I’m far from an expert in this type of thing, what with being relatively new to cooking and all, but something tells me the warm hum of his handprints on my skin will pair well with the meal.
It’s not until we’ve finished our food—which was delicious if I say so myself—that the contents of my pocket start to feel too hot to handle. Guilt bites at my side.
“Stuart.” I try to keep my tone matter-of-fact. “I did s-something today.” His eyebrows shoot up, and he studies me intently. I continue quickly so I don’t lose my nerve. “I’m not sure, but I don’t think it was the right thing to do.”
“Elliot, what did you do?”
My throat is bone dry, so I take the tiny pieces of the photograph of Damien out of my pocket and put them on the table in front of Stuart. “I didn’t mean to rip it up. I only meant to make a small tear, but once I started, I couldn’t stop.”
Stuart takes a second to register what he’s looking at.
“I know it wasn’t the right thing to do,” I say, lifting my chin despite the slight quiver I feel. “But I’m not sorry I did it.”
He pushes his chair back. “Come here.”
I do as he says, knees spongey, too tense and too lax, the way they always are when I know I’m headed for a trip over his knee.
He takes me by the wrist and pulls me toward him. Instead of landing over his knee, I find myself sitting on his lap. He loops an arm around my waist, resting his forearm tantalizingly close to my stiff cock. He sweeps my hair out of my face and makes me hold eye contact with him for so long that I almost start wishing I was over his knee instead.
“Why did you do this?” he asks, waving a hand over the shredded remains of the photo.
Hmm, that’s a good question.
I know Stuart isn’t mine. I know this is an arrangement, nothing more, so it’s hard to explain.
“Um, it’s just that I really didn’t like that picture. It’s his face. I don’t like it. It bugs me. Every now and then, a face annoys me for no reason, and he has one of those faces. And I hate that dumb name necklace and his smile is stupid and shows way too many teeth.” Stuart’s lips flatten. He looks more than a little baffled, so in a panic I add, “And, and, Sadie ismydog.”
Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t buy it.
“Are you a jealous boy, baby?”
I shake my head from left to right defensively and then change direction, nodding reluctantly as I try to swallow the big lump in my throat. He tightens his grip around my waist.
“Yes, Daddy,” I whisper close to his neck. “I’m jealous.”
“Taking it down without my permission and tearing it up wasn’t the right thing to do,” he says with no heat in his tone. “You know that, don’t you?”
I nod quickly and whisper, “I know.”
He gives me a warning look. “Are you planning on doing anything like that again?”
I shake my head even more quickly, and I really, really mean it. I wanted that picture down for all I was worth, but the reality of knowing I’ve done something with the potential to upset Stuart is heart-palpitating and awful.
I fidget with the corner of the placemat as I wait for the full extent of his disapproval.
It doesn’t come. Instead, Stuart goes soft and considered. “Ordinarily, this type of behavior would earn you a very good hiding, but I understand why you did it, so I’m not going to spank you.” I let out a long breath I didn’t know I was holding. I’m awash with relief the one second and then disappointment prickles. “What I am going to do is put you to bed early so you have time to think about what you’ve done and come up with some better ways of handling jealousy in the future.”
What?
He’s sending me to bed early?
Oh fuck, why’s that so hot?
I have a quick shower and hop into bed naked. I cover myself with the sheet, but instead of pulling it up to my armpits like I normally do, I drape it so low around my waist that a hint of pubic hair shows. Stuart comes in and takes his usual position beside me on the bed. His head is tilted at a strange angle as if it’s taking some effort for him not to look down.
Deep satisfaction starts to uncoil but quickly recoils when our eyes meet.
“Are you angry with me?” I ask, my voice small and pathetic.
