I was struggling and fighting for my life whilst Johan’s hand was squeezing my throat with such ferocity… I felt as though I was going to die, but he stopped and began to pant, overwhelmed by the pressure building inside him.

“Max!”

He lifted me off the ground and hugged me tightly, burying his face in my neck and kissing me with unquenchable passion, whilst I was coughing violently.

“I’m sorry I choked you… As you know, I get very jealous at the thought of you being with anyone else.”

I saw tears streaming down his hazel eyes. He was crying, his fingers tracing the contours of my face as he worried over me.

“What’s the matter, Max? Believe me, I didn’t mean to. Please forgive me. I’d completely forgotten that you have breathing difficulties… Please don’t hate me, my love.”

I looked at him for a few moments as he brushed my stray hair from my face, whilst his beautiful eyes never stopped gazing at me and his lips never stopped kissing me and repeating words of apology. 

His words broke my heart… I can’t blame him; I didn’t respect his feelings and flirted with another young man right in front of him. I said, looking down at the floor as Johan held my hand, 

“There’s no need to apologise, Johan...”

I coughed violently and handed me my asthma inhaler; I used it, then continued speaking

“It’s my fault. I didn’t respect the fact that you’re jealous. Please forgive me.”

“I forgive you,” 

he said in a soft voice, then added

“But don’t do it again… You’re mine and mine alone. Do you understand?”

I replied,

“Absolutely… I’m yours and yours alone.”

He pulled me into a tender embrace and kissed me, his hand moving along the nape of my neck to hold the kiss in place and to stroke my hair… I felt as though I were in heaven; the touch of his lips and the contrast with his strong hands made me melt. 

After we pulled apart to catch our breath, I looked at my watch and realised it was late.

“Oh, it’s 11.34!”

“Your father won’t be happy.”

“He hasn’t been happy since I was born… I have to go.”

Johan took my hand as I stood up.

“Do you want me to give you a lift?”

I wished I could say yes, but the last time he did that, he ended up in an argument with my dad… I don’t want Johan to get into trouble again because of me.

“Max? I’m talking to you.”

I snapped out of my reverie and turned my attention to him.

“It’s fine, Johan. I’ll call a taxi. Don’t worry about me.”

“Will you be all right?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

How can I tell you this? I’m not all right without you, Johan!

I left his flat and headed straight out onto the street, trying to flag down a taxi to take me to the palace.

“Taxi!”

A taxi finally stopped.

“Adler Palace on Inzel Straße.”

“All right, get in.”

I got into the taxi, praying to God that my father would be fast asleep so he wouldn’t notice my return.

As the city lights began to fade and the beautiful, opulent palaces came into view, I felt a knot in my stomach… I know some people envy the life I lead, but they don’t know the price I pay in my father’s opulent palace.

The taxi stopped in front of the palace, and I wished it would never stop and would take me anywhere else, but there was nothing I could do… I paid him, got out of the car and walked into the palace gardens, then opened the main door whilst surveying the place… The palace was quiet and dark… My father must surely be asleep – that’s what I thought, until I heard…

“Max!!”

I looked towards the source of the voice, and there was my father! Matthias Adler, the businessman known to all for his success, was sitting on the sofa, his tie loosened and his shirt rumpled. In his left hand he held a glass of whisky, which he was swirling as he looked at me with his piercing blue eyes and stern face.

“Max, where have you been?”

he asked in his deep voice.

“I was with my friends,”

I replied hesitantly, trembling.

“Liar,”

he said, setting the glass down on the nearby table. He stood up and grabbed me firmly by the hair.

“Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to, you little pimp?”

“Dad, please let go of my hair…”

“You dare to interrupt me?”

He let go of my hair and slapped me across the face.

“A real man doesn’t do what you’re doing!! You need to become a man, not beg another man to sleep with you, you useless idiot.”

When he noticed my tears, he spat in my face.

“Scum!! Go to your room and you’re grounded for a week. Do you understand!?”

I nodded yes and rushed to my room, crying.

I spent some time crying, then wanted to call Yohan, but remembered it was 1.25 am and he’d be asleep by now.

I felt a bit frustrated and angry. I tried to calm my thoughts but I couldn’t… I opened my phone again, but this time I went to the web browser and searched for some porn, just as I do every night when my dad decides to punish me

To be continued…