Oh God. My eyes were cloudy, and it felt like my heart was so big, it was going to make me burst. Aidan thinking me incredible made me feel that way. I wanted nothing more than to make him proud and to do what he said. “Thank you. I’m better now. I…” I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. “I miss you.”
“You just saw me this morning.”
“I miss you still.”
He chuckled softly, but it sounded weird. “Silly boy. Now go make your Sir proud, and if you need me again, call me. And remember, his loss, okay?”
“Yes, Sir,” I replied, then ended the call. I felt stronger, stood taller, reveled in the weight between my legs as I walked back to Jordan.
He looked up at me and gave me a grin again. “Is everything okay?”
“It is now. That was…my boyfriend. I had to call him and talk to him real quick. I also wanted to see if we could hang out sometime. You can come to our place—mine and Aidan’s—and we can like, study or whatever.”
Jordan clutched his chest playfully. “Oh, you’re breaking my heart. I forgot you had a boyfriend.”
“I do. But we’re not like other couples. I mean, God, this is weird. I’m not saying I want to screw around with you. Oh fuck, I probably shouldn’t have said that. I just want to be friends, but we’ve considered…you know, but that’s not what this is about. I just want to study with you and get to know you and maybe be friends with you.”
A loud laugh jumped out of Jordan’s mouth, and I immediately took a step backward.
“No, no!” His eyes widened, looking panicked. “I wasn’t laughing at you. You’re just cute as hell, that’s all. I would love to be your friend, and I’ve also had threesomes and played around with other couples before, so I wouldn’t be opposed to that either. Or you know, if it was just you and me and your man doesn’t care. But if not, friends it is. I don’t think I can pass English without you.”
I smiled, feeling…good. Happy. Like this was something I needed outside of Aidan. That didn’t diminish who Aidan was for me and how much I needed him, but it was good to have this too. “Cool. That sounds good.”
“Put your number in my phone. And you’re sure your man doesn’t care?”
I shook my head. “He just wants me to be happy.” In a way, no one in my life ever had. All of this—Jordan, school, everything—was because of Aidan. I gave Jordan my number, and then he sent me a text saying hi.
“That way you can save mine if you didn’t already. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car, and then I have to go to work.”
I nodded, grabbed my bag, and we headed for the lot.
“Do you work this weekend?” I asked.
“Sunday but not Saturday.”
“Maybe we can do something then. I’ll talk to Aidan.”
His forehead wrinkled as if he was a little confused, but he nodded. “That’s your boyfriend?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, you got it bad. You’re all red, and you have a dopey smile on your face.”
“Shut up!” I nudged him. This was…nice. Fun. “I do have it bad, though.”
“Lucky guy,” Jordan replied as I led us to the car. “Are you shitting me? This is your car?”
“It’s Aidan’s, but I drive it.”
“Wow…okay. This is getting more and more interesting.” I was surprised when Jordan reached over and gave me a hug. “I hate to cut this short, but I really do have to go. We’ll talk soon, okay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Okay.”
Jordan turned and walked away, and I stood there, watching him go. When he disappeared, I climbed into the car, fumbled with my phone, and sent Aidan a text.
I did it!
Good boy. I’m very proud of you. I’ll give you a surprise tonight to celebrate.
Then he sent me the squash emoji and the one that looked like splashes of water. A laugh jumped out of my mouth. That definitely hadn’t been expected, but I loved it.
I can’t wait. Thank you, Aidan. Not just for this, but for everything.
You’re welcome.
And then…then he sent me another emoji. A heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Aidan
When I got home, the house smelled like roast and potatoes, and Finley was on his knees, waiting. He had his pretty little head bowed, his hands on his thighs. His hair was wet and floppy as if he’d just gotten out of a shower. He didn’t move, didn’t look up, simply…waited.
He stole my breath, ripped it straight from my lungs. I wondered if he knew the power he had over me. That I wasn’t sure there was anything I wouldn’t do for him, and how different I was with him than I’d ever been with any other man.
“You are lovely.” I stroked his head, and he leaned into my touch, chased it as though it was what he sought above all else.
“Thank you, Sir.”
He obviously needed me after the day he’d had. Maybe wearing the cage and speaking with Jordan had been too much. I knelt beside him and turned his head so he looked at me. “I want to remind you how proud I am of you for today. You called me when you needed me, like you should always do. There’s no shame in leaning on me.”
“It helped…center me.”
I brushed his hair from his forehead. “Are you still wearing it?”
“Of course. I would never take it off without asking you.”
“And you like it?”
His lashes fluttered in that adorable way they sometimes did when he was embarrassed. “Yes. It’s scary, makes me feel dirty, which is sort of exciting, but it also reminds me that I am yours.”
“Good boy.” My hand slid down, and I loosely wrapped it around his neck. A vision flashed through my head of Finley wearing my collar. I’d never collared anyone, never thought of it, but I was positive I wanted to do it to him. The boy enchanted me, made me feel like I was someone else. “You had a big day. You need me to take care of you tonight, don’t you?” I said, dropping my hand.
“Yes, please. So much.”
“Do you need to tend to the food first?”
He shook his head. “It’s done. I have it out on the counter. It’ll get cold, so if you want to eat first…”
I clicked my tongue. “No, no. I don’t need food. I want to devour you instead.”
“Oh God,” he replied. Those words always made me smile.
“Crawl for me,” I instructed, pushing to my feet. Finley heeled at my side, across the carpet, and toward the stairs. “I’d like to put you on a leash, keep you from getting too far away from me. Maybe go to one of the parties and parade you around as mine. Would you like that?” He would. I knew he would.
“Yes, Aidan.” His voice held that floaty quality, like he was already slipping to that place in his head where he thrived so beautifully.
We took the stairs, and Finley followed me to the bedroom—my room…our room, it was beginning to feel like. “Take off my shoes.”
“Yes, Sir.” He did one, then the other, and then took care of my socks.
“Pants and underwear.”