“I feel perfect,tesoro. Thank you for your care.”
We’rein Master’s study one afternoon when Sir finally returns. I’m reading Homer’sIliadand comparing it to the works of Aeschylus, Aeschines, Pindar, and Plato, all of whom allude or outright name the same-sex relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. I’m trying to determine who was theerastes,the lover and protector, and who was theeromenos,the beloved, as the scribes give very conflicting views. It is likely a mystery that will never be solved, but the enjoyment for me is in the research more so than the solution.
Because of my reverie, it takes me a moment to realize Sir is here, standing before me, and the change in him is… remarkable. For a few seconds, I’m simply stunned by his presence, my eyes poring over him like he’s a magnificent marble statue made real. He’s as beautiful as ever, of course, but he has… command. It’s something in his stance and the set of his shoulders, the sense of calm authority he exudes. Sir has always been arrogant, but looking at him now, I think to myself,Sir has mastered pride.
“Hello, princess,” Sir says to me before greeting his own brother and fellow Dominant, which is rude on so many levels, but Sir has never been one for adhering to protocol.
I stand shakily and glance toward Master who only waves his hand in consent. I walk toward Sir and can’t help but drop to my knees and bow before him, prostrating myself before a newly minted Dominant.
My magnificent Sir, the greedy part of my mind whispers, but I put that thought away for now.
“Let me see that pretty face, Giovanni,” Sir says. I raise myself up and he pets my head, taking care to brush the hair off my forehead. Even this gesture seems to exude authority, no longer hesitant or unsure. Sir’s confidence is… thrilling.
“Come up here,” Sir commands and when I offer him my hand, he lifts me to my feet and wraps me in a big, bear hug. “We’ll have to figure out a better greeting,” he says, his warm breath tickling my ear and his strong, masculine scent flooding my nostrils. “Something special just for me, yes?”
“Yes, Sir,” I practically sing.
Master makes his way over, and Sir seems reluctant to let me go. The two men greet each other heartily and I back away to show my respect, but as soon as they’re finished, Sir grabs for me again and together, we go out to the veranda so the men can catch up.
I serve Master and Sir drinks by the pool while Master interrogates Sir on his training. The weather is cooler now, so I wear slippers and a thicker robe that opens in the front and can be easily swept aside or removed altogether. Whenever I roam within Sir’s reach, his hand slides inside the fabric to caress my thigh or my ass or the small of my back. My arousal is so apparent that I worry Master will cage me, but he only seems amused by this slave’s utter lack of modesty and decorum. I’m so distracted by Sir softly stroking my hip that I miss Master’s question altogether.
“Excuse me?” I ask, my heart and mind aflutter.
Master purses his lips and repeats himself, something he seldom does, “I said, are you happy to see your Sir?”
“Yes, Master.” Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough, Sir then gives my stiff cock a playful nudge to make it bounce.
“Seems like it,” Master says.
“I’m sorry, Master. Would you like this slave to go sit on his pillow until I’ve calmed down?”
“No, Giovanni, I blame Sir for this one. I have some business in Roma to handle and I wondered if you might like to spend some time alone with Sir in my absence, reconnecting?”
Of course, I want to spend time with Sir, but since Master has returned to the island, he hasn’t gone anywhere without me. When I first came to live with him in New York, I could only focus on the day ahead of me, and Master would lay out his plans for me at breakfast every morning, including whether he’d be home or away and for how long, and that helped me manage my anxiety. But since then, my horizon has expanded to a little farther into the future, which Rebekah assures me is a step in the right direction.
“How long will you be gone?”
“Only a few days.”
“But you’re coming back?” I ask, needing his confirmation.
Master tilts his head and gives me a look. “Giovanni, what have I told you many, many times before?”
“That you’ll always come back to me.”
“That’s right. So?”
I glance down at Sir who is smiling up at me, charming as ever.
“Does Sir want to spend time reconnecting with this slave, and not just in a supervisory capacity?” I need to know that Sirwantsme and isn’t just agreeing to babysit me while Master takes a business trip.
“I’d like to show you some of my new tricks, princess. And some old ones as well.” Sir licks his luscious lips in a lewd way, and I nearly burst into flames right there in the courtyard.
“Then yes, I’d like that very much.”
“You’ll go with Sir to his house,” Master says. “Silvio, what would you like Giovanni to pack?”
Sir reaches inside my robe to pull it back all the way, so that he can look me up and down. Even though it’s chilly outside, I push the robe off my shoulders so that he might inspect me freely, as is his right.
