Darren chuckled. "Because you're a good boy." He kissed his temple. "She was a big part of your life for a long time, in good ways and bad. She still is."
"I should be happy she's moving on, though. I'm not unhappy. It's just weird. She always said she was done at two... but clearly that was just two with me. And it's hard not to worry about whether she and Brent will last, and... I don't know."
"It's normal to see things through the lens of your own experience," Darren replied, unfailingly logical. "But what do you know?"
Miles chewed his bottom lip. "She loves the kids. She does her best to be a good mom," he admitted. "She likes my sister. She resents me less now that I'm openly queer." It still felt weird to lean into her assumption that it had been the reason for their marital difficulties, though he'd been able to justify it in his own mind a bit more. He'd always known deep down that he wasn't like the guys around him. It just turned out to be less about not liking women and more about having buttons that needed certain skills and a lot of romance to press.
Fortunately, Darren was an expert at all of the above.
"Yeah," Darren agreed, smiling. "We're in a good place with her. And we'll be in an even better place when we have a new place."
"You're right," Miles agreed, relaxing more. "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure." Darren drew his chin up for a longer kiss. "Let's add two more places to the list. Then we can call it a night, and you can thank me in bed?"
"I like the sound of that."
"You might like the sound of this more." He grabbed the tablet, handing it over. "Ignore how skinny it is. Three bedrooms, none of which adjoin."
"Jesus, that's expensive."
"It's still in our price range. And there's a soaker tub off the master." Darren waggled his eyebrows, making him laugh.
Miles chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright. Add it to the list. I'd be a terrible pet to keep my Master from such luxury."
"That's my good boy," Darren purred, words full of promise of things to come.
? ? ?
––––––––
Unsurprisingly, they ended up renting the skinny townhouse with the soaker tub. They even managed to negotiate the price down by five hundred dollars a month. Miles quietly suspected that Darren's employer might be behind it, somehow. The man was also Darren's only long-term professional devotee and took advantage of any opportunity Darren allowed to show his devotion. He'd long ago given up worrying about it. Shimizu had helped them get his children back. Miles was willing to allow him any indulgence.
His conversation with Darren about learning to command wasn't far from Miles's mind as they began to pack up the apartment. It was incredibly distracting. Part of that was the delightful memories of what had come after the conversation; more of it was an unexpected mix of nervousness and excitement he still felt now.
He hadn't ever considered wanting someone other than Darren, and if someone had asked him about an open relationship or swinging, he would have laughed in their faces. But this was different. Darren's intentions and desires for him were so clear. This was something new for them to explore and experience together, just like all the other wonderful things Darren had introduced him to.
He couldn't imagine loving anyone like he loved Darren, but this wasn't about love. Learning to take care of a sub - or two - would be a different kind of care. Imagining it filled him with a quiet, confident warmth that he very much wanted more of.
But they didn't need to rush. Surely the more time he had to prepare, the better things would be. Even if Darren was certain that he was ready, he didn't want to take that for granted or prove to need so much of his attention that Darren couldn't enjoy the process, too.
Was he really capable of it? Trusting Darren was one thing, but actually feeling it was another. It was impossible not to feel nervous that he couldn't have a practice run. It wasn't that Darren couldn't findsomeoneto practice on, of course. They knew plenty of people in the scene that Miles was sure would jump at the chance to be Darren's sub for an evening, even if it were for training purposes. He'd certainly received enough open invitations in the past. But practicing wouldn't feel the same as being responsible for truly guiding and caring for someone in a state of complete vulnerability.
Still, perhaps it was a good place to start. He only wished he had the opportunity to practice on Darren. His husband was always happy to switch roles, of course, and reveled in his submission when Miles ordered him around. But it was just playing a rolefor them both. Darren was a master of his craft. He didn't need Miles to lead him in anything.
Even as he considered the situation, something tugged at the back of his mind. Returning home to the apartment and half-packed kitchen, Miles pondered the recipe stuck to the fridge that he'd intended to cook for dinner with a sudden thrill of insight.
Maybe therewasstill someplace where he could lead and mentor Darren. He wouldn't have considered it previously, but... Darren wanted him to learn. And he had faith that Darren wouldn't be displeased by the idea. Nervous, perhaps, but it would be Miles's job to take care of him and give Darren what he needed.
Pulling a frozen package of hamburger meat out of the freezer, Miles left it in the kitchen sink in cool water to slowly thaw. Then he checked the maps app on his phone on the way back out the door.
If he hurried, he'd have just enough time to get what he needed.
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∞ 6 ∞
Lessons for Darren
