Chapter 43   Men of Steel

Chris

"More please." It comes out sounding like a plea, or begging, which makes me frown. I may be a submissive, but I don't beg.

"That's enough for now Pup."

I let out a huff of frustration, not just at the nickname. He doesn't know when enough is enough, I do. It was just starting to sting enough to clear my head. Last week's surprise visit from my Father had all sorts of negative feelings fucking around my heads and I was here with my semi-new Master to forget them. The whip made me do that. He doesn't know what I have to contend with. Nobody really knows. Tai might have hints and Ashton knows a bit, but no one really knows the whole story.

"I respectfully disagree Master. I know what I can take, I know what I like and I definitely need more. If you can't give it to me, I know someone down in the dungeon probably can."

WHIP

I smile. I know what gets to my Master.

I hear a bang that sounds like the whip being thrown against a wall.

"I won't let you goad me Chris," he growls as he begins to undo the cuffs linking me to the overhead chains. Once my arms are hanging slack he takes off the blindfold. I flash him the grin I know he has a weakness for and he rolls his eyes letting out a huff of annoyance. I chuckle. Hell, I know how annoying I can be. It's part of my charm.

"I can only take so much of a power bottom," he says, which he knows will annoy me. I may prefer being a bottom, but I don't like being classified as a bottom. I don't like being labeled at all. I go with what I need at the moment. Whether it be men, the occasional woman, top or bottom. I refuse to be labeled.

"You knew what you were dealing with when you signed me on," I retort and a fast swipe to my bare ass has me laugh out loud.

"You push every button."

"Maybe I'm your kryptonite?"

"I have no kryptonite," he says as he pushes me so I'm walking backward toward the bed. "And if I did, you're not it. I can promise you that."

I let him push me onto the bed, landing on my back. I like Master Clark when he's riled up. He's hella sexy!

"Fuck it out of me, fuck me hard and put me in my place Superman," I taunt.

Master Clark is on me in seconds. He's got a few inches on me and maybe a couple of pounds, and he's putting it all to good use as he pins me to the bed.

"I should put a muzzle on that smart mouth of yours."

He kisses me instead. He's a great kisser and he takes control right away, dominating my mouth. Probably to keep me from talking, but I don't mind. That's why I do it.

His lips are rough against mine, he sucks my lower lip into his mouth and nips at the sensitive skin. Then a broad tongue sweeps across to soothe it before plunging deep inside to wrestle with my own. I let him win. That's my tell, but he doesn't know it. If I didn't like him or respect him, I'd be fighting back. That's a secret he'll never know though.

He grinds his hips down and I feel his hard, heavy shaft against my hip bone so I wriggle. I'd much rather feel it elsewhere, a little towards the middle, a little lower...

"Stay still," he orders and moves his own hips until our erections are side by side and each movement makes it harder and harder to keep quiet until I can't and a deep groan escapes. The bastard chuckles and I take a deep breath to keep from getting annoyed. See, I'm working on my attitude. Just like my esteemed Master has been lecturing me about.

I sneak a hand around and squeeze his ass. (I didn't say I was perfect).

He growls. Wait, is he Superman or Wolverine? "One more move and I'm cuffing you."

Now it's my turn to chuckle. You may wonder, because I do all the time, why does this guy put himself through this. There are all these cute little twinks out there, super submissive, would do whatever Master Clark wants without batting an eye, why me? I mean, I know I'm dead sexy. I work out so I've got a killer body. My face could be on a magazine cover, so I understand the attraction. It's just that usually it only takes a few scenes or a short contract before a Dom's had enough. 'I'm too much trouble.' Believe me, I've heard it before.

I've put the Man of Steel here through way more than any of my previous Doms, so I don't get why he keeps coming back for more. Why he wants me. He keeps talking about long term. He must be a masochist. That's gotta be it.

"Uhmmmmm," I moan before I can think about it as Master Clark moves his mouth down over my chin, scatters nips and kisses down my neck and slowly makes his way to my left nipple. He bites down and pulls at my new piercing gently. Just enough to make me feel it. Just enough pain that my body goes lax and I push my chest up, closer to his mouth. This damn piercing has become my kryptonite because when he has me like this I'm totally defenseless. If I move it's going to hurt like a motherfucker so I stay still, at his mercy. Asshole!

I blame Payton. I'm sure it was his idea to get pierced. Too bad I can't remember for sure.

Master Clark works me over moving from side to side, nipple to nipple and pretty soon I'm a freaking mess. My hard-on is leaking and I'm so turned on it's painful. I'm moaning and panting like a bitch in heat. It's embarrassing. No one should see me like this.

"Just fuck me already," I grind out because it's pissing me off.

"When I'm ready. The world won't end if you're under me, vulnerable for a little while. You know you can trust me so just relax and let me do this my way."

"Just don't get all soft on me," I snicker. Double meaning and all that.

He grinds down on me firmly. "Not to worry young Pup."

Argh. Asshole!

He chuckles again, but then surprises me by leaning up, soft lips cover mine and his kiss is gentle. Not rough, not dominating. Gentle and sweet. And I don't know how to react.

It makes me slightly uncomfortable and unsure. What do I do? Should I do something annoying to piss him off?

"Stop thinking and let me kiss you my pup."

"Stop calling me that," I grumble.

"No."

I wait for more, like, No.....I don't want to. No, I do what I want. But it's just no. Okay. Simple guy. I can work with that.

I sigh and kiss him back. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

(Besides, his kisses are really nice. Did I mention that?)

(They are.)

"That's better," he whispers. "You'll find my rewards are much better than my punishments."

He kisses me for a little longer before sitting back on his knees and unbuttoning my leather shorts. He's still in a shirt and his long leathers, while I only wore the shorts. Gotta protect my junk when I'm being whipped.

He looks up at me with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes, like he's so pleased with himself. I'll be pretty pleased too if he puts that sexy mouth right...."Ahhhhh," there. I close my eyes as he swallows me whole. I could get used to a Master like this. He's not so bad. He's hot, he's smart, he's a nice guy, he treats me like a Prince. Yeah, not so bad. I guess I could get used to this.

"Fuck, that feels good," I groan.

"Hey!" I protest when he lets go of my cock with an audible 'pop'.

"Watch your language," he barks giving my cock a flick with his fingers.

I open my mouth, but think better of what I was going to say. "Sorry Master," I say with all the sincerity I can muster.

"Show me."

I look at him with confusion. "Show you?"

"Show me how sorry you are."

"I...how?"

"Let me see the real you."

I look down, I'm ass naked, what more can I show him.

He sighs and pulls his shirt off and leans down. "Kiss me like you mean it."

What the hell does he mean? What's wrong with my kissing?

"Stop thinking and just kiss me," he says with a sigh and his lips capture mine again.

I kinda want to do what he says, so I think real hard. How can I show him that with my kissing. Putting a hand on his shoulder and the other behind his head, I lean back a few inches until my head is resting back on the bed, bringing him with me. It feels good because his bare chest is resting on mine. I relax my mouth, letting my lips go soft and I move them slowly over his. I do like this guy, I really actually do, so I try to tell him with my lips. I'd never really thought so much about kissing before, so it's kinda hard, but I must be doing something right because he lets out a long groan that sounds like he's really happy and turned on at the same time, and he presses his hips against mine again, grinding our erections together.

I hold him to me and keep kissing him while I think about the different feelings I have for him. It's not so bad because I don't have to say them out loud or anything, I just think them while letting my tongue and lips act it out. It's actually not too hard.

I think of all the things I'd say to him, if I was being honest and...if I wasn't afraid of him not feeling the same way, or rejecting me out of the blue. Shit, no negative thoughts. Just think what you feel and let my hands and mouth do the talking.

You're the sweetest guy I know. You're sexy and tall and you have really nice eyes. You always do nice things for me. You never make me feel like trash...um, I mean you always make me feel good about myself. You got me tickets to the concert I wanted to see...and it wasn't even my birthday or anything. Then you brought me food that time I didn't feel well and was too tired to leave my apartment. You feel really good and when you hold me tight, I feel safe in your arms. I like that. I like you. I hope you stick around for a while. I'd miss you a lot if you weren't around...I missed you when I was in Florida even though I didn't tell you and I didn't text you much...okay, at all. I thought about you though, like the whole time. Your lips are really nice, they're soft. This feels good. Going slow like this feels...different. Nice different. I like when our tongues slide together. It feels...intimate. Like it's just us two and no one else matters. Yeah, I really like you and...I hope you can tell when I kiss you like this...because I don't know if I can tell you out loud. I like you Master Clark...I like you Clark...Clark's kind of a dorky name, but It's okay, you're sexy enough so that it doesn't matter. I don't mind being your pup if you keep being my Superman.

After a while we break for air. I'm kind of embarrassed, but I don't want him to realize so I look up as if I'm not. He's looking at me in a funny way. He's smiling and looks really happy, so I shrug and smile back.

"Thank you," he says quietly and brushes a hand over my cheek.

"Don't embarrass me," I say and look down at his chest.

"I won't. Lay back, I want to reward my boy. You deserve a big reward."

I'm only up on one elbow, but he pushes me back down and tells me to relax. Standing up, he takes off his leather pants and tosses them on a chair. His shaft is pointing straight up, deliciously proud. I lick my lips and he grins back before kneeling down and taking my cock in his mouth. I groan it feels so fucking good, but I keep the expletive to myself. Clark gets me really close. I kind of want him to just let me blow in his mouth, but I know it will feel 10 times better to have him inside me, so I don't mind when he leans back up and taps my hip to roll over.

As I roll he lifts my hips so my erection doesn't get crushed. He's such a thoughtful guy. His hands knead my ass and I really want to tell him to hurry and fuck me, but I just moan instead. I'm panting like a dog, but I can't help it because my heart is racing and my skin feels really hot.

"Awww....sh...yesss, Sir...that feels really good," I practically shout as I feel his tongue at my entrance. That man has a magic tongue. It's like a Super Tongue. It's gotta be like six inches long and strong and really warm and wet and it feels fucking amazing as he works my ass. I'm so ready my hips just open farther and farther. "Please...please Sir," I whine and push my hips back.

Finally, lubed fingers slide in and he scissors me until I'm loosened a bit. I hear the tear of a foil package and I just want to scream out in joy as he pushes the head of his cock against me. I push my hips back again to try and get him in faster.

"Shhh, slow down pup, let's go slow," he says as his hands rub all over my hips. I hold still, panting and wait. Slowly, like torturously slow, he pushes in, letting out a pleasurable hissing sound. "That's it. You feel so good. Does it feel good pup?" he asks as he leans down over me and I feel kisses on my shoulder. "I want you to feel as good as I feel right now."

"It feels real good," I whisper between pants. Fucking amazing, I say to myself.

He slides back and forth, a bit faster, but steady and easy. Like he doesn't want to hurt me even though he knows I can take it as rough as he gives me. But I let him do it his way. He's my Master and I just want to be good for him tonight.

"Do you feel it Chris? Do you feel how much I care about you?"

He peppers kisses over my shoulders and neck as he moves his hips back and forth. The words...I don't know...I'm not used to hearing stuff like that, so I mostly focus on the feeling of his cock in my ass. At this angle he keeps a steady beat on my prostate and that is fucking blowing my mind.

He slides a hand around my waist and begins to jerk me off in the same pace as he slides his cock in and out.

"Fu...Sh..." Damn, I don't know what I can yell right now that's not a fucking curse, but I gotta yell something before I lose it. "It...it feels...I'm so...close, please Sir...I'm so close."

He squeezes me extra tight and that's my undoing. Luckily he grunts out the order to cum at the same time.

I shout nonsensical vowel sounds as my release literally rips through me. My body jerks and I clench up which causes Master Clark to yell and thrust heavily against me as his own release empties into my ass. That feeling throws me into another release and my balls tighten painfully as they feel like they invert from it all. Fuck, I hope Superman has some freaking forceps to pull my balls back out after this.

He pulls me over on my side so I'm pulled up against his front with his dick still halfway up my ass. It feels good though. I guess I could stay like this for a while. I lean my head back on his shoulder and tuck it under his chin. It's not snuggling or anything, he's just comfortable to lie on.

His hand rubs over my chest and stomach, circles onto my hips and then follows the same route again. I feel like a jelly fish. After a few seconds he takes the hand and turns my face up and kisses me so I kiss him back.

He doesn't say anything or ask me anything which is nice so I don't have to worry about what I should or shouldn't say. I'm just enjoying it and I don't want to feel forced to put words to it all.

"I could stay like this forever, but this damn condom is annoying," he says after a while with a chuckle as he reaches down and holds onto it while he pulls out. "I'll be right back, don't move."

I flop my head back down, eyes closed while he runs off to the bathroom. I hear him wash his hands, letting the water run for a while. Soon he's back and I feel him clean me up with a warm, wet washcloth. It's kind of nice to be taken care of.

I relax, even doze for a while. Master Clark gets us some food. Enchiladas Rojas from the kitchen. They usually only do easy snacks this late at night so he must have paid the cook extra to make me my favorite. I'm propped up on pillows against the headboard while Master Clark feeds me. It kind of makes me laugh and I have to make myself stop laughing so I can take bites because I don't want to spit them out since I fucking love the cook's Enchiladas. They're extra cheesy too which makes me want to cum in culinary pleasure.

"Thank you Sir," I say after I've swallowed the last bite. "You didn't have to do that."

"You're welcome. I just want you to be happy. I want to make you happy."

"That's not your job, everyone's responsible for their own happiness," I say, repeating something I heard Payton say the other day, even though I told him he was full of shit. Happiness is bullshit. People have to stop worrying about it so much and just live their lives to the fullest. Take what you can before you die.

"I want to make it my job. I want you to let me make it my job."

"I don't know what you mean, but hey, if you want to fuck me silly and feed me enchiladas at midnight, who am I to deny you."

"Chris."

Ooops, he sounds kind of annoyed. I think my filter might have turned off while I was stuffing my face.

"We've been dancing around this for weeks," he continues, "but now you need to decide. I want you to be mine."

"Master Clark, I signed a contract, what more do you want?"

"You know I want more than that contract. You've known that from the beginning, no more playing around."

I look around. I don't know what the fuck he wants me to say. I mean, I did everything he wanted tonight. What does he want from me? I don't want a freaking boyfriend, if that's what he's getting at. I'm not Tommy, I don't do the boyfriend thing. I do the fucking thing. Get in get out, a little pain, a little pleasure, get laid, give me a good mental buzz for the night. I let out a huff of frustration. I just don't know what to say, what he wants. He thinks he knows me, but he can't.

"I don't know what you want me to say," I yell.

"Why do you do this? Why do you put up walls. When I think you're opening up, even just a bit, bam, it's like you shut the door before I can have a peek. Who hurt you pup?"

"Why does there have to be some big explanation," I reply, "maybe I'm just an asshole. Did you ever consider that? Maybe that's why I push you away. You're gonna realize it soon enough, I'm just saving you some trouble. Don't get too attached to me Mr. Kent, you'll just get hurt in the end. I'm saving us both a world of hurt."

"I don't think you're an asshole Chris," he says softly. "That's just it. I see more than you think, and I like what I see. You're smart, clever, caring, funny as shit...I laugh when I'm with you. I have fun. There so much more to you than you even realize and all I want to do is keep finding out more. Mostly I want to know what makes you happy, because when you smile, it's like the whole world lights up and my heart fills up with...I don't know, light, joy, everything...so much so that I want to burst. No one has ever made me feel that way Chris. I want to know what or who hurt you so I can make the pain go away."

"Look at me," he orders as my face drops. He grabs my chin, quickly, but gently and turns my face back to his. "I do want you and I'll keep fighting for you if I have to, so stop wasting your energy pushing me away. It's not going to work. And I promise you, I'll do my best never to hurt you, so that's off the table. As for me? I'm the Man of Steel, remember. Nothing can hurt me."

I blink several times and curse inside. I'm not gonna cry, not gonna cry. I will the moisture building in my eyes to stop.

"Talk to me pup," he says quietly, "just tell me what hurts. I can't fix it if you don't tell me."

"It's nothing," I say, my voice sounding dry and hoarse.

"It's gotta be something, the way you push so many people away and hide behind this tough guy act. I don't care what it is, just tell me."

"It's stupid Clark," I sigh. "I'm a frigging walking cliché."

"So tell me then, If it's nothing, if it's stupid, just tell me."

"Okay. It's really simple. Dad and Mom have boy, Dad takes boy hunting, fishing, to games, boy looks up to Dad, boy grows up, boy likes boys as well as girls, Dad finds out, kicks boy out, tells him he hates him and never wants to see him again, he's defective, nothing but a disappointment, boy goes to Mom, but she doesn't want anything to do with him either, end of story. Yup, nothing new...happens every day, so waaaaa poor me. Get over it boy, you're not special, Chris. Just another rejected kid."

I watch as sadness flows over his face. Pity. I don't want anyone's pity.

"It's no big deal. I'm over it. I don't care. I'm fine. They don't want me as their son anymore, good riddance. I don't give a fuck."

"Chris..."

"I'm fine. I'm fine..."

Master Clark pulls me into his chest. I keep repeating the same words. "I'm fine, I'm fine." Over and over as I slowly fall apart in his arms. "I'm fine...I'm fine..."

"You're mine. I want you. You're mine, I think you're perfect, just as you are. You're mine, you're mine."

"I'm fine..." my words turn into a whisper as his words overtake mine.

"You're mine, you're mine, you're mine." Strong hands rub circles over my back.

I fall silent, laying against his chest and listen to him repeat it over and over. "You're mine, you're mine, you're mine..."

Ashton

"Remind me again why you're coming to the party. You swore off going to house parties months ago." I sigh while tying my laces then stand up.

"Well, I believe one should never go alone to a party. Besides I'm going to be your designated driver since you'll be getting drunk and I need to make sure you don't get drugged and raped," Lane says as he leans against the wall with an unpleased glare.  Don't hold back man, such a way with words.

"I'm not going to get drugged and raped." I roll my eyes and grab my jacket.

"That's what everyone thinks Ash," he chuckles, "that's what I thought."

His whispered admission makes me freeze while shrugging my jacket on. I turn back to him and he stares at me with a sad resigned smile. He nods at the bed before walking over and sitting down. After a moment's hesitation, I sit back on the bed next to him as he rubs his hands up and down his thighs. They darken slightly letting me know he's sweating. It's not even that hot in here since I have the AC blasting. I look over at him and notice a pained look in his eyes.

"You remember that time I kind of disappeared after the party I went to?" he whispers while glancing at me before looking away. "Right around the time I met Matthias."

"Yeah." I nod slowly before licking my lips.

"I don't remember much of that night, only getting really dizzy after only one drink which was a soda. The rest was a blur, but I remember getting dragged into a bedroom and stripped. Then I remember waking up the next morning in the hospital," he says and I shake my head.

"Jesus Christ," I mutter in disbelief.

"If it weren't for Matthias, I would have been raped at that party," he adds making me frown in confusion. "When I realized I was drugged, I locked myself in a bathroom and tried to call Mike, but accidentally call Matthias instead. He found me just in time and saved me. So don't say you won't get drugged because you never know what can happen at a party. I never thought I'd be drugged either, but I was. So I'm going to go with you and make sure nobody tries to take advantage of you and there is nothing you can say to get me to change my mind," he finishes while reaching over and patting my thigh before he stands up.

"Do you know who it was who drugged you?" I ask curiously so he looks at me with a sigh.

He jerks his head side to side, "No everything was a blur."

"Well did Matthias see anyone around you? I mean if he stopped it, he would know who it was," I say and his jaw clenches.

"I don't want to really talk about it. You're the only one in the group that knows about it, so don't tell anyone. I just wanted to you know, it can happen to anyone," he mutters while heading for the door and swinging it open.

"Oh, hi Lane!" Payton beams while standing outside my door and I walk over. "Hey Ash!"

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I ask curiously as he looks between Lane and I with a bright smile.

"Well Tommy is with Casey so I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out tonight. Am I um, missing something?" he asks confused and I look at Lane to see him glaring at the ground.

"No nothing." I shake my head and give him a small grin. "We were just heading out to a party."

"A party...are you sure you should party after what happened last time?" he whispers worriedly making me bite the inside of my cheek. With anyone else I might get pissed off, but not with Payton. Not after everything that happened with the stupid video that got passed around campus...and having to go get tested. Especially since Payton came with me and got tested too, just to keep me company he said. He didn't want me to feel alone.

I mentally knock on wood. The tests were negative. For both of us. Not that I was worried about Payton. Rules at the club are so strict. I know I dodged a bullet and I should feel grateful. I do, but it doesn't lessen the pain I still feel. I won't make the same mistake I did at that other party, but it doesn't mean I'm going to sit in my dorm room by myself where all I do is think of him. I'm a regular boy scout now, always prepared. I tap my pocket.

"Don't worry about him Pay, I'm going to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Lane states with a smirk while draping his arm over Payton's shoulder as I roll my eyes.

"I'll go too!" he says excited and I cross my arms over my chest.

"Why? You hate house parties," I grumble, annoyed that they feel the need to babysit me.

"Well I do hate them, but it'll be fun to hang out with you two!" He smiles at me and as much as I want to, I can't stay annoyed when he looks so happy and fucking cute. Damn it, when did Payton become so fucking cute?!

"Whatever, let's go," I say while reaching back and closing the door after pushing Lane out.

"Whose party is this anyways?" Payton asks curiously as we walk over to my car.

"I don't know, some kid named Frederick or something like that." I shrug making him frown.

"Oh okay then," he mumbles before climbing into the car.

I climb into the driver's side and turn on the car as Lane plants his ass on the passenger seat. I grab my phone and type the address I was given into the GPS before reversing out of the parking spot. Lane and Payton start chatting about everything from school to the club as I start the thirty-minute drive to the party. I really wish they'd keep quiet so I can actually hear the radio, but when talk turns to Matthias which then turns to Remington, they're both loud as Lane teases Payton about Remington's lovesick stares. My hand tightens around the wheel slightly before I sigh which unfortunately catches Lane's attention.

"So how's the single life treating you Ashton?" he asks with a grin.

"Lane!" Payton hisses and smacks his shoulder.

"It's great," I tell them as I stop at a red light and look over to see them both looking at me with a frown. "I can fuck and be fucked by whoever I want. I don't have to worry about punishments for anything. Single life is pretty fucking great."

"That is the fakest fucking smile I have ever fucking seen in my fucking life and I've seen a lot of fake fucking smiles in my fucking life." Lane rolls his eyes.

"That is the sentence with the most use of the word 'fucking' I've ever heard in my life," Payton laughs making me smirk before focusing on the road as the red light turns green.

"Really Ashton, how are you holding up? I know it's been a few weeks since you and Gideon split, but you've been acting weird," Lane sighs and I just shrug.

"Weird how?" I question confused.

"You party," Payton blurts out. "You hate parties yet you're going to parties every weekend. You rarely come to eat with us anymore and you're hooking up with a lot of different people, even after...the scare."

"You're one to talk," I scoff and immediately regret it when the air turns tense. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just, you did the same thing Payton...and I'm being safe...now."

"He was experimenting with his sexual kinks with respectable Doms at the club, under the watch of Matthias. You're going to house parties and drunkenly hooking up with people you hardly know," Lane retorts before Payton can. "You're lucky your HIV test came back negative, Ashton. Do you really want to keep fucking around and risk getting sick?"

"Lane, you used to fuck anything with a hole," I mutter while giving him a look and he chuckles.

"Yes I did, but that was like over six months ago, before I met Matthias, and we were always sober. I'm not telling you not to hook up with people, Ash. You're an adult and can do whatever you please. I just want you to be careful about what you do and who you do it with. I love you and don't want to see you hurt again," he whispers softly and I bite the inside of my cheek as my eyes begin to sting.

"Me too," Payton says, leaning forward from the backseat.

"Yeah whatever," I mumble before leaning forward to turn up the radio.

Lane glares out the window and Payton slumps back in his seat. I can see him in the rear view mirror with his sad, lost my puppy face, so I quickly look away and focus on the road. They don't understand.

We get to the party around 9:45 and I park down the street since there is no closer parking. Climbing out of the car, I shove my hands into my pockets as Lane and Payton step out as well. They both stand at my sides as if they're my guards or something which makes me sigh heavily. Lane smirks and Payton gives me a smile that seems pitiful as he shrugs. Lane starts walking towards the house where the loud music and flashing lights are coming from and I quickly follow after him with Payton at my side.

"ASHTON!" Someone shouts after being in the house for all of two minutes and I turn around to see who is shouting my name.

"Miller," I raise a brow as he rushes forward and wraps his arms around me in a hug that makes me tense.

"Sorry!" he blurts out while stepping back. "It's just good to see you. I haven't really seen you since the last party."

"I know." I nod slowly and his eyes slide away from me to Lane.

"Lane Wilder," he mumbles, seemingly in awe making me roll my eyes over to Lane who smirks.

"That's me," Lane replies while holding out his hand. "Don't drool please, it's not really attractive."

"This is Payton," I introduce while motioning to Payton who just waves back before putting his hands behind his back so he doesn't have to shake hands.

"We're going to go get a drink," Payton says before pulling at my arm and I nod in agreement.

"Alright, see you guys around." Miller smiles at me then licks his lips before disappearing into the crowd.

"He's kind of creepy," Payton mumbles to me, holding my arm still as we make our way through the crowd towards the kitchen.

"How?" I chuckle while grabbing a beer as Lane and Payton take soda from the fridge.

"I don't know, he just kind of creeps me out." He shrugs while opening the can of soda then takes a sip.

"Well now what Ashton?" Lane asks as I sip my beer.

"Hhmm?" I frown confused.

He chuckles, "what are you going to do now? Don't let us being here stop you from having fun. We're here so you can have all the fun you want and we'll watch your back."

"I need a few beers in me before I get stupid," I admit making Payton laugh, but he seems a bit uncomfortable about it.

"I doubt that you're ever stupid, just not as on your toes as you usually are." He smiles and I chuckle.

"You're such a kiss ass sometimes Pay," I mumble so he sticks his tongue out at me.

Four beers and three shots of Whiskey later, I find myself in a large room that opens out to the patio. There is a large billiard table with girls dancing on top and two separate beer pong tables. Miller is at one of them and I head over making him beam before draping his arm over my shoulder. The other guys aren't here, but we still team up and start playing. Every cup holds a different type of alcohol and it doesn't take long before all the cups are empty. I blink hard when everything starts doubling. Game after game, we win some and lose some. I pull at the collar of my shirt as the room starts spinning.

"Are you okay?" Lane asks while grabbing my arm when I trip over some guy laying on the floor.

"Y-yeah, I'm good." I nod and shake my head slightly.

"Here, drink some water," Payton says before shoving a water bottle in my hand like he's been doing all night. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Thanks," I mumble as I pant slightly.

"Ashton, you good? You're pale as fuck," Lane mutters as my hand shakes when I try to lift the water bottle to my lip.

"I'm good," I say or at least I think I say because I don't feel my mouth move.

"What was that?" Payton asks and everything tilts back as I find myself falling back.

"Shit!" Lane shouts as he catches me. "Okay, that's enough. We're leaving."

"I don't feel good," I mutter before turning my head and puking.

"Fuck, Payton go start the car," Lane says as I feel his hand digging in my pocket for the keys.

"Lane," I whine when black dots appear whenever I blink.

"We're leaving, come on Ash," he tells me while practically dragging me across the room. "Why the hell are you so cold?"

"Lane," I repeat as I find it hard to breathe, "I can't b-breathe."

"Relax Ashton, you're panicking for no reason. You're going to be fine besides the hangover tomorrow morning," he chuckles as I shake my head, sweat rolling down my temples.

"No," I disagree, "I don't feel good."

"Ash," he mumbles worriedly as I begin to lose feeling in my limbs. "Hey, Ashton don't you fucking dare blackout on me!"

"Lane," I gasp for air once we get outside before vomiting and he curses loudly. "I d-don't feel right."

"We're going to the hospital okay? Just hold on," he reassures before putting me in the back seat of my car.

"The hospital? Why are we going to the hospital?!" Payton asks nervously.

"Something is wrong with Ashton, just drive Pay!" Lane shouts and I slouch against the seat as my eyes flutter closed. "Oh no you fucking don't. Sit up and stay awake."

"Gideon," I whisper as I feel warm hands on my arms.

"Ashton!" Lane shouts and I smile as Gideon chuckles.

"You're here," I mumble making him nod.

"Ashton!" Lane's voice is so far away.

"Ashton," Gideon whispers while reaching out his hand, but before I can grab it everything goes black.

I just want Gideon back.