I let the sound of his words die off in the still of the room. I let them swirl through the velvety silence and sink into the rug that I picked out for him six years earlier. I let them settle and coat the furniture and bed that I struggled to carefully select for him, the dying sound of those words as much a part of the furnishings as a fine patina of dust.
I cup his face in my hands and keep him looking up at me. “I’ve only ever been with Leo, and now you. You realize that, right? Do you understand what that means to me?”
He nods as much as he can without losing contact with my hands. “I do, Sir. We’re a lot alike in that way, too.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Not quite. I never slept with a woman.”
“I don’t recommend it, Sir.”Nowhe’s smirking.
“Like you’d let me.”
His smirk widens, playful. “Leo has told me I’m territorial, Sir.”
“Seems like I remember that. You have a habit of marking your territory.” I also don’t miss he called Leo by his name and yet called meSir.
The thrillthattickles inmypossessive side can be unpacked later.
For now…
I tighten my grip on his head. “Don’t know what it’ll be yet, but youwillwear a day collar of some sort for me. I know Leo didn’t push the issue, butyouaskedmeto do this. That means you do whatIsay when it comes to taking care of you.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Oh…shit.
Elliot askedme.
Elliotplannedthis.
Stupidly, it’s just now hitting me the severity of the situation I am in.
Elliot’s doing something with me he’sneverdone with Leo.
He’s finally admitting he needs someone.
He’s finally owning a relationship…whatever the hellthisis.
Holy fuck.
Honestly? I’m not sure how Leo’s going to take that. Especially after all the years he sat back and patiently waited for Elliot to de-ass his head, as Leo calls it.
I need to prepare myself for the very real possibility that a reconciliation between myself and Leo might not be possible now, and damn sure isn’t guaranteed.
Especially considering his boy has just freely offered himself tome.
Hasgivenhimself to me.
Askedme to take care of him.
I know for a fact there was a time, before me, when Leo would have given anything to hear those words fall from Elliot’s lips.
Too late now.
My Sir has never struck me as a petty, punitive man, but he’s got the better part of fifteen years invested in Elliot.
I don’t think I could blame Leo if it pisses him off at least a little that Elliot finally had his come-to-Jesus moment and chose me instead of Him.
Except it’s irrelevant.
My focus is Elliot and taking care of him. If Leo can’t understand and respect that…
Then maybe I don’t know him as well as I thought I did.
