Page 25 of Hard as Steel

Steel’s mouth slammed into his. Their kiss was desperate and hungry. Steel bit his bottom lip and then sucked it, as if apologizing. His fingers probed Krystof’s asshole, toying with him and driving him insane. Krystof tried to fuck Steel’s fingers as Steel massaged his prostate. Steel wouldn’t let him move. The power imbalance set Krystof free. He couldn’t do anything. Steel was stronger than him. He didn’t have to think about whether he should do this, or if he would hate himself later for allowing the disrespect of Steel touching him after Steel had been with someone else all day. Krystof wasn’t the one in control here.

They had spent more than one night with Krystof bending Steel over in the shower. Krystof was thankful for that when Steel didn’t have to leave him to get lube. If Steel stopped, reality would rush back. Krystof needed this break from his mind.

In a flash, Krystof found himself clinging to the wall while Steel slammed into him from behind. The pain tore a gasp from him.

Steel stopped. His hand stroked Krystof’s spine. The moment Krystof’s muscles relaxed, Steel pulled out slightly and did it again. Tears streamed down Krystof’s face. His heart was so fucking torn to shreds, he didn’t even know who he was anymore. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Krystof couldn’t live like this, but he didn’t know if he could leave. He loved this man. Those words chanted over and over again inside his head. No matter the shape of his mind, Krystof’s body wound tighter and tighter. Pressure crawled up his cock. A blinding light struck, tearing a cry from Krystof as he blew cum on the shower floor. His body shook with pleasure. He was weak from the power of his orgasm. The sounds Steel made behind him hugged Krystof’s heart. Nothing made him prouder than pleasing Steel.

When Steel blew, he dragged Krystof backward, holding him to his chest. Steel kept rocking inside him until the final twitch. When his cock slipped from Krystof’s ass, so too did the cum he had filled Krystof with.

Steel’s touch turned sweet. He washed Krystof like a cherished prize while placing loving kisses on his face and head.

Krystof clung to him, trying to memorize the way Steel’s body felt in his arms.

Once dry, Steel carried him to bed. “Bedtime for you, sweet angel. You look exhausted.”

A humorless laugh escaped him. “Great. Nothing like looking old and tired.” Fuck, he just needed to shut his mouth. He didn’t want to fight.

Thankfully, Steel didn’t take the bait. He cuddled with Krystof and stroked him like a pet. “We’ll be old and tired together. The way we were meant to be.”

Krystof locked down his mind. He had hardened his heart once to walk away from Steel. Krystof would do it again.

No matter how hard Steel tried to go to sleep, he couldn’t. He kept his eyes closed, but he felt Krystof's stare in the dark. Something was wrong. Steel couldn’t turn off his brain to rest. His mind darted all over the place, trying to decide why they felt so distant and off.

When Krystof slipped from the bed, Steel wasn’t surprised. He watched Krystof get dressed. The clothes he chose didn’t say he was headed to the kitchen for a drink. He dressed as if he meant to leave the house. Once Krystof left the bedroom, Steel sat up. He glanced around. Sure enough, Krystof’s phone no longer sat on charge where Steel had left it. His wallet was also missing. He waited a minute before following. When he spotted Krystof sitting at the table, writing something, Steel stayed out of sight and simply watched him. He didn’t want to jump to any conclusions. Krystof was an adult. He could be doing anything. It was possible he remembered some paperwork he needed to work on for his company. Krystof did a lot of things by hand that other people used a computer for. He said he remembered things better if he wrote them longhand. Steel didn’t know why he stayed hidden. Something was just very wrong, and he had never known how to get Krystof to talk about his problems. He had been raised to be emotionless. Krystof’s entire life had been a long training session on how to be the face of his family. No scandals. No drama, and definitely no raising of his voice. He was part of the ultrarich. They didn’t have problems. Krystof had to be perfectly poised, and well… perfect.

The jingle of Buttercup’s collar drew Steel’s attention toward the mudroom. She liked to drag her bed in there and poke her head out the doggie door, guarding her home from the garage. A bright smile lit his face when he saw Buttercup had her favorite pajamas in her mouth. She might’ve been a little spoiled. He regretted nothing.

She carried the outfit to Krystof. He scooted his chair back and gave her his full attention. “Oh, no. Did we forget to dress you for bed? I’m so sorry.” Krystof moved to the floor and helped Buttercup into her bedtime clothes. Once she was dressed, Krystof petted and kissed her. “I’ll miss you so, so much.”

Steel’s heart jumped into his throat. He hadn’t let his mind go there when Krystof sneaked away. Krystof had sworn to him that he would never leave. He couldn’t sit back and let this happen. He stepped out of his hiding spot.

“So I guess giving me your word you wouldn’t leave again didn’t mean shit.”

Krystof’s gaze slid away. He kept petting Buttercup as if he needed the comfort. “You asked for that promise under false pretenses, which is okay. I understand. You won, okay. You beat me in a game I didn’t know I was playing. One I can’t play anymore.”

“What in the fuck are you talking about? What game?” Steel didn’t yell, but he sounded as confused as he felt.

Krystof stood. “The one where you punish me for hurting you. Like I said, I get it. I deserve it, but it turns out I’m every bit as weak as I’ve always feared. This hurts too much.”

Steel’s mind was all over the place. “Why in the hell would you think I’m just playing some long game? We’re getting married. That seems a bit far for someone to say ‘just joking’.”

“Are we getting married?”

“Yes.” Even Steel heard the desperate confusion in his voice.

“When? Where? What time? What’s our color scheme? Who’s being invited? In fact, describe our wedding invitations.”

He somewhat got what Krystof was saying, but leaving him over it? “Why does any of that matter? I’ll be there, happily marrying the love of my life. We don’t even have to have a wedding. I’d marry you in a bathroom stall at a dodgy nightclub, if that’s what you want. Planning weddings isn’t my forte.”

Krystof shook his head. “Do you even hear yourself? I’ve done everything alone. You’re never here.”

Steel’s shoulders fell. “See, I knew this would become a problem. I guess your next hit will be you accusing me of being a cheat.”

Krystof cocked his head to one side. “Funny that you’d be the one to bring that up. I don’t have to accuse you of what I saw with my own eyes.” Krystof hugged himself and rubbed his arms. “Buttercup and I were playing frisbee on the beach while you were having lunch with someone else. Don’t tell me it was business. You always tell me about business. Yet I called an hour before lunch to see if you wanted me to bring you something. You said you were skipping lunch. All the late nights. I’m not dumb.”

Steel shook his head. He knew he had been a shitty fiancé, but he was trying to fix that. “I had lunch with Bridger. It wasn’t planned. He came in and wanted to take me to lunch to discuss his position with the company. I’m trying to set things up so I can be home more often. You should know me better than to think I’d ever cheat. I’m not that guy. In fact, I told him to keep an eye out for a wedding invitation.”

“They haven’t gone out yet,” Krystof yelled, sending Buttercup scrambling back to the mudroom. He took a few breaths, visibly trying to get himself under control. “You were supposed to come home early last night to help me do that. Instead, I spent four hours alone stuffing and labeling. I’d planned to mail them out this morning, but something in my gut stopped me.” Krystof’s chest heaved as if he had gone for a run. He was pale and shaking. He grabbed the edge of the table. “I… I…” Krystof shook his head, as if shaking off cobwebs. “I think I need an ambulance.” Krystof dropped like a rock. He went down hard, making no attempt to catch himself. It was obvious Krystof was out. Steel rushed to his side and skidded to his knees beside him. He patted Krystof’s face. “Come on, baby. Open your eyes for me.” Krystof didn’t respond. He was so still, Steel would have thought he was dead if his breathing wasn’t rapid and ragged. His lips were turning blue. Steel pulled Krystof’s phone from his pocket. His hands shook as he fumbled his way through unlocking the device. He put the phone on speaker as the phone rang for nine-one-one.