8. A Decision is Made

Chapter Eight

A DECISION IS MADE

“ M aster Ellison?”

“Yes, boy?”

“There’s a vid call for you. It’s Master Branigan from the head office.”

“Ah. I’ll be right there.” Checking his satisfaction, he was sure.

“Yes, Master.” Sage bowed, the lines of his slender body lovely.

“So lovely.” He clicked the vibrating nipple clips that Sage was wearing.

Sage jerked and whimpered, a shiver going through him.

He chuckled and smiled, patting his boy’s ass as he walked by. That earned him another whimper. He did love how sensitive Sage was.

“Branigan.” He smiled and nodded at the big bald man. “How does the day find you?”

“Very well, thank you. But more importantly—how does it find you? Are you satisfied with your experience here on Planet Key so far?”

“I am living my best life, and not only that, my boy is a true joy. I love having him around.”

Branigan just beamed. “I chose him for you myself. I like to pride myself on my matchmaking skills.”

“He’s amazing and well-suited to me. I can’t believe anyone would walk away from him.” It was inconceivable.

“He’d just come out of a terrible relationship when he came to us. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing on his intake interview, and yet he seemed to think he was the one at fault for his former relationship failing.” Branigan tsked and shook his head. “If you want details, you’ll have to ask him—the intake interviews are private, of course.”

“Of course.” Sage had spoken to him, of course, and the best course of action was to continue to treat Sage as he deserved. He had no intention of making his boy relive the past by dredging it up again.

“I’m pleased that you’re happy, Ellison.”

“Thank you.” He waited for Branigan to come to the point of this call. Oh, he was sure that Branigan had wanted to establish that he was satisfied with his match with Sage, but he thought there was another reason as well.

Finally, Branigan gave him a smile and spoke. “We’ve had a great success with your vid program, but I was hoping you’d have time to make sure the coding is up to snuff. There have been a couple glitches. The techs tell me it was on the hardware end, but it never hurts to give the software a debugging every now and then…” Branigan looked apologetic but immovable at the same time.

“Of course I can. Do you have specific issues?” He’d known this was part of the agreement, and to be honest, he was pleased with himself. He’d been here almost a month without any real bugs. That was a success.

“I’ll have the tech send you the notes, if that’s okay. It’s all a bit… well, over my head to be honest. I am not inclined that way. My talents run more to business.”

“Of course. I’ll be happy to glance over the code and make sure all is well. It’s important that the software functions.”

“Indeed. So far, it’s done everything you claimed it would. It’s utterly fascinating. I’ll have the tech send you that information so you know what you’re looking for. Have a good day!”

“You as well. Good evening.” He turned the feed off and went to see if there was something tasty to snack on.

Sage was in the kitchen, washing dishes. It smelled wonderful in the room, like cinnamon and bread.

“Oh, what are you inventing? It smells good.”

“Sweet rolls, Master. I thought you might like a treat after your call. If you would prefer something else, please let me know and I’ll make it for you.”

“No. Gods, that sounds amazing, boy.” He propped himself on a stool to watch. “I’ll have to spend some time on the software this week. You’ll have to pamper me,” he teased.

“Of course, Master. It’ll be my greatest pleasure.”

The best part was he knew that Sage meant the words sincerely.

Sage finished washing the last dish. “Would you like some caff, tea, or milk with your buns?”

“Tea with milk and sugar, please.” He was spoiled rotten.

“I have a lovely bergamot and cassis tea that will pair nicely with the sweet rolls.” Sage moved around the room, graceful despite the way the clamps clung to his nipples, the chains hanging from them swaying, tugging at the red nips. Or perhaps the grace was because of that.

He pondered clicking the remote to make them vibrate again, then decided he wouldn’t. He was going to take them off soon anyway, and let Sage ride him as he played with the sweet nips. “I will enjoy that.”

Sage shot him a look at his words. He supposed he had been coloring them with the image of his plans so they might have come out sexier than the type of tea being served warranted.

“I’m glad, Master.”

Sage made his tea like it was a meditation, interrupted only by the buzz of the oven timer. Sage pulled out the pastry and the scent of cinnamon and bread increased, making Ellison’s stomach growl. If they tasted half as good as they smelled, they were going to be incredibly delicious.

“You’re hungry, Master.”

“I am, boy. It smells amazing.”

“Thank you, Master. Hopefully, it tastes as good as it smells.” Sage’s words echoed his thoughts. “They just need a few minutes to cool down, and the tea needs to steep for about the same amount of time.”

“You’ve timed it perfectly.” He motioned for Sage to come to him. “Are you happy, boy? Is this life as you’d hoped?”

Sage came over to him, but he was shaking his head, shocking Ellison. He’d believed Sage was thriving and settling in beautifully with him. He’d been sure they would both sign for a lifetime commitment in a few days when their initial thirty-day contract was up.

“I could never even have dreamed of such a life, let alone hoped for it, and happy is such a weak word for how I feel, Master. You are amazing and this is…” Sage shrugged. “I don’t have the words.”

“I love you too, boy.” It was easy to say, as it was the truth.

“Oh. Oh.” Sage blinked hard. “Oh.” Then tears gathered in Sage’s eyes and began to slip down his boy’s cheeks.

Ellison opened his arms, worried that he’d pushed too far, offered too much. Sage surged into them and clung to him.

“Thank you, Master. Thank you.” His dear boy sobbed, holding tightly to him.

“Shh… easy, my sweet boy. I have you.” He held on, stroking Sage’s back.

The storm passed and Sage buried his face in Ellison’s chest. “I’m so sorry, Master. I was overwhelmed by your words. I have never been loved before.”

“You have no need for sorrow, sweet boy. You are loved. Every moment of the day.”

“Thank you, Master. I have loved you from the moment you held me while we watched the video and proved you were interested in my needs and wants and feelings. I knew then I didn’t want to let you go.”

“Well, we have one another, our home, our space.” What else did they need?

“Yes, Master. I will be thankful for it every single day.” Sage pressed close again, hissing as his nipples, still in their clamps, rubbed up against Ellison’s chest.

“We have so much fun ahead of us.” He stole a long, lazy kiss. “An entire lifetime to explore and love each other.”

“Thank you, Master.”

And it was the peace and satisfaction in the words more than the words themselves that made him know that this was right for both of them.

They were each the key to their happiness.

End