. “But I’ll rinse them. You go and sit in the lounge.”

Caleb nodded. “Cheers, don’t be long.”

“No chance; don’t start without me.”

Smiling a slow sultry smile that sent promises of all things sexual, Caleb spoke huskily, “No chance of that, either.”

Logan watched as Caleb sank wearily into the soft cushions of the settee.

“You look knackered,” he said as he sat down next to him a few moments later. “Tough time?”

Caleb nodded. “Physically knackered? No.”
Well not yet anyway
. “Mentally? Yeah, it’s going to be a tough few days, I think. Oh, that is bloody good.” He rolled his head as Logan moved behind the settee and started to massage his shoulders. “Mmm. There are lots of other bits that could do with a massage. You don’t need to stop there.”

“Slave driver. Let’s go to bed then, and you can tell me where it hurts.” He pulled Caleb to his feet and walked into the bedroom. Earlier, he had turned the covers back, leaving soft music filling the air, determined he would welcome Caleb with warmth and a relaxing, sensual atmosphere. The sheer drapes at the window fluttered gently. The scent of incense surrounded them. Definitely set for seduction. He hoped anxiously Caleb would like it.

“Fucking marvelous. And so are you. Take me. I’m yours.” Caleb fell onto the bed, facedown.

“Lazy sod, get those jeans off and move your butt. That cock of yours is twitching to get into my ass, so don’t you dare deny it its pleasure.” He watched the deep, sexy smile that appeared on Caleb’s face. Noticed the speed at which he stood up and got undressed.

“Come on, slacker,” he was told, “How can I give my cock its pleasure when you’ve still got those boardies on?”

So it’s not going to be needed elsewhere tonight, then?
Logan realized just how happy that made him feel. He moved. Kicked off his shorts and stood chest to chest with Caleb.

“I’m here. I’m yours. So?”

“So.” His legs were swept from under him, and they bounced onto the bed. He saw Caleb reach into the drawer, and saw him holding a condom and gel. “Next?”

“Don’t know how long I can hold out here, Logan. I’m horny as hell.”

“Mmm, I can see that. Well, look at me. Am I any better? Get on with it, for fuck’s sake.”

“Turn over and get up on all fours.”

He heard the command in Caleb’s voice.
Oh ho, Dom tonight, was it?
“Yes, master.” There was a laugh in his voice. He was too hot and horny to be offended or take Caleb’s instructions too seriously. But he hurried to do as he was bidden.

“Good.” There was a short sharp sting on his butt, and then the lubricating gel around his ass as Caleb slowly inserted one and then two fingers into him.

“Touch yourself; get that cock nice and hard. I’m going to fuck your ass oh so good. You’re so ready.”

He welcomed the gentle probe as Caleb’s condom-covered cock began its subtle movement, testing his anus to see how ready he was. Well, he knew the answer
. Fucking ready.
He opened his mouth to say so.

The phone rang.

In disbelief, he saw Caleb move away and pick up the phone from the table and answer it.

“Ryder. Yes. No, no problem. That’s why I’m here. Yes, call at any time. No, you weren’t interrupting anything.”

What? Nothing, eh?
He saw Caleb listening intently to the person on the other end.

“No, no, don’t worry. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He was picking up a shirt as he spoke, his cock still hard, and the condom wrapped around it like a lover. “Yes, it will be fine. I promise you. Yes, where? Okay, well, get the Jacuzzi ready then, just as you both like it. Right, five minutes now. I’m going to ring off. I’ll keep the phone on me on my way to you.” He paused before speaking again. “Any time, I told you that. Yeah, hold that thought. Three minutes.” He threw the phone onto the bed and looked at Logan, his eyes sad, begging for understanding. He didn’t get it.

“I’ve got to go.”

“I heard. You weren’t doing anything important. Maybe you ought to take the johnnie off. Or are you keeping it on, ready for your clients?” Shit. Logan knew he sounded bitter. He tried to say something else, but the look in Caleb’s eyes as he threw the condom in the bin and dragged his jeans on stopped him.

“I told you what it would be like. This is the reality, Logan. They call; I run. I don’t have a normal job. It’s unique and personally tailored, so whether we are eating dinner or eating each other; at the start, middle, or end; I stop whatever I am doing and go. You either get used to it or…” He shrugged.

“I’m trying, Cal, I’m trying but… Give me time. Please.”

“I’ve got to go. Don’t wait up; I don’t know how long I’ll be.” Caleb picked up the phone, turned, and left the room, the dismay on his face obvious. Logan watched him with a heavy heart.

“Come back to me, Caleb. Help me, please.” But he spoke to a closed door.