Chapter 7
7
C hris floated out of his dreams, all warm and cozy, held tight and close. He wasn’t going to wake up. This was the best, and he wasn’t giving it up.
He snuggled in, dozing, hoping that he hadn’t drooled through the night.
“Mmm.” Leo kissed his forehead and rolled over, then reached back and tugged his arm up over that thick chest as far as he could reach, making Leo the little spoon.
That was as adorable as it was ridiculous.
He snuggled in, though, and didn’t say a word.
After they both dozed for a while, and the sun was peeking in through the curtains, Leo yawned and sighed. “Crepes.”
“Pardon me?” Was that some weird password?
Leo stretched and rolled onto his back, managing not to crush him in the process. “Crepes? You know, pancake things with fruit in them. I want crepes.”
A big arm scooted under his shoulders and pulled him in.
“Oh. Is there a… crepe place close?” Did they make crepe places? Surely they did. French breakfast diners—fancy coffees, crepes, and croissants.
“Yes, there is. Isn’t that handy?” Leo chuckled, big chest vibrating. “You were great last night. Just what I needed.”
“I’m glad. Same here. I was… very into you.” In fact, he had been crazy with needing.
“Mm.” Leo’s voice was soft and deep in the morning. “You’re stunning, and I’m very glad I was having trouble sleeping.”
His cheeks went hot, and he ducked his head. “Yes, Sir.”
Dammit.
“Oh.” Leo practically purred. “Say that again.”
So, he had to decide—be an ass or offer Leo a bone. Leo had been good to him last night. Very good. “I said, yes, Sir.”
“Mm. Good boy. Music to my ears.” Leo rolled up on one side and smiled down at him. “Did you get some sleep?”
“I—” Yeah. Yeah, he had. He didn’t even know what time it was. “I think so?”
That smile just got sunnier. Leo leaned down and kissed him. “Good. You make me feel proud. Thank you.” Leo did a funky pushup and climbed over him and out of bed. “Shower before breakfast?”
He smelled his pit. Yeah. Whoa. That was sex sweat. “I think that’s wise. I—are you a sharer?”
“I always share. My food, my bed, and my shower. Wait until you see it.” Leo reached for him, offering a hand. “Come on.”
He reached up, knowing in his heart that something was fixin’ to change. Moving in hadn’t done it.
Making love hadn’t done it.
But taking that hand.
Fuck him.
“I bought this apartment years ago because I needed something close to my office, and because of this bathroom.” Leo pulled him in like a kid showing off the Christmas tree. The bathroom was wide and spacious, there were two sinks, a big tub, and a separate zero-entry shower with a big glass door. The shower was easily big enough for him to lie down in both directions.
“This is my dream shower.” Leo stepped in and started the water.
“Wow.” He wasn’t talking about the bathroom. He was admiring the naked man who had water pouring over him.
Leo kept giving him the shower tour, totally oblivious to being hot and wet. “There’s this head and a rain head up there.” Leo turned that on. “And if you’re into it, there are horizontal jets, but they mostly hit me wrong. I’m too tall.” Leo laughed. “Nobody needs shower jets to the nuts.”
“Yeah… that sounds less than stellar.” And also, ouch. “They’re too nice to batter.”
Leo offered that hand again and pulled him in. “Water’s good. I like it hot. You?”
“Yep. I’m always cold, remember? I’ll just soak it up.” He groaned as heated man and water hit him at the same time.
“You stayed with me all night. I wasn’t too hot for you.” Leo maneuvered him under the rain shower and picked up a bottle of shampoo.
“Nope. Not at all.” He had obviously slept all the rest of the night. Weird, but welcome.
“So, are we sure you’re a sub now?” Leo asked, massaging shampoo into his scalp.
“We’re sure that we have chemistry, for sure.” He didn’t know what he was sure of.
Leo nodded, scrubbing his hair. “We have plenty of that. Rinse.”
“Mmhmm… feels so good. Thank you, Sir.” Dammit. Stop it.
“My pleasure, boy. I enjoy your hair.” Leo grabbed a bar of soap and slid it over his skin. “You should come to work with me on Monday.”
“Would I be in your way?” It would be cool to have shit to do. He didn’t do boring worth a damn.
Leo snorted, rinsing him off. “Would I have invited you if I thought you would be in the way, boy?”
“Probably not, although you’re a kind man, so maybe. Still, I’d like to.”
“Good. I would like you to, as well.” Leo kissed his forehead and got the shampoo back out for himself, working it into his short hair.
He got the soap and started washing Leo’s body, fingertips digging in to scrub. Pretty man.
“Mm. Thank you, boy. I didn’t ask you to wash my hair. No one ever can, I’m too tall.” Leo chuckled and rinsed the soap out of his hair. “You’re especially challenged that way, I think.”
“Look here. I’m not that little!” He was sort of short, sure, but he wasn’t tee-tiny.
“Hm. You’re little.” Leo looked down at him, smiling, then ducked under the rain shower head to rinse off.
“You weren’t saying that last night,” he murmured, fingers dragging over Leo’s ass.
“Well, not all of you is little.” Leo’s hand slid across his abs, fingers teasing his curls. “You were wonderful.”
Oh.
The world stopped a second, and he forgot to breathe. “Thank you so much.”
Leo caught his chin and kissed him. “Thank you, boy.” They froze for a second, staring at each other, then Leo shut off the water. “Crepes.”
“Right. Thin French pancakes and coffee for the win.” And clothes. Crepes. Clothes. A little bit of focus.
“Towels.” Leo pointed to a stack on a stool beside the shower.
“Cool.” Did they make towels in Leo size? He grabbed one to wrap around Leo, and damn, they so did.
“Thank you, boy.” Leo tucked it around his waist and grabbed his toothbrush. “Go get dressed.”
He took a towel for himself and headed into his bedroom, brushing his teeth and drying his hair before tossing on his jeans.
Leo was waiting in the kitchen, hair still damp and his short beard neatly trimmed. “I forgot to set the coffee maker up last night. You’ll remember that for me tonight, please, so we’ll have coffee for our commute in the morning.”
He frowned at how he caught himself nodding. What the hell? Still, he could do it. He knew coffee.
He had to stop just reacting.
“You look great. Are you ready to go?” Leo smiled at him, and he just reacted to that too, warming all over.
“I’m ready. Let’s feed you.” He grabbed his cap and made sure he was all tucked in.
“And you, bacon-hound.” Leo held the door for him and locked up. When they left the building, they discovered the day was overcast and gray and the street was pretty quiet. “Is it supposed to rain?”
“Honestly, I forgot to check. It’s chilly, though, and damp, huh?” It had taken him a while to get used to that.
“Yeah. Feels like rain.” Leo took his hand, so casually. “This place is just around the corner. Are you in the mood for sweet or savory?”
“Mmm…sweet with bacon? What do you like?”
“Sweet with strawberries and whipped cream and syrup,” Leo answered like that should be completely obvious. “I could go for some bacon on the side.”
“Hrm… I’ll have to study the menu. Everything sounds good when you’re hungry, right?” He was thinking maple syrup, but maybe there were better options…
“They have Nutella crepes… I may go that route. Do you like peanut butter? They have peanut butter with bananas on top. Blueberry compote… um… lemon creme with a mint drizzle…” Leo looked down at him. “I’ve been there a few times.”
His head tilted. “Peanut butter and banana? Oh…”
That was temptation. He could totally go for that.
Leo pointed at the door as they approached it. “I should warn you. They know me.” He got a wink as Leo opened the door.
“Leo!” A young woman waved to him from the hostess stand. “And a friend!”
“Katie.” Leo gave her a quick hug. “This is Chrissy.”
“Hey, Chrissy. Welcome.” Katie gave him a smile.
“Chris. Pleased to meet you, Katie.” He grinned back, inhaling deep. “It smells amazing in here.”
“It’s pretty decadent.” She leaned toward him, grinning. “Kate. You might as well give up now.”
“Yeah? It’s a losing battle?”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s a big, sweet daddy man, isn’t he?”
Shit, Leo was a fucking stud.
Kate dropped two menus on a table by the wall. One side was a booth-type bench that ran along the whole wall of the restaurant. Leo gestured for him to take the bench. “Enjoy, guys.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He thought that he would enjoy this. He already knew he liked eating with Leo. The man enjoyed his food.
Leo didn’t pick up the menu, but he picked up his coffee as soon as it was poured, added cream and sugar and took a big sip. “Ah. Coffee. So does not working mean you can’t go see the dogs?”
He put in a tiny touch of cream, no sugar. “I don’t tend to. I wouldn’t want to upset the other trainers’ apple carts. I can always call and visit them at home with their handlers, though.”
Leo nodded. “I’ll keep you busy at the office. Lexie can definitely keep you busy. You’ll like her. She loves animals but is mostly a dog person.”
“If I can be useful. I have a couple of weeks for sure.” And he hated just sitting with his own brain.
“You’re happy to be of service?” Leo’s question was teasing, but he knew there had to be a serious undertone.
“What if—” He didn’t want to disappoint Leo. He didn’t feel like being a failure, in the BDSM department.
Leo rested a hand on the table, palm up, asking for his. “Day by day is okay with me. I’m enjoying this, and you seem happy. I can’t know what is in your mind, but I think we’re good for each other. What if?”
God, he hated this part—the part where he didn’t know what to do, what he was supposed to say. “I was a terrible sub.”
“Were you?” Leo picked up his coffee and took a sip. “Were you a terrible sub, or were you a terrible sub for that Dom?”
God, he didn’t know, but he did know he’d been replaceable. “Does that matter at this point? I left my job, my home, my friends, the mountains—and he replaced me. No one even thought it was weird. It was like… expected.” Like everyone just assumed he couldn’t handle this. He hadn’t.
Leo squeezed his hand. “He failed you and treated you badly, and I don’t see how that’s your fault. He sounds like a bad person to me. You can’t grow into who you’re meant to be when you’re being mistreated.”
“I tried. I really failed, but—it’s over now, and I need to let it go.” He needed to move on, become what he wanted to be.
“I don’t believe that. But letting it go will be the best thing for you, regardless. You’ll have much more fun.” Leo kissed his fingers as a young man appeared at their table.
The server looked right at him and smiled. “Ready to order?”
“Banana and peanut butter crepes with bacon, please.” That sounded delicious.
“Perfect. And?”
“The strawberry shortcake crepes please. And we’ll share the bacon.”
“Whipped cream?”
“You’re new around here.” Leo laughed. “Yes. And powdered sugar, and maple syrup, please.”
“I like a man with a sweet tooth.” The server winked at Leo. “It’ll be right up, guys.”
“Sweeten us both up, hmm?” He had to tease, had to.
Leo rolled his eyes, but he was definitely blushing. “He’s not my type.”
“No? You’re his type.” But he didn’t know how much he liked to share.
“Shame.” Leo looked him in the eye. “I’m taken.”
“You fucking know it.” The words just sort of growled out of him, burning from his throat.
“Tsk. Language, boy.” Leo inclined his head indulgently. “Be respectful, please.”
He frowned, then he got what Leo was saying. Oh, man. He was going to pray that Leo wasn’t the punishment for cussing type, because his butt was grass. “I’m not known for my lack of cursing… Sorry.”
Leo chuckled. “You’ll be known for a pink backside then, boy. There’s a time and place. Breakfast is neither.”
“Don’t we have to agree to the rules?” That was how he’d done it before. They’d agreed to everything—rules and punishments and rewards. It had taken days and had been… exhausting. He’d ended up having to work overtime.
“No.” Leo snorted. “I mean, with some Doms, maybe, if they’re that high protocol. Me? I just trust. You have a safe word. If you don’t like my rules, you use it, and then we’ll talk about it. Speaking of which, what are your safe words?”
“Fuss and plotz.” They were the commands he had taught his dogs for years for heel and down.
One of Leo’s eyebrows shot up, and he laughed. “I will not have a problem with those.”
“I remember them, you know? I mean, they’re in my soul.” It seemed logical.
“Why are they in your soul? They’re pretty unusual.”
“I’ve taught a hundred dogs those commands. I use them, even in war, in a battle, in a blind panic.”
Leo picked up his coffee again. “I’d forgotten you were a soldier.”
“Yes. I enlisted when I was eighteen. Got out after eight years, then got to work with the police.”
“Thank you for your service. And you learned about training in the army?” Leo wasn’t making small talk, his eyes were on Chris, watching him.
“My folks were trainers, but I learned to train K9s in the service. It was an honor.” It still was.
“I’m so glad I asked.” Their food arrived, and Leo leaned back to make room on the table. They got refills on their coffee and a plate of bacon landed between them.
“Enjoy, fellas.” Their server was definitely flirting.
“We will.” Back off, man. I bite.
“Don’t be jealous. I’m here with you; I’m not interested in anyone else. Maybe someone is flirty or friendly, but you never have to give it a second thought. And I expect that in return.”
“I’m not a player. I don’t need that shit and drama, you know? If we’re together, we’re together.”
“See?” Leo nodded as he picked up his fork and knife. “A rule we agree on, right off the bat.”
Rules, safe words, boy … he was losing ground fast.
What was wrong with him? Was he this easy?
Leo took a big bite of his crepes, humming happily. “Mmm.”
He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen such a big man do a happy dance in his chair.
Okay, he dug into his, and it immediately took him back to his childhood. So good.
They ate for a bit without talking, but finally, Leo put his fork down to reach for his coffee. “Delicious, right?”
“Uhn. Want a bite?” He couldn’t stop licking his lips.
“Yes.” Leo grinned at him and opened his mouth like a baby bird.
He chose a perfect bite, then carefully offered it over so he didn’t drip.
Leo pulled the bite off his fork with white teeth and chewed while he forked up a bite as well and held it out. “Oh. Mm. Peanut butter. Try this.”
He leaned forward, taking the bite, the strawberries bright and sweet, where the cream was rich.
“This place is the best. It just makes me happy. I’m glad you are enjoying it too.” Leo did look pleased as he reached for a piece of bacon.
“I do. It’s got great coffee too.” And the company was… unnerving and wonderful and fine and hot.
“I thought we could go see the kittens, go home and have a nap, and then go to the bar for dinner and drinks and hang out.”
“Works for me. I got no plans.” He could do a load of laundry, if he was going to be all enthused…
“Yes, you do. My plans are your plans. If you want to make plans without me that don’t involve work, you have to ask my permission.”
“I—” He stared at Leo, trying to breathe. “Did we agree to that?”
“I didn’t hear a safe word.” Leo shrugged and took another bite of his breakfast.
“Oh.” Chris finished his coffee and waved down the waiter for more. His mind was going a million miles a minute, and none of the thoughts made sense.
“I respect your safe words, boy. If you don’t like something you can say so, and if you don’t feel I’m hearing you, you can safe word.” Leo said that like it was so simple. So… normal.
“I… you make me feel… I’m not all the way sure I’m ready to take a chance with disappointing us. I like you, you know?” He shut his mouth and shook his head. He just needed to breathe.
“I do know. I like you too. But I’m at the point in my life where liking someone, even loving someone isn’t enough.” Leo leaned toward him. “I understand you’re conflicted, still working things out for yourself, but I know what I need, and I’m being as open about that as I know how to be. You have work to do. Do it with me and see how things shake out.”
He couldn’t have looked away for love or money. “You swear that you’ll tell me if you start to get bored with me so I can go with dignity?” He was replaceable, but he wanted to have a minute to run before the new version showed.
Leo frowned, put his fork down, and stared right back at him. “I do, but I hope you think more highly of me than that. Your dignity is incredibly important to me.”
“I do, but I’ve made the mistake before, so I can’t trust myself anymore.” See him, see him going for pure honesty.
Leo nodded, not distracted at all by the restaurant or anything else. “I’ll earn it. I promise. You stay honest with me, and I will do right by you.”
“Honest I’m good at.” He held out his hand to shake, forcing himself to appear calm, steady.
“Oh.” Leo smiled, took his hand and shook it, then kissed his knuckles. “I can do better than a handshake.”
His cheeks heated, and he dipped his chin. “I don’t doubt that a bit.”
“So where were we? Oh, you were concerned I might get bored of you, even after a night like last night.” Leo winked at him. “I’d like to see anyone get bored of that. I’ve already scheduled in a nap for us today.”
“Naps are sort of desperately important.” Especially since he didn’t sleep.
Leo’s voice dropped to that sexy low purr. “You have some sleep to catch up on, and I would like you in my arms again as soon as reasonably possible.”
Didn’t that just light him up like a Roman candle? His entire body responded, head to toe, and he shivered with it.
The knowledge that Leo had to see that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Leo sat back in his chair with a satisfied smile. “Are we ready to go see the kittens?”
“I am. Dot and Spot need a good petting.” And he needed a little moment to just think.