A few months later

"John, you know I want you in the bedroom when I come home."

"Yes I know. I'm sorry."

He hurried to the bedroom, taking off his clothes in record time but making a point of folding them neatly and putting them on the floor in the corner.

"Come here. What's the rule?"

"I am to be naked, kneeling in the corner with my clothes folded, waiting to see if you want me."

"Exactly. And how did I find you when I came home tonight?"

"Dressed, on the couch in the living room watching a movie."

"Exactly. Do you want me to charge you rent?"

"No sir."

A slap to his face.

"Thank you", John whispered.

"I could make you earn your keep. Who knows, a talented little slut like you might even make a profit. You want that?"

"No sir."

Another slap.

"Thank you."

"Kiss me."

John did, surrendering as much as he could.

"Now do your job, I'm late already because of you."

~o0o~

The moment Gerald had come down John's throat he pushed him away.

"Now you can go back to watching whatever it was."

"Are we not going out tonight?"

"I'm going out. You're staying in. You know why."

"Could you - I mean I'm really hungry."

"I'll bring you something."

"Thank you. Where do you want me to wait for you?"

"Let's make it a game. Try to guess."

"What if I'm wrong?"

"I'll be disappointed with you again."

"Yes sir."

"You're such a beauty John. If only you tried a little harder to please me. Is that too much to ask?"

"No, sir. I'll try harder, I promise."

"Cause you know there's a hundred pretty boys like you out there who might do better, if I gave them the chance I've given you."

"Yes, sir, I know."

"Come here."

He pulled him into a kiss, enjoying the kid's soft, willing mouth. "Such a good boy."

~o0o~

John spent half an hour trying to find the right place - somewhere far in a corner, with his face to the floor? Might get him punishment because Gerald would have to go look for him. Bedroom? Too obvious. Living room? Might look like he was being cheeky. God he was so hungry. He needed some food. Maybe if he got it wrong and took the punishment he might be allowed to eat anyway?

Door. Right next to the door where he was available right away. He drank a bit of water from the sink and knelt down next to the door, hands behind his back, wrists crossed, back straight, head bowed, thighs apart. That gave him an idea. He stroked himself until he was fully erect and then got back into position. Now hold that hard on.

When the door opened John was terrified he might have made a mistake. Sitting - well kneeling - there with his cock standing out proudly, rock hard and aching? He closed his eyes and made sure his posture was flawless. A moan almost made him look up, but he caught himself in time.

"Did you prepare yourself?"

Crap.

John swallowed.

"No sir, I'm sorry, I didn't."

"So what did you think would happen if you welcomed me like that, looking like the best fuck in the known universe?"

No anger, no malice. Praise.

"I tell you what happens. I'll have that gorgeous tight little ass of yours, fill you so completely that you'll come like never before. Get me that lube."

Oh thank God. He was in a good mood. The sex would be OK and he might get dinner. One of the better nights.

~o0o~

A few nights later things didn't look so good. Gerald had taken him to dinner with a few of his friends, and he had tried to be on his best behavior, but Gerald was irritated and short tempered and the looks he gave John didn't bode well for when they got home. And then one of the men, Milton, put down his napkin and smiled at Gerald.

"Can I borrow this sweetie for a short moment?"

John stared a the man in shock but Gerald just nodded.

"Please", John tried, but it was fruitless. Milton put his hand on John's shoulder and steered him outside. John felt miserable. Gerald had threatened to share him or lend him out more than once, but he'd never really done it. Until now. Would pleading with the man do him any good? Outside the restaurant Milton put him with his back against a wall, in plain sight of the men inside.

"Hey. Look at me."

John swallowed, but he obeyed.

"I don't know what the deal is with you and Gerald but you don't look too happy. If you ever need anything – call me."

He leaned in and kissed him. John felt Milton's hand on his ass, then in his back pocket. John was stunned. His mind was racing.

"I...owe him. I do feel grateful to him."

"I get that. Shelter, food,... But does he treat you OK?"

"I earn my keep."

"On your back. Or... knees. Or whatever. Look I just want you to know you don't have to stay with him if you don't want to. OK?"

~o0o~

When Milton's comm beeped he recognized the voice right away. John sounded as if he had been crying.

"I think I need help."

"OK, where's Gerald?"

"I don't know. He's not home."

"I'm on my way. Keep talking to me. What happened?"

"I'm puking blood."

"What?!"

"He hit me. Earlier tonight. Not just my face, my body, too. I fell asleep, and when I woke up, the pain was worse and I was sick and - there was blood."

"OK I need you to stay calm. I know that's easier said than done but try not to panic. I'll be there in - nine minutes. Can you lock yourself in somewhere if he comes home before I get there?"

"Uh, yeah."

"OK. Do that right now. But keep talking. Are you safe?"

"Yeah. I'm good."

"How's the pain?"

"Getting worse. I'm having trouble breathing."

"Shit. Shit! OK I'll call you an ambulance. Stay on the line."

~o0o~

Milton was sitting by John's hospital bed when the kid woke up. He saw the panic in John's eyes and gave him a smile.

„Don't worry. They're not gonna let him in here. You're safe."

John relaxed a little. Milton cleared his throat.

"I assume he's done that before? I've never noticed bruises on you though."

John kept his eyes closed. His voice was perfectly neutral.

"I wouldn't go out while I was sporting bruises."

It made Milton flinch. Son of a bitch. He'd make sure the authorities knew what kind of person Gerald was. What he had done to John. A small sound made him look at the boy in the hospital bed, and he noticed a single tear running from the corner of John's eye.

John drew in a shaky breath.

"I can't go back to him. I'll have to find a place but – if I go back to him, I don't know -"

"We'll find a way. They'll keep you here for a while anyway. And after that – if you want to, you can stay with me."

~o0o~

The day John was released from the hospital Milton picked him up and took him home. When they made it to Milton's apartment John looked around, and then at him.

"Where do you want me?"

"Good Lord that guy is an even bigger jerk than I thought."

He put down what little stuff John owned – basically things they'd bought on their way from the hospital.

"There's a couch in my study down the hall. It's quite comfy actually. I thought we could make that your room. I don't really work in there a lot. What do you think?"

John started to smile.

"I think I'd like that. Thank you, Milton."

"You're welcome."

Milton watched John take in the small but pleasant room. He'd decorated it in warm colors, planning on spending some free time there reading or meditating, but he'd ended up in the living room most of the time. So it wasn't a big deal to give it up – and he was happy to have John around. He blushed a little when he realized John had caught him staring. John gave him a wide smile.

"I like it a lot. Are you sure you don't need it?"

"Yes I am. Make yourself comfortable."

John stood a little closer. Milton swallowed. The boy was dangerous...so beautiful. So sweet.

"I -"

Milton cleared his throat, his heart beating high in his throat.

"Can I kiss you, John?", he asked, his voice hushed.

The kid held his gaze, smile in place.

"Sure."

"You can say no, you know?"

"What are you gonna do if I do?"

"Try again some other time", Milton said with a soft smile. It made his eyes sparkle. They were gray with a touch of something else, almost turquoise. John leaned in, standing on the balls of his feet. First time he kissed a man out of his free will... It felt good, gentle, almost loving.

"I adore you already, John", Milton breathed when John drew back. John blushed a little – which made him even more beautiful. Very, very dangerous.

~o0o~

One night a few days later, while they were having dinner, Milton looked at John.

"Is there anything you wanna tell me?", he asked, his voice neutral.

John put down his fork and tilted his head.

"Erm, judging from the way you're looking at me I assume the answer is yes?"

"You lied to me."

"Huh?"

"Well not specifically to me but pretty much to everyone."

"I'm sorry, I -"

"Your name isn't John Hart. And I'm not sure you're 16."

"You screened me? How did you do that?"

"I have a lot of friends in interesting places. So?"

John sighed.

"Officially my last name isn't Hart. That's my dad's name. I'm registered under my mother's name, but I never wanted that."

"You should change it then."

John looked surprised.

"Can I just do that?"

"You'll need your papers, and you'd probably have to be 16. Are you?"

He bit his lip.

"I will be in five weeks."

"OK. So you are underage."

"Well, yes."

"Which means I should have turned that bastard Gerald in for more than just physical abuse. Still should."

"Please don't."

"Actually you should do it."

"He - never forced me. I never said no."

"Did you like what was going on?"

"Well, not all of it, but I usually deserved some - discipline."

"John, whatever he did to you, none of it was your fault. And technically it would have been illegal even if it had been consensual."

"Which means you and I are illegal too."

"Yes. We are. Or will be, if we do anything before your birthday."

"What does that mean? For me?"

"What -"

"Are you kicking me out? Since I'm not, you know, of use."

"For heaven's sake John. I'm crazy about you. You really think I'd throw you out of my house because I can't have sex with you?"

"It's five weeks. That's a long time."

"Yes."

Milton looked at him.

"It is. Technically I shouldn't even have kissed you."

John's smile turned cheeky.

"Technically, I kissed you."

Milton chuckled.

"True."

John's eyes sparkled.

"What if I did that again?"

Milton's gut clenched and he swallowed.

"I wouldn't - object."