Page 67 of Doubting Hearts

Privately, I thought it was hard for Simon to sit here and see me and Toby cuddling and being all lovey-dovey, but I let Toby believe what he wanted to.

Ginny carried on baiting both of us. “Tammy and I had a discussion the other day as to which one of you was the daddy in your relationship. And by that I mean ‘the Daddy with a capital D.’” She pronounced the word in a deep voice, and I shook my head. Toby scowled and looked daggers at Tammy, who stared back innocently. Lucas sat back and heaved a long-suffering sigh. Verne was listening to the conversation in awe.

I shook my head. “Ginny, you’ve been reading too many penny dreadfuls. There is no ‘Daddy,’ no mommy, no wife, just two grown men in a relationship. And I’m sure as hell not going to tell you anything salacious, so you can stop the inquisition right there.”

Ginny pouted and pushed red locks behind her ear. “What, no Dom and sub relationship? How disappointing.” Her eyes twinkled. Toby snorted as his hand once again landed on my thigh and squeezed. His voice was husky when he spoke.

“Ginny, mind your own business. My sub and I like to keep our activities private.” My mouth dropped open, and Lucas gave a great guffaw. Toby smiled at me wickedly and winked. I decided to play along.

I looked at him with an adoring gaze. “He’s very good to me, actually. He only makes me wear the collar when we’re in bed, and Toby is a master with the flogger.” I could see my boyfriend was having difficulty not laughing. I was actually getting pretty turned on by the lies I was telling. “And you should see his toy chest. Every implement known to man in there. It’s a real treasure trove.”

Verne’s eyes were bugging out, his white teeth showing through his wide-open mouth. He’d stopped drinking, his glass half raised to his lips. Lucas snorted behind his hand whilst Tammy and Ginny regarded us both in suspicion.

Toby waved an imperious hand. “Enough, Rain. Don’t tell them any more.” He smiled evilly. “When you get home, I think we need to punish you for spilling the beans.” Now I was so aroused I could hardly breathe. Toby’s voice was soft, seductive. “Perhaps the ball gag or the cock cage. That might make you less loose-lipped.” His hand had landed on my groin, and he knew exactly how I was feeling from the slow smile that crossed his beautiful, kissable lips. I was ready to explode.

God, he was a tease. And he was actually very good at this whole Dom thing.

I swallowed as he squeezed my cock and let go, leaning back in his chair and picking up his beer. For a moment there was stunned silence. Then Lucas went into spasms of laughter. Verne watched him as if he was a crazy man. I was glad for the well-timed distraction before I came in my pants. That would have been too bloody embarrassing.

“God, Toby, that was classic. Did you see their faces?” He waved his beer mug at Tammy and Ginny, narrowly avoiding splashing beer all over Tammy’s shirt. “They bought it, hook, line, and bloody sinker. Amazing, mate. You should be in acting school, not in the hotel business.”

Verne’s face relaxed. “You mean they were pulling our legs? Jesus, lads. That was epic.” He gave a wide smile and nodded his appreciation at the two of us. I was still reeling from the whole situation. Tammy slapped Toby on the arm as Ginny sat back with a sniff and an evil look in my lover’s direction.

“Hmm. Not bad, Toby, darling. You had me going there for a minute.”

Toby grinned. “Ginny, I’m honored. It takes a lot to pull the wool over your eyes. Rain, are you okay? You look a little… hot.” His words were innocuous enough, but the look he gave me was smoldering. I picked up my beer glass, taking a large swig as I nodded.

“I’m fine. It’s just getting a little warm in here. Must be all the hot air.” I glared at him, and he raised his glass at me with a mocking smile. I turned to Ginny, wanting the conversation to go anywhere to make me forget the hard-on I had in my jeans. “So, Ginny, what’s new at the paper? Any gossip to tell us?”

She leaned forward and put her elbows on the table, her chin in her hands. “Other than the current talk ad nauseam about the lack of precipitation, there’s not much to tell you. I’m bloody fed up with the whole town moaning about the lack of rain. It’s a fucking dry season, people. Nothing we can do about it.” She slurped her drink moodily. “I do have one good bit of news for you, though. Neil’s left town.”

From the gasps around the table, I guess she realized we hadn’t known. She shrugged. “Yup, he left about a week ago. He’s gone to live in Lincoln, apparently.”

Toby leaned forward. “Why did he leave?” he asked quietly. “Was it because of the newspaper article you wrote?”

Ginny looked smug. “Well, I can’t take all the credit for him going, I think, but it might have had a little to do with it.”

Verne gave a loud grunt. “Ginny, that’s false bloody modesty. You know you managed to rip the boy apart for his attack on Toby—quite rightly, I say—and he was bloody lucky to get off with just a police warning, thanks to Toby here.” He squinted at him. “Why didn’t you press charges ? I know you said in the article you had your reasons, but I would have wanted to see Neil behind bars if he’d bashed me like he did you.”

I glanced at Toby, who’d gone still. I took his hand and squeezed it.

He smiled at me as he replied to Ginny. “I didn’t want to make things worse. It was for the best. I know I thanked you for the article, but I’d like to tell you again how grateful I was that you told the truth.”

It was Ginny’s turn to snort now. “Darling, I always tell the truth. Neil was a twat who deserved to get his comeuppance. You weren’t the only one he’d given trouble to, Toby. There’d been others before you. I, for one, say good riddance that he’s gone.” She raised her glass in a toast, and everyone did the same. “I also heard via the grapevine that Davey Webber is being transferred to another police station.”

We all looked at her in surprise once again. Her smile was smug. “Some Japanese tourist sent a video they had of the attack on Toby to a local reporter here in town”—Ginny smiled wolfishly— “together with a mobile phone record of a conversation that took place, to prove Sergeant Webber had been a little biased. Said reporter then sent it to the superintendent for the region with an opinion that he had a homophobic sergeant in his ranks.”

I looked at Toby. His face was still, and I could see the sheen of tears in his eyes. I reached out and took his hands, covering them with mine.

“Mr. Miyamoto,” I murmured. “It must have been.”

Ginny smiled at us both. “So, after some internal consultation, it was decided that Sergeant Webber take a transfer.” She shrugged again. “I have no idea where. As long as it’s not here, I’m happy. I never liked him either. He was a prick.” And having delivered that bombshell, she stood up, pushing her chair back, and went off in search of another drink. Everyone looked over at Toby, who was trying manfully to act as if he wasn’t crying just a little. I felt a surge of love for my man and his way of wearing his heart on his sleeve.

“I think you need another drink.” I stood up and kissed the top of his head. “Anyone else?” My erection was still clamoring to get out of my trousers, but the place was busy, and I doubted anyone would notice the bulge at my crotch. I took the drinks order, going to stand with Ginny, who was swearing at her inability to attract the barmaid’s attention.

It was very busy, the crowd at the bar two deep.

“Thank you, Ginny,” I said to her quietly as she smiled at me. “For everything.”