Chapter Nineteen
Torin
Dante’s bark echoed off the wooden walls. His gaze shifted between Torin and Garett, both sitting up against the haystack facing the door with Garett protecting Torin’s naked body. Dante’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Do you two think this barn is some kind of playroom? Garett, your job is to train him, not to stick your cock up his ass like he’s your sub!”
Dante’s husband Blaine couldn’t meet their gaze, his eyes cast down, his hand still covering his mouth. It looked like he was still laughing at them.
Torin stiffened, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t used to being spoken to like that, especially not in front of others. But he held his tongue, knowing better than to escalate the situation. Garett, however, stepped forward, his tone calm but firm.
“Dante,” Garett began, his voice steady, “nothing is going on here without consent. Torin and I have gotten closer since we live together. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Torin’s progress at work has been excellent. But yelling isn’t going to help anyone.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his chest puffed out, ready to fight. “Don’t you dare tell me what to worry about. His brother asked me for a favor, and it didn’t include you fucking Torin. You’re here to do a job, not to question how I run things. And you—” He turned to Torin, pointing a finger at him. “You’re here to learn not to distract my employees from their assignment. This isn’t a damn vacation.”
Torin felt a flare of irritation but forced himself to remain calm. He glanced at Garett, who gave him a subtle nod, as if to say, Let me handle this .
“Dante,” Garett said again, his tone still even but with an edge of authority now, “Torin and I are working, and he is learning. If you’ve got concerns about how we’re spending our free time, that’s another thing. But accusing us of slacking off without knowing the full story isn’t fair. And it’s not a good way to manage your team.”
Dante’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, but Blaine stepped forward, placing a hand on his husband’s arm. “Dante, maybe we should take a breath and let them get dressed. Garett’s got a point. If they’re not working now, then there’s no issue. Let’s not make this bigger than it needs to be.”
For a moment, Dante looked like he might argue, but then he exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Fucking fine,” he muttered, though his tone was still laced with frustration. “But, Garett, remember your place. You’re a Dom and he’s not a sub. Don’t dump him when he can’t meet all your dark needs. You’re here to train him, not fuck him or break his heart. And, Torin, you’d better show some respect. This isn’t a game. People can disappear on my watch if they fuck up.”
Torin nodded, though he couldn’t help but feel pissed off. Now the fucker was threatening him. He understood the need for boundaries at the workplace, but Dante’s approach felt unnecessarily harsh. Garett, however, seemed unfazed. Was Dante right about him not being able to meet Garett’s needs? And what did Dante mean about dark needs? Would Garett dump him and break his heart? He must have done it before, or why would Dante bring that up? He worried quietly within himself.
“Understood,” Garett said simply. “But if we’re talking about proper behavior, Dante, it goes both ways. Respect isn’t a one-way street. You want us to do our jobs? Then trust us to do them. Micromanaging and yelling aren’t going to get you the results you want. I also don’t appreciate you threatening Torin. He did nothing wrong to deserve that.”
Dante opened his mouth to retort, but Blaine cut in again, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s all take a step back. Garett’s right—trust goes a long way. And, Dante, maybe we can discuss this later, in private.”
Dante glared at Garett for a moment longer before finally nodding. “Fucking fine. But this isn’t over.” With that, he turned on his heel and moved to leave the barn, Blaine following close behind.
“Dante, Garett and I are in a consenting relationship. We went riding after work, just so you know we weren’t goofing off. My brother sent me here, but he doesn’t get to tell me what to do on my free time.”
“Did you inform your brother about Garett and that he is a Dom?” Dante glared at Torin.
“We don’t discuss our sexual relationships. It’s none of his damn business.”
Blaine whispered something to Dante, then they left the barn.
Once they were gone, Torin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Well, that was…intense.”
Garett nodded. “Dante’s got a temper, but he’s not usually this bad. Something must be bothering him. Still, he’s not wrong about one thing—we need to keep things professional. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”
Torin nodded, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Dante’s outburst had been about more than just their work. “Do you think he’s got a problem with me specifically? Or is this just how he is with everyone?”
Garett hesitated, then shrugged. “Hard to say. Dante’s got his own way of doing things, and he doesn’t always explain himself. But don’t take it personally. Just keep your head down, do the work, and he’ll come around. Or he won’t. Either way, we’ve got a job to do.”
Torin nodded again, though he couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. He wasn’t used to being under someone’s thumb, especially not someone as volatile as Dante. But Garett was right—they had a job to do at the guest house. And if that meant putting up with Dante’s temper, then so be it.
“Alright,” Torin said finally, forcing a small smile.
“Let’s get dressed and leave the compound.” Garett said as he closed in on Torin. “We’ll finish this off at home.”
“I had so much fun with you today. I’m not going to let Dante ruin it for us.”
Garett tapped him on the shoulder, his grin returning. “That’s the spirit. Now, let’s see if you can actually follow a trail this time without getting distracted.”
Torin rolled his eyes but couldn’t help laughing. Despite the tension, he was starting to see why Garett was so good at what he did. And if Dante’s idea of “proper behavior” meant working with someone like Garett, then maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.
Once they reached home, they changed their clothes and left for the bar. Torin couldn’t stop worrying about what Sam and Dante had said. What if he was in over his head, only to cause himself more pain on top of the pain from Byron?
The bar was a welcome escape from the tension of the compound. The air inside was thick with the scent of sizzling meat and spilled beer. Neon signs buzzed softly, casting a dim glow over the wooden tables and the handful of cowboys scattered around the room. Torin slid into a booth near the back, Garett following close behind. They ordered beers and a plate of ribs, the kind of comforting meal.
Torin took a long sip of his beer, the cool bitterness doing little to ease the knot in his stomach. He’d been turning the conversation over in his mind since they left the barn, Dante’s cruel words still ringing in his ears. Yet, he realized Garett had stood up for him, the way he’d handled the situation with such calm and confidence, unlike the last time Dante had called Torin out for not calling his brother. It made Torin feel…Garett had listened to his words about protecting him and he did, like he cared about Torin’s needs.
Garett leaned back in the booth, his beer in hand, watching Torin with those sharp, perceptive eyes. “You’ve been quiet since we left,” he said. “What’s on your mind?”
Torin hesitated, swirling the beer in his glass. He wasn’t sure how to put his feelings into words, but he knew he couldn’t keep them bottled up forever. “I just…I don’t know if I can be what you need,” he admitted finally, his voice low. “You’re so…put together. You know who you are, what you want. And me? I’m still figuring it out. I don’t want to hold you back.”
Garett’s expression softened, and he set his beer down, leaning forward slightly. “Torin, you’re not holding me back. We’re both just trying to make it through this mess, same as everyone else.”
Torin shook his head, frustration bubbling up. “But that’s the thing—you make it look so easy. You handle Dante, you handle the job, you handle…me. And I feel like I’m just stumbling through, trying not to screw things up.”
Garett reached across the table, placing a hand on Torin’s arm. His touch was warm, comforting. “You’re not stumbling, Torin. You’re learning. And that’s okay. We’ve got time to figure this out—both the job and…whatever this is between us. We don’t have to have all the answers right now.”
Torin looked down at Garett’s hand, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions. He wanted to believe him, wanted to believe he was enough, just as he was. But the doubt lingered, a stubborn voice in the back of his mind whispering he’d never measure up.
“I just don’t want to disappoint you,” Torin said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Garett’s grip on his arm tightened slightly, and when Torin looked up, he saw something in Garett’s eyes that made his breath catch. It wasn’t pity or frustration—it was understanding. “You could never disappoint me, Torin. Not unless you stop trying. And I don’t see that happening soon.”
Torin felt a lump rise in his throat, and he quickly took another sip of his beer to hide it. He wasn’t used to this—to someone seeing him, really seeing him, and still wanting to stick around. It was both terrifying and exhilarating.
The ribs arrived then, the plate piled high with glistening meat and a side of fries. Garett grinned, pulling the plate toward them. “Enough serious talk for now. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
Torin couldn’t help but smile, the tension in his chest easing slightly. He reached for a rib, the sticky sauce coating his fingers as he took a bite. The flavors exploded in his mouth—smoky, sweet, and just a little spicy. For a moment, he forgot about Dante, forgot about his doubts, and just enjoyed the simple pleasure of good food and company.
As they ate, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—stories from Garett’s past jobs, Torin’s childhood memories, the easy banter that made Torin feel like maybe, just maybe, he could belong here. With Garett.
By the time they finished the ribs and ordered another round of beers, Torin felt a little more settled. The doubts were still there, lurking in the back of his mind, but Garett’s words echoed in his head: We’ve got time.
And maybe that was enough. Time to figure things out, time to grow, time to see where this thing between them might lead. For the first time in a long time, Torin allowed himself to hope.
As they left the bar, the cool night air brushing against his skin, Torin glanced at Garett walking beside him. There was still so much he didn’t know, so much he was still figuring out. But for now, in this moment, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. And that was enough since he was stuck here.