Chapter Five #3
Phil’s skin had reddened to the point of being scarlet.
He sucked in a deep breath as if he were about to burst out with his own rant, but instead, his eyes widened and he snapped his mouth shut.
Tension radiated from his expression and after a moment where he couldn’t meet Terry’s eyes, he scrubbed his face with both hands.
Terry held in a groan. So much for the makeup.
Phil slowly nodded then glanced up at Terry, his features twisted in a grimace, his eyes glistening.
“You’re right. I was just about to correct you for talking down about yourself, yet what have I been doing?
I’m not being a good example, am I?” Phil let out a long sigh.
“Eric would tan my hide over such childish behavior.”
Terry huffed. “He’d better not.”
Phil arched his eyebrows. “You don’t think I deserve it?”
“I didn’t say that. He just doesn’t get to put his hands on my Master.”
Phil took a tentative step forward, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Does this mean I’m forgiven, baby?”
As if I wouldn’t forgive the one person I can’t live without. That’s hilarious.
Terry moved toward Phil until they were so close they were breathing the same air. Terry nudged Phil’s nose with his own, rules be damned. “Of course, I forgive you. I love you no matter what. That’s the part I need you to fully grasp.”
Phil wrapped him in an embrace, running his hands up Terry’s back, bringing their bodies together until their chests touched. Terry had always felt secure in Phil’s arms and it was even sweeter after a squabble. His Master never skimped on the affection.
“Can I hug you back?”
It was only Wednesday, and even though they’d needed to be free to express themselves during the shoot with Van, they were back to being alone in their D/s dynamic.
Phil angled his head so he could gaze down at him. “Yes, you can. I think I might even need it more than you do. I’m so sorry, Terry. I really am.”
They held each other in silence for several minutes, Terry with his cheek resting on Phil’s shoulder and Phil resting his cheek on Terry’s head. At last, Phil spoke.
“I’d still like to do the photos, that is, if you do. Otherwise, we can save it for another time if you feel the mood’s been ruined. That’s what you meant, right? When you said you didn’t want things to be ruined?”
Terry loosened his hold to make sure Phil could see the truth in his expression. “That’s not what I meant at all. I was worried my frustration with you would mess up your birthday. My timing could’ve been better.”
To Terry’s surprise, Phil snorted out a laugh. “And my actions as your Master could’ve been a helluva lot better.” He stepped back, laughing harder as he held up his palm to Terry. “Statement of fact, not putting myself down, I swear.”
Terry narrowed his eyes. “Well, I guess I can’t argue with that. All right, truce?”
Phil answered him with a deep, heated kiss.
The unrestricted touching on their getaway weekend to Ojai had been glorious and he lost himself as he allowed his hand to drift down the back of Phil’s pants, searching with his fingers until he found the waistband of his briefs.
Phil grabbed his wrist as he broke their lip-lock.
“Now, now. That’s a tad more involved than a hug.”
Terry groaned. We made an agreement. What’s the point of any of this if it’s not adhered to? “You’re right.” He reluctantly removed his hand. “But I want to take you up on your offer.”
“Oh?” Phil cocked his head. “Which one would that be?”
“The one where you said you’d still like me to photograph you.”
“Ah.” Phil regarded him with fondness. “That one.”
“I’ll have to redo your make up first anyway, so I was thinking, I have this incredible gray-blue background.
If you changed into a white shirt and undid the top two buttons, maybe popped the collar, I could get some incredible shots of you staring into the camera with your piercing Dom gaze.
The white shirt would focus all the attention on your incredibly masculine and handsome features. ”
Terry waited for Phil’s typical response to such praise.
He chuckled instead. “I have a piercing Dom gaze?”
Holding back a grin was impossible. He took me seriously. “It’s amazing. I get a chubby every time.”
Phil snorted out a laugh. “Well, I’ll have to use my Dom superpowers on you more often, then.”
“Oh yes, you certainly should, Master.” Master. All is right with the world again. “Happy Birthday.”
Phil’s gaze softened. “Thank you, baby, for everything. Even the reprimand.”
Right as Terry was about to say it was okay, Phil pressed their lips together, prodding at Terry’s mouth with his tongue.
He opened up to accept the kiss and relaxed into Phil’s hold.
Even though a fight had been the furthest thing from Terry’s mind when he’d pictured Phil’s birthday celebration, in reality, it had turned out for the best. Once again, they’d proven how important they were to each other and how vital it was they communicate their needs within their scary—yet thrilling—life together.