Chapter 17
Toby pulled a slice of pepperoni pizza from the box and took a bite, shaking his head. Nothing said desperately hungry like digging into a pizza that had been sitting in the hall for hours.
They’d slept for a long time. Roper was still sleeping soundly. The boy hadn’t even twitched when Toby extracted himself and climbed out of bed an hour or so ago.
He’d taken a long shower, found comfortable clothes, and made plans to get his grading done. He wasn’t sure how that was going to go, though, since he couldn’t get his mind off his boy.
He put the rest of the pizza in the oven to warm up and poured himself a glass of wine, then sat on his couch and turned on the fireplace. It wasn’t terribly warm, but it was pretty, and it suited his mood.
His boy. The boy was his, undoubtedly.
Roper had called him Master.
He hadn’t asked, he hadn’t made a demand or ever said he required it… It had just been a gift. A gift from his boy. He was going to ride that high for a long while.
Roper had responded to his hand, to him, with a certain kind of perfection, offering himself over like a wild animal to be settled.
And there was something else. Roper had complained about his day, about the mug and dinner, but simple, stupid things didn’t usually cause his boy so much anxiety.
He’d thought he was going to have to ask, or force a confession, but Roper had offered that too—a decision to leave bull riding—and it had been so direct and honest, so unlike Roper emotionally.
The trust there was like a living thing and needed protecting.
He wasn’t sure why no one had grabbed this live wire and held on for dear life. He’d never felt so alive.
Then again, how did a Dom grab someone who traveled for a living and who couldn’t articulate his real needs? The ones that weren’t just about a hard fuck.
He put his feet up and sipped his wine, waiting for the pizza to warm up. He should check on Roper, and he would, as soon as the pizza was hot enough to eat.
He heard the water running in the bathroom, and it wasn’t long at all before Roper was shuffling into the front room, rumpled and clean-faced.
“Hey, look who’s up.” He set his wine down and met Roper partway. “You were sleeping hard.”
Roper nodded, blinking at him. “I was. I still feel like I’m wrapped in cotton wool some.”
Sleepy Roper was adorable. He wondered how many people got to see this side of the tough-guy bull rider. “Sure, just enjoy that feeling. We don’t have any plans. Are you hungry? I put the pizza in the oven to warm up.”
“Yeah? Thank you. It smells good.” Roper gave him a crooked grin. “You want anything? I need a glass of milk.”
“I’ll follow you. I need a refill on my wine and another slice. I was so hungry I ate one cold.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry you had to.”
Not sorry that they’d done what they’d done, though.
“I’m not.” He followed Roper into the kitchen, watching the boy walk, enjoying the little hitch, the careful steps—the ones that had nothing to do with Roper’s injury.
It made his mouth dry, and the temptation to reach out, stroke the tenderized skin was huge.
“No? I’m glad.”
Glad. Roper was so sweet when he was floaty. Toby chuckled and went for the oven to pull the pizza out and set it on the stove, while Roper headed for the fridge. “No. That was incredibly satisfying. And fun. And hot.”
“Yeah. I needed it.” Roper chugged a glass of milk, then poured himself another. “Bad.”
“I noticed.” Whiskey appeared and wound around Roper’s ankles. She must have been sleeping with the boy. He grinned. “Whiskey seems to have forgiven you for assaulting her.”
“I didn’t assault her.” That was almost a pout. Almost. “I tripped over her.”
It was cute, pout or no. “Well, whatever it was, she doesn’t seem to hold a grudge.” He moved toward his boy and caught Roper’s chin in his fingers, then kissed those almost pouty lips. “My boy.”
Roper’s hand landed on his chest and curled into his shirt, holding on to him, lips parting for him and begging for more.
He could give more. He could give a lot more, but he restrained himself. Not tonight. Roper was floaty and willing, but he’d already been hard-used and would feel it come morning.
“Beautiful boy. Would you like some pizza? We can go sit by the fire.”
“Sounds perfect.” Roper winked at him. “Are there cushions?”
He chuckled. “Several. One for kneeling, and a couple of very soft ones for…sitting carefully. Why don’t you go check them out, and I’ll join you with our pizza in a second. Grab my wine, please?”
Roper kissed him, a quick, almost gentle buss. “I’m on it, Professor.” Then he headed to the fireplace.
He smiled because he couldn’t help it. He was happy, dammit. He was fucking happy and for the first time ever, he wasn’t worried it was going to disappear tomorrow.
He put slices onto plates, grabbed some paper towels and followed his boy.
Roper had balanced the cushions around in piles—the flat, solid cushion next to his chair, the softer ones stacked in different places. “I wasn’t sure where you wanted things.”
“For now, wherever you can eat most comfortably. We can move to snuggle and watch the fire after.”
“Are you going to let me snuggle over your lap?” Roper chose to kneel, so much more graceful without the boot.
He snorted, nodding. “Sure. I’ll let you snuggle any way you want.”
Roper stuck his tongue out at Toby. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
He put a plate down for Roper. “It won’t be as good as it is fresh, sorry.”
He was hungry. He was going to eat every bite of it anyway.
“Don’t be. I’d eat it cold.” Roper shrugged at him, gaze direct. “I needed you, Professor. Not pizza.”
“Mm. You’re exactly what I needed, boy.” He hadn’t realized how much. “I feel good. Proud.”
He could see it—Roper relaxed, focused, shoulders coming down from around his ears. “Thank you.”
He smiled at the boy, even more proud knowing his words could put Roper at ease. “You’re welcome. Eat, boy.”
He picked up his pizza and took a bite. Not bad, actually.
Roper ate a piece, then picked the toppings off the second piece, humming softly at the sausage.
“I’m sorry you had a tough day.” He watched Roper as he picked up his wine.
“Thank you. It wasn’t terrible, more irritating, and I was…” Roper sighed softly. “Ramping up, for sure.”
“Seemed like maybe you had something bigger on your mind?”
Roper blinked up at him, wide-eyed. “What?”
“Well, the mug, dinner… I thought maybe you might have been distracted by something.” Like leaving your career?
Roper sighed, picking off a mushroom. “I have to figure shit out. I don’t know how. I’m afraid I—” Roper’s lips closed. “I’ll figure it.”
He sighed. Just like that, Roper closed up again. “You can’t ride anymore. You told me. Tell me the rest. Let me help.”
Roper wouldn’t look at him at first, but he finally did. “I don’t want you to make me leave, but… I don’t know what to do for work. I don’t know what to do.”
Leave? He couldn’t imagine. Not after a night like that. Not when things were going so well. He rested a hand on his boy’s shoulder. “Roper, I’m not going to make you leave. I was just about to tell you that I want you to stay.”
“Professor. I have some savings, but not a ton. I’m going to have to go back on the road if I want to try and make a living.”
Back on the road wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Rent is paid, bills are paid. You don’t need to worry for a while. Just stay with me.”
“I am worried. I want to be…here, but here is so…hard for someone with my job experience, and you’re not supposed to encourage my whininess.”
He shook his head. “Fine. Shut up and quit whining. You’re staying with me because I want you here, and we’ll figure out your next gig once you’re fully healed.” He sat back on the couch and sipped his wine. “Got it?”
Roper stuck his tongue out at him. “Yeah. I hear you. I’ll just stop.”
He rolled his eyes. Just stop. “You’re impossible, brat.”
“I’m your impossible brat.”
He let himself grin, even as his heart sped a little at Roper’s words. “That you are.”
Roper put his pizza down, glanced at him. “Can I…can I sit in your lap?”
He nodded and set his wine down. “If you can sit.”
Roper crawled up, belly against his, thighs spread to protect that sweet ass from contact.
“Clever boy.” He took advantage of the position and stole a quick kiss. “We have something, Roper. You and me. A good thing.”
“I—I think we’re a surprise. I didn’t know you were going to be special.”
“I had no intentions when I took you from your brother’s house other than getting you to calm the hell down. But I knew you were beautiful, and I knew you would be a challenge, and I liked that.”
Roper cuddled in, taking a deep, deep breath. “Lord have mercy. My brain has been everywhere today.”
“I know. We don’t have to talk now; we can just enjoy the fire. And each other.” He curled his arms around Roper.
“I’d like that.” Roper leaned in harder, his eyes closing. “I like you, Professor.”
“I like you too, boy.” And then some.
But he’d take it.