Page 10 of Drake
A small, minute smile twitches at the corners of his mouth, then it’s gone and a deep frown takes over. “Grant says he’ll drop me if you stay.”
I can’t help but think that would be for the best; he’s not good for Rafe, not in the long term. “Do you really think he’s the best person to manage you? He’s never going to let you be your true self. Do you want to be in the closet for the next ten years, maybe longer? You’re a Dom now, are you going to be able to keep that locked up inside you? Can’t you see that’s not a good way to live?” My eyes burn with unshed tears that if I blink will tumble down my cheeks. “I love you. I love you so much, and I know you love me. Don’t do this to us.”
“I…I don’t know, Drake. I need some time to think. I’m so confused.”
I know Grant has said some terrible things, has scared him into thinking he’ll be a flop if anyone finds out; that’s what’s driving him to do this. I look at him, not believing what he’s saying. Rafe’s fear of being found out he’s gay and then in a BDSM relationship has always been there, in the back of his mind. “Okay, okay. I’ll go, but I don’t want to. I love you, and you only have to call, and I’ll come.”
Grant watches me without saying another word to me. The smug look on his face has me wondering what he’s going to gain from splitting us up. When I step out of the large front door, I turn one last time and see Rafe’s grief-stricken face. I know I’m hoping he’ll say something and call me back. But he doesn’t.
He doesn’t call.
I walk into my parents’ home and plaster on a smile that even I know is false and won’t work on my dads.
“Which wayward son has run out of food and come home hungry?” my dad calls from the living room. Pops shushing him makes my smile a little brighter.
I hear him get up out of the chair and walk towards me. I’m not sure why my feet are fixed to the floor. I want to see him, to have him wrap his arms around me. To tell me I’ll be okay.
When he reaches the doorway and sees me, his smile drops, and sadness fills his eyes. “Oh, sweet boy, come here.”
I drop my bag and stumble the last few steps to reach him. He does exactly what I need. He hugs me, wordlessly comforting me. I bury my head in his neck and let the pain of the last twenty-four hours break free as I sob.
I take a step back, letting Pops release me. I wipe my eyes, and with a very tiny smile, try a weak chuckle. “I needed that.”
“Let me get you something to eat,” he says, and Dad lets out a chuckle. We all know Pops solves all problems with food.
“Good to see you, son.” He squeezes my shoulder as he follows his husband into the kitchen.
I settle in the chair that’s always been mine and put my hands on the table. “Am I okay to stay for a couple of days? I’ll see what jobs I can line up before I get myself a place.”
“You always have a place here, Drake. You know that,” Dad says as he puts a bottle of beer in front of me. “Thought you might need this.”
I nod my head, but don’t pick it up. Instead, I fiddle with the label, teasing the edges away from the cold glass bottle. He sits opposite me, his lips in a thin line as he holds back from asking me any questions. My parents know me well enough to know not to probe, that I’ll talk when I’ve got all the words ready in my head, including their replies.
I dip my head back down to the bottle I still haven’t taken a sip from. “He chose his fame over me.” I shrug, sadness washing over me again. “A Dom from our club took a picture from the security system and tried to blackmail him. His manager, who’s a homophobic dick, didn’t give him a choice, said he would drop him if he stayed with me. Even though it was me who found out who it was and ensured it ended there and then. So, I got fired.”
Pops sits next to Dad, his face full of pain. “Oh, Drake, sweetheart. He’s the one who lost.”
I wait on the stairs as Grant watches Drake leave the house. I don’t understand how this has gone to shit so quickly, and more importantly, why I’m letting it happen. Drake says it’s sorted and is being dealt with, so why did I let him go?
“Okay, now that’s out of the way, we should get you out and about again. You need to be seen with some model hanging onto your arm and every word coming out of your stupid mouth.”
“Fuck off, Grant.” I turn to face the stairs and take them two at a time to get to my bedroom. I tug down my jeans and clamber into my bed. I bury my head in a pillow and howl out loud as the scent of Drake fills my nose. How has my life gone to shit? Oh yeah, it’s because I’ve got no balls, and I’m afraid to stand up for myself. That I’ve put my career and money over the man I love. I don’t even need any more money; I’ve got more than anyone should have.
Am I afraid of being not just outed but being a Dom. How many parents will suddenly stop letting their kids listen or come and see my shows? I honestly don’t know.
It’s dark when I hear a knock on my bedroom door. “Rafe, I’ve ordered food. Come and eat.”
I haven’t given another thought to Grant. I can’t believe he’s still here. “Go home, Grant. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
Instead of retreating footsteps, the bastard has the audacity to open the door. Not just a crack to look around, oh no, he opens it wide. “Get up, Rafe. Stop being such a brat. I’ve saved your career. If that photo got out, you’d be ruined. All my hard work gone up in smoke. All because you and that perverted man.” His face is getting redder as he starts on the same lecture I’ve had over and over today.
“If you’d looked at the photograph, you would have seen it was me with the flogger in my hand. Don’t you think that makes me just as perverted.” I cock my head and watch him get angrier. Then I get out of bed and pull my jeans back on.
“Led astray by a deviant, more like,” he snarls. Seriously, if smoke could come out of his ears, it would be. When did he become this bad? I truly thought he wanted me to look and act straight to appease the record company and the tweenies fan-girling over me. Now, I think there’s more to it. He actually sounds disgusted, the sneer on his face only confirming my suspicion.
“Hardly. You employed him; you did all the background checks. He never hid his sexuality, nor did he flaunt it. So why now? Why after a very important night for the pair of us has a photograph taken from a very expensive and exclusive club landed on your desk?” Am I really going down this path? Does Grant have anything to do with it? How would he find out; it’s not like he’d ever step one foot inside Bent.
“Be careful what you’re implying, boy. I can still break you.” Despite all his puffed-up chest and snarls, a flash of guilt crosses over his face.
