“Good morning, Lucian.” Marcus pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Did yousleepwell?”
“You should ask me that after I wake up, because I’m pretty sure I’m still dreaming.” Lucian buried his nose against the crook of Marcus’ neck and huffed a contented sigh. “Is this real? Was lastnightreal?”
“All of it was real,” Marcus promised. “And so is the breakfast and coffee sitting on your bedsidetable.”
“You just convinced me I’m still dreaming. Are you trying to get me to move in? Because you know what they say about feeding stray animals,right?”
A thrill ran through Marcus at the idea, but he diffused his excitement by snorting with laughter. It was too early to entertain thoughts of cohabitating, even though his heart told him it was the right thing to do. When that day did arrive, Marcus wanted to be sure it was a decision they made together, not one that camefromjest.
“If feeding you breakfast means you’ll keep coming back, then I might as well have a menu prepared.” Marcus let his fingers trail down Lucian’s back, savoring the touch of his skin. “I’d like to do this againsometimesoon.”
“I’d likethat,too.”
If Lucian needed him to move slowly, Marcus would comply. A few shared moments a week were better than cutting contact because he’d pushed too hard, too fast. Marcus had to remind himself that Lucian was a bartender at The Shepherd, not a member. No matter his previous exposure to kink, Lucian was still learning what it meant to be a submissive. Marcuscouldwait.
And even if he had to compromise and meet Lucian halfway to vanilla, he felt like it would be worth it. In Lucian, he’d found someone he’d never believedexisted.
He’d found alover.
“I’d like to have a serious conversation,” Marcus said, still musing over all that Lucian meant to him. “Are you ready tolisten?”
“Yep.” Lucian rolled onto his back and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The separation gave Marcus a little more leeway to think—the closer Lucian was, the harder he found it to focus. “I’m even ready to talk if Ineedto.”
“Great.” Marcus grinned. The Lucian who’d refused him the first night they’d met was back, and Marcus adored his quirky confidence. “I’ve stated it before, but it was in the middle of play, so I think it bears repeating—I’m serious about you, and I’d like to make this relationship exclusive. Is that something youwant,too?”
“Yes.” Lucian’s reply was instant. There was no trace of uncertainty in his voice. “I’m not seeing anyone else. I don’t think I could. Everyone else looks dull incomparison.”
Marcus’ mood brightened. “Then there’s something else I needtoask.”
Lucian’s eyes searched his, curious. When he spoke, he did so cautiously. “Okay. Whatisit?”
“One of my friends from The Shepherd is marrying his submissive in the months to come. The exact date hasn’t been set yet, but I want to bring you with me as myplusone.”
The answer didn’t come as easily this time. Lucian’s lips thinned and he squared his shoulders. Thoughts passed behind his eyes, and when he spoke, he chose his words carefully. “If he’s your friend from The Shepherd, he’s going to know we’re together if I go as your plus one. I don’t want to losemyjob.”
“I’m not asking you to quit. Nothing will be said by him, or by any of the otherguests.”
“Areyousure?”
“Positive.” Marcus met Lucian’s eyes, promising what he said in the intensity of his gaze. “You don’t need toworry.”
“Then I’ll go.” One corner of Lucian’s mouth twitched upward, hinting at trouble Marcus rarely saw in him. The look was electrifying. “But I don’t have a suit to wear. I think that maybe you should take me out shopping, and you can play dress-up with me. What do youthink?”
Heated quickies in the changing room. Mild public play where no one would know any better about the forbidden nature of their relationship. The thrill ofexhibition.
It didn’t take Marcus more than a second tosayyes.
* * *
The restof the week passed in a flurry of activity. In the window of time between when Marcus finished work at the firm and Lucian started work at The Shepherd, they fell into bed together more often than not. Lucian sought him out now, sure enough of his place to ask to be dominated. Marcus providedeverytime.
On Friday evening, not half an hour after Lucian had left the condo on wobbling legs to start his shift, Marcus’s phone chimed to let him know he’d received an email. Nude and relaxing in bed as his knot continued to recede, Marcus opened it. It was a message from his partner, Eric. They’d landed the case, and Eric had sent along thedetails.
Very few evils shocked Marcus anymore. He opened the attachment and read through the information contained, prepared for the worst. If the client was willing to spend seven figures to get the best legal defense during the appeal process, he had to have done somethingverywrong.
Marcus thumbed through the documents briefly, giving them little more than a cursory glance to get a feel for what he’d start to tackle on Monday. Human trafficking. Coercion and enticement. Child endangerment… the list went on. Whoever he was, this Garrison Baylor had certainly dug himself into adeephole.
Marcus continued to scroll, weaving together the details of his new client’s alleged crimes, when a name caught his eye and made him stop. Marcus narrowed his eyes, then he scrolled back up to check the heading to make sure he hadn’tmisunderstood.
