He let the contraption fall, weights and chain and all, and maybe it was just the relief, maybe it was that single stroke of his hand—nothing more than freeing his cock, but James tightened again and shuddered and came, his muscles squeezing Cal’s cock until it bordered on pain, so Cal moved and thrust against that strength. When he came too, it was quite literally a blaze of light and near pain, tunnel vision and whiteout, pumping into James over and over as if his body had forgotten how not to.
James collapsed all the way onto the table, a sweaty, humbled mess. Cal barely had enough sense left to secure the condom when he pulled out, and even he needed to steady himself against the table. He stepped back, nearly forgetting he still had his trousers around his ankles, but he caught himself, using the edge of the table for support.
He leaned down and kissed the hot, sweat-dampened skin on the back of James’s neck. “You did well. Very good.” Another light kiss. “We’re done.”
James exhaled. “Thank you.”
Cal pushed himself upright. He took off the condom and picked up his trousers, but couldn’t figure out what to do with the condom.
“I’ll keep an eye on him.” Nick motioned towards the bathroom at the other end of the room. “Go ahead.”
“Thanks.” Cal was so out of breath, he could barely form the word. He took care of the condom as quickly as he could, and made sure he was a little less dishevelled. The bathroom was dimmer than the other room, so he took off his sunglasses and left them beside the sink. Then he grabbed a hand towel and dampened it with warm water for James.
When he returned, James was still slumped over the table. Nick was standing beside him, running his fingers through James’s hair. It always amazed Cal how quickly Nick could turn from unabashed sadist to someone so gentle; he could be simply adorable with Spencer, and watching him now with James made Cal’s heart melt. Melt, and at the same time, clench a little. Jealousy? Get your hands off my man?
Cal shook his head and pushed the thoughts away. He and Nick both helped James onto his feet, and James murmured a “thank you.”
“You all right?” Cal asked.
James nodded as Cal wiped him down. “I’ll be . . . I’ll be fine.” He pulled up his trousers and boxers. “Just need to catch my breath.”
Cal nodded towards the bathroom. “Take a moment. Clean yourself up.” He paused. “You okay on your feet?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
Cal glanced at Nick, who responded with a nod. Cal gestured at the bathroom again, and he and Nick watched as James slowly shuffled towards it.
Once James was out of earshot, Nick turned to Cal. “Make sure he drinks some water, and just relaxes for a while. He wasn’t too far into subspace, so he doesn’t have to come down as much as he would have to if we’d really beaten the crap out of him.”
Cal grinned. “Maybe next time.”
Nick chuckled. “Maybe. I don’t think you’ll need my help, though.” He gestured in the direction James had gone. “Looks like you’ve got a pretty good handle on topping him.”
Cal swallowed, his heart sinking a little.
“Something wrong?” Nick asked.
Cal shook his head. “I don’t know. I mean, when we’re like this”—he tapped a knuckle on the billiards table where he’d had James bent and begging—“it’s easy. It just happens like this is how it’s supposed to be.”
Nick rested his hip against the table. “So the problem isn’t here? When you’re playing?”
“I guess not. I mean, I’m still learning the ropes, as it were, but once we get into this, it works.” He sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair. “But we’re on some weird footing the rest of the time.”
“You’re walking into uncharted territory. Spencer and I went through the same thing. You have to make some adjustments, figure out what you both want.”
“Right. But James is my employer. That complicates things a little.”
Nick smiled. “Spencer was my client. Talk it over with him, and see where it goes. Because this”—he nodded towards the table he was leaning against—“is obviously natural for both of you.”
“It is.” Cal returned the smile. “Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime.” Nick pulled out his mobile as he pushed away from the table again. “I’ll leave you to take care of him. You remember everything I told you about aftercare, right?”
Maybe not everything you told me, but definitely everything you showed me.
And hopefully James and I don’t fuck up the afterglow. Again.
“Yeah, I remember. Thanks.”
“Good. I’m going to call a cab and show myself out.” Nick winked. “Spencer’s going to be waiting for me.”
“Have fun.”
“Always do.”
Nick slipped out a second before James emerged from the bathroom. James looked much more like himself, but he was still obviously ruffled. His hair was straighter, minus a few out of place strands. His shirt was untucked, which it never was. And his eyes—God, his eyes—were glazed and heavy-lidded, the pupils still blown.
Cal touched his arm. “How do you feel?”
James smiled. “I feel great.” Then he looked around. “Where’s Nick?”
“He’s gone for the evening.” Cal put his arm around James’s waist. “Why don’t we go up to the bedroom and relax for a little while?”