“I feel incredible. I’ve never had a scene like that. Ever.”
His chest grew tight knowing that. Mostly because it was amazing to hear and made him proud of himself and his boy. But part of him ached for Troy, who deserved to have so much more so long ago.
Saul knew he could make up for lost time though. He wanted to give Troy everything. And that was going to start today.
“I’ve had some good scenes, but I haven’t had one that made me feel the way you did. The way I do. Light. High.”
“Good. I need your satisfaction like I need air.” Troy sliced up the steak, his words spoken without guile, worry, just like it was a known truth. “Is dark blue okay for the guest room?”
“It’s your—” He stopped himself. Whoa. No. “Sorry. Dark blue sounds fine.”
“Yeah?” Oh, that smile made him a little dizzy. “Cool. It will be calming, I think.”
Calming was good. And that reminded him. “You know, since Ben is going to be here anyway, I think you guys should take your truck and hit the hardware store. Will you let him drive?”
“The hardware store? Totally. Do you need anything?”
“Yeah.” This was going to be fun. “I need you to trick out the bed with some tie downs, and we need something you can brace yourself on when I’m flogging you that isn’t glass. What do you think? Chains from the ceiling? A bar?”
Troy’s tilted his head like a puppy that had heard a whistle. “A bar, hmm… I can try. You want pretty sturdy?”
Oh, such a naughty boy. “Yeah, sturdy.” He put some gravel in his voice. “I can do so much more if you’re standing and properly braced. And it will need to hold your weight at least for a minute or so.”
“You have plans, Master?” Troy’s prick began to fill, pushing at his sweats. Oh, that was lovely.
“I do, I think. I’m also open to requests, suggestions…” He leaned in and traced Troy’s ear with his tongue.
This was the moment.
“Kneel, boy.”
Troy hummed softly, sliding down his body to kneel in front of him, right there in the kitchen.
The kitchen.
He almost laughed at how perfect it was. He might have, but Troy was trying to make him groan instead.
“I think if I’d been looking, I wouldn’t have found you, because everything about you, about us together, has been unexpected. I love you, Troy. You always give me everything. Your body, your trust, your obedience… I’m always stunned by you. Awed by you. I didn’t understand the full potential of living this lifestyle until you.”
Troy blinked up at him, eyes shimmering as his boy reached for him. “Thank you.”
“So, before the guys get here, and before we get distracted from the amazing high we’re on, I wanted to…” Shit, he was suddenly so nervous his mouth went dry. He swallowed, and he took a step back so he could see his boy better. And to keep Troy’s hands off him for another minute so he could think.
He pulled the box from his pocket and held it out to Troy. “I want you to wear my collar.”
“Master?” Troy’s eyes went wide, and his boy’s butt slid to the floor. “Oh.”
He laughed softly and sat right down with Troy. “Boy?”
“Yes, Sir.” It wasn’t a question, not at all.
He opened the box and showed it to Troy, then pulled the weighty collar out and put it in his boy’s fingers. “What do you think?”
Troy turned it over in his hands, first staring at the collar then staring at him in awe. “It’s beautiful. It’s… It’s the most perfect. Put it on me, Sir? Please?”
“Oh.” Right. Put it on. He should be way more together than this, but he was so excited. “I can do that.”
He took the collar and held it to Troy’s neck, fastened the clasp, which closed down with a finger screw, and let it go. It lay against Troy’s collarbone and he smiled, hooking his finger through the ring again.
He wasn’t nervous anymore. He was proud. “It looks great.”
“Does it? It’s heavy.” Troy reached for it, his lips parting. It was fascinating to watch Troy’s fingers explore each link. “It’s amazing.”
“Come see.” He stood up and helped Troy carefully to his feet to lead his boy to a mirror. “Sore, huh?”
“Burning. It is amazing. I feel like I’m here. Does that make sense? I’m here, and I’m yours.”
“I think I know what you mean. Present. In the moment? And most definitely mine.” He let that thought straighten his shoulders and steered Troy over to a mirror that hung in the hall. “Mine.”
“Oh…” Nothing would ever feel as good as the look of pure bliss on his boy’s face. Nothing ever could.
“I love you,” he whispered and kissed his boy’s cheek.
“I love you, Master. Thank you for this.” Troy leaned back against him, the stripes burning between them. “God.”
“Good boy. Breathe, then turn around and kiss me.”
“My pleasure, Master.” Troy inhaled, the breath moving them together. That earned him a gasp, and Troy spun, eyes alight. “Wicked man.”
Then his boy kissed him, pressing right into his arms.
He fumbled for a second, partly off-balance by the heat in Troy’s kiss, but mostly because he didn’t know where to rest his hands that wouldn’t hurt the boy. He settled on Troy’s hips, pulling Troy as close as he could.
He’d never been called “wicked” before, and he liked it.
Troy was excited, hard, which blew his mind. Troy went on about his age, but was already hot to trot again.
He was just thinking maybe he’d let Troy take him into that amazing mouth when there was a rapping at the door.
“Mmm. God. Was that the door?”
“Mmm… I doubt it.” Troy sounded well-loved, well-fucked, and well-marked. “I think it was the wind.”
He slid his hand along the ridge in Troy’s sweatpants and whispered, “Don’t burn dinner, boy.”
“Jesus…” Troy stirred, but not before he bucked into Saul’s hand, driving into his touch.
“Rain check.” Saul laughed, and the knock came again. “Yep, that was the door.” He stepped away, breathing and willing himself back in control as he headed through the living room to Carter and Geoff.
“Hey, you guys. Welcome. Come on in.” Come see my boy’s new collar.
“We brought apple pie.” Geoff grinned at him, holding out a bakery box. “Smells delicious in here.”
“Oh, I love pie. Thank you.” He took the box, gave Geoff a hug and shook Carter’s hand. “A naughty boy I know was supposed to make guac and instead, started dinner. I don’t even know what he’s making.”
“Smells like fajitas to me. I’ll take over in there, so he can rest, yeah?” Carter winked at him, even as Geoff squealed from the kitchen.
“Oh my God! Look at you. Lucky bastard. And—is that a collar!”
He glanced at Carter, willing himself not to blush. “We had a busy morning.”
“Fuckin’ A, man. Congratulations.” Carter clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll have to have the boys compare stripes, and I can’t wait to see his collar.”