The Yellow Rope ch6

"So, did you like the movie?" Gage asked.

"Are you kidding me? If offered a million dollars to tell what it was about… well, I'd be up shit creek."
"Distracted, were you?"
"Ha, ha. As it just so happens, yes, I was," Luke said. "Where are we going now?"
"You'll see," Gage said. "The day isn't over yet."
"Oh boy."
* * * *
Gage drove them to the outskirts of town. Older and a bit run down, this older area had missed the sudden growth the newer areas had enjoyed. On the right side of the street was a little mom and pop type restaurant that didn't look like much. The place didn't look bad, just old.
"Figured you'd be hungry," Gage said.
"Well, I am, but…"
Gage parked then turned the car off. He faced Luke. "This is one of my favorite places to eat. I was a kid, I came here often with my parents.  The food is simple, but I promise you won't find good home cooking like this in town."
Luke still looked doubtful.
"Just trust me on this. You'll love it."
"It's just the place looks so… worn."
"It hasn't changed since I was a kid, so yeah it needs a fresh coat of paint. Wait 'til you see the inside."
"Well… okay. If I end up with food poisoning, though, you'll never hear the end, you know that, right?"
"I'll hold your head while you vomit."
"Oh jeez, thanks so much. That's comforting." Luke stuck his tongue out at Gage. "What a trooper you are."
"Want me to find something for you to do with that tongue? Bet I can."
 Before Luke could open his mouth to speak, his stomach growled.
"Guess that will have to wait. Let's feed you."
Luke stared blankly at Gage. "Just curious, have you started a new diet? Vitamins? Wheaties? Found a new porn site? What the hell, man?"
Gage laughed as they walked to the entrance. "None of the above. I've just missed you."
With a flourish, he opened the door for Luke.
"Wow, I'm almost temped to let you go without any for a long next time again for treatment like this," Luke said as he walked by. A swift tap to his ass had him rolling his eyes. "Then again, maybe not."
"I'd be careful if I was you, babe. This is a gay-friendly place and I just might insist you meet me in the bathroom later."
Luke gasped. "Perv."
"You know it."
"Yeah, well, somehow I doubt the owners would let that kind of stuff go on here with kids running around."
A hostess walked them to a table in the back and took their drink order. Luke looked around. Antiques and memorabilia covered the walls and were placed lovingly around the room. Old signs, gas cans, pictures that looked like they date back to the 1950's, parts of old cars, antique lamps with stained glad shades… the whole place was totally cool. The table was covered in a red and white checked tablecloth. Luke shook his head, his eyes traveling the room. He could tell someone had taken care of the place. Why had Gage not told him of this place before?
"I love it. It's unlike anything I've ever seen."
"Wait until you taste the food." Gage handed Luke a menu. "I recommend the hamburgers. You can't get hamburgers like this short of cooking them in the backyard."
"Well, as long as it's not chicken I should be safe."
Gage threw his napkin at Luke. "Don't you start. That damn chicken was cursed."
"Right."
A waiter came and took their order. Luke went with Gage's suggestion and ordered a burger and fries. Gage had the same thing.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why am I just finding out about this place now? You really seem to like it here."
Gage fiddled with the straw in his drink then looked at Luke. "Remember when we first started dating? I told you I had just broken up with my live-in."
"Yeah, the topic had neon flashing lights around it that screamed off limits."
"I know. I was in a bad spot then. The break up was… rough."
"You want to tell me now?"
Gage sighed. "I don't consider myself a dom, you know that. But, there was a time I was in that kind of relationship."
"Wow, really? Full out BDSM, huh?"
"Yeah. And, ah, see… I wasn't the dom, either."
Luke choked on his water. He quickly set the glass down. "Say what?"
"I was the submissive in the relationship. I was the bottom."
Luke head spun; Gage rarely bottomed. If he did, he did it on his terms, like earlier. He always had… Luke gulped. Suddenly he was afraid.
"You don't have to talk about this, okay. Whatever happened is in the past, Gage."
"That's true. But you have a right to know why I only bottom on occasion and why I—"
Luke put his hand over Gage's. "If bottoming was a problem for me, you'd know it. You know I prefer to bottom. Who's on top and who's on bottom—and why—doesn't matter to me."
Gage smiled. "I know it doesn't. But I need to tell you this."
"Then tell me. I'm here for you."
They stopped talking while an older guy who looked like he might also be the owner brought their food to the table.
After the waiter left Gage sighed and closed his eyes. "I was new to the scene and didn't have a clue what types of doms there were, Luke. I hooked up with this guy and a relationship grew from it. What I didn't know at the time was he liked pain. A lot. Liked giving his sub pain."
"Dear Lord."
"Back then I was still trying to figure what I wanted. Bottoming just seemed to… I don't know how to say it. It just wasn't enough. The guy was good, I'll give him that. He didn't really start hurting me until I quit my job and moved in with him."
"But you've never hurt me. Are you holding back because I'm not a pain slut?"
Gage grabbed Luke's hand. "No. That's the thing. I wasn't into pain. And it's also why I'm careful with you. A lot of damage can be done if the dom isn't attentive to his sub. Or… it can be done on purpose."
"Oh god, oh god… Gage."
"Shhh. It's okay. The relationship ended when he put me in the hospital with a broken wrist. I also finally admitted that I'm a top. It took a lot out of me to break the spell he had over me, but I did. Then I met you."
"But, I don't understand why you didn't bring me here before… Oh shit. Does he own this place?" Luke suddenly stood up. "Let's go. Come on, Gage, please. I mean it."
"Babe, sit down. Yes, his family owns the place but he won't show up here. About a month ago he moved to the west coast to open a new restaurant."
"How did you know that?"
"A friend of the family let me know. They know what he is, Luke, and they don't like it."
Luke fell back in his seat. "Okay, well, if the memories are too bad here for you—"
"They aren't. That's not why I avoided this place. I wasn't afraid of what he'd do to me… I was afraid of what he'd do to you."
Luke wanted to beat his head on the table. "Now I'm completely lost."
"Sweetheart, you have a submissive streak a mile wide. When you're in your professional role you can handle anything, but when that hat comes off… you're submissive. Do you have any idea what he could do to you with just words?"
"But, what about you?"
"I dealt with my demons concerning him long ago. He can't hurt me now, and I refuse to give him the chance to use you to get back at me."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Is that why, when you bottom, you like it rough?"
"It's part of the reason, and it's the only way I can get off when bottoming. It's one of the few times I like a little pain."
"But you need the control, too."
"Yeah, I do."
"I gotcha."
"Now that that is over, eat up. This place serves the best damn hamburger you'll ever have. And Luke? I may push your limits, but I will never push you past them."
"I know that, babe. Why do you think I'm okay with letting you restrain me? I trust you, completely."
"I know that, and you have no idea what a gift that is." Gage smiled as Luke bit into the hamburger and his eyes widened.
"Holy mother. Is this thing even legal?"
Gage winked. "Told ya."
They finished the meal and took the long way home, enjoying each other and the tension that was building between them. ~M