Not that he had much time to consider it all, as he was shoved against said wall by a pair of surprisingly strong hands.

“You care about who’s on who?”

“No.”

“Perfect…”

As Evan climbed onto the bed, he saw Jasper walk in another direction. With his back to Evan, he rummaged through a dresser that stood right below a black part of the otherwise white bedroom wall. It had hooks scattered across it. On them, a large assortment of leather and metal ‘devices’.

He didn’t get more time to observe it, as Jasper sauntered toward the bed, familiar necessities in hand.

“Don’t give me that look. That’s where the budget goes.”

Evan chuckled, re-examining the nearest parts of the room. There was a clock on the wall above him, and a blindfold lying on the nightstand beside him. It didn’t have any drawers, which explained Jasper’s need to get the lube and packets from somewhere else.

“Hey, I mean, your bedroom is both big and has all of this. I can admire dedication like that.”

“Why, thank you.” He emptied his hand onto the bed, before getting on it himself. As Jasper straddled his lap, Evan unbuttoned his own shirt and pulled it off.

Their eyes met. With a subtle smile, Jasper dropped his jacket on the floor before getting his shirt off as well.

A surprisingly athletic body… though something covered it still.

“Not bad… for an artist. I wasn’t sure it was you when I saw those pictures.”

“Oh, I see. You’re gonna be like that, are you?”

Evan’s smile widened. He traced Jasper’s collarbone with his finger, curious. What hugged Jasper's bare skin was something quite unlike the bulldog harnesses he usually saw. It was a lot more intricate. The straps framed his chest nicely, while even more thin layers of leather wrapped around his waist.

“I’m so very sorry.” Those words didn’t hold any weight. Intentionally, of course.

“If you keep up that attitude, I’m tying you to the bed and edging you for the rest of the night.”

“Is that a promise?”

Jasper grabbed the hand that was still by his collarbone and pressed it down onto the mattress. He then swiped his blindfold off the nightstand and twisted it, holding the fabric over Evan’s lips.

“Anything else you need to get out before I close that pretty mouth of yours?”

That, without a doubt, made Evan’s blood flow directly to his cock.

“Ah, just… Make sure to really get that frustration out. I want to feel it.”

“Oh, I plan to.” Jasper pressed the cloth in between Evan’s teeth, wrapping it around his head, before tying a knot. However restrictive the blindfold may be, it felt soft on Evan’s tongue.

Now that he wasn’t getting distracted anymore, Jasper made quick work of fully undressing them both. He rolled the condom down and slathered himself in lube, spending no time loosening Evan up before shoving his cock deep inside him.

Evan’s eyes shut tightly as he quivered against the disheveled bed sheets. He could feel impatience in the way Jasper moved. But considering what he saw earlier, it made sense that he was in a bit of a state. Also, that meant it wouldn’t take long until…

“Nngh-”

Evan bit down on the fabric in his mouth—as his body convulsed.

Jasper was reaching it already. Every thrust after it was aimed right at the spot that made Evan whimper the loudest.

There it was. The feeling that dominated all others. It was a euphoric state to be in and one that always stopped his thoughts from wandering. It demanded all of his attention.

There simply was no better way to escape life…

The sun only got through one sheet of glass, as it made contact with Evan’s face. The few other windows the room contained were blocked by large blackout curtains.

With a grunt, he sat up and rested his back on the headboard. It still hurt after last night, but the mild pain was manageable. Exactly how the morning after should feel. At least, according to him.

Evan smiled to himself, as he watched the other man sleep peacefully next to him. How was he allowed to look that good even when he wasn’t fully conscious?

Though every muscle in his body protested, Evan still made it out of bed. He picked his boxers up off the ground and got them on.

It wouldn’t be right to disrupt Jasper, so he opted to check out the apartment some more. Looking around, he noticed a camera and a desk located in separate corners near the door. Was he too distracted back then to see those?

It looked like Jasper had combined both a studio and a bedroom into one. It was charming in a way.

He surveyed the images that hung around him in the bedroom. There was something about their larger size and the amount of detail you were able to see. They were hanging so shamelessly on the wall.

As he walked through the room, he couldn’t help but admire it. This place carried a lot more sentimentality than his own.

Slipping past the open door, he ended up back in the hallway. There were three doors apart from the one they came in through. Two of them were already opened, one leading to the kitchen, and the other, to the bathroom.

Curious, Evan opened the third one. What he found beyond it was a meek-looking living room. All it had was a small couch, a television, and a lamp cramped together. Could it have been swapped with the bedroom?

Before he could mull it over any longer, faint rustling noises interrupted his thoughts. Jasper must have woken up. That was his cue to leave the hallway behind and see how he was holding up.

Jasper was sitting on the edge of the bed when Evan entered, putting his shirt back on.

“I thought you were already gone.”

“I’m not that heartless.”

“Ah, why do I somehow not believe you?”

“Right, anyway… It’s quite an interesting place you have here.” When he got closer to the bed, Evan noticed the rest of his clothes strewn on the floor next to it.

“Aw… I’m being ignored. But, thank you. If that was a compliment, of course. Since you might be taking an interest in ‘all of this’, I might as well offer you something… Do you want to come with me to an exhibition next weekend? It’s new, and I know nothing about the artists, but I love checking out what the creative people around me are making.”

Evan listened intently as he got dressed. Art, huh? Sure, he liked Jasper’s photography, but that was really it. That world didn’t draw him in. If anything, its existence was only a reminder of a critical decision he once made.

“Hmm, I suppose I could be convinced.”

“Want a photo?”

That was quick.

“Hmm… alright. As long as you know that I was very close to asking for more.”

“Wow, what a kind-hearted businessman you are.”

“When did I say what I did for work?”

“Oh, I’m just making assumptions.”

“Now, who’s the bad guy?”

“Still you.”

Evan laughed, as he looked around at the photos around them.

“So, any of these?”

“Yeah.”

One of them was constantly getting his attention. There was something about the way the flogger on it was captured that was rather appealing. And it included more of the photographer than most of the others, aka the man standing beside him.

Jasper followed his gaze.

“I see…” He walked up to the wall and gently pulled it off, before speaking up again.

“Good choice.”

After handing it over to Evan, he pulled his phone out, still keeping eye contact with him. It took a moment for Evan to process what he was silently asking him for. But once he did, Jasper got the numbers he wanted.

“I’ll let you know the time and place later.”

“Sounds good… I’ll be there. Maybe.”

Jasper shoved his shoulder lightly.

“Alright, get out of here already.”

“Sure, sure.”

With a quick laugh, Evan headed for the door.

“Hold on, I don’t think I ever caught your name.”

“Don’t worry, that happens all the time.”

A look.

“It’s Evan.”