Chapter Fifteen
Garett
In the morning, Garett lay beside Torin, the warmth of their bodies still lingering beneath the sheets. The room was filled with sunlight, flickering shadows against the walls. Torin’s breathing was steady but quiet, his chest rising and falling beneath Garett’s palm. He was beautiful like this—soft, unguarded, his golden hair a tousled mess against the pillow. Garett leaned in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to his lips.
After a while, they showered and dressed, then Garett made pancakes for breakfast while Torin made their coffee. Torin sat down with the two coffee mugs and waited for Garett to bring him the pancakes.
“I’ve never been with a guy who wasn’t a sub or my sub. I don’t know how to treat you without…” He placed the platter of pancakes on the table.
“I know. I don’t know what your world is like. I want to be with you, but I want to be enough. I don’t think I’m enough.”
Garett cuddled Torin in his arms and kissed the top of his head. “That’s something we’ll have to work out between us.” He took his seat across from Torin.
“I know I can’t compete with those subs at Cowpokes.”
“I want to be with you, Torin,” Garett started, his voice low, the words measured. “But you need to understand, my world, the world I’m used to…it’s different. I’ve always been a Dom, and relationships for me have been structured around that dynamic.”
Torin nodded. “I know. I’ve seen how you are with others, how it works for you. But I don’t know if I’m into that. I can’t compete with what you’re used to.” Torin took a sip of his coffee.
Garett had never expected the complexity of emotions that would come with wanting to be with someone who didn’t share his lifestyle. “That’s just it. I don’t want you to feel like you need to compete. This isn’t about competition; it’s about us figuring out how we can fit together, how we can make this work.”
Torin leaned forward, his eyes locking with Garett’s. “What if I can’t give you what you need?”
Garett stood and walked over to Torin and ran his hand through his hair, struggling to find the right words. The way Torin looked at him with those uncertain eyes made his chest tight. This wasn’t a negotiation scene—this was real life, and he felt completely out of his depth.
“I need you to understand something,” Garett said carefully. “I’ve never done this—a regular relationship. My world has always been about control, about scenes and protocols.”
Torin shifted in his chair. “I know. And I can’t be that for you.”
“I want you to be you,” Garett replied quickly, surprising himself with the conviction in his voice. “That’s what I’m trying to say. You’re different. When I’m with you, I just want…you.”
“But that isn’t that part of who you are. I don’t want you to have to change yourself.”
Garett leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Listen, I’m not giving up anything. Being a Dom is part of me, yes, but it’s not all of me. What I feel for you—it’s something else entirely.”
“I can’t compete with what you’ve had before,” Torin said softly, looking down at his hands.
“This isn’t a competition.” Garett took Torin’s hands into his. “Look at me, please.” He waited until Torin’s eyes met his. “I might not know how to be a regular boyfriend. I might mess up. But I want to try with you. No scenes, no protocols—just us figuring it out together. If at any point you want to go to Cowpokes and look around again to see if anything interests you enough, then ask me and we’ll try it out.”
“Are you sure? Because if you need something I can’t give—”
“What I need,” Garett interrupted, “is someone who makes me feel. Someone who challenges me. Someone who sees me as more than just a Dom. That’s you.”
Torin’s fingers tightened around him. “I’m scared,” he admitted.
“So am I,” Garett confessed with a slight smile. “Terrified, actually. But I think you’re worth it. The question is, do you think I’m worth taking a chance on?”
The vulnerability in that question surprised even Garett. He was used to being confident, in control. But here he was, his heart in his throat, waiting for Torin’s answer.
“Yes,” Torin whispered. “Yes, you’re worth it.”
Garett felt something loosen in his chest. “Then we’ll figure it out together. No pressure, no expectations. Just us.”
“Just us,” Torin repeated, a small smile playing at his lips.
For the first time in his life, Garett felt like he was off balance when he was with Torin, without the familiar structure of his usual relationships. With Torin, he was discovering a different connection—one that scared him and thrilled him in equal measure.
Later, Garett stopped at Cowpokes to meet Colton while he left Torin at work with Sam at the laundry area. He arrived a little earlier, so he helped the bartender.
Garett wiped down the already spotless bar top, the rhythmic motion a balm to his frayed nerves. Cherry leaned against the counter. He smelled faintly of fruity cologne and something musky, something Garett couldn’t quite place. It made the hairs on the back of his neck prickle.
“Master Garett,” Cherry purred, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the already-loud music. “It’s not your work night and you’re here without Torin.”
Garett plastered on a smile, the practiced, professional smile he’d perfected over years of working at Cowpokes. “Cherry, I’m here to talk to a friend.”
Cherry’s eyes lingering for a moment too long on Garett’s lips. “Please, Sir, I’ve been thinking…about you. Specifically, about the way you play with me in the private rooms, the way I…respond to your touch.” He trailed off, letting the implication hang heavy in the air. “Will you be my temporary Dom? You could try me out and if it works, you can collar me permanently.”
Garett’s heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He’d gotten used to the come-ons, the blatant and subtle advances, but something about Cherry’s intensity felt different. More…insistent. Most likely, he had given Cherry mixed messages, and he’d better clear it up as soon as possible.
“I appreciate the offer, Cherry,” Garett said, his voice smoother than he felt, “but I’m not interested.” The poor boy needed a Dom in the worst way, if he only could find one for him. He didn’t know anyone who wanted Cherry now. Then the guilt set in with claws.
Cherry chuckled, a low, throaty sound. “Master Garett, I know you’re not seeing anyone, or Torin would be here with you.”
Garett’s breath hitched. He hated he knew exactly what Cherry meant. He’d always been drawn to the idea of having a submissive. Cherry was a lot of fun to play with, but Garett had zero attraction to him and no strong feelings for him. The intoxicating power of imbalance and his delicious surrender. But he was happy. He was truly happy with Torin and wanted them to work out. The thought of betraying Torin, even hypothetically, sent a fresh wave of guilt through him.
“Actually, I am seeing someone,” Garett said, his voice firm this time. The new relationship with Torin was his truth.
Cherry’s smile tightened. “Oh? And is this…someone…as…experienced as I am?” He raised an eyebrow, a challenge in his gaze.
Garett felt a flush creep up his neck. “He’s everything I need,” he replied, more defensively than he’d intended. He would not delve into the details of his relationship with Torin; he didn’t owe Cherry that.
Cherry studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then a slow smile spread across his face. “Suit yourself, Sir,” he said, his voice losing some of its predatory edge. He straightened, pushing himself off the bar. “But I’ll be waiting for you when you realize you’ve made a huge mistake.” He winked, then turned around, and walked away, leaving Garett feeling a mixture of relief and unease.
Garett knew Cherry wouldn’t forget this, and the offer wasn’t truly over in Cherry’s mind. But the knowledge that he’d rejected Cherry, that he’d chosen Torin, filled him with a quiet, contented satisfaction. It was a satisfaction, however, tasting of guilt, a bittersweet reminder of the desires that lay dormant beneath the surface of his potentially committed relationship with Torin. The subtle tension lingering between him and Torin hadn’t vanished completely, either. It was a feeling that settled uncomfortably between them, as if something unresolved was simmering below the surface. He told the bartender he wanted two beers at the table in the back, away from prying eyes and curious ears.
Garett spotted Colton the second he walked into Cowpokes, the familiar jingle of the bell over the door barely registering over the hum of conversation. Colton was hard to miss—tall, broad-shouldered, and carrying that effortless confidence that made people step aside without realizing why. His dark brown hair was slightly disheveled, his sharp dark eyes scanning the room before landing on Garett. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he made his way over.
“Garett,” Colton greeted, clapping a firm hand on his shoulder before dropping into the chair across from him. “You look like hell. Something tells me this ain’t just a casual drink.”
Garett exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair. “You’re not wrong.” He tapped his fingers against the wood, rolling his shoulders as he tried to find the right words. He had been over this in his head a dozen times, but saying it out loud felt different.
Colton arched a brow. “Alright, spill it. What’s got you so wound up?”
Garett sighed. “It’s Torin.”
Colton smirked, leaning back with an amused glint in his eyes. “Figured. You two have been circling each other for a few days. Something happen?”
Garett nodded, glancing down at his drink before meeting Colton’s gaze. “Yeah. We were together last night.”
Colton’s smirk faded slightly, his expression shifting into something more serious. “Alright. And?”
Garett rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Torin doesn’t have any experience with BDSM,” he admitted, voice low. “And you know me, Colton. I need that part of me in a relationship. It’s not just something I can set aside.”
Colton gave a slow nod, his fingers tapping against his glass. “But you still want him.”
Garett didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. I do.”
Colton studied him for a moment before sighing. “Alright, so what’s the real problem here? You worried he won’t be into it?”
Garett frowned. “I don’t know if he even understands what I need, let alone whether he’d be open to it. And I don’t want to push him into something he’s not ready for.”
Colton hummed in thought, taking a slow sip of his drink. “Then you need to take this slow, man. You can’t just drop him into the deep end and expect him to swim.”
Garett exhaled sharply. “I know that. But how do I even start?”
Colton leaned forward slightly. “You start small. You watch how he reacts to little things. Subtle control, subtle dominance. See how he responds when you give him direction outside the bedroom. Does he follow your lead? Does he push back? Does he enjoy being guided, even in simple ways?”
Garett considered that, his fingers tightening around his glass. “He responded well to me taking control last night,” he admitted. “Not just physically, but…emotionally. He let me lead.”
Colton nodded. “That’s a good sign. Keep an eye on that. Nudge, but let him set the pace. Some guys don’t even realize they crave submission until they experience it in the right way. You gotta make him want it, not feel like he’s being forced into something.”
Garett let out a slow breath, nodding. “Yeah. That makes sense.”
Colton smirked. “Course it does. I am the one with experience guiding newbies through this, remember?”
Garett rolled his eyes but smirked slightly. “Yeah, yeah. Guess you’re good for something after all.”
Colton chuckled, raising his glass. “Damn right I am. Now, relax. You’ve got this.”
Garett wasn’t sure about that yet, but for the first time since last night, the tension in his chest eased just a little.