By His Rules Read online

  relax—give you a break from me. If I’d known how it

  made you feel, I wouldn’t have done it. I should have

  talked to you about it first and explained my intentions.”

  “I wouldn’t have listened. I was too busy being

  horrible.”

  “You weren’t horrible.”

  Aiden snorted.

  “Anyway it’s over now. I guess what we need to

  discuss is what you want from me while you’re here.”

  Aiden tensed, but Keaton went on petting him until

  he relaxed again. Aiden took a deep breath. “I feel out of

  control without—without someone in charge. But I’m

  done with the lifestyle. I don’t want a dom. I want to

  learn how to be in control on my own.”

  “There might be a solution to that.”

  “What?”

  “Do you know what domestic discipline is?”

  “I’ve read stories about it. It’s like when people

  spank their spouses. Right?”

  “It’s an arrangement between two partners in which

  one partner makes the rules and major decisions in the

  relationship, and enforces those rules with corporal

  punishment. And yes, spanking is probably the most

  common form of domestic discipline.”

  “So is it like an age-play thing? Where one partner’s

  the kid?”

  “Not

  exactly.

  A

  true

  domestic

  discipline

  relationship isn’t play. Dominant and submissive aren’t

  roles the partners assume and shed at will. The partners

  live together, love one another, share dreams and desires

  and ideas. But one needs the other’s rules, boundaries,

  certainty, and guidance. The other feels a deep need to

  provide those things.”

  “Is this what you’re into?” Aiden asked.

  “It’s what I’m into,” Keaton said. It was a relief to

  finally admit it to someone he genuinely cared about.

  “It’s what I need.”

  Aiden swallowed. “Are you saying we could have

  something like that?”

  “That depends. We don’t know each other that well

  yet. A relationship like this requires a lot of trust. It’s not

  just about discipline—it’s about the partnership itself.”

  “Oh.”

  “I like you a lot. But you don’t trust me yet. Not

  fully. There’s no way you could.”

  “I want to.”

  “That’s a start. If you feel you’d like the sort of

  guidance a discipline relationship can provide while

  you’re here, I can set some rules, and together we can

  decide on the consequences for breaking those rules.”

  “Together? Aren’t you supposed to be in charge?”

  “I’ll be in charge of enforcing them. But the

  arrangement is one we structure together.”

  Aiden was silent for a moment. “What would the

  rules be?”

  “I want you to take care of yourself.” Aiden tipped

  his head up to look at Keaton. “I’d ask you to get back on

  a regular meal and sleep schedule. To finish your

  graduate school applications.”

  “That’s it?”

  Keaton chuckled. “That might be harder for you

  than it sounds. There are other things we can discuss. If

  you’d like to be responsible for a share of household

  chores, or if you have any habits you’ve been trying to

  break yourself of—” Keaton smiled as Aiden stopped

  picking at a hangnail on his thumb. “But your primary

  goal would be getting yourself back in peak health.”

  “So what would you do to me if I broke the rules?”

  “That depends. The butt-to-brain communication

  route is extremely efficient. I often find that a spanking is

  the fastest, most effective way of making a lasting

  impression.”

  “And the hottest.” Aiden laughed.

  Keaton didn’t reply.

  After a few seconds, Aiden looked up at him

  uncertainly. “Keaton?”

  “A lot of people are turned on by spankings,”

  Keaton said. “And that’s fine. However I want you to be

  aware that I don’t get off on administering corporal

  punishment. A disciplinary spanking is not intended to

  be sexually stimulating.”

  Keaton felt Aiden tense again. “So why do it?”

  Aiden asked. “I mean, if it doesn’t turn you on?”

  “What satisfies me is the mutual trust. Knowing my

  partner believes in my ability to make decisions that are

  in his best interest.”

  “I usually get turned on by spankings,” Aiden said

  quietly. “So it might… not work.”

  “Many people find that the mind-set they’re in

  when they receive a disciplinary spanking is quite

  different than the mind-set they’re in when they receive a

  spanking as part of a BDSM scene. Were you turned on

  by the swats I gave you a few minutes ago?”

  Aiden shook his head.

  “That mind-set shift might be enough to eliminate

  any pleasure you normally get from a spanking. If not,

  there are other punishments.”

  “Like what?”

  “Writing lines, having your mouth washed out with

  soap. Restrictions, loss of privileges, early bedtime,

  corner time—though that might not be the best option for

  you.”

  Aiden ducked his head. “It’s punishment,” he

  mumbled. “I’m not supposed to like it.”

  “But the point of discipline is to correct a behavior,

  not leave you feeling scared, frustrated, alone, or

  resentful.”

  Keaton hoped the boy couldn’t feel how fast his

  heart was beating. He couldn’t believe he was actually

  having this conversation with Aiden Cole. It was a while

  before Aiden spoke again.

  “Keaton? I’m interested in this idea. I think I might

  want to try it. But… ”

  “Yes?”

  “I do have a high pain threshold. You might have to

  hit me really hard to make me feel it. But I don’t know if I

  want to go there again. You know? Blood? Marks?”

  Keaton ran a hand through Aiden’s hair. “I would

  never— never administer a punishment that left you

  bruised or bleeding. There may be color or soreness that

  takes a few hours to fade. But anything beyond that isn’t

  discipline.”

  Aiden bit his lip. Keaton continued. “Like I said,

  the discipline mind-set is different from the kink mind-

  set. It’s not always the pain that hurts—if that makes

  sense. But if you find that corporal punishment isn’t

  making much of an impression on you, we’ll look at

  other options.”

  “Okay. And the other thing?”

  “What other thing?”

  “The… relationship part?”

  “Ah.”

  “Would I still just be your houseguest? Or would

  we be, like… ”

  “Lovers?”

  “Yeah.”

  Keaton thought for a moment. The idea of refusing

  a sexual relationship with Aiden Cole was almost

  unfathomable. “I don’t want to rush you into anything.”<
br />
  “I can take care of myself,” Aiden protested. “Well,

  except for eating right, sleeping well, and making plans

  for my future.” He and Keaton both laughed. “You can

  make those decisions for me. But I’ll make this one. I

  think you’re sexy and beautiful and a good man. I want

  you. I just don’t know if you want me.”

  Keaton touched the boy’s cheek.

  Aiden closed his eyes.

  “More than anything.”

  “Then take me,” Aiden whispered.

  Keaton leaned down and kissed him. It was a soft

  kiss, brief. Keaton lifted his head, closed his eyes, and

  savored the lingering feel of it. He kissed Aiden again,

  letting his tongue explore the hot and cool spots in

  Aiden’s mouth. He accepted the boy’s soft moan into his

  own throat, let his fingers drift along Aiden’s jaw.

  They were interrupted by the smoke detector

  blaring in the kitchen.

  “The pizza,” Keaton said.

  They hurried into the kitchen to find the oven

  emitting a steady sheet of smoke. Aiden stood on a chair

  and hushed the detector while Keaton opened the oven,

  releasing a black cloud and the smell of charred onions,

  peppers, and cheese. Keaton opened the back door, the

  rush of chilly air helping to cool both the room and his

  groin.

  “That’s your specialty, huh?” Aiden teased,

  nodding at the black disc in the oven.

  Keaton grinned. “Watch it, brat.” Keaton took out

  his phone. “I’ll order us some subs. What do you want?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not very hungry.”

  Keaton shook his head. “Not gonna work anymore,

  kid. Three meals a day, remember? You might as well

  get something you like.”

  “Turkey? No onions, no mayo.”

  Keaton placed their order. “Twenty to thirty

  minutes.”

  “What are we going to do while we wait?”

  “You can tell me exactly what you still need to do

  to complete your applications.”

  Aiden made a face. “Keaton.”

  “Yes?”

  “Can’t we finish what we started in the living

  room?”

  “Oh? What did we start?”

  Aiden looked at the floor. “I thought you were

  going to fuck me,” he grumbled.

  “Quite the romantic, aren’t you?”

  “I try.”

  “You’re going to show me your applications. Then

  we’re going to eat dinner.”

  “Then?”

  “Then, once you’ve finished every last bite, I’m

  going to take you upstairs. And I’m going to make love

  to you.”

  Aiden let out his breath. “Can’t we do something

  now? I’m so hard.”

  Keaton quirked an eyebrow. “Was there anything

  unclear about what I just said?”

  Aiden flushed and dropped his gaze. “No, Sir.”

  “Keaton,” Keaton said softly.

  “What?”

  “Call me Keaton. Not Sir.”

  “Oh.” Aiden looked suddenly uneasy. “I might

  forget.”

  “Then I’ll remind you. We’re partners. Equals.”

  “If we were equals, then I’d be able to spank you

  when you did something I didn’t like.” Aiden’s tone was

  only half-joking.

  “Maybe we should rethink this,” Keaton said

  quietly.

  “No! Keaton, I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry. I just don’t

  quite get it, I think?”

  “Easy. I’m not upset. Let’s talk.” Keaton sat at the

  table, waving traces of smoke from his eyes. Outside,

  crickets chirped, and an owl hooted. Aiden looked wary

  but eventually sat down across from Keaton. “This isn’t

  going to be like what you had with Scott. I’m not your

  master. I’m not your dom. I’m in charge, but that doesn’t

  make me superior to you in any way. You need limits. I

  need to provide them. Your submission is a gift I value,

  not something I demand or expect. That you defer to me

  doesn’t make you weak. It doesn’t make you less than

  me. Understand?”

  “I think so. It’s just weird. I’ve never done this

  before.”

  “I’ll help you.”

  “What if I really piss you off? Will you kick me

  out?”

  “You’re free to leave anytime of your own volition.

  You’re also free to back out of the discipline portion of

  the relationship. But I won’t ever kick you out.”

  Aiden nodded. He looked at Keaton. “I have to do

  personal statements for my applications. But I don’t

  know what to say. I don’t feel like I have anything

  important to offer a grad program.”

  “What do you mean, important?”

  “I mean everyone else who’s applying has probably

  been in way more shows than me and went to better

  colleges and traveled to exciting places and done

  internships… I don’t know how to make myself stand

  out.”

  “Don’t worry about everyone else. All you need to

  worry about is showcasing yourself.”

  “But myself is boring.”

  “Trust me, you’re far from that.”

  Aiden suddenly looked pale. “Oh shit. We can’t do

  this. Keaton, you’re going to get so sick of me. I’m

  annoying and I’m needy and I… I don’t even think I used

  to be like this. I used to just have fun.”

  “Aiden. You’re fine. We’ll figure this out together.

  Try and trust me.”

  “I do. I just—”

  “This is new and confusing and a little scary.”

  “I’m not scared,” Aiden protested.

  “You are, a little bit. And that’s all right.”

  “You don’t know everything,” Aiden muttered.

  Keaton smiled. “Neither do you.”

  The doorbell rang. Keaton collected the subs and

  paid the delivery woman.

  “You expect me to eat that whole thing?” Aiden

  eyed the foot-long sub with apprehension.

  “At least half,” Keaton said, starting on his own

  sub. “You can save the rest for lunch tomorrow.”

  Aiden opened the sandwich and began poking at it,

  rearranging slabs of meat, picking out tomato slices.

  “Just eat,” Keaton said gently.

  “I get sick when I eat. I’m not lying. I do.”

  “That’s because your body’s been running on

  empty for so long. Were you sick after breakfast this

  morning?”

  Aiden shook his head. He hadn’t even realized it,

  but the half a waffle had hardly troubled his stomach at

  all. “No, but—”

  “Your body needs to get used to food again.”

  Aiden took a tentative bite of the sandwich.

  “Good boy.”

  Aiden blushed. “Are you gonna call me that?”

  “Boy?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  Aiden blushed deeper. “Maybe sometimes?”

  “Okay.”

  “Not all the time.”

  “Agreed.”

  Keaton finished his sandwich, trying not to stare at

  Aiden. He was beautiful, and Keaton couldn’t help

>   imagining how much more beautiful he’d be once he

  regained his health and self-confidence.

  He’ll probably hightail it out of here, then, Keaton

  thought sadly. Off to grad school or New York or just

  back to his old apartment.

  Best not to think about that now. All Keaton wanted

  to concentrate on was whisking Aiden upstairs and into

  his bed, and giving the boy more pleasure than he’d ever

  felt in his life.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aiden finished the last bite of his sub, wrapped the

  remaining half, and put it in the fridge. This evening had

  been strange. Had he really agreed to a domestic

  discipline relationship with Keaton Hughes? He half

  wished Keaton were a normal, less complicated top.

  He went to the sink to wash his hands, and while he

  stood there, he felt strong arms wrap around him from

  behind. He shut the water off and leaned into the

  embrace. Keaton’s lips brushed the side of his neck.

  “Come on,” Keaton whispered.

  Aiden started to turn and gave a yip of surprise as

  Keaton lifted him up in a fireman’s carry, took him

  upstairs to the master bedroom, and laid him gently on

  the bed. Keaton climbed over him, arms on either side of

  Aiden’s shoulders. He lowered himself until their bodies

  touched, and kissed Aiden deeply. Aiden could feel

  Keaton’s hardness against his thigh. His own cock was at

  attention, twitching as Keaton plundered his mouth with

  his tongue. The kiss left Aiden gasping for breath.

  Keaton’s tongue flicked Aiden’s earlobe, then traced the

  outside of his ear. Aiden squirmed. Keaton took his

  earlobe between his teeth and tugged lightly.

  “Please,” Aiden begged.

  Keaton bit slightly harder, and Aiden whimpered

  and writhed. Keaton let go and kissed Aiden again. He

  brushed his lips along the line of Aiden’s jaw, then

  retraced the same path with his teeth very gently.

  “Oh,” Aiden murmured.

  Keaton moved to the foot of the bed, where he knelt

  with his knees on either side of Aiden’s legs. He

  removed his sweater in one easy motion, and Aiden

  gazed hungrily at the man’s smooth, muscled chest and

  strong arms.

  Keaton placed his hands on Aiden’s hips, then ran

  his palms up Aiden’s sides, under his shirt, warming the

  flesh. He repeated the movement, pushing Aiden’s shirt

  up a little more each time until Aiden’s flat, trim belly

  was exposed.

  “Beautiful,” Keaton murmured, pressing his lips to

  Aiden’s stomach. He licked a spot just to the left of