Chapter 13
13
L eo watched him like a hawk, and it made Chris shiver, made every step he’d made all morning seem important.
Weighty.
Even now, as he opened the fridge and poured Leo a glass of iced tea, he could feel those eyes on him. Leo hadn’t said much other than good morning, but their shower was very nice—sexy nice—so he knew everything was fine. At least fine. Better than fine.
He couldn’t stop smiling, and he caught himself moving into places where Leo could reach him. Touch him.
“Thank you.” Leo took his tea and sipped it, downing half the glass in one gulp. “Under my bed, on your side, is a round cushion. Go and get it.”
There was? Dude. He nodded and headed off to the bedroom. How had he missed that?
The cushion was black and covered in a soft, plush fabric. Also under the bed were things less plush like chains, more leather straps, and a long, heavy-looking black bar with cuffs on each end.
It was like the kinky wardrobe into Narnia. It worked, because Leo was totally his lion.
Leo was playing with a shorter, lighter chain when he got back and took the cushion from him, setting it carefully by his feet. “Wrists, please. Mmm. Those cuffs are so handsome on you.”
His fingers clenched without a thought, but he held his wrists out. “Do you think so?”
Leo nodded, dropped the chain in his lap and took each hand in turn, stroking, smoothing his fingers out. “Easy, boy. Good boy.”
“I don’t know why that happens. It’s not about you, though. Not at all.” He believed in Leo.
“I know. It’s about you, which matters to me.” Leo picked up the chain again, slowly fastening it to his cuffs. “I know your words. I’m listening.”
Leo was always listening.
He leaned forward and kissed his lover’s temple. “I know. Thank you, Sir.”
Oh, that won him the best smile. Leo just beamed at him, so pleased.
“Now. You kneel here with me and feel those cuffs and that chain and just know you’re mine. Think about the word ‘sub’. What it means to you.” Leo helped him settle, close enough that he was touching Leo’s legs.
Chris closed his eyes. He didn’t know what he was supposed to learn about the word ‘sub’.
Submissive.
He was in some ways, and not in some. At work, he didn’t have to be a big alpha, unless shit hit the fan. That was what they were training the handlers to be. He was… the teacher. The weird-assed dog whisperer and?—
No.
Wait.
Thinking about the word sub.
Sub.
It meant under. Below. Beneath.
Subpar. Submarine. Submerge. Submission.
Missive was message. Under the message? Beneath the message?
It meant obedient too. Teachable.
Leo was silently looking at his phone while his mind was busy making up definitions. Every once in a while, Leo would snort or sigh at something he was reading.
“Mmm.” Leo hummed. A hand landed on the top of his head, fingers combing through his hair.
He leaned into the touch, needing that way more than his swirl of thoughts. This was what it was about.
This comfort.
He had no sense of time, really, but it seemed like hours before Leo spoke to him again.
“I need an answer,” Leo said softly. “Before the weekend is out, I need a yes or a no to the only question you haven’t answered for me already. Do you know what the question is?”
He nodded. He did. That part was easy. Was he Leo’s sub?
Not even did he want to be, but was he.
“Good boy.” Leo rubbed his back for a second. “Okay, then. Regardless of the answer, your job for the next little while is to clean up your room, and move into mine.”
Oh.
Oh, he felt that in his core.
He understood what that meant, what Leo was offering without anything from him. He launched himself up and into Leo’s lap, kissing Leo hard. “Yes, Sir!”
“Oh my.” Leo laughed, taking a second quick kiss. “I hadn’t expected such a reaction to an order to clean your room.” Leo winked at him, as if to say that he knew very well it wasn’t actually about his room at all. “I can’t wait to see what happens when I order you to clean my leather.”
Chris began to chuckle, so tickled. “Ooh, I’ll make sure to scrub with my heinie in the air.”
“Oh. Naked, I think. I cannot wait.” Leo caught his chain in one big hand. “This is going to make cleaning difficult. I’m not taking it off. Just know that I know.”
His breath caught in his chest, and his prick jerked. “You’re watching.”
And he felt that in his marrow.
“I am.” Leo nodded slowly, letting the charged air hang between them for a long moment. “The dresser under the TV is yours, and the left side of the medicine cabinet. If you’re not sure where to put something, just ask.”
“Yes, Sir.” He got to work, shifting around clothes and his books. Odds and ends. Lord knew he had a lot of little things, and they all made him happy.
They made him happier in Leo’s room.
Leo watched him every time he walked by going from room to room, and finally appeared in the bedroom door in the late afternoon.
He leaned against the doorjamb, filling the entire frame. “What do you think we should do with that extra room, boy? Before you moved in, I was considering a sort of library. Books and beanbag chairs and—well, first I was considering a ball pit, but that seemed a bit too much, even for me—so… somewhere to put all my DVDs and comic books, you know? Do you have another idea?”
“I don’t know. A ball pit could be fun. A room filled with trampolines. We could buy a giant octopus and let it live in here.” He grinned over and winked. “A media slash reading room could be fun. It’s got amazing windows.”
“I want to put in one of those electric fireplaces since I can’t have a real one.” Leo was still watching him as he moved around, finding homes for his things. “You could have all your books in there too. We could put in a nice sound system.”
“We’d need a good loveseat. Something solid.” Something they could make love on.
“Everything I buy is solid—for obvious reasons.” Leo chuckled. “iPad by the bed?”
“I watch TV when I can’t sleep. It’s my security blanket.” He hadn’t used it nearly as much since sharing Leo’s bed, but it was still necessary for those late-night insomnia moments.
Leo squinted at him, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips. “Hm. If you’re not sleeping, I’m doing something wrong.”
“What? You are not! You are mine, and you’re perfect!”
The sound of laughter filled his ears, and his feet left the floor as Leo grabbed him up in a hug.
He snuggled right in, feeling like he was light, filled with joy, which was so weird.
“You are mine, Sir ,” Leo said, setting him back down. “So disrespectful.”
He stuck just the tip of his tongue out, teasing hard. He didn’t want to make Leo mad, just see where their boundaries were. See what happened.
See if Leo played.
Thick fingers took hold of his chin and lifted it so their eyes met. Leo’s expression seemed stern, but his eyes were twinkling. “I will give you something for that tongue to do and a pink ass so you don’t forget the lesson.”
“Yes, Sir. I wouldn’t forget.” Chris might do it again because it was exciting and fun, but that wasn’t off-limits.
“That’s my naughty boy.” He got a wink and Leo let his chin go. “I like your things in here. This is much better.”
“It is. Thank you for inviting me, Sir.” He used the honorific because he needed Leo to understand how serious he was.
He had to admit that when he was respectful, Leo’s obvious pride made him even sexier. “I hope you know you’re very welcome. More than welcome.”
Chris nodded and pushed up, stealing a kiss. He did know. He was happy here somehow. Like truly happy.
It was a little nerve-racking, but day by day, he was learning to trust in that.
“Is this chore all done? Have you swept up in your old room yet?”
“No. I mean, it wasn’t gross before, so I didn’t think about it…”
“No, Sir , boy.” Leo raised an eyebrow. “And I did say clean your room, right?”
He sighed dramatically. “Yes, Sir. I hadn’t gotten to it yet. Have you ever swept in cuffs?”
Leo’s head tilted. “Did you really just ask me that question?”
“Yes.” It was less a question than a joke, but he wasn’t going to lie…
“Mmm. Your before-bed atonement is going to be so much fun.” Leo gave him a swat on the butt. “Go finish your room, and then I’ll show you my leather.”
“Yes, Sir. I’m on it.” Before-bed atonement.
Interesting.
He wanted to know. He really was curious because, for the first time in his life, he thought that someone understood him, wanted what he wanted, needed what he needed.
Sweeping his room—even in cuffs—took no time at all, but the pile of leather was more daunting. A flogger, the bed ties they’d used the night before, those leather jeans Leo had worn yesterday, another set of cuffs and three different paddles—one of which had holes in it and another covered in pointy studs.
“Cleaning leather is thirsty work,” Leo said, setting a bottle of water down next to him.
He glanced up at Leo. He wasn’t sure how to deal with all of this. Some of it, sure, but he didn’t want to ruin any of it. “Can I ask a question, please, Sir?”
“Yes, of course.” Leo sat with him, which made him easier to talk to. He didn’t have to… look up .
“I’ve never cleaned some of this. Can you help me, please, Sir? I don’t want to ruin anything.”
“It’s very simple, really.” Leo picked up a paddle. “When I used these on bare skin the leather picks up oils and fibers. It’s exposed to bacteria and bodily fluids. So it’s important to clean it for safety reasons, and also so the leather stays supple and soft. I like the glycerin soap for these—you just wipe it on with one damp cloth and off with another.”
Leo turned the paddle over in his fingers, holding it like it was something meaningful. Something important. “And these look fine today, but if you ever notice they seem dry, I have a conditioner. The paddles are pretty easy. The flogger requires some attention to make sure you get every fall and up where the falls meet the handle. And I sweat, so the handle needs a good scrub.”
He paid attention, because it was important, but part of him—like the core of him—was just hearing Leo, soaking in the cadence of the deep voice.
He realized after a second that Leo was just watching, waiting for him to respond. “Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure things were done right.” I was so busy floating in your voice.
“Good. And don’t forget the lollipop.” Leo reached for a wooden paddle in a pretty grain and with a flat, round end. “One of my favorites for over-the-knee. Just a damp cloth for this one. Mineral oil very rarely.”
“The lollipop. I like that.” He leaned over and stroked it, and it was smooth as silk.
“Isn’t it gorgeous? We’ll use it tonight.” Leo kissed his temple and stood again. “The soap smells good.”
“It does. I’ll take care of all this, I promise.”
“I know you will. Thank you, my good boy.” Leo moved away. “I’m going to order in for dinner. Do you have a request?”
“No, Sir. I’m pretty easy.” And Leo knew what he liked.
“Sushi? Or maybe just sandwiches? Hm.” Leo pulled his phone out and wandered away.
He admired Leo on his way out. So damn hot.
So fine.
He got to work on the leather, humming under his breath.