I let Keith sleep in on Sunday.
I slipped out of bed, fetched the newspaper and went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. I smiled at the thought of the young man upstairs, hardly able to believe he was actually there. I had woken up several times in the night and each time, had stretched out a hand to touch him, just to convince myself that Keith was really lying in bed next to me.
It had felt so good to hold Keith again in my arms the day before. I had taken him into the living room and settled with him on the sofa, with him snugly in my lap. Cradling him while he cried. My hands had rubbed his back, pushed his hair from his eyes. Then, unable to wait any longer, I had turned his face up and kissed him. Gently at first. He responded eagerly, willingly giving his mouth to me. With eyes still moist, he had kissed me back hungrily. His body had sent signals to me that he wanted more, even as he opened his mouth and allowed me to explore him with my tongue.
Suddenly, I was hungry for his touch.
I got up and quietly went back upstairs. The blinds were still closed, shrouding the room in semi darkness.
I slid under the covers and moved close to him, feeling the familiar warmth of the body I so loved. I reached out and stroked his thigh lightly, making the little circles on his flesh that he loved so well. I pulled him closer to me, swinging one leg over him to keep him captive.
I smiled in the dark, more happy than I had been in a long while. It was so good to have him back in my bed, next to me, warming my heart.
‘Babe – I have missed you’ I whispered into his ear.
He lay very still, hardly breathing. After a long while, he turned his head and looked at me, with the dreamy eyes that had always been able to take my breath away. ‘I never meant to hurt you, Dusty. I was so afraid you had given up on me.’ he whispered.
I closed my eyes against that look he gave me. Did he even begin to know how much it had cost me to let him go? I felt the sudden pressure at the back of my eyes but kept back the tears. The last thing I needed was to show Keith any sign of weakness.
Without any words, he moved closer to me, allowing me to slowly trail my hand over his back. He shivered a little as I moved my hand down, coming to rest on his bottom.
‘I love you, Keith. You know that, don’t you?’ I murmured, nibbling his ear. His grunt turned into a moan – a sound that set my loins on fire. I knew that sound so well.
‘Arhhh … ‘ he moaned again, as I slid my hand down to his cock. It was quickly hardening as I stroked him. I pushed my knee in between his thighs, opening his legs. He cooperated and I managed to slip my hands further down. He moved and moaned appreciatively.
He was rock hard by then. I turned him onto his back and covered his mouth with mine. My kiss was hard and insistent, claiming him in a way that left him in no doubt to whom he belonged. His hands started roaming all over me, and he sought me out expertly. As usual, his touch drove me crazy. I was climbing on top of him as my frenzied mouth devoured his. I never wanted to let him go. I slipped in between his legs, lifting my body over his and rubbing myself against his crotch. I could feel his hardness, pushing up against me, throbbing. My own cock was throbbing too.
We were both breathing hard. Suddenly, I was seized with an insane jealousy.
‘Who else have you been with, Keith? Tell me – tell me the truth!’ I breathed in a harsh whisper.
‘No one, Dusty. I swear, no one!’
‘Is this the truth?’
‘Yes! Oh God, no one at all. Only you, Dusty!’
I kissed him fiercely. ‘Good!’ I hissed and leaned down and kissed him again, harder.
I pushed his legs apart, and he did not resist. I reached for the lube, which I kept in the night table and quickly squeezed some onto my fingers. Then I readied him and myself. My fingers were shaking with anticipation.
I breathed deeply and pushed my cock against him. Feeling him rise against me, hearing his moans of pleasure, readying himself for my intrusion, then his gasp as I penetrated him. Slowly. My hands were gripping his hips and he was totally at my mercy. His body arched to meet my thrust, opening to accommodate me. He was breathing hard, his eyes closed and I leaned down to kiss him again. I slid my tongue into his mouth.
‘Oh Christ, Keith,’ I grunted, as I thrust all the way in. ‘You belong to me, you hear that?’
‘Just fuck me, Dusty!’ he panted as I filled him completely
I began to move and he moved with me, with my thrusts and rhythm. Allowing me to drive deeper.
I gripped his ass cheeks, as I watched his hands closed on his own hard cock. He was panting even harder now and the room was filled with the sounds of our lovemaking. I slowed my thrusts as I felt his oncoming orgasm. I wanted to watch him come first.
He arched his body up as he began to ejaculate. I tightened my grip and thrust desperately against him, letting my own orgasm begin. A minute later, I was shooting inside him.
It was incredible.

* * *

We spent Sunday morning leisurely. I cooked breakfast again – a huge one to assuage both our appetites. Keith needed no urging to finish his bacon, eggs and toast this time. We linked hands over the table, and smiled at one another, and generally behaved like silly lovers after their first lovemaking.
After we had cleaned up, I told him to get dressed. We still had some difficult discussions ahead of us; a refresher of my expectations and the structure which Keith himself had admitted he needed. I would have to manage his time and activities to get him straightened out again. I knew he would rebel initially against whatever restrictions laid down for him. It was in Keith’s nature to rebel, and the tighter the reins, the more he would struggle to break free. It was a test of wills and one that he would be watching covertly and it could be extremely tiring. But once he realized his limits and accepted the established rules, he would subside docilely. Keith needed a Top who could maintain control and he needed to know without a doubt what the consequences would be if he broke the rules or disobeyed. A complex man at times, and yet so sweetly simple.
And then there was the subject of ‘Dimitri’ … ‘Later,’ I told myself sternly.
‘I am taking you back to your place to collect your things. We’ll take what we can today, and leave the rest for later.’
Keith nodded his head but did not immediately move.
I tipped his chin up and kissed him. ‘Why that look?’
‘I am all messed up, Dusty. You know I am!’
‘Well, we’ll straighten you out then, won’t we? That’s what having a partnership is about, isn’t it Keith? We’ll help one another over the rough patches in our lives. I’ll want you to help me out too if I mess up. No one’s perfect, sweetheart!’
He bit his lip and came into my arms in a rush. ‘I have missed you so much. I..I just did not know how to tell you. It’s hard to say what I feel exactly when I thought you were so mad with me … when I moved out … I thought …’ He was getting himself all tangled up and I chuckled.
‘Its ok darling.’ I said, wrapping him in my arms tightly. ‘That’s all in the past.’ I pushed the thought of Dimitri to the back of my mind, into the ‘past tense’ compartment.
‘And you are not mad at me?’ Keith struggled out of my arms to look intently at my face.
‘Absolutely not!’ I said firmly, swatting him towards the stairs. ‘Go get dressed now. And no more doubts.’
He flashed a smile at me and moved towards the stairs obediently. He came down dressed in his own clothes, which had been washed and ironed the day before. ‘Ready,’ he said cheerfully.
‘Where are your keys to the apartment?’ I asked.
He silently went back upstairs, for of course he had forgotten them.
I drove him back to the apartment. He had been living there when I first met him. It was one of those luxurious pads with full facilities including a sports complex with a pool, sauna, gym and tennis courts. I had helped him move out when he first came to live with me, and I had helped him move back in when he left. Now, I wanted him to give it up for good, but decided to leave that discussion for later – sure it would be another difficult subject.
He hesitated at the door, and turned to me, grinning mischievously. ‘Hey … uhm … the place is a little messy…. Uhm … maybe you should wait in the car..? ‘
I took the keys from him and opened the door, giving him a playful swat. He jumped out of the way and followed me in. I looked around and LOOKED at him again. Honestly, Keith needed straightening up. I refrained from making any comments.
He headed towards the bedroom, and I trailed him there. It was no better. I watched as he pulled out a couple of duffel bags and piled clothes into one of them. I took one of the bags and turned it over, tipping the clothes out.
‘Fold them.’
He gave me a glare and started to fold the clothes, before packing them in again. Keith was never good at such things, having been waited on hand and foot since birth. But that did not mean he could not make the effort.
Finally, I helped him fold and pack. At least that way, he would have something decent and uncrumpled to wear when we got back to my place.
‘You are coming back to straighten this place up, Keith,’ I announced as we zipped up the bags.
‘Aw … Dusty! I can get the maid service in next week …’
I swatted him. ‘Are you working now, Keith?’ I asked.
‘No,’ he said softly, a little red in the face.
‘What happened to the job at the lawyer’s office?’
‘Er … I … quit?’
Another difficult discussion added to the list. I sighed.
‘Well, in that case, you can come back tomorrow to straighten this place up. I do not see why you can’t do it yourself since it was YOU who messed it up in the first place.’
Muttering under his breath, he followed me out to the car. I ignored his dark looks.
‘What about my car?’ Keith asked, dumping the bags in my backseat.
‘Where is it?’ I asked mildly, hoping he knew the answer.
‘It should be at the … club?’
‘All right, I’ll drive you there and you can pick it up.’
I was relieved the sports car was still there in the deserted car park, though Keith did not seem particularly concerned.
‘You drive ahead of me – straight back home, young man. No detours!’ I called after him as he slid out of the seat.
He looked back at me, swaying his hips seductively, and grinned. I smiled at his back … I felt good.

* * *

We were curled up in front of the TV after Chinese takeout that night. Keith was watching a game, while I was watching him. Dark blond hair, deep blue eyes, neat jaw line …. I sighed when the phone rang.
‘Honey,’ I said, disentangling myself, ‘I need to get the phone.’
He grumbled lazily as I slipped away.
‘Hello.’
It was John. I took the phone into the study, leaving the door slightly ajar so I could talk in private and keep an eye on Keith. He seemed content enough lying on the sofa, hugging a cushion instead.
I quickly brought John up to date on things.
‘What?’ John cried in surprise. ‘He moved back?’
‘Yes, John.’ I said resignedly. I remember John had not been over wrought either when Keith had moved out.
‘Did you think this through, Dusty?’
‘John,’ I explained patiently, ‘it was supposed to be only a trial in the first place. You know that.’
John snorted. ‘Six months, Dusty! That’s a long trial.’
‘I always believed it was a temporary thing, which he just needed to spread his wings. It was as much my fault as it was his. More mine, in fact. I am the one in charge. I read him wrong. I should have insisted he come back a long time ago.’
‘He should know what he wants, Dusty.’ He said wryly.
I made some comforting noises, reluctant to get into details. John was diplomatically reticent.
‘Well, we should get together sometime soon. I would like Keith to meet Danny too.’
Danny was John’s latest partner. John had never been involved with anyone seriously in all the time I knew him and Danny was the first man whom he had gone out with in three straight months, and exclusively. I wondered just how serious they were getting.
‘Sure – great idea!’ I said enthusiastically.
‘I’ll set it up.’ John said and we hung up.
‘Who was that?’ Keith asked sleepily as I lifted his legs off the sofa and slid in next to him.
‘That was John.’
Keith wrinkled his nose at that. ‘Did he have something nasty to say about me?’
I dug him in the ribs. ‘And why would you think that?’
Keith squirmed and giggled. ‘He does not like me.’
‘Nonsense!’
Keith shrugged. ‘It’s true! And you know it.’
I pulled him to me and began to kiss him. ‘Hmm… I like you though.’
He snuggled against me. ‘I like you too.’
After a while, we surfaced for air. I gently pushed Keith away and sat up straight. He looked at me curiously, obviously wondering why I had stopped our necking.
‘Keith darling, we need to talk.’
Keith groaned and flopped down onto the couch in an exaggerated fashion. ‘Oh God! Not again!’
I pulled him upright, laughing slightly at his expression. ‘Be serious, Keith. I want you to listen carefully and pay attention.’
He sobered at my tone.
‘Sweetheart, we need to set down some rules – like we did before. Remember?’
He nodded but did not speak.
‘All right. First things first. Are you hooked on anything now? Any kinds of drugs at all?’
He protested indignantly. ‘No! I am NOT hooked!’
I did not quite believe him but decided to use that to hold him instead of allowing him to make it an issue. ‘All right then. That’s good. You will have no problem sticking to my first rule then. No more drugs – of any kind! I don’t care what you took in the past few months, it stops right now. I want you to be absolutely clear on this.’ I waited for the words to sink in.
He swallowed a little. ‘B….But Dusty, its nothing most of the time. Just some pot like what you would do in college …it’s not like you could get hooked on stuff like that!’
I shook my head firmly. ‘No, Keith. I am dead serious on this. Not only is it illegal, it is death to your health. This is non-negotiable. No drugs! Of any kind! Got it?’
‘Got it.’ Keith lowered his lashes so I could not read the expression in his eyes, but I knew he was smoldering. It had been one of the harder habits to break him off the first time round.
I continued. ‘Rule number two – no more clubs or pubs or bars. In fact, you are grounded indefinitely. You don’t leave this house unless it’s with me or with my permission.’
Keith sat up with a gasp. ‘Dusty! No, please!’ Keith treasured his freedom, if nothing else.
‘YES! And NO arguments!’ I was very firm and he subsided, albeit sulkily.
‘Third item. I will be monitoring your time and daily activities. There will be no lazing around all day long even though you are not holding down a job right now. I will go over with you what you need to get done every day and you give me a report when I come home from work. I know this is difficult for you,’ I held up a hand to pre-empt his protest, ‘but I will work out a daily time chart and you just need to fill that in. Properly, Keith! I will be going over the chart with you carefully, so you need to put real effort into it. Understand?’
He looked mutinous. Before he could talk himself into a tantrum at the restrictions I had laid down, I quickly added. ‘This is not forever, Keith. Just to get you back on track and into a routine and till you start working again.’
I saw his mouth open and I smoothly went on. ‘This brings me to the fourth item. Work.’
He was shocked into silence.
‘I don’t want to know why you quit at your last job, but we are not going to have you become a bum. The worst thing for you is to be bored and looking for distractions. So I will be talking to some people and see what I can come up with. OK?’
‘You are giving me too many rules, Dusty!’ He protested. ‘And I don’t need a job!’ he said sulkily.
‘Well, you are still going to get one.’
I had been brought up the old fashioned way and it was unthinkable that a grown man, educated, intelligent and capable, should waste his life away not doing anything constructive and productive. No matter he had enough money not to work his entire lifetime.
I thought about the apartment issue and decided to leave it for now. There was only so much Keith could take.
He was already looking decidedly unhappy. ‘So what happens tomorrow? You go off to work tomorrow and I am fucking stuck here by myself ALL DAY?’
I gave him a warning look. ‘I would watch my tongue if I were you.’
He subsided quickly enough.
I continued. ‘No – tomorrow you get to go back to your apartment and clean it up. I figure that should take most of the whole day. I will go back with you in the evening to check it over, and for us to take the rest of your stuff back here. If you feel like it, you could cook dinner, otherwise, we could eat out somewhere on the way to your apartment.’
I remembered the only decent thing Keith could make was an omelet. ‘Oh well, forget about fixing dinner. You’ll be tired after cleaning up the whole day. We’ll just eat out.’
I allowed a short silence to fall, before continuing. ‘And you know I won’t be happy if you break my rules or disobey me, don’t you? What will happen if I find that out, Keith?’
‘You will torture me and whip me and lock me up in some dark cellar and feed me once a day on break and water ….’ He said bitterly.
I rolled my eyes. ‘You get the general idea then …’ I laughed silently at him.
He glared daggers at me but did not protest any further. I smiled at him and pulled him back into my arms. ‘Oh come off it, darling. You know these rules are good for you. You need them to help you get back on track. You said so yourself!’
He tried to squirm away, still resentful. ‘I did NOT! You want a slave, not a boyfriend!’
‘Nonsense!’ I kept my arms around him, preventing him from moving away. ‘Stop that pouting please.’ I tapped his thigh warningly.
He buried his face in the front of my shirt, grumbling. ‘What fun is left if I can’t do a damn thing!? Can I watch TV or use the phone without permission then?’ he asked sarcastically.
‘Keep this up and the answer will be no. In fact, I may even find a few more restrictions for you. Is that what you want? Hmm?’ I rubbed his back gently.
He thumped his fist into my chest. I caught his fist and started to wrestle with him playfully. He was no match for me. Pinning his arms to his side, I trailed kisses down his neck.
He shoved, shivered and squirmed, and finally gave in and smiled. I cupped his face in my hands, and kissed him.
‘Sweetheart, there is one more thing we need to cover.’ My tongue touched his lips. ‘Your ‘friends’ at the club?’ More kisses landed on his face.
‘Dimitri?’ He twisted away to look at me.
‘Yes. For a start.’ I said evenly. ‘How are you involved with him?’
‘I am NOT!’
I leaned in and nudged his lips open with my tongue. ‘Are you … seeing him … casually then?’ I asked in between nips with my teeth.
‘No!’ Keith gasped, trying to speak around my probing tongue. ‘We just meet … at the club sometimes, you know? No big deal.’
I stopped my kisses and took Keith’s face in my hands and looked him in the eye. ‘I do not share, Keith. You should know me well enough to know that.’
‘I hear you, Dusty. Like I said, we are not involved! I swear.’
I relaxed slightly. ‘OK then, that’s good. I don’t want you calling him, and if he calls you, you tell him politely not to call you any more. Can you do that?’
‘He’s just someone who hangs around the club, Dusty. We hang out a bit, y’know … ‘
I suspected that was also the source of Keith’s illegal supply. And I was determined to severe those ties.
‘All right then. No more ‘hanging out’ with him or any of the other guys then, OK?’
‘OK, I won’t.’ Keith said dutifully and I arched an eyebrow at his easy acquiescence. ‘Now will you quit talking about Dimitri and pay attention here?’ he demanded.
I quickly complied. Keith closed his eyes as I resumed kissing him. He was beginning to swoon under my ministrations. I murmured in his ear. ‘I don’t want anyone else climbing all over you …’
He giggled. ‘He was NOT climbing all over me!’
All the same, I thought I could detect relief in Keith’s voice. I had learnt long ago that Keith sometimes developed situations, and then needed a safety rope to reel him in and a safety net for him to fall into. I was no saint myself, and I could let the past go so long as he remained faithful while were together. Like I said, with Keith, my tolerance surpassed my own expectations.
My tongue explored his mouth hungrily, my mind already on where this was leading us.
‘I am glad to hear that.’ I tore myself away and breathed deeply. ‘By the way, John suggests we get together one of these days. He has a new partner, whom he wants YOU to meet.’
Keith climbed onto my lap and straddled me, leaning down for another kiss. ‘Another one?’
I began to unbutton his shirt. ‘Babe, be nice!’
‘I am always nice – to the people I like!’ He twisted his body, as I slipped my hands onto his bare skin.
‘And you will be nice to the people I like as well?’ I started to work on his jeans buttons.
‘And if I don’t?’ he challenged.
‘You don’t want to find out, my boy!’ I laughed as he squirmed on my lap. His zipper was all the way down.
‘Ahhh … ‘he moaned as I slid my hand inside his jeans. ‘Don’t you know what I want, Dusty?’
Without another word, I pulled his legs firmly around my waist and got up with him in my arms. Then took him upstairs to show him exactly how well I knew what he wanted.

* * *