“Kasey, you are not here to serve me.”
The Omega’s head jerked up a fraction, confusion flickering across his face like he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.
I kept my voice steady. “You’re not my employee. You’re not something for me to command. And you’re definitely not here to fill some role someone else trained into you. You’re here because you mean something to me that's hard to explain. I…want company. Friendship. Nothing more.”
I let that settle, watching the way Kasey’s breathing hitched, like the words didn’t fit anywhere in his understanding of the world.
I continued, slower, choosing each word with care. “I want you to help me around the house. Help keep it clean. Cook when you feel like it. Keep my company when I’m home by just sitting and talking, like we are now.”
Kasey’s eyes squinted across the room, as though he was trying to make sense of the words.
I leaned back, trying to relax my body when all I wanted to do was pull the Omega into my lap and just let him do whatever he wanted around here, naked or clothed.
“The only thing I expect from you is honesty. If you’re scared, tell me. If you’re confused, ask me. If you don’t know what to do, I’ll help you figure it out.” I crossed my legs, placing one on the coffee table. “And if you’re asking what yourplaceis here…. Your place is like someone I care about. Someone I want safe. Someone I’m glad to have the company of.”
Kasey’s breath caught, and I watched him carefully.
“Does that make sense?
Kasey’s voice wavered. “I…. maybe?” His blue eyes were full of doubt, but there was something else there too. Something like cautious acceptance, like he wanted to believe me even if he didn’t know how.
“What…what if I want…” he trailed off, gaze drifting somewhere far away as he searched for the right word. His fingers once again twisted the hem of the shirt.
I leaned a little forward, keeping my tone soft. “If you want what, sweetheart?” I prompted.
He swallowed hard, throat bobbing. “If I want…to do things right. The way I’m supposed to.”
Did he mean to serve me? Or offer himself up to be used and taken advantage of? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answers.
“Let’s make a deal. If there’s something you miss doing that isn’t harmful to you in any way, then you can bring it up and possibly try it.” Seeing that I hadn’t exactly answered his question, I went on. “Iwantyou to make choices. If you like something, then we’ll work on it together. Say, for instance, I put the rule of not reading books in this house, but you enjoy reading. You tell me that, and I’d let you read books as long as you didn’t skip meals.”
“I can read?” Kasey perked up at that. Sitting straighter like that alone would make him do whatever I asked.
“Then feel free to find things to read on my tablet. I don’t use that thing much anyways.” He quickly nodded eagerly, like he couldn’t wait to find something to read.
The eight-year-old boy hated reading, so it was a nice surprise that he enjoyed doing so now.
“Did I answer your question?
“Maybe?” He licked his lips and at the same time his cheeks flushed a deep color again. “What if…. I want…? He deflated once more. I gave him a moment, hoping he’d find his words on his own.
“I…. if I’m not supposed to serve you…. Then what do you want me todowhen I’m near you? I don’t know how to just…be.”
The embarrassment in his voice was sharp and immediate. His checks flushed, his shoulders curled inward, and he looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor if it were an option.
My chest tightened. Not with frustration but with something protective and aching.
I lowered my voice. “Kasey, sweetheart, look at me.”
It took a moment, but Kasey lifted his eyes, blue and uncertain, and bracing for something that wasn’t coming.
“When you’re near me, I don’t want you todoanything.”
He blinked.
“I just want you to exist. Sit. Breathe. Talk if you want. Be quiet if you want. You don’t have to perform for me. You don’t have to anticipate anything. You don’t have to earn your place in the house.”
Kasey swallowed, the embarrassment deepened. “But… I don’t know how to do that.”
