Chapter 8
Briar
When Trent said “be careful there” in reference to his nephew, it sounded like a warning. I couldn’t get his tone out of my head. Why was Rivi here if not to indulge his obvious little side?
I followed Trent and others into the lounge for after-dinner cocktails. There was a full open bar complete with bartender. No expense spared where Trent was concerned.
Rivi had disappeared with Ozzy. But he was staying on, so I’d have plenty of time to study him. If Trent didn’t get in the way.
I opted for whiskey and began to introduce myself to some of the other men.
Some recognized me even though I didn't know them.
They were from the club. I was always there it seemed, but so many passed through over the weeks, months and years that I couldn't hope to remember all the faces.
And sometimes it wasn't their faces I was looking at.
As long as everyone behaved, I didn't have to constantly deal with customers.
I was on my second whiskey when I approached Trent.
We made small chat about the club. I told him again how happy I was for him and Ozzy. Then I tried to break the ice.
“Your nephew seems nice.”
“Yes. I had no idea he was a little until just this week. Apparently he went into the city and saw a poster in a store advertising Santa Claus at the club. He overheard a couple of guys talking and my name was brought up. He put two and two together and invited himself to my party.”
“That had to be a shock.”
He chuckled. “It was. I suspected he was gay but never assumed anything else.”
“So, he's here for the kink party, too,” I began.
“I hesitated to invite him.”
“Why?”
“He's so young.”
“How young?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Ah, he just passes the cut off, then.”
Trent raised a dark eyebrow. “It's more about him being inexperienced.”
“Well, if he was shopping in a store where one of your posters was advertising the club, it had to be an adult store of some sort. Maybe he's not as inexperienced as you think?”
“I know Rivi well. He is very shy. This is a safe place. I've worked hard to make sure. And I've talked to Ozzy about looking after him. He'll be fine. But what's with all the questions? I mean, you are a little old for him, Briar....”
“Hmm. You warned me off him at dinner, didn't you?”
“I just asked you to be careful.” That severe eyebrow of his was still raised and aimed right at me.
“I'm always careful, Trent. I don't even play anymore. At least, not that much. It's all work for me. I'm dedicated if nothing else.”
“Rivi is special.”
“Duly noted.”
“At the party on Saturday night there will be plenty of men if you want any kind of action.”
“Singles?”
“Some. And some with open relationships. You'll do well.” He smiled but it looked a little forced.
I couldn't tell if he didn't trust me or if his protectiveness of Rivi was a little over the top.
Irrational, even. This guy must have been very important to him in his family.
I wished I could know more but I didn't want to grill him.
Trent was a friend, but also a very private man.
I didn't even know he had a nephew and I'd known him for eight years.
“Thank you. And I'm grateful you invited me. I probably would have just gorged myself on take-out and whiskey on Christmas Eve. Alone.”
“We can't have that, can we?”
I laughed. “Nope.”
But why the tension? Rivi was of age. So what if I looked at him and liked what I saw? A sweetheart of a boy with big glasses that looked too heavy on his face. Big dark eyes full of wonder and youth and a desire for something more.
Well, we would see how the next days panned out.
The Christmas tree decorating gala was a big deal at the Winterbourne estate. Or so I'd heard. I'd never been to one, but I'd heard Trent went all out with food booths, games for kids and prizes. If, that was, the weather cooperated.
I woke earlier than normal since I was a day sleeper. It must have been because of the nap I'd had yesterday afternoon. It was 8:30 and I could smell bacon and eggs freshly cooking from the kitchen.
When I went downstairs to the dining room I found a buffet of every kind of breakfast food you could imagine, and a young guy cooking omelets to order. About twenty people were gathered around or eating at the long table. Automatically, I looked for Rivi.
I made a full turn before spotting him sitting at the table nearest a big window overlooking a forest of snow caked pines.
That was the part of land where the farm was.
Rows and rows of perfectly shaped pine trees we're waiting for competing teams to go out and decorate them.
Booths had already been set up along the back road behind the house.
People were putting finishing touches on them.
Crates were stacked along the rows of trees which I assumed contained the decorations.
The sun was shining even though it was freezing out. But that was good. It meant the ground wouldn't be slush. The gate opened to the public at ten a.m..
I loaded a plate with food, then looked in the direction of Rivi. I thought twice about going over and sitting next to him. After my conversation with Trent last night, I felt I might be pushing our friendship.
But then Rivi, with his big glasses, looked up and right at me.
He smiled so sweetly that something turned over hard in my stomach, and like the sun, I was drawn straight to him.
I'd stopped thinking. I moved with the more emotional part of my brain.
The part that realized I'd been lonely for far too long and a sweet baby boy like this one was just the thing I needed to wake me up inside.
“Hey, there.”
“Hi.” He glanced up at me and then down at his food.
“Mind if I sit here and admire the view with you?”
“No. I can't wait for the festivities to begin.”
“It does look like it's going to be a wonderful day. Are you going to decorate a tree?”
“Ozzy says he did it last year and that I get to help him this time if I want to.”
“That sounds like fun. I can't wait to see what you two come up with.”
“We can't really win a prize. I mean Ozzy and I are family and the competition is for outsiders.”
“Well, that doesn't seem fair.”
“It's okay.” He scooped some scrambled eggs into his mouth.
I began to eat. Everything was so flavorful and crisp. That singing chef of Trent’s was worth his weight in gold.
Rivi turned to me, fork poised over a bite of sausage. “Are you going to the party after Christmas?”
“I'd hope to. Are you?”
“I've never been to one before. A kink one, I mean. I'm not sure what to expect. Like what do I wear? I feel weird asking Uncle Trent.”
“Well, it seems to me you can wear whatever you want.”
“What do you do?” His cheeks got a little red after he asked that, but I was glad to talk to him about it. What a cutie.
“I like leather. I have a favorite pair of pants. Sometimes I like to wear a white shirt or no shirt. I also have a silver studded harness." I smiled at him. “That one's fun.”
“Ohh.” He put his hand up to his mouth as if to muffle what he was about to say. “I don't have anything like that.”
“What do you have?”
“I have new onesie pajamas. I haven't worn them yet. I want to wear them but I'm afraid. I'm a little and I want to fit in. Maybe play clothes would be better?”
His innocent speech wasn't contrived. What a breath of fresh air. It went straight to my heart.
“Sweetie, I've been to many parties. I work at Trent's club. I've seen it all including littles in the cutest jammies ever.”
“You have?”
“Certainly. When you say onesie, do you mean pajamas with feet?”
“Yeah. And the special way they fasten.” His cheeks got pinker. “There's a flap with buttons in the back. Just like the littlest boy Michael wore in Peter Pan.”
Immediately, I pictured him running around in a pink onesie and I could barely contain myself. If Trent wanted me to stay away from this boy, it was going to be a very difficult week. Because I was not going to be able to resist him.
Already, Rivi was asking me questions and responding to me the way a good boy would to a daddy. It was in his nature and in my nature. Trent was just going to have to deal with it.
Together, we finished our breakfast and talked more about decorating trees.