Chapter 9 Future Plans
Future Plans
Breathless and joyful in the aftermath of their play, Darren couldn't help but laugh, joining Miles's chuckles.
He let himself sag back against the strength of his husband's form.
Moving out of the closet wasn't important when everything felt so very good.
"Cheesy. We're absolutely horrible, you realize. "
"Isn't that half the fun?" Miles nipped at his earlobe playfully. "But I think we knocked over some of the packing."
"Not to mention the mess," Darren replied with a wry smile, turning to look out into the room. "Don't tell me you wiped cum on your uniform pants when you were getting the key for the cuffs."
Miles chuckled. "Not like I'm ever going to wear them outside the bedroom." He nuzzled Darren's neck with a soft, pleased sigh. "Nice to get use out of them again."
Darren gave a pleased hum of agreement. "Kinky for home, but not really a sex party fantasy."
"Not the kind of play we like, anyway," Miles replied with a snort. His arms tightened around him, kissing the soft skin under his ear. "Let's clean up and cuddle."
He fussed over the red marks the cuffs had left on Darren's wrists, washing them gently once they were in the shower and conscientiously applying ointment afterwards despite Darren being sure he didn't need it. His husband's studious attention to aftercare made his heart swell with tender pride.
"Thank you for indulging me with the cooking," Miles said when they were cuddled in bed.
"I know it's not your thing. I just thought that I should.
.. You know. Test out being in charge of someone in a situation where they might actually need my guidance.
There aren't a lot of things you don't already kick ass at. "
"It was a nice change to be pushed out of my comfort zone," Darren admitted, stroking his bicep. "You did really well, love. I'm so proud of you."
Miles lowered his gaze, shyly pleased. "I know you are. And I know you know I can do this. I think I just need some time and practice to feel it, too."
"We can practice as much as you want. In the bedroom, or..." Darren leaned into his own unease, drawing a dramatic deep breath. "Or in the kitchen."
Miles chuckled, blue eyes warm with adoration. He lowered his voice in an intentional way, and now Darren was sure his husband was purposefully emulating him. "Good boy. I'm so proud of you for being so brave, Dare."
For as often as he employed praise kink intentionally, Darren found himself squirming. The words made him unexpectedly self-conscious, but not unpleasantly. "Thank you, Sir."
His husband's smile widened, tracing his jaw. "Why Darren, are you blushing?"
Being called out only made his cheeks burn hotter, of course. "Absolutely not."
"My big, strong dom?" Miles kissed his cheeks, voice warm with good humor. "Shy about being called a good boy?"
"I'm just being a good pet," Darren tried to growl, trying to wiggle down in his arms so he could hide his face in his neck.
"Of course, darling. The best pet." Miles tightened his arms around him to keep him in place, stealing another kiss. "You can be in charge again, love. Thank you for humoring me."
"Gonna spank you for torturing your poor sweet pet," Darren grumbled.
"Next time we have the house to ourselves?" Miles suggested, far too hopefully.
"Mm. Deal."
It normally wasn't difficult for Darren to relax after playtime, especially cuddled up to Miles, with Miles's fingers stroking through his hair.
Especially when it ended in him being wrecked as good as Miles always managed.
But his husband's unexpected initiative that day left his thoughts buzzing with ideas.
"The new beginner's class starts Tuesday. Do you feel more ready?"
"I think so. More so after tonight."
"Good." Darren traced slow circles on his chest. "I was thinking I'd like to start accepting performance invitations at events again.
I know we don't really need the money, but it's good to attend with a purpose.
Then we can see who we meet. I have a number of standing offers on the table from hosts who've heard about my sub with his huge cock, who looks so beautiful all bound up in rope. "
Miles shivered against him with a pleased hum. "Or even parties where we don't get paid? Like that famous New Year's party up in Boston that we've never actually checked out?"
"Mmm, I'd forgotten about that. You want to go to Boston and join that sexy showcase, my love?"
Miles groaned, shifting against him until he could claim a warm kiss. "Master," he breathed, "I live to serve your every whim."
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––––––––
Miles Bennet
Moving was a whirlwind of stress, but when it was over, Miles found himself settling with a sigh of relief.
Having space to expand into was a blessed relief: space for the kids' things, space for a real kitchen table, and even a bit of space for workout gear.
He still preferred to hit up the gym with Sasha around meetings, but having the option to stay home with Darren - and often work out with and for Darren, inevitably shifting into some kind of playtime - was glorious.
The sense of expanding extended into playtime, too, especially with Darren's new beginner Shibari class at Shimizu.
It had been easier than he'd expected to pick up on the introductory ties and techniques he'd seen Darren teach dozens of times, which they reviewed before every lesson.
It was even easier to support his instructions, sharing his knowledge and experience with new riggers and their rope bunnies with a confidence that felt blessedly earned.
Perhaps he was more ready to step into Darren's role than he'd thought. Slowly, the idea of taking the lead at Darren's side began to feel not just doable, but exciting.
With the right people.
Finding said people would be more difficult. He had complete faith when Darren said they'd find the right couple when the time was right, but it was also becoming very apparent that they'd likely need to step outside of the circles of their existing events.
"So..." partway through dinner one night in March, Miles decided to breach an idea with his husband. "Does Shimizu Services ever have a booth at Folsom East?"
He was pretty sure the answer was no, considering the exclusivity of the dungeon.
He'd never seen Darren advertise, and assumed most of their clients were word of mouth or referrals from existing club members.
He'd only discovered them himself after going down a hell of a rabbit hole on a fetish site online, discovering the club's booking number in connection with one of Darren's beginner Shibari classes.
Actual membership at Shimizu - whether booking with a dom or for facilities access - was exclusive and expensive.
Darren himself had admitted that they might never have met if Miles hadn't sounded so sexy on the phone.
Darren leaned back in his chair with a smile, immediately seeing through Miles's carefully casual ruse. "We haven't ever really needed to. Why? Are you thinking you'd like to attend, my love?"
Miles chuckled. "I can't keep anything from you, can I?"
"I can tell when my good boy is curious about something new." Darren stretched out his leg under the table to rub Miles's calf. "Want to go together? It's public, so there's no sex at the actual festival, but we could dress up and go shopping."
Miles chewed on his bottom lip, thinking back to the street festivals and night markets he'd been to in the past. "I'm kind of torn," he admitted.
"I would like to see it, and I'd kind of like to see if we can.
.. you know, meet some people? But the thought of spending a couple of hours just pushing through a sea of humanity isn't exactly my idea of a great time.
That's why I was kind of hoping you'd have a booth. "
Darren gave a hum of understanding. "Home base. Let people come to us."
"Yeah, exactly."
Darren twirled a length of pesto-drenched fettucini around his fork, chewing on it thoughtfully.
"There are a couple of options I could look into.
There's usually a couple of performance stages.
We could do a suspension, though that might not be the most social of activities.
I know May and a couple of the staff volunteer at a charity spanking booth.
I've joined them a couple of times. The charity's great, it works with at-risk and unhoused youth with a focus on LGBT.
I could see if they still need doms? Teach you to give out beginner paddlings? "
"I could try? I kind of like the idea of Shibari, but you're right. It's not exactly social."
Darren nodded, taking another bite, mind working.
Then he smiled with a sudden intake of breath; clearly, a lightbulb had turned on.
"Mmm. I'll have to make some calls about the logistics, but how about Shibari for charity?
Not full bondage, but I could easily teach you how to tie some decorative rope harnesses.
That could be super popular." He ran his fingers up Miles's spine.
"Are you ready to be a dom with me for a day, husband? "
"I think so," Miles agreed. "I like the idea of being a rope top.
I'll never be as good as you, of course, but since I know how good it feels, it would be nice to do it to someone else, I think.
It's just hard to know sometimes where serving someone as a sub ends and serving someone as a dom starts? "
Darren nodded. "I think it'll always be especially difficult for us, but that's okay. I like how we are. When we find the right play partners, it'll be easier because you'll be starting in that role from the beginning."
"Okay. I trust you."
"I know." Darren stroked the back of his neck, warm and comforting. "Don't worry, my love. I'll help you discover what kind of a dom you want to be. We have all the time in the world. And Folsom is a really good place to start."
Miles leaned into his touch with a pleased hum. "I'm really looking forward to it now."
"We might get hit on a lot, though. Will you be okay with that?"
Considering it carefully, Miles nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, if I can wear my collar, I'll be fine. I can let them down gently. Or..." His heart started beating faster, thinking about their long-term plans. "Maybe there'll be a couple we can go for coffee with after?"
Darren smiled, eyes dark with promise. "That would be amazing."
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