Ethan blinked, and there were tears.
“I’ve never had a partner, Gene. No one ever wanted me to be that to them. You’re the only one.”
He palmed his cheek, being his boyfriend and not his Top for that moment.
“Well, you have one now, Baby,” he said. “I’m going to be whatever you need. If you need to be topped, we’ll do it. If there comes a day you feel dominant, take the reins. We’re not cemented down. We get to be fluid in our sexuality. There’s no right or wrong.”
Ethan took his hand in his, and kissed their twined fingers. He knew what a gift this was, and he’d never forget this man’s heart.
“I love you,” he admitted. “I love you more each day, and one day, my heart will explode from it because I’ll love you more than anything in the whole world.”
Gene got the tears then.
His eyes filled, and he couldn’t love this man more than he already did.
“You’re my other half, EJ. No one will judge your needs. If you need filthy and kinky, well…I’m your ride or die. We’ll learn it together. You’re going to be pleasantly surprised since I’m a pervert, and already experienced a lot of things.”
And that was why Ethan felt safe.
Gene would navigate this, and all he had to do was experience it.
“Thank you for teaching me,” he said. “I’m a lucky guy.”
Oh, he was the lucky guy. Ethan was a catch, and he couldn’t believe the man didn’t see that.
“I’ll teach you how to live as a submissive, and when you’ve had enough of it, we can switch back. I don’t mind being what you need.”
He needed to know.
“Will I be enough for you, though. Because I can’t lose you, Gene. I can’t watch you slip away and know it was because I chose my pleasure over yours. I’d rather not be whole and have you than be whole without you.”
He tucked some of his hair behind his ear and reassured him.
The people who broke this man…
They should have their asses kicked.
If Gene could go back in time and unbreak Ethan, he would.
In.
A.
Heartbeat.
“I have news for you, EJ. I am getting more pleasure out of this than anyone. I’m going to be the one who takes your ass in a bondage club as people watch. I’m going to be the one who gets all the blowjobs as your magnificent cock is locked in a cage. If my partner, the man who will one day be my husband, needs this, then I should be supplying it. Period. You get to ask, and receive. That’s a partnership.”
For the first time in his life, he was learning that he could trust people not to drop him.
Like his father.
Like his grandfather.
Like his brother.
Feeling safe and loved was the most amazing feeling in the world. Because he needed to, Ethan crawled closer, and nuzzled him.
They cuddled for a few minutes.
