Fist To The Heart

Chapter Fifteen – Collared Snake

Walking into a ring never felt like this. Johnny was sure he was different, and the world was a different place, too. It had to be true what songs and whatnot said about love giving you wings and all that.

For a while, he had thought that he would care less. But the soonest he jumped the ropes, into the cage, he knew that wasn’t it. What before had been anger and hate and every little dark corner of his soul stretched and bound against the world, now was a thrill, an excitement of the best kind, as he knew Ruslan was watching his every move.

He had used to fight to survive. Now he fought because he felt alive, so alive that it was like something was growing inside him, threatening to burst through all his pores.

Johnny looked up and saluted with his gloved hand. By now, people had to know he was Ruslan’s lover. They weren’t hiding or anything. But if anyone knew what was good for them, they would keep their mouth shut before spewing bullshit about the owner’s son playing favorites.

“I’d love you even if you lost,” Ruslan had joked at one point.

“I wouldn’t,” had been his reply.

“What? Love yourself?”

Ruslan had just laughed it off. But he needed to understand that now Johnny was doing it for him. Every win was for him and him only. Money and fame were nothing. Cash was a means to an end, as he still dutifully dropped fat envelopes into the same box. Ruslan had tried to convince him to give up side gigs as he could cover for everything. But Johnny didn’t want that. He would terminate that stupid debt, and then he would see what lay ahead.

For now, he had to score another win. It was the last match of the tournament, and then Johnny would cash in. But that would be the only money he was going to take from Ruslan’s hand.

His opponent was looking at him from across the cage with an ugly smirk. Johnny knew the kind. Such people were losers, but that was hard to get through their thick skulls. Not even after getting beaten time and time again, they didn’t learn. They were like cockroaches, coming back over and over.

The man had a short neck, and the muscles on his shoulders had overgrown so much that his head seemed like stuck in there by the impatient hand of a kid having fun with play dough. It wasn’t like Johnny to underestimate his opponents. And this one was a mean cockroach; he was sure of it.

That stocky build meant the cockroach could take a beating, not just a punch. If he hoped to win against Johnny, his strategy was, most probably, to try to wear off his opponent by lasting longer.

The man walked over to him and for a few moments, as the announcer recited his part, they stared at each other. Johnny watched the other intently.

“Can you last for twelve rounds, lover boy?” the man smirked, his upper lip curling over crooked teeth.

Lover boy? Johnny frowned.

“I guess not. Never went that kind of distance, huh?”

The other fighter was trying to rile him up. Johnny had a bad feeling about this.

“How will your owner react seeing you going down?” The man made a vague gesture like he knew what he was talking about.

Johnny shrugged and moved his head to the sides to work out some kinks in his neck. The sound of the whistle caught him prepared, as usual. It was a full house, and Ruslan’s papa was probably raking in big profits. Johnny knew he needed to make a good impression, not only on his lover but on Douglas, too. After all, the man had taught him everything he knew, and now Johnny felt like a much better fighter than months ago.

***

“Johnny’s opponent seems pretty strong,” Ruslan said, feeling a bit worried.

Sometimes it happened to him to feel anxious without an apparent reason.

“He definitely is. He would not have made it to the final, otherwise,” his papa agreed. “But Johnny is in perfect form, Russy. I trust him that he will give us yet another outstanding performance tonight.”

“I don’t really care about performance. I just don’t want to see him getting hurt.”

Douglas chuckled. “Johnny is a fighter, Russy. Getting hurt comes with the territory. And you can’t take this away from him. Also, it was this bad boy attitude that made you set your eyes on him, wasn’t it?”

“I guess.” Ruslan rolled his eyes. “But now I really worry. I’ve never seen a man looking so buff in my entire life. Where did he come from?”

“He joined the tournament sometime later. We had some injuries, and we needed the show rolling, so I gave him a shot.”

“He’s not from around here,” Ruslan noted.

“No. We only did a cursory background check on him since it was all in short notice, but I believe he is just like the rest. A fighter looking to make a name for himself.”

“So, are there no attachments we should know about?” Ruslan asked.

“It doesn’t seem so. However, as Johnny’s tutor, I must say that I have great faith in my student. Johnny will go places, Russy. He’ll hit his prime during his first fights as a pro. And I hope to see a long string of victories from him. He deserves it.”

Ruslan looked down in the ring. His papa still didn’t know that Johnny had no idea that he would sign a contract for Efige at the end of it all. Of course, from that point forward, he would be a pro, and that changed things. Ruslan wasn’t sure he wanted to pull that trigger.

But, on the other hand, Johnny had a stellar career in front of him. And Ruslan knew all the risks. If he didn’t take them, he wouldn’t be worthy of having Johnny as his lover.

“As you can see, he’s doing fine,” Douglas pointed out. “This bulldog he’s facing may be out for blood, but Johnny’s not your average amateur fighter. I wish Martin could see him.”

“Why didn’t you bring Martin along, papa?”

“He has something important to take care of.”

“What? Polish the silverware? I swear that house is sparkling clean.”

“Don’t be a smartass, Russy. Martin is in charge of many other things, besides overall property maintenance.”

“Like what things?” Ruslan hurried to ask.

“Are you sure you want to listen to me talking about Martin’s administrative duties instead of watching your boyfriend winning the tournament? Or should I say, fiancé?”

Ruslan snickered. “I don’t plan on scaring Johnny off, papa. He is upset with me if I buy him socks, let alone a ring.”

“He should accept your generosity more often. As someone by your side, he needs to look the part. I noticed that you did manage to dress him up a little.”

“Oh, you should never talk to him about such things,” Ruslan replied. “He’s already too sensitive about it all. Each time I manage to buy him something, it is after a long and tough fight. I mean it. Tougher than whatever happens down in the ring right now.”

Douglas laughed. “At least you’re making progress. Just say the word, and I’ll convince him.”

“No way. I’m taking care of him.”

“I’m sure of it,” Douglas added with a small smile. “Now let’s just pay attention to the fight, shall we?”

“Sure. Johnny’s kicking ass,” Ruslan said and smiled, too.

Johnny’s opponent seemed to be in the ropes most often than not. This match would be easy. And then, Ruslan would present Johnny with the shiny collar he so much wanted.

***

Things didn’t look good for the cockroach. But Johnny didn’t like it when things were too simple. Something fishy was happening, and he needed to find out what. After all that nasty talk in the beginning, his opponent seemed to lack basic skills. And that couldn’t be true. If the man was there, in the ring, facing him in the final battle, it meant that he had beaten plenty of other fighters.

So, for Johnny, the man’s game was transparent. He was trying to get Johnny frustrated, make him commit too soon or too late, put himself in the way of a kick or a punch at one point. As expected, he was trying to wear him down.

But Johnny had learned the importance of patience a long time ago. And he wouldn’t fall for such shitty acting the cockroach was putting on. As a snake, he could lay in waiting for the right strike.

The trick was to split his effort. As he had understood from the first look at his opponent, this one could take a beating. Until Johnny could land a critical hit, the man would stand his ground.

“Why don’t you hurry and finish me off, lover boy?” The other sneered at him at the end of the fifth round.

The crowd was booing, by now upset with the lack of real action in the ring. Johnny could tune out the noise without a problem. Yet, it was a matter of pride and honor to show his trainer and his lover that he could provide the entertainment they were expecting from him.

During the small break, he looked over at his opponent some more. The cockroach had a tough exterior, but any man had a weak point. By how high the guy was holding his guard, he wasn’t afraid of kicks to the ribs too much. But he was protecting his ugly mug very carefully. Johnny needed to find an opening.

He pushed the mouth guard into his mouth and put his fists up. This time, he waited. The opponent came to him, but instead of attempting a hit, he began dancing around Johnny. In an instant, the crowd started booing.

“They’re cheering for you,” his opponent said. “Too bad to end your pro career even before starting it, right?”

Johnny continued to look at the other fighter, over the close guard he held to his face.

“Aren’t you afraid your boyfriend’s gonna kick you out if you lose?”

The cockroach knew about Ruslan and was trying to use that to his advantage. He needed to do better to make Johnny lose his cool.

Unlike him, his opponent seemed to let the noise of the restless crowd get to him. He was shaking his head once in a while like a horse bothered by flies. Johnny focused on the man’s moves, hard, until he could predict an opening. When his fist exploded like a sling, it was in a blink of an eye that everything followed.

The man’s head snapped to one side, and he wobbled.

“Time to get real, bitch?” The cockroach threw at him.

The whistle announced the end of the round and Johnny returned to his place. There would be no twelve rounds. He would kayo the cockroach by the end of the tenth.

***

“Is it just me or is this dragging a bit too long?” Ruslan asked.

His papa appeared a tad concerned. “Indeed,” was the short answer.

“Um, care to enlighten me? Unlike you and Johnny, I am not well aware of the intricacies of this sport you two love so much.”

“Johnny’s opponent is trying the drag the match on purpose.”

“But Johnny got him good just last round,” Ruslan pointed out. “Why is Johnny hesitating? He should have no trouble with someone who appears to be so unskilled.”

“Johnny is not hesitating, son. He sees his opponent eye to eye in the ring, unlike us. And he observes him, waiting for that opening that will hand him the victory.”

“Ah, so all is well,” Ruslan said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why are you so worried, then?”

“Because I don’t believe it’s the right strategy. Johnny is now made to believe that his opponent can take a beating and still stand.”

“Ah, damn,” Ruslan whispered. “So what should he do?”

“Johnny is good at trusting his instincts. I think he’ll realize that he’s being played. I expect him, soon enough, to go at his opponent hard.”

“And what if he doesn’t realize it?” Ruslan asked, now even more worried than before.

“Have faith in Johnny. I know I have.”

“Can’t we do anything to transmit Johnny what you think he must be doing?”

“That would be cheating, Russy. No. Johnny will win on his own.”

“Okay,” Ruslan said and returned to watch the evolution closely in the ring.

***

The cockroach was eyeing him with an ugly grin splitting his face in two. Johnny was still keeping his distance, but an idea was starting to make rounds in his brain. His opponent didn’t look like it, but he was good at mind games.

Changing his strategy, at this point, seemed risky. Even if he didn’t send the other to the floor, he would still win. No judge in the world could be this blind.

But that was not what he was after. He wouldn’t hand Ruslan and his papa a lackluster victory as the end of the tournament. It was a matter of pride, as a fighter, as a trainee, but most of all, as a lover.

Douglas had told him before he liked to keep his distance too much. He needed to get into the other’s space and start kicking his ass for real. The whistle announced the beginning of the eighth round. Without one second of hesitation, he went straight at his opponent, pelting him with rights and lefts fast.

Within seconds, the guy was pushed into a corner and was resisting the rain of hits, still carefully guarding his head. Suddenly, he moved, with more agility than expected from a fighter with that kind of build and attempted to hit Johnny’s side.

He dropped his elbows by pure instinct but left himself open for a fraction. The next hit was to the head. Johnny took a few steps back, fast, shaking his head.

“Running already?” The cockroach sneered.

“Come at me.” Johnny grinned and quickly dodged the predictable punch.

The next was his. His opponent wobbled and crashed. Johnny could hear the referee counting, but he wasn’t celebrating just yet. The cockroach had to come back, at least one time. Otherwise, Johnny would be disappointed.

The man got to his feet. His scowl was as ugly as Satan’s ass. He wiped the blood from one corner of his mouth.

He tried to rile up Johnny once again. “You hit like a fucking fairy.”

For the first time since the beginning of the game, Johnny worked his jaw. It was no surprise the guy was trying to make him lose his cool. Actually, it was surprising that he had waited so long to play this card.

“At least I can hit,” Johnny said curtly.

The man launched himself at him like a crazed animal. Johnny tied him up effortlessly and kept him close.

“Who’s pulling your leash, mutt?” he asked.

“None of your fucking business. You’ll know when I win,” the reply came back.

The referee pushed them apart and sent them to their corners. Johnny watched his opponent and got stared back. The man made a vague obscene gesture and Johnny nodded. This round the cockroach would go down.

But he was still resisting. And that was not the outcome Johnny was after. Ruslan wouldn’t care if what he said was true, but Johnny cared about not being made a fool in front of his lover. The next time he put his fists up, he was sure he wouldn’t win by points decision.

“How does it feel to hit that loose ass?” the man taunted him as soon as they were facing each other.

The crowd noise faded away. Johnny could feel blood shooting his eyes, his skull under pressure, and his fist traveled fast, hitting nothing but air. The blow to his side that followed, in the same spot as earlier, almost knocked the wind out of him. Quickly, he pulled himself out of the harm’s way.

“Gassing out already, bitch?” the cockroach laughed at him and followed to continue.

Johnny put his guard up fast. He could see all crystal clear. Getting mad about stupid insults wasn’t like him. There was only one way he could avenge Ruslan for the bullshit his opponent was spewing and throwing random punches was not it.

He focused. What he needed now was to understand how he could crush that cockroach. All the time, the man had protected his head, but he had proven that it was no trouble for him to take some hits.

All the time, his opponent had almost flaunted his unprotected sides like he was sure Johnny would fall for that any minute now. And Johnny finally understood. Douglas had warned him about mind games throughout their training. He had been stupid not to see it.

When he slammed one fist into the guy’s right side, the cockroach grunted. His head dipped low, almost bent from his waist, Johnny went at it with all his strength. He pushed his opponent into the ropes and relentlessly hit the same spot.

The man sank to his knees. The referee pushed Johnny back.

But now he knew. The cockroach’s eyes were filled with mean despair. He had just been discovered, and he couldn’t tell how. Johnny smirked. Twelve rounds? There was no way that would happen.

The moment they could fight again, Johnny knew all he had to do. It was as easy as taking candy from a baby as he began pelting the guy’s side with punches again.

The cockroach was on the ground, spitting and coughing. The referee was counting, again, and trying to push Johnny back.

“Hitting that ass feels fucking great,” Johnny spat at him and turned.

When the referee hurried to grab his arm, Johnny didn’t even care about the victory anymore. What mattered was that he had shut that asshole’s trap and he would never talk smack about Ruslan again if he knew what was good for him.

***

“Now that the formalities are over, I think it’s time to honor all our obligations.” Douglas gestured at him with a glass filled with bourbon. “Russy, you have the papers ready, right?”

“Of course.” Ruslan moved to pick something from his desk.

“Papers, what papers?” Johnny asked roughly.

Ruslan hoped he could do that without his papa watching, but it was not like he could drag it out forever. Damn, it would be awkward.

“It is an honor for us.” Douglas patted Johnny’s back. “Now you are part of the Efige family, Johnny.”

Ruslan looked straight at his lover. Johnny looked at the glass in his hand as if he was trying to make sense of something.

“Could we talk about papers and whatnot later?” Johnnys asked, working his jaw.

Ruslan now felt his papa’s eyes on him, questioning, for sure. He had expected this fight to take place sooner or later, and he wasn’t afraid of it.

“I think Johnny is a bit tired, papa. I’ll take care of everything. It’s been an interesting night.”

“Interesting?” Johnny snorted.

“Yes, interesting,” Ruslan decided to have the final word. “So, papa, is it okay if we celebrate some more another time?”

Douglas said nothing as Ruslan kissed both his cheeks and pleaded with his eyes.

“Of course,” his papa replied. “I will see you both soon at dinner, I hope.”

“Definitely,” Ruslan accompanied Douglas to the door.

He closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Taking in Johnny’s hunched back, he pondered over his next words.

“What is your answer, Johnny?”

“My answer?” Johnny looked at him over one shoulder. “Was this the plan all along? To make me sign?”

Ruslan shrugged. “It was part of the tournament deal. So, yes, that was the plan all along.”

“And never, for one time, you thought to tell me about it?” Johnny moved his eyes away.

“For starters, you should have known. It wasn’t a secret.”

“So you call me stupid?”

Ruslan had a vague sensation of restlessness in the pit of his stomach like muddy waters troubled all of a sudden by a foreign presence in their midst.

“Where is this coming from? Are you hurt? Do you feel ill? Do you need the hospital--”

“I’m fine. But I thought you were the last person on earth to play me, pretty.”

Ruslan exhaled and walked toward Johnny’s chair. He embraced him from the back, winding him tightly between his arms.

“You asked me for a leash, Johnny. This is your leash. Does it chafe your neck already? Is that what’s eating at you?”

“What’s eating at me is you not telling me about it.”

Ruslan could feel the bad sensation in his stomach dropping lower as an alien thing bent on devouring his insides. “I thought it fitting to tell you about it tonight. And, from the start, I wanted that, I guess. Of course, it all sounded better in my head. The outcome is ... maybe not what I hoped for.”

“From the start? You were gunning for me, pretty?” Johnny asked.

Ruslan could feel his lover relaxing, if only for a fraction. “I guess I was. Of course, no one is forcing you. You can take it or leave it.”

Johnny chuckled. “And here I thought you were serious about collaring me.”

Ruslan leaned closer and kissed his lover’s cheek, the nasty sensation in his stomach now gone. “You want me to act like a badass. Then here it is. You’re collared, Snake. Just sign the damned papers.”

“Not without punishing you first.”

“Punishing me?” Ruslan asked. “Rest assured that I will get my just desserts from papa. I’m in for a real lecture, by how he looked at me when he left.”

“Unlike your papa’s scolding, you’ll love my punishment.”

“Oh, really?”

Ruslan was happy to hear Johnny make light of the situation in the end. He yelped when he was pulled over, losing his balance and ending up across Johnny’s lap. Instinctively, he tried to push himself up, but Johnny pressed firmly against his shoulder blades.

A hand squeezed his buttocks roughly through his suit pants.

“Johnny,” he warned.

And cursed the next second, as the hand was removed only to drop fast and hard over his ass.

“Seriously? Spanking?” Ruslan asked, feeling much scandalized by the turn of events. “And how am I supposed to enjoy it? I’m not even naked!”

“Now that you mention it, yeah, you should be naked,” Johnny said promptly. “Come on, down with the pants.”

“And what if I don’t want to?” Ruslan sounded like a petulant child on purpose.

A second slap over his still clothed ass drew another string of explicit words from him.

“Then we’ll make do with what we have,” Johnny explained. “I don’t mind giving you a red butt like this. It’s my right, after all.”

Ruslan drew an exaggerated sigh. “Help me to my feet, then?”

Johnny allowed him to get up and watched him, eyes at half mast, as he pushed down his pants, underwear, and shoes. When he reached for the buttons of his waistcoat, Johnny shook his head.

“No. I just want you ass naked for this.”

“If you say so,” Ruslan said with a small roll of his eyes.

Was it wrong that he felt a sort of thrill as he draped Johnny’s lap graciously, hoping that wiggling his ass a little would earn him another well-deserved slap? As a child, living in a group home with many other boys, he had gotten his fair share of beatings. But nothing like a spanking. In a weird, unintelligible way, later in life, he had come to think that spanking would be somehow related to caring. A parent never hits their child in any other manner because it would hurt too much. But a slap over the ass is meant to draw attention to a bad deed without delivering anything beyond matching punishment.

Maybe it was all because of a kink an old client had tried with him at one point. That man had been obsessive with treating Ruslan as a child. Ruslan had found it weird, but, on the few occasions when the man spanked him for some imaginary misdeeds, he had discovered the light physical punishment comforting and arousing in the strangest of ways.

His papa had never hit him, obviously. No matter how much he must have driven the old man crazy with his running away from home, and doing stupid shit. Seeing the disappointment in the man’s eyes was a bigger punishment. Sometimes, Ruslan had wanted to yell at him and make him do something just to get a little physical. But, in turn, the old man had shown him the kind of love he should have yearned for.

Yet, a part of him, the one that wanted to rebel, to yell to the world that he took it up the ass and loved it, yearned for a different thing. As Johnny’s hand descended once more over his ass, he felt a surge of long-awaited pleasure.

He wiggled, finding a sweet spot in his position so that he could rub against Johnny’s thigh. The man’s jeans were rough against his aching cock, but he didn’t mind it.

Johnny was starting to breathe a bit more deeply. “I was joking when I said you would enjoy it,” he whispered. “Wiggle that ass some more, pretty. Move it, baby. Ah, damn, you’re so hot. Do you want me to spank you? Do you want me to spank your sexy ass?”

“Fuck, don’t ask,” Ruslan whispered back. “Aren’t you the one in charge?”

Johnny squeezed his ass, and Ruslan could feel the skin burning under his lover’s rough fingers. He could feel the callouses brushing against his skin and pushed his ass a little higher. Johnny smacked his ass again, and Ruslan shivered. Now he was moving his hips, hoping the friction against Johnny’s thigh was enough. His cock agreed with the rough treatment.

Johnny, however, seemed to have something different in mind. He guided Ruslan to his feet. “Hands against the desk,” he ordered, and Ruslan quickly obeyed. “Your ass is so red,” Johnny chuckled.

“Take a picture; it will last longer,” Ruslan joked.

“Lube,” Johnny said shortly.

Ruslan looked over one shoulder. “What now? Are you going to fuck me?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t want it,” Johnny replied. “Lube, pretty.”

“The second drawer on the left,” Ruslan said with a small shrug.

He tried to play it cool only in hope of getting more. No matter how rough Johnny had been, Ruslan could tell the man had been holding back. He didn’t want that. He wanted Johnny to show his real strength, to mean it. But he didn’t want to ask for it in big loud words.

Ruslan followed Johnny with his eyes. His lover had a serious expression etched on his face. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but it felt like a bad moment.

He hissed as cold lube began pouring over his ass and sighed contently as Johnny hurried to push the viscous liquid inside with his fingers.

Johnny chuckled. “I like your red ass. I think I can see finger marks.”

“What can I say? You’re so savage,” Ruslan replied, hoping to get the other to notice his misbehaving.

“Savage? You’ve seen nothing, pretty.” Johnny laughed as he positioned himself for penetration. “Hot for spanking, aren’t you? You’re so hard,” he added as he sneaked one hand in front and played with Ruslan’s cock.

“I admit nothing,” Ruslan said with a small laugh. “And I’m always hard.”

“True, true,” Johnny admitted, seemingly amused. “Now let’s see when you’re going to beg me to stop.”

“Hmm?” Ruslan said questioningly.

Johnny slapped one of his buttocks hard, and he gasped. His ass pulled itself tight as a natural response.

“Yes,” Johnny cooed. “Like this, baby.”

“You are having way too much fun,” Ruslan said and glared over his shoulder at his lover.

“Sure thing I am,” Johnny confirmed. “So how do you like it now?” He smacked Ruslan’s ass playfully.

“Is that all you got?” Ruslan provoked the other.

“Hmm, you’re keen on testing me. Well, don’t complain tomorrow when you won’t be able to sit.”

“I’m not known to complain,” Ruslan replied. “So, what are you waiting for, Johnny? Give me all you got already.”

Johnny didn’t look like he needed to be told twice. He used one hand to grab Ruslan by one hip, to steady him and began fucking the best way he knew how. From time to time, he slapped one ass cheek then the other, making Ruslan curse and beg.

“My hands are full, baby, so take care of your cock, okay?” Johnny said.

Ruslan needed no other encouragement. He grabbed his cock, trembling with growing desire. As Johnny fucked him, the occasional slaps over his ass only made his sensations soar. He was pushing his ass against Johnny’s hard body in a desperate need for more.

Johnny grabbed him hard and pulled him close. Ruslan felt his hand being pushed away from his cock and didn’t protest. At the same time, Johnny was kissing his neck and whispering lewd praises into his ear.

“Let me see you come, pretty,” Johnny demanded, and Ruslan had no idea if he was begging or ordering.

It didn’t matter anyway. The hard cock hammering his ass felt like heaven, just as the hand moving up and down over his. Johnny sank his teeth into one tender lobe and Ruslan came with a loud cry. Johnny licked the bitten ear and pushed his tongue inside, making Ruslan shudder along with the waves of his orgasms.

He was aware of his lover filling his ass. It was a good thing Johnny was holding him because his legs were like jelly now. A few minutes after, Johnny was still embracing him, kissing his neck slowly.

“I think I’m ready to sign now,” Johnny said.

Ruslan burst into laughter. “So it couldn’t be done without some hard fucking?”

“I guess it couldn’t. Seriously, pretty, you had me in a corner. Papers and all, huh? That wasn’t the kind of leash I had in mind.”

“What kind of leash did you have in mind?” Ruslan asked, with a small giggle. Damn, how was he going to walk after this?

“I thought you’d buy something from some sex shop and such.”

“Did you think I was in for some rough trade with you?” Ruslan laughed for real this time. Johnny was still inside him, slowly getting soft. He didn’t mind it.

“I had no idea. But it looks like someone likes getting spanked,” Johnny said, and Ruslan could picture the smug grin on his lover’s face.

“I’m not usually into this.”

“Did anyone spank you? In your life?”

“Yeah. But it wasn’t as fun as this,” Ruslan confirmed.

“I don’t think I’ll do it for you too often though, pretty. I like your beautiful ass as it is.”

“So you’re unwilling to play into my kink?”

“Only if you do something naughty,” Johnny replied.

“Then I must think of something.”

“Think hard. It won’t be easy to top this trick you just pulled on me.”

Ruslan snickered. “Oh, poor little Snake got tricked.”

“Hmm, I feel like my hand is itching for some action, again.”

“So soon? Ah, Johnny, and you were just playing hard to get.”

“Hard to get? With you? Never.”

Johnny finally pulled away and caressed Ruslan’s ass slowly. “Yeah, you’ll have trouble sitting tomorrow, you naughty devil.”

“I’m tougher than I look,” Ruslan said with a small shrug.

Johnny set back in the chair and motioned Ruslan to come to sit on his lap. Ruslan could tell his lover was thinking of something. He could almost hear the gears turning. Johnny had one hand in his hair, caressing him slowly, while the other was drawing small circles on Ruslan’s thigh.

“You’re no longer upset about the papers, right?”

“Nah, pretty. I’m sure I’ll like it here,” Johnny answered with a smile and a small nod.

“I can feel you’re troubled,” Ruslan said, decided to grab the bull by the horns.

“That man, the one I faced in the ring, where’s he from?” Johnny asked.

“Why?” Ruslan paused and looked at Johnny intently.

“He was bent on riling me up about me being with you,” Johnny replied.

Ruslan shrugged. “That’s not uncommon. And we didn’t make it a secret that we’re seeing each other.”

“Nah, this was different. It was like he was sent to play me or something.”

“Papa said something about him joining the tournament later. I asked,” Ruslan said. “But, by what he could tell from his preliminary background check, the guy’s like any other fighter who joined the tournament. But, if you say something was fishy about him, I’ll ask papa to look closely into his history. What did you make of his attitude, then?”

“He wanted me to lose my cool. Mind games, that’s something fighters do all the time. All of them talk smack. But it was like this fucking cockroach wanted to use that like some hit below the belt.”

“Hmm,” Ruslan said. “I trust your instincts, Johnny. So I’ll have papa learn about this fighter’s whereabouts. Do you think it’s someone coming after you? You know, from that family? Papa made it clear to them that you’re under our protection. I believe his word has some weight.”

“He told you that?” Johnny asked.

“Yes. And papa is a man of honor.”

“I don’t doubt it. But with scumbags like those, you can’t ever be sure of anything.”

They spent some time in silence.

“Johnny,” Ruslan said, his head still resting against Johnny’s, “when can I meet your mom?”

“My mom?” Johnny seemed surprised. “Why?”

Ruslan shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ve met my family. I want to meet yours.”

“She’s not herself,” Johnny replied. “I don’t know how much good that will do.”

“It’s your choice, of course,” Ruslan said gently. “But I would very much like to meet her.”

“Even if she won’t understand who you are?”

“Yeah, even.”

Johnny said nothing else. Ruslan got up to his feet. “Now, seriously, you should sign those papers,” he said with a laugh as he began searching for the documents on his desk. He turned with one pen in one hand. “What do you say, Johnny?”

Johnny grinned. “Seeing how you’re asking me nicely, your bottom all naked, and my cum pouring from your ass, yeah. I say ‘yes’.”

Ruslan bit his lips not to laugh. “I guess it looks pretty strange. But it’s not the usual way we do business around here.”

“Thank heavens,” Johnny laughed. “I would have to fuck you and fill your ass each time you’d need to have people sign with you or something. All employment goes through you, I guess. But I can’t agree with you parading your naked ass in front of all your employers, old, new, or whatever.”

Ruslan shook his head. “Come, get your leash already.” Johnny moved, and Ruslan pointed the blank space to fill with his name. Then he kissed his lover. “See, it wasn’t all that hard.”

“I think it was plenty hard. Both ways,” Johnny added and kissed Ruslan in turn.

“If you say so. I’m still not looking forward to the scolding I’ll get from papa.”

“Do you need any help? I can lie for you.”

“To papa?” Ruslan feigned shock. “I’d rather you wouldn’t. Papa can usually tell when people are lying to him. Well, not all the time, but you must be a pretty good liar to fool him.”

“So you don’t want my help?”

“Not this time, no. And just as your spanking from earlier, I totally deserve it. So I will go through it without any complaints.”

***

Johnny could feel Ruslan’s finger lazily tracing the scars on his back. He had so much to think about. Ruslan wanted to meet his mom. His lover wanted that part of him, too, his family, and Johnny was weirdly okay with it.

For so much time, he had kept his mom a well-hidden secret. At least, for the longest of time, he had hoped it was so. But in today’s world, people could find anything about anyone if they wanted. In time, he had gotten used to it, too, his mom living a life separated from him kept just somewhere remote from his own.

And now Ruslan wanted in. He wanted to walk into that hospital room and meet her. And Johnny could not figure out, for the love of all that was holy, how that could work. What would they talk about?

“Nigel’s dad gave these to you,” Ruslan said, continuing his exploration of the jagged lines.

“You like things that are broken, pretty?” Johnny asked, his voice rougher than he wanted.

“I like you. Broken or not. And why would you say that? Aren’t we a pair? I might not have scars. But I’m sure as hell that I’m plenty broken on the inside.”

“Don’t say that,” Johnny protested. “You ain’t broken. If you are, maybe that’s why we are like this, you know? It works.”

“Are you going to say ‘you complete me’?” Ruslan laughed. “Because it would sound so cheesy.”

“I won’t say it,” Johnny replied with a sigh. “So you really want to meet my mom?”

“Why not? I mean. She’s an important part of you, and I would like to meet her.”

“Even if she’s like she is. She talks to me like I’m fifteen years younger or something.”

“I guess you’ll always be her little boy,” Ruslan said wistfully.

“Do you, like, miss your mom or something?”

“I gave up on things like that when I was ten, I think. And you can’t really miss someone you’ve never met, right? Do you?”

“What? Miss my mom? As she was, yes, a little, I guess. She’s taken care of where she is. It’s not the best, but they seem to be decent people there.”

“If you ever want to move her to a better place --”

“She’s good there. And the head nurse says that routine is good for her. For this thing she has.”

“Okay. Then maybe my meeting her is not such a good idea, after all?” Ruslan asked.

“I think she’d love to meet you.”

“Even if I’m not part of her routine?”

“I’ll ask the nurse. She’ll know if it’s a good idea. Yeah, I’ll call tomorrow, and on Monday, we could go.”

“What flowers does she like?” Ruslan asked.

“Flowers? Daffodils, I think.”

“Okay.”

“You want to make a little fuss over this,” Johnny said.

“Forgive me. I shouldn’t. I mean your mom needs her quiet and I’m just thinking about myself. About making a good impression. Are the flowers too much?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Johnny replied. “She also likes chocolate. If you really want to spoil her, get some, too.”

Ruslan laughed. “Ah, so you want me to make a little fuss, after all.”

“I do,” Johnny said and turned to embrace Ruslan.

It felt so nice to have Ruslan lying on top of him, feeling each other toes to shoulders. Ruslan sighed contently and placed his palms flat against Johnny’s chest and then his chin on top of them. It was not the most comfortable position to stare at each other like that, but Johnny didn’t mind.

Ruslan was using his own toes to tease Johnny’s feet. He was a bit ticklish, and the moment Ruslan had learned about it, he had found a new way to torment him. His lover’s smile was stretching, lighting up his entire face.

“Would you be mad, like really mad, if I bought a ring at one point?” Ruslan asked, and his feline eyes were glinting with mischief.

“A ring? Nah, pretty, I don’t like men’s jewelry. It makes you look like a schmuck.”

“It’s not that kind of ring,” Ruslan said quickly.

“What kind of ring is it?” Johnny asked, frowning a little. He was missing something here.

“Forget it. I’ll ask you again, another time.”

Ring. Oh shit. Johnny could feel himself sobering up, and he had barely had a drop of whiskey, earlier that evening. He straightened up and made Ruslan roll over, with him on top.

“A ring?” he asked, swallowing hard.

“Yeah, a ring,” Ruslan said, defiantly, pushing his chin upward.

“Like in a commitment type of ring?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Do you want to ask me to marry you?” Johnny asked, feeling hopeful and suddenly extremely happy.

“Something like that, yeah. Of course, the first ring is an engagement ring.”

“Hmm, so many complications,” Johnny teased his lover, “I don’t know, pretty. Will it be a long engagement? Like two years or so?”

Ruslan rolled his eyes. “You’re making fun of me. Don’t worry; I won’t ask again for like five years.”

“And what if I say ‘yes’?”

“If?” Ruslan glared from behind a curtain of pretty curled eyelashes the color of dark gold. “Oh, damn, I will have to change the terms of that contract. I see I must tighten the leash.”

Johnny laughed so hard the bed was creaking under them. “Pretty, I thought I would be the one to ask you.”

“And why is that?” Ruslan asked.

“I don’t know. I’m the bigger one.”

“You’re the bigger one,” Ruslan said each word through his teeth like he needed to check them, sound by sound. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“I can carry you. You can’t carry me,” Johnny pointed out.

“Okay, point taken, but still, what’s that got to do with anything? So you can lift. Big deal,” Ruslan said with a delicious pout.

Johnny leaned in and bit the full lips playfully. “Get that ring then, pretty.”

“And you’ll say ‘yes’?” Ruslan questioned him, observing him with his big pretty eyes.

“Yeah, I’ll say ‘yes’. It’s high time a Bryne marries up.”

“You’re such a joker. I’ll take you for a spin. Don’t think I’m asking you to marry me. We’re only engaged. I’ll see if you make good husband material or not.”

“Ah, so you think you can screw my brains out, hook me up on this,” Johnny said and sneaked one hand to grab Ruslan’s ass, “and then leave me at the altar or something?”

“Leave you at the altar,” Ruslan scoffed, “like you’re some virginal bride, you mean?”

“Virginal.” Johnny burst into laughter so hard that even Ruslan had to forget he was trying to be upset.

Ruslan’s hands traveled down to the small of his back. Johnny could read the question in the beautiful eyes staring at him.

“I would need to take your virginity, you know,” Ruslan said and grinned like a cat, as his hands suddenly grabbed Johnny’s ass.

He laughed, but only half-heartedly this time. “And I thought you were the perfect bottom boy,” Johnny said.

“I guess I am saving myself for someone special,” Ruslan joked, but his smile was subdued now, not larger than the sun, like before.

“Pretty,” Johnny said lovingly, caressing Ruslan’s hair.

“Don’t say a word,” Ruslan replied and kissed him quickly. “I was just joking. You should have seen your face.”

Johnny shrugged. “What can I say? I’m chicken.”

Ruslan chose to shrug it off with a joke. “It’s okay. I’m brave enough for the two of us.”

“That you are,” Johnny admitted.

He leaned in and kissed Ruslan gently on the lips. As expected, his lover opened his mouth and licked his playfully. Johnny liked this sort of play. They both enjoyed kissing each other. With other men, Johnny hadn’t been that high on kissing. But with Ruslan, everything was different, more than anything else he had ever felt in his life.

This was more than just sex. As weird as it sounded, he was even going to marry the guy. He had no idea how that was supposed to work. But Ruslan knew, and Johnny was more than willing to let him take the lead in this case.

Ruslan pinched his nipples hard, almost making him bite his tongue, in turn. “Ouch. Want to hurt me, baby?”

“No, I just wanted to draw your attention. You seemed a bit far away just earlier.”

“I will marry you,” Johnny said solemnly.

“That’s great. I hope that thought doesn’t give you erectile dysfunction.”

“Does this seem to you like it’s not working?” Johnny pushed his erection against Ruslan’s crotch.

“No, but one never knows. They say married couples tend to have less sex than the rest.”

“That’s stupid,” Johnny replied. “When they were together and happy, my mom and dad … Okay, now you make me say stuff that’ll make me limp.”

Ruslan snickered. “It’s good that you have nice memories of them, Johnny.”

“Well, let’s say that I could live without some of them,” Johnny said dryly and began laughing, too. “If that’s what they say about married couples, let’s be the exception to the rule. I’m sure I would fuck you even more than I do now.”

“Big words, Johnny, big words,” Ruslan teased him.

“You like things that are big about me,” Johnny replied.

“I sure do,” Ruslan said.

If that was what it took to rile him up and make him perform, Johnny was taking it. He sneaked both hands under Ruslan’s ass and cupped the lovely butt cheeks, loving how nicely they filled his palms.

Ruslan winced.

“Does it hurt, pretty?” Johnny asked.

“You did spank me properly,” Ruslan said. “Come on, get to work, Johnny. Don’t let the little things bother you.”

“Your ass is not that little,” Johnny said with a small smile.

“I’m glad you noticed,” Ruslan replied smugly.

Johnny shut his lover up with a deep kiss. They loved kissing, and they loved talking. And they loved fucking. Maybe that was all that was needed for them to work. The rest of the world didn’t matter. He had found himself a match, and he wasn’t even scared that the guy was asking him to marry him.

Johnny couldn’t imagine any answer to that except ‘yes’.

He searched for the lube with one hand while Ruslan remained hanging on his neck, peppering small kisses across his jawline. Sometimes, Ruslan glued to him so hard that he could barely do anything, but he liked it.

“I need to use the lube on us, Ruslan, or your beautiful ass will hurt even more.”

“Hmm, you didn’t seem so concerned when you were spanking my ass tonight.”

“I was very much concerned,” Johnny protested. “Only that you deserved it. And I didn’t want to stay mad at you.”

“Good, I’ll take it,” Ruslan said and nuzzled his neck.

Johnny was thankful for the small reprieve as Ruslan eased his hold a little. He could focus on squirting some lube into his hand so he could spread some over his now aching cock and between Ruslan’s ass cheeks. This pretty man was going to squeeze him dry, Johnny was sure of it. But he didn’t want to trade that tight ass, that lovely face and that kind soul for the world.

Ruslan was everything he wanted in someone to share his life with, and that without even knowing that he was searching for something like that.

“So, we’re like, husband and husband?” Johnny asked.

“We will be if you pass the test,” Ruslan teased him some more.

“Then let me do my best.” Johnny pushed inside, and Ruslan immediately wrapped his long legs around him.

With Ruslan, lovemaking was sometimes fast. And sometimes it was hard. Or it was slow and sweet, like this. Johnny loved it either way. Their bodies moved together as they were made for one another.

“I love you, baby,” he whispered into Ruslan’s hair, as he increased his rhythm.

He could feel Ruslan’s cock rubbing against him, and he loved that sensation, too. His lover was spilling himself from that friction only. It was his cue he could come, too. Ruslan always came first.

TBC

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