Chapter Ten
Terry cuddled with Marco on one of the long couches in Gerard’s living room.
The late January rains had arrived with a vengeance and it made for lazy nights, perfect for relaxing and enjoying time with friends.
While Gerard hadn’t opened his home to any of the club members, he and Phil weren’t included in that ban.
Gerard had confessed to Phil the day before that they were sorely missed by both him and Marco.
Arrangements had been made for them to get together, and Phil had shared with Terry that he’d hinted to Gerard they wanted to discuss something important.
After they’d arrived at Gerard and Marco’s place, he and Marco had been instructed to wait in the living room while Phil and Gerard had a private conversation.
Even though he’d held Marco alone before, it marked the first time they’d received a blessing from their Masters.
Terry closed his arms tighter around Marco, and he nuzzled Terry’s throat in response.
Relief had filled him when he hadn’t been ordered to strip upon arrival.
Holding the naked Marco against him was tempting enough—he doubted he’d be able to control himself if they were skin to skin.
He furrowed his brow, worry nagging at him despite the conversation he’d had with Phil already and Gerard’s insistence that Terry hold Marco.
I want this, Phil wants it too. But what do they want?
Things would get mighty awkward if they weren’t all on the same page.
“Terry?” Marco peered up at him. “Do you still love me?”
Terry couldn’t explicitly recall telling Marco that he loved him, but the truth was that he did.
It wasn’t the same type of love he shared with Phil, not even close.
Despite the physical intimacy, it would never be like it was with his Master.
Phil had told Terry one time that he was his soulmate and Terry believed the truth of his words more than ever.
“Of course I do, Marco.” He gave him a reassuring smile. “Why do you ask?”
“Because Master said you and Master Phil went to another club.”
“Well, yeah. But that had nothing to do with how I feel about you, or me wanting to play with someone else. We were just trying to give you guys your space while things got worked out…” Terry cleared his throat. “You know, because of your situation.”
“Oh. I see.”
Marco drew his eyebrows together and Terry wanted to smooth out the crease between them. It made him nuts whenever Marco appeared troubled or sad. I’m losing it.
Marco sighed. “I told Master I needed to see you. He understands. Do you?”
His next words needed to be said carefully. He’d already learned through what little conversations they’d had that Marco processed information differently than most people Terry had interacted with in the past.
“I think I do. Because I told my Master the night we went to the club that it didn’t feel right.
Even if we didn’t play with anyone else while we were there—nor did we want to—I felt as though I was betraying you guys somehow.
I’ll wait and see what our Masters have to say when they come back, but I don’t want to participate in anything like we all did before unless it’s with you and Master Gerard.
” Terry’s face heated at what else he was about to reveal, but his instincts told him that Marco felt the same way.
“And I don’t want you guys to be with anyone else either. ”
Marco offered him his version of a beaming smile. “That’s what I was thinking too. I was scared you would fall in love with another boy when you went to that club.”
Terry stroked Marco’s curls. “No, that would never be possible. There’s no other sub as special as you.”
Marco shook his head. “Oh no, Terry. That’s not true. You’re the most special one.”
Something in the tone of Marco’s voice told him that his declaration wasn’t simple flattery. For Marco, Terry knew it held a deeper meaning. Marco didn’t toss around idle words. Terry intended to be worthy of Marco’s belief in him.
“We’re both special. How about that?”
Marco didn’t respond, appearing more interested in Terry’s fingers than what they’d just been discussing. Terry had become accustomed to how Marco conversed. It was clear that he’d moved past the subject and was on to the next thing.
“How come you’re not wearing your ring?” Marco tugged on the finger that would someday hold the gold piece of jewelry Phil had given him.
“We’re saving it for our wedding day.” A jolt of emotion hit Terry from saying the words out loud.
“Oh. Will you be angry at me if I don’t come to the wedding? I might go, I’m just not sure yet.”
“That’s all right, Marco. I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. If you decide you can’t go, I’m sure we could work something out with our Masters where we have a private celebration with only the four of us.”
“Yes. Our Masters will know what to do.” It seemed Marco had lost interest in his finger as he closed his eyes and went back to resting against his shoulder.
Terry glanced up at the sound of Phil and Master Gerard’s approaching footsteps. When they rounded the corner of the hall that led from the kitchen, he noted the amused expressions radiating from them both.
Gerard cocked his head as he regarded them. “Has he gone to sleep?”
Marco jerked in his arms then scrambled away until he was kneeling at Gerard’s feet. “Forgive me, Master. I didn’t realize you were back.”
Oh yeah. Right. Terry rushed to kneel before Phil as well. As always, the calming effect of Phil’s palm resting on his head brought him to a state of peace.
“Terry, why didn’t you come with me? I want to speak with you in the kitchen while Gerard and Marco stay here to have their own discussion.”
Terry wobbled as he rose, something he hadn’t done in quite a while.
His hands trembled, but it wasn’t from fear.
He knew what Phil wanted to talk to him about.
They’d revisited the topic of Gerard and Marco on the drive over.
Phil had told them that he and Gerard never spoke of their more intimate relationship while on the job, it was an agreement they’d made originally when they’d decided to go into business together.
But from the sounds of the invite, they’d surmised that something similar was on Gerard’s mind.
By the time he’d made it to the kitchen, he was shaking all over.
“Hey, baby.” Phil gathered him close. “If this is too much, we can go home. Gerard and Marco will understand. That’s one of the main things about engaging in such an unconventional relationship.”
Terry clutched the fabric of Phil’s blue silk shirt. He peered up at him. “So that means that Master Gerard wants to do it? He wants the four of us to be…?” Terry frowned. “What does he want us to be?”
Phil rubbed his back, soothing him. “It’s not what Master Gerard wants, it’s about what we all want. And that’s the condition right there. We all either want it—not agree to it—but want it, or the whole thing is off.”
“Cool. But could you explain to me what ‘it’ is, exactly?”
Phil gave a light chuckle. “That’s why I brought you in here. We agreed that we should discuss this with our boys privately so that no one feels under any pressure.”
“Wow. We’re actually considering this.”
Phil’s eyes danced as he gazed down at him. “I thought you wanted to know what ‘this’ is?”
Terry was tempted to pinch Phil but didn’t think it would be helpful to his cause. “Okay, Master. Carry on.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Phil shook his head, sighing.
“You keep me on my toes.” Phil brought their mouths together and slipped his tongue between Terry’s lips.
He tasted him, licking inside, exploring deeper with each pass until they both could barely breathe.
Phil withdrew, but kept Terry wrapped in his arms. “Love you, baby. That’s the main thing.
That will always be the main thing. Gerard was clear on that in regards to Marco as well. ”
Terry still held onto Phil, still needed his Master to keep him anchored.
“Apparently, Gerard and Marco already had a similar conversation as the one we did.” Phil threaded his fingers through Terry’s hair. “It came about once Marco discovered that we’d gone to a public club to play.”
“Yeah, Marco asked me if I still loved him. He seemed worried that I’d find another sub and not care about him anymore.”
Phil nodded, smiling. “Gerard told me that too. He had a difficult time calming Marco down that night.”
Terry’s stomach clenched. He could never be a Master. Taking on the responsibility of caring for another man went way beyond his emotional capabilities.
“So, this is what we discussed. Since the feelings we share between the four of us go beyond mere friendship, yet we don’t wish to swap or share our boys either during play—or if we were to try and blend our lives as four—we think we’ve come up with a solution.
Gerard and I got off watching you and Marco kiss, and we’re all on board with voyeurism and exhibitionism, but Marco seems to crave more physical contact with you. ”
“Oh. So…”
“Let me finish, then we’ll go over any questions or concerns. That includes you saying no to everything at any time regardless, got it?”
“Got it.”
“What me and Gerard are proposing to you and Marco, is that only when the four of us are together will you be allowed to touch each other. That includes kissing, hugging and sexual contact.”
Terry’s eyes widened, but he managed to keep his mouth shut.