Page 25 of Pain Play

Terry ran his palms up Phil’s back, the charcoal gray suit coat smooth beneath his hands. He inhaled Phil’s masculine scent, then let out a sigh. “Thank you, Master.”

All he wanted in that moment was for Marco to feel safe again and for him and Phil to enjoy the rest of their night alone.

****

Phil sipped some coffee from the doorway of the kitchen while observing Terry and Marco playing cards in the living room. He hadn’t even known there was a deck in the house, but Terry had dug around in the desk until he’d found a set that he’d been given after finishing work on a film. The cards all featured the actors from the cast and were probably a collector’s item. As far as Phil was concerned, they were being put to a better use instead of languishing in a drawer.

He tried not to be anxious for Gerard to finish making some calls, so he could find out what the hell had Marco so terrified. He’d offered Gerard some privacy by showing him to their guest room, but he’d been in there for almost thirty minutes and Phil was about ready to jump out of his skin. He may have learned a lot of patience during the time Eric had trained him as a Master, but his natural curiosity and desire to be kept informed of everything in his sphere made the wait almost torture to endure.

At the sound of the guestroom door opening, Phil set down his coffee cup on the counter so hard, that some of the liquid sloshed out of the cup. Gerard gave him a quick dip of his chin as he headed his way, stopping briefly as he passed Marco to bend down and give him a kiss. He whispered something into his sub’s ear, then continued to the kitchen.

The pained expression that passed over Gerard’s features tugged at Phil’s gut. They’d become even closer friends now that they’d begun working together, and he hated to see him so visibly upset.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Phil kept his voice low.

Gerard indicated toward the dinette set on the other side of the kitchen, undoubtedly to keep their conversation from drifting to the living room. Once they’d both taken a seat, Gerard leaned in, folding his hands on the table.

“There’s something I want to tell you, so you can better understand Marco. I typically don’t feel the need to explain him to people because I fiercely guard his privacy, as you may have noticed.” Gerard gave him a tight smile. “But I believe we all share a special connection, which is why I think now is the appropriate time to open up. To be honest, Marco has been asking me to discuss some of his challenges with both you and Terry. He feels our connection too and doesn’t want either of you to make incorrect assumptions about him or his behavior.”

“Whatever makes you or him more comfortable. I cherish the relationship we all share, and I think I can speak for Terry too when I say we both want what’s best for him.”

A smile spread across Gerard’s features. “I sensed that. And I want you to know how much I appreciate it.” Gerard averted his gaze, then scrubbed his face with one hand before turning back to Phil. “Marco is on the autism spectrum. In his case, he expresses his emotions very well, but only with a select few. Without complete trust, he remains locked inside himself.”

Phil drew his eyebrows together. “He’s always seemed quite sociable to me. He did an excellent job of showing me and Terry around on our first visit to your home.”

Gerard nodded. “He’s learned to mimic socially acceptable behavior in order to adapt to his surroundings. When I first began working with him, he wasn’t my lover. His first request of me as a Dom was written on a piece of paper. It simply said, ‘please teach me how to be a regular person’.” Gerard let out a long sigh. “It was a long road, but as our relationship deepened and trust grew, I discovered what a special man he is. Then he revealed his biggest secret.”

“I imagine that secret pertains to whatever it was that happened to him today.”

Gerard’s features twisted in anguish. “That’s correct. Marco’s upbringing is a tragic story. I won’t go into all the details, that’s only part of what we’re dealing with right now. In essence, Marco’s uncle is after him in the hopes he can have him institutionalized.”

Phil gasped. “How can that be possible? He’s an adult man who chooses to live with the man he loves in luxurious surroundings—his uncle doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”

“I’m afraid he could.” Gerard fixed him with an intense stare. “Because Marco was raised with his uncle after his parents died, he never received the proper care or support he needed as a special needs child. His way of dealing with the loss of his mother and father—on top of not having any previous relationship with an uncle who clearly only cared about Marco’s inheritance—was to lash out with anger and violence.” Gerard’s eyes filled with tears. “Unfortunately, his uncle was able to have him committed on several occasions. I believe he hoped that it would become a permanent situation. That way, he could snatch Marco's inheritance out from under him.”

The entire story made Phil sick to his stomach. His only impression of Marco had always been that he was the sweetest and kindest man he’d ever met. “What a disgusting excuse for a human being. If there’s anything,anythingme and Terry can do, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I wish there was, but I appreciate the offer.” A smile tugged at the corner of Gerard’s mouth. “I sensed we would all become good friends.” He sighed. “But for now, we have our attorneys giving us advice. You see, when Marco reached eighteen, he was released. Knowing that his uncle would try to get his clutches in him again, Marco convinced the one close friend he’d made on the ward to stay in his room and pretend he was him. There wasa shift change, and Marco checked out with the nurse who was leaving, while his friend hid under the covers and told the nurse coming on shift that he wanted to remain in his room until his uncle arrived to get him.” Gerard sniffed then let out a chuckle. “His ruse gave him an almost two-hour start, plenty of time to disappear. Eventually, I obtained legal help so he could receive his inheritance. When we fell in love and I moved him into my home, I assumed he was penniless.”

“Wow.” Phil eased back in his chair, shaking his head. “Sounds like he’s a true survivor.”

“He is. I’m very proud of my boy.” Gerard gritted his teeth. “We’ve had to move in the past to elude his uncle, but I’m tired of running and so is Marco. Previously, when we would attend a regular club, we’d always be discovered. I bought the house we’re in right now under an old corporation that I no longer use. That’s how we ended up hosting the nights there. It was so much safer for us.”

“Except now it’s not.”

“Exactly. He somehow figured out where we are and Marco’s terrified his uncle might kidnap him and tell the courts either that he’s still dangerous, or that I’m abusing him because of our lifestyle.”

“Jesus. This is insane.”

“Yes. But it’s his uncle who’s the truly insane one, and I refuse to let him intimidate us anymore.”

A thought entered Phil’s mind. “If nothing else, perhaps me and Terry could help by making statements regarding both Marco’s behavior, as well as his living environment.”

Gerard furrowed his brow, nodding. “I might just take you up on that. Thank you.”

Phil offered him a smile. “Anything we can do to help, I mean it.”

Terry appeared in the doorway. “I apologize for interrupting, but Marco really needs Master Gerard right now. I thought, under the circumstances…”