Velvet chains

e pavement like he w

no details, no options. Tonight, it was the high-rise on Fifth and Holloway, th

r jacket he got from a thrift store two years ago. He was seventeen going on twenty-five. Eyes rimmed with black li

h a Bluetooth headset glanced at him sideways but didn't sto

e took the elevator up w

pered "old money" with every stitch. His hair was neat, his jaw clean-shaven. At 38, he had the

t have agre

liot... well, he was lonely. And curiou

ed when the do

ed it-a

mouth. Lean body like a dancer. He was young, but not boyish. Sharp a

Jaden said, brushing

tting the door. "You're...

his head. "Yeah? You're shyer th

d it with a clearing throat. "No, please

it was his own, legs spread, arms draped. He watched Elliot r

e was d

ot sleazy like the others. He had kind eyes-and the k

ass of red wine with s

king a sip, "what's yo

have to cal

then?

or blooming across his cheeks.

rd, elbows on knees. "So what is t

think this is how these..

hrugging, "maybe I'm

sn't

e and walk away untouched. And yet, Elliot's eyes kept drifting to his mouth, the

ught him

me?" he asked, b

th hitched. "

ow and fluid, and walked over until th

but addictive-and the faint trace of mint and cigarettes

ched his collar. "You're not

lliot w

stop him. He didn't. Their lips met, and it wasn't f

tongues touched briefly, warm and wet. Elliot's hand moved t

d back, Elliot

ually do th

ned. "Neit

knew it

en had kicked his boots off, legs curled beneath him. Elliot po

get out of thi

k. "Money. Rent. Uncle

s not

't reach his eyes. "You'r

o his glass. "You shou

Jaden sa

hat felt too thick for stranger

tly, "Do you want me

dy, but into his eyes-and saw the exhaus

answer w

nd offered

never leaving Elliot. The older man watched with quiet reverence, to

osity. Te

id under Elliot's sweater, feeling the warmth of his chest. El

ies rubbed, friction building, electric. Hands roamed. Mouths found skin. Jade

o all the w

n sync, breathing each other in-it was m

e by side, both flushed and daz

at me like I was something

head, voice hoarse

For a moment, h

in a long time, he le