Chapter 11 #2
“I’m saying that you should think about whether you want the press or anyone else to set the pace and narrative of your coming out.
I’ve always been open about being bi. This isn’t about me; it’s your journey.
If you’re never ready, then I’ll support you.
But what if someone is targeting you? Think about how ready you feel to be open about being bi not because you owe anybody else that but because you owe yourself it.
” He leans forward, brushing his thumb over my lower lip and then Shay’s.
“Also, I’m a possessive man. I want the world to know that you’re both mine. ”
I moan, and my eyelashes flutter.
I want that so fucking much.
Yet is this the right time?
Would the sporting world and the fans accept us in a polyamorous relationship? If they don’t, then we would all lose everything that we’ve spent the last five months building.
Shay bites his lip. “But everything’s just so brilliant right now. We’ve moved in together. Eden is the happiest and most independent that he’s ever been. We three are bloody good together. We just need to win the next games. What if my shit ruins everything?”
D’Angelo’s expression becomes closed off. It’s startling.
Then he turns on his heel and swaggers to the window, leaning against the wall.
Shay exchanges a panicked look with me. I kiss his petal soft lips to stop him yanking on his handcuffed wrist.
He attempts to deepen the kiss, but I pull back.
Shay’s eyes are already dazed. He falls fast, whenever he’s bound. I have to be careful not to push him into subspace, since he doesn’t have much time before he needs to get ready for practice.
After losing the game yesterday, Dad insisted that the team spend the entire day at the rink in extra practice with the new assistant coach, Fleet.
I run my fingers down Shay’s arm that is held tautly above his head, before nuzzling against his side. “Your shit is our shit. Wait, that sounded more romantic in my head.”
Shay laughs. “Not one of my kinks, but thanks for the support, love.”
D’Angelo turns back to us, as we cuddle together like captured kittens in the center of the bed.
D’Angelo tilts his head, assessing. “I’ve been going about this all wrong.”
I blink at him. “You’re admitting that you were wrong…? Should I pop the champagne?”
He narrows his eyes. “Remarkably, once in a blue moon, it does happen.” Then he clears his throat. “I’m sorry.”
I blink for a second time. “Now you’re also apologizing. There must be two blue moons.”
“Or I did hit my head on the boards,” Shay suggests.
I flick his nose. “Don’t even joke about that.”
D’Angelo arches his brow. “Can I get back to my apologizing?”
I nod, enthusiastically.
A groveling D’Angelo is a rare thing.
D’Angelo plays with his suit jacket buttons, twisting them back and forth in patterns of three.
“There is more support for all of you in this town than you know. I should have allowed you to experience it earlier. There is a side to Freedom that you haven’t seen yet, which most haven’t.
It’s a discrete community that will welcome you because you’re with me. ”
Shay pales. “I knew that this was all too good to be true. He’s a bloody Freemason.”
“He’s not talking about the Freemasons.” I cock my head. “Right?”
Please say no…
“If a secret society is going on beneath this town with hazing rituals in the woods that include paddling, kneeling, and sucking cock then…” Shay grins. “Actually, sounds my kind of thing. Guess that we’ll have to go and buy robes and—”
“There is no secret society or paddling in the woods, although I may change my mind on that last point.” D’Angelo clears his throat, trying to regain the control, while Shay and I grin at him.
“Brats, I’m trying to tell you that I have friends in town who would know how to tame you.
Also, I hope that meeting them will help both of you see how our new lives can work. ”
My grin widens. “Finally, you’re going to introduce us to your mysterious friends. What took you so long?”
D’Angelo smooths down his tie. “I survived in the past by keeping sides to myself compartmentalized. I was self-destructive for a decade and holding tightly onto the control in my life is the only thing that saved me. But I didn’t mean to keep you at a distance.
I was just worried that you wouldn’t be able to accept all of me, if you knew everything about me at once. ”
Concern washes through me.
I sit up. “I’ve always accepted you.”
“Me too.” Hurt flashes across Shay’s face.
“My mind knows that,” D’Angelo replies. “But my body doesn’t. My family didn’t accept me. They rejected me twice. I’m still wired to be on high alert. My heart would break and never mend if you rejected me.”
My chest is tight.
But I force myself to say lightly, “Unless you’re about to reveal that you’re Freedom’s secret Butt Plug serial killer…”
“Or a Freemason,” Shay adds.
“Then we’re good.”
D’Angelo’s shoulders straighten; his smile becomes devilish.
Uh-oh.
What have we just given unwitting permission to?
Pretty much everything.
D’Angelo looks like a demon prince who has just had a soul sign themselves over with their own blood.
Shay appears to realize what we’ve done as well, gripping my hand in his.
“I’m going to introduce you to my friends tonight.
They are trained to be discrete, and I trust them in the same way that you do Neve not to spill our secrets.
You’re my first girlfriend and boyfriend.
They’ll be excited to meet you. And I need you both to start to trust that you already have all of me without the need for symbols like rings, wedding vows, or collars.
All of me in a way that no one has before. ”
His words hit me in a place deep in my heart.
“Jude…” My eyes burn with happy tears.
“I own a business in town. It’s the most important place to me, apart from wherever you two are. Finally, I want to show you my soul. I co-own the business with someone who is both my best friend and the man who trained me as a dom.”