“I told him I’d take him dancing. That’ll be enough of a club outing for us, I think.” He sipped his beer, every bit as confident as Carter. He’d never been a good partier. He went, but he hadn’t found it as fun as most of his friends.
“Oh, that sounds fun. Maybe once Krissy gets more used to his prosthetics we can both take our boys.” Matt stared Kris down, expression firm, sure.
“We’d love that. The more the merrier.” He smiled at Kris, gave the boy a wink. “Troy has a few weeks to go I think before he can do anything that aerobic. There’s time.”
He glanced toward the sliding doors to the house, wondering suddenly how the boys were doing with the food, and they appeared as if the thought had summoned them.
Doc’s eyes locked right onto Ben, who had his hands full. “Here comes trouble.”
That was adorable. The connection between those two was fierce.
Troy was carrying a huge tray of nachos, his boy struggling a little bit. He started to say something, but Kris rolled up.
“Hey, buddy. Balance that thing on my lap and roll me to the table?”
He glanced at Matt, and Matt winked at him. These guys were good. Kris, in particular, which made sense given the boy’s own circumstances. Kris got it.
“Oh, man. I can smell those from here.” Troy didn’t miss a beat, just rolled Kris and the nachos over and set them out. Ben had plates and napkins, and Travis came over to see if anyone needed more beer.
“Would you like a plate in there, Master?” Troy asked.
“Is that Kosher, Carter? Food in your tub? Or should we climb out?” Every Dom he knew had rules. About all kinds of things. It came with the territory, so it was always better to ask.
“Nachos are a bit of a challenge. Let’s hop out and be around the fire.” Carter met Geoff’s eyes. “Cushions, baby.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Geoff went to the seating area and pulled out soft, cozy cushions for the subs. Carter leaned forward. “Matt? Saul? What do you want for your boys?”
His boy had been comfortable on cushions and yoga mats for a while now. “Troy should be fine with a cushion, thank you. If Kris needs something special, Matt, just ask Troy to grab it for you.” He climbed out of the tub, reaching for one of the fluffy towels Carter had in a stack on the edge of the tub.
“We need to make sure he has a place to rest his back.” Matt hopped up, grabbed a towel. “It’ll keep him from killing his abs.”
“Why don’t you two take the deck sofa?” They could drag it a little closer. Any old chair would work for him, and Travis and Ben were already moving some around.
In all the shuffling, he found himself standing behind Troy and he reached for his boy, slipping an arm around Troy’s waist. “All good?”
“Oh, you’re cold and hot all at once. I’m happy, Master. It all smells good, hmm?”
“It does.” He was glad for the contact though, the check-in. “Let’s sit. Just be comfortable.” He picked the closest chair and held an arm out in case Troy needed some support getting down.
Troy took the offer, although Saul didn’t think his boy needed it. Still so damn graceful.
“Good boy.” He really wanted to ask what had happened at the Sanctuary that Troy had had such a reaction to, but he decided asking in front of the group wasn’t really fair. He was going to ask though, he needed to make sure he understood. “Oh. I forgot food. Don’t get up again, boy. I can get it.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“I’m up, Master Saul. Would you like me to get you a big plate to share?” God, Little Ben was adorable and totally in hard-core hero worship with Troy.
He smiled at Ben, rewarding the boy’s good instincts. “You do your Master proud, boy. Thank you. I would like that.” He liked the idea of his boy as a role model, he thought maybe it would be good for Troy.
Saul sat and stroked Troy’s scalp, those curls soft. Everyone was getting settled with food, towels, fresh beers, and he took the time before Ben brought the plate over just to let his boy know he was there.
“Oh, Matt! Emma should be in touch in a couple of days about Kris’ bike. She got in the last couple of parts she was waiting for on Friday and it’s just about assembled. It looks great.”
“No shit? We’re excited. If your boy rides, Krissy is interested in riding together.”
“Troy used to ride some and wants to pick it up again. I’m working on a bike for him too. When it’s done, let’s do it.” Kris was going to need to start slow, and when Emma handed over the bike, he and Troy had talked about giving them a block of sessions with a trainer so Kris would learn to use it safely, and Matt could learn how to assist.
Ben handed him a plate and he thanked the boy, then lowered it so Troy could help himself.
“Thank you, Sir,” Troy took a chip, gathered up a perfect bite, and handed it to him.
That just made him smile. “You’re spoiling me.” It was the perfect bite, too. Just spicy enough, crunchy and cheesy. “Mmm.”
“It’s my pleasure, Sir.” Troy nibbled on a bite but was focused mainly on him.
He looked over at Carter and Geoff, who had gotten comfortable. It was so obvious how long they’d been together in the way they sat, their body language, and all the little touches. He rewarded Troy with more touch of his own, tugging the tiny curls on his boy’s nape.
Troy ducked his head, giving him more access. That easy motion felt like heaven, like an expression of honor.
Doc was watching them, but he wasn’t sure why until the Dom asked Carter about the diner. “Still managing all right without your head cook, Carter?”
“Managing, but we miss him. He’s irreplaceable. No one makes French toast like him.”
Troy sighed so softly that no one but Saul would have heard it.
“Well, I still get it every weekend.” He couldn’t help but grin, and he gave Troy’s shoulder a squeeze. “This morning they were shaped like dinosaurs.”
“Okay, when are you coming back then? You want to start tomorrow? Wednesday?”
Troy shook his head. “Not tomorrow, Sir.”
He sensed the stress building, could see it in the set of Troy’s shoulders.
He could take this on for his boy. He didn’t want to be an ass to their friend, but he didn’t want Troy to feel that pressure either. “He’s not ready, Carter. Troy is doing great, but we’re working on stamina and strength still. You’ll be the first to know if I’m ready to allow him to go back to the diner.”
Saul wasn’t sure what felt better—the shock and respect in the other Doms’ eyes, or the way Troy immediately relaxed under his hand.
Troy’s reaction mattered more to him, though. Suddenly that need to be accepted, his desire to make a good impression just disappeared as he realized that none of that actually mattered. What mattered was his boy.
“These nachos are so good.” He took another bite and swallowed it down with the last sip of his beer.
Troy eased himself up. “Another beer, Master?”
“Thank you, boy. Just a Diet Coke, please.” Saul kept his eyes on his boy, watched him head inside.
The guys were subdued for a minute before Doc turned to him. “Nicely done. We all may take a little training where Troy is concerned. He’s been unattached for a long time, and we’re used to that.”