Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
He basically managed Corey’s talent as an illustrator with quite the impressive following online. According to Macklin, Lane and Corey’s business was going to expand too.
“And here’s where I get stuck,” Ty admitted and faced me. “I’ve considered myself vanilla for relationships—and I still do, to a degree. If I have a partner, I want us to be on equal ground.” He held up a hand and continued. “Don’t get me wrong, I know you and Macklin are equals as well, but I mean the dynamic.”
I was listening.
“I’m not gonna lie—when Lane ran around the last day to take care of me and everyone else, it woke up somethin’ in me,” he said. “I watched him make sure everyone had breakfast and coffee and whatnot, and don’t get me started on how he spoiled me rotten with attention the whole week. But that’s the thing, innit? I would wanna do the same for my partner. If he comes home from his demanding job, I’d wanna take care of him too.”
I smiled and stretched out my legs, crossing them at the ankles. “Who says you can’t? You think I don’t dote on Macklin? The power exchange is up here, Ty.” I tapped my temple. “It’s whatever y’all want it to be.”
He grew pensive and returned to hauling food out of the fridge. “Fair enough. So what’s D/s for you and Macklin?”
I would have to compile a response based on both what we used to have and what we were hoping to continue with. Because at this point, we hadn’t discussed much in terms of rules and protocol. Nothing was set in stone.
I did, however, know my boy. I knew his level of submission.
“I guess it’s more in the air around us,” I mused. “It’s the little details of him asking for permission for certain things. It’s me shouldering the responsibility of keeping him safe. Mind you, Macklin and I enjoy TPE every now and then, so he will slip into the role of being my slave sometimes. But in our everyday life, it’s fairly relaxed.” I thought about the countless routines and rituals we’d had, whether they’d been temporary or a permanent fixture. “When we lived together, it was his job to give me a hassle-free morning. He put out my suit on the bed. He made me breakfast. He gave me a rundown of the day’s schedule. He kneeled at my feet while I ate and read the paper…” I let out a sigh, missing those mornings more than I could say.
Just listing things took all the emotions out of acts that had been incredibly meaningful to us. Macklin had found peace in kneeling at my feet. With my fingers running through his hair, and sometimes as I read articles out loud for him, he’d relaxed and pushed out all the noise and tension.
“When he went the extra mile for me—like shined my shoes and stuck a cute note on the bathroom mirror—I knew it was time for a TPE weekend.”
My God, how I loved that boy. Despite the hurt we’d caused each other, I’d never questioned whether I was in love with him. Hell, that’d been the problem! He was the love of my life. Missing him was one of the most painful experiences. It was like missing a part of myself.
Ty brought over an armful of ingredients and sat down across from me. “I can’t picture a life in which Lane kneels at my feet while I eat breakfast—when we can eat breakfast in bed in between rounds of me screwing his brains out.”
I grinned faintly and scratched my jaw. “I don’t think Lane can picture that either. You seem to forget he shares your hedonistic tendencies.”
He hummed and began slicing a tomato. “You have a point.” Judging by how his forehead wrinkled when he moved on to slicing bread, I deduced he was running through his worries and doubts in his head.
“You don’t wanna overthink this too much, Ty. We all witnessed your chemistry in Florida. Chances are, when you get together again, things will fall into place on their own. D/s can’t be forced. You’ll find the level that suits both of you.”
“You’re right.” He inclined his head. “I was thinkin’ about the sharing again. I may not know how I wanna approach D/s with Lane, but I sure as fuck wanna own him.” He threw a tomato slice into his mouth and reached for the mozzarella. “I don’t wanna come between him and Macklin, though. I observed them a lot in Florida, and for some reason, their relationship didn’t bother me one bit. Group play is a turn-on too. But even then—” He shook his head and frowned to himself. “I don’t know, man. It can’t be just anyone. And more than that—what you said before. I wouldn’t want him to be interested in a lot of play with others. Weekly orgies? I fucking think not. This predator needs to feel coveted.”