22. Twenty-One

I woke slowly from a deep, dreamless sleep, muscles flexing, joints popping. It was nearly eight. I’d slept later than usual, but clearly needed it. Bryce had suggested taking over the day before to give me a break, and despite the initial resistance, I was glad I’d agreed. This morning, I felt more refreshed than I had in days.

I padded to the kitchen, cool tile underfoot, and started coffee before retrieving the diary. I settled at the table, cracking open the worn leather cover.

Yesterday’s entry detailed Bryce’s night with Eli—impromptu movie, feverish kisses, skin on skin. Heat curled in my core reading it, though I was relieved it hadn’t gone further.

Eli was good , Bryce wrote. The last thing in the world he wants is to disappoint you, Shepherd, but the poor kid desperately needs to get laid. You should’ve seen the look on his face. You need to sex that boy up pronto.

I set the diary aside, Bryce's words echoing in my mind as I went about my morning. The hot spray of the shower soothed the remaining tension from my shoulders. Eli had been obedient, keeping to the terms of our agreement despite his obvious arousal and need. I was pleased with his restraint, but Bryce did have a point. The boy was wound tighter than a coiled spring. He needed release.

As I toweled off and dressed in a crisp button-down and slacks, I considered how best to reward Eli for his good behavior. Perhaps it was time to allow him some relief. Not the full act of intercourse, but there were other ways I could grant him satisfaction without compromising our arrangement. Unless, of course, he wanted to amend the contract. I wasn’t sure it was time for that yet, but perhaps, if we took things slow and he was willing to be patient, we could make it work.

Straightening my tie in the mirror, I studied my reflection. I looked polished and in control, every inch the dominant I was. But there was hunger in my eyes, a growing need to possess and claim the beautiful submissive who had so thoroughly captured my interest. Eli brought out a deep yearning and protectiveness in me that I hadn't experienced with previous submissives. There was something special about him, something that went deeper than the need to dominate and control. Something I wasn’t yet ready to put a name to.

My phone rang, shattering the contemplative silence. I sighed, recognizing the ringtone. Annie. My mother, the matriarch of the Laskin family. As much as I loved my mother, she was the last person I wanted to talk to that morning. If she was calling me this early, it meant she wanted something.

“Mother,” I greeted, keeping my tone neutral. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Shepherd?” she said, her voice tight. “Oh, goodness. It’s so good to hear your voice.”

The skin on the back of my neck prickled, and I immediately went on alert. “What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “Things are a mess on your father’s side of the family right now.”

I snorted. When weren’t they? Yuri might’ve been Annie’s husband, but that was in name only. He had eyes only for Nikita Volkov, whose father was the head of the Russian mafia in Columbus. I didn’t get involved in that side of the family if I could help it, but my adopted brother, Warrick, didn’t have much choice. Nikita was his biological father and that came with its own baggage.

“Listen, I’ll cut straight to the chase,” Annie said. “We need you at Liar's Corner this afternoon. Nikita and Warrick are involved in this mess of a coup, and everyone is here, hunkered down, waiting for this to pass. We’ve had to call in the Junkyard Dogs to assist, and I’d appreciate it if you were here to back Warrick up on this, Shepherd.”

I suppressed a groan. The Junkyard Dogs. A nasty bunch of mercenaries we'd contracted in the past for some of our more unsavory jobs. Effective, but unpredictable. Dealing with them was always a headache.

But I’d never turn down the chance to support my family when they needed me.

“I'll be there,” I told Mom, my mind already working through the logistics. “Give me a couple of hours to wrap things up here.”

“Thank you, Shepherd,” she said, the relief evident in her voice.

We exchanged a few more details before ending the call. I set the phone down, considering this new development. The coup was concerning, no doubt, but it also presented an opportunity. With the Junkyard Dogs in play, we'd have access to resources and manpower that could prove invaluable in my current situation.

I exhaled slowly, my mind racing as I processed the implications of this latest development. Kidnapping Xion on Algerone’s behalf was the last thing I wanted to do. But Algerone had made it clear I had no choice. If I didn’t, he might hurt Eli. The fact that he had promised to help me free Daniella from the cult helped ease the sting, but it still didn’t feel like an even trade. Still, I had no choice, not if I wanted to keep Eli safe.

At soft footsteps, I looked up. Eli emerged, platinum hair mussed, eyes bleary. His oversized t-shirt hung loose, slipping off one pale shoulder.

“Morning,” he mumbled, shuffling into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Eli,” I replied, keeping my voice low and soothing so as not to startle him in his half-awake state.

He hesitated and blinked owlishly at me. “Shepherd?”

“Yes, it's me,” I confirmed. “Were you expecting Bryce?”

“I guess I was,” Eli admitted, color rising in his cheeks. He tugged self-consciously at the hem of his shirt. “Sorry, I didn't mean to... I mean, it's good to see you too.”

“No need to apologize,” I assured him. “I hope you slept well?”

Eli nodded.

I gestured to the table. “Have a seat. I'll get some breakfast started for us.”

“Thank you, Sir.,” Eli replied, sinking into one of the kitchen chairs. He propped his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands as he watched me move about the kitchen.

I retrieved a carton of eggs and a package of bacon from the fridge, setting them on the counter before grabbing a frying pan from the rack. As I cracked eggs into a bowl and began whisking them, I glanced over at Eli. “So, did you have a good time with Bryce last night?” I asked casually, keeping my tone light and conversational.

Eli's eyes widened slightly, and he sat up straighter. Eli licked his lips nervously, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “Um, yeah, it was nice. We, uh, we watched a movie and had some pizza.”

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral as I added the whisked eggs to the hot pan. They sizzled and popped as I pushed them around with a spatula. “I'm glad you two had a chance to spend some quality time together.”

Eli swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. He glanced up at me through his lashes. “There's something else, Sir. Bryce and I... we kissed.” The words came out in a rush, like a breath he'd been holding.

I nodded slowly, plating the eggs before turning to face Eli fully. “I know,” I said, keeping my voice gentle. “Bryce wrote about it in our diary.”

Eli's eyes widened, and he ducked his head, his blush deepening to a dark crimson. “You're not mad?” he asked, his voice small and uncertain.

I crossed the kitchen to put the plate on the table before him, but neither of us was worried about the breakfast. I tilted his chin up with two fingers so he was forced to meet my gaze. “No, Eli, I'm not mad. On the contrary, I'm proud of you for your honesty and restraint.”

Eli's brows furrowed in confusion. “Restraint? But I... we...” He glanced away. “We were grinding on each other like a couple of horny teenagers, Sir.”

“You stopped,” I reminded him. “Despite how much you wanted and needed more, you kept to the terms of our contract. That took immense self-control and discipline. I'm very pleased with you.”

Eli's eyes shone at the praise, his lips curving into a shy smile. “Thank you, Sir. I... I didn't want to disappoint you or cross any lines without talking to you first.”

“Your obedience and dedication to our arrangement is exemplary. However...” I paused, considering my next words carefully. “I do think it's time we discuss the changing nature of our relationship.”

Eli's eyes widened, a flicker of hope and anticipation dancing across his delicate features before he schooled his expression into one of calm neutrality. “Discuss the nature of our relationship, Sir?”

I nodded, smoothing my thumb over his chin before releasing him and stepping back. “Yes, but I'm afraid it will have to wait until this evening. Something's come up with my family and I need to head out to Liar's Corner for the day.”

Eli's brows knit together and he sat up straighter in his chair. “Is everything okay? Do you need me to come with you and help with anything?”

The raw concern in his voice tugged at something deep in my chest. This boy, so eager and willing to be of service, to be needed. It was endearing and heartbreaking all at once.

I shook my head. “No, that won't be necessary. It's some family business I need to attend to. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Eli nodded slowly, but I could see the questions swirling in his mercury eyes, the way his fingers twisted the hem of his shirt. He wanted to press for more details, but he restrained himself. Always so obedient.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “If you're sure there's nothing I can do to help.”

I smiled reassuringly at Eli, reaching out to smooth a hand over his sleep-tousled hair. “I'm sure. Focus on your chores for the day. Once you’ve finished that, perhaps you could call Gavin and go shopping. Get a few new clothes.” I extracted a credit card from my wallet and placed it on the table for him to use. While Eli had his stipend, I didn’t want him to blow it on clothes. I’d rather he put it in savings or put it toward his art supplies. “I'll be back this evening and we can talk more then.”

“Yes, Sir. I'll make sure everything is in order for when you return.”

“Good boy,” I praised, letting my fingers linger on the nape of his neck. I could feel the tension there, the coiled energy thrumming beneath his skin. He was trying so hard to be good, to be patient and obedient, but I knew the toll it was taking on him.

I let my hand drop, trailing my fingertips along the elegant line of his throat, over his collarbone peeking out from the loose neck of his shirt. Eli shivered, goosebumps rising on his pale flesh. His lips parted on a soft gasp and he looked up at me with those stunning mercury eyes, pupils blown wide and dark with need.

I knew I should step away, put some distance between us before I was tempted to take things further. But looking down at Eli, seeing the raw vulnerability and longing etched into every line of his delicate face, I couldn't bring myself to deny him this small comfort.

I leaned down, cupping Eli's face in my hands. His skin was soft and warm beneath my palms, his pulse fluttering wildly at his throat. I brushed my thumbs over his cheekbones, marveling at the contrast of my tanned fingers against his ivory complexion.

Eli's breath hitched, and he gazed up at me, his mercury eyes wide. “Sir?”

I shushed him gently, leaning in until our foreheads touched, our noses brushing. I inhaled deeply, breathing in his scent—a heady mix of sleep-warmed skin, mint toothpaste, and something uniquely Eli. It made my head swim and my blood heat. I wanted nothing more than to crush him against me, to claim that tempting mouth with my own until he was breathless and trembling in my arms.

But I restrained myself. Eli deserved gentleness, deserved to be cherished and savored. I ghosted my lips over his, a barely there caress that had him shivering. His eyes fluttered shut, and he tilted his head back in silent offering, a gesture of complete trust and submission that made my heart clench.

I pressed my lips to Eli's in a slow, tender kiss. His lips were petal-soft and pliant beneath my own, parting on a shaky exhale. I kept the pressure light, barely more than a brush of skin on skin, but it was enough to send sparks of electricity skittering down my spine. Eli made a soft, needy sound in the back of his throat and swayed into me, his slender hands coming up to clutch at the front of my shirt.

I deepened the kiss, my tongue flicking out to trace the seam of his lips. He opened for me instantly. He was sweet and warm, with a hint of mint from his toothpaste. I couldn't get enough.

Eli melted against me, his body molding to mine like he was made to fit there. My hand slid into his hair, my fingers tangling in the silky platinum strands. I angled his head, slanting my mouth over his and kissing him with all the pent-up hunger and need I'd been suppressing for weeks.

Eli whimpered into the kiss, his fingers tightening their grip on my shirt. I swallowed down the breathy little noises he made, heat coiling tight in my core. I'd almost forgotten how intoxicating it was to have such a responsive submissive trembling and eager in my arms. To know I could take Eli apart with my mouth and hands, reduce him to a writhing, desperate creature wholly focused on chasing whatever fleeting pleasure I deigned to allow him.

I nipped at the piercing in Eli's bottom lip, soothing the sting with a slow sweep of my tongue. He shuddered against me, a full-body tremor that I felt in my bones. I wanted nothing more than to lay him out on the kitchen table and take my time with him, learning every secret place that made him gasp and arch and beg so prettily for more. I wanted to taste every inch of his porcelain skin, suck dark claiming marks into the pale column of his throat, the sharp jut of his hipbones.

But now wasn’t the time. My family needed me. With great reluctance, I gentled the kiss, easing back until only our lips brushed, sharing panting breaths in the scant space between our mouths. Eli made a bereft little sound, his lashes fluttering open to reveal glassy, unfocused eyes. His lips were kiss swollen and slick.

I forced myself to pull back, to put some distance between us before I lost all semblance of control. Eli swayed after me, chasing my retreating mouth with a soft, desperate noise. I steadied him with my hands on his shoulders, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his chest beneath my palms.

“Easy,” I murmured, my voice rougher than I intended, scraped raw with barely restrained desire. “We'll have plenty of time to explore this further when I return this evening. For now, I need you to be my good, obedient boy and focus on your tasks for the day. Can you do that for me, Eli?”

Eli blinked rapidly, his glazed eyes slowly clearing as he processed my words. He licked his lips, chasing the taste of me, and nodded. “Yes, Sir. I can do that.” His voice was breathy and thin, but there was a determined set to his jaw.

“That's my good boy,” I praised, allowing my fingers to linger on his neck for a moment longer before forcing myself to step back. “Now eat your breakfast.”

A soft, pleased flush bloomed across Eli's cheeks at the words.

I allowed myself one last long look at him before heading out the door.