welcome to crvboy - Trucker and Pup

For those readers who don't speak the Queen's English like what I do, you need to be made aware that in the UK, a truck is also called a lorry and sometimes a wagon.
I humbly dedicate this story to Carey, Dave, Dick, Joe and Matt. You guys mean the world to me.

Joey laughed as he watched the office nerd getting drenched as he stood on the kerb waiting to cross the road. Once he'd parked his lorry, however, he was beginning to regret doing it. 'Better go and see if Kevin's all right,' he thought as he jumped from his cab and ran across the car park, head bent against the torrential rain.

"Sorry, mate," Joey said once he'd reached the half-drowned man. "I didn't see you til it was too late." This wasn't exactly true, Joey could have driven around the puddle, but he knew the timid office-worker wouldn't make a fuss.

"No, it was my fault for standing there."

"Yeah." Joey said, feeling guilty. "I'll, um, see you next week then?" Joey always had difficulty dealing with the air of vulnerability which Kevin constantly seemed to project.

"Yeah," Kevin said examining his shoes.

"Right, see you then." Joey turned toward the office building.

"Yeah, mate?" Joey turned back to face a pensive looking Kevin.

"I've got a few minutes before my bus is due, um, I could, um, sort of. . .." Kevin ground to a halt, his cheeks had turned a bright shade of red, or at least what Joey could see of them, Kevin's gaze was back on his shoes.

"I'd love a hand with the paperwork, if you've got a few minutes."

"Thanks," Kevin said looking relieved.

Turning, Joey ran for the main building, Kevin unsuccessfully trying to keep up. Joey couldn't help mulling over the conversation they'd just had. It was the most they'd ever said to one another in the couple of years that Kevin had worked for the haulage company.

Once inside, Joey made a bee-line for the toilets. Heavy rain always seemed to stimulate his bladder.

"Fuck!" he sighed as he let loose with his stream. A long piss was almost as good as getting off. He'd been stuck in his cab all day, the constant vibration of the diesel engine leaving him with a half hard. "God, I could use a good shag tonight," he said, tucking himself back in and buttoning up his flies.

Pulling out a comb from his back pocket, Joey moved to the hand basin and checked his reflection in the mirror. "I can't be arsed going out to the bars in this lot."

He smiled when he remembered swaggering into the Black Bear the previous weekend. Once he'd pushed his way to the bar, he'd put his hand on the shoulder of a bloke sat on one of the high barstools. "Go and get your coat, mate. You've pulled." His smile widened into a grin. He'd only meant his chat up line as a load of macho bullshit, but the poor bastard had almost cum in her panties when she turned to face him. The night hadn't lived up to its promising start, though. The guy had been a lousy fuck. Joey liked his bed partners to have a bit of fight in them. All the guy had done was lie back and presumably think of England.

Exiting the toilets, Joey walked into the office where Kevin awaited him, the completed paperwork set out neatly on the desk. All he had to do was fill in the final mileage and sign on the dotted line.

"Thanks, mate. That was a big help." Joey said handing Kevin the forms.

"That's okay." As usual Kevin couldn't meet Joey's eyes when he spoke to him.

The pair made their way out of the office and down the corridor to the exit. Once outside Joey looked up to see the lighted windows of a double-decker moving down the street. "Isn't that your bus?"

"Oh no." Kevin said breaking into a run, but Joey could see he wasn't going to make it.

Joey watched as Kevin skidded in a patch of motor oil, his legs going from under him, as he none too gracefully hit the tarmac. Kevin's spectacles flew from his nose and skated along the asphalt, stopping a couple of feet from the spread-eagled figure.

Joey ran to help. "You okay?"

"Think so." Kevin said wincing as he tried to stand.

"Here, let me help you up." Joey put his arms under Kevin's shoulders and lifted him to his feet. To his surprise Kevin seemed to weigh almost nothing, little hevier than his nine-year-old nephew in fact. Joey could feel the small man trembling. Was he also crying? It was difficult to tell because of the rain.

"Hey, mate, sor-right. Let me just pick up your specs, then we'll sort you out." Joey scooped the glasses from the ground and hooked them around Kevin's' ears. Tilting the smaller man's head so the glow from one of the perimeter lights shone on his face, Joey looked directly into Kevin's liquid brown eyes blinking through the scratched lenses at him. Kevin's eyes reminded Joey of a Basset hound he used to own as a kid. Knowing that the glasses were now useless, Joey pulled them from Kevin's face, revealing a set of high cheekbones and a pair of long full eye lashes which blinked nervously.

"Um, I think you need a new pair of specs."

Kevin grimaced, but on him it looked kind of cute. 'Cute?' Joey asked himself. "Look, it was my fault your glasses got broke, I'll buy you a new pair."

"Oh it's okay, you don't need to."

"Rubbish. If you hadn't come back in with me, you'd not have had to run for your bus."

As they stood side by side, Joey's six feet three inch frame dwarfing that of Kevin's five feet two inches, Joey couldn't resist wrapping a protective arm around Kevin's shoulder. It was the first time he'd ever had any prolonged physical contact with the slightly built man.

"Can you walk on that ankle?" he said staring down at the shorter man. Kevin tried to look away, but Joey held his gaze.

"I think so." Kevin took a step but would have fallen if Joey hadn't caught him.

"Well that answers that question, then."

'Sir? Did he say sir?' Joey asked himself. "Um, I can take you home on the back of my bike, it's the least I can do."

"Oh no, honest, I can wait for the next bus, I'll be all right."

"Give over arguing, it's decided."

The smaller man sagged, seeming to resign himself to his fate.

"Come on, lean on me," Joey wrapped an arm around Kevin, helping to support his weight as he hobbled along. The rain was beginning to creep under Joey's leather jacket, causing him to shiver. "Shit, this is too slow."

"Sorry, I can't go any faster."

"Sor-right, I know you can't." Joey picked Kevin up. As he carried him towards his motorcycle Kevin began to squirm. "Stop wriggling!" Joey commanded.

"Sorry." Apart from the occasional shiver, Kevin managed to lay still.

After gently placing his charge on the pillion seat, Joey got out the spare helmet and made sure it was correctly seated on Kevin's head before straddling the bike and kick starting the engine. As usual the throaty roar and the vibration between his legs gave Joey a thrill.

"Put your arms around me, and hold on." Joey shouted, but Kevin didn't respond, obviously the guy didn't hear him, or was too panicked to comply. Reaching behind himself, Joey grasped his passenger's arms and wrapped them round his chest. Letting out the clutch, Joey sped out of the car park.

As he travelled down the rain-swept streets, Joey realised he hadn't asked where Kevin lived. Maybe this was a conscious oversight; he'd just have to take the man back to his place. Joey smiled, his dick twitching at the thought.

The evening traffic was light, so it only took ten minutes to get home. Pulling up outside a set of garages, Joey hopped off his bike, unlocked the garage door, then got back on and drove the pair of them into the dark interior. Cutting the engine, Joey waited a few seconds for his ears to stop ringing before he took off his helmet. Leaning back in the saddle, Joey was certain his passenger was sporting wood. 'Hmm, interesting.'

"Okay, time to dismount."

"But, but, I don't live here."

"I know, I thought I'd get you dried off and everything at my place first, okay?"

"Don't argue. Come on." Joey gave a light whack to Kevin's behind; Kevin shot upwards in shock, and started to shake.

'Christ, he's a timid one. Better go careful.'

The two made slow progress towards the back entrance to the block of flats, Kevin needing to lean quite heavily on Joey, the latter finding it strangely comforting.

"It'd be quicker if I carried you up the stairs."

Turning Kevin round to face him, Joey stared down at his friend, "It'll be okay. I don't bite. Well not often anyway." Joey laughed, but Kevin didn't join in. "What's wrong?" Joey lifted the smaller man's drooping chin with a finger.

"Sorry, Sir." The man said, still shaking.

'What's with all this sir shit?' Joey mused as he picked the bloke up. Though he had to admit Kevin's deference did give him a bit of a thrill. He'd role played with a few of his more adventurous tricks, Joey always taking the role of the master of course. He wondered what would happen with a man who was naturally submissive.

Finally reaching the third floor, Joey gently set Kevin down as he fished out his key. "Welcome to my humble abode." Joey said, carrying his human cargo into the hallway. He was about to apologise for the mess which he knew would await them, he wasn't much into housework, but the place shone like a new pin. Joey could even detect the faint odour of lavender furniture polish. He didn't think he owned any furniture polish.

After setting Kevin on a stool in the kitchen, Joey went to the fridge to confirm his suspicions. Not finding what he was after, he depressed the peddle on his waste bin and pulled out an unopened packet of bacon. "For fuck's sake!"

The harshness of his tone caused Kevin to start in alarm. Joey noticed it and immediately went to reassure his guest. "Sorry. It's just when I saw that the place had been cleaned, I knew my mother had been round."

"She's Jewish. I suppose I am too, but I don't observe. And like mothers the world over, she can't help sticking her nose in," he said putting a set of flowered tea-towels in the bottom drawer of the cabinet, before fishing out his usual plain white ones. "Trust me, Yiddisher mothers are the worst for interfering."

"It's okay, Pup, you can tel me." Joey wondered why he'd used the epithet. It seemed to suit Kevin, those chocolate drop eyes of his looked so much like those of his dog.

Kevin couldn't meet Joey's gaze, even though the latter had made a conscious effort to soften it. "My parents disowned me, um. . . When they. . ."

"When they found out you were gay."

Kevin stared at Joey in absolute terror. Joey suddenly realised what he'd said. "It's okay. I've known about you and Cal for ages, Cal didn't exactly keep it a secret." Joey recalled the many macho boasts Cal had imparted to his mates about how he was able to dominate his submissive partner, though he'd remained unusually quiet on the subject recently.

"I'm not out to my family, and I'd like to keep it that way." He shuddered at the thought of them knowing. Needing to change the subject, Joey said, "Listen , we'll have to get you out of those wet things, otherwise you'll catch your death. I'll run you a bath, then I'll find you something to put on, though none of my stuff will fit you."

Kevin's panic appeared to have lessened. "That's okay, sir, please just take me home, I'll be fine."

"Rubbish." Joey was feeling rather protective towards his guest. "Come on, I'll carry you to the bathroom, you can strip off in there."

"No, honestly, I'd rather not."

"Pup," Joey held Kevin's face in his hands, "You're staying for a bath, and it's not negotiable."

Kevin sagged, giving into the inevitability of it all.

Joey hoisted up his burden and carried him into the bathroom. Putting Kevin down on the closed toilet lid, he began to run the water, making sure he added plenty of bubble bath.

"Um, it's okay, Sir, I can manage, please." Kevin looked up pleadingly into Joey's face.

Something inside Joey shifted, making him feel. . . what? He wasn't sure he could identify it. "Okay," Joey said softly, backing out of the room. In the hallway, he slapped the side of his face. 'You're turning fucking soft, Joe." He walked back to the kitchen to rustle up some food. Deciding it probably wasn't safe to use the bacon; he opted for his old standby of a couple of frozen TV dinners. Joey knew he was no cook.

Once the foil trays were in the oven, Joey remembered he hadn't seen any towels in the bathroom. No doubt his mother had taken them back to her house to be washed. Reaching into the airing cupboard, he pulled out a couple of large bath sheets.

Pushing open the bathroom door, he said "Got some fresh. . ." The rest of his statement died on his lips as he stared disbelievingly at the sight that greeted him.

Kevin lowered his shaking shoulders, a sob escaping from his lips. This snapped Joey out of his inactivity, he moved into the bathroom and went down on his knees in front of the bath. Reaching out a hand, he began to touch the numerous thin raised scars on Kevin's exposed back. This only seemed to cause Kevin to weep harder. One of the more obvious marks was in the shape of a belt buckle. Joey battled to suppress his anger.

"Did Cal do this?" Joey asked through clenched teeth.

"Sorry, Sir. I-I-I didn't want you to see them, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He dissolved totally.

Joey counted to ten, using the time to dig deep into his reserves of strength. Taking a deep breath, and despite the fact that he was fully clothed, he reached for Kevin and gently, tenderly plucked him out of the bath. Wrapping a towel round the shaking ball of human misery, Joey sat on the closed toilet lid and seated Kevin on his knee, holding him close.

"Hush, my pup. Please hush." He began to rock the smaller man.

No one spoke for about five minutes; Joey kept up his gentle rocking, which eventually had its desired effect. Kevin's sobs lessened, and eventually ceased altogether.

"Want to talk about it?" Joey asked, little above a whisper.

Kevin shook his head; Joey knew he couldn't press him.

"I think you're dry now, I'll try and find you something to wear. Will you be okay for a minute?"

Kevin nodded, but still kept his head bent.

Joey left the bathroom and ran into the master bedroom. Flopping down on his bed, he covered his face with a pillow and wept. He hadn't cried in years, not since he was ten and his pet dog had got run over. Joey remembered his father had taken him over his knee and spanked him for showing weakness. "Be a man. Real men don't cry."

For the whole of his teen years, Joey had tried to live up to the son his father had wanted - no, demanded he be. If Joey had done the slightest thing wrong, his father would unhook his belt, and Joey had to bend over his old man's knee, but he never gave the bastard the satisfaction of breaking down!

The summer he turned seventeen Joey had come in late after kicking a ball around with his mates; his dad flew into a rage and reached for his belt. Joey had finally had enough. Gripping his father's arm, he stared into the face of the older man and with a calmness which he didn't feel, he told his father that he'd been beaten for the last time. "If you take that belt from your trousers, I'll use it on you."

The icy tone in Joey's voice must have had its desired effect; his father never struck him again. But the emotional damage had already been done. Joey found it hard to trust anyone, learning not to show any outward sign of emotion.

"Um, Sir?" The small voice from the doorway brought Joey back to the present.

"I'm sorry." Joey led Kevin to the bed and indicated that he should sit. ""I'll sort out some clothes." Joey picked out an old T-shirt he'd outgrown, as well as a pair of tracksuit bottoms. "Here we go." Joey pulled the T-shirt over Kevin's head, he couldn't help smiling, as he watched the garment totally swallow up the smaller man. "These tracky bottoms have a draw-string, so at least they won't fall off your waist."

It was necessary to roll up the legs of the trousers as they were about six inches too long. Once dressed Kevin looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. To Joey, Kevin's happy face lit up the room, turning a pretty face into a beautiful one. 'What the fuck's happening to me?' Joey asked himself yet again. 'I'm turning into an old sap. Hope I feel better in the morning.' "Come on, dinner will be almost ready." Picking the man up - despite his assurances that he could manage, given support - Joey made for the kitchen and set Kevin back down on his stool.

"How's your ankle doing?"

"Pup," Joey fixed Kevin with a stare. "Does it hurt, yes or no?"

Kevin squirmed in his seat. "Well it does kinda throb a bit."

"Thought it might." Joey retrieved a bag of frozen peas, wrapped it in a towel and applied it to Kevin's lower leg.

"It's meant to be. Now stop complaining. I'll have another look at it after dinner, and then maybe we can get away with just putting a pressure bandage on it."

"Thanks," Kevin said softly.

"Oh, and I've got some pain killers knocking about the place somewhere, you can take a couple with your food."

"I'm not all that hungry."

The recent events had robbed Joey of his appetite as well, but he thought it best to try and feed Kevin up, the man looked so thin. 'Jesus, I'm turning into my mother.' Joey castigated himself. "I'm not much of a cook, but I don't think I'll poison you," Joey said putting the TV dinner in front of Kevin.

The two settled down to eat, conversation somewhat muted. Looking over at Kevin who was just picking at his meal, Joey assumed his dining companion had things on his mind. He certainly had. What had caused those marks? Not a belt. He'd been on the receiving end of one enough times to know that. Well the source of the buckle mark was obvious, but what had caused those thin stripes? As his anger rose towards Cal, 'That bastard's gonna wish he'd never been born.' Joey battled to remain calm, he had to for Kevin's sake. The man was very fragile. He smiled to himself. The old Joey would never have used the word 'fragile', instead he'd have just dismissed Kevin as weak and pathetic.

"Um, I think I should go home." Kevin said once he'd eaten his fill. Joey was dismayed to see the man hadn't eaten very much. Though after looking at his own plate, he too hadn't attacked the food with his usual gusto.

Joey didn't want Kevin to leave, he felt drawn to the smaller man, he somehow wanted, needed to take care of him, protect him. He shuddered, 'what the fuck's happening to me?' "It's still raining," he said after looking up at the rain spattering against the kitchen window.

"Would you, um, I've got a spare room, it won't take me a minute to make up the bed in there."

"I wouldn't want to put you out."

Shaking his head, Joey got up from his seat and walked round to Kevin, who cowered away. "Pup," Joey tried to assume as unthreatening a stance as he could. To achieve this he got down on his knees at the side of Kevin's stool. "I promise you I'll never hurt you. I'm a man of my word."

Rubbing Kevin's arm, Joey could feel the man shivering, he knew it wasn't cold in the room. "Please look at me." Kevin slowly met the larger man's gaze. "Is it hard for you to give your trust to someone, because of," Joey swallowed, "because of what happened to you?"

Kevin nodded before his eyes filled with tears.

Joey wanted to rise up and pull the man into a bear hug, but sensed that it wouldn't be appropriate. "Okay. If you really want me to take you home, I will, but I'd much rather you stay so I can look after that ankle of yours."

"Thanks," came the softly spoken reply.

"You still don't want to talk about it?"

Kevin shook his head in the negative.

"That's okay. Though sometime soon I want you to tell me, but I can wait until you're ready."

"Why are you being so kind to me? I mean you're. . . " Kevin ground to a halt.

Joey knew what Kevin was referring to. He'd always projected the image of the stud, a different man in his bed every weekend, but here, now. . ."I don't know. I just kind of saw you sprawled out on the tarmac back at Parker's, and I just kinda. . . wanted to. . . well, um, help you." Joey knew his cheeks were starting to redden,

Kevin treated Joey to a small smile. The lifting of the corners of his lips sent waves of alien emotions running through Joey's veins. Before he knew it, he'd leant forward and placed a tender kiss on Kevin's lips. Joey didn't go in for kissing, thinking it unmanly, but somehow it seemed to be the right thing to do. Kevin didn't agree. He stiffened and turned his head away. Withdrawing a few inches, Joey saw a terrified and haunted look in Kevin's eyes.

'Shit, I've gone too far.' "I'm sorry." Joey looked downwards. He was no good at all this tender stuff. "I just. . . " he swallowed, "I'm sorry." Shaking his head, Joey changed the subject. "Okay, let's have a look at that ankle of yours."

Joey couldn't sleep. Usually he was out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow. But there were too many things swimming round in his head. Sighing, Joey turned onto his left side and tried to get some rest.

"No, please, no! Please not again, I'll be good, I'm sorry! Please don't." Joey then heard Kevin come out with a blood-curdling scream. He shot up in bed, darted out of his bedroom, flew across the hallway and into Kevin's room. Joey was relieved that Kevin hadn't opted to lock the door, he'd told him that he could.

"Pup?" Joey said softly when he saw his guest sat bolt upright in the bed. The moonlight, which shone through the windows, the curtains having not been drawn, bathed Kevin in a ghostly whiteness. Joey's heart raced as he saw his friend's wild and unfocused eyes. "Pup?" he repeated a little louder. Joey didn't think he ought to touch Kevin, he might still be experiencing his nightmare.

Kevin seemed to suddenly snap into life, he looked at Joey, and began to cry with great wracking sobs.

Joey took this as his signal to act, he sat on the side of the bed, extended his arms towards Kevin, who gratefully sank into the embrace.

"You're safe now, no one can hurt you." Joey began to rub circles on Kevin's back, whilst maintaining the strong hold around the shaking man. Kevin's own arms had fastened themselves around Joey, holding on with a death grip.

"You need a glass of water or something?" Joey asked once Kevin had stopped crying. "Or do you want some cocoa or hot milk? I guess I could put a slug of something alcoholic in it."

"Thanks, Cal would never let me drink alcohol."

Joey tried not to get angry at the mention of Cal's name. "Okay,"

"Sorry to be such a baby."

"Don't be silly." Joey ruffled Kevin's hair before getting off the bed, Kevin followed, but as soon as he put weight on his damaged ankle, he crumpled to the floor.

"Come here,." Joey scooped Kevin up, their faces almost touching. Joey silently asked if he could kiss Kevin, the latter answered by moving his lips to Joey's.

'Wow!' Joey thought when they disengaged. It wasn't exactly a passion filled smooch, no tongues were involved, but to Joey it conveyed so much love and tenderness. Joey's head swam with alien emotions. He safely negotiated his way to the front room and carefully deposited Kevin on the settee. After lighting the gas fire, Joey told Kevin that he'd go and get him a quilt, "I don't want you to get cold."

As he made his way back to the bedroom, Joey didn't know where all this tenderness was coming from, but one thing of which he was certain, it felt so bloody fantastic. Was he going all paternal? He knew he'd probably make a great dad, but did it go deeper than that? He didn't know.

Before grabbing the quilt from his bed, Joey decided he ought to put some clothes on. Pulling a T-shirt over his head, Joey realised his shoulder was still damp from where Kevin had cried on it. He'd never had anyone cry on his shoulder before,, the thought made him feel all warm and tingly inside.

"Here we are." Joey spent a little longer than was necessary in tucking the feather quilt around Kevin. He wanted to lean down and kiss the top of Kevin's nose, but thought better of it. 'Shit, none of this is doing anything for my macho reputation,' he thought as he went into the kitchen to make up the cocoa.

"Budge up...," Joey said as he stood in front of the settee, mugs of cocoa in hand.

Kevin moved along the sofa, giving Joey room to sit next to him. Joey's hands shook a little with the cold as he handed one of the mugs to Kevin.

"Here, share the quilt with me."

"Thanks." Joey hadn't expected Kevin to want to be so intimate, but wasn't about to refuse the offer. Even though the gas fire was blazing away, it was a cold night, and the room hadn't had a chance to heat up.

Once the two were snuggled together, Kevin gulped down a mouthful of his cocoa, which set off a fit of coughing. Joey took the mug from him, fearful that he'd spill the hot liquid.

"Sorry, wasn't expecting it to taste like that."

"Suppose I did go overboard on the coffee liqueur."

"Is that what it was?" Kevin accepted the mug again, and took a more tentative sip.

"I thought it'd help you sleep." Watching the expression of pleasure on Kevin's face, Joey was reluctant to delve into Kevin's past, but decided to risk it. "You said that Cal wouldn't let you drink, um, anything alcoholic I mean?"

Kevin didn't answer for a couple of seconds. "No, he wanted. . . he thought it was his right to control everything I did."

"Shit, that's heavy. You two aren't together any more are you?"

Joey breathed a sigh of relief.

"Things were okay at first I suppose. I always wanted to have someone who, well, who..." Kevin faltered. "Someone I could submit to, but Cal, he didn't know what he was doing half the time, and if you're gonna be dominant, you have to, well... know what you're doing."

"Um, I suppose. I don't really know nothing about that kind of shit."

"Well each relationship is different. Some masters are more liberal than others."

"You had to call Cal Master?"

"Yeah." Kevin shuddered.

"Shit. And what did he call you?"

"I suppose the nicest name was slave or boy."

"I didn't mind too much, I loved him but. . . " Kevin was beginning to show signs of distress.

"Sokay, you don't have to tell me any more." Joey worked an arm around Kevin's back and gave him a squeeze.

"Thanks, I'd like to tell you, but I don't. . . "

"You don't trust me enough yet."

"I can understand that. I promise I won't put any pressure on you, okay?"

"Why, um, why do you keep calling me sir?"

"Well Cal taught me that I had to be deferential to men better than me."

"Well stronger, more dominant men, you know?" Kevin shifted uncomfortably.

"I see." Joey wasn't sure that he did.

"Um, no, guess not." It actually gave Joey something of a power trip. "You don't mind me calling you pup do you? You kind of remind me of a dog I used to have when I was a kid. Well, your eyes do anyway."

"I don't mind, it's kinda, well, it kinda makes me feel, well, sort of, um... well," Kevin's voice dropped to a mere whisper.. "Wanted."

The two fell silent, both with their own thoughts.

"Fuck, it's half past two, and I've got to be at work at eight tomorrow," Joey said noticing the time,

"Oh yeah, you've got that load of dog food to deliver to Huddersfield."

"How come you knew that?"

"Oh I-I-I, well I just kinda saw it on the schedule."

"But there's twenty full time drivers, plus a few casuals, seems funny you knowing what I would be hauling tomorrow."

Kevin didn't answer, he couldn't meet Joey's eyes.

"Pup!" Joey put an edge into his voice. "One thing I can't stand is being lied to. Although not all the drivers have a Saturday delivery, I don't usually, but I don't understand why you'd know about my whereabouts."

"Sorry, I, well, I. . ." Kevin dried up, he couldn't meet Joey's eyes. The latter raised Kevin's chin, and treated him to a quizzical expression, tinged with a little annoyance.

"I like, well I've often, shit. I've kinda fantasised what it'd be like if you were my sir, if you looked after me, were my owner. You're strong,. . . Powerful. " Kevin burst into tears. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you none of this. I know I'd never be good enough for you, and you don't want anyone and probably I shouldn't have anyone cause I'm no good, I'm damaged and worthless. . . "

"Whoa!" Joey's head was spinning. He had no idea that Kevin had been, well, carrying a torch for him. He, the mean rough lorry driver, had someone pining after him? 'God,' he couldn't process all of this so early, or was it late, in the morning.

"I'm sorry, Sir, You said you wouldn't press me, but you did, and I shouldn't have said anything, I've spoilt it, I'll be off in the morning, you won't have to deal. . . "

"Shut up." Joey instantly regretted his harsh words. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Look it's late, I can't deal with this now. But one thing, Pup." Joey said, putting as much sincerity into his voice as he could muster, "You aren't damaged goods, you are not unworthy. Got that?"

Kevin didn't answer.

"Hell man," Joey pulled Kevin onto his knee and gave him a tight squeeze. "You're a fucking wonderful little bloke. But too much shit has gone on today, you're still hurting from whatever Cal did to you, he was the one who hit you, right?"

Kevin nodded against Joey's shoulder. Joey had an irresistible urge to punch Cal's lights out. He forced himself to relax.

"Listen, I really have to get some sleep."

"Yeah." Kevin made no move to disengage from their hug, and if he were honest, Joey didn't want to be separated from Kevin.

"Would you like to come and sleep in my bed tonight?" He felt Kevin's body go rigid. "Just to sleep, nothing else. The idea of just sleeping without sex held a strange appeal. Joey didn't know where the thought had come from, he'd never 'just slept' with a guy in, well, he didn't know how long.

"After a long silence, Kevin nodded his head in agreement.

Joey felt strangely elated. "You need the toilet first?"

Joey carried his Pup to the bathroom, even watched him do his business, something that would normally have grossed him out, but not with Kevin. Then he scooped him up again, laid him on the bed, went back to the living room to retrieve the quilt, and then snuggled down in the bed with Kevin draped over his chest.

"Well look who it is!"

Kevin turned to see Cal leaning against the doorpost at the front entrance of Parker's Haulage, lazily chewing on a stick of chewing gum.

Joey had persuaded a reluctant Kevin to accompany him to work that morning, and ride with him in his cab.

"Go away." Kevin realised he sounded pathetic, Cal had always had a frightening effect on him.

Cal laughed. "I'm not due out for another ten minutes, I'm gonna take you round the back," Cal pointed his thumb behind his left shoulder, "and your gonna get down on your knees to worship my prick."

Kevin felt a cold shudder run down his spine. He wanted to run away, but Cal was always able to send him into a state of immobility with a single look.

"No thanks, I'm not interested."

Clearly Cal hadn't figured on Kevin resisting him. His left eyebrow almost disappeared into his mop of blond curls. His mouth set into a hard line. Kevin, much as he wanted to look away, just couldn't move. Cal pushed himself from the doorframe and slowly approached. The latter's heart began to beat faster, his knees were turning to jelly.

"What did you say?" Cal's icy voice was barely above a whisper.

"He said he wasn't interested," a louder voice announced from behind Cal.

Spinning round, Cal saw Joey. "Hi mate, didn't know you were doing a run today." His tone had changed from menacing to one of friendly deference.

Fixing his gaze on Kevin, Joey said, "Go and get into the cab." He tossed the keys to a still shaking Kevin.

Joey's expression hardened. "Pup." His gaze wasn't menacing, like the ones Cal used to use, but Kevin knew Joey wasn't to be disobeyed.

"Yes Sir." As Kevin moved away and rounded the corner of the building, the angry voices of Joey and Cal grew mercifully fainter.

Climbing into Joey's truck, Kevin looked round, it had been some time since he was inside a cab, Cal would never let him into his. The thing was actually quite spacious. He noted with some amusement that the interior was clean and uncluttered, which was surprising because Joey had admitted he didn't keep his flat very tidy.

"Right, we can get off now." Joey said opening the large door at the driver's side.

Glancing at Joey, Kevin was disturbed to see that he'd been in a fight, his left eye showed some darkening bruises under it, and their was a trickle of blood oozing from his nose. Joey's knuckles also showed signs of grazing.

Joey smiled and stroked Kevin's hair gently. "I'm okay, Pup, you should see the other guy."

"I'll go and get something to put on your cuts. That black eye needs some ice putting on it, too." Not waiting for Joey to protest, Kevin turned to the passenger's door. "I won't be a minute." Kevin fumbled with the catch.

"It's not necessary."

Kevin paused, he didn't want to disagree with Joey, but he felt he had to.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but it is, you're hurt."

"Thanks, Pup. It's nice to have someone looking out for me."

Kevin lowered his head, he could feel his cheeks beginning to flush. "Um, yeah." Kevin wondered why he was behaving as he was.

"I'm sure I'll be fine, but if you'd feel happier, then go and do what you need to, but be quick about it, we're already running late."

Walking quickly, despite his limp, Kevin was on a mission. He wasn't sure how he felt about two men fighting over him. He was flattered, but on the other hand he hated violence. The fact that Joey had stood up for him, got hurt for him, raised Joey in his estimations.

Grabbing a few items from the first aid box, Kevin scuttled back to Joey's lorry. He saw a rather dishevelled Cal lumbering towards his own vehicle, Kevin gave him a wide berth. 'No point in tempting fate,' he thought.

"Ouch!" Joey winced as Kevin applied Iodine to his cuts.

"Sorry, Sir, I did warn you."

"Yeah, you did." Joey said through gritted teeth.

"Well if you will go off fighting." Kevin said light-heartedly.

"I was defending you."

Kevin stopped what he was doing and lowered his head. "I know," he said quietly. "No one's ever stuck up for me before."

Kevin felt a hand rest on his shoulder, he looked up to see a concerned expression on Joey's face.

"I was always getting picked on at school, I tried to make friends with a couple of the bigger kids, hoping they'd protect me."

"Sort of, but they weren't keen on having a geek hanging around them all the time."

"It's not your fault."

"No," Joey sighed. "I guess I was a bit of a bully at school, I never really saw things from the other person's point of view."

"There's no reason why you should, you being strong and. . ."

Joey sighed, obviously thinking about things in his past.

"There, you'll do. You might not win any beauty competitions for a few weeks, but there shouldn't be any permanent damage."

"You saying I'd win won normally?"

Joey ruffled Kevin's hair. "You go and put the stuff back, then we really have to be going."

As he dashed back to the main building, Kevin felt a warm glow wash over him. Maybe he'd misjudged Joey. Underneath the man was kind, gentle, and. . .

Packing away the unused band aids, antiseptic ointment and iodine, Kevin couldn't help recall the events of the previous night. Joey had been wonderful. No one, least of all Cal, had shown him such kindness and consideration before. Though Cal had his moments of tenderness - Kevin had lived for those - they were few and far between. But last night, Joey had carried him around his flat, fed him - although the food wasn't up to much - then he'd talked with him, and best of all held him all night long without making any sexual demands on him. With a jolt of panic, Kevin realised he was falling for the big trucker. The thought scared him, Kevin knew he wasn't ready for a relationship. It was highly unlikely that Joey wanted him anyway.

The air brakes hissed as Joey brought his lorry to a halt. Looking over to the passenger seat, he couldn't help the broad smile, which stretched across his face, as he looked fondly at the small form of Kevin all curled up and fast asleep. 'He does look like a puppy.' Joey thought.

Although the job was over, Joey was reluctant to leave his cab, he didn't want to break the spell. It had been great having someone along for the ride. Sure he'd often pick up a hitch-hiker or two, now and again he'd use the bed in the back of the cab to unload his balls into one or maybe both of his passenger's holes, but today had been different, there were no expectations of sex, and to his surprise HE was perfectly comfortable with that.

Thankfully the traffic had been fairly light, so they'd made good time. So much so that Joey decided they could pull in at a service station and have a decent lunch. Normally he'd just grab a quick bite at a greasy spoon, but he decided to push the boat out for once. Kevin hadn't eaten much, at first Joey thought that the man wasn't feeling well, but Kevin had reassured him that he only had a small appetite.

"There's not much of me to feed, and cause I don't have a manual job, I don't need that much food to keep me going."

"Okay, Pup, if you say so." Joey wasn't wholly convinced, this was borne out when it came time to pay for the meal. It turned out that Kevin hadn't had that much money with him. Joey was going to pay for the meal anyway, but he kicked himself for not telling Kevin this at the start.

"Pup, why didn't you say?"

"Well, um, I didn't like to."

On the way out Joey bought a French stick filled with chicken and salad. "There, that should keep you going."

"Not another word, Pup." Joey put his arm around the smaller man and led him out of the restaurant.

"Come on, we better use the bogs whilst we can." Joey guided his mate towards the gent's toilets.

"Do you need a cubicle?"

"No, Sir, it's fine."

A middle aged balding man must have heard Kevin's comments because he started sniggering. Joey treated the guy to one of his menacing looks, backing it up with a flexing of his muscles. "You got a problem, pal?"

"Um, no," the man said before fleeing the toilets, forgetting to wash his hands.

Joey felt Kevin shake a little. As there was no one else in the room, he bent down and gave Kevin a soft kiss on the lips. "Ignore him, Pup, he doesn't matter."

"Sorry if I embarrassed you, Sir."

"Naw, Pup, you didn't, not at all. I think it's great that you wanna call me that. No one's ever done it, well not for real anyway." Feeling he needed to change the subject, Joey pointed towards the trough. "Better drain the lizards."

As they stood at the stainless steel urinal, Joey noticed from the corner of his eye Kevin checking him out. Joey was proud of his manhood - but he always regretted the fact that he'd lost his foreskin thanks to his parents' religious beliefs - so he put on a Bit of a show. He smiled to himself when a few moments later, Kevin experienced some difficulty putting away his hardened member.

The remembered images of the toilets stimulated Joey's bladder. Reluctantly he woke Kevin from his nap. "Time to wake up. We're back at Parker's."

Joey watched with rapt attention as Kevin's eyes opened, his face showing momentary confusion. Understanding soon dawned, their eyes met, and Kevin's face lit up in pleasure. A warm feeling started to make itself known in Joey's middle and soon spread outwards. Joey shook his head, concerned at how this little guy was getting under his skin.

"What time is it?" Kevin asked sleepily.

"Oh, I better get off home. I've got to get to the laundrette before they close."

"Bring it round to mine and put it through my washer." The words had left Joey's mouth before he could stop them.

"Sure you could. Come on, it's decided." Joey opened his door and jumped to the ground. Kevin seemed to be struggling with the catch, so Joey went round to the passenger side and opened the door for him.

"Come 'ere." Joey opened his arms. Kevin leapt from the cab into the waiting embrace. Tightening his grip, Joey couldn't help thinking how perfectly Kevin seemed to fit.

After sniffing Kevin's hair, Joey planted a tender kiss on the man's forehead before releasing him. "Just got to use the loo, do the paperwork, then we'll go to your place to pick up your dirty laundry, okay?"

Kevin trotted alongside Joey, his much shorter legs having to work harder to keep up. Joey wrapped a friendly arm around the smaller man and pulled him a little into his body.

"You need to go as well?"

"No, Sir, I'm fine."

Joey entered the white tiled room and made for one of the cubicles. He'd developed a hard on whilst holding Kevin, and he wanted a few minutes alone to deal with it . 'It's weird,' Joey thought moistening the head of his penis prior to masturbating. 'When I hold him, I don't wanna fuck his brains out, I just wanna. . . ' Joey couldn't decide what he wanted to do. Sure he thought the guy was as cute as a button, he got off on the smaller man's vulnerability, his deference. But what did he really feel? He shelved the thoughts as his passions ascended towards climax. He brought up fantasy images of Kevin prostrating himself in front of him, of Kevin kneeling and begging to be allowed to service him. Joey finally shot his bolt when he imagined Kevin on his stomach, licking Joey's feet.

Joey needed a few seconds to catch his breath, he'd shot a larger load than usual. He believed this was partially due to his lurid thoughts, but also he hadn't come in over 24 hours. Once he'd cleaned up, Joey took a shit, wiped his arse Then after washing his hands, went in search of Kevin.

"Here we go, just sign, and we're finished." Kevin said greeting Joey with a smile. Giving the paperwork a quick once over, Joey noted that all was correct.

"Thanks, Pup, I hate this part of the job."

"Yeah, I know. I'm the one who usually has to decipher what you've put. You've got the worst handwriting of all the drivers."

"Don't be cheeky." Joey reached out to box Kevin's ears. Kevin gave out a frightened squeak before dropping to the floor and curling up into a ball.

'What the fuck?' It took Joey a couple of seconds to process what had happened, he'd only been joking around. 'What the hell has this bloke been through to make him like this?' Getting down on his knees next to the shaking man, Joey gently reached out a hand. Kevin flinched away. " I'm sorry, Pup." Joey tried to sound as gentle and as reassuring as he could. "Please, my little one, I'd never ever hurt you." Joey found that his voice was cracking with emotion. It was true, he couldn't imagine causing harm to the gentle soul he had befriended. "Pup, I'm gonna put my hands on your shoulders, I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." Joey reached out his large work roughened hands and gently, ever so gently rested them on Kevin's shoulders. He could feel the tremors coming from the smaller man, but Joey held still, hoping that some measure of calmness would flow out of him and into the troubled younger man.

Eventually Kevin's shakes lessoned, Joey gently squeezing the man's shoulders in encouragement, speaking quietly and reassuringly to him all the while.

Kevin began to uncurl himself, Joey noticing that Kevin's eyes were red rimmed, and his cheeks wet with tears. Releasing his hold, Joey remained on his knees and opened up his arms. "Pup."

Kevin seemed to snap out of whatever nightmare he'd been in, and launched himself into the embrace. He wrapped his thin arms around Joey's bulk, and squeezed hard. Joey pulled his own arms around his smaller companion, but was careful not to apply too much pressure.

Neither man spoke for the next couple of minutes, Joey just listened to his friends breathing and occasional sniffles. Deciding to break the silence, Joey pulled back and cupped Kevin's face in his hands. "What happened?" Joey wiped the remaining tears away with his thumbs.

"Sorry, Sir, it, well it kind of reminded me of when I'd filled in the same forms for Cal." He shuddered, Joey pulled Kevin back into his chest.

"I'd entered one of the figures incorrectly." Kevin mumbled into Joey's shoulder, "And he. . . Well he got mad. That was," Kevin swallowed, "That was when I got this." Kevin released himself from Joey, pulled up his shirt, turned round and pointed to the belt buckle shaped mark on his back.

Joey wished he'd killed Cal that morning when he'd had the chance. He'd stopped his assault when the other man promised he'd not go within ten feet of Kevin ever again.

"I see," Joey said through a tightened throat. "I had no idea. I was only being playful with you earlier, I wouldn't, I just couldn't hurt you like that."

Kevin lowered his shirt and turned to face Joey, who took hold of Kevin's hands.

"I've been a bully in the past, I was more like Cal than I'm comfortable about telling you. But now I've seen what that sort of thing can do, and I'm not just talking about the physical scars, I know that I couldn't be like that again."

Joey stood and began to stretch his hamstrings. "Ouch, all this kneeling has sent my legs to sleep."

Sitting on the edge of the desk, Joey reached out and ran a hand through Kevin's hair, he didn't know why he was drawn so much to the man's brown mop of straight hair, but somehow he found it comforting to touch it, he hoped Kevin derived a similar sense of peace from the gesture, too.

"Do you want me to take you home, and you can do your laundry yourself? I mean, if you, um, want to be alone."

Kevin , who was kneeling on the floor, leant against Joey's leg and wrapped an arm around it. Resting his head on Joey's knee, he looked up at the seated man. "No, Sir, if the offer's still open, then I'd like to wash my clothes at your place."