Chapter Eight

“Thanks for having dinner with me tonight.”

Sebastian stared at Will with a pleasant expression, he hoped, despite the fact that his mind was really at home with Parker and not sitting across from another man in a restaurant. It wasn’t even one he’d been to before. Will had said he wanted to try something new and Sebastian had acquiesced—as he’d done for weeks now.

Still, it didn’t compare with the time he spent with his debt slave. Everything he introduced the boy to made him see them from fresh eyes. That Saturday he’d taken him to Ogunquit was already a cherished memory. Something as simple as walking along the beach and picking up shells had become new and exciting. It was impossible to remain jaded or become bored with anything while watching Parker being happy. They’d frolicked on the sand and in the water, visited antique and souvenir stores and had a lovely meal by the water in Perkin’s Cove before heading home. Sebastian had gotten such joy out of buying Parker silly, pretty things for him and his family.

He’d taken Parker to the most important museums—Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Science—surprised that Parker hadn’t ever gone to any of them. Too costly, he’d said, for his family and his school district. They spent an afternoon at the New England Aquarium, watching the sharks swim in the multistory tank. They’d sailed around Boston Harbor in a boat Sebastian often forgot he even had. Parker had loved being given a turn at the helm, laughing as the wind whipped his hair around. Sebastian enjoyed their outings together so much, he didn’t think about work. Nothing had ever distracted him from that before.

His life was better with Parker in it. That was the plain truth, and as the weeks went by, he’d become more accepting of that fact and had stopped trying to reason it out or convince himself it was all about the sex. As much as he wanted to spend time with his boy, he still had to carve out hours every week to spend with Will, though. His parents had already decided this was a relationship headed for marriage. Beasley had confirmed as much, based on Gloria’s calls to the man.

Despite all that expectation, Sebastian couldn’t bring himself to take matters into his own hands. It was Will who always made the plans and did the asking out. He took Sebastian to plays and baseball games, ballets and charity events. They were seen all around Boston as a couple, something both sets of parents had undoubtedly made sure was the word that got around. It really should have bothered Sebastian to be the passive partner in their relationship, but he couldn’t be bothered. However much time he spent with Will, the rest of the day and night he was with Parker. That was enough to make him cheerful about everything else.

The boy’s gotten under my skin. Is a master supposed to fall in love with his slave? The thought jarred him.

“Sebastian, is everything okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes. Sorry, you were saying?”

Will shot him an indulgent smile. “I was saying that I know this isn’t a place either of us frequent, but I wanted to have a bit of anonymity for tonight.”

“Of course. No problem.” He accepted the bourbon brought by the server and started to look at the menu.

Will pushed it down. “Before we order, I’d like to have a talk.”

Sebastian let go of his menu. Christ! “What about?” He took a healthy swig of alcohol, assuming he was going to need it.

“Us, of course.” Will also drank deeply before continuing. He looked as uncomfortable as Sebastian felt. “About…you know, our getting married?”

Well, that shouldn’t have been a surprise, yet somehow it was. “Are you proposing, Will?”

“Yes.” The man gulped down the rest of his drink and signaled for another round. “I mean, I’m going back to London in a couple of weeks and we can have an engagement party before I leave. Then a destination wedding, next spring. The family villa in Tuscany would be the perfect spot.”

“I’m sure.” Sebastian grabbed his new drink as if it were a lifeline. “Look, Will, you’re a great guy. I enjoy the time we spend together and I’m sure sex would be…” Boring. “Wonderful.” It was actually a bit weird that Will hadn’t done so much as try to kiss him goodnight despite all the time they’d spent together. With Parker always on his mind, Sebastian hadn’t given it much thought, and certainly hadn’t had the urge to initiate anything.

“I’m not actually interested in sex. In having it with you,” Will amended.

Sebastian couldn’t hide his surprise. “Really? I pride myself on being eminently desirable. You don’t find me attractive? You are to me.”

Will raised his eyebrows. “And yet, you’ve never made any moves on me.”

“Well…” What was there to say? You’re not as fetching as my slave? That would be a gratuitous insult for a man like Will.

Will put up his hand before Sebastian could say more. “Wait. Let me explain. I’m not interested in having sex with you because I’m not gay.”

“What?” Sebastian couldn’t keep his mouth from falling open. “What the fuck!” He could barely keep his voice down. “I assumed you’ve been dating me for the same reason I’ve been dating you, perfunctorily—to shut up your parents. But I also assumed our parents threw us together because we both need a husband, and not a wife.”

“Oh, I have been pressured. There’s no denying that. So much so that my own sexual preferences haven’t been even a consideration. Not for them, anyway.” Will shrugged. “Going out with you has been like going out with a friend. I enjoy myself. You’ll have noticed, however, that I’ve never tried to hug you, hold your hand or kiss you goodnight.”

“Yes. And I’ve appreciated the restraint. Not because I don’t find you attractive,” he hurried to add. There was no point in being rude about it, even though Will had thrown a curve ball the size of the Prudential Center.

Will leaned forward. “You don’t have to worry about offending me. I know you’ve got your debt slave to go home to, so I’ve assumed you don’t miss the opportunity to sleep with me. Which has been a relief. I had to figure out how I was going to react if you tried anything. But you didn’t and I didn’t, so…problem solved.

“My point is that my reticence hasn’t been out of a sense of propriety but out of repellence. I’m not into guys. At. All. In fact, I’ve been fucking random women just about every time I part ways with you because I like sex—a lot—with people who have breasts and curves and the kind of entryway that turns me on. You don’t have any of that.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “You cad.”

Will rolled his eyes on a chuckle. “Shut up.” He sat back again and fiddled with his glass. “Look, this situation is perfect in a way. We get married to make our parents happy. Mine are so keen on joining our families that they basically told me I’m bisexual and it’s time for me to stop screwing around and commit to one person legally—you. If only you had a sister, but then I’d be in a pickle, having to marry someone who I probably don’t love yet have to be intimate with and faithful to for the rest of my life. With you, love and fidelity don’t factor into it at all. I figure as long as there’s no sex involved, what difference does it make if I’m gay? I’ve never been interested in marrying, actually, and this way, I can have the best of both worlds.”

Sebastian figured he hadn’t had enough to drink yet, or maybe had already had too much because Will’s words started to make sense. “What about children?”

“What about them?” Will shrugged. “We each get a surrogate and father a kid. I produce an Emerson and you an Endicott, thereby keeping both family lines going for another generation. Then when I move back here for good, we put the family together. And we can have separate bedrooms like our ancestors used to and have sex with whomever we want. I mean, you already have your slave.”

“Yes. I do. And you won’t expect to share him.” Knowing that actually made the whole thing even more bearable.

“God no. I’d get a girl for myself through one of those debt agencies, but I like variety and knowing that my bed partner is a willing participant.”

Sebastian let that stab pass through him. It was the truth, after all, that he’d bought the person in his bed. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am. I want my parents off my back, and I’m sure you do, too. Admit it, this is the perfect solution to our mutual problem.”

Sebastian tossed the remainder of his bourbon back. “I’m going to need a lot more to drink before I say yes.”

“Not a problem.” With a smile, Will signaled to the server again.

* * * *

Sebastian tried not to look as drunk as he felt as he stood waiting for Milo to answer the door. When his old friend opened it, Sebastian threw out his hands. “Congratulate me. I’m engaged.”

Milo made a face. “What the fuck, son. It’s eleven at night.” Nevertheless, he stood back. “Be quiet. Everyone else is in bed.”

Sebastian only stumbled a little bit as he crossed the threshold. “Has the baby come yet?”

“Why would you think that? If it had, I’d have told you.”

“I haven’t been available to talk to you much these last few weeks.” He put his arm around Milo’s shoulder as they headed for the living room. “I’ve missed you.”

“Jesus Christ, I haven’t seen you this drunk since college.” He steered Sebastian onto the couch. “You didn’t drive, did you?”

Sebastian took affront with that question. “Uber.”

“Okay, that’s good. Let me get you some coffee, then you can explain how you went from single with a… sex slave to engaged within a matter of weeks.” His friend’s disgust was written plainly on his face.

Sebastian grabbed his arm and pulled him down beside him. “I don’t want coffee. I want your advice.”

Milo sighed. “Okay. What’s going on?”

“The Endicott and Emerson family heads have decided that Williard Emerson and I would make the perfect couple. Somehow, his parents have turned a blind eye to how unutterably straight he is. And thus, his relentless courting and now proposal. We marry, father separate children while he lives in London, then make happy families to the amusement of the outside world once he returns to Boston while living our own sex lives in secret. Perfect, huh?”

“That sounds about as fucked up as I’ve ever heard. You’re going to marry a man who you don’t love, can’t have sex with, father children separately and live with them apart for some number of years like it’s that movie— Parent Trap ? You can’t be seriously entertaining that idea.”

Sebastian dropped his head on the back of the sofa. “I said yes.” He held up his left hand. “No ring, though. Don’t you think if a man’s going to propose, the least he can do is give over a ring.”

“Stop talking nonsense. You don’t wear rings and when did you become such a…”

“Don’t say pussy. Pussies are powerful things.”

“I was going to say wimp. It’s not like you to let some guy lead you around by the nose.”

“It doesn’t matter. This will shut James and Gloria up, and I have Parker to go home to. I like being with Parker. I love having sex with Parker.” He let his eyes drift shut. “I love Parker.”

Milo started laughing, a big belly laugh that was no less so even though he was keeping it quiet. Milo slapped him on the thigh as his laughter died down. “I can’t tell you how much I enjoy hearing you’ve been caught in a trap of your own making. Buying a slave? That was a shitty thing to do. The fact that you’ve fallen in love with the boy, and so quickly, is no more than you deserve.”

Feeling a little sick from the booze and the conversation, Sebastian nevertheless forced himself to sit up. “Do you think Parker could ever love me back?”

Milo sobered. “How the fuck should I know? And how the fuck would you know if his feelings were genuine or just another way to please the man who owns him?”

Sebastian rubbed his face, the drunkenness dissipating. “You’re right. I can’t.” He gave his friend a weary look. “This heritage thing weighs me down. I can’t shake generations of expectations built over hundreds of years. I need to marry someone who is my equal in wealth and social standing and produce the next generation. I’ve always known and accepted that. The idea of marrying a guy who doesn’t even want me, someone who I otherwise enjoy being with…? Will’s right, it’s the perfect solution.”

“Then why are you here, dumping your woes on me?”

Sebastian tossed up his hands. “I don’t know. You’re my best friend in the world and I guess I just needed to talk it through with someone.”

Milo patted his knee. “I’m here for you anytime, but I can’t tell you that I think this is a good idea.” He pointed to the ceiling. “Up there is the person I want to lie down next to for the rest of my life and the child that we created in love. And she’s carrying the next one, too. When I look at her?” He shook his head. “I don’t have the words for how my heart and pride swells. I want that for you, too, son, because I love you like a brother.”

Sebastian laid his head on Milo’s shoulder. Unlike Will, this was a straight man who didn’t shy away from physical contact. “I love you, too. And I know what I’m going to do even though I also know it’s a shit thing.” He sat up on a sigh. “Will you be my best man?”

“I’d punch you if you picked anyone else. But don’t ask me to plan a bachelor party for the two of you. I mean, what kind of strippers would I get?” Milo shook his head. “A straight man marrying a gay one for the sake of money and prestige. What is this world coming to?”

* * * *

“I can see myself sticking around for another year, but three is pushing it too damn much. I’m an old man, after all.”

From his position in the corner, Parker listened with avid ears as the terms of the acquisition were hammered out. He hadn’t experienced this kind of transaction before and it was fascinating to watch how a self-made man exited from the company he had created.

Sebastian sat at the head of the table, seemingly relaxed, as always. Parker knew him too well now to be fooled.

“Chris, we both know that this business’s success is due to your inspiration, innovation, blood, sweat and tears. And yes, others can step into your shoes—over time. I need you to keep skin in the game for three years to make the transition. Otherwise, I’ll worry I’ve bought a pig in a poke.”

The seller, Mr. Mooney, bristled at the idea. “Really now, Sebastian, you’ve done your due diligence. You know how the company runs. There’s no reason to think my leaving will cause any diminishment in the running of things. I can give eighteen months.”

Sebastian appeared to consider the offer, gaze unfocused, tapping a pen on his knee. Parker knew better. His master had spoken to him about this meeting the previous night after he’d fucked him long and hard. This was where the man had expected to end up in the negotiations. It was a kind of game, he’d said, where the players pretend as if they don’t know where they are going to set the finish line. It was still fascinating to watch it play out.

To Parker’s delight, their pillow talk had turned recently to the topic of business. He was getting an up-close-and-personal tutorial in how to run a company. Not to mention the fact that Sebastian had also taken to bringing him to any of his meetings that occurred in his office as an observer. As things went, the next five years would give him a grounding in business that no other college student would have. He really was the luckiest of debt slaves.

“I can agree to that shorter earn-out, but only if you accept another five percent of the purchase price in Endicott Global’s stock instead of cash.”

The seller didn’t look too happy about that. Apparently, he wasn’t as good at this as Sebastian, and hadn’t come into the meeting knowing how the deal would be struck. “I need to confer with my lawyers.”

“Of course. Enrico will show you to a conference room for privacy.”

The admin left his seat by Sebastian’s side. “This way, ladies and gentlemen.”

A parade of lawyers and businesspeople followed Enrico out of the board room and those on Sebastian’s side of the deal took the chance for a coffee or bathroom break. If the deal didn’t wrap up soon, lunch would be brought in, then the negotiations would continue into the afternoon.

When Sebastian left the table, Parker stood and followed him through the private door that led into his master’s office. They continued on to the bathroom so that they could both pee. Sebastian went first, naturally. Parker stood holding up one wall as he watched his master take out his powerful dick. The sight of it gave him sparks of pleasure, as it always did now that they were months into their…situation. He wanted to think of it as a relationship, but knowing that was a ridiculous fantasy, he chased those thoughts away as soon as they entered his mind.

Sadly, despite how much they both enjoyed it, there would be no blow job until the meeting was over. It was Sebastian’s go-to form of sex these days while in the office, except he denied them both if he was in, or going to, a meeting. Sex made him too contented, he’d said, for him to stay sharp and focused. It was a heady feeling for Parker to know he had that effect on such a powerful man.

Sebastian finished up and went to wash his hands, giving Parker room to relieve himself. Doing so with his cock caged had become second nature to him.

“What do you think, dear boy?” This was the best part, Sebastian asking him for his opinion and actually taking it seriously.

“I think Mr. Mooney has waited a long time to get his company to a place where he could sell it and retire. He’s conflicted, though. It’s his baby, after all. And while he’s come to terms with letting it go, it will be easier for him to make a clean break. Going into work every morning as just another employee after being the boss for so long will be hard.”

Parker flushed the toilet and went to the sink. Sebastian stood drying his hands, staring at him with his lips quirked up a little. When it was Parker’s turn to need the towel, his master gave him part of it while holding on to the rest. There was a look in the man’s eyes that Parker couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t lust, that was for sure.

Parker felt his cheeks heat for some reason. He ducked his head. “What is it, Master?”

Sebastian skimmed his fingers through Parker’s hair. He hadn’t permitted him to cut it and it was at that awkward stage where it flopped in his face yet wasn’t long enough to pull back into a decent ponytail.

“I like how much you enjoy being by my side during business meetings. You really listen and never seem bored.”

Parker lifted his gaze. “How could I be? It’s all so fascinating. When I decided on majoring in business, I really didn’t know what it was like. I’m glad to find out it’s the right choice for me.” He looked away. “I mean, when my contract is up.”

Sebastian made a small, gruff noise in the back of his throat. “Yes, well…that’s a long way off and in the meantime, I intend to teach you how businesses are run from the inside. There’s nothing like hands-on experience.”

Sebastian led them back to his office, stopped and turned for a kiss. It was soft, with just a hint of heat. It was nice how his master enjoyed this simple intimacy. “Work is great, but we could use a break, too. I promise we’ll have lots of fun in Tuscany. We can lie about in the sun, swim…fuck. I can’t wait, actually.”

Parker could only nod. He followed Sebastian back to the boardroom, trying to ignore the tension he felt over the trip they were embarking on that very night. He’d shoved it time and time again from his mind because it bothered him to think about it. It should be exciting to visit Italy. He had a passport for the first time in his life, and the small villa Sebastian had rented for them was charming, based on the pictures he’d seen. There was really nothing to feel bad about, except for the fact that the reason they were going to that particular place in the world was for his master’s wedding. And that was the thing that bothered him.

“I’d thought to put it off until next spring, but everyone else wants this fall, so…” It meant Sebastian putting off his business trip to India, which Parker could tell irked him. Sebastian rarely mentioned the event at all, actually, and when he did, it was with a certain resignation of having to do something, like going to the dentist. That night months ago when he’d casually informed Parker about the marriage, he’d seemed detached, as if there was no joy in agreeing to marry someone. And Sebastian had been stinking drunk and had fallen face-down into bed without so much as a gleaming look in Parker’s direction. Just as well. Parker wasn’t sure he could have hidden his upset at the news if his master had remained conscious.

He’d been relieved when Sebastian had eventually turned to him in the night and slowly fucked him, and even more so hearing that the marriage was one of convenience. Williard Emerson didn’t want to have sex with Sebastian. More fool him . Straight or not, it seemed impossible to Parker that anyone could resist being in bed with the gorgeous, sexy man. It was gratifying, as well, that his master had trusted him with the truth. It was a secret he guarded fiercely. Not that anyone spoke to him about it.

The summer had proceeded with all the trappings that went with a marriage for the rich. There’d been an engagement party at Sebastian’s parents’ house, to which Parker had not been invited. Thank God. Seeing everyone fawning over his master and another man would have been tortuous. Besides, Sebastian had returned rather early from the event to first spank, then fuck Parker’s ass. There had been a touch of fury in the way he’d pounded into him, as if Sebastian were mad at having gone to his own celebration. Now, with the wedding looming in the next few days, Sebastian prepared for it like any other meeting he might have—with cold efficiency. No one looking at him would think he was about to marry someone he loved.

Because he doesn’t love him. This wedding was a business transaction just like the purchasing of Mooney’s company. And it was obviously one that Sebastian didn’t find exciting or rewarding. When he spoke about the arrangements for their trip, his boredom was evident. Except when he described the place he and Parker would spend the two weeks allotted for the honeymoon. Will would spend his time at his family villa, probably with some woman, while Sebastian played with Parker. It was all going to be very civilized and discreet. Parker couldn’t imagine why any of the Endicotts and Emersons were acting as if this were normal. Surely the parents had to know what was going on. How could they be so accepting of the ruse? He thought it was kind of vulgar, but then again, what did he know? The wealthy lived by their own set of rules.

The pathetic thing was that despite the fact that it would be him, and not Will, sharing a bed with Sebastian, spurts of jealousy kept bubbling up. He had no right to those feelings. Being a debt slave meant he couldn’t have them. His job was to provide his master with sex whenever and however the man demanded it. He couldn’t expect his master to stay single or give him any thought in making his life’s plans. Parker should simply be happy to not be shunted aside, or worse, rented out to another man. His contract permitted either of those things. The fact that Sebastian still wanted him was as much as he could hope for. It was he who was being inappropriate having these tender feelings—this love—for Sebastian.

So he hid his thoughts and dutifully followed Sebastian back into the boardroom and, taking his place once more in the corner, sat down to watch the rest of the negotiating. Really, his seat was the perfect metaphor of his role in his master’s life. He occupied a small corner of it and had a limited role in everything. He needed to stick to his place and if he dreamed about having more? Well, that was his problem and his alone.

* * * *

Parker had never been in a private plane before. His only experience flying had been a trip to Chicago to visit the last remaining relative on either side of his family. He’d been old enough to understand his father hoped the elderly man would leave them something in his will, and he’d been right. Too bad his father had gambled away the small legacy. He forced the bitterness of his past from his mind and took in his luxurious surroundings.

He ran his fingers over the soft leather seat. “This is so cool. Will anyone else be joining us?” The plane could seat at least twenty people, by his count.

Sebastian settled in beside him. “No. We’re being extra cruel to the planet with this trip. My parents already left in another of the company’s jets with Milo and his family. Naturally, I couldn’t expect my best man to come without his wife and children, and traveling with a toddler and an infant is too difficult to leave them to a commercial flight.” He slid his hand between Parker’s legs and squeezed his caged cock. “We have it all to ourselves. Other than the pilot and co-pilot, there’s no one else aboard, and they know to stick to the cockpit. Of course, that means we’ll have to fend for ourselves for food or drink, but I don’t mind. You can serve me, actually, won’t you?”

Arousal shot through him, as it always did when his master touched him. “Of course, Master. Whatever you want.” He squirmed as the pressure on his cock increased. “Does sex feel different when you’re thirty thousand feet in the air?” He fluttered his lashes.

Sebastian leaned in for a kiss. “No. But it’s fun to know that we are doing it above the clouds. It’s like our own little world.”

The man sat back again and buzzed something overhead to give the pilot permission to take off. It didn’t take long for the control tower at Logan to give them a runway. Soon they were climbing smoothly. They hadn’t even reached cruising altitude before Sebastian unbuckled him and stood him up.

“Captain Rickter would be appalled at my lack of safety. I simply can’t wait to be inside you.” He scraped his teeth over Parker’s earlobe. “We’ll have to take the risk.”

Parker closed his eyes. “Yes, Master.” He clung to Sebastian as he stripped him bare.

As soon as Sebastian had him naked, he sat down again and pulled Parker in to straddle his lap. His master distracted him with long, hungry kisses, chasing his tongue before peppering his jaw with quick pecks. One hand roamed down Parker’s back to reach and remove the plug. As was always the case these days, he missed being filled and couldn’t help squeezing his sphincter as if hungry to be impaled once more. Sebastian took his attention away by sucking one nipple hard enough to cause Parker to moan and arch in a silent plea for more. He didn’t notice being lifted until he felt the explosive burn of Sebastian’s cock pushing in. He rode it as the plane soared through the clouds.

It was a slow fuck, as if Sebastian was in no hurry to find his release. Any time Parker tried to ride his dick faster, Sebastian prevented him from doing so. His master was like this sometimes, thrusting with barely perceptible movements with a tight hold on Parker’s waist to keep him steadily in place. He no longer kissed him, which was a pity, yet Parker understood sometimes his master simply wanted to savor the moment. With his head resting on the back of the seat, Sebastian had his eyes closed, as well. It was one of the few times Parker had the opportunity to simply stare at this man, admiring his masculine beauty and reminding himself how lucky he’d been in being bought by him. He’d also come to realize that in these moments, his master was troubled by something. It was as if having his cock encased by Parker’s channel gave him a chance to safely ruminate on whatever worried him.

Impulse had Parker running his hands up and down his master’s arms. “It’s going to be all right,” he said in a near whisper.

Sebastian’s eyes popped open. “Certainly it will.” He didn’t even bother to pretend he didn’t know Parker was referring to the marriage. “Have I made you think otherwise? Do you worry that I’ll cast you aside?”

Parker shook his head. “No, Master. I meant for you.”

“Ah. That’s very sweet of you, dear boy.” He slid one hand up to pinch Parker’s nipple hard enough to make him gasp. “It’s an annoyance, that’s all. There’s a welcoming party tomorrow night, then the wedding the next day and a post-wedding brunch to see the guests off. God help me. When did these things become such long, drawn-out affairs?”

He replaced his fingers with his teeth. The bite of pain caused Parker to moan and arch his back. His sphincter spasmed and his cock swelled as much as his cage would allow.

“I’ll do my best, dear boy, to entertain you afterward. It will be just you and me…and this delectable joining of our bodies.”

Naturally, Parker wasn’t invited to any of those events Sebastian mentioned. Not that he wanted to go. He was a dirty, little—yet open—secret, but no one wanted to actually see the sex slave in a social setting. It was obvious that they had this plane to themselves because Sebastian’s parents and friend didn’t want him around. That was okay. He had no right to feel slighted and enjoyed having his master all to himself.

Sebastian rocked his hips faster. “I’ve brought new toys along. I can’t wait to see these nipples clamped.”

Parker shivered at the idea. Then his master dove farther into him with a hard thrust. They both came with muted cries. It caught him by surprise. He hadn’t thought the fucking had been strong enough to cause them to come. His own orgasm was tempered by the cage. That was okay. He’d learned to accept that. It made the times when his master gifted him with a freed cock all the more powerful. He collapsed against Sebastian and panted.

Sebastian ran his hand up Parker’s back. “We’ll have some fun in Tuscany, then back to work. But we’ll go skiing in Aspen after Christmas and then take that business trip to India in late February. You can see the operations there. I think you’ll be impressed. We can have a cruise on the family yacht around the Caribbean in the spring. Our lives aren’t going to be changed by this marriage.”

Parker wanted to correct him. Sebastian’s life wasn’t going to be impacted by having a husband. For Parker however, everything was new and exciting. “Hmm. Sounds wonderful, Master.”

“It will be.” The way Sebastian spoke, it was as if he were trying to convince himself. “Nothing will change,” he repeated, again as if for his own benefit. “For a while, anyway. Next summer I’ll have to start the process of finding a surrogate.”

The idea of a child coming into their lives didn’t bother Parker. It was rather exciting, actually, although he’d have to be careful not to get too attached to the child. By the time they were three or four, his contract would be up. He wasn’t so love-struck or na?ve to believe that Sebastian would keep him in his life in any way once they parted. The mere thought of having to leave Sebastian made his heart ache. So, he focused on the practical. “The broker should be able to find one for you.”

Sebastian’s hold tightened for a moment. “Yes, just one more thing people are forced to sell—their womb. Can’t be helped, though. I need to father a child. There will be nannies, though. A baby won’t impact what we do.”

Parker pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. As Sebastian had raised the issue of the child in the context of their relationship, it made sense to talk about it. “I’m not worried anything bad will happen. Do you think I won’t like having a baby to dote on?”

Sebastian seemed truly surprised. “I just assumed you wouldn’t be interested in such matters.” He lowered his gaze in an uncharacteristically demure way. “It’s not as if you’ll be its parent.”

That cold truth stabbed Parker right in the heart. It was a ridiculous reaction. He shoved aside his own feelings to soothe his master’s. “No. Still, babies are fun. I bet you’ll be a great father.”

Sebastian smiled as he kissed the tip of Parker’s nose. “You are excellent for my ego, as well as my libido.” He bucked his hips. “Shall I keep fucking you?”

“Yes, please.”