“If you have that much trouble with the sight of even a tiny drop of blood, it’s a good idea to warn a guy,” Joe said.
Scott tried to turn to face him but Joe held him in place, refusing to allow him to move more than an inch in any direction. One of his arms looped around Scott’s waist. Joe put his other hand on Scott’s forehead, pulling his head back until it was trapped against his good shoulder.
“Still feeling dizzy?” Joe asked
Scott squinted up at the ceiling in confusion. “I’m f-fine.”
“Then you might want to tell that to the skin on your face because you went as white as a sheet the moment you saw blood.”
Scott tried to shake his head but Joe wouldn’t allow it. “It w-wasn’t that. I’m j-just…I know you d-d-don’t like to hear me apologise, but it isn’t for nothing this time, sir. I’m really s-s-sorry. I don’t know w-what I was thinking. I mean, I couldn’t have been th-thinking at all. I—”
“Scott, it’s just a couple of scratches.”
Scott fell silent.
“It’s no big deal. Hell, you’re making it sound like you broke my cock off or something,” Joe said. “Now, if you didthat, I probably would be angry.”
Scott couldn’t help but smile.
“Good boy,” Joe said, his voice softer now, almost tender. “That’s better.”
It was a lovely way to sit, now that Scott knew he hadn’t really screwed up. He relaxed back against Joe’s chest. It all seemed so peaceful, so glorious.
Then, Joe sighed. The sound cut through Scott’s heart as if it had been purposely crafted to do that job. Nothing so wonderful could last forever, but that didn’t stop Scott grieving because it came to an end.
* * * * *
“S-sir?”
The sudden uncertainty in Scott’s voice only confirmed Joe’s suspicions. He held back the urge to sigh again. It was bloody typical that him finding a man he actually wanted to be nice to on occasion, had to coincide with stumbling upon the only sub he’d ever met who didn’t want a dom that ever treated him with any sort of tenderness.
Damn, but all those internet stories that hailed complete jerks as the best doms ever, had a lot to answer for! Or the guys in the club who boasted about their conquests—maybe they were to blame. Both gave subs the most stupid ideas.
Joe gritted his teeth and reminded himself that it had to be something like that. Some sort of outside influence had to have corrupted part of Scott’s psyche long before they met, because Joe knew he hadn’t given Scott any reason to feel as he did.
“Give me a minute or two, and I’ll screw you or spank you or something,” Joe bit out. “Until then, you’re just going to have to sit here and deal with the fact I’m not interested in being afull-on sadist all the time.”And that’s no reason for you to say your safe word!
“W-what?”
“Doms are allowed to take some down-time between rounds,” Joe said. “And while I do that, I enjoy keeping track of where you are. So I’m going to hold onto you until we’re both ready to kink things up again. It’s not snuggling. It’s not soppy. It might not be sadistic, but it is dominant, and it’s practical!” Joe hoped like hell it sounded less like begging to Scott’s ears than his own.
“I d-don’t…” Scott frowned over his shoulder at Joe, then shook his head. “I didn’t s-say my safe word because I d-don’t think you’re a good d-d-dom.”
“Save it, Scott. I don’t need you to pat me on the head and humour me, you just—”
“I’m w-walking away now because I know there is no way in h-h-hell I can c-convince a man like you to keep me around f-forever,” Scott cut in.
Joe twisted around, trying to get a better look at Scott’s expression. “What?”
“I’m in l-love with you!” The last word was barely out before Scott slapped his hand over his mouth.
Joe stared down at him. “You’re dumping me because you’re in love with me,” he said, carefully enunciating each word to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
Scott nodded, his hand still covering his lips.
Joe had obviously been wrong before. There were ideas that were even more bizarre than the fantasies people posted on the internet. “That makes no sense whatsoever.”
“It m-makes perfect sense,” Scott said as he lowered his hand. His words came out fast and frantic. “I have to l-l-leave now, while I still h-have the chance.”
