“It’s good to see you as well,” James said as he and Tyler slid into the booth. “I was wondering if you’d be back, Hunter. How are you doing?”
Hunter looked at Payne, an almost goofy smile on his face. “A lot better than the last time you saw us. Or at leastIam. Payne is the one everyone will think needs his head examined for taking me on.”
James made a scoffing noise and waved his hand dismissively. “Nonsense! I could tell you two were a good match when I met you.”
“Me too,” Tyler said, smiling at them warmly. “You’ve got good vibes.”
Hunter chuckled, tightening his grip on Payne’s hand. “Considering how screwed up I was when you last saw me, I’m surprised.”
“It doesn’t matter what was going on up here,” Tyler said. He tapped his temple, and then he flattened his hand on his chest. “You’ve got a good heart.”
“That he does,” Payne said, leaning against Hunter. He was prouder than he could possibly express of how hard Hunter had worked to face his issues and how much progress he’d made. But Hunter was a fighter, and a few whacks from a cane had convinced Hunter to fight for himself at last.
Hunter leaned his cheek against Payne’s hair. “Thanks. Both of you. I appreciate it. Especially since there have been plenty of times lately when I’ve doubted it myself.”
“Sometimes all it takes to help us see things clearly is to put our fears, doubts, and control into someone else’s hands for a while,” James said.
“Or get our ass paddled until we finally get out of our own head,” Tyler said with a playful smile.
Hunter laughed. “I think Tyler’s closer to what works for me. But it took quite a lot more than a paddle. I’m a hard ass, after all.”
James’s face lit up with interest, and he leaned toward Payne. “Flogger or cane?”
“Cane,” Payne said. “He responded better to the firm impact.”
“I’ll bet.” Tyler gazed at Hunter with respect in his eyes, and he squirmed a little as if he could imagine the kind of firm impact Hunter had experienced.
“I’ve been trained to tolerate a lot of pain,” Hunter explained. He was looking at Tyler, as if not wanting Tyler to feel bad. “I’m also big and muscular, so I can take it. It’s a good thing it was on my ass. If he’d been hitting me on the head, I never would have felt it at all. Too much rock.” He winked, and Tyler laughed.
“I never would’ve gotten through to him if I hadn’t whacked his ass,” Payne said, pleased to see Hunter felt relaxed enough to joke. “At least that way, I knew I was having some effect.”
“I can’t honestly say I’m crazy about it, but Ineededit.” Hunter snorted. “If I’m honest, I hope I never need it again. It was bad enough in the moment, but afterward… it fuckinghurt.”
James and Tyler burst out laughing, and Payne couldn’t help but join in at Hunter’s heartfelt understatement.
“Yes,” James said with a grin, although not a mocking one. “Yes, it does.”
“I don’t want it either,” Tyler said with another wriggle. “I’m more of a paddle and soft flogger guy myself.”
“I hope you don’t need it again,” Payne said, squeezing Hunter’s hand. The last session had been almost as difficult for him as it had been for Hunter. He’d hated having to push Hunter so hard and cause him pain, physically and emotionally, and the more Hunter unraveled, the more Payne had ached with sympathy for what he’d suffered since his partner’s death.
Hunter lifted their joined hands so he could press a kiss to the back of Payne’s hand. “I appreciate you doing it. I know it wasn’t easy on you, either.” When he spoke again, there was pride in his voice. “Daddy couldn’t kiss it and make it better. But he handed out the tough love when he had to.”
Payne smiled and ducked his head, both pleased and a little embarrassed by the praise, especially since he could just about see the hearts in Tyler’s eyes.
“I swear, you two are the cutest things,” James said fondly. “If I’m not invited to the collaring ceremony or the wedding or even both, I’m going to be quite put out.”
“I haven’t asked him yet,” Payne said, darting a glance at Hunter to see how he was responding to what James had said. Hunter had only just figured out Payne was in love with him, so he might not be ready to talk about collaring or weddings yet, even though both sounded like good ideas to Payne.
Hunter darted a quick look at him, then lifted his chin. “I’d prefer to wait until I’m over my issues. Or at least most of them. I’m only just getting used to the idea that I’m not so broken and that Payne could really love me.”
“When you’re ready, we’ll talk about it,” Payne said, and he couldn’t resist the temptation to skim his forefinger lightly along Hunter’s throat. “You’d look so hot with black leather around your neck.”
Hunter’s skin grew flushed, the color creeping up his throat and into his cheeks. “Yes, well…” He cast a heated look at Payne. “Maybe we should see about a room now? Or even heading home?”
“Home, I think,” Payne said.
“Maybe we could go too?” Tyler turned a beseeching gaze on James, who stroked his hair tenderly.
