36. Chapter 36
Cameron
Despite my proclamation that we need to talk, we spend the next few minutes in silence, because now that it has come to it, I have no clue what to say.
Dammit. I should have prepared a speech or something.
Now I look like an idiot. At least Justin looks a little livelier than before.
I was truly worried he was gone forever when I pulled him out of the cage, but the sun and fresh air have worked wonders on him.
Maybe that’s the answer? Take my pet outside every once in a while?
No, I doubt it’s that simple.
I take a deep breath. Focus, Cameron. Stop being a fucking coward.
“Alright. First things first.” I hold my phone in front of Justin.
His eyes dart to it, something like pain flashing across his face.
When he looks back at me, his expression is empty again.
Intentionally neutral, or numb? I can’t tell, but I’m hoping for the former.
I don’t beat around the bush. “Were you going to call someone?”
He tried to explain himself before, to tell me what happened, but I didn’t listen. I’m not going to make the same mistake again.
Defiance glints in his eyes. Not numb, then. Good.
“Does it matter? Sir?”
I can punish him for making a mockery out of the honorific later. Right now, I’m just relieved he hasn’t lost all of his spark.
“Yes, it matters.”
He studies me, searching for a lie, but there’s none for him to find. It really does matter to me, because if he didn’t intend to call for help, if he chose to stay, it changes everything.
Justin looks away and chews on the inside of his lip.
I feel like all the anticipation coursing through me is going to make me explode, but I rein myself in.
If he needs a few minutes to think, he’ll get a few minutes to think.
Not more, though. My patience isn’t limitless, and there’s still the option of tormenting the answer out of him.
Justin finally levels me with a flat look. “I wasn’t going to call anyone. I thought about it, but I chose not to. I only picked it up because it kept ringing, and I didn’t want you to miss something important. I tried to tell you,” he adds with quiet defiance.
“You did.” And I fucked up. Is it bad form to apologize to one’s pet? I’ve never done it before, but I also never cared for a pet like I care for Justin before.
“I’m sorry.”
There. I said it. Muttered it, but it’s the thought that counts.
Justin’s eyebrows jump up and he opens his mouth, but I cut him off before he can get a word in. The last thing I want is to discuss the fact that I apologized to my pet. “We’re going to make some changes. I’m not letting you go,” I add quickly, in case Justin is getting his hopes up.
He doesn’t seem too disappointed about it. Watching me carefully, he nods. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I echo. His easy acceptance takes the wind from my sails. Is it a trick? Do I give him the benefit of the doubt? Do I trust him, like he asked me to? I want to, but so much is at stake.
I remember what Mikhail said. Give him something he wants. Treat him like a person.
How do I treat a pet like a person? What does he want? The ones before always craved freedom, but Justin is different.
Just ask him, Mikhail said, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Fine. “What do you want?” The question comes out a little sharper than I intended.
“I… don’t understand?” He phrases it as a question, a very cautious one. Does he think this is some sadistic game to give me a reason to punish him or is he genuinely confused? Probably the latter. I’m not being very clear here.
“I want you to be happy here,” I say, surprised by how much the words ring true. “I don’t want you to turn into a zombie.”
His frown deepens. “A zombie?”
“You haven’t eaten in days, Justin. You don’t drink.
” I should bring him water or maybe a protein shake to make sure he stays hydrated, but it can wait until we finish this conversation.
“You barely even move.” I’ve reviewed the footage from the basement cameras and discovered that aside from rolling from side to side a few times, all Justin did was sleep or stare at the ceiling.
“I was tired. And…” He glances at me, then down at the floor. “It’s kind of hard to move when you’re locked up in a tiny cage.”
I wince at the hint of reproach. He’s got a point. I’ve been away a lot and Justin spent all that time in the cage. I guess I can see how that would drive a person crazy. “Alright, so you want time out of the cage. Outside, too?” I’ve noticed him stealing glances at the garden.
To my surprise, he shakes his head. He keeps it lowered, so I can’t read his expression, but I can see his jaw working as he bites his lip.
When the silence stretches for too long, I grab his chin, free his lip from between his teeth, and make him look up.
“Tell me, pet.” I let authority seep into my voice.
We might be discussing the rules, but I’m still in charge here, and Justin needs to know that’s never going to change.
He belongs to me, and he’ll fucking do what I say. “Speak.”
Under the weight of my command, Justin relaxes, like that’s what he needed. “I just want you.”
Huh?
“Me?”
Did he just say he wanted me? What kind of a game is that?
My pets never wanted me around. At best, they wanted orgasms from me, but that’s where their desire for my presence ended.
They suffered through it because they had no choice, but if given the chance, they would have walked away without a backward glance.
Maybe that’s what Justin meant too? “You want pleasure from me?” That I can do.
“No. Well, I mean, yes, that too.” Justin blushes. “But I want to spend time with you. And before you ask, no, I’m not lying, yes, I’m being serious, and yes, I know it makes me weird and messed up.”
Messed up? It makes him fucking perfect. Here I thought he’d ask for some books or a game console, and he wants me.
Jesus fucking Christ. Mikhail was right. Justin really is meant to be a pet.
“You want to spend more time with me,” I repeat in disbelief, my mind busy coming up with ideas and shooting them down.
I guess I could let him roam the house when I’m home.
No, that’s too risky. I get too absorbed in sketching and who knows what Justin would do with such freedom. Maybe a chain, though? Or a leash. Damn, he would look good with a collar and a leash, following me around on all fours like a good little pet. And at night…
I could take him to my bed. Or maybe the one in the basement to test it out. I’ve never slept in a bed with a pet that wasn’t drugged or tied down. Can I trust Justin not to try to stab me in my sleep?
Hmm. Maybe I can just remove sharp objects from the basement kitchenette.
Then I can hold Justin all night long. Damn, why haven’t I done that before?
He’s such a cuddly little thing. I should have spent every night with him instead of tossing and turning in my cold, empty bed while leaving Justin alone in the cage.
I love the cage for what it represents, but maybe confining the pets to spend their whole lives in it wasn’t the best idea.
Look at me, admitting a mistake. Mature as fuck, right?
“Okay. I’ll keep you by my side when I’m at home.”
“Really?” Justin hesitates. For an agonizing moment, he just stares at me. Then his eyes light up like it’s Christmas. He trips as he throws himself at me, nearly sending us both tumbling to the floor. “Thank you! Thank you so much. I’ll be good, I promise.”
“You better be,” I grumble, my words lacking any bite. I wrap my arms around Justin as he sits astride my lap, the coffee table creaking ominously under our combined weight. It’s worth the money my interior designer paid for it, though, because the glass holds.
“You can’t come with me to work, though,” I warn, already trying to figure out how that’s going to work.
Current mess notwithstanding, I often spend long hours at clients’ houses or in my studio.
There was a time when I was so swamped with work that I slept there for a week straight.
Obviously, that’s not an issue now, but once my name is cleared, I’ll get back into the groove.
Justin burrows his face into the folds of my shirt and sighs. “I understand. I wouldn’t cause any trouble, but… Yeah, I get it.”
An image of Justin kneeling by my side as I work flashes in my mind.
Tempting. I could get my cock sucked whenever the client needs a break.
I could have him massage my stiff muscles.
Hell, I could have him warm my cock in his mouth while I ink bullshit Bible imagery on someone’s back.
I know for a fact that a lot of my customers wouldn’t mind. In fact, they might even love the idea.
And now I’m in love with that idea too, but dammit, I can’t just parade my captive around the city! That would be insane.
Although if Justin wants to stay, is he still a captive?
Fuck, this is too complicated.
As much as I hate the phrase “baby steps” because babies are gross, not to mention surprisingly fast, that’s what we need to do now. “One step at a time.” There, that’s better. No snotty infants involved.
“That sounds great,” Justin whispers, burrowing deeper into me. Cuddles. That’s what he wanted, and I’m an idiot for not realizing it sooner. We could have avoided this entire zombie alert.
We both jump when my phone rattles against the glass surface of the table.
I freeze at the sight of Alfredo Rossi’s name on the screen.
What does he want? He’s made it clear he believes the lies Giovanni Ventresca has been spreading about me and refused to even hear my side of the story.
Triton Syndicate has been steadily gaining power, making Rossi one of the most powerful people in the city.
If he decided to take me out, I wouldn’t last a day, but would he call ahead to announce my death sentence?
Justin looks at me, worried. “Trouble?”
He’s worried for me. That’s new, and I secretly love it.
When was the last time someone was worried about me?
Except Mikhail, but I’m not fucking Mikhail.
We tried once, but quickly discovered that when you put two dominant people in one bed, sexy times turn into fighting times. We work better as friends.
The phone vibrates again, reminding me of its existence. Alfredo Rossi. Trouble or hope?
“I don’t know,” I reply truthfully, “but I have to take it.”
“Alright.” Before I can stop him, Justin slips off my lap and gives me one of those smiles I’ve missed so much. “I’m not going anywhere, Sir.”