Chapter Twenty-Five
Garett
Garett walked into the guest house, his boots echoing on the wooden floor as he made his way to the laundry room. He’d been looking forward to picking Torin up after finishing his own chores, maybe taking him for a horseback riding or just spending some quiet time together. But when he pushed open the door to the laundry room, he found Sam alone, folding sheets with a bored expression on his face.
“Where’s Torin?” Garett asked, his tone casual but his eyes already scanning the room for any sign of him.
Sam didn’t look up, his hands busy with the fabric. “He left. Got into some trouble with Dante and took off. Didn’t say where he was going.”
Garett’s stomach dropped, his instincts immediately on high alert. “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”
Sam shrugged, finally meeting Garett’s gaze. “Dante came in while we were working. Torin mouthed off to him. Dante didn’t take too kindly to it. Slapped him around a bit, told him to learn some respect. Torin didn’t stick around after that.”
Garett’s jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Dante hit him?”
Sam nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yeah. Torin was pretty shaken up. He left in a hurry. Didn’t even finish the sheets.”
Garett’s mind raced, a mix of anger and worry surging through him. He didn’t like the sound of this—not one bit. Dante had no business laying a hand on Torin, no matter what he’d said. And that Torin had run off…that wasn’t like him. Not unless he was terrified.
Before he turned to leave, Garett fixed Sam with a hard stare. “Listen, Sam. You’re on probation as of right now. If I find out you’ve been stirring the pot or interfering with my relationship with Torin, you’re gone. Understand? And from now on, there’s no more talk of BDSM on the job. Not from you, not from anyone. Keep your opinions to yourself.”
Sam raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You might want to have a word with Torin about that. He’s the one who told everyone he’s your sub. That’s what set off Dante. Not me.”
Garett froze, his chest tightening. Torin had said that? To everyone? He didn’t know what to believe—Sam had a way of twisting things, but Torin…Torin wouldn’t just say something like that without a reason. Would he?
“I’ll deal with Torin,” Garett said finally, his voice low and firm. “But you stay out of it. And if I hear one more word about this from you, you’re done here.”
Sam held up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just the messenger. Don’t shoot me.”
Garett didn’t respond. He turned and walked out, his mind racing as he headed back outside. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the ranch, and Garett’s worry grew with every passing minute. Where would Torin have gone? He didn’t know the ranch well enough to wander far, but the property was vast, and it would be easy to get lost.
He started with the most obvious places—the stables, the bunkhouse, the main house—but there was no sign of Torin. As the sky darkened, Garett’s anxiety grew. He couldn’t shake the image of Torin, scared and alone, somewhere out there. Finally, he checked the pond on the far side of the property. It was a quiet spot, secluded, and if Torin had wanted to get away, it made sense he might go there.
When Garett reached the pond, the first thing he saw was Torin’s figure curled up on the grass, his back against a tree. He was asleep, his face peaceful but his body tense, even in rest. Garett’s chest tightened as he approached, his steps quiet so as not to startle him.
Kneeling beside Torin, Garett reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from his face. Torin stirred, his eyes blinking open, and for a moment, he looked confused, almost scared. But when he saw Garett, his expression softened, and he sat up slowly.
“Hey,” Garett said softly, his voice warm but tinged with concern. “You okay?”
Torin nodded, though his eyes were downcast. “Yeah. I just…needed some space.”
Garett studied him for a moment, then sat down beside him, their shoulders brushing. “Sam told me what happened. With Dante.”
Torin’s breath hitched, and he wrapped his arms around his knees. “I didn’t mean to mouth off. I just…I couldn’t take it anymore. He was saying things, and I—”
“Hey,” Garett interrupted gently, placing a hand on Torin’s shoulder. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. But you can’t just take off like that, okay? I was worried about you.”
Torin looked up, his eyes searching Garett’s. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Garett smiled faintly, his thumb brushing against Torin’s arm. “It’s okay. Just…next time, come find me, alright? We’ll handle it together.”
Torin nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Okay.”
They sat there for a while, the sound of the pond’s gentle ripples filling the silence. Garett didn’t press him for details, didn’t ask about what Sam had said or what Torin had told the others. There would be time for that later. For now, all that mattered was that Torin was safe, and that they were together.
As the last light of the sun faded, Garett stood and held out a hand to Torin. “Come on. Let’s get you back. How about a bubble bath?”
Torin smiled and nodded. “You’re not going to be nice to me once you find out what happened.”
“We will not talk about any of what went on right now. I want to get your home and in the tub. Later on, we’ll discuss it.”
Torin took his hand, and as they walked back home, Garett couldn’t shake the feeling that they were facing something bigger than either of them had expected. But whatever it was, they’d handle it. Together.
When they reached home, they removed their boots and set them on the tray.
“Where’s your phone?” Garett asked.
“I forgot to charge it last night. It’s in my pocket.”
“Take it out. I’ll charge it for you.”
Torin pulled his dead phone out of his pocket and handed it to Garett.
“Take it upstairs and get ready for a bubble bath.”
“Yes, Sir.”
When he climbed up the stairs, his phone buzzed. Another message. This time, it was Dante.
Dante: Meet me in my office. Bring Torin.
Garett: We’ll be there within an hour. Garett frowned. He didn’t like the sound of that. Dante rarely asked to see him in his office unless it was something serious. Garett didn’t want to ruin Torin’s bubble bath, but he knew they couldn’t ignore Dante’s summons.
By the time he got upstairs, Torin was kneeling on the middle of the floor, his head lowered with his hands over his head. The boy didn’t have a stitch of clothing on. He told him to get ready for a bubble bath.
“Torin, what a surprise. Perfect position.” Garett circled around him, stopped and lifted his chin. With a gentle touch, Garett pressed his lips against Torin’s, the warmth of his skin lingering even after they separated.
“You’re delicious, Torin.” He helped Torin stand and walked him to the bathroom.
“Why are you being so nice to me? I fucked up today.”
“We’ll discuss that later. I want you relaxed.”
He turned on the water in the tub and took the bubble lotion from under the cabinet. Garett ran the bathwater, the sound of the faucet filling the quiet bathroom as steam began to rise and curl in the air. He added a generous pour of a lavender-scented bubble bath, the soothing fragrance immediately filling the room. Torin had had an upsetting day—that much was clear from the moment Garett had found him by the pond, shaken and withdrawn. He hadn’t pushed Torin to talk, not yet. Right now, all Garett wanted was to help him relax, to ease the tension that seemed to radiate from his body.
Torin stood in the doorway, his arms wrapped around himself, his shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself smaller. He was still shaking slightly, though whether from the cold or the lingering fear of what had happened with Dante, Garett couldn’t be sure. His eyes were downcast, his usual confidence replaced by a quiet vulnerability that made Garett’s chest ache.
“Come here,” Garett said softly, his voice warm and steady as he turned off the water. He crossed the room and gently took Torin’s hand, leading him to the edge of the tub. “Let’s get you warmed up, okay?”
Torin nodded, though his movements were hesitant as he stepped into the bath. The warm water and bubbles enveloped him, and he sank down slowly, his breath catching as the heat soothed his tense muscles. Garett kneeled beside the tub, his hand resting on the edge as he watched Torin carefully.
“You’re safe here,” Garett said, his tone firm but gentle. “Whatever happened today, we’ll figure it out. But right now, I just want you to relax. Can you do that for me?”
Torin looked up at him, his eyes wide and uncertain, but he nodded again. “Yeah. I’ll try.”
Garett gave him a small, reassuring smile before standing and moving to the counter. He lit a few candles, the soft glow casting flickering shadows on the walls, and turned on some quiet, instrumental music that filled the room with a calming ambiance. When he returned to the tub, he brought a washcloth and a small bottle of bath oil, setting them within reach.
“Close your eyes,” Garett said, his voice low and soothing. “Just breathe. Let the water do the work.”
Torin obeyed, leaning his head back against the edge of the tub and closing his eyes. His breathing was still a little uneven, but as the warmth of the water and the scent of lavender surrounded him, he began to relax, his shoulders sinking lower into the bubbles.
Garett watched him for a moment, his chest tight with a mix of emotions. He hated seeing Torin like this—scared, uncertain, carrying a weight he wasn’t ready to share. But Garett knew better than to push. For now, all Garett could do was be there, to offer comfort and support in whatever way he could.
He dipped the washcloth into the water, wringing it out before gently dabbing it over Torin’s shoulders. The touch was light, almost reverent, and Torin let out a soft sigh, his body relaxing further under Garett’s care.
“You’re doing great,” Garett murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just let go. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Torin’s breath hitched, and for a moment, Garett thought he might say something. But instead, he just nodded, his eyes still closed, his hands resting on the edge of the tub.
Garett continued to tend to him, his movements slow and deliberate, his touch grounding and reassuring. The music played softly in the background; the candles flickering gently, and for a while, the world outside the bathroom ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, in this quiet, safe space, where nothing else mattered but the here and now.
As the bathwater cooled, Garett reached for a towel, holding it open as Torin finally sat up and stepped out of the tub. He wrapped the towel around Torin’s shoulders, pulling him into a gentle embrace.
“You’re not alone in this,” Garett said, his voice firm but kind. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll handle it together. But you don’t have to carry it all by yourself, okay?”
Torin nodded against his chest, his hands gripping the towel tightly. “Okay,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Garett held him for a moment longer, his hand resting on the back of Torin’s head. He wondered what had happened with Dante, he only had Sam’s exaggerated version. He didn’t know what Torin was so afraid of telling him. But he knew one thing for certain—no matter what, he’d be there for Torin. And together, they’d figure it out.
Garett told Torin to make them coffee and he’d be right down. He checked Torin’s phone. There were ten messages from Byron. He quickly deleted them and blocked his number. He had to protect Torin from Byron.