Peter’s voice turned glacial.Will had no idea why, but his wolf took note, and he flinched.
“No!Fuck, no.He doesn’t, at all, and that’s all my fault, because I freeze up, or I run, or flinch.”
Will heard a long, slow exhale before Peter spoke again.
“William?”
“Yeah?”
“I won’t be compelling you.”Peter dashed all of Will’s hopes with one verbal gut punch.
“Please?Peter, please.”
“I’ll pay for therapy.My personal recommendation would be Madame Celeste.She doesn’t have a degree in the field, but then who does?Celeste is the best listener you will ever encounter.”
“I don’t need fucking therapy,” Will blurted.“I just need to be able to have sex with Sage!”
“Why?Is Sage asking for sex?”Peter sounded as if someone were messing with his stock photos.
“No, he’s not.”
Will wasn’t sure how he’d ended up talking about this with Peter, of all people.Peter made creepy photos in his basement art studio, and he was probably pasting Corvin’s head on a naked centaur or something right now.
“Well, then I won’t have to give him a very stern talking to, will I?That’s something.”
Will sucked in air through clenched teeth.“You can’t tell Sage I talked to you about this.I don’t know why I’m fucking talking to you about this, but you can’t tell Sage.Please.”
“Well, who else would you tell?But imagine if you saw Celeste regularly.You could tell hereverything.”
“I am not seeing a therapist!”
“William, Celeste is a sex worker, and excellent at what she does.I talk to her all the time, though she only listens selectively.Ah, but that’s Celeste for you.I can make introductions.”
Will’s cheeks flushed.“Look, can you at least compel me not to freeze up, please?”
“No can do.Do you want Celeste’s number?She owes me a favor still, so she’ll squeeze you in right away.”
“I’m not seeing your sex worker lady.I just need…”
“Manners?”
At least he’s not smothering me with pity.
Will thunked his forehead down on the kitchen table.“Will you think about it?The compulsion?”
He did his best pleading voice, the one every kid knew to use on an alpha to get candy or cuddles.Will had outgrown that voice, or so he’d thought.
“I don’t need to think about it.The answer is no.Was there anything else?No accidental toad transfiguration?”
“Can you promise not to tell him, at least?”
Peter sighed.“Yes, I can promise you that.And, William, since you are not living under my roof, I cannot really dictate any rules for you to follow anymore, so take this as advice.Stop trying to fix yourself.You aren’t broken.”
Will growled.“That’s easy for you to say.You’re not the one who can’t spread his legs for the man he wants to spread them for.”
“And is that man yourself, William?”
“What kind of a stupid question even is that?”
