“A little more than six months.” Counselor Ellis looked Lucian over, discomfort shaping his features. “What are you doing here today? Renata Hills is quite a drive fromAurora.”
“I’m here to attend a wedding.” The longer the conversation lasted, the more Lucian felt like there was a piece of the puzzle missing. He looked to Marcus for guidance, only to find that Marcus had covered his face with his hand. Not finding the support he needed, he looked back to Counselor Ellis. “What are youdoinghere?”
Counselor Ellis’ face had gone white. He looked between Lucian and Marcus, eyes wide. “… Gettingmarried.”
Lucian’s stomach flipped and botched the landing. Shocked, he met Counselor Ellis’ eyes. “Y-You’re gettingmarried?”
“Lucian,” Marcus said heavily from behind his hand. “This is Owen Ellis, Crawford’sfiancé.”
“Your name is Owen?” Lucian squeaked, throat closing up. He stared at Owen, mouth dry, before he spun to face Marcus. “You didn’t tell me that Crawford was Mr.Daniels!”
“I didn’t know I had to specify.” Marcus raked his hand over his face, then shook his head. “So I guess all of us are already acquainted, then. Wonderful. Owen, I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend,Lucian.”
Owen said nothing. He remained pale, eyes set on Lucian. Lucian couldn’t help but think that he’d inadvertently hurt the man who’d gone out of his way to reintroduce Lucian to society as a healthy, productive individual. Back in therapy with Counselor Ellis, they’d talked about empowerment and independence, not being chained to a metal frame and fucked while others watched in a privatekinkclub.
But if Owen was marrying Crawford, and Crawford was a friend of Marcus’ from TheShepherd…
“Christ,” Lucian breathed. “The whole time you were coaching me through my hang-ups, you were going to TheShepherdand—”
Owen held up a finger, effectively silencing Lucian. “What happens outside of Stonecreststaysoutside of Stonecrest.” Owen turned his gaze on Marcus, and Lucian watched his eyes sharpen in a predatory way. “And while that might be true, I swear to God, if you do anything to hurt this young man, I will rend you limb from limb, Marcus. After everything he’s been through? If I find out you are abusing that at all, if I find out that he’s been twisted or brainwashed orunhappy…”
“I don’t think you need to worry, pet.” Crawford Daniels stepped out from inside the country club, joining them. He stood by Owen and slid a hand along Owen’s lower back. The darks of his eyes bored into Lucian just as they once had in Stonecrest, but this time, Lucian felt no surge of lust. He tucked himself a little closer to Marcus and smiled when Marcus loosely draped an arm around his shoulders. “Marcus is gentle. If there is any man emotionally aware enough to take care of one of your boys,it’shim.”
“Crawford,” Marcus said with apolitenod.
“Marcus.” Crawford nodded back. “It looks like our pets have some ruffled feathers. Why don’t we go back inside and continue with setup? A mind at work is a mind not able to dwell onnegativity.”
“I’m not being negative,” Owen mumbled. “He’s one of my patients,Crawford.”
“And you are a fine counselor.” Crawford took Owen’s hand. His tone was smooth, but it let it be known that he was uninterested in pursuing the conversation further. “He’s been released and he’s on his own now. The fact that he’s able to commit himself to a BDSM relationship is a testament to your prowess. Now, let’s go back inside and prepare for the wedding, shall we? I doubt Brad has the energy to continue to look after the boysalone.”
“You’re right. We need to get back to them.” Owen looked Lucian over one last time, and Lucian shot him one of the same impish smiles he’d been so famous for at Stonecrest. “Let’s go. We’ve got a few more checks to run before the ceremony, and the guests should bearrivingsoon.”
Marcus set a hand on the small of Lucian’s back. Lucian looked up at him, impishness turning into fuzzy affection. Their eyes met, and when they did, all of Lucian’s concerns shrunk in importance. It didn’t matter if Counselor Ellis knew the kinds of things that went on in his bedroom, nor did it matter what Counselor Ellis thought of him for it. The truth was, even though he’d traded in some of his freedom for a place by Marcus’ side, he was still independent, capable of anything he set his mind to. Marcus had given him a job in his law firm as an assistant to his legal team, going coffee runs and making photocopies, and Lucian had plans to go to college next fall in order to advance his education. When night fell and Lucian stepped into the role of fledgling, it didn’t make him any less of a man. He was still in control of his future, and he was proud of who he wasbecoming.
The sweetest freedom was having the strength to let itallgo.
“Shall we follow, fledgling?” Marcus askedsoftly.
Lucian smiled. “Yes.Let’sgo.”
They followed Owen and Crawfordtogether.
Lucian didn’t think he’d need to be afraid of being aloneagain.
Epilogue
Marcus
The wedding was heldbeneath a canopy in the gardens out back, with barely more than a dozen people in attendance. The sun shone brightly, turning the blond of Owen’s hair gold and glimmering in Crawford’s dark mane. All the while, Marcus stood by Crawford’s side, offering him silent support while Crawford exchanged vows and traded rings with his beloved. But rings, it seemed, were simply a traditional formality—partially concealed by his shirt, Owen wore Crawford’scollar.
As the ordained minister drew the ceremony to a close, Marcus glanced in Lucian’s direction. Lucian sat in the front row beside Crawford’s friend, Brad. One of Crawford’s children was cradled in his arms, the other attended tobyBrad.
He looked damned good with a baby.Damnedgood.
When the ceremony ended, Marcus stayed behind to sign the wedding certificate as a witness. Lucian joined him, rocking the child in his arms in a slow, instinctive way that stirred an impulse inside of Marcus that he couldn’t suppress. In the last six months, Marcus had celebrated his thirty-ninth birthday. He wasn’t getting anyyounger.
Maybe it was time to think aboutsettlingdown.
