"Is that really the time?" Frank asked when he glanced down at Gerard's silver watch and saw that it was nearly six in the evening. He should have noticed by the fact that it was starting to get dark outside, but he hadn't been paying attention to anything else other than the extensive contract. Frank set the marker on the desk, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to stop them from feeling so dry and tired, and stifled a yawn, "I didn't realize that I'd been here all afternoon since we got back."

"We didn't get back until a little later than planned," Gerard reminded Frank of their slightly extended lunch break, not taking his eyes away from the computer while he typed, "Plus, you have been rather preoccupied, you dirty boy."

"The contract is important," Frank added primly.

"The contract wasn't to what I was referring, dear boy. I was merely mentioning the sordid state of your mouth that lead up to you doing your contract." Gerard whispered, "When one mentions they have a persuasive mouth, you usually think they have a charm and wit..."

"Don't I have a charm and wit?" Frank asked coyly, batting his eyelids at Gerard, who turned to look at Frank with his eyes narrowed. He reached out, clamping his hand around Frank's jaw in a stern hold, bring his face in until they were inches apart.

"You have an entrancing charm and copacetic wit, runt." Gerard whispered, "But I was talking about how perfectly it fits around me and how pretty you look when you choke on it."

"I-" Frank shuddered a shaky breath, staring into Gerard's unwavering and incomparable gaze as an ache set in his jaw that felt so similar to the ache he had felt only a few hours before. Gerard let go, stroking a finger over where he had been holding, and went back to typing an email. The skin where he had brushed with his knuckle seemed to tingle and Frank's entire body had taken a moment to reboot after crashing like an old computer. He inhaled, looking down at the contract and book in front of him. It was all he had done since they got back, he had decided to reread what he had agreed to, wanting to refresh himself after lunch, "I just feel bad. I haven't exactly done any work today."

"Don't worry about it," Gerard brushed off Frank's comment quickly, "I told Derek that I was training you some more so he's been filling in for you."

"Is that what we are calling this now, huh?" Frank raised an eyebrow at Gerard, eyeing him up, placing one hand on top of the contract, "My 'training'?"

"Well, it is, isn't it?" Gerard responded rather bluntly, looking at Frank like it should have been obvious, "I wasn't lying when I told Derek that I was going to be training you."

"You just bent the truth," Frank smiled cockily, leaning back in his chair, clinking his tongue bar against his teeth, "I get it. No one will ever know what happened behind your closed door."

"Good," Gerard nodded. He took a moment away from what he was doing, looking over his work while he ran his hands through his hair, scratching at the back of his head, "But, I think that is enough for today. You have done well, boy, I'm impressed. Covered more than I expected."

"Yeah, me too," Frank nodded, thumbing through the lengthy contract, letting the pages he was holding fall back down onto the pile that he was still going to have to go through, "I take it, I'm finishing this off tomorrow?"

"Probably a good idea. You don't want to overwhelm yourself in one sitting," Gerard agreed whilst shutting down his email before switching off his computer, "Plus, I would like to go home."

"Yeah," Frank tried to sound enthused about the idea of going home, but to him, home meant going back to his crummy motel room. Gerard started packing away his things while Frank just sat there, hating the idea of going home. The shame crept down Frank's spine almost immediately while he remained seated in his chair, "Should probably go home, too..."

"I figured your lateness this morning was because of car trouble," Gerard commented while he stood up, buttoning up his jacket before pocketing his phone. The beat-up and dirty off-white ride that was Frank's car was not in its designated space this morning. Frank had just nodded, ignoring the fact that he hadn't been able to get his car to start this morning. His car was still in the motel parking lot after having been kicked by Frank when he got out of it that morning, cursing it and its ancestors because it refused to start. He that he wouldn't be able to pay to get his car fixed because he had just paid the rent on his room. A roof over his head was more important, plus he knew that he could probably do with the exercise as he walked to work for two-and-a-half hours from South Hackensack to Woodcliff. He didn't have much of a choice and couldn't really afford a cab in the morning traffic. Gerard turned to look at him, "Did you walk to the office?"

"Yeah, I did," Frank nodded, finally standing up. He pulled his suit jacket from the back of the chair put it on while he continued to talk, avoiding eye contact, "She wouldn't start at all but she can be a bit temperamental in the cold."

"What about tomorrow?"

"I don't know," Frank sighed, knowing that even if he did know why his car hadn't wanted to start this morning, it wasn't like he was going to be able to afford it. God knows when he was going to be able to pay for his car to be fixed, "I'll get it fixed."

Not that Frank knew when he was going to be able to do that; it was probably going to be a few months before he would be able to get his car back on the road- Maybe even longer. He didn't know and despite the fact that he hated the motel he was living in, he knew that he had to pay for that first because he didn't want to live in his broken-down car.

"Good," Gerard spoke, nodding at Frank's reply, "So, were you planning on walking back as well?"

"No," Frank admitted as he took note of how dark it was getting outside, and because he valued not getting mugged or stabbed, he grabbed his phone from his pocket, "I was going to get an Uber or something, sir."

"You do know that I could drive you home," Gerard told Frank who had opened the app and was waiting for the device to pick up his location.

"You don't have to do that, sir," Frank bit his lip, glancing over at Gerard, who was packing his stuff into his briefcase.

"I am more than happy to take you home," Gerard insisted, "Plus, as your Master, and a gentleman, I will not take 'no' for an answer."

"But-"

"No 'but's," Gerard piped up, cutting Frank off, "You really must learn that arguing will get you nowhere other than across my lap and on the receiving end of a spanking."

Frank shrank back and held back a whimper at the idea of Gerard doing that to him, his ass clenching at the mere thought of Gerard putting him across his lap and spanking him- Frank didn't even know how to respond. Did he want to continue arguing because the idea had such an effect on him that he was at a point of wanting it to happen, or should he just give in?

"You're considering it, aren't you?" Gerard queried, making Frank wonder how in the hell his Master was able to read him so well. Maybe the pink tinge that had spread across Frank's cheeks was a give away.

"No, I'm not," He lied, unable to look at Gerard as he locked his phone before pocketing it. As much as he didn't want Gerard knowing where he was living, he knew that he couldn't keep arguing with him. As much as the idea of being spanked seemed very interesting and something that Frank knew he shouldn't argue. He ran his tongue-bar over his lip, "I was taking you up on your offer of driving me home, sir."

Reluctantly, Frank wondered if he could get away with telling Gerard that he lived somewhere not too far away from the motel in an attempt to save some dignity. Then when Gerard was out of sight he could just walk the rest of the way home, hoping not to get stabbed or robbed. It seemed like a perfect plan, even if lying to Gerard seemed like the worst idea imaginable. Frank was ashamed enough already without having more shame piled on top of him about Gerard's irreverent disdain over his current abode.

"Good boy," Gerard smiled and leaned in, putting an arm around Frank to pull him closer. Frank yelped lightly at the sudden touch, melting into Gerard's warm chest when a small kiss was pressed to the side of his temple. Frank blushed lightly when he heard his Master inhale lightly, taking in his scent. He pulled away and looked up, a sheepish smile on his face.

"You like how I smell?"

"I do." Gerard commented as he returned to his desk, "It's an interesting combination of smells that seems so intrinsically you, boy."

"And that is?" Frank asked as he curiously sniffed the lapel of his blazer.

"Your usual cologne has a spicy cinnamon note to it that I enjoy. It suits you. And your shampoo is apple. All of that is incomparable to how you smell, however. Just you. I must admit that I enjoyed holding you when we were together. It's calming." Gerard stated as he picked up the contract, making sure it was all in order before he placed it in his bag. He looked up to see Frank's startled expression, "Are you okay?"

"You..." Frank whispered, "You like my smell?"

"Is that not what I just said?" Gerard put his hands on his hips, "Has no one ever complimented how you smell before?"

"Well, no." Frank's nose scrunched up, "Ryan told me once that he liked the floor cleaner I chose because it smelled like oranges. That's about it."

"Absolutely shameful." Gerard tutted softly, "Especially when you smell as wonderful as you do. You should do to get the rest of your belongings in order, boy."

"I'll just grab my bag from my desk, then."

"Please do," Gerard said, following Frank out of the office, both of them noticing how they were the last in the building, "Meet me by my car. I'll be out in a second when I've made sure everything is in order before we go."

Frank did as he was told, slinging his satchel over his shoulder before leaving the building. He walked to the lot around the back of the building, pushing his hands into the pockets of his coat when he got to Gerard's car, waiting for him to turn up. He wrapped his black scarf tighter around his neck when he felt a chill infiltrate his layers, the sharp whip of evening air had him hiss and his shoulders hunch. He looked over the car that was currently in Gerard's space; the black Mercedes that made Frank jealous because he knew that he would never be able to afford to drive anything like that. He couldn't even afford to drive his own ancient Golf, but at least he was getting driven home, even if he did wish that it was someone else.

Frank thought about how he could get around telling Gerard where he lived. He just hated the fact that Gerard was going to see where he was living, especially now that Frank knew what his house looked like. The feeling of reproach spiked into his esophagus when Gerard appeared a few minutes later, briefcase in hand and walking with the confident grace of a man who knew his own power. It was astounding to watch him stride across the asphalt as though floating across water.

"Remember what I said to you about doors, boy?" Gerard queried simply, watching as Frank jumped when he realized what he had to do. Frank scurried to the driver's door, opening it when it was unlocked by the key in Gerard's hand. He bowed his head, holding it open for Gerard while he got in, "And I also decide where you sit in the car, too. So if you wouldn't mind, I would prefer it if you sat next to me tonight."

Frank thanked Gerard, maybe wishing that he could have sat in the back so he could hide the embarrassment that was going to creep over him in about twenty minutes. He nodded, closing the driver's door before going around the car to get in, dumping his bag into the footwell before clipping in his seatbelt.

"So, where am I driving?" Gerard queried as he started up the car. Frank felt his mouth go dry at the question, the idea of telling Gerard exactly where to take him was daunting. He sat in the passenger seat, his hands in his lap, trying to think of anything to say that wouldn't reveal where Gerard was going until it was almost over.

"I'll give you directions," Frank told him as he tried to calm his heart rate, "Is that okay, sir?"

"Not a problem," Gerard muttered as they reversed out of the parking space, "As long as we get there eventually."

"We will," Frank sighed, "Turn right at these lights onto Bergentine, and then when we get to the end of James J Braddock park, take the left turn onto... Is it Fairview?"

"Woodcliff turns into Fairview, yes," Gerard added as they turned right. They sat in relative silence, the only time Frank spoke was when he guided Gerard, telling him which road to turn down, bringing him closer and closer to the motel. He looked out of the window on the left when they passed Fairview Cemetery and tried not to let himself worry about Gerard's reaction. His thoughts were slowly fading onto other topics and he was curious about how Gerard had reacted in the office earlier when he said the one thing that he had marked in red.

Frank knew he had only said the word to get a reaction from Gerard, gauge exactly how he would be if Frank suddenly said it without warning, but he barely got anything. No telling off for saying it, no look of disgust because he knew it was a hard limit for Gerard. He just brushed it off like it was nothing, stating that he didn't like it anymore. That had Frank sitting in the passenger seat of the car, looking at Gerard in the corner of his eye, rolling the ball of his tongue piercing against his teeth while he wondered if he could question it.

"Turn right up ahead onto Broad," Frank started, looking at Gerard who replied with a small hum of recognition as they turned right onto the highway, "Sir? Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course you can, boy," Gerard told him, glancing over at Frank for a second before his eyes were back on the road, "Do you have another question about the contract?"

"Kind of," Fran trailed off. He wanted to understand why Gerard had this as a hard limit. What if Frank had swiped the green marker over everything that came along with the word 'Daddy'? What if Gerard had still said 'no' to all of it? He cleared his throat as he looked out at the motorcycle shop on the right, his hands nervously fidgeting with a button on his jacket, "I know why the whole 'Daddy' thing is a hard limit for me, but why is it such a hard limit for you?"

Frank swore that he could see Gerard's grip on the steering wheel tighten when he asked his question. It was jarring to see his body react when his face remained calm and unaffected. He let out the smallest sigh as they stopped at the intersection of Broad and Shaler.

"Was me saying that I don't like it not enough for you, boy?" Gerard asked curiously, his voice had a hardened edge to it that had Frank wary.

"But you said that you don't like it anymore," Frank pointed out, "Did you like it at one point, sir?"

Gerard sighed again as they turned off of Broad onto Grand Avenue and continued straight. Frank watched Gerard in the rapidly shifting light from the street lamps that they continued to pass. Gerard ran a hand through his hair before he held the wheel, mulling over his words for a long moment of silence.

"Left onto the R-46," Frank whispered

"I did," Gerard finally spoke as they turned, crossing the Overpeck Creek bridge, "I never thought I would. I'm not the type to be someone's carer when it comes to this kind of thing, but Billie..." Gerard stopped himself, pausing for a moment. Frank felt like he was on the edge of his seat, hanging onto Gerard's words, "Billie Joe was a little. You do know what I mean by that, don't you, boy?"

"A little," Gerard carried on when Frank hadn't nodded at his question, "A 'little' is the most common term for the submissive's role in an ageplay relationship. A little is known as the role of the child that the Daddy has to look after. Their ages can vary from person to person, but usually, they're around the baby or toddler age group. Some can go up to the age of about eight, but they rarely don't tend to go that high. The most common ages are around one to four years old... And that was what Billie was. I was Billie's Daddy and I tried to make it work, but we had chemistry issues. It wasn't working and I wasn't comfortable with it all. That's why it's a hard limit for me."

Frank was speechless; he just assumed that Gerard would give him some well-worded explanation as to why he didn't like it and why it was a hard limit for him but he never expected Gerard to come out with an answer as personal as that. Frank just looked at Gerard, trying to see the whole 'Daddy' side, but he couldn't find it. He couldn't picture Gerard looking after a grown-up child; he just didn't seem like the kind of person who would be able to do that. Frank cleared his throat, ignoring the warmth in his cheeks, "I'm honestly grateful that you're not into it but, just..."

"Just?"

"Why did you tell me if it was something so personal to you?" Frank frowned, watching Gerard before telling him to keep straight on Sylvan Avenue. He glanced at his master anxiously, "I knew that I overstepped a line in the restaurant but, I just thought it grossed you out. I didn't realize it was personal."

"Well, I realized that I got to know a lot about you today," Gerard responded with a small purse to his lips, "It is only fair. I know a lot about you. Now you know something about me."

Frank wanted to say something about how he appreciated Gerard opening up to him and being honest with him about something that they both agreed was a hard limit. Frank didn't say anything when he realized that they were less than a minute away from the motel. He had completely pushed aside the fact that Gerard was driving him towards the most shameful place known to man; or at least known to him. He wished that he could just get Gerard to drop him off at the Burger King on their right, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. It would have been weird if just told Gerard to stop around the corner from the only motel in the middle of a very industrial-and-hardware-retail area. Frank knew that he was just going to have to suck up the shame and embarrassment that was swirling around in his stomach.

"Uh, turn right here on Huyler," Frank whispered softly as they came to stop at the intersection.

"Never expected you to live in this area," Gerard commented casually. His words made Frank want to sink in his seat, cover up his face, and hide the fact that he did in fact live in this part of town.

"Me neither," Frank muttered under his breath as Gerard took the turning he had told him to take, pulling into the parking lot of the Travelodge. Frank tried to gauge Gerard's reaction as he slowed the car down and slipped into a vacant spot. He was practically unreadable, and Frank felt his face and ears heat up as though he were standing too close to a fire. He tried to hide the shame, cracking a fake smile as he looked out at the stretch of building that was now technically his home, "Well, here we are then..."

"This is where you live?" Gerard asked, turning the key in the ignition, the car falling silent which added to the tension that Frank was feeling while he watched Gerard look out at the motel. He nodded, unable to answer as he reached down into the footwell to grab his bag. Frank wondered why Gerard couldn't take his eyes off the place; it wasn't like it was five-star accommodation that Frank could brag about. Gerard's expression was akin to that of a man who had just walked into a 7-Eleven bathroom. Frank tried to ignore his expression while he unclipped his seat belt, reaching out to open his door.

"I guess I will see you the usual time tomorrow, sir?" Frank asked, hoping that he could just get out of this situation as quickly as possible. God knows what Gerard was going to say to him about the motel that was situated between an awning store and an electrical supply chain. He probably had a list longer than his contract that was filled with his opinion on the terracotta-brick building, but he still remained silent.

Frank got out of the car when Gerard hadn't responded to him, clearly speechless like the time Frank had turned up in Ryan's God-awful clothes. It felt very similar to that moment when Frank stood in front of him again. Seconds later, the driver's door opened and Gerard climbed out, closing the door behind him to stand and stare up at the two-floor motel.

"What are you doing, sir?" Frank asked nervously. He couldn't help but notice how Gerard stuck out like a sore thumb in this area; a well-dressed man in a run-down motel parking lot.

"I never took you as the kind of person who would live in a wonderful place like this..." Gerard taunted lightly, the sarcasm cutting through Frank like a sharpened blade. He groaned, hanging his head in shame as he put his bag over his shoulder. Gerard put his hands in the pockets of his trenchcoat, "I'm curious to see just what your living arrangements are like before I judge the external appearance of this motel."

Please no, Frank thought, for the love of David Duchovny, please stop. He hated the fact that Gerard was showing such an interest now. He politely asked Frank to lead the way, walking behind him. It felt like a walk of shame for Frank, who kept his head hung low as they crossed the carpark toward his side of the L-shaped building. They went up the rusted outdoor stairs to get to his place and Frank felt so uneasy and agitated about the fact that Gerard was right behind him. Frank pulled his keys out of his bag, coming to a stop in front of his room.

"This is only temporary," Frank reassured Gerard almost immediately, trying to justify why he was here to his boss- his Master. The title made this moment so much worse as he struggled with the lock. He scowled, shouldering the door open when it stuck. He huffed and gave Gerard one last fleeting glance, "I'm only here until I get back on my feet."

Frank held the door open for Gerard, screwing his eyes shut when he felt him brush past, stepping into his not-so-new home. Frank didn't want to open his eyes; he didn't even want to consider the fact that Gerard was in the shitty little motel room that had definitely seen better days. Frank did open his eyes after a second of cringing because he couldn't bear the idea of hiding away while Gerard inspected, scrutinized, and judged his place. His opinion on the motel room, and Frank's decision to live here, was something that worried Frank.

He finally stepped into his room, watching Gerard carefully as he scanned around at the small one-room living area that Frank now had. Gerard stood at the foot of the bed and looked around. He took a quick step toward the bathroom, switching the light on before he ducked his head in to see what it was like. Frank just stood near the open door, fiddling with his hands to help calm himself down instead of projectile vomiting all over his genuine leather shoes.

And the worst thing was that he had forgotten to make his bed this morning. He was living in such shabby conditions already and Frank had given up on neatening his bedding once he got up every morning. Frank blushed at Gerard seeing his unmade bed, even though there was definitely more concerning things about the room that Gerard was focusing on.

"It's not so bad when you get used to it. Even the smell isn't too bad when you're in it for a while." Frank offered, hoping to alleviate some of the tension that had surrounded him the moment Gerard set foot into his room. Frank felt like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole, let him get away from this humiliating moment in time where Gerard looked down on everything that Frank had to keep himself going. The microwave sat on top of the fridge. The outdated TV, which didn't work, though Frank had been told that it would be fixed by the end of the week if he was lucky. The carpet, from which Gerard cautiously lifted his shoe up, noticing how it was a little on the sticky side. This was the roof over Frank's head, this was all he had right now and Frank didn't even want to be here to see Gerard judge it all and question why the wallpaper was peeling away from the ceiling.

Gerard didn't say a word and he hadn't said a word since he had set foot into the yellowed room. All he had done was look around, cautiously stepping into the bathroom for a second. He looked around before he reached up to take down the suitcase from on top of the wardrobe- an easy feat for the man who was almost six foot and made Frank envious when he had struggled to get it up there in the first place- and set it down on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Frank frowned, completely baffled as he watched Gerard grab clothes from the wardrobe to swiftly pack them in the suitcase. Gerard was about to answer his question, opening his mouth, when he stopped.

"What is this?" Gerard asked curiously after finding the dildo and peach lube hidden behind his underwear. Frank's eyes went wide and he felt his whole body freeze when Gerard pulled the two items out of their hiding place, holding them up. Frank stared at the dildo and at Gerard, who was reading the label on the bottle with vague interest. Frank opened his mouth to answer, but an answer wasn't what came out. An embarrassed squark left him before his hands went up to his face to hide the hot blush that spread across it immediately. Frank didn't know what to say. The obvious and grown-up thing to say was that he owned a sex toy, but to have Gerard find it and hold it out while he inspected it, Frank couldn't bring himself to say anything other than,

"Oh, God," He whimpered, his voice shaking as he came to a stop by his bed, collapsing forward onto it in an attempt to hide himself from the humiliating moment. He was bent over with his face stuffed into the comforter, groaning unhappily, "Oh, God. Oh, God, Oh, fuck-"

"Yes, I'm sure you say that a lot while you're using it," Gerard commented, making Frank want to curl up into the tightest ball possible on his bed. Gerard was highly amused as he inspected the dildo with a look of wonder on his face, observing the length and girth of the sex toy, "But this... I really wasn't expecting to find."

"It's not what it looks like," Frank whined as he peered out with one eye at his Master, who now had a permanent smirk on his face.

"Oh, I think it is," Gerard eyed Frank who had peeked out from the folds of his bedding, still in a state of embarrassing panic, "This is exactly what it looks like. I just didn't expect you to own one that was so life-like."

"It's just Felix," Frank muttered into the blanket, hoping that Gerard wouldn't hear his short explanation but Gerard chuckled in response. Frank picked himself up from the folds of his unmade bed and brushed down his work clothes, clearing his throat, "It's nothing. So what?" Frank tried to play it off cool as he took the dildo out of his Master's hands before dropping it into the suitcase, "It's just a dildo."

"You really are full of surprises," Gerard shook his head slightly before he continued, "Never ceases to amaze me."

"What exactly are you doing?" Frank asked again, seeing as they had been interrupted by the discovery of the dildo and lube. He watched Gerard, looking at the pile of his clothes that were starting to build up in his suitcase.

"It is the norm for a sub to live with his Master," Gerard began to explain as he picked up Frank's sneakers cautiously, the beaten old pair of shoes being held between his thumb and forefinger before he dropped them into the suitcase, "So, the Dom has complete control over their submissive. I wasn't going to start it until you had finished your contract, but with the state of your living arrangements, there is no way I can let you live here for a moment longer."

"It's not that bad." Frank reminded him weakly. Gerard merely scoffed at Frank's weak attempt to defend his living quarters.

"Really?" Gerard snorted, dropping t-shirts into the suitcase, "I've seen derelict properties in better conditions than this. You cannot continue living here. You are coming home with me and I'm going to disinfect you at least three times. Who knows what else has been breeding in those sheets other than yourself and Felix."

"Wh- I-" Frank's entire face lit up for the thousandth time as Gerard went to the wardrobe to grab more clothing, "But I haven't finished my contract."

"You can finish it tonight," Gerard told him, disappearing into the bathroom for a moment to grab the last of Frank's things before he put them into the suitcase. He looked at Frank once he had zipped it closed, "Don't look so guilty, Frank. Once you've settled in, you can carry on from where you left off."

"Okay." Frank nodded uneasily, hoping that he wasn't making Gerard have to go out of his way because of himself. He felt bad, but Gerard seemed more than adamant that he was leaving this motel tonight. There was no way he was staying another night in this place and Gerard was sure of it.

"Take your bag, boy," Gerard instructed, heading towards the door as he grabbed Frank's room key, "I will see you down by the car. Just going to tell the owner that you will no longer be rooming in this dysentery factory.."

Frank did as he was told, lugging his suitcase out of the room and down the stairs. He dragged it over to the car with a grunt and a huff. He waited, leaning against the side of the car with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Gerard was only gone a few minutes but he was gone long enough for Frank to come to terms with the fact that this was happening. The fact that the contract wasn't finished didn't matter; right now he was moving in with Gerard and he was okay with it. They were both okay with it. No one was freaking out or backing out and Frank couldn't ignore the butterflies in his gut.

He felt a little overwhelmed, of course, but Frank snapped out of it when he saw Gerard walking towards him in that same bold traipse that had his insides melt. How could someone walking have such an effect on him? Probably because he wasn't just his boss anymore, once it hit midnight; he would be Frank's Dominant. That thought alone made Frank's insides go through the same twisting sensation that he had been feeling ever since he first started crushing on him.

"All sorted," Gerard said quickly, walking to the back of his car to open up the trunk. He picked up Frank's suitcase for him, putting it into the compartment. Frank knew what he had to do and he moved around the car, he opened up the driver's door, waiting patiently for Gerard to get in, "You're getting the hang of this, boy. Front seat again, please."

Frank thanked Gerard before shutting the door, He jogged around the sleek vehicle and slid back into his seat, fastening his seatbelt as Gerard started the engine, pulling out of the parking space. Frank noticed his car, wondering what was going to happen to it, seeing as Gerard was driving him back to his house.

Frank remained quiet in his seat, staying quiet for most of the journey back to Gerard's, looking over at him occasionally, letting it sink in. He was still reeling over it all, over the one person he would submit to and worship the ground he walked on like some God; the only person for whom he had eyes.

The journey back remained quiet. Gerard spoke occasionally, Frank answered him, but for the rest of the journey to his house, Frank remained silent. A strange, yet probably completely normal, set of emotions for what he was getting involved in. The roads eventually became familiar and soon Gerard was pulling his car into his driveway. Frank sat back in his seat, taking in the house again, finding it hard to believe that this was where he was going to be living. It certainly beat the shitty motel by a country-mile. Gerard pulled his car into the carport, switching off the engine before turning to look at Frank.

"Well, here we are," Gerard mimicked what Frank had said earlier, getting out of the car. Frank followed, grabbing his suitcase out of the trunk. He trailed not far behind, trying to keep up with him as he tugged his suitcase along. Gerard opened the front door, walking into the house. Frank supervened, watching him kick his shoes off before pushing them to the side of the entranceway, "The first rule that you must follow: no shoes in the house. That is, unless you want Lindsey scolding you for ruining her carpets." Frank chuckled at that before he saw the look on Gerard's face.

"Oh, you think I'm joking?" Gerard shot back, making Frank's smile dissipate rapidly, "She will not hesitate to beat you with a newspaper if she sees you traipsing dirty footprints across her carpet. Trust me, I know."

Frank fought back a smile, trying to picture how someone like Lindsey could tell off someone like Gerard. Clearly, it was possible and Frank had been witness to her dragging him out of the kitchen by his ear the morning after they had slept together. Gerard may have been in charge of him, but he could tell that Lindsey definitely had some charge over Gerard when it came to matters of the house.

"Follow me," Gerard waved a hand at Frank once he had also removed his shoes, pushing them to one side. Frank did as he was told, bringing his suitcase along as they started up the stairs, "Let me show you where you will be staying, pup."