Chapter Fourteen

Chapte r Fourteen

I wake up the next morning in bed, alone. Which was supposed to happen. I slept like shit. No nightmares or dreams, just a lot of tossing and turning. I can’t remember ever dreaming as much as I have since arriving here. Or at least I usually forget them by the time I’m awake. I wish I was surprised that part of me misses sleeping in bed with Khazak. It was nice waking up with someone right there. At least once we started getting along, if that’s what you can call it. I’d never done th at before.

Of course, there were other benefits to sharing a bed in the mornings. Though we never really took advantage of that, unless you count the first morning where I kinda...freaked out about it. I freaked out about a lot of things. Then they started to seem not so freaky. I reach down and give my morning wood a squeeze. It has been a couple of days since I last got off. Not since he did that thing with his tongue...

My cock throbs at the memory. It’s not like I have anywhere to be. I grip myself more firmly and begin to stroke. Haven’t done this in a while, not since Holbrooke, I think. Kinda hard when I was sharing a tent with Adam. Not to mention any masturbation material had to be pulled from memory. My go-tos were stories I’d hear from classmates, crude drawings from some very strange books in the library, and this one time I walked in on Lieutenant Smith fucking his girlfriend on a desk in one of the empty c lassrooms.

I’ve never really thought too much about what I was focusing on in those memories but... I don’t think it was the women. When I first got here, it was easy to say I didn’t like any of this, to dismiss my enjoyment as nothing more than a physical reaction. Then at some point, I stopped fighting it. Would that have still happened if I hadn’t met Ironstorm? Did he turn me into this, or is this who I’ve been all along? Thinking about the way I stared at the lieutenant’s muscled ass while he fucked his girlfriend, it was probably t he latter.

But now I have my own experiences to draw from. I think back to that first morning, waking up to someone spooned behind me. The way I could feel him hard against my ass, his hand snaking around and grasping me gently, almost ghosting his fingers over my shaft. I copy the movement with my own hand, biting my lip at the ticklish sensation. I had no real idea who he was at that point or what he was going to do with me, only that he currently owned me...which somehow made it hotter.

Gods, what is wrong with me? Getting off on being forced like that when I have much nicer things to think about. Like in the shower. Both times. I never knew kissing was supposed to feel that good. I’ve kissed plenty of girls. Soft, warm, kinda wet. I thought that’s just what it feels like. But with him? His beard rough against my face, his teeth biting at my lips, his tongue probing my mouth. Nothing like kissing a girl. I remember standing under the hot water, his lips on mine, his hand moving along my body... I run my free hand over my chest and stomach, pretending that it belongs to someone else. Then I move it lower and give my balls a littl e squeeze.

Tongues are useful for a lot more than kissing too. I remember after the football game, right out of the shower when he threw my legs back and... I didn’t even know that was a thing people did. I spread my thighs slightly and move my hand lower, behind my balls. I tentatively run a finger along my hole, shuddering at the sensation as I stroke myself. I rub my finger around the rim, all soreness from earlier in the week gone.

We haven’t actually fucked since that first day, unless you count his fingers in the shop. Both were pretty hot in retrospect. And maybe a little in the moment too. But I guess if I had to choose...I’d take the dick over the fingers, easily. Well not easily, because that thing is huge, but the way it stretched me open and just kept hitting that one spot inside me felt amazing. I didn’t know you could cum without, you know, cumming. It felt like my entire body was having an orgasm. Comparing the way I came on his fingers at Brull’s shop to cumming on his dick in the arena (twice) is like comparing the shot from a rifle to the blast from a cannon. I definitely would like for that to hap pen again.

I hate to admit this, but everything that happened that day was hot. Throwing me down and using his knife to strip me... I bring my hand back up and scrape a fingernail down my chest. Then he tied my hands above my head with the scraps and started stretching me open... My hand moves back to my hole, this time pressing in slightly, all while the hand on my dick moves faster and faster. Then he threw my legs back and pushed inside me, fucking me over and over. Everyone in the stands watching, literally unable to control myself and cumming dry on his cock, his tongue in my mouth at the same time he shot his load ins ide of me.

Fuck ! My cock explodes, spraying cum all over my chest an d stomach.

...Yeah, you’re pretty fucked up, David. And now al so sticky.

I frown, not feeling the usual blissed out aftermath that comes with a nice self-induced orgasm. It usually lasts a minute or two, but right now I just feel kinda...sad. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Maybe jerking off to the thoughts and memories of the guy you have very confusing feelings for isn’t the smartest thing to do. Do I miss him? I mean, he’s probably just in the kitchen right now or something.

It’s impossible to tell in the dark, but I really hope I managed to miss the sheets and mattress with my load. No one likes laying in a wet spot. I turn my head and see light coming from under the door. It’s morning: time to clean up. I gingerly slide myself off the bed, hoping that none of the mess lands on the floor and also that I can get into the bathroom without issue or a certain orc noticing. With my sticky hand still wrapped around my dick, I slowly open the door and peek my head out.

Both of the other doors are open which hopefully means they’re also empty. A look down the hall reveals nothing, though I do hear some noises coming from the kitchen. Perfect. I tiptoe my way into the bathroom so I can clean up and relieve myself, then it’s back into the bedroom to put on some pants. I almost grab the thong from yesterday to wear before I remember that no one is making me do that anymore. I’ll have to get the rest of my clothes out of the bedroom today. Freeballing for now it is!

I pad my way out to the living room, the familiar scent of bacon wafting in my direction. I spot Khazak in the kitchen over the stove dressed in pants and a shirt. That’s a lot more modest than I’m used to, but he probably has to worry about fewer grease burns this way. His butt doesn’t look bad in those p ants eith—

“Good morning, David.” My eyes shoot from his ass to his head, turned slightly to greet me. I don’t think h e noticed.

“Morning. Smells good.” I’m great at s mall talk.

“It is almost ready. Go ahead and take a seat.” He gestures to the table, and I remember he means in a chair . I get to sit at the table, just like a real boy! I move to sit down, maybe a little too quickly, but if Khazak notices, he doesn’t say anything. Oh fuck, I’m gonna get to feed myself again too. I am way more excited about this than I should be.

A few minutes later, a mug of coffee and a plate of bacon is pushed in front of me, complete with fork. Khazak takes the seat next to me, and I eagerly dig in, skipping the fork entirely and stuffing a piece in my mouth. I moan a little. So good. A chuckle to my left has me reigning in my antics, but I still work through it pr etty fast.

“How did you sleep?” He’s eating his own plate a lot mo re slowly.

“Okay,” I lie. “Took a while to fall asleep, but I didn’t wake up tired.” J ust horny.

“Good. I hope the room will suit you for the next two months.” He smiles. “If you need anything at all, please let me know.”

I nod and grab another piece of bacon. He made a lot . That isn’t a complaint, but it occurs to me that this meal, his concessions to my behavior, his offer for “anything at all”—it’s a peace offering. He’s working overtime; I can feel the guilt coming off him in waves. I really got to him yesterday.

Again, not complaining, but it’s not making me feel any better about my own guilt. For everything he’s done to me, I know I’m not blameless here. If anything, I’ve only tried to make things worse for him. That plus all the residual feelings I’m having for the nicer parts of my stay is making for a very confusing morning. By the time we’re finishing off the last of the bacon, I find myself remembering just a couple of days ago when we sat on the couch and he was feeding it to me. I actually miss sitting in his lap. Just a little!

I know, I know: get your shit togeth er, David.

“I wanted to apologize again.” His demeanor changes as he grabs my plate, refusing my help as he starts to clean up. “I feel terrible for letting things g o so far.”

“I can tell.” I try to joke and lighten the mood. “T hank you.”

“When I originally told you I was going to take care of you, I meant it.” He’s washing the dishes and not looking at me. “And then failed to do that, quite spect acularly.”

“Yo u didn’t—”

“I did,” he cuts me off. “This whole time there was a part of me that knew something was not quite right. That you were telling the truth about the ritual and I ignored it. Ignored my instincts. Worse than that, there was a part of me that actually felt you deserved it. That this was your punishment.” His tone gets even more somber. “I do not like that you were tricked, but I like even less that I hurt you. That I forced mysel f on you.”

“I didn’t hate everything.” I don’t like hearing him talk like that because of me. “I don’t think I can even say I hated mo st of it.”

“That does n’t matt—”

“No, listen.” I move to stand next to him. If I’m gonna try to deal with some of this repressed shit I really need him to hear me out. “Where I come from, two men being together is just...not allowed. Or at least not talked about in a positive way. And when you grow up like that and you start to notice that maybe you might be...different, it’s easier— safer —to ignore those feelings, or hide them, or bury them deep down. You know what you’re supposed to do, so you ju st do it.”

“But then I get here,” I continue, no longer speaking in hypotheticals and working through some of this on the fly, “and not only can I not ignore them, I’m confronted with them over and over, on a daily basis. And it’s not just ‘Hey David, you like men.’ It’s ‘Hey David, you like men, and also when those men are rough, and tie you down, and strip you in public, and spank you, and force you to—‘“ I bite my lip because that little trip down memory lane isn’t doing me any favors. He gets the point. “It’s just a lot, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I don’t really handle high pressure situations with a ton of grace. Because I didn’t have the option of ignoring it anymore, it just got easier to focus on things like getting out of here. I couldn’t run away from it which just made me want to run even more. I just wanted to get back to the way my life used to be, before I met you.”

“...I am sorry you have had to go through life like that, David.” I can tell he’ s sincere.

“I don’t think I can go back to the way things were. Not anymore,” I offer, feeling raw after saying all of those things. “It’s hard to go back to lying to yourself once you’ve finally said it all out loud, but I’m sort of glad I don’t have to.”

“This still is not how you should have been forced to confront it.” I see him lift a hand, but he aborts whatever touch he was going to give me. “Nor does it excuse what I di d to you.”

“Khazak... I was harsher than I meant to be yesterday on purpose.” It got my point across, but I didn’t want to make him feel like this . “I said those things to hurt you.”

“True as that may be, I still forced all of this on you.” He looks so disappointed wit h himself.

“Look, I’m not saying it wasn’t messed up— especially at the beginning—but we both know I’m not a damsel in distress. I wanted you that day in the arena before we ever started fighting. Even if I wasn’t ready to admit it yet.” I remember the sight of his chocolate-brown eyes as he stood across from me. “If I had really tried to fight you, I don’t think you could go through with it. You told me yourself: you’re not a c ruel man.”

“That may be up for debate.” He doesn’t sound very convinced.

“I know I can’t make you, but I wish you’d stop beating yourself up over it.” So that I can stop beating myself up ov er it too.

“I will try,” he says with a sad smile.

The rest of the morning and afternoon is awkward at best. I can tell he’s giving me a lot of space. Forget sitting on the couch together—he barely wants to be in the same room as me. By the time we’re eating again, I’m starting to f eel antsy.

“Do you think I could go for a run?” I ask after we stumble through an awkward lunch. I need some air.

“Certainly.” He looks up from his book. “I had not planned on going anywhere today, so I will be here when you get back.”

“Sounds good.” I head back to the bedroom to change into a loose shirt and some shorts. Once I’m dressed, I head for the door. “Are you sure you’re cool with me going out all un-collared?” Did that sound like I was dis appointed?

“I have a solution for that. One moment.” Khazak walks to the bedroom, returning a minute later holding a metal chain which he hands to me. “This should satisfy the requ irements.”

It’s a simple chain, thin with no real lock, just a clasp. I don’t even have to undo it to slip it over my head. It feels light as it settles against my chest.

“David...” Khazak looks hesitant to finish what he’s about to say. “If you decided to leave, I would not chase you down. I do not want you to feel like a priso ner here.”

I nod to him as I turn to the door. Is that what he’s expecting? I step outside, shaking the thoughts from my mind as I pick a direction and start running. Time to clear my head. The last few days have just been so fucking crazy. This whole week has been nuts. One day I’m camping in the woods and the next I belonged to an orc.

An orc who makes me feel some very confusi ng things.

What does he make me feel, exactly? I guess I’ve accepted that I’m attracted to him, attracted to men, but it feels like more than that. I like talking to him. Doing things with him. And not just in the bedroom, though I certainly like plenty of that too. I wish I had a past relationship to use as a model, but nothing I had with my ex-girlfriends ever came clos e to this.

I think about what we’ve been doing together the past week. Not the sex but the quieter times, the times I’d forget I was supposed to hate him. Meals, reading, lying in bed. Even playing that football game yesterday. My mind wanders, and I lose track of how long I’ve been running when I come face to face with a huge wooden gate. I guess I made it to the edge of the city.

This must be the gate Khazak mentioned yesterday. The wooden wall surrounding the city is tall, made up of smooth round posts packed tightly next to each other. Short of digging into the wood and climbing over, I don’t really see another way past other than using the gate. Not entirely sure how it opens but there’s a pair of guards posted out front. They don’t look particularly menacing.

I could probably convince them to open up for me. Khazak said it himself: I could just leave if I wanted to, and he wouldn’t chase me. It wouldn’t even have to be right now. I bet I could go back and pack a few things first. Head off for Holbrooke, take some work out there, save up some money, and then in two months when my friends are released, we can meet back up and pretend like this was all just a bad dream. I could totall y do that.

But I don’t think I want to.

So what do you wa nt, David?

I turn my back on the gate. Time to head home. I start the run back, my mind now preoccupied with other things. Like when exactly did I start thinking of it as home? Just a few days ago, I was trying everything I could think of to get away.

Then a few days after that, I was happily waking up next to him. Among other things. That’s not exactly an excuse to stay with him. It’s not a reason not to either. Probably could have started things off a little slower than being his slave. Like a date , maybe? I wonder what people do for dates around here. Fuck, are you really considering going on a date w ith a guy?

Would that have even worked? Can’t imagine that a week ago that I’d be receptive to a man asking me out, let alone an orc. Before I got here, I would have been shocked to learn that an orc that was capable of stringing two words together, let alone that there was an entire orc society arguably more advanced than my own. It’s not just about being with a guy or an orc either. I liked the roughness, I liked giving up control. I liked the idea that I belonged to somebody, somebody who wanted to take care of me. Maybe it’s all the years of training, but I even liked following his orders. There’s a part of me that gets all warm and fuzzy when he tells me I did good.

That doesn’t seem normal, those aren’t things I’m supposed to want…except everything I’ve seen and experienced in the last few days says the opposite. Not even just my own feelings and reactions; we went to an entire shop dedicated to selling gear and equipment for these kinds of…relationships. That fact that there even is gear and equipment for this stuff blows my mind, and I haven’t even been doing it for a week! I can only imagine what else is out there.

When you think about everything we’ve already done together, it seems kinda silly to go backwards. I don’t want to pretend like none of it happened. I also don’t typically like to do anything the slow way, if I can help it. I once tried to have Mike “magic” me older so I could try and enter the academy early. Good thing he didn’t. Or couldn’t, whatever. Point is, I’m not sure trying things the slow route would have worked any better. But there has to be some middle ground between “complete freedom” and “forced bondage.”

Even though I kinda like the fo rced part.

Seeing as we’re actually talking about things now, maybe we can figure it out together.

If he is even still i nterested.

If I haven’t already completely fucke d this up.

Why am I even considering this? I got exactly what I wanted: my freedom. Why am I debating giving some of that back? I go back and forth like this for I don’t know how long but eventually realize I’m back at the house. Well, that run really helped clear things up. I groan to myself and open the door, Khazak looking up from his spot on the couch a s I enter.

“Hey.” I give an awkward little wave. Are we room mates now?

“No problems, I trust?” He’s asking if anyone bo thered me.

“Nope. Just going to grab a shower.” I point my thumb down the hall as I walk backward.

He nods, returning to his book while I get cleaned up. I grab my clothing out of his bedroom, taking a fresh pair of shorts to the bathroom with me. Of course, being in the shower brings back an entirely different set of memories. Very good ones. I sigh under the spray. I need to talk to Khazak.

When I’m finished cleaning up, I re-enter the living room, clothes dry but hair still damp. I join Khazak on the couch, bringing up one of my knees so I can turn to face him. Seeing my movements, he copies me, putting his book down so we are facing e ach other.

“Everything alright?” He eyes me curiously.

“Yeah, I just wanted to know if we could talk some more?” I ask h esitantly.

“Of course.” He gives me his full attention.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about what we talked about earlier.” Pretty much nonstop. “About what we’ve been doing together.”

“David, again I am so—”

“No, it’s not that.” I don’t need another apology to make me feel worse and more confused. “I more meant about how I was saying I liked it.”

“What... What are you getting at, David?” What am I g etting at?

“I just thought that if I’m going to be here with you for two months anyway, doesn’t it seem silly to ignore the attraction we have to each other?” I feel like appealing to his logical side m ight work.

“Are you asking to sleep together?” He raises an eyebrow, not saying no but missing the point a little.

“I mean, yeah I guess, but I was more getting at the other stuff.” Probably should’ve thought this through more first. “Like you taking charge, ordering me around, tying me up, calling you Sir. I’m going to be here with you for two months no matter what, right? And like I told you, I liked a lot of... most of what we’ve been doing. I didn’t know what I was getting into at first, or even want to admit that I liked it, but now t hat I do—”

“David, are you seriously asking to be my slave for the next two months?” He sounds in credulous.

“Your avakesh , technically,” I correct him. “There’s a differenc e, right?”

Khazak laughs out loud at that, shaking his head. “How do I even begin to explain why that is a terri ble idea?”

“Why?” I turn to face him more fully on the couch. “I mean as far as anyone else is concerned, I never stopped being your avakesh in the first place. I know that I like it now. I promise not to run away anymore.”

“David, that is not...” He grunts a little in frustration, running his hands down his face. “You were not even interested in men before l ast week.”

“ No , I wasn’t aware of or willing to admit that I was interested in men before last week,” I correct him again, maybe a little more flippantly that I need to. “Cat’s out of the bag now. Only thing left to do is move forward.”

“Moving forward with your return to enslavement.” He looks bewildered. “Do all humans where you are from make decisions thi s rashly?”

“Not really. This is pretty much 100% me.” I shrug. “I know things between us started off really rough,” Literally, I might add, “but they don’t have to continue to b e, right?”

He sighs, partially in frustration. “How could you even forgive me? Because the more I think about everything that was said yesterday, about everything I have done to you in the past week, the more I am unsure I can forgiv e myself.”

Fuck, he’s really shaken about this. “I told you, I only sa id those—”

“I am not upset because of the things you said, David,” he stops me before I can finish. “I am upset because they were true. I never wanted to...” He trails off. “That is not the man I thought I was. Not the man I want ed to be.”

“So then don’t be that man.” I can tell he’s struggling not to roll his eyes at that. “No, I mean things are already different between us. We already understand each other more. We’re actually talking. So as long as we keep doing all of that, why can’t we t ry again?”

“David, yesterday you wanted nothing more than to be free of me forever.” I don’t seem to be doing a great job of convincing him. “Why would you want this now?”

“Because for whatever fucking reason, I like you. I like this,” I gesture between us again, “and I know you do too. I’m not asking you to go steady, I’m just saying that it seems really fucking stupid to spend the next two months living together and pretending like that’s not true. Also, let’s not forget that the only reason we’re even in this weird situation is that both of us were lied to. You have to stop blaming yourself.”

“Believe me, I will be speaking with Advocate Redwish in the coming days about the way he conducts business.” He crosses his arms for a moment before dropping them and turning to me, a shy smile growing on his face. “It would be untrue to say I have not enjoyed my time with you, but I just...”

“What are you afraid of happening?” I ask when he doesn’t finish his sentence.

“Seriously?” He looks at me like I’ve grown an extra head. “Hurting you, abusing you, forcing you to do things you do not wa nt to do?”

“So then don’t do that?” He’s no more impressed with the answer the second time I use it. “I’m not saying I loved everything we did , but...even when I didn’t want it, there was this part of me that liked being made to do it anyway. Liked that you made me do it.” I can feel my face start to turn red at the admission, and I’m just glad I’m still capable of shame at this point. “Can’t we just...figure out what works and what doesn’t?”

He considers this for a minute before frowning. “I am not sure I can be trusted to make that dis tinction.”

“Okay, then I’ll start.” I roll my eyes. “You feeding me. I really a wasn’t fan at first. It was more than a little awkward for multiple reasons—and for the record I’m glad you didn’t insist on it when we had soup—but I still found myself liking it a lot more than I expected. I’m not saying I want to stop doing it completely, just that maybe I can feed myself a little more often so I don’t forget how to use a fork a nd knife.”

“Yes, it was very hard on you.” He’s being sarcastic but at least he’s smiling. “What... What is something else you would want t o change?”

“Well... What about your name?” I’m happy he’s at least talking about it with me now. “I’d like to be able to use it sometime.”

His eyes go wide at my request. “David, I am so sorry. I just...enjoyed hearing you call me Sir, and after that started, it never occurred to have you do anything different.” He hesitates before continuing. “I never should have had you do that. Of course you no longer have to cal l me Sir—”

“Woah, I never said that . I just want to be able to use your actual name too.” Honestly, given the number of men I’ve called “sir” on a regular basis over the course of my life, there’s probably something to unpack there. “I like calling you Sir sometimes. It suits you. It just might be nice to cry out a ‘Khazak’ now and again.” I bite my lip and wiggle my eyebrows. For the record, I’ve always been great at flirting—I just wasn’t trying to before.

He reaches a hand out and runs it through my hair affectionately. “I like hearing yo u say it.”

“Good.” I lean into his hand a bit. “So... Where did we stand on me calling you ‘Za k’ again?”

He narrows his eyes. “You need di scipline.”

“So, there is something you’ll talk about.” Ha, he fell right into my nonexistent trap! “What’s going to happen when you want to p unish me?”

“I am not sure that will be necessary.” He shifts unco mfortably.

“What do you mean not necessary? We’ve met, right?” I’m not saying I’m gonna cause trouble on purpose but come on . “What happened to the hard-ass that just said I needed discipline?” I can’t believe I’m asking for this.

“I am not a hard-ass,” he grumbles. “I just find that some boys require a certain amount of structure in order to be properly looked after.” He looks at me, making sure I know what “boy” he’s talking about. “Besides, you clearly do not mind it as much as you protest.”

“Did your parents spank you as a kid or something?” That earns me a cocked eyebrow. “It would expla in a lot.”

“No. My parents did not believe in spanking children. Neither do I.” He’s smirking. “Only adults who insist on acting l ike them.”

“I don’t act like a child. I just have an adventurous spirit.” I cross my arms. “But uh, maybe when I do screw up, you can take it easy on me?” Note that I said whe n , not if .

“That depends. Will this be a ‘walk out of a store’ screw up or a ‘drug me and steal my keys before breaking into the jail’ screw up?” The joke is said with a hint of anger, but then his face softens and he reaches a hand over to my thigh. “I understand that this is only temporary, but are you sure this is something you really wan t, David?”

“You mean the thing where I don’t have to pay rent or feed myself for the next two months?” I give him an overly-che esy smile.

I can see his eyes wrinkle, holding back a smile as he huffs . “David.”

“Okay, the thing is, I’ve never really been in a relationship before, not a real one. I had girlfriends in school, but it was never serious. They never made me feel like...this. This thing between us is so unlike anything I have ever done that I have no idea what I’m doing. Before I met you, I didn’t just not know that I liked this stuff, I didn’t even know it existed. I don’t even know what to call it.” There’s only so many times you can say “stuff” and “thing” before you start to feel dumb.

“I know they may seem more common in our city, but relationships of this type are not unheard of in other parts of the world. Even yours,” he starts explaining. “I have known since I was younger where my interests lie. Not just in regards to men, but also in things like bondage and discipline, power exchange, submission and dominance .” Okay, the way he just said that was kinda hot. “But being dominant also means taking care of my submissive’s well-being. Something I failed to do with you at ev ery turn.”

“That’s a little harsh.” Things got a little humiliating at times, maybe, but it turns out that’s not something I mind all that much either. “Doesn’t the fact that I want to talk to you about it count for s omething?”

“I am not sure I can agree with that logic.” He shakes his head.

“Look, I’m only going to be here for two months, right?” He nods that I am correct. “So, if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out. I can go back to sleeping in the guest room until I leave, and we can just be friend s. Right?”

“Right.” The sad look he’s wearing tells me he doesn’t think it’ll be that easy.

“So can’t we just give it a shot?” I have yet to hear a compelling argument against. “Take it slow, ease back int o things?”

He watches me for a few moments, his face unreadable, before he nods. “Okay, David. We can try.” I get just the barest hint of a smile. “But my offer to live here with no strings attached still stands, and the guest room is still yours. As much as I liked having you in my bed, I think it is mor e import—”

“I like sleeping with you.” I can tell he’ll be tiptoeing around things for a while. “In bed , I mean.”

“If you insist.” He huffs a small laugh, but I can tell he’s happy about it.

“So... Does that mean this discussion is no longer hypothetical?” I try my best not to let my stupid grin engulf my en tire face.

“I suppose it does.” His face is mor e guarded.

“Good.” I sit up and lean over, trying to pull him in for a hug but instead get pulled onto his lap. Works for me . “So, you wanna go fool aro und, Sir?”

I’m almost offended by how hard he laugh s. Almost.