“We’re back with Caine Cole and Shelton Greene. Caine, what would you say is the most challenging part of running a long-term, successful business like yours?”
“Honestly, Jacob, the hardest thing about anything in life is knowing when things aren’t working and being self-aware enough to see where you can change to make it better.”
That’s not in the script, I thought, trying to keep the surprise from reaching my face. I failed miserably, but I was focused on Caine.
“As you know, I took some flak for things I said in private a few weeks ago, and at first, I was angry that someone had violate my trust.”
“Any idea who that was?”
“An overzealous journalist trying to make a name for himself.” He looked dead at the camera. “I hope you got what you wanted from that byline,” he said, addressing the journalist, then he looked at me. “Because in the end, you did me a favor.” Caine squeezed my hand. “That moment led me to a series of moments that have changed me in a deep and meaningful way. When I teamed up with Shelton, I realized that my image didn’t need saving, it needed to be canceled.”
“Are you getting out of the motivational speaker game?” Jacob asked, his face no longer passive. Like me, he was genuinely shocked by the direction this had taken.
“Not one bit. My image was a carefully crafted façade meant to draw people in, but the truth is I don’t need to be someone I’m not to help businesses succeed.” He looked at me, his eyes sparkling as he continued. “Shelton showed me that, and so much more. He’s brilliant and being with him has made me want to be a better, truer, more authentic version of myself.”
Caine straightened up and turned his attention back to Jacob. I sat there elated, shocked, and overwhelmed as the two of them continued to chat as if Caine hadn’t all but declared his undying love and gratitude to me in front of everyone in the nation.
“And what about you, Shelton? Have you learned anything from Caine?”
The two of them laughed at Jacob’s jab, giving me time to think before I answered. “I have,” I started. “I’ve learned that life is too short to dance around what you need out of life. You have to take charge of your own happiness and if things aren’t going right, make changes and alter the course.”
“Sound advice from a young man blazing trails in his own right. Any exciting business changes for you?”
“Thank you for asking, Jacob. Yes. I’ve started a new mini bucket list event that features a guided adventure for small groups every month or so. Our first excursion is this coming week, and this is an amazing opportunity to bring a little taste of adventure to people who aren’t ready to tackle an entire list.”
This time, it was Caine’s turn to be surprised, but he hid it well. I couldn’t blame him; we hadn’t spoken much since I booked the trip, and this was the first he’d heard about it.
“That is exciting,” Jacob gushed, then a small light glowed offstage and Jacob turned to face a different camera. “That’s all we have time for today. Tune in tomorrow for more of the Jacob Granger Show.”
The audience burst into applause and just like that, we were done and it was time to go back to our old lives.
“You said you wanted to talk to me after the show?” Caine covered his mouth so no one could read his lips.
I nodded.
“Your place or mine?”
“Mine. I need to pack.”
“I’ll see you there.” And just like that, he was gone.
21
Caine
I was nervous when I knocked on Shelton’s door a few hours later, but somehow I managed to hold my hands steady while my heart tried to beat its way out of my chest. He answered right away, dressed down in knit pants and a t-shirt. He walked ahead of me, the stretchy fabric clinging to his every motion. I licked my lips and willed my body to relax. I wasn’t here for a booty call. This was more important than that.
“Wow, you really are packing,” I said, taking in everything he had spread around the living room.
“It’s a long trip.”
“How long?”
He bit his lip and I longed to feel the heat of his mouth on mine. “A month.”
His answer took the wind out of me. “That’s a long time.”
“The response to the idea was so overwhelming I had to book four week-long sessions back to back. Honestly, that might not be enough. I’m surprised Jenna didn’t tell you. I wouldn’t have been able to keep it together the past two weeks without her help.”
I laughed. “Jenna’s still mad at me for ruining what we had.”
“You’re not the only one that’s to blame. And it’s not ruined.”
“It isn’t?”
He shook his head. “Things aren’t the same, but we can recover from this. Maybe even come out stronger than before.”
“You amaze me.”
“And you caught me off-guard with the things you told Jacob. Were they true?”
I smiled. “Shelton, you don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re special, and now the whole world is going to know.”
“What about you? Am I special to you?”
“You are.” I kept an arm’s length between us, giving him space to work through his feelings. I owed him that much.
“You’re special to me, too, but the way things have been going isn’t working for me.”
“I understand, but I can’t read your mind.”
“I want a D/s relationship. Not for play, but an actual commitment and well-defined roles. Not when it’s convenient, and not when you have needs, but all the time. If you’re just going to sleep with me and then ghost me without a thought to aftercare, you can use someone else.”
“All you had to do was tell me.”
“I tried, but you didn’t answer my calls.”
I sucked in a quick breath, almost defended myself, then I stopped. “You’re right.” I admitted. “That’s not acceptable and if I expect you to make a commitment and be available when I need you, I owe you at least that much. If not more.”
He nodded. “Thank you for hearing me out. I know it’s hard to change, but I think we both deserve that.”
“So, that’s what you want? A D/s relationship and a Dom that is around in between sessions.”
“Yes. I mean, I want it to be more than you just being around, but for now, that’s a step in the right direction.”
“And if I’m in the mood for some gentle lovemaking?”
“As long as our lives are mostly kink, I can handle a shot of vanilla now and then.”
“So can I.”
He closed the distance between us then, and his lips tasted sweeter than they ever had before. I held him in my arms, and when a sob caught in his throat, I led him to the couch and gathered him in my arms. I longed to take him right then, but no matter how much he insisted the time was always right, I knew better.
“We need to spend some time connecting outside the bedroom before we have sex again,” I said when he nuzzled against my neck. “There’s nothing more I want than to show you how much I love you, but it’s not the right time.”