Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Fire Meet Gasoline
“Can’t you just help me out bro, pleeeeeeease” Mandy pleaded in between sniffs, sneezes and coughs.
Mandy Milkovich was in her 3rd year at The University of Chicago studying Business and had a very important interview scheduled for that day. She needed this for part of her semester core work and had been working hard all week on the questionnaire. She was a year younger than her brother Mickey who was also attending the college but was majoring in Art History and due to graduate in a few months’ time.
“Jesus Mandy, not like I haven’t got a shit ton of work to do myself” replied Mickey while rubbing his hands down his face in frustration.
He loved his sister dearly but he wasn’t exactly a people person and the idea of interviewing some big shot billionaire was his idea of hell.
“Oh please Mick cmon, it’s only like 10 minutes, it’s really important. Not like I planned on being sick today!” Mandy pleaded again, this time with an edge to her voice.
“Christ, fine, gimme the thing” he asked while reaching out for her question sheet.
“And you should probably wear something, you know, a bit nicer” she said, as delicately as possible.
“What the fuck is wrong with what I’m wearing” Mickey exclaimed while looking himself over.
He was wearing his usual combination of a long sleeved button top with cut off shirt over it and black ripped jeans.
“Nothing Mick, just think you might stick out a bit, it’s a fancy place that’s all and well Mr Gallagher is known for his power suits….”
She trailed off on noticing Mickey’s scowl.
“Don’t give a fuck what he or anyone else thinks Mandy you know that” He replied coolly.
He thought on it a moment, starting to feel a niggling doubt and a hint of insecurity. As much as he had a tough exterior Mickey couldn’t deny that deep down he craved validation and acceptance. Ever since his mother died of cancer 3 years prior he craved those feelings and connections that he had shared with her. He had a close bond with his mother Laura who was passionate and a free spirit. She loved with her whole heart and encouraged Mickey in his pursuit of art and creativity. She allowed him to be sensitive and kind and good, which was in stark contrast to what his father, Terry, tried to instil in him. He was a cruel and abusive man who tried to supress these qualities in Mickey for fear it was turning him “gay”.
Mickey laughed to himself at the irony and was thankful once again that Terry was finally sent away for a well-deserved and lengthy prison stretch. Unfortunately the constant jibes and put downs still burrowed there way inside and while he tried to focus on the memories of his mother’s unconditional love sometimes Terry’s ugliness pushed its way to the surface. The result being that Mickey was sometimes unsure of himself, lacking in confidence and wary of others for fear of rejection or judgement. It meant that he had never really had a relationship, particularly of the sexual kind because he doubted himself and well, if he doubted himself then surely so would others.
He never understood his parent’s relationship; how his sweet mother could put up with such disrespect and pain when she deserved so much more. It’s why he was a doting son because he knew he made her happy and he wanted to balance out her tears with smiles. Their relationship did teach him one thing however and that was if and when he was ready he wouldn’t allow himself to be abused like that. He refused to settle and was frankly more concerned with his impending career to worry about trivial things like sex and romance.
Despite his internal battle of wills he still found himself changing his jeans to ones that were smarter, without rips and he donned his smartest leather jacket over his shirt. He added the address to his phone and decided to grab an Uber because it was downtown and it was pouring rain outside. No point in wearing fancy ass clothes if they’re going to be soaked by the time he got there he thought.
Mickey stood outside the modern glass high rise and gulped, already feeling way out of his depth. He didn’t even know who the guy he was meeting was or what he did so he clutched the questions his sister had put together and re assured himself that it was only 10 minutes of his life. What’s the worst that could happen right?
-----
Ian was sitting at his very expensive and intimidating desk in his huge corner office with the best views of the city when his secretary reminded him of his 10.30 meeting. At least once a week he had requests from college students asking for a few minutes of his time for a thesis or a project or an essay. He understood the fascination in a way, there weren’t too many 26 year old philanthropist billionaires in Chicago or anywhere for that matter but they were still mind numbingly boring. It was always the same tired, old and highly unoriginal questions and if he was asked once more about “the secret to his success” he might just go ahead and jump out his window.
He heard a knock and awaited the student to enter, a Mandy Milkovich, according to his email reminder. What he was faced with was not Mandy Milkovich however, not even close.
“Please come in, take a seat” Ian said firmly while taking in the mesmerising young man that stood hesitantly in the doorway.
“Um thanks, I’m Mickey uh Mandy’s my sister but she’s sick so she asked me to fill in”.
“Well I hope she feels better soon and I’m happy you’re here” Ian found himself saying, not unaware of how ambiguous his statement was.
He noticed Mickey blush and bite his lip, seemingly a nervous tick and it was an image that spoke directly to his dick. He had to get control of himself for the next 10 minutes.
“Um shit, forgot a….”
Mickey trailed off while checking his pockets and looking around until his eyes landed on a container of pens on Ian’s desk. Ian took the opportunity to stand up as he walked to the front of the desk and handed a pen to Mickey, their fingers brushing against each other’s in the process. Again Mickey blushed before he looked back down at his lap and muttered “Thanks”.
“So Mickey, you have some questions there” Ian asked with a smirk enjoying how flustered the other man was.
“Shit I mean yes, right. So the first one is “To what do you….”
Ian laughed and cut him off by completing the question “To what do I owe my success”.
Mickey looked down and back up, clearly gulped and simply nodded, while looking uncomfortable but absolutely endearing.
“Well Mickey I’m good with people, I’m a good judge of character and I know how to surround myself with the right kind of people, people who know what I need and work hard to give it to me” Ian replied with a broad grin while staring right into those beautiful blue eyes.
And he was blushing again and once again Ian was struggling to get himself together. He gripped the edge of his desk tighter and tried to vanquish images of bending Mickey over his table and spanking that round ass before pounding him into submission.
“Sounds like maybe you enjoying bending people to your will” Mickey finally replied, which was unexpected and intriguing.
Ian let out a small laugh despite himself, suddenly more engaged in this man before him. He was a smaller man than he, by a few inches, with raven hair and bright blue eyes. He had plump pink lips that often curved into either a bashful smile or a playful grin, either one was captivating.
“Let’s just say I’m a man who knows how to get what he wants in all things and I have a way of persuading others into helping me achieve those things, willingly and enthusiastically” Ian replied while shifting his position on the desk.
He was all too aware that his position meant that Mickey had an eye line directly to his dick and unless he was mistaken he was sure he had glanced in that direction at least once. His train of thought was interrupted, annoyingly so, by his secretary knocking to remind him of his next appointment.
“Shit I didn’t even get through the other questions” Mickey said sounding a little panicked.
“I’ll make sure to fill them out and return them to Mandy by the end of the day” Ian said as he stood slowly and took the papers from Mickey’s hands, towering over the seated man who looked up at him with those soulful eyes.
Ian felt a stirring inside him with the way Mickey was looking up at him and already believed in that moment that he was going to be his undoing.
-----
Mickey walked out of the office and watched Ian’s face intently as the elevator doors closed slowly. Those green eyes bore into his soul and that mouth with its devilish grin looked like it wanted to devour him. Truth be told he thinks he blacked out for the last 10 or 15 minutes and couldn’t remember much of what had occurred. But what he couldn’t block out was the image of a 6 foot red headed Adonis with freckles and pale skin, all highlighted perfectly by a dark green tailored suit which hugged him in all the right places too.
Mickey couldn’t remember the last time a man had made him feel like this, if ever, not that he even understood what “this” was. He stood outside and let the rain hit his face, waking him up and bringing him back down to earth. He arrived home an hour later after grabbing a coffee and bagel for himself and some chicken soup for his sick sister.
“Oh this is perfect Mick, you did good” Mandy said animatedly while typing away on her laptop.
“Just soup Mands” he replied with a shrug.
“No I mean the answers, he emailed them over already” she giggled before continuing “sooooo what was he like, he’s hot right”.
“Yeah I mean if you’re into that sort of thing” he replied nonchalantly.
“You mean hot, rich, successful and intelligent” she replied with a raise of her eyebrow.
“Yeah that or you know, arrogant and bossy and intimidating” Mickey replied frankly.
“Intimidating huh” Mandy laughed her response with a knowing smirk.
“Whatever, I’m late for work now so” he gave his sister the middle finger before grabbing his things and walking the few blocks to his place of work.
Although Mickey had aspirations of working as perhaps an assistant to the owner of a large Art Gallery or a museum curator he was currently content in working as a tour guide at the Art Institute of Chicago. He loved everything about art, the way it was an intimate expression of the creator but yet held a different meaning for each admirer. What one person saw in a painting or a photograph or a sculpture could be completely different to what the next person saw. He enjoyed teaching others about art, its history, the methods, what the artists were supposedly thinking or projecting, it was his first love and passion in life, ever since he was a small boy drawing stick men. Thankfully his skill had developed over the years and he still indulged himself in painting and sketching, in fact if he was honest and confident he would say that he was a pretty damn good artist himself.
Mickey was just preparing for a group tour, ensuring that the mix of foreign tourists and locals where aware of the structure, which was laid out in the booklet he held up, when he noticed a set of green eyes amongst them. He almost dropped the booklet and his headset when he noticed who those eyes belonged to. Surely it’s not a coincidence that Gallagher was here, on his tour. This man could afford to privately hire the entire museum out after all. Instead of a tailored suit however he was more dressed down, Mickey assumed a ploy to not get recognised. He was wearing black jeans, a fitted white button down shirt and a very expensive looking leather jacket. He completed the look with a generic baseball cap, an attempt at disguising that flame red hair. Mickey thought he looked as hot as he did at their first meeting, maybe even more so.
He took a deep breath remembered that this was his job and he was a professional before commencing the tour. He tried to recall the information as best he could and speak with his usual flair and confidence all the while being completely aware of a pair of eyes watching his every move. When it was over he knew there was a presence behind him before he even turned around.
“I really enjoyed that tour Mickey, let me guess, you’re an art major” Ian asked with a knowing grin.
“Why are you asking questions you clearly already know the answers to” Mickey found himself replying, a little irked at the invasion of privacy even if the perpetrator looked drop dead gorgeous.
“Didn’t take you for a stalker Gallagher, bit creepy I got say” He continued suddenly feeling brave for some reason.
The resulting laugh coming from the attractive red head before him was a beautiful and sexy thing. For a moment he had worried that insulting a powerful billionaire wasn’t the best game plan but thankfully he hit the right note after all.
“Cant a guy just take a day off to enjoy the beautiful art on display in his local museums, I am after all an admirer of all beautiful things” Ian replied while licking his lip lightly and gazing over Mickeys face and down his body, causing him to blush once again.
“Day off huh, thought you just employed people to do all your work for you” Mickey responded with a smile of his own, somehow feeling more comfortable in the presence of this force of nature.
“Not everything, some things I still like to handle myself” Ian answered firmly while taking a step towards Mickey so their faces where agonisingly close.
He could feel it, a heat rising and a feeling of unsaid things, as well as a feeling of longing. They were interrupted from their moment by a man in a black suit gently calling Gallagher or rather Ian as Mickey had since learned was his first name. The man looked like a driver or a bodyguard, perhaps both.
“I hope to see you again soon Mickey” Ian said before slowly walking away allowing Mickey to breathe properly again for the first time in minutes.
He had the distinct feeling that this man was dangerous but he wasn’t sure in what respect and he wasn’t sure it was an unwelcome feeling either.
-----
Ian was reluctant to tear himself away from this captivating man but he had a prior engagement that evening, a family dinner to welcome home is younger brother Jacob who was returning after a year off to travel the world. He loved his brother, who was just 2 years younger, but he had this freedom that he sometimes resented. He was a playboy, who never took anything seriously in life, who could travel and date and party while Ian was responsible for multiple businesses and charity organisations. He understood it was a choice of course and it was just in his own nature to control and own and have direction but sometimes he envied Jacob for how he could live perfectly happy without structure or goals or responsibility. They were complete opposites in some respects but he supposed that’s why they got on so well, they balanced each other out.
Jacob was only 3 when Ian was brought into his home and later adopted. But he accepted Ian as his own flesh and blood and they were best friends ever since. His parents were doctors, his dad Clayton was a top heart surgeon and his mother Lucy was a paediatrician. It was Lucy who saved him that night, when he came into her care and she felt compelled to help him and show him the love that he had been denied in his short 5 years. Growing up he had everything he needed, the best education, choice of Universities, start-up money to invest in businesses. He had the drive and intelligence to make it though and it was of his own doing, not merely success garnered through nepotism or family connections. He had now branched into several areas including the arts, communications, technology and even had several charities. He knew it was because of his poor start in life that he felt the urge to give back, to help others in need and if he was honest he merely tolerated the business aspect of his life these days in order to be in a position to help others. He knew it wasn’t just a privilege but a responsibility.
“Hey Mom, Dad” he greeted Lucy and Clay as he entered their grand hallway.
“Oh let me look at you, you look more handsome every day, not that I get to see much of my eldest son these days” she mocked lightly as she hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry but with this big merger and expansions happening I’m just so busy mom” he replied, feeling slightly guilty over his lack of attention to his family lately.
“I know and I’m proud of you for working so hard but sometimes you need to have some fun too Ian, when was the last time you went on a date huh” she asked, causing him to laugh.
His mom was constantly worried that he was going to remain a single bachelor for all eternity and she was regularly trying to set him up with the gay sons of her friends or co-workers. But she didn’t know that Ian’s needs in terms of sex or relationships were not the norm, far from it.
“Oh Mom you know Ian doesn’t date, he’s married to the job” he heard another voice coming down the stairs, Jacob.
His brother looked tanned which only highlighted his sandy brown hair and grey blue eyes even more. Ian still found it amusing how different they looked, with his brother always brown skinned next to his pale freckly ass.
“Lucky for me I’m gay or I wouldn’t be able to date any of the women in Chicago cos you would have already broken all their hearts” Ian teased before pulling his younger brother into a quick embrace.
“Missed you bro, you look good, different” Jacob mused while giving him the once over.
He didn’t feel different and the only thing that was out of the ordinary was his brooding obsession with a certain black haired blue eyed beauty. He almost blushed at the thought before changing the subject by suggesting they all head to the dining table.
After dinner he was driven home by his long serving employee Max who was more than just a driver but a security guard, personal assistant, friend, confidante and everything in between. He trusted him with his life as well as his darkest secrets and thought of him as family. The only other employee who was a semi-permanent fixture at his home was his house keeper, Rose. She was an older lady, in her 50’s who took pleasure in looking after his penthouse apartment but also knew how to mind her own business, which was even more important. Although he had all his employees sign NDA’s he knew when it came to Max or Rose they were unwavering in their loyalty and trust worthiness. And considering his unconventional private life and preferred extracurricular activities these were supremely necessary traits.
His apartment was large and bright and modern, with a private roof top terrace and private elevator. It had 3 bedrooms, his master suite and 2 guests along with a private gym, library, music room complete with baby grand piano and of course his playroom. His playroom was locked at all times and only he and Rose ever entered it, it still amused him how unaffected she was when she cleaned the room once a week. But I guess you never really know people he mused to himself with a laugh.
It had been almost a year since he had used the room with anyone. Truthfully he was starting to get bored of the same sort of partners, after a month or two he always found himself losing interest and the initial excitement or lust would wear off. And the harder they tried to please him or keep him entertained the more they pushed him away. He knew he had a unique set of needs that needed satisfying and while there were a mass of people out there in the world only too happy to sign up they always had something missing and left him feeling not entirely satisfied.
He had given up hope of feeling enticed again until Mickey walked into his office looking nervous and raw and unassuming. And while he looked unsure of himself there was still a fire beneath that exterior, there was a confidence in there just begging to be unleashed. He was a walking contradiction of sweetness and sassiness, a man who seemed shy in some respects but also wasn’t afraid to challenge Ian. It was a lethal and intoxicating combination that was turning Ian inside out. Ian hadn’t met a partner before who had this mix of traits. They were usually wholly submissive and easily dominated, without even having to try. They were too eager to please, too sweet, too soft, almost to the extent that Ian viewed it as a weakness.
But Mickey wasn’t weak. He was soft and tough, sweet and sharp, shy and confident. Above all Ian sensed that he might be a natural submissive with a hint of a dominant streak, a bossy bottom or a power bottom. And it was all Ian could think about. He only had a taste of this man but he was already hooked and knew he wanted more. What he needed was an opportunity to meet him again and hoped that he could seduce him, into what exactly he wasn’t sure but all he was sure of was that he needed Mickey Milkovich in his life.