“I did. I’m going to admit, Jolene did it first, because I was too shocked to speak. I mean,really?Who kisses someone they haven’t seen in years like that?”
“I was so hurt,” he admitted.
I stroked a hand gently over his hair and he put his bowl down and launched himself at me, choking back sobs.
“All I could see was our life turning to shit because of her. And it made me mad at myself, because you’re my Dominant so you’re entitled to do it. That made me realize I was a shit submissive, and that hurt too. I don’t want to be bad, Kip. I want to be a good person for you so you’ll never regret agreeing to be mine.”
“Hey, look at me.”
He tilted his head up, caught my gaze, then dropped his.
“You lack something integral here if you want to be a good submissive,” I told him.
“What is it?” he asked. “I’ll do anything you want.”
“It’s not something I can want from you.—it’s what you’ll need for yourself. We need to bolster your self-esteem.”
“But I’m a submissive,” he said flatly.
“You are, I acknowledge that. But you’remysubmissive. No one, not even John, can tell you what to do anymore. Only me, Mase. From this moment on, you listen to me. If you’re not sure about something, you talk withme. Ask me questions. Demand answers. There is nothing wrong with that. Our lives are intertwined, and you haveevery rightto know and understand when I say something. And don’t blindly accept my word, because I might say it wrong or you could misunderstand me. I’d rather you ask me, ensure you’re doing what I want, than assume and get upset or hurt. Do you understand?”
I could only hope my words got through to him.
Mason
My entire life I’d been told an Omega served everyone. That their Dominant would ensure they did what they were supposed to do. That if their Dominant wasn’t there, they would do what they think would make them happy.
I’d done none of those things.
“So you’re saying it’s okay to ask questions?”
Kip nodded. “Not only is it okay, it’s imperative. Does your Dominant know best? Well, after today I think that’s up for scrutiny, don’t you?” He took my hand in his. “I need you to know, I willalwaystry to do what’s best for you. But if you think I’m not, or if you think there’s a better way, you need to talk to me. Will I agree with you? Maybe. I don’t know for sure. I mean, I won’t let you do something that’ll end up with you being hurt or crying because you thought you failed me. Failedus. And this time you didn’t. You acted like a totally normal person would.” He cocked his head. “Can I tell you something?”
I nodded.
“I worry about you walking away from me, especially after today. You’re a submissive, but you’re also the one with the power in the relationship. You grant me the gift of your submission, but you could also take it away, despite what your pack seems to think. This is why we have to talk constantly.Ineed to understand what’s going on in your head, andyouneed to know my reasoning for what I do. I amnotperfect…” His lips twitched. “And you can stop snickering.”
“I’m not,” I promised, my tone earnest.
He sighed. “I was hoping that would make you laugh. When we were kids it was all so easy. The real world, responsibilities, all of it was years away from us, so we could go anywhere and do anything. Now? We have a house, we have a truck that needs maintenance, and I have a job that’s not able to pay me all at once because the town’s finances are for shit.”
“Wait—you’re not getting paid everything they owe?” I tried to sit up, but Kip held me still. “What are we going to do?”
“What we’vebeendoing,” he assured me. “We’re okay for the most part.”
“What do you mean for the most part?”
A sigh rolled out of him. “My parents cover spots in our budget when we’re short.”
“What?” I screamed. “And you’re only telling me thisnow?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“OfcourseI’m worried,” he remonstrated. “I’ll find a job right away and?—”
“No, you won’t.”
“How can you say no, especially when we’re getting money from your folks?”
