Defying Dominance (MxM) (18+)

26

CW: Controlling behavior, mentions of violence, mention of gun violence

Chapter 26: Daniel

"I have to head home, Jace," I tell him softly, tucking Jace into his bed. "Are you alright?"

Jace nods, yawning. His still-damp hair fans out on the pillow behind him. "...drive...safe..." he mumbles sleepily, lightly squeezing my hand.

I smile and run my fingers through his hair for a moment. "I'll text you in the morning before school, okay? Sleep well."

I lock his bedroom door behind me, then start walking quietly towards the stairs. I've only just stepped onto the first stair when I hear someone clear their throat behind me.

I pause and turn around, coming face-to-face with Jace's dad. "Oh, hello, sir."

"Jace has a friend that I had no idea about? How odd. He's usually not one to keep secrets from me."

"I mean...He's an adult. He can make his own friends."

"Be that as it may, you do not act like a friend. You act like a lover. And that won't do."

I bristle, crossing my arms. "Sir? He's an adult. If we were to get together, that's not really your choice to make. It's his. You can't control his life, sir. Why would you want to?"

"Because there are preexisting plans for him."

"Kyren?"

"Other than Kyren. He doesn't want Kyren, fine. There are others. But he can't just be with anyone. That's not what I want."

"He's your child. Not a puppet." I can't quite keep the harsh tone out of my voice. "He's an adult, and his own person. And not everything your kids do should benefit you. That's so unbelievably narcissistic."

"Excuse me?"

"I said what I said."

"Don't expect to be allowed back into my house talking to me that way."

"Okay. That's fine with me. I-"

Someone puts a hand on my shoulder, and I turn to find Cameron standing behind me. He looks...angry.

"Stop interrogating Jace's friend, Alexander."

"What did I tell you about-"

"Yeah, I really don't care. Let Daniel leave and leave him the hell alone."

"Cameron, I'm getting tired of your attitude."

"Damn, wonder where it comes from?" Cameron's grip on my shoulder tightens. "Come on, Daniel. I'll walk you to your car."

I let Cameron walk me out of the house, feeling Alexander's eyes burning holes in the back of my head as we go.

"He has no idea how close I am to breaking his fucking jaw," Cameron grumbles once we're out the front door. "He pisses me off."

"Did he...try to control you, too?"

Cameron shrugs. "To an extent, I suppose. But he learned real fast that I wouldn't let him. But he knows Jace finds it harder to say no. Even Jacque struggles to tell him no, sometimes. Different reasons for it, but...How's Jace?"

"Sleeping. I think I wore him out."

Cameron raises an eyebrow. "You two didn't..."

"No! No! What is it with you people assuming we had sex?! We just...messed around a bit. Not sex."