“I'll be right back, Bello,” I tell him, moving him onto the bed. He protests, reaching for me. “Hush, don't wake the Stars. I'll just be a minute.”
In the ensuite, I take a few deep breaths to level myself, wondering if this is what Keegan meant. If he had an inkling based on what he saw with Emilio, and his experience as a dominant, or if this is my own training and instincts coming into play. Maybe both?
Fuck if I know. If it works…if it helps my beautiful flower get out of his head and rest easier, then I’m all for trying. Worst case scenario, I’m wrong and he hates it. Best case…well, I’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
It’s not an automatic no from me; it's just not something I’ve thought about or had much experience with.
Tugging at my curls, I take a minute to let some sense of calm come over me. If I’m not sure of myself and what needs doing, I can’t expect my Boy to trust me, and this…requires far more trust than anything we’ve done before.
After grounding myself, I start the bath in the corner of the room. We haven’t used it yet, as while the shower is big enough for all four of us, the bath decidedly isn’t. Rooting around in the cabinets, I find a bottle of bubble bath, so I add that to the water, check the temperature, and then head back into the bedroom for my flower.
Antonio is right where I left him, curled into himself on the bed next to Nicolo. He holds himself so still, as if taking my caution about not waking the twins seriously.My poor Bel Fiore…
I scoop him up. “Sir… Your leg…”
“Is fine, Sweetheart. Come on, let me take care of you.”
The new term of endearment earns me a look, but I ignore him, carrying him into the bathroom. His weight isn’t a hardship for me. Not only did I get another session with Jayden before the chaos of today, but another shot for the pain. And even if I didn’t, there’s no way I wouldn’t carry my Boy from one room to another—I’d carry him to the ends of the earth if need be.
In the ensuite, I set him down and lift his face up so I can stare into his wide, sad chocolate eyes. The pain in them steals my breath away for a moment.
The look on his face…the utter silent need forsomething, gives me the courage to take this final step.
“Daddy’s going to take care of you, Sweetheart.”
Antonio’s breath catches. “D—Daddy?”
“Mmm. You need something, don’t you, Sweetheart? You need Daddy to take care of you. Need love and relaxation, so you don’t have to do anything but be my good Bel Fiore. Do you want that?”
“I…” Tears fill his eyes and his lip wobbles as he releases a shuddering breath. “You’re sure? You…want this? Want me like this…”
Leaning in, I press a soft kiss to his beautiful mouth. “I want to care for you, Sweetheart. I want to be whatever you need: your safe space, the one who gives you pain and pleasure, the one who you trust to shut the world out for you, your Dom and Daddy in equal measure… Everything. You’re mine, Antonio. And all I want is to show you that.”
“Please…please…Daddy. I need you.”
“Shhh. I know, Sweetheart, I know.” I undress him slowly, making sure to caress every inch of skin. He’s a puddle of soft, barely audible whimpers, unable to hide his trembling by the time I remove what little clothing he had on.
Leading him by the hand to the bath, I shut the water off and help him in. Then I undress quickly, leaving my clothes in a pile on the floor, and my hearing aids on the counter. Getting into the tub, I slide down into the water and pull my Boy onto my lap, feeling him relax in slow increments.
I’m not sure this is how Keegan thought I’d approach the dynamic, but it’s what we both need right now. Something soft, sweet, a safe place for Antonio to realize I mean what I’m offering. We’re in this together, he and I, and if he needs Daddy to carry his burdens when he can’t…then there’s nothing I’d rather do than help take that from him.
“Daddy loves you,” I whisper into his hair.
Closing my eyes, I drink in the scent of him, mixed with the bubble bath, feeling my tension release right along with his… Maybe Antonio wasn’t the only one who needed this…
“You want me to ask, what?” I stare at Marcus over breakfast in our suite. Cole has already eaten and is playing quietly in his room. Carter is at Roman’s bedside again. So this is a rare time where it’s just the two of us. And yet…
Marcus sighs as he sets his bagel down. “I know you probably don’t understand it. But Lio…Lio struggles with emotions. What Il Padrone offered him worked. Right now, he’s lost in his head, trying to punish himself. Allesandro knows it. We took away Lio’s method for coping by ripping Il Padrone away from him. He needs his Master. It’s not like it is with the rest of us Boys—although, admittedly, I won’t disagree with some of his punishments.”
I snort, unable to believe Marcus is advocating that I convince, not just Sarah, but Hollis and Tennant, to entertainthis idea. “I think having Doc find a qualified therapist is a better option.”
“Allesandro isn’t disagreeing with that. He’s always pushed for therapy for Lio. It was Lio’s decision not to see someone. But as a temporary…fix…using the old method can get him through.”
“You realize that although the Council chose to let Allesandro live, I cannot promise Tennant and Hollis won’t kill him if he brings this up, right?” I finish the last of my omelet and reach for my tea, hoping that’ll help prevent the incoming headache.
Marcus runs his fingers through his hair roughly, frustration pouring off him. “I don’t have an answer that’ll fix everything or make everyone happy. I wish I did! But my main concern is Lio.”
My heart sinks. I know he’s trying his best, and fuck if I’ll ever understand what used to be the Martelli way. Hell, the way Allesandro twisted Lio up, maybe thatisthe answer. There’s only one way to find out…and I just hope Tennant and Hollis don’t kill me as well.
