In the Heat of the Dungeon: Rules of Summer Read online

  “I’m sorry, Sir.” Once again, Cody was contrite over what he likely saw as failure. Worse, he kind of hunched in on himself as if he expected a physical rebuke.

  That reaction made Ford mad. What the hell kind of training is Gage putting him through? “There’s no need to apologize. I promise you’re doing nothing wrong. Come on now. Let’s get you out and dressed.”

  Ford reversed his efforts, putting Cody back on the toilet while also drying him with the piss-poor towels Gage had. Ford rubbed the boy down like he would have Sadie, and that comparison was really not helping. As far as Ford was concerned, his dog had been a beautiful creature inside and out and deserving of Ford’s care and protection. It wouldn’t do to think of Cody in those terms. He was not Ford’s boy.

  When he deemed Cody sufficiently dry—and knowing that the heat would only allow that condition to last for so long—he hustled the boy into the bedroom. The sub seemed pretty steady, which meant that although Ford felt the impulse to carry him, it wasn’t really necessary anymore.

  “I assume you sleep here with Master Gage?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good, then put on some clean clothes and join me in the kitchen. I’m going to rustle up some dinner.” He paused and stared hard at the boy. “You are okay on your own, right? If you need help, I want you to be honest with me about it.”

  “I’m fine, Sir. Really,” he added, and his voice sounded strong.

  Once again, Ford hovered a couple of seconds before deciding it was safe to leave the boy alone. “Good. See you in a few.” With that, he strode down the hall, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible, because holy fuck, the kid was hard again, and as disciplined as Ford was, he didn’t think he could resist that temptation for another moment.

  Cody stayed for a few seconds where Master Ford had placed him, his mind still a bit numb from his time in the dungeon. So much had happened so quickly that he’d almost thought it was all a dream, except no… The lingering musky scent of the unfamiliar Dom assured him otherwise. And he’d given Cody an order. Best to get on that. Disobedience led to punishment and not always the good kind. Given how tired and hungry he was, he wasn’t sure he could take much, either. He didn’t like it when the pain had started to slip past pleasure and into a scary zone where he felt vulnerable and afraid. It wasn’t clear to him how much control Master Ford had over him, and he didn’t want to find out the hard way.

  Dressing was easy, as he had few items to choose from. Master Gage mostly kept him naked, but he’d cut off one of his two pairs of ratty jeans into shorts and had some new tank tops that he’d received as rewards for doing a good job. It took no time to tug them on, although stuffing his hard cock into the shorts wasn’t easy. Damn, as if two orgasms in less than thirty minutes wasn’t sufficient to satisfy his horny body… Disgusted with his lack of control, he ruthlessly zippered and snapped his shorts closed, brushed his wet hair back into a stubby ponytail then headed back down to the first floor. Every muscle ached from the long hours of confinement, and he tried to find pleasure in the discomfort. Outside of a scene or the aftercare cuddling he’d become used to, it was difficult to be anything other than resentful that his body had been abused.

  He found Master Ford in the kitchen, opening and slamming cupboards shut, muttering swear words under his breath. He winced at the sight and sound, because it reminded him of the home he’d been kicked out of. Memories of his father’s vicious temper rose unbidden into his head, as did the way Master Gage sometimes lost it when something unexpected happened. He knew to keep out of the way of an angry man, staying by the doorjamb, while still obeying Master Ford’s edict.

  It wasn’t such a hardship, actually. It gave him a perfect view of the Dom—all that tall strength with layered muscles. Sweat caused his T-shirt and shorts to cling to his perfect masculine form. The high, firm ass looked powerful enough to drill a guy right into the mattress. Cody’s cock strained within its confines, feeling harder, if that were possible. His hole twitched with the desire to be filled. Staring was rude, but did it count if the subject of his desire didn’t realize what he was doing?

  “Jesus Christ, Gage, not even a box of fucking Cheerios! Seriously?” Master Ford kicked the lower cabinet door.

  A whimper escaped Cody’s lips before he could stop it. He shrunk against the jamb when Master Ford whirled around. The man’s expression morphed from stormy to reassuring in the blink of an eye.

  “Hey there… That was fast.” Master Ford paused, glanced around the room, then returned his attention to Cody. “So, there’s absolutely nothing to eat.”

  Cody didn’t say anything, like how he’d known that already and had even warned the guy. Although money wasn’t a subject that Master Gage ever shared with him, Cody’s impression was that his Master didn’t have a lot. Not that it mattered… When he’d picked Cody literally off the streets, he’d been completely broke. Having a place to live and not going hungry was good enough for him.

  Master Ford ran his hand over the top of his head and blew out a breath. “Okay, it’s getting late, and I’m in no fit shape to eat out.” He stared hard at Cody. “You could maybe get a bite in the hospital cafeteria once I drop you off.”

  Cody nodded even as he gnawed at his lower lip. He wrapped his arms around his middle and tried not to think about how hungry he was.

  “What’s the matter? Cody?” Master Ford insisted in a sharper tone when Cody didn’t answer right away.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t have any money.”

  “Cash? You have a debit or credit card, though, right?”

  Cody shook his head, miserable and a little embarrassed. “No, Sir. Master Gage takes care of all of that.”

  There was more swearing, then, “All right, new plan. You’re coming home with me. We’ll eat, I can wash the stink off me, and we can… Well, see how it goes from there. Get some shoes on and pack a few things in case you need to stay the night.”

  The idea that he might sleep over at Master Ford’s home sent Cody’s heart racing. He didn’t know what that meant. Would they play? Even after the miserable afternoon he’d spent, the idea of having a scene with this virile and intriguing man was an enticing idea. He should be afraid—and part of him was. The other, though, was excited to see what it would be like to be dominated by someone new. He’d only ever known Master Gage, and while he appreciated what he’d experienced with that man, he’d begun to wonder if all Doms were the same. This might be his one chance to find out.

  “Yes, Sir,” he replied, before racing off to do as he’d been told.

  Packing was easy, given his clothing situation and the few mementoes he’d kept from his old life. Kids’ stuff, really—his small stuffed bear, a few action figures and a tiny metal ambulance from one Christmas that hadn’t ended in tears and violence. He didn’t believe he would need these things, but they were always in the worn-out backpack he’d taken from home. The idea of leaving them behind for any amount of time bothered him. Slipping on a pair of flip-flops—his only footwear at this point—he returned to the house’s entryway. Master Ford was waiting by the front door.

  The force of the man’s stare caused Cody’s already-warm face to heat even more. He wondered what the man saw. As far as Cody was concerned, he was just a skinny, short kid with a too-pretty face and nothing special in his shorts. He fiddled with the strap of his backpack as he waited for the man to make the next move, maybe say ‘Forget it. You’re on your own,’ because Cody wasn’t worth the trouble. The idea of being left alone petrified him.

  “Let’s go” was all Master Ford said before leading Cody out into the waning heat of the day and into his massive SUV.

  Chapter Three

  The ride to Master Ford’s house took a while. Cody had no idea where they were going except that it was clearly out to the suburbs. He didn’t mind the drive, given how cool the SUV was. For the first time in days, he didn’t feel sweaty and sticky. He was almost a little chilly. Master
Ford navigated the roads with obvious skill and ease. After a while, the busy streets turned less so and houses became farther apart. There were lawns, bigger and better kept than those in the Master’s neighborhood. The homes were larger and nice cars were parked in the driveways. When Master Ford pulled into an equally impressive place and right past the opening door of a wide garage, Cody realized that the man was well-off. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Living with Master Gage had been much like living in his family’s home, without the censure and abuse, of course. He worried he’d feel out of place in a big house like this.

  Master Ford killed the engine then went to the door leading to the inside without waiting to see if Cody was following. Naturally, he did, hugging his backpack almost like he used to do with his bear. He didn’t know what to expect, but upon entering a spacious kitchen, he found nothing was that surprising. It was, however, also cool from what must have been central air conditioning. At least he’d be comfortable in some respects.

  Master Ford pulled out his phone from his back pocket. “I’m going to order pizza. What do you like on yours?” He gave Cody the side-eye as he waited for an answer.

  This was easy. “Whatever you like, Sir.”

  The man frowned. “No, see I’m ordering a large meat-lovers pie for myself. The question is what would you like on your own pizza? The truth now. I’m too hot and aggravated for games, Cody.”

  His heartbeat stuttered a bit at the mild rebuke. He’d thought he knew how to be a sub, but obviously not. And he took the man at his word. “I like mushrooms and anchovies, Sir.” He winced afterward, waiting for a sneer or some other indication that his choice sucked.

  Instead, the man merely nodded. “Okay, then.” He tapped away at his phone before saying, “It’s on its way. I’m jumping into the shower because I can’t stand myself for another second. The delivery people usually come to the front door, so answer it if I’m not out by the time they arrive.”

  Master Ford walked past a doorway as he spoke. Cody followed and found himself in a nice family room off the kitchen and opposite that morphed into a formal living room at the front of the house.

  “Settle in and help yourself to the remote,” the man said before disappearing up the stairs to the second floor.

  With the backpack still clutched to his chest, Cody sat on the edge of the big, sectional sofa and wondered with some trepidation as to exactly how he was supposed to ‘settle in’.

  * * * *

  Ford jerked his cock with a death grip, furious at it and himself for his lack of control. It was a good thing his T-shirt had been long enough to hide his constant hard-on, or poor Cody would have been getting an eyeful for the entire journey home. And Christ, wasn’t this completely crazy that he had Gage’s sub in his house—waiting for pizza, for fuck’s sake. He could picture the boy sitting on his sofa, that worn backpack clutched to his chest as if it would somehow keep him safe. The fact that the kid obviously was uncomfortable being with him should have been a boner-killer in itself. All these years he’d practiced as a Dom, Ford had always been careful to be non-threatening, to put subs at ease. Cody practically vibrated with tension and worry. Ford was damned if he knew what to do about it.

  Well, getting off in the shower and forcing his dick into submission was a start. A cool shower, something that both cleaned and soothed his overheated body, should have been sufficient to deflate his shaft. As it hadn’t been, he resorted to the kind of self-gratification that embarrassed him. Sure, taking himself in hand at night with his favorite fantasies playing was fine. There was nothing wrong with a boost in getting to sleep. But this? Jerking off in the shower quickly and guiltily, as if he were afraid his mother would walk in on him? Pathetic. The images flitting across his brain, urging him on, weren’t harmless, either. This was no faceless fantasy. Everything involved Cody. Of course, it did. He pictured the way he’d found the boy, trussed prettily with his cock caged and his ass stuffed. The sheen of sweat coating his soft, creamy skin had only added to his allure. Ford had no problem picturing him in his own dungeon, bent over the spanking bench, his pert rump red from a fresh beating. He could still remember the velvety channel of the boy’s ass, tight and swollen, despite having been stretched by that enormous dildo. It took little effort to imagine the pleasure of sinking his cock balls-deep into that glorious, welcoming heat.

  As Ford ripped the orgasm from his balls, he gritted his teeth and bit back the groan. He slammed one palm against the tiles to keep from keening over from the force of it all. His cum washed away quickly from the pulsing spray. If only his sense of weakness and temptation were as easily dealt with… Even with the climax, his dick didn’t entirely deflate. Shutting off the water, he grabbed a towel and rubbed his skin with brisk and brutal efficiency. He hissed as the cotton scoured his cock. Good enough for you. He threw on a longer—and baggy—T-shirt and loose sleep pants, although he held little hope that his dick would stay as hidden as he wanted. There was no point, however, in getting dressed for going out. The time on his phone told him it would be too late to visit Gage. Cody was Ford’s problem for the rest of the night.

  That fact should have bothered him more than it did. He’s not my boy. Cody belonged to Gage and yet, there was no collar on the sub, and Ford was willing to bet there was no contract, either. And why the fuck did Gage leave the kid so utterly dependent? No food, no money, and from what Ford had seen of that backpack, not much in the way of belongings. If those way-too-short cut-offs and tight tee were any indication, Cody was completely destitute. He was wearing flip-flops, even. Not that Ford minded how the boy looked. The way the worn denim hugged his cute package was a total turn-on, as was the extent to which the fabric molded his ass. There was a lot of skin on display, too. As he hastened back down to his first floor, he looked forward to getting another look at his guest.

  Cody wasn’t where he’d left him. There was, however, the distinct smell of pizza, and he followed it into the kitchen. The delivery boxes were on the table, plates and napkins laid out and a fetching sub was kneeling on the floor. His form was good—knees shoulder-width apart, hands clasped at the small of his straight back, chin up and eyes down. It was hard to say how long he’d been like that—a few minutes maybe—but he wasn’t fidgeting or wavering, just waiting patiently.

  With a snap of his fingers, Ford said, “Up.” It only occurred to him a second later that he’d instinctively gone into command mode. Not my boy, he reminded himself again. Still, it was satisfying the way Cody gracefully got to his feet, keeping his submissive pose. “Sit down. I’ll get us both a bottle of vitamin water.” He headed to his fridge.

  “Thank you, Sir. I wasn’t sure what you’d want.” Although the sub moved closer to a chair, he didn’t take a seat until Ford returned.

  “When I say sit, I mean it. There’s no need to stand on formality at the moment.” He plunked himself down in front of the large pie and slid one of the bottles over to Cody.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t know the rules, but I promise I learn quickly.”

  Figuring the kid was overwhelmed with everything, Ford took the time to place a slice of the smaller pizza on Cody’s plate before taking one of his own. “See? The thing is… There aren’t any rules between you and me. I’m not your Dom.” He bit into the slice, closed his eyes briefly from the sheer pleasure of the taste then continued. “You’re my house guest tonight. That’s all.”

  The sub took a gratifyingly large bite of his own food, chewed then swallowed before commenting. “I understand, Sir. I’m just…not good left to my own devices.”

  Ford took some time to make some headway on his dinner before remarking, “You’re new to the lifestyle, though, right? What did you do before you met Gage?”

  “Survived.” Cody uncapped his water then took a sip.

  That simple and heartbreaking answer caused Ford to pause. He killed time by wiping his mouth as he tried to think of what to say to that. “I remember Gage saying something about your
living on the streets.” When Cody said nothing in response and simply kept eating, Ford added, “I suppose you and Gage are in a twenty-four-seven Master and slave relationship?” It made sense. Gage wasn’t a dilettante, and this kid was obviously unmoored without his Dom. “What does your contract say about daily living?”

  Cody blinked at him with owlish eyes before lowering his gaze again. “I don’t have a contract with my Master, Sir. He said… He said that if I trusted him, we didn’t need that kind of thing.”

  The answer didn’t surprise him. Ford said a whole bunch of bad words inside his head anyway but was careful not to voice them. He finished off a slice and took another, downing half in one bite. “Okay,” he said when his mouth was mostly empty again. “I mean, it’s not okay. Contracts are important.” He smiled reassuringly when Cody’s expression fell. “It’s not your fault, just a little disagreement between me and Gage about appropriate play habits. Anyway, it’s too late to visit Gage at the hospital, so you’re stuck with me for the night.”

  “I’ll be good, Sir.”

  That declaration, said with such raw sincerity, made Ford’s heart ache even more. It also pissed him off. God damn you, Gage. What the fuck have you been doing with this kid? He gave Cody a direct stare and said, “I have no doubt about that. We just have to figure out how to make you comfortable.” He polished off his second slice then reached for another. “Eat some more,” he ordered, as kindly as he could. The boy had barely finished his first one.

  He waited until Cody had swallowed down more pizza before asking necessary questions. “Do you need permission to eat?” When Cody nodded, he added, “How about getting a drink?”

  “Water only, Sir, at my discretion, unless my Master gives me something else.”

  “Fine. We’ll eat together as we are now on the condition that if you feel hungry, you have to tell me. Understand?” Another nod. “What’s the story on bathroom breaks?”