12 - Setting Expectations
Darren Quinn
This could be absolutely incredible... or it could go very bad.
The thought was never far from Darren's mind as they talked over drinks at Leander and Tristan's very nice house in Cambridge.
He didn't have to know Tristan to understand the tension and regret in the man's form as he tried to disclose his past with Miles.
As for Miles, his husband's tendency towards worry and self-doubt could very quickly lead to Miles convincing himself he wasn't right for Tristan after all.
He'd need to do everything he could to encourage them both in the opposite direction.
He could tell Leander was worried too, and tried to reassure the pretty man as much as he could.
As much as he'd never believed in gay telepathy, from a few careful words exchanged, he was fairly certain Leander understood his purpose.
He was more certain when Leander left them for sleep that the man was giving him an opportunity to do something, flashing Darren a hopeful smile as he left.
There were some things that Darren knew very well, especially when it came to Miles.
Wrapping Tristan's desire around his little finger was blessedly easy.
There was still something awkward between them after they'd both gotten off for him, but the tension had broken and, more importantly, it would be impossible for either to deny what they wanted. It was a good first step.
As soon as they were settled in the pool house, with Tristan off to bed, Miles pressed close. "Darren... are you sure this is okay?"
Darren could easily understand the reason for his husband's tortured desire: Tristan's young, impossible, one-sided crush.
Which had clearly not been as one-sided as Tristan thought.
Darren couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled Miles close.
"My poor, strong, handsome pet," he purred softly, nuzzling a kiss to Miles's mouth.
"It must have been such a shock when your horny little sixteen-year-old friend admitted his feelings.
It sounds as if you conducted yourself so admirably. I'm so proud of you."
Blessedly, much of the tension left Miles's body in a soft, rueful laugh. "I felt really guilty about it for a while, like I must have led him on. I couldn't let myself think of him that way when he seemed so much younger than me, back then."
"I'm sure Tristan understands that," Darren assured him, relieved when his husband returned his smile. "You were, what, seventeen? Eighteen??"
"Yeah."
"Then you were basically a saint," Darren told him firmly, and punctuated his words with a kiss. "Alright. Being that was long ago, and we're all grown adults now... would you still like to learn how to dominate him?"
Miles caught his bottom lip between his teeth briefly with an unmistakable flash of longing. "You really don't believe that would be inappropriate of me? When he was almost like a brother to me?"
"Not in any way."
"Even if..." Miles swallowed. "Even if he still wants me to... to fill that role for him now, too?"
There it was. The source of the worry. Darren lifted a hand to caress his cheek. "Perhaps... part of you wanted to keep things as they were between you and be his lover too?"
Miles's lips tightened as he gave a sharp shake of his head. "I didn't... I couldn't."
"I know." Darren caressed his cheek gently. "It's alright to regret, love."
"I didn't want to do wrong by him," Miles murmured, jaw tensing, conflicted. "But every choice that I had was going to hurt him, every option. I couldn't... give in. I couldn't hurt him more."
"It's okay." Darren kissed the furrow between his brows, stroking his fingers through his hair. "He understands, love. This can be your chance to set it right. You can be everything you wanted to be for him then. And I'll be here with you."
"Thank you." Miles raised his head to claim a long, slow kiss. "I'd really like that. All of that. If it's not... wrong of me.”
Darren shook his head. "Not wrong if it's right for both of you. Some masters are Sir, some are owners, some are Daddy... Being an older friend or mentor isn't really any different. If it doesn't bother you the way 'Daddy' does."
Miles's lips twitched into a sweet, shy smile, and he shook his head.
"Excellent," Darren purred, and couldn't help but claim another kiss from that smile. "That will be a wonderful dynamic to explore for you."
"I hope so." Miles let out a breath, more tension leaving his shoulders. "But what about Leander?"
Darren couldn't help but smile, remembering their time in the garden. "I get the impression he'd be very much into that."
"And you want that? If this is all just for my sake - "
Darren shook his head. "Leander needs this. For Tristan's sake and his own. I very much want to be the person to give that to him, with you. We have time to work out the details."
"Alright." Miles relaxed more, cuddling into him. "I think I also need to be upfront about... the alcoholism. Everything that happened back then. I know it's been years, and I'm happier now and better than I've ever been, but... I'm not the same person I was when he knew me."
"I don't think anyone would expect you to be. He won't be either, you know."
"I know. But he hasn't.... You know. I just need to be honest about everything, if we're going to do this."
Darren nuzzled his temple. His instinct was to question putting so much information in front of Tristan all at once, but if Miles felt it was important, he shouldn't try to dissuade him. "Alright, love. Just tell me what you need from me."
"I will." Miles traced his fingers up the line of his husband's spine, letting out a long breath. "Is it normal to feel absolutely terrified of fucking it up?"
"Very." Darren gave a soothing hum, stroking his fingers into his hair.
Then he drew away, holding Miles's gaze seriously.
"Husband. Listen carefully. Those two beautiful, eager subs I just met?
Their kink needs are not that complicated.
I need you to trust me when I say that I could dominate you and both of them, at the same time, blindfolded, with one hand tied behind my back.
Everything else we'll work on together. Alright? "
Miles chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Alright. Since I just had a taste of that... I trust you."
"Good," Darren said, pulling him into a warmer kiss. "Now we should go to bed and talk about what we want to happen next."
Miles melted into him, stroking his hands down to squeeze his ass. "Mmm... and I should reward you for helping me take care of my little bunny, Sir."
Darren smiled, happily starting to unbutton his jeans again. "Or while I reward you for having been so very, very good to your brother's best friend so long ago."
~~~
Leander Chase-Morgan
Despite the evening not going how Leander had hoped, he didn't allow himself to be disappointed.
How could he be, when Tristan had found something far more precious than a mere casual sex partner could ever be?
Still, he couldn't push away his wistfulness.
His experience with Darren at the party had been electric, and outside of the party, he'd proved as adept a conversationalist as he was a dominant, even fully clothed. He ached for more of that.
He yearned for more of both of them. Tristan's old friend and his husband were lovely to look at and even more wonderful to talk to.
Leander had been very glad they'd agreed to come home and continue their conversation, and very sorry to have to beg off and go to sleep when he hadn't been able to keep his eyes open.
Secretly, part of him had hoped that he'd discover the next morning that Tristan hadn't come to join him at all.
But at some point, he half-woke to Tristan snuggling into bed beside him, and Leander sleepily opened his arms to his husband and put all thoughts of threesomes and foursomes out of his mind.
In the morning, he carefully slipped from the warmth of Tristan's sleeping embrace, kissing his hair and going downstairs to make an espresso.
He sipped it on the back veranda, looking over the garden and the pool, the morning sunlight filtering through the trees.
It felt nice, he decided, knowing that Tristan's old friend and his husband were asleep in the pool house. He could get used to it.
Miles wandered up the path as he was finishing. He raised a hand in greeting, his smile sleepy.
Leander stood to meet him. "Was everything alright with the guest house?"
"I think it's bigger than our first apartment together at home," Miles replied with a soft huff of a laugh. "It's great. Just saw you up and wanted to come talk to you."
Curious. Leander tried not to worry. "Coffee?"
"Love some. Thank you." Miles followed him inside, leaning against the counter as the espresso machine went to work. "Thank you for this, too. I hope it's all right that we stayed. I know this wasn't what you had in mind when you propositioned us."
Leander smiled and shook his head. "Some things are more important than a romp in the sack, even if it is with men as gorgeous as you two are. Though I certainly wouldn't complain if things still went that way."
Miles's lips turned into a smile as he took the cup, blowing on the steaming liquid before taking a sip. "Mmm. That's good. You still want things to go that way?"
"A man can dream, can't he? You and Tristan are too lovely together for me not to have a few dirty fantasies."
"Even considering our past?"
Leander shrugs. "Still hot. Maybe hotter."
Miles chuckled softly, shaking his head. He didn't seem at all perturbed by Leander's declaration, sipping his coffee. Leander tried not to leap to conclusions at the tiny encouragement.
"Darren likes you," Miles said finally, looking up at him.
"Both of you. I do, too. We've never seriously played with anyone else before.
I know it would take time to figure things out for us even if Tristan and I didn't know each other, but...
I hope we can take that time." He hesitated, eyebrows knitting together.
"Except... I've only ever subbed for Darren.
I'm not sure I could submit to anyone else. I'm sorry."
Leander drained the remainder of his cup, trying to keep his cool. "Well, I was rather hoping I would be the one submitting."
"Yeah?" Miles smiled, unmistakably interested. "To me, or Darren?"
Whichever one of you is willing to fuck me hard and put me away wet, Leander thought. "Either. Both."
"And Tristan's definitely alright with this?"
"He's the one who initially suggested it.
Playing with others, I mean. Well, and inviting you home last night.
" He glanced towards the stairs, thinking of Tristan still asleep in bed, warm and beautiful and relaxed.
"I never thought I could meet anyone like him.
Someone who could be a partner in the scene and in real life.
He's so smart, so... intuitive. He knows what I need before I even do sometimes.
He'd do anything if I asked him to. But he's just not....
" he held up his hands helplessly, smiling at Miles's questioning look.
Was there a more subtle way to put it? "A dom?
And it's not that he's bad at it, but I know he has to lead in so many areas at work, and it's so much energy and...
I don't want to ask him to be what he's not. So... this."
Miles nodded, nursing his coffee, thoughtful. "Darren told me a bit about your walk in the garden," he said, watching Leander carefully. "He... might have... facilitated a similar end to the evening for Tristan and me."
"Ooh, really?" Heart leaping, Leander couldn't hold back the excitement. "Oh, I'm so glad. Not because of some, you know, need for balance or whatever, I just - it felt like he really needed that with you. Thank you."
Miles lowered his eyes, chewing on his bottom lip despite his soft smile.
Finally, he spoke again. "I found it really appealing last night, watching you watching us.
We'd enjoy continuing to get to know both of you better before making any plans to...
make things more complicated, but... Dare and I think it might be nice to maybe watch each other again later, at least to start?
If you'd like to. If Tristan still wants to. "
"We have a mirrored bedroom in our private dungeon in the basement." The words left Leander's mouth before he could stop them.
Thankfully, Miles chuckled, warm and undoubtedly approving.
It triggered a wave of heat, making Leander twitch harder under his robe.
"I'll be sure to tell Dare." Then he paused, laying a hand on Leander's shoulder.
"Listen... he got Tristan and I talking about things last night after you went to bed.
If you haven't had a chance to talk to Tristan yet...
please make sure you're alright with... with however he might feel about me. Alright?"
There was the same genuine care there that Leander had seen in his interactions with Tristan the night before.
It was the same care that had very much reassured Leander and left him hoping for a threesome in his absence.
He smiled, placing a hand over Miles's and squeezing it reassuringly.
"Thank you. I will, you have my word. Let me make an espresso for Darren, and I'll go talk to Tristan when he's up. "
~~~