16. CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16

Was it possible to feel jealous of someone who was supposed to be a mentor? Fuck, even though Dorsey damn well knew that was who Dion was, he couldn't help but know that was exactly how he felt.

He wanted to scratch Dion's eyes out. Not literally, but…still. Mercury was his. Right?

Yes!

That it took Mercury nearly an hour to return was…? Okay, even Dorsey couldn't deny it had him wanting to throw things, something he never did.

"How are you doing sweetness?" Mercury said as he kissed his temple.

Even though Dorsey had zero doubt that Mercury was his, he was more than willing to punch him in the face for daring to leave him for that long. Yeah, okay, deep in his bones Dorsey knew Mercury wouldn't betray him… Wait… Did he? That wasn't something he could verify.

It wasn't until Mercury's strong arms encircled him that he was able to accept it was real. "When we get home, I am going to make you mine again."

Those firm lips claimed his and Dorsey soaked it in, especially when Mercury moaned and said, "Fuck, sweetness."

He had loved every moment of it, but the sensation burst when he heard another voice.

"Hey," Ethan bounced up to Dorsey's booth. "Jesse mentioned you had salted caramel fudge and that is Bram's favorite." Ethan shook his head and fluttered his hands. "Who the fuck am I kidding?"

"Boy, language." Bram barked out just behind Ethan, who was rolling his eyes.

"You can't blame me for that," Ethan pouted. "I was just trying to tell Dorsey that even though you loved salted caramel, I did, too."

"That doesn't excuse you from swearing boy." Bram sounded like he wouldn't be swayed. "No swearing."

It was difficult to admit, but Bram's tone had Dorsey hard and aching. Don't get him wrong, he didn't actually want Bram, but it was the dominant voice that had his body reacting.

The chuckle in his ear told him Mercury knew what he was feeling. Damn it.

He glared over his shoulder at Mercury, who smirked at him. Fuck him. That shouldn't be allowed. Like ever.

By the time the shopping part of the festival closed, Dorsey barely had any fudge left. Restocking would take a long morning, but he was more than willing to do it when so many people had enjoyed his food.

"I'm going to devour you when we get home," Mercury told him. Was it wrong to shiver? Dorsey honestly didn't know, but he also couldn't have stopped it from happening.

The sensation of those lips along his neck and shoulder was… like… fuck. It was as if every nerve in his body was alive. And… Damn. Nothing in his life could have prepared him for any of it.

"Are you ready to go through each of the ‘hallowed woods,'" Gabriel said as he paid for his dozen ginger and sage fudge. "Every scene is beyond anything you would ever imagine," he promised.

The thing was, from what Dorsey had heard, that was true. Since he had a booth, he honestly hadn't thought he would be able to experience any of it. That said, he wanted to go through each of them. He was too big of a fan of horror.

"Come," Mercury said with his hand held out. "You're basically out of fudge anyway. What you still have is covered so you can sell it tomorrow. Might as well enjoy the night."

Yes, please. Unable to turn the offer down, he grasped Mercury's hand and headed into the woods. Each scene was beyond great, but even he had to agree the Bigfoot one was…well, perfect.

How had that even been a thing? He'd never once believed in Bigfoot, yet once they'd entered that part of the woods, he couldn't deny that the creature had been after him with each step.

"Don't let him find us," he clutched Mercury's hand halfway through the scene.

"Never, sweetness," Mercury assured him. "I've always got you."

The thing was, Dorsey knew it was true. Then he heard the words he needed to hear. "You. Are. Mine."

Suddenly, everything came back online.

"Sir," he cried out.

Strong arms wrapped around him, holding him just as he needed. "I will never let you go." It was a promise Dorsey clung to.

How had he even gotten there? He was the owner of Tasty Balls. Admittedly, it hadn't been easy, but he'd created his business. So why was he clinging to someone else as if he was all that mattered?

What in the hell was wrong with him?

"Nothing, sweetness," Mercury told him, letting him know he hadn't kept that thought to himself. "You are perfect."

Lord, he hated that he couldn't keep his thoughts to himself. Was he weak?

"No, you're not, sweetness." Those strong arms tightened around. "You are strong." Yeah, he totally wasn't if he couldn't keep any of his thoughts to himself.

Fuck, he wanted to believe Mercury's words more than anything. If only he could. But… Well, maybe he could. Should.

Grinning as they held hands and continued into the woods, Dorsey decided to believe Mercury's assertion that he was strong. There were times when he wasn't certain, but he also knew there were times when he was capable.

Making fudge was one of them. Not…just fudge but all the other sweets, too. Then there was the fact that he loved being scared. It was why the ‘haunted woods' were so much fun.

It was some of the other things he wasn't certain of. Like, was he going to be able to keep Tasty Balls open? Yeah, he knew he could create appealing fudge and other sweets, but that didn't mean he necessarily could make his business work. For that matter, even the friends he'd made might have only been because he was new to town and they were determined to pull him into their fold. What if he sucked at being an actual friend?

Sure, he'd had them throughout his life, but never had they been lifelong. Hell, other than a few years, Dorsey hadn't once managed to keep anyone in his life. Friend or lover.

Did that mean he wasn't capable of finding someone?

"Stop, sweetness." Mercury's tone managed to pull Dorsey out of his head. "I'm not sure what you're thinking, but whatever it is, I promise you, it's not true."

Dorsey burst out laughing. Not because his Dom had been right, but because, for the first time, Mercury hadn't known what he'd been thinking.