“What you and your Daddy did, how your relationship began, is not the same as Benjamin and Tennant. You and Allesandro were broken up, you had no ties to him, you owed him nothing. Unlike Benjamin, who had a fiancé, but conveniently forgot that until he had to face the consequences of his actions.
“If falling in love is selfish, then I suppose I’m the most selfish of us all with the way I hoard my lovers. After all, I should have been satisfied with just Tennant, right? I never should have allowed Roman in, or Jude, or you.”
“T—that’s different,” he protests. “You’re with us all, and well, Jude and I aren’t even really friends, but I have you, Daddy, and Roman, so it counts.”
I stare at him, watching as he squirms under both my touch and gaze. “Do I believe you and your friend hurt each other? Yes, but that is something you two can fix. Friends fight, they hurt each other’s feelings, and then they come together and make up—truly make up, because they’re sorry and know they were in the wrong. You and the Topolino will get past this—if you both want to.”
I leave him to think on it, watching as he licks his lips. He takes his time before answering, which eases a little of my worry. “I do. I really do want to fix things, I just don’t know how. He…was my first friend. I don’t know how to do this, how to make up and get our friendship back on track.”
“You might want to talk to Roman about the actual making up part, he’s good at that kind of stuff, even though, before you, he only had Leandro as a friend. What I can tell you is that you and your Daddy are perfect together. You bring out a side of Ten that…I didn’t know anyone could pull out. And that, Baby, is what makes relationships so great; different people can bring out different things in each other. It doesn’t mean onerelationship is better than the other, only that what you need to get out of the relationship is.” Releasing his chin, I wipe some tears from his cheeks before smoothing back his hair.
“I don’t subscribe to the idea that polyamorous people need different things from different relationships or people, but I do believe that every relationship is different. You only have to look at all of us, and see how we are all vastly unique. It doesn’t make any one relationship better than the other.”
“But…that still doesn’t make it right. I hurt the one person I wasn’t ever supposed to. I know he struggles with jealousy, but I made him accept my relationship with Tennant anyway.”
“Let me ask you this then: Do you think he would have gotten over the jealousy had you not been in the picture?”
He hesitates, but I can see the answer clearly on his face, so I press my fingers to his lips to prevent him from speaking.
“No, he wouldn’t have, because Benjamin’s jealousy is something he has to deal with himself. You’re not responsible for other people’s emotions, Emilio. If Benjamin wants to stay with Tennant,”—wants to stay alive—“then he’s going to have to get used to the fact that Ten will never be what he wants. That’s something he is going to have to work out in therapy.”
“But I didn’t have to make it harder…”
“Enough,” I say in a firm voice. “You are not responsible for Benjamin or his feelings. You’re not to take on a single fucking ounce of guilt for loving your Daddy. Unless you regret being with him?”
He immediately shakes his head. “No! Of course not, but maybe…”
“Stop!” I order. “I do not want to hear another negative word about this come out of your mouth. Or are you purposefully doing this so you can get punished? I can promise you, Cucciolo, you will not like the consequences if that’s the case—or even the punishment if it’s not. I am not your Daddy, or your Master. Iam your Owner. And I am the one who decides for you. When I decide you deserve your Daddy, that you have nothing to feel guilty over, then you accept that and move on…” I lean in, getting close to his face. “Or I will make you.”
His breath catches in his throat and I grin. “Is that it, Pup? Do you need to be reminded that I am the only one who gets to tell you what you do and don’t deserve?”
“Sir…”
“Up, get undressed.”
The speed in which he follows my commands is heady, and I force myself not to smile. Watching the beautiful Boy in front of me trust me so impeccably that he obeys without a second thought? Fuck, it does things to me I never thought possible.
Standing from the bed, I gesture to it. “On the bed, all fours.”
Lio scrambles to do as I ask, and I moan when his beautiful ass is presented to me. My cock stirs, and I want nothing more than to ram myself inside him, but that’s not what this is for. No, this is to get my words through his stubborn head, and if that means going to physical lengths to do so, then so be it.
Undoing my belt, I make sure to let the buckle jingle. He moans and shivers at the sound, and I can’t help my grin.
“I want you to count, Cucciolo.”
Folding the belt in half, I adjust my grip on it and take a deep breath, letting the adrenaline course through me.
Stepping back a little, I lightly flick my arm out, swatting him with the belt as gently as possible.
He moans. “One.”
“Very good, Pup.”
I continue with light swats, turning his ass a lovely shade of pink. When he gets to ten, I stop and move in closer, rubbing at his warm flesh. “So very good. Now, for your lesson, okay?”
He nods. “Yes, Sir.”
I move back and adjust the belt in my hand, before using more power. Lio cries out, but still counts like a good boy.
