Saul rolled and flopped on the bed bedside him, breath coming in rough pants. “Aftercare in a minute. I just need to remember how to stand up.”
“Mmm…” That was close enough to agreement, right?
Saul found his hand and tangled their fingers. “How do you feel?”
“Loved.” He sank deeper into the covers. “Like I could glow in the dark.”
Saul laughed gently and pressed their foreheads together. “Wait until you see your back. You might actually be glowing.”
Troy could believe it. He’d been stupid with sensation. Now the reality of what they’d accomplished was written on him.
“I want you to rest. Breathe. Sleep if you can. I’m going to tend to my marks. I have something that will calm the burn and numb the sting enough that you should be able to relax.” Saul kissed his cheek and he had to grin at the groan as his Master hauled himself out of bed. “I’m enjoying the tired ache in my arm, boy. Well done.”
“Thank you, Master.” He blinked over, the aftershocks beginning to rock him, move through him.
Saul put a bottle of water in his fingers and covered his legs with the comforter. “If you start feeling cold let me know and I’ll turn the heat on. Don’t let yourself get chilly, there’s no hot showers for you today, and no blankets.” Saul chuckled. “Possibly no clothing either. Socks, maybe. And a little hat.”
“Carter and Geoff will be so pleased.” He drank his water, the liquid splashing in his belly.
He got a happy laugh from Saul and started smoothing the salve on his backside. “I love you. Actually your ass isn’t nearly as marked up as your shoulders. You could pull off loose sweats later I think. Maybe. We’ll see… or they will.”
“Geoff pierced my cock and has molds of it. He’s seen.”
“I knew he’d seen it. And other fairly intimate places.” Saul ghosted a hand over one shoulder. “I’m going to do my best to keep this gentle, boy. The anesthetic works pretty fast, but it may sting at first.” The salve went on thick and Saul worked carefully. “You know, I’m not sure I needed to know about the molds.”
“No? It wasn’t about sex. He wasn’t here when I made them. He needed them to design ink that was good with my cock hard and not. I won’t let him do it until he could manage it.” The last bit was husky, his focus on his Master’s hands.
“I was actually joking, but that’s a wild idea. That cock is mine now, though, remember.” His Master’s tone was light, teasing, playing with him. “If anyone’s going to touch it, I want a say.”
“I remember. You’ll be there, if anyone touches it.” He’d been fairly good about not touching it himself, even.
“Mmm. Such a good boy.” The calm that followed Saul’s words was anything but silent. Saul was humming softly, something familiar but not precise enough for him to name, and reacting to his sounds with praise.
He floated, soaring on waves of adrenaline and endorphins. At some point, Saul touched his cheek and Troy realized he was crying. “Stupid body.”
Saul leaned over and kissed the same spot. “Go with it. There’s nothing as beautiful as truth.”
“I love you, Master.” The honorific made his breath hitch, the meaning so much deeper now than it had been.
“I know you do. You’re a good boy. You’re also my best friend and an incredible lover. I love to hear it, but you should know that I know.” Saul put the top back on the tub of ointment and set it aside. “Man, this is crazy huge, isn’t it?”
“God yes. Thank you.” That was the best he had, and he offered it over.
“Well, we’re agreed on that, then.” Saul climbed back into bed and tucked in close. “Why don’t you catch a nap? We have hours until we have to be presentable.”
He moved over until he was snuggled up. “I think that sounds like a plan.”
The sound of Saul’s heart was steady and eased him right down into a deep, well-fucked sleep.
35
Saul got out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Troy was up and moving, carefully, but Saul didn’t want to leave the boy to his own devices too long. Troy would start trying to do things he shouldn’t be doing. They’d compromised, allowing Troy to make meals, but his boy had already flat out said no to any help with the stairs. So stubborn.
He’d just gotten right into the shower, so he didn’t have to fight his instincts watching Troy manage it all alone. He knew Troy was happy, but he also knew his boy was hurting.
His marks, though. God, just thinking about them made his balls ache. He was flying. High as a kite. What a crazy, amazing morning.
He had more in mind for Troy today, and he couldn’t imagine a more perfect setup for what he’d planned.
Sweet.
He swiped the fog off the mirror and caught himself grinning, which just made him grin even wider. The lucky bastard staring back at him had just made his sub come with a flogger. With his fucking flogger. How fucking hot was that? He’d thought that was a stunt saved for porn sites, he didn’t know that actually happened for real. He was going to remember that moment with Troy for a long, long, long while. Maybe forever. Or at least until the next time he got to do it.
He toweled off, combed his hair, brushed his teeth and found blue jeans. He debated over shirts, finally deciding less was more and went with a gray CU T-shirt. Carter would look all put together he was sure, and who knew about Geoff. Geoff was khakis and collars one minute and cut-offs and T-shirts the next.
He pulled a long, black velvet box out and opened it, taking a second to run his fingers over the heavy silver links. He looped his index finger through the symbolic ring at the center. He was going to be grinning like this for days.
Smelling something cooking, he closed the box, stuck it into his back pocket and headed for the stairs. Troy was making more than guac. He should have known. “I’m going to beat your ass, boy.”
“Hmm? Would you like a margarita, Master?”
Damn, his boy looked good. “We agreed we’d make dinner together, didn’t we?” He stepped up as close as he dared with the stove going and pulled Troy into a kiss. “Naughty.”
“Never. I’m good as gold.” Troy opened to him, hand burning against his waist. “We could ask them to cancel.”
“We could. But you want me more than you want to have this conversation. You’re not getting out of it.” It was time to have a good talk, figure it out. Figure Troy out, figure Geoff out… negotiate with Carter. Just move past all of this tension.
“No? There’s no way?” Troy was in an amazing mood.
“No. It’s important.” He had to smile though, and he combed his fingers through his boy’s curls. “But we can send them home early.”
“Fair enough. You have to work tomorrow.”
“I do. I think Ben is coming over.”
“He doesn’t have to. I’m going to repaint the guest room, though, so maybe he’ll help.” Troy kissed his nose. “Let me stir the onions.”
‘He doesn’t have to’ was code, Troy knew he shouldn’t be alone right now, but Saul pretended he didn’t know that. “It’s good for the boy. He looks up to you. I’m sure he’d be happy to… help.” Damn. “You look incredible.”