Melbourne Heat by Elizabeth Lapthorne

control of the situation.
    “So my day has been enlightening,” Charles summarized with a wicked grin. He lifted his hands up then steepled his fingers. He rested his chin against them and studied Spencer intently. “How was your day, Spence?”
    “Enlightening?” Spencer repeated, finding it difficult to catch up. “Yeah, that’s a good word. Also surprising—my day has certainly been full of surprises.”
    “Really?” Charles said, the picture of innocence. “I do hope they were good ones?”
    The waiter seemed to appear out of nowhere. He’d not noticed the man anywhere in the vicinity until he was right there at Spencer’s elbow. He placed plates in front of Charles and Spencer then offered them both a large shaker to crack pepper over their meat if they chose.
    Spencer shook his head silently. His cock strained against the seam of his trousers, his ass felt like it was dancing, vibrating against the base of his seat. It took all his concentration not to wriggle where he sat. He wanted to press the toy up against his prostate and come, screaming, for all to see.
    Charles took the shaker, added some pepper. When the waiter had the condiment again he left once more. Charles picked up his cutlery and waited with an air of anticipation for Spencer.
    “Despite what it seems, you are in complete control here,” Charles said in a low tone. “You just say the word and we can leave, any time.”
    Spencer straightened his spine and sat up in his chair. This was intense, yes, but he could deal, he knew it.
    “I’m fine,” he insisted.
    Spencer picked up his knife and fork and took a bite of the potato salad. Charles had been right, it was excellent.
    “Yes, most of the surprises I’ve had so far today have been wonderful.” Spencer answered Charles’ earlier question as if there’d been no gap, no increase in the song singing up his ass. “Though there are a few that still haven’t come to completion, so it will be interesting to see how they end.”
    “Most ends are really just a beginning,” Charles said with a knowing air.
    Spencer smirked. “Oh, I’m sure we’ve already passed the first few stages,” Spencer said. “But I like the thought that we’re constantly starting and learning more as we go.”
    Cutting into his steak, Spencer sampled the tender meat.
    It was delicious.
     
    Charles surreptitiously watched Spencer as they ate their meal. He got a feeling of power and deep satisfaction knowing that his partner had a toy inserted in his ass, and that he controlled the pace of their game-playing. He could tell when Spencer focused on something else the pleasure he received would still be present, but fade into the background. Charles had to hand it to the man, he had plenty of pluck.
    It had been a leap of faith for Charles. He knew how Spencer felt about retaining his privacy in his sexuality. Deep inside, he was grateful and humbled that Spencer had chosen to trust him in this intimate way. He hadn’t wanted to push the envelope too early on, but Charles also believed strongly in a ‘start as you mean to carry on’ philosophy.
    It would be a disservice to them both if he was anything less than honest, or pretended to be something he was not.
    When they were both almost finished with their plates, Charles discreetly dipped a hand to his pocket. Without glancing down and giving himself away, he used his fingernail to carefully ease the dial up one more notch. This time, Spencer hadn’t been mid-sentence, but Charles studied him carefully. Spencer paused and he stopped working his jaw, chewing the mouthful of food he had.
    Heat spread through Charles’ chest and pride welled within him.
    Spencer shifted in his seat, just with small, tender movements that wouldn’t grab anyone’s attention. Charles only saw them because he was watching so closely.
    Spencer swallowed, but didn’t continue with his meal.
    They stared intently at each other, sharing something no one else knew about, that