Chapter Eleven #2
As much as he’d enjoyed relaxing and getting to know each other the day before, there had been a decided lack of spanking involved. As in, absolutely none.
“You know…” Avery’s voice dropped to a lower register. “There are other forms of spanking that are neither punishment nor discipline.”
Eli’s eyes widened, his cock coming to attention. “Oh yeah, right. That’s uh…” He swallowed hard, flipping through the pages. “Can’t remember what section that was, but I need to initial it this second.”
Avery chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that had the ability to scramble his thoughts. He’d never get enough of this man.
“If I spank you until you come, then fuck your ass so I can feel the heat of my handiwork against my skin, I doubt you’ll have the energy to go out for ice cream.”
Eli’s head snapped up. “Ice cream? Are you kidding me? Why would I want ice cream when I can have you showing me who’s boss instead?”
Avery laughed. “Well, I do have some vanilla ice cream we could have afterward. Wouldn’t have to leave.”
“Any chocolate syrup to put on top?” Avery’s idea held promise.
“Hmm…” Avery rubbed his chin. “I doubt it, but I could send out for some. Have it delivered.”
Eli shook his head. “Nah, that’s cool. You don’t need to bother.”
Avery tilted his head. “Not even if I pour it on your body so I can lick it off?”
Eli almost choked, the contract suddenly forgotten in his lap. The pencil slipped from his fingers again, but this time he didn't care where it landed. Heat pooled low in his belly at the image Avery painted—chocolate dripping across his skin, Avery’s tongue following every trail.
“That's...” Eli coughed to clear the gravel in his throat. “That’s not fair. You can’t say things like that when I’m trying to concentrate on important documents.”
Avery’s smile turned predatory, the kind that made Eli’s knees weak even when he was sitting down.
“I thought you wanted to sign right now?”
“I do.” Eli flipped to the last page, scanning for the signature line. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the pencil he’d retrieved. “But now all I can think about is chocolate.”
Avery chuckled as he gently pried the pencil from Eli’s fingers. “Let me get a pen if you’re truly ready to sign. The pencil was for changes.”
Right as Avery rose, the sound of his phone rang in another part of the house. Eli guessed it was his study, where Avery had retreated to give him his privacy.
Avery sighed. “I apologize. That’s Zane’s ringtone.”
“That’s okay, you warned me about that.”
Avery planted a quick kiss on Eli’s head, then hurried from the room. Part of their agreement included the use of phones when they were in a scene or enjoying alone time. Master Zane and the hotel manager were approved for Avery, and Lenny for Eli.
Eli fidgeted on the couch, trying not to eavesdrop on Avery's conversation.
From the muffled sounds filtering through the walls, he could tell their talk was animated but couldn't make out the words.
He glanced at the contract resting on his lap, the final page awaiting his signature.
His fingers traced the empty line where his name would go.
After a few minutes, Avery returned, his expression tight.
Eli straightened, his senses on high alert. “Everything okay?”
Avery rushed over to him, then dropped onto the sofa, wrapping an arm around Eli’s shoulders. The comforting gesture only added to his misgivings.
“Everything’s more than okay, sweetheart. Rogan’s contact in LA got back to him with a full report on what you witnessed. Zane says you have nothing to worry about anymore.”
“Seriously?” Eli shook his head in confusion. “That’s so fast. So, what’s the story? Who was that woman? Why did that guy kill her?”
“I don’t know the details. Zane and Rogan are on their way over now.” Avery gathered Eli in his arms. “He’ll tell us everything then, but I’m so damn relieved.”
Eli hugged him back. “Yeah, me too.”
He couldn’t believe the nightmare was over. After all the terror and panic, the anxiety always at the back of his mind, no matter how safe Avery made him feel or how far away he was, had held him hostage ever since that horrible night. Could he finally let go of his fears?
“Oh my God, Lenny.” Eli let go of Avery. “I have to call him.”
“Sweetheart, you should wait to hear what Rogan has to say.” Avery gave his arm a light squeeze. “Lenny will want to know everything the same as you, but you won’t be able to answer him.”
Tears filled Eli’s eyes. Not only did Lenny need to be called, but his family did, too. Even if it wasn’t his fault, he still blamed himself for putting them through so much agony.
Avery stroked Eli’s cheek. “Look at me, precious boy.” Avery smiled. “That’s it. I’m here, you’re safe. And you’ll be able to speak with Lenny and your parents soon.”
Eli nodded, though his mind raced. Would the constant low-level dread that was his unwelcome companion truly be erased? He could barely wrap his head around the concept.
“It’s a lot to process, so be kind to yourself.” Avery continued brushing his knuckles across Eli’s cheek. “But regardless of what Rogan tells us, you always have a place here with me. Nothing changes that.”
The words settled something deep inside him, a knot in his body that couldn’t be untangled that was coming loose at last. The relief was so immense, he thought the power of the emotion might crack him open.
Eli glanced down at the contract on his lap, the signature line waiting.
Everything seemed different now, as if the world had more color and light.
The desperate escape that had driven him to the other side of the country no longer informed his decisions.
Instead, he had a genuine choice about the life he wanted to build.
“Can I still sign this?”
Avery’s eyes widened slightly, his expression shifting from concern to something tender. “Of course you can. But only if you’re still sure. This changes things for you.”
“That’s why I’m more sure than ever that this is what I want.” Eli’s voice remained steady. “Before, I was running away from something. Now I can choose to run toward something instead.”
Avery’s eyes glimmered. He reached for Eli’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Let me get a pen.”
Avery quickly returned with pen in hand. Eli was giddy with excitement, his hands shaking as he initialed each spot and added his signature. When he was done, he handed the papers to Avery so he could do the same. Before they had the chance to seal the moment with a kiss, the doorbell rang.
Eli’s shoulders fell. “Oh, man. I wasn’t ready for them to be here yet.”
Avery gave him a chaste kiss, then whispered, “There’s still plenty of ice cream and chocolate sauce in our future.”
Eli snickered. “I’m fine with just the chocolate.”
Avery laughed. “Works for me.” He winked. “I’ll let them in. Deep breaths, okay?”
“Yes, Sir.” He let out a long exhale. Using Avery’s title made all the difference.
Avery rose, placing their signed contract on a side table, then headed toward the front door. Eli rubbed his palms against his thighs, trying to calm the nervous energy that thrummed through his body. This was it. This was the moment he’d find out if he could truly live instead of merely surviving.
The sound of voices drifted from the entryway. Zane’s familiar baritone mixed with Rogan’s deeper, rougher voice, which carried a heavy Bostonian accent. Eli straightened his posture and took another deep breath, the way Avery had shown him.