The breath Gabriel drew was shuddering, but it didn’t end in a sob like Cedric was expecting. Instead, he pushed himself closer against Cedric’s chest and nodded in the smallestway. “Okay.”
“Then it begins now, Rabbit.” Cedric closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of Gabriel’s head. The moment was still and silent, the sound of their breathing the only noise that marred it. “Every command, every reward, and every punishment will be shaped with you in mind. You might not always understand why I do the things I do, but I need you to believe that I know what’s best, and that I would never do anything tohurtyou.”
“I do.” Gabriel sniffled, but his fingers relaxed. The shirt bit less harshly against the back of Cedric’s neck. “Ibelieve.”
It was all Cedric needed to hear. He directed Gabriel back from his chest so he could look into his eyes. Gabriel’s were pink and puffy from crying, but beyond his misery, Cedric saw honesty. He’d meant what he said. “Then do as I say, Rabbit,” Cedric murmured as his fingers worked slow, comforting circles on Gabriel’s nape. “Take a hot shower, loosen your muscles, and then come back to bed and cry if you need to. It won’t be long until I come to find youagain.”
“Yes, Sir,” Gabriel whispered. His lips moved, but the sound of his voice was diminished, and Cedric barely heard it. It sent his pulse racing regardless. “Iwill,Sir.”
The pieces had finally fallen into place—now all Cedric had to do was make sure they stayedthatway.
20
Gabriel
“Good morning,Rabbit.”
Gabriel opened his eyes. Sunlight filled the bedroom. Sir was perched over him, the natural light glossing his hair. It made him look radiant, like he was a king of some faraway land. And this morning, Gabriel was hisintended.
“Sir?” Gabriel croaked. Crying had turned his throat raw and cleared his sinuses, but at last, there were no more tears left to cry. Body warm after his shower, curled safe beneath Sir’s blankets, he’d let all the pain andanguishout.
Garrison was gone, and there was no chance he was coming back. To read that his appeal had been denied and that he’d be serving a life sentence had crushed Gabriel’s dreams of their happily ever after. If it had been ten years, or even fifteen, he might have been able to cope. In fifteen years Gabriel would be in his mid-thirties, and he’d still have time to conceive and bear children. But life in prison? There was no chance they would ever have the family Garrison hadpromised.
The loss of a dream was bitter, and Gabriel had mourned it until his tears were gone, even though he’d begun to suspect that Garrison wasn’t the one he reallywanted.
“We need to establish further rules this morning, Rabbit.” Cedric ran his fingers along Gabriel’s cheek, and for a moment, Gabriel wondered if he wasn’t still in a dream. Sir’s touch was electric, and the hurt in his soul lessened substantially from it. He tilted his head into Sir’s hand and let Sir lavish him withaffection.
Garrison was gone, but Gabriel’s hope wasn’t. There was still an alpha in his life—one who’d already sworn that he wouldprotecthim.
“Will youlisten?”
“Yes, Sir.” Gabriel closed his eyes. “I’m listening. Ipromise.”
“Good.” Sir came closer—so close that Gabriel could feel the heat of his body. His lips brushed Gabriel’s forehead, the small metal balls of his snakebite piercings cool against Gabriel’s skin. “The rules I gave you before are still to be respected. Up no later than nine, in bed no later than eleven. Your access to electronics will be limited if you misbehave, but otherwise, you are welcome to use whatever you find in the house as long as you are respectful of it, and replace it as soon as youaredone.”
“Yes, Sir.” The rules were simple, but even slight structure provided Gabriel with framework. It was a comfort he sorelyneeded.
“When I ask something, you will listen, and you will do as I say.” Sir’s fingers brushed Gabriel’s hair back from his forehead. “Failure to act will result in punishment. The severity of that punishment will vary depending on how you disobey, but I will never do anything that is detrimental to you. Everything I do, I doforyou.”
“Yes,Sir.”
“Our arrangement is in effect from the moment you wake up in the morning, to the moment you go to bed.” Sir’s fingers played in Gabriel’s hair, the kittenish touch keeping Gabriel relaxed beneath the sheets. “In essence, you will do your best to please me… and in exchange, I will do my best to please you. I will make sure that your needs are met and your comforts are considered. All I ask is that you be open for me—that you accept that your role in this is just as valuableasmine.”
Gabriel opened his eyes, startled by thestatement. “What?”
“If this arrangement between us is going to work, I need to know that I can trust you.” Sir had drawn back, bent over Gabriel, but no longer so close that he could kiss Gabriel’s forehead. “I want you to be able to speak your mind. If something is too much for you, you need to be honest about it. I won’t push you any further than you’re able to go, but you need to draw those lines for me if Imisjudgethem.”
Equal partners? The concept was laughable, but the look on Sir’s face wasn’t playful. He wasserious.
Nervously, Gabrielnodded. “Okay.”
“It’s okay to be afraid.” Sir’s voice dipped low and grew intimate enough that Gabriel’s cheeks started to warm. “I was afraid once, too, but fear isn’t something to want to avoid. Fear means opportunity. Fear means growth. Will you grow for me, Rabbit? Will you let me in and chase you from the safety so that you can start to liveagain?”
Everything Sir said made Gabriel’s head swim, like his thoughts had to escape from thick syrup before they could make their way to hisconsciousmind.
“I’ll grow for you, Sir,” Gabrielpromised.
Maybe, if he did, he could leave his painbehind.
