“Yes, Sir.” Troy sat in silence for a long minute, and then a soft chuckle escaped him. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.”
Saul hadn’t known he would be either, but his nerves had started long before he’d gotten on the bus out here. He thought that was more about impressing the man than the sub, though. Nerves and uncertainty weren’t things a Dom admitted to anyway, right? Not to his sub at least.
It seemed totally understandable for Troy. A sub wanted to please his Master. But a new Master, new friendship, new chemistry… and to just hand over your trust? Damn. He got it. He wanted to hear it in Troy’s words though, to make sure he really understood. “Why are you nervous?”
“Because it’s been twenty years. I’ve had a couple of offers, especially back in the day, but I wasn’t interested in biting what they were casting.”
He grinned. “Are you saying I’m fresh bait?”
“I would never be so rude. Never.” Those green eyes were wicked, promising him no end of trouble.
He returned the look, focused sharply on Troy. He could give as good as he got. “No, of course you wouldn’t. Not if you wanted to please me.”
Saul swore the electricity that passed between them was real enough he smelled ozone. He watched Troy, curious as to what all those fleeting expressions meant. He’d learn.
If he could keep his hands to himself for a while.
He swallowed hard enough to calm the ache in his balls and laughed softly. “I think we understand each other… a little. Can I ask… what kind of Dom was Arnie?”
“Oh lord… I was a kid, and he was a force of nature. I didn’t have any idea what anything meant—” Troy began to smile, the look odd and beautiful all at once. “I tell you, I’m not sure the two of us were ever anything more than consensual. We had troubles with safe and sane. Of course, that was an occupational hazard.”
“Oh, man.” Saul laughed, trying to imagine the trouble two rodeo guys could get into, and that only made him laugh harder. “Well, if you ask Carter, he might tell you I’m a little challenged there as well, but I’m not, actually. I’m pretty by-the-book with those things.”
Saul wished he were a force of nature, but he wasn’t really. He was more… like an addict. He had needs, and he’d found the safe and sane way to deal with them. He didn’t know who he’d be otherwise, and he didn’t want to find out.
“So is subbing more of an adrenaline thing for you, or do you have… is it… necessary?” This was an important question for him, because he wanted more from Troy than his submission.
“I was a two pack a day smoker up until last year. I quit because Master Carter said that was how I earned my ink. I need it. I need my subspace more than the cigarettes. I’ve been lucky that they’re both understanding and willing to help.”
“I’d be willing to bet Geoff gets more out of it than you realize.” He’d seen the look Geoff had given Troy just a minute ago. Carter had his hands full. “What puts you in your space? Pain? Serving? Sex?”
He was pretty equal opportunity; his needs were narrow, but his methods were broad.
“I’ve used pain, mostly. Service hasn’t been much of an option, not lately, although I help out when a Dom is in between subs.” Troy shrugged, and that blush flared again. “I haven’t had a regular lover in forever. I go to Denver for a one-off every now and again.”
Since Deitz, Saul had been the one-night-stand king. “Do you think it’s possible to find everything you need, everything you want in one person? Is that what you want?” He did. But he wasn’t sure how it was done. How you actually pulled that off.
“I did it once. Either I can do it again or I can’t.”
“Right.” It was his turn to blush. What a stupid, idiotic question. “Sorry. I… I hope you can. I hope we both can.” He let the silence just be for a bit. This wasn’t simple for him and it wasn’t easy for Troy, of course. When he felt grounded again, he looked at Troy. “Are you ready to go back inside, boy?”
Troy squeezed his hand and met his eyes. “I am, Sir, but before we go, Arnie died a long time ago. I’ve mourned him. I’m… I’ll never forget him, but I’m not shy about talking about him, about us. No one ever asks.”
Saul covered Troy’s hand with his free one and nodded. “Thank you. I want to know all about you, and since he was your last Dom, I’d like to know a little about him too.”
“Yes, Sir.” Troy took a deep breath. “Shall we?”
“Yeah. Can you start by grabbing me a beer, please?” He wasn’t sure what they were going to walk into, but he got up and headed inside anyway, letting Troy follow.
“Yes, Sir.”
The men were all in the great room, scattered over the couches and on cushions on the floor.
“Hey, Saul. Have a seat. Isn’t the view out there amazing?” Matt was sitting in a chair and a half with Kris draped over his lap.
“It’s spectacular. Honestly. Troy and I enjoyed it very much.” He found a spot on one end of a couch and pulled over a cushion for Troy. “Carter, how did you find this place? It’s beautiful.”
“When we found it, it was trashed. A starlet had it and had set it on fire; they found a body.”
Geoff nodded to Carter, then back at him. “They say it’s haunted, you know?”
“Oh, yeah? Well that’s a shame about the girl, but a ghost? That is so cool. Have you noticed anything?” He smiled as Troy returned with his beer and gestured to the cushion on the floor. “Thank you, boy. Have a seat.”
“Yes, Sir.” He noticed all the shocked eyes on them, but he had to give Troy credit. There wasn’t so much as a flutter; Troy just curled down onto the cushion and sat.
Carter gave him a nod, which he returned, but that was all. He’d sent Troy for a beer on purpose, and it worked out beautifully. A simple show of their status that didn’t need discussion.
“Geoff swears he’s heard her, and I’ve seen shadows in the mirror in the upstairs hall a couple of times, but who knows.”
“I know, Sir. I can’t make up the things I’ve heard.”
“I know, boy.” Carter reached over and squeezed Geoff’s shoulder. “You see he’s really convinced.”
“Regardless, it’s a glorious house. I was so pleased when you decided to buy it, and Troy was one hell of a help with the work.”
“You’re handy, are you boy?” He’d love to fix a place up someday.
“There’s not a whole lot of construction stuff I don’t have a little experience in. Just enough to get myself in trouble.”
“Just enough for Geoff and Travis to get in trouble with you.” David rolled his eyes and both Geoff and Travis hid their faces. “There’s nothing like hearing from Doc that the EMTs are at your house and Troy’s electrocuted himself.”
Carter snorted. “Again.”
“Again?” Saul laughed and shook his head. He didn’t know Troy very well yet, but the guy was obviously fearless. “Did you want to tell me this story, boy? Or is it one of those things better left ambiguous?”