I agreed to meet Claire for lunch tomorrow and sent back the time and restaurant location. I was curious as to what brought Claire back to Las Vegas after all of these years. I wasn’t going to get caught up in speculating much. I spent the rest of the late afternoon and evening with Ryan.
I invited Ryan over for dinner and grilled some steaks for us. As he cut his steak, I couldn’t help but focus on his wrist. For now, it was bare, but soon it would be adorned with a bracelet that will represent our meaning of a collar.
“Tomorrow I am meeting Claire for lunch and then I would like for you and I to have dinner together,” I said while he was cutting into his steak.
He didn’t say anything immediately, but I could tell that his cutting motion had slowed. Ryan set his fork and knife down and his hands went to his t-shirt against his stomach.
“Ryan,” I said, capturing his attention.
“Hmm?” Ryan quickly said and picked up the silverware to continue cutting.
“Ryan, I won’t go to lunch with her if it upsets you.”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to act so…selfish, or rude. I know you said she is a friend and that you don’t have feelings for her like you do for me.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I want to know your thoughts and feelings. Shewasa friend, Ryan, but it has been decades since we have spoken. I’m merely curious why she’s reached out to me after so many years.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Do you understand that you are mine and that I love you?” I reached across the table and gripped his wrist. Ryan stopped cutting and looked at me with his big brown eyes. “Do you understand that you are my world, Ryan?”
“Yes, Russell,” he said while looking in my eyes. “I hope you have a nice lunch tomorrow and then we’ll have dinner.”
“Where would you like to go for dinner tomorrow?”
“How about you can come to my place and I’ll make something?” he offered.
Ryan was not a fan of cooking. The man could eat pizza, soups, and sandwiches every day. So it made my heart swell that he was willing to make dinner for us. I didn’t even care what it was.
“I would love that, Ryan.”
Later that evening when I walked him to the door, my lips found their way to his. I held his head still with a handful of his hair in my hand, while my other hand slipped under his t-shirt to his abdomen.
I burned for Ryan. I longed to keep him here all night, but I knew things had to go at his pace somewhat. He was still getting used to the “us” part.
I had barely pulled my lips away from his when he muttered, “Thank you, Russell.” The back of my knuckles skated over his warm flesh as I gazed in his eyes.
“What are you thanking me for, my dear boy?”
“For being honest with me.”
“I will always be honest with you, Ryan.”
“I know, but you didn’t have to tell me about Claire or that you guys were going to lunch,” he said hesitantly.
“I needed to tell you. Ryan, do you remember what I said to you when I first started working with you? Even before our dynamic became what it is now, do you remember?”
“That we had to be honest with one another, or else none of it would work,” he easily recalled.
“Good boy, Ryan. Yes, none of this works without honesty.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek before whispering a gentle reminder. “That includes you talking to me when you get nervous or have anxiety.”
“I know. I’m trying, Russell,” he admitted.
“I know you are. You’re doing fine, but you could cut all that worry time in half by just talking to me,” I repeated and kissed his lips again.
As I got into bed that night, my mind swirled with thoughts of Ryan along with memories of Claire. I would find out tomorrow what she’s been up to all of these years.
* * *
