As they pulled into the parking garage Ricky could already tell that this bastard's place was way nicer than his own. Which pissed him off even more. Sure this guy might be taller, wealthier, and built like a damn model, but it's not like he was a genius or anything, plus Ricky still had lots of time to grow. Everyone knows you keep growing into your twenties, he reassured himself.
Victor's voice cut through his thoughts. "If you don't get out of the car in the next five seconds, I'm taking you out myself,"
Ricky looked over to see Victor already standing outside, casually tapping his watch. Smug bastard...
"I'll get out when I feel like it." Ricky huffed, arms crossed. He was seriously getting annoyed Victor thought he could boss him around like he was his mom or something.
Victor sighed dramatically and pinched his nose. Like I'm the one being annoying. Ricky rolled his eyes.
"Alright," Victor sighed, walking around to the passenger door.
Ricky's instincts screamed danger. He immediately smashed the lock button, keeping the doors shut. This guy was seriously crazy.
Victor only laughed, dangling the car keys in front of the window with a cocky smirk.
"NO!" Ricky screamed, holding the door shut with everything he had. That bastard couldn't make him do anything he didn't want to do. Sure, maybe he was a tiny bit worried about how Victor had asked if he was scared of going to his place. But he wasn't about to let this moron know that.
Unfortunately despite Ricky holding the door shut with all of his strength, Victor had a clear physical advantage and easily swung the door open.
With zero effort, Victor ripped the door open.
"You are such a brat," he chuckled, grabbing Ricky by his waist and hoisting him right out of his seat.
What. The. Hell.
Before Ricky could even process what was happening, he was slung over Victor's shoulder like he weighed nothing.
"Put me down right now!" Ricky screeched, kicking violently.
Victor just laughed, ignoring the tantrum. "I'll put you down once we're inside."
Ricky barely had time to process what was happening before Victor carried him straight through the building's entrance. Surprisingly, the front desk clerk didn't even blink – as if what Victor was doing was completely normal.
Ricky barely managed to glare at the poor worker before he was forced into a glass elevator and taken all the way to the top.
Ricky placed his hand on his chin as Victor marched him down the hallway, stopping in front of a door that said Victor Lancaster in golden letters. Bastard doesn't even have an apartment number, Ricky scowled, annoyed by Victor's apparent wealth.
"We're here!" Victor exclaimed, swinging open the penthouse door..
Ricky groaned, finally set back on his feet as he brushed himself off.
"Okay whatever – put me down sooner next time," He grumbled. "This place is a is a dump anyway–"
And then he looked up. His mouth fell open. The penthouse was massive. Ricky was pretty sure it could fit a hundred of his own apartments inside, and Ricky's apartment was big enough for three people to live comfortably.
Lucky bastard. No one needed this much space. It was so unfair. Still… he couldn't look impressed. He just knew it would make Victor even cockier if he let it slip that he thought the penthouse was super cool.
Ricky crossed his arms, nodding. "Oh cool… I see you have an upstairs." Totally normal. Not impressed at all. Nope.
Victor snorted, covering his mouth. "That's all you have to say?"
Ricky cleared his throat. "Umm… yes. Can I have my backpack pack now?"
Stay indifferent. Stay cool.
Victor's grin widened like he saw right through him. "Hmmm…" Victor tapped his chin pretending to think. "Not yet. I want to hang out some more."
Ricky's eye twitched.
"Why don't you go wait upstairs in my bedroom? Victor continued. "I'll order us some food."
"YOU PIECE OF–"
Wait. Ricky froze. This was his chance.
Who knew when he'd be back in Victor's house? That phone call last night had been weird as hell, and Ricky still wasn't convinced Victor wasn't hiding something. It was time to investigate. An evil grin spread across his face. "Of course!"
Victor's eyebrow twitched. He cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing slightly.
Ricky felt a drop of sweat roll down his neck. Crap. Too eager.
"Well, I'll be going then," Ricky blurted out before bolting up the stairs, not once looking back to see Victor's expression.
He leaned towards the stairs listening. Victor had gone to order food, leaving him alone in this stupidly massive penthouse. Which meant now was his chance.
He strolled down the hallway passing the bedroom he was supposed to be waiting in. A massive ridiculously comfortable looking bed sat in the middle of it, draped in satin sheets. He was almost tempted to go lay on it. He hadn't slept well the night before due to obvious reasons.
No. He couldn't let himself get distracted. He didn't have long. Hsi gaze landed on a door at the end of the hall.
"Ooo what's in here?" Ricky cracked the door open, stepping inside. It appeared to be some sort of study. A massive oak desk stood against the wall, sleek bookshelves lined the sides, and everything felt far too put together. He could practically smell the secrets in here.
Grinning, Ricky strode towards the desk and pulled on the top drawer.
Locked
Of course it was.
"There's gotta be a key here somewhere," he muttered, scanning the room.
He checked under the rug. Nothing
Behind the picture frame. Nope.
"Crap!" Ricky kicked the desk in frustration.
CLUNK.
Ricky paused. Then kicked the desk leg again just to be sure.
A small compartment slid open.
Bingo.
A single key lay inside. He grabbed it fast–
"Looking for something?"
Ricky froze mid-step. A slow shiver crawled up his spine. Victor's voice was right behind him. This was not good.
Ricky forced out a nervous laugh. "Oh, I thought this is where I was supposed to wait," he lied. Smooth.
He casually shifted his body to block the compartment from Victor's view. The key burned hot in his palm.
Now where the hell was he supposed to put it? Ricky hesitated– then shoved it down his underwear. Instant regret. He should've worn pants with back pockets today.
Victor's gaze flickered downward– just for a split second. Then he raised an eyebrow. "...Is that so?"
A slow smirk curved on his lips, like he was debating whether to say something. But instead, he just sighed.
"I clearly remember telling you to wait in my bedroom – not my study."
"Is that right?" Ricky laughed, shifting to push the secret compartment shut with his butt. He didn't trust Victor. Not one bit. There was no telling what he'd do if he found out Ricky had been snooping around.
Victor's eyes narrowed slightly. Then slow and deliberate, he stepped closer.
"Follow me," he said in a sickly sweet voice. "You must've accidentally missed it."
Ricky's stomach dropped. Nope. That was definitely not a suggestion. Victor was onto him.
It would be okay, though. All he had to do was play it cool. Get his bag back, then he could zap this bastard with his taser gun and do all the searching he wanted. Totally fine. No problem at all. Ricky swallowed hard.
"This is my room."Victor's voice interrupted his thoughts. He gestured toward the room with the massive bed Ricky had passed earlier.
Ricky hesitated. For a split second, he debated making a run for it. But where the hell was he going to go? He still needed his backpack – and more importantly, his super sweet taser gun.
Begrudgingly, he followed Victor inside and sat on the edge of the bed, regretting it as soon as he did.
The key in his underwear pressed into his butt, a constant, uncomfortable reminder that he was one wrong move away from being caught.
"So… uh… what do you want to do now?" Ricky's voice came out stiffer than he intended. He stared at the wall avoiding Victor's piercing blue gaze.
"How about we tell each other what we did over the weekend," Victor's voice was casual. Too casual. Then he smiled. Darkly.
Ricky stiffened. Wait. Does he know? How does he know?
Sure, the phone call last night was weird as hell, and yeah, Ricky had been a little paranoid when he zapped those two drunk guys outside–
But that was just because they were near his apartment. Plus, it was practically in self-defense. It's not like he even killed them.
…Right?
"What's wrong?" Victor's voice was too smooth, too amused.
Before he could react, Victor leaned in so close it felt like they were about to kiss. And just like that Ricky's entire demeanor changed.
This is why I'm a genius.
If Victor was playing some weird intimidation game, Ricky could turn the tables. Now, was he fond of the idea? Not really. He didn't like dudes. Especially not this dude. And he would be wasting his first kiss on this bastard.
But, Victor clearly had the hots for him. And who could blame him?
Ricky was smart, talented, attractive, and an absolute joy to be around. Even his grandma said so. So, really, it was a strategic move.
Gathering up his courage, Ricky leaned in and pressed a quick, smug peck to Victor's lips.
He pulled back immediately, smirking – fully prepared to see Victor flustered, embarrassed, or shy.
Victor was none of those things.
Before Ricky could blick, Victor grabbed him by the wrist. There was no hesitation, no shyness. With deliberate slowness, Victor pulled Ricky closer– so close their breaths mingled.
Then, in one smooth motion, Victor pushed Ricky onto the bed and kissed him again. This time it wasn't quick. It wasn't smug. It was decisive. Slow. Intense.
Ricky's brain short-circuited. What the hell was happening?
Victor pulled back just enough to whisper against Ricky's ear. "I didn't know you liked me too."
Ricky barely had time to process before Victor's lips pressed against his neck.
"Why were you playing so hard to get all this time?"
"Mmn!" Ricky slapped a hand over his mouth, completely mortified. Victor was really going to town on his neck, and worse– Ricky was actually enjoying it.
His brain screamed at him to push Victor away, to stop whatever the hell was happening, but…
Maybe they could just kiss a little—
Wait.
What the hell was pressing against his crotch?! Reality slapped him in the face. He was making out with Victor. A man. A man he hated. And now that man's big wiener was touching him.
No. No, no, no, NO.
This was NOT happening. He had already given Victor his first kiss– he was NOT giving him his first time.
He shoved against Victor's chest, squirming. "Sto–"
Victor captured his lips once more. This was bad. Ricky's thoughts were getting fuzzy, and a little voice in the back of his head whispered that this wasn't so bad after all.
And then Ricky felt it.
A hand slid down his waist.
Wait! No. Panic flooded his system. Victor's finger slipped past his waistband.
He knows.
Ricky's heartbeat skyrocketed. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He flailed wildly, kicking at Victor's legs.
"HEY! WHAT THE HELL–?!"
Victor ignored him, smirking as he reached deeper.
"Relax Ricky." His voice was infuriatingly calm. "I'm just getting something of mine back."
Ricky paled. Something of his?!
Victor's fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. And then he pulled out the key.
Ricky gasped, staring in horror.
Victor twirled the key between his fingers, grinning. "Found it."