Young At Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

he was completely at Jesse’s mercy and wearing nothing but his boxers, Devon began to feel afraid. He struggled against his bonds in vain while Jesse watched impassively. Breathing heavily, Devon stopped fighting to free his hands and turned his attention to Jesse.
    His teenage ex-lover swayed slightly on his feet as he slowly peeled his own clothes off, until he, too, was in his underwear. Crawling up the bed, taking deliberate care not to make body contact, Jesse lay down, one arm tucked beneath his head.
    â€œWhere were you?” His voice was flat and emotionless as though, in contrast to his actions, he could not care less about the answer.
    Devon glared at him. “Untie me and I’ll tell you.”
    â€œNo.” Jesse shook his head. “Tell me and I’ll untie you.”
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œI was at a dinner party at Antonio’s.”
    Jesse’s eyes darkened at the mention of the older man’s name. “Were you with anyone? Another guy?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Jesse blinked sleepily.
    â€œThere was a man who wanted to come home with me. I don’t even remember his name.”
    When he got no reply, Devon looked across to see Jesse’s eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply.
Damn it, Jesse! Don’t go to sleep now!
He tugged again on the tie, managing only to tighten the knot Jesse had fastened so efficiently.
    Yelling or calling for help was pointless. There were only two apartments on each floor of the building and the one across the landing had been empty for months. Devon knew the woman in the apartment above was away on business and the man who lived below was profoundly deaf. The building security guards were too far away. Absurdly, despite his predicament, he was loath to wake Jesse. He looked so peaceful when he was sleeping.
    Digging his heels into the mattress, Devon managed to push his body farther up the bed, which temporarily eased the tension in his arms. After a while, he dozed, although he wouldn’t have thought it possible given the position he was in. Two hours later, he woke to the sound of Jesse in the throes of a nightmare. Jesse writhed on the bed, his face contorted with pain.
    â€œNo... please... please don’t.” He let out a feral cry, fingers clutching at the duvet. “Please... it hurts....”
    â€œJesse!”
    Devon shouted. Jesse flinched, but didn’t wake, continuing to throw his head from side to side, pleading with whoever haunted his nightmare not to hurt him. Using as much force as he could muster, Devon kicked him hard. With a howl, Jesse sat bolt upright, fully awake.
    â€œYou were having a nightmare,” Devon said and Jesse turned to look at him, wide-eyed and disorientated. “What was it about?”
    â€œI don’t remember.”
    It had to be a lie. Jesse was as scared now he was awake as he had been in his dream. Scrambling from the bed, Jesse ran to the bathroom. The door slammed behind him, but Devon could still hear him throwing up into the toilet bowl. God, he was so messed up. Was it Devon’s fault? Did he cause this? Or was it Antonio, evoking memories of the past, taking him back to his thirteen-year-old self when he was attacked by his foster brother?
    A few minutes later, Jesse reappeared. Without meeting Devon’s questioning gaze, he crossed the room and turned out the light. The room plunged into darkness. Seconds later, the mattress sagged beneath his weight. Devon held his breath, waiting, but Jesse quietly lay down again.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œIt was just a bad dream, Dev.”
    It was his choice not to talk about it if he didn’t want to. Devon couldn’t make him. Shifting uncomfortably, he tried to ease the pain in his arms. They had been tied above his head for hours and his muscles burned under the strain.
    â€œJesse, please untie me. You promised.”
    â€œI